 |
Visit SiteWith this handrail eBook you will save yourself a tremendous amount of time and money by avoiding costly mistakes that can easily occur with this type of advanced trimming project.
Lets face it building a hand railing can be a big and complex project depending on your particular situation.
Read more…
 |
Electric light, although valued for its usefulness, seemed harsh and unnatural to Arts and Crafts designers. To tone down the glare and create a soft, subtle light, they used a wide variety of materials to shade the bulbs. The results were lamps of great beauty. Unlike earlier shades, Arts and Crafts shades were designed to throw light downward into the room or onto the table. This not only increased the useful light in the room but also allowed heat generated by the light bulb to escape more easily, so a greater range of materials could be used for the shade.
Incandescent bulbs were covered with shades made of stained glass, mica, or colored blown glass, all of which satisfactorily softened their glaring light. Shades were also made of linen, silk, and heavy parchment. Mica, a transparent or subtly colored mineral that naturally occurs in thin layers, was highly valued for shades. Shards of mica layered with shellac were often placed in a frame of copper, which gave the shade its shape. The mica, in tones of palest ivory through amber, softly filtered electric light and cast a golden glow over rooms. Dirk Van Erp was famous for his mica shades, which are valuable objects today.
Stained glass was also a favorite material used to shade Craftsman style lamps. From the simple cone-shaped shades of the Roycrofters to the curving forms designed by Tiffany, stained glass was valued both the soft glow it imparted and the motifs it could express. Handel Company lamps are particularly prized by collectors of Craftsman style lamps.
Frosted glass was also popular. Gustav Stickley designed hanging fixtures like lanterns in his Craftsman Workshop. They were elegantly simple frosted glass tubes set in hammered copper frames and suspended on matching chains. This simple design is a classic choice today.
The bases of Craftsman style lamps were as beautiful as the shades. Many materials were used to make the bases for table lighting, including quartersawn oak, walnut, or mahogany; art pottery and leaded glass; and metal such as wrought iron or beaten copper and bronze. Teco Pottery, in Terra Cotta, Illinois, was famous for the architectural shapes of its art pottery, and it used the same aesthetic in designing lamp bases. A Teco lamp is a prized possession for collectors.
Arts and Crafts architects designed interiors as well as exteriors, using one inspirational theme to unify all elements of a design. The motif would be repeated, perhaps with some variation of form, in the lamps and shades as well. Frank Lloyd Wright invented the indirect alcove lighting so popular in modern construction. The frosted glass globes suspended in wooden frames created a bright band over windows or built-in furniture. Greene and Greene designed a lantern of wood and stained glass in shades of amber, caramel, gold, and green that repeated the cloud motif they used as a unifying theme throughout the house. It hung over the dining table and could be raised or lowered with a system of pulleys.
Harsh electric light was forced to conform to the values of simplicity and naturalness with a great variety of beautifully designed Craftsman style lamps.
 |
Greene and Greene are credited with developing bungalow style. The houses they built in California in the early 1900s were influenced by the austere beauty of Japanese houses as well as the tenets of the Arts and Crafts movement. Their houses were widely publicized in magazines and received enthusiastically by the growing middle class. Soon a flood of pattern books made plans for the Craftsman bungalow available across the country. By 1920, the bungalow had become the common builder’s house throughout America.
The Craftsman bungalow has many variations in style, but it is usually a one or one-and-a-half story house with a low-pitched, gabled roof. The roof usually extends to cover a large porch, and a small gable shelters the front door. The rafter tails are ordinarily exposed. Porch columns can be made of wood or stone. They are large and square, resting on pedestals that rise out of the foundation and also function as endposts for the porch railings. The foundations are often built from local stone, blending earth and house in a way much admired by the Arts and Crafts movement. The Craftsman bungalow is characterized by the use of natural materials, an emphasis on structural form, and the integration of interior and exterior spaces.
