Whimsical Decorating

Serious design doesn't have to leave out some fun items that can bring color and conversation to your space! Whether it be functional fun or a simple decorative item we carry a full line of useful fun! Come check it out. 0)>

What is Tuscan Style?

Those who like warm, earth tone colors and rustic, Old World Mediterranean style furnishings will love Tuscan style. This design style is very similar to Southwestern style architecture and décor commonly seen in areas such as Southern California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Texas. The Tuscan countryside is located in Italy, influences from the French and Spanish countryside, which border the Mediterranean Sea just west of Italy. Influences from the ancient Etruscan culture and the Renaissance period of the Middle Ages are present as well. Natural influences found in the Mediterranean countryside include cypress and olive trees, grapes grown in the many wine vineyards, golden, luscious pears and the beautiful scents and colors of flowering plants such as jasmine, rosemary and bougainvillea. Which brings us to Tuscan styled furniture. Classic, Mediterranean style furniture will have a lot of scrolling ironwork and richly stained wood with highly polished finishes. Intricate hand-painted designs are also common featuring leafy grapevines, flowers, fruits and elaborate scrolls. Hammered copper, wrought iron doors and uniquely crafted latches, hinges and drawer pulls add stunning accents to rustic wood furniture as seen in this piece.

Lead glass is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass.[1] Lead glass contains typically 18–40 weight% lead(II) oxide (PbO), while modern lead crystal, historically also known as flint glass due to the original silica source, contains a minimum of 24% PbO.[2] Lead glass is desirable owing to its decorative properties. Originally discovered by Englishman George Ravenscroft in 1674, the technique of adding lead oxide (in quantities of between 10 and 30%) improved the appearance of the glass and made it easier to melt using sea-coal as a furnace fuel. This technique also increased "working period" making the glass easier to manipulate. Technically, the term crystal is not applied to glass, as glass, by definition, lacks a crystalline structure. The use of the term lead crystal remains popular for historical and commercial reasons. It is retained from the Venetian word cristallo to describe the rock crystal imitated by Murano glassmakers. This naming convention has been maintained to the present day to describe decorative hollow-ware.[3] Due to the potential health risks of lead that it contains, true lead crystal glassware is rare nowadays. One material that is commonly used to manufacture glassware and referred to as "crystal" is lead-free crystal glass. In lead-free crystal glass, barium oxide, zinc oxide, or potassium oxide are employed instead of lead oxide. Lead-free crystal has a similar refractive index to lead crystal, but it is lighter and it has less dispersive power.[4] In the European Union, labeling of "crystal" products is regulated by Council Directive 69/493/EEC, which defines four categories, depending on the chemical composition and properties of the material. Only glass products containing at least 24% of lead oxide may be referred to as "lead crystal". Products with less lead oxide, or glass products with other metal oxides used in place of lead oxide, must be labeled "crystallin" or "crystal glass"

French Style

The Principles of Good Interior Design UNITY - Unity refers to the designer's concept and the honesty and thoughtfulness that is brought to achieve the concept. Through repetition and similarity, a single motivating idea emerges. When you design a home, make every effort to have the objects and colors relate to each other in some way. Use repetition of color, pattern, line and shape to establish unity. But use creative thinking to avoid being stuck in the theme. Too much unity becomes monotonous. interior redesign, interior redecorating - redecorate VARIETY - Vary your colors, shapes, patterns and themes within the rooms, but don't sacrifice unity to do it. The right combination of variety and unity will bring harmony to each room and ultimately to the home. EMPHASIS - Give the appropriate amount of emphasis to each part of the room. Draw attention to the most important parts and less attention to the rest. Create centers of interest, or focal points, set against less important backgrounds. The final look you want to achieve will hinge on how well you downplay the least important parts. To know what to emphasize and what to downplay, take a good look at the natural conditions present in the room. Let's say the room has a abulous panoramic view - an obvious focal point. This is where you want to place the emphasis. Secondarily, let's say you have a great piece of art you want to place over the twenty foot high fireplace. This becomes the dominant level of emphasis. Then choose simple but elegant upholstered pieces that blend subtly with the room as your sub-dominant level of emphasis. Keeping the floors, walls, ceilings and other accessories rather neutral, they become even more subordinate to everything else. This way the eye of any viewer will first go to the panoramic view, then to the art above the fireplace, then to the seating arrangements and accessories, and finally to the background of floor, walls and ceiling.

