Rug hooking has been around for centuries. In fact it is believed to date back to the third century where descendants of ancient Egyptians are believed to have made the very first hand hooked rugs. It is believed that China began making rug hooking shortly after.

Of course over time it made it’s way to the western world where it is considered as one of North America’s oldest folk art styles. Colonial women could not afford to have these rugs shipped from Europe so they were quick to figure out how to make their own by using rags. It was the perfect solution to covering up bare floors. They used burlap sacks that the livestock feed came in as the bottom of the hook rag rugs.

By the 1940s it was no longer required as a functional decor element but it became one of the most popular and fastest growing hobbies in North America. It was quick to catch on because it’s easy to learn. Today it is still a popular pastime and a terrific folk art addition to a room.

There are 5 styles of rug hooking to choose from

1. Primitive

This is perfect for the beginner because it is the easiest style to learn. It uses ¼" strips of wool and produces simplistic works that resemble child type drawings. Thus it’s name "Primitive." There is no realism in style or pattern but it’s got a style all of its own! These rugs fit into an antique decor or a modern decor.

2. Pictorial

Here you will create a landscape picture. Hook sizes and the width of the wool will vary depending on the pattern. The object here is to have your rug hooking look like a picture. The pictorial style makes a great themed rug for an entrance.

3. Geometric

Is also called Abstract and it’s another good starter for a beginner. The piece is composed of triangles, circles, squares, and diamonds. The four basic shapes. The width of the wool and the hook size will depend on the size of your geometric shapes and the size of the rug. Trendy and fun a perfect rug for a relaxed and casual room.

4. Waldoboro

Named after the town of Waldoboro in Maine because this is where a woman first came up with this style of hooking. It’s different because the rug is hooked on wool back instead of linen or burlap and the wool is then sculpted to give a dimensional pattern, design, or picture. These are very much a work of art that will fit in any room. Hang it on the wall and place it on the floor.

5. Realistic

The realistic style uses a narrow strip of wool no wider than 1/8". Just as the name says this is suppose to result in a very realistic looking picture. It can be a portrait, a floral, or any other realistic scene. You’ll be working with a variety of colors to get the correct shading. When you’ve perfected this style your rug will come to life! You’ll have a portrait that captures your heart or a bouquet you can smell. Definitely the hardest type of rug hooking but also the most rewarding.

Rug hooking is a tradition of time that has been carried forward to our modern world and still enjoyed by many. Rug hooking provides beautiful works of art that make marvelous wall hangings or rugs that make a statement. Now that you know the 5 styles of rug hooking why not give it a try?

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

Moving into a new house can sometimes cause a quandry. You can stand and stare at large… blank spaces for weeks wondering just what to do with them. These blank spaces are the walls of your new house or apartment.

Most people have a hard time figuring out what to do with their walls, because their thoughts are limited to just paint and pictures. There’s actually quite a bit more you can do to decorate your walls though, and here are a few of my favorite tips:

1. Create shadow boxes. These are especially nice to do as remembrances of loved ones who are no longer with us. If you want to create a shadow box for grandparents for instance, but you don’t have anything handed down from them that could easily be used in this decoration, try visiting around to yard sales and flea markets. Find items that fit the timeframe of your grandparent’s lives, or that remind you of them fondly. Use these items in your shadow boxes, then display them in a nice area of your home to symbolize both the love you had for them, and the legacy they left behind.

2. If you love blankets or quilts, there are some very unique ways to decorate your walls with these. Simply attach pieces of wood to your wall, drill holes in them, and put dowel rods in the holes. On these rods you can hang your quilts or blankets just like you can on a regular quilt rack, except this way they decorate your walls. Placing the items just above a sofa is a great way to keep blankets nearby when you watch movies or snuggle up next to the fire. Also, if you enjoy quilting or sewing, you may want to use a similar structure on the wall to hold bolts of fabric for your creations. The walls look lovely, and you’re also organizing your home!

3. Here are just a few other ideas: You can use old windows and some curtains to make a faux window in a room without enough windows. Your can use old picture frames to "frame" an oil painting or collage or quotations. Using small vases, you can have fresh flowers hanging on your wall. You could also make part of your wall into corkboard or a set of box frames so that you can display your children’s artwork.

So there you have multiple, easy, and inexpensive ways to uniquely decorate your walls!

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard.

This article is provided courtesy of The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - a large home decorating website featuring articles, tips, advice, and popular decor shopping. This article may be freely published on any website, as long as the author, copyright, website address and link, and this notice are left intact.