The windows of a Craftsman bungalow are carefully proportioned to harmonize with the lines of the house. Typically, they are outlined with wood molding. Four-over-1 or 6-over-1 sash windows are the most common, although leaded diamond shapes or other geometric patterns are also common. Stained-glass motifs were sometimes included in the design.
Inside, the most distinctive element of the Craftsman bungalow is the use of wood. Walls are paneled, floorboards are polished, and ceiling timbers are exposed. The grain and color of the natural wood is part of the beauty of the style. Local materials are favored here as well; depending on the area in which the house is located, cedar, oak, fir, or mahogany may be used. California bungalows display redwood doors and paneling, and cypress wainscotting is found in the Southwest. Eastern bungalows are often paneled in chestnut, since it was oversupplied when the chestnut blight swept through the forests.
The Arts and Crafts ethic is also expressed in the interior layout of the Craftsman bungalow. The large, relaxing front porch replaces the formal entry hall, and the front door opens directly into the living room. Interior space is free-flowing, with the living room open to the dining room. Communal space, rather than private space, was desirable.
As beautiful as it is practical, the Craftsman bungalow is still a desirable style for Americans.
 |
While modern kitchen design isn’t quite how it was perceived in “The Jetsons,” the materials are modern – made of linoleum, plastics, steel and chrome, along with artistic touches of granite, marble, and wood. A simplistic elegance haunts the kitchens, with many of the major appliances hidden in small out of the way cabinets, allowing the room to remain open in breezy.
Refrigerators are the most visible appliances encompassed in modern kitchen design. Some blend beautifully into the background using faces of wood, and others stand out boldly made of steel. Modern kitchen design brings you the ability to have your personal taste in color match the rest of your kitchen, without spending more money or looking in the far corners of the Earth. In some modern refrigerators, you’ll find ice machines and small computers to help you plan your meals. Even better, these computers can remind you to thaw your meat overnight and help balance the nutrition of your diet.
Dishwashers, which until modern kitchen design were the household members, are now commonplace, usually taking residence next to the kitchen sink. Dishwashers allow for dishes to be washed in near-boiling water, allowing for the dishes to be perfectly sanitized and beautifully dried – each time. To accompany the dishwasher, a garbage disposal is found under the sink to allow for the easy disposal of foodstuffs and other kitchen by-products.
Oven and stovetops are just as discreet, and in many kitchens you’ll find the oven and stovetop hidden in the counter area. With flat-surfaced burners, it’s become easy to hide the stovetop, and with the self-cleaning oven it’s easy to forget its there when not in use!
On the granite and marble countertops, you’ll find microwaves, which can cook food as fast as lightning! The invention of these devices over 30 years ago revolutionized cooking, and in the interim has created an entire industry relating to the producing of foods therein. In modern kitchen design, you’ll find microwaves where you can scan just the barcode of the item to be cooked, and the microwave will do the rest.
Cabinets are plentiful in modern kitchen design, and can be made of a plethora of material. You can find cabinets made of oak, pine, plastic, fiberglass, and many more materials. The structure and architecture of the kitchen allow for ample cabinet space, bringing cabinets above the head and rotating lower cabinets that can house much more items than in previous designs.
Flooring, while often overlooked, is also made of newer materials. While you can still find many kitchens floored in wood, many floors are also covered in linoleum and carpets, and others are elaborately adorned in tile and marble.
As you can see, the decoration and design of the kitchen has changed dramatically in the past 100 years. Modern kitchen design allows for a great number of appliances and materials to be used, thus making it customizable for anyone!
 |
Gustav Stickley’s houses were the first to carry the Craftsman name, which he also used for his Craftsman Workshops, his Craftsman Home Builder’s Club, and The Craftsman magazine. Strictly speaking, the only houses that can be truly called “Craftsman” are the ones built from designs that appeared in the magazine, but his style was so popular that the term was soon used for other houses of similar style. Stickley’s floor plans usually included suggestions for an exterior architectural scheme, including Tudor, Spanish Mission, Dutch Colonial, and Bungalow styles.
