Thursday, December 13, 2007

An Introduction to Antique Furniture

Furniture has been a domestic necessity in all civilisations, ancient to modern (and in-between) and has been produced in large quantities over the centuries. Developed from humble beginnings whereby the furniture was constructed out of simple designs by and large cut straight from one section of a tree to more advanced skilfully constructed pieces made possible by more advanced construction and woodwork techniques.
The basic requirements and categories are few. We all need something to sleep on, chairs to sit on, tables and storage devices etc but it is the diversity within these sub-categories that is enormous.
Chairs and furniture for sitting extends from the very simplest wooden stools, settles and chairs to deeply upholstered sofas and settees. A wide variety of different tables can be used for dining or other domestic usage, working, recreation purposes or just for decoration.
Storage Furniture covers a multitude of varieties and uses from chests-of drawers, wardrobes, display cabinets and bookcases. Writing furniture includes bureaux, secretaires and desks.
When we come to think of it, the wide variety of furniture is never more visible than when we think of the wide variety of construction techniques used and the shape and decoration. These last categories have quite often been more affected by a region or country of origin, the maker and period of manufacture.
Much of the collectability of antique furniture comes from these very differences, but nevertheless just as important (lest we forget) are the aesthetic qualities of the timber that is used in the manufacture.
Whether this is hardwood, softwood, solid or veneered, stained and polished wooden furniture. If the furniture is well cared for it will increase in both desirability and value.
Furniture: The Basics
Over the Centuries, furniture has developed from simple designs cut from one basic section of a tree or bush, with joints held together by wooden pegs, to skilfully constructed and designed pieces made using increasingly more skilful and masterful techniques.
In many ways the 17th century was considered by many to be the golden era as far as furniture was concerned. After all in the UK this was the era of Thomas Chippendale (1718-79). From the 17th Century onwards, many items of furniture became smaller and lighter; seating became more upholstered for comfort. As wood turning skills developed and advanced, heavy, plain styles gave way to elegant designs with intricate carving and veneering. In the late 17th Century gilding and lacquering were introduced and the use of more exotic timbers and hardwoods began to increase with their import from worldwide.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Tropical Kids Rooms Decor 2

Just like the rest of the home, we like to make sure that our kids rooms have the proper décor that fits with their personal style and desire. Thanks to some well minded retailers there is now a whole line of tropical kids rooms décor that will be sure to bring bright colors and a festive feeling to the entire area. Because of the surge in tropical décor, the new lines of tropical kids rooms décor is fantastic to say the least. No matter the age or gender of the child you are sure to be able to find what you need with the choices that are available. Not only that, the newest lines are durable and high quality that will help ensure that you get the most for your money with the lasting products. It is always difficult when trying to decorate a child’s room as they tend to be very hard on just about everything that they own. This means that parents need to find items that will hold up to the child and create a lasting environment for them without breaking the bank at the same time. Tropical kids rooms décor brings to life the colors of the room and adds an air of excitement that any child will love. The room will be alive with a busy tropical scene that will foster the imagination and allow for the child to be free to wonder about the décor. Nothing could be finer.

One of the finest and most popular products at this time is the great wall hangings that are new to the tropical kids rooms décor line. Unlike posters and framed pictures, these fabric wall hangings are durable and highly colorful to say the least. There is a wide array of styles and colors for you too choose from that are sure to make any child the talk of the town. These wall hangings do so much for the room that you will wonder how you ever did without them.

Check out the full line of tropical kids rooms décor and you will see that it is perfect for nearly any child. There is nothing that you can not do with the variety of items, styles and colors that are available. Any room in the home that is occupied by a child is sure to be brighter and much more appealing with any of the fine tropical kids rooms décor items that are currently available.

Some very original tropical kids rooms decorations can be found at http://www.art-ickles.com, which sells unique handicrafts brightly colored with tropical themes. The baby bedding quilts, bumper pads, pillow covers shown in this website are of top quality, 100% hand made with the best American fabrics.