There is nothing more stylish than a sheepskin rug and oh so cozy! You can buy traditional as well as designer sheepskin rugs. Add a little charm and a whole lot of warmth and luxury to your room. There are plenty of choices in sheepskin rugs.

Sheepskin Area Rug

Sheepskin area rugs are quite large usually around 6 feet in length and 3 feet in widths. They are perfect on the floor, displayed on the wall as an art piece, or hung over a sofa. They make a wonderful room accent.

Sheepskin Rug

A full sheepskin rug is an absolutely beautiful addition to a room. It will add warm, luxury, and coziness to the room like no other rug can. Sheepskin rugs come in a variety of sizes the smallest usually being around 6 feet long and 5 feet wide. Even these large ones look great used as a wall accent or flung over a sofa corner.

Designer Sheepskin Rug

Designer sheepskin rugs take the natural beauty of sheepskin and sculpt and die it into a work of art. The designer will contrast short and long sheepskin or may even mix different species to get the affect they are looking for. By mixing species you get a natural color pallet of white, black, brown, grey, and ivory. New Zealand sheepskin is very popular for these designer pieces. And of course artist also dye the wool to get a wide variety of color choices for their work. These large designer rugs are truly a unique a beautiful work of art that looks fabulous in a contemporary room, in front of a fireplace, or any other place that holds the right decor. Black and white combinations are truly stunning!

Bedspread

Many people choose to place their sheepskin rugs on the top of their beds. It’s a great look and easy to complete the room decor around. White is a stunning choice on the bed and every so classy!

Baby and Sheepskin Rug

Even baby can enjoy in his or her very own sheepskin rug. Made especially for baby they measure around 8 square feet and they are sheered to ¾" or less so safe for baby to roll around in. They are perfect for your young ones to crawl around on the floor, sit and play on. Sheepskin rugs have a way of settling down most babies that are fussing. It must be there warm natural coziness that does the job.

Pet Sheepskin Rugs

If there is a sheepskin rug for you and your baby then why not one for your pet dog or cat. The animals love to snuggle up on their own sheepskin rug and they might stay off of yours.

Sheepskin rugs are fairly easy to take care of. When you first get your rug it may look flat because of the packaging. But not to worry wool bounces back very quickly. Just give it a good shake and spread out. The fold marks will fade away over a few days.

To wash your sheepskin rug use only warm or cold water. You can wash it in a machine or by hand. If you use your machine use Woolskin Sheepskin wash which is designed for sheepskin. Don’t use any regular soaps or detergents.

Lye it flat for drying or you can stretch it over a close line. Do not place in the direct sun or near artificial heat such as a heater. It can damage the rug.

If the wool curls after you wash it. Not to worry that’s its natural state and you can brush it out while it’s wet so it dries with that luxury fluffy look.

Sheepskin rugs are in a class of their own with little competition other than perhaps rabbit or bear. There are few large rugs that are as beautiful as a sheepskin rug. So why not try it for yourself?

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

The Mathmos Color Bubble is made by Mathmos - the company that created the original Lava lamp back in 1967). This is a very intriguing light that illuminates in a wonderful shade of blue. The Mathmos Color Bubble is made with high-quality materials. The outer housing is made of semi-soft kind of rubber. It also features a built-in rechargeable battery with AC plug adaptor (120V) and can be used indoor or outdoors. The battery will last 3-6 hours on a full charge.

Other features of the Color Bubble:

* Built-in rechargeable battery with AC adaptor.
* Uses long-life LEDs to produce light.
* Made with high-quality materials - very durable.
* Splash-proof seal means that it can be used indoors or outdoors.
* 3-6 hour battery life for a full charge.

Ambient Orb
The Ambient Orb is a device that slowly transitions between thousands of colors to show changes in the weather, the health of your stock portfolio, or if your boss or friend is on instant messenger. It is a simple wireless object that unobtrusively presents information. Imagine if you had to go to your computer and type in your zip code whenever you wanted to check what time it was. Your important information should be as accessible as looking at a clock, now the Ambient Orb can make a variety of information just a glance away.

The Ambient Orb is simply plugged into any standard power outlet and it is up and running on a nationwide wireless network - no internet connection required. The Orb does not attach to a PC. The channel for the Orb can be selected via a web interface and will update in a short period of time. Depending on which channel the Orb is monitoring, it will receive updates every few minutes, or perhaps once per hour for some channels.