RHYTHM - Simply put, rhythm is continuity. Movement and the direction rhythm implies will make your home come alive. You will achieve rhythm by using repetition and progression. This is easiest done with the repetition or lack of it in shapes, colors and textures. Avoid repetition of ordinary and commonplace things. Avoid monotomy by utilizing contrast in color, size and shape. Progression has to do with transition or sequence - how the colors, textures and shapes flow from one area of the room to another, from one room to another. Perhaps the color palette remains the same throughout the home, but one color is emphasized in one room while downplayed in another. Consider how the elements in one room alter slightly in passageways, emerging in a similar yet different fashion in another room.

CHICTOPIA

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Weddings & Summer

Pergola Decorating for Weddings

Decorate a pergola and set the stage for your ceremony.

A wedding ceremony that includes the architectural element of a pergola can provide a romantic setting for exchanging vows. Dress and accessorize your wedding pergola -- it will provide the backdrop for the most important part of your wedding. Decorate using fabric, furniture, screens, flowers, beads, ribbon, sculptures, vases, plants, ornaments, lights and candles.

1. Elegance

   • Add sheer wedding ambiance to your pergola with elegant white curtains and tie backs. As an alternative to hanging traditional curtains, decorate with an abundance of crisp white lace netting -- a lightweight, flowing fabric you can tie to the pergola corners and drape on the straight edges as you would see on a scarf window treatment. Pre-made garland from local craft stores can provide the perfect means for holding the lace netting in place. The sheer fabric also works well with additional accents and personal touches like ribbon, beads, flowers -- or small wedding ornaments for a bit of sparkle.
     

   Adornment

   • Flowers -- real or silk -- will go a long way toward setting the stage and conveying the celebratory spirit of your wedding ceremony. Remember to include flowers for the pergola in your overall wedding planning -- you may not wish to have big splashes of bold colors on the pergola when your entire color scheme is pastels. Beyond flowers, think big. Use tall column planters or large garden urns to display plants or flower arrangements. Potted topiary trees can also dress the pergola up instantly.
     

   Accessories

   • Decorate with artistic touches such as garden sculptures, large decorative vases or a special pathway of cloth or flower petals leading to the pergola. Think about whether the ceremony requires certain items to be present; a small table -- with a wedding-appropriate table cloth, of course -- can hold ceremonial accessories. Sometimes a privacy screen is useful for one or more sides of the pergola to block out background distractions or a less-manicured landscape view. A pergola that lacks a foundation may require the addition of a special ground cover, platform or carpet for the ceremony.
     

   Romance

   • Even if your wedding will take place during the daytime, the use of lights, hanging lanterns, candles or a special chandelier will help provide a romantic atmosphere. String small white lights entwined with the fabric on your pergola or hang them separately as a cost-effective wedding-mood enhancer. If your pergola setting includes a pool or fountain nearby, use luminary pool floating candles; a bird bath or pond can be transformed with some water lily candles. Find decorative garden pedestals to hold a trio of column candles. Battery-powered candles provide an alternative to flame candles if wind will be a wedding day concern.
   Martelle

Spring forward with these fresh design ideas!

Spring is already here so now is the perfect time to bring the outdoors in! Simple solutions can make your home much more light, airy, and pleasant to be in. Transform the look and feel of your home with these ideas as the seasons turn.

Take down any drapery or curtains that block light from windows – whilst these are cozy during winter months they block out needed sunlight in the spring and summer. Instead, put up a simple sheer light material curtains over openings to maintain the spring feel. Invest in a mirror(s) where it will capture more light and help transform a room.   Mirrors are great for adding light to a room as any light is reflected off the mirror around the room.

Bring the outside in – literally. Place cut fresh flowers in vases in one or two rooms, these will look and smell great. If you want something more long term purchase quality silk leaved plants and place these in corners of a room. You can also buy colorful table centerpieces to bring floral freshness to your eating spaces.

 Also, instantly add character to a room by creating a feature wall. You can do this by painting a wall a stand out colour or pattern. Add a table lamp on an accent table next to the wall to really light it up in the evening. Add photos or paintings for guests to look at – this is a great talking point should you throw a Spring party for numerous guests!

Stay Fresh! , Martelle