Gothic and Tudor styles were very popular. The first Roycroft buildings were influenced by St. Oswald’s Church in Grasmere, England, echoing its style with plain Gothic windows and post-and-beam construction from natural logs. The crenellated tower of the print shop echoes the medieval castles of England but is built of native glacial stones. Fourteen buildings on the original Roycroft Campus have been designated as National Historic Landmarks. Fonthill, built by the tile manufacturer Henry Mercer, was inspired by the medieval fortresses of Europe and was filled with a fabulous tile collection.
In California and throughout the Southwest, Mission or Craftsman architecture reflected the Spanish history of the area. Houses characteristically included stucco walls, wrought-iron grillwork, and glazed accent tiles. They usually had courtyards or other outdoor living areas. Terra-cotta tile roofs were common.
In the heartland of North America, Craftsman architecture reflected the unbroken horizon with Prairie style, developed by Frank Lloyd Wright. These houses were characterized by low, nearly flat roofs with deep overhangs. Heavily squared columns supported the porches, and geometric art glass windows were favored. The Darwin Martin complex in Buffalo, New York, is arguably Wright’s finest work of that period, and is now being restored.
Four-Square houses, which developed in the American Midwest, are another version of Craftsman architecture. The straightforward lines and practical squared shape represent the “honesty” prized by Arts and Crafts reformers. These houses were characterized by a square footprint and second story; sometimes the attic had dormers and was used as a third floor.
The most famous style of Craftsman architecture was the Bungalow, which could range from a tiny cottage to a very large house. Greene and Greene designed the Gamble House, now a museum, in Pasadena in the early 1900s, incorporating many Oriental elements. Other architects followed their lead, incorporating low, sweeping rooflines and verandas in their house plans.
The diversity of Craftsman architecture is fascinating. Each region created its own version of Arts and Crafts architecture, using local materials and honoring individual heritage.
 |
Contemporary platform beds are a type of bed familiar to the futon industry where a wooden frame is used with slats that go across from side to side. When you use a platform bed, you don’t need a box spring or a foundation. You can place the mattress directly on the slats. The platform bed is unobtrusive, sleek, hip and modern.
Made of metal, plastic, or wood, contemporary platform beds can utilize just about any material for its construction. Your bed’s construction can be made of any type of wood, from oak to cherry to pine – it all depends on the designer and his preference. Because so many platform beds are available, you’ll be able to find the perfect material – whether its plastic, metal, or wooden – to meet the aesthetic needs of your room.
Contemporary platform beds take advantage of the utilitarian design of the contemporary furnishing design to make functional beds that are both aesthetic and useful. Because the beds have no need for a box spring (the mattress is placed directly on the slats) you are saving money just by utilizing one – no more box springs!
The beds can be fitted for any style or size. From California King, Queen, Double, Single, Twin, or Super single the sizes are available for any member of your home. The contemporary platform bed can utilize beautiful woods and fabrics to create an ambiance for any bedroom!
Although it is possible to commission a contemporary platform bed, most of us will end up buying it from a retailer. Before shopping for a bed, make sure to research some styles on the internet before stepping foot in a store. What is it that you like about specific beds? What don’t you like about others? What type of headboard is most appealing to you? By choosing these themes before stepping out of your house to buy a bed, you’ll save yourself countless hassles and time by knowing what you want. The retailer will also be pleased that s/he won’t have to show you around the entire store. Know what you want and save some time!