The Ambient Orb has these features:

* LED lighting that can produce thousands of color combinations
* Orb can also produce color pulses
* The Orb is made of glass
* Pre-configured to monitor the Dow - can be reconfirgured online or through an 800 number
* Premium content available for about $1/week
* Does not require a computer, phone or internet connection
* Three brightness level settings
* Includes power supply, power cord, and glass Orb
* Can monitor: Stock market, weather, pollen count, IM buddies, or custom data
* One-year manufaturer warranty

Ambient Orb

For more details, see more information About the Orb or Buy an Ambient Orb

To summarize, the Mathmos Color Bubble simply cycles color at random, where the Ambient Orb receives information wirelessly and changes color accordingly…

Chinese rugs date far back into ancient time but it is the rugs from the 1930s era that are getting the most attention these days. The Fette, Peking, and Nichols rugs are very popular! Buying Chinese rugs can be a great investment financially and in your home decor. Below are the top 3 types of Chinese rugs to buy.

Peking Rugs

The Peking rugs are influenced with Chinese symbols and designs that are from ancient times. The original Peking rugs would have a centered design as the focal point and then an all over pattern. They were commonly found in ivory, yellow, navy, and royal blue. Chinese rugs designed into the 1970s still carried the influential styles of antique Peking rugs.

Peking Rugs dating to around the early 1900’s will fetch anywhere from $5000 and up. More modern reproductions from the 1970’s right up to current can be purchased for much less. If you are looking for a financial investment don’t bother with the new ones, but if you are looking for home decor they are an excellent choice and no one but a professional will know the difference.

Nichols Rugs

This style of Chinese rug was produced from the early 1900’s right through to the early 1930’s. Nichols rugs where heavily influenced by the art deco period and were created using a wonderful mix of colored wools that were blended to create a style that is still very popular even today.

These days the Nichols rugs are also fetching big dollars. You can expect to spend $2500 or more depending on size, style, and age. These are a beautiful addition to a room and an excellent investment!

Fette Chinese Rugs

These rugs are the mates to the Nichols and came into the market place in the early 1900’s as well and remained until the late 1940’s. They were well known for there excellent reproduction of the Peking designs and patterns but with a European influence. The fette was limited in colors but a large spacious rug that would be noticeable anywhere.

The Fette rugs vary considerably in price. Best to check around and find the best buy you can.

Before dishing out these larger amounts of cash spend some time learning as much as possible about the style you are interested in. If you are buying Chinese rugs for an investment this is critical to ensuring you are buying the right rugs. If you are unsure then hire a professional to give you an appraisal on quality and value. In fact this is your best bet if your are spending substantial amounts of money.

If you are simply looking for Chinese rugs to complete your decor then think about purchasing one of the more modern styles for substantially less money. They will look just as beautiful and you won’t be worried about stains or wear that could depreciate the value of your investment. Believe me when I tell you no one will be able to tell the difference except for an experienced professional, especially if you buy a high quality reproduction.

Remember that Chinese rugs not only look great on the floor they also look terrific as wall hangings. So use as you will! Chinese carpets are fashionable and beautiful addition to your home!

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

When it comes to home accessories, baker’s racks have long been a favorite of consumers due to their versatility, beauty, and practicality. In addition to adding that special element of style, a baker’s rack is also very practical in that it can be used for extra shelving, storage space and/or as a work center. This multi-purpose nature of the baker’s rack is what makes it so popular and the perfect addition for any kitchen or living space.

The ability of the baker’s rack to work well with any décor is also one of the reasons that their use is so prevalent today. Baker’s racks can be incorporated into the décor of contemporary homes, country cottages, urban dwellings, formal homes and almost any decorating style that you can dream up.

Baker’s racks are also available in a wide range of styles and materials to suit your particular decorating style. You can make your selection from pieces made from all types of finished wood, metal and wrought iron, or a combination of materials.

Choose bakers rack styles such as romantic, contemporary, country and classic. Or customize your decorating style with Nantucket, Florence and Normandy pieces, just to name a few.

Are you lacking space, but still want that added touch that only a baker’s rack can give? Why not accent your living space with a bakers rack nestled innocently in the corner of your favorite room? This could be the perfect solution for crowded kitchens with little counter space, or corners that need a little something special. No matter whether you prefer the sleek lines of the contemporary style or the romantic swirls of the country French style, you can find a corner baker’s rack to fit your personality and budget.

Maybe you have a problem with too much empty space, and you want to bring in large design elements to cozy things up a bit. If so, you might enjoy a large baker’s rack such as the contemporary Serra baker’s rack. This piece boasts a beautiful cherry finish with an intricate wrought iron storage space, and would make a perfect focal point for a large space.

If none of these styles suit your needs, perhaps something a little more practical is in order. How about a copper-finished baker’s rack that has been intricately and