9/08/2007

Collectables And Home Decor

By : Bob Bastian
There many people who consider themselves collectors, but they just don't know how to approach the home decorating. You will want to keep in mind that there are a lot of people who will collect movie themed items or they will have a collection of some sort.

Many people will collect beanie babies or even Snow babies, however, you will want to think about a way that you can incorporate your collectibles, but not junk up the place.

First, you will need to make sure that you keep yourself organized. You should never collect more than one or two items. This means that you can't have a hundred different collections, but you will need to consider having some home collectibles that are easily blended into a home.

This means that you might want to get a display case for some of your collectibles and you will want to think about ways that you can show off the collection to others, but also not clutter the home. You will find that the solution to most people's problems is the curio cabinet. This is a great way to place your knickknacks on display, but not ruin the integrity of the home.

Keep in mind that there are a lot of ways that you can allow the collection to grow and keep your home looking good too, however, you will find that there will come a time where enough is enough and you are going to have to stop the collection.

You may want to take the opportunity to sell some of your least favorites or less valued items of the collection and then proceed to purchase more and more of your favorite pieces that come out.

However, you may have to sell before the value of what you purchased because you may mean more to you then what it does to someone else.

When it comes to trying to keep your home looking good and your collections in order, you will need to know your limits in space and learn how to find a good curio cabinet that will not cost a lot of money so that you can put your collection in a order fashion and neatly display them.

Collections offer hold people back from having a home of their dreams, however, if you learn to control the collection and not allow the collection to rule you, then you'll be able to use the collections in the design of your home and not have clutter.
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Decorating Your Home With Wicker Furniture

By : Adrian Adams
Wicker is a special type of fiber that is hard woven and used to form a variety of different objects, including baskets. Perhaps the object that wicker is best known for making, however, is furniture. The creation of wicker furniture dates all the way back to ancient Egyptian times and many experts believe that wicker was used extensively during the Iron Age and had a major impact on the development of Celtic Art.

Although wicker furniture has been around for such a long period of time, its appeal has not faded. In fact, became even more popular during the 20th century as arts and crafts enthusiasts began to experiment with even more ways to use wicker to create objects such as furniture.

Traditionally, wicker furniture was made with wicker that was created from plants. Today, most furniture is created from plastic fibers instead. Nonetheless, it is still possible to find pieces that are made with the traditional plant fiber method.

When making wicker from plants, any portion of the plant can be used in the process. The canes or the cores of rattan stalks are commonly used, though entire portions of a plant may be used as well. For example, willow switches may be formed to make wicker furniture as well. Reeds and bamboo are also popular materials for creating wicker furniture made of plant material.

Although the outside of the furniture makes it appear as though it is made entirely of wicker, most furniture has an inner core made of stiffer materials. More pliant material is then used to fill the frame, which helps make the furniture both lightweight and sturdy at the same time.

Since wicker furniture is generally lightweight, it is a good option for use in rooms where the furniture needs to be moved often. Therefore, it is commonly found being used as patio furniture or being used on a porch. Wicker furniture is also often found in sunrooms because it is easy to move about while also helping to create a light and airy feel to the room.

Although wicker furniture is often associated with porches and other rooms that transition from the outdoors to the indoors, it can be used in sitting rooms and other spaces as well. One aspect that many wicker furniture owners enjoy is the fact that pads and other coverings can easily be added to the furniture. Not only does this make it more comfortable, it also makes it easy and inexpensive to change the decor of a room by simply changing out the pillows and other coverings.
Author Resource:- Find quality wicker furniture at http://www.rattanland.com/

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How to Choose Deck Furnishings

By : Richard Vande Sompel
No matter how lovely it looks every deck needs some kind of deck furnishings to look complete. These furnishings give any outdoor living space a sense of style and create a feeling of it being homey and inviting. They possess a remarkable influence upon how homeowners feel about the space as well as how often they, their family members and guests use it.

Deck furnishings should in some manner reflect the purposes of the deck. Chairs for a deck structure that are adjacent to an intimate dining area should be quite different than furnishings on which children will play in an activity area. It is very important to think about the relationships that do exist as well as those that could exist between seating and lighting, grilling facilities and accessories. These considerations and the decisions made as a result will go far to reflect the outdoor lifestyle of a family.

Outdoor furniture is an important investment so it is wise to select durable materials that may be used during the entire year where possible depending upon climate. The following questions can be a practical guide in making wise choices regarding furnishings:

1. Is it weatherproof and will it last for a long period of time before it needs replacement?
2. Are the pieces sturdy but light enough to be moved around without difficulty?
3. Are the cushions and pads removable for easy cleaning?
4. Can the furniture under consideration be stored outdoors during the winter months?
5. Is the furniture comfortable and does its style fit in with the look of the deck?

Outdoor furnishings should be carefully chosen in order to be proportionate to the space occupied. If the outdoor room is small then use a round table as it takes up less space than a square or rectangular one. Within larger deck spaces, arrange conversation areas with groupings of tables and chairs or even loungers and side tables. Another good idea is to include a serving cart on wheels or casters. Be sure to leave lots of room to enable anyone to walk around the furniture.

Movable seating is an excellent choice for any deck. It comes in a wide variety of forms from hammock chairs, loungers and bar type stools to dining sets with cushioned chairs. Freestanding furnishings such as these increase the flexibility of a deck. They can be shifted around or moved out of the way in order to change the nature of the space. Everyday seating needs are generally done well by most deck owners. However,it is very important to consider additional types and forms of seating for larger social gatherings and activities. A stack of folding canvas chairs can be handy for impromptu events because they are lightweight and easily stored out of sight till needed.

Built-in seating may not be portable but it has advantages over freestanding furniture. It takes up less floor space than movable chairs. It can also serve as storage where hinged access panels built beneath seating cushions or pads can provide an entry point for storing items that do not get used each and every day. A trellised garden bench can be created to provide an attractive resting spot or conversation area. Raised planters and retaining walls can become bench substitutes when their components are built wide enough and low enough. So can freestanding stone walls where the last course of stone is wide enough to double as seating. Top the wall with pillows, cushions, lounge pads or even finished bench slats for extra comfort. If the wall borders a raised planter install low ground covers, perennials or shrubs next to the seating area. Place taller, more rigid plants farther back in the bed to encourage people to sit on the wall.

Combining permanent built-in seating with a portable table and chairs can make it possible to have a cozy brunch with a small group or use the space for a party occasion.

Built-in seating around a firepit, hot tub or spa can be a wise deck design decision while at the same providing extra seating opportunities for casual seating during the day and entertainment situations during evening hours. The same applies to built-in seating around a deck water feature.

Stairs offer another alternative opportunity for casual seating. In crowded settings where seating is limited a wider set of stairs will make a great choice especially if the steps are so wide that up and down traffic flow is not interrupted.

With such a wide range of deck furnishings and related possibilities available homeowners can do much to ensure that their deck looks complete and reflects the style and tastes of its owners.
Author Resource:- Richard Vande Sompel is a professional deck builder of 35 years and over 850
decks built and is the author of "How to Plan, Design and Build a Deck from
Start to Finish". To Discover More About
Deck Furnishings and Claim your 2
FREE Deck Plans, Insider Report, MP3 Audio and discover everything to know about
building a deck visit: http://www.DeckBuildingRevealed.com

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