For many of us, contemporary platform beds will be the perfect accent to our bedrooms. Because of their innate functionality and aesthetic qualities it is a viable option for many of our homes. Many people love the platform bed because of its simplicity of design from headboard to footboard; others love it because of its sleek and smooth visual and modern feel. No matter what reason you like the platform bed, by knowing the style and materials (and having a good idea of the overall package) of your future platform bed before entering a store, you’ll be able to get a great quality platform bed, at a reasonable price.
 |
Danish design is somewhat minimalist. Rather than incorporating fancy scrollwork or busy patterns they make use of organic materials with subtle colors (for the most part, some of the newer furniture uses more contemporary colors) and the looks they achieve are often quite futuristic. The end result however, for furniture, is some of the most elegant, modern, comfortable furniture on the planet.
The Danish weren’t the creators of the chair, the couch, or home theatre seating; they have, however honed and refined these items. By using the Danish design methods they are so well known for, they have taken the mundane and ordinary and created furniture masterpieces that are not only beautiful examples of Danish craftsmanship but also designed and built to offer maximum comfort and support.
Danish design incorporates the science of the human body and takes it one step farther. The result is a product that is unsurpassed in comfort when it comes to the human form. Rather than stop there however, the Danish craftsmen are continuously striving to make more products better. They do not stop with good enough but continue searching for better ways to make existing furniture and designs more comfortable. If you haven’t given much thought to Danish furniture, you may want to consider it. While the simple lines are quite beautiful, the ultra modern appearance of it doesn’t appeal to everyone. I urge you, unless you are just completely turned off by the appearance to at least give it a try.
Danish design is kind of like Birkenstock’s. Don’t wander off I do have a point here. Birkenstock’s aren’t the prettiest shoes in the world. In fact, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with Birkenstock’s for the longest time because I thought they were ugly shoes. Then I was given a pair as a gift. I now wear Birkenstock’s more than any other shoe. They are by far my favorite brand of shoes and the most comfortable. What I’m saying isn’t that Danish furniture is ugly. Just that it is so very comfortable, that even if you don’t find it as visually appealing as some other furniture you may find that the comfort of Danish design far outweighs the aesthetics of it.
No matter what your preferences for looks are in your home, you may want to reconsider any preconceived ideas you have about Danish furniture. You may find that you, like me, are a reformed nonbeliever when it comes to the simple beauty, modern elegance, and overall comfort of furniture that is of Danish design far outweigh any negative ideas you may have had about it.
 |
The Danish Lamps or PH Lamps are also simply put, beautiful. This of course makes the older lamps collectors’ items. In fact, they often fetch high prices in auctions even today, as they have become items in which people consider as a possible investment. Henningesen’s lamps are constructed in such a way that the individual components of the lamps shade cover the bulb and direct the light in such a manner that allows each ray of light to be reflected only once. The idea and the method are both signs of sheer brilliance if you ask me. I for one would have never come up with a lamp that could so beautifully and elegantly accomplished so much.
Danish lamps today have only improved upon the originally design that Henningsen set into motion all those years ago. Today the lamps are just as beautiful as ever and the lighting continues to be in great demand. There is now the PH5 Pendant Lamp that sells for considerably less than the original artichoke lamps but provides the very same simplistic elegance that has made the original PH Lamps synonymous worldwide with Danish lamps.
The lack of fan fare is probably the most appealing thing about Danish lamps. They are as simple in their design as Danish furniture and still remain exceptionally beautiful and elegant for their simplicity. If you have the good fortune to be able to purchase one of these lamps, I highly recommend them. It will probably be one of the best investments you can make for your home and your personal enjoyment of you home.
Even beyond Henningsen’s designs, Danish lamps continue to be popular among people all over the world. These lamps are quite simple in appearance. They don’t clutter the room or draw the eye. Perhaps this is one of the things that makes them so popular. Rather than taking attention away from other things within a room, these lamps and shades do not draw the eyes at all. In fact, the lighting in and of itself serves to maximize almost everything else in the room. There are no distortions due to uneven lighting or pockets of light and dark. This is probably the true beauty of one of the lamps.
Rather than bore you with mundane details about the inner workings of one of these exquisite lamps I would rather encourage you to see for yourself. After all seeing is believing and while words can be persuasive I would be hard pressed to adequately describe the profound effect that Danish lamps can have on a room.
 |
Even more than the look Danish interiors provide a home, they provide a status to the homes they grace. Danish designed furniture says a great deal about the owners. First it says this owner appreciates nice things. Second it says this owner tends to be comfortable within his or her own skin and likes to be comfortable period. Danish furniture is perhaps the equivalent of Birkenstock shoes. They may be a hard sell at first, but once someone gets that first piece, they will be back for more. Finally, it says this owner wants his guests to be comfortable. That alone says a lot about a person. If you find that you are comfortable in any furniture, chances are that your next purchases will be from the same company. If you enjoy something you want to share it with those you care about. Typically, we care about the guests of our home.
You will find that Danish interiors while quite modern, even futuristic in some cases, are designed with an eye for beauty, simplicity, and comfort. The looks can be quite deceptive. I’ve looked at some of the Danish furniture and wondered how on earth that could possibly be comfortable. Some of it looks so hard and unyielding. Yet those pieces are quite often the unmistakably most comfortable pieces on the market. They offer just the right amount of pressure and support in those areas that we seem to be ignored by traditional and contemporary furniture on the market today.
The designers and forefathers of what is traditionally considered Danish interiors are those that had a vision in the early 50′s and 60′s and strove to create a new paradigm in home furnishing that blended form with functionality. What they really did was create a revolution in the industry. The products they created were so vastly superior to everything else that existed on the market at the time that companies have spent the better part of the last half century trying to meet and exceed the Danish interiors and furniture design concepts. These companies for the most part have failed miserably. Whatever the reason, the Danish seem to be able to build, design, and improve upon furniture concepts that seem to simply escape builders and designers every else in the world.
If you are in the market for a new look for your home, whether your needs lie in furnishing or in the art work and overall look of your home, you may wish to consult someone who has experience working with Danish interiors for suggestions and advice. You could find your home will soon be your favorite place to be.
 |
Whatever the reason, the popularity of Mexican rustic furniture in America and around the world is unmistakable. I find that the Mexican furniture is bright and playful. It also seems to accommodate so many eclectic decorating styles and yet can also remain a ‘style unto itself’ which is rare among both furniture and art. This furniture however lacks the simplicity that is often thought of when it comes to rustic furniture design. Even so this furniture is simply beautiful and will add dimensions to almost any room that it graces.
In addition to Mexican rustic furniture, Mexican art can add many facets to a room. More than simply bringing in color, Mexican art and pottery can bring many subtle colors and textures into a room. By subtle, I do not mean to say the colors aren’t brilliant as some of them most certainly are bright and vivid. By subtle, I mean small accents of colors rather than huge walls of it. Of course you can choose to do that as well. There are really no hard and fast rules when it comes to decorating according to your personal tastes. I for one like the subtle use of color with accents and perhaps one bold wall of color in a sea of neutrals. Not everyone will find my decorating style within their tastes and that is perhaps the grandest thing about it. Personal style is personal. It can’t be created by a decorator and it can’t be copied from a book. Mexican rustic furniture is simply one more way of expressing your individual flavor.
Mexican rustic furniture and art are not for those who are weak in spirit. This furniture and art displays a true happiness and playful spirit. This is not for the boring but for the vivid, bright, flashy, and fun loving spirit within all of us. If you aren’t in touch with this part of yourself, then perhaps this style of furniture would not best suit your sense of decorum. This furniture is great for the young at heart, the trendy yet fashionable, and those that are simply spirited. While it may appeal on some level to all and for small touches may be a great idea for all, overall this furniture and art is for those who are at the very least adventuresome.
Keep in mind that the way you decorate your home not only tells others how you see yourself but also gives them an indicator as to how they should see you as well. While Mexican rustic furniture wears many masks, none of those masks take themselves too seriously and that is something to keep in mind as you consider your decorating options.