Tropical Kids Rooms Decor

For many parents there is nothing more important than making a child’s room bright and colorful to foster the best growth and happiness that is possible. Thanks to the new line of tropical kids rooms décor this can now be accomplished with little or no hassle at all. There is nothing more brilliant and colorful than the tropical scenes that these new products bring to any decorating project. Made from only the finest materials that will hold up under the high stress and strain of a child the tropical kids rooms décor is specifically designed for children. This means that you will be assured that the items will not become a thing of the past in a short time. They are all very easy to clean as well because they know that children will make a mess and that parents will wish to clean up the mess as easy as possible. With that in mind the makers of the tropical kids rooms décor have made sure that all the products are easy to clean so it is not as hard on the parents when a mess occurs. Of course the materials are all safe and non-toxic and this should give parents a level of security to know that they child is safe with all of the tropical kids rooms décor that they purchase. The bright colors and unique designs of this line make it perfect for either gender of child and anything can be readily adapted to either.

One of the nicer things that is offered is the new hangers. These hangers are shaped like animals of all shapes and sizes and bring to the room that festive feeling. The bright colors and fun shapes make these the perfect addition to any room that is suitable for a child. With all the choices your child is sure to be pleased with any one of these sculpture items made from a durable paper-mache’ these items are high quality and low cost making them perfect for the child’s room that wants some fun and exciting décor.

For only the best in décor check out the full line of tropical kids rooms décor as there is more than enough for anyone who is looking to decorate their child’s room with fun bright colors that will last and last. Not only will your child love it, but you will to with the high quality craftsmanship and wonderful appearance of all the products in the tropical kids rooms décor.

Some very original tropical kids rooms decorations can be found at http://www.art-ickles.com, which sells unique handicrafts brightly colored with tropical themes. The baby bedding quilts, bumper pads, pillow covers shown in this website are of top quality, 100% hand made with the best American fabrics.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Furnishing Your Home In Style

Decorating your home can be a daunting task, but it is one that will reward you many times over. Determining your personal style allows you to create a theme that you can carry from room to room, giving the house a cohesiveness, even if your style is eclectic.

Your furniture is the backbone of the home. It is important to choose wisely and then formulate your design plan around your choices. After you have laid that foundation in place, you can begin to look at complementary fabrics and colors - eventually visiting paint, window coverings, floor coverings, lighting, and accents in turn.

Discover your style and go from there. Your taste may range from traditional to country to casual to contemporary to modern, or anywhere in between. You can choose from materials such as woods, metals, glass, even plastics. You may like intricate designs or strong, simple lines, such as in the Mission style. You may want your pieces to be heavy and substantial, perhaps dramatic, or the sharp, linear design of Minimalism may appeal to you.

When you are considering your preference for what appeals to you, take into account too how you envision your home's primary function. Is it to be a comfortable haven for your family? Do you plan to entertain elegantly? Do you want a serene, cool, calming environment? Do you prefer an eclectic, cozy, warm nook? Is it to be an open, airy affair or more somber? Casual? Luxurious? Formal? Rustic?

If your style is casual, and you are looking to make an inviting home for you and your family, you are likely to want the warm glow of woods, either light or dramtically dark, and soft, inviting fabrics. If you prefer a more traditional, formal look, you are likely to choose rich fabrics, including damask and velvet, and woods, such as cherry or mahogany. For the modern approach, you may incorporate many materials - light, blonde woods, sleek metals like chrome and aluminum, and simple fabrics.

Whatever your taste, you can find fabulous pieces that express your style.
Decorating your home can be a daunting task, but it is one that will reward you many times over. Determining your personal style allows you to create a theme that you can carry from room to room, giving the house a cohesiveness, even if your style is eclectic.

Your furniture is the backbone of the home. It is important to choose wisely and then formulate your design plan around your choices. After you have laid that foundation in place, you can begin to look at complementa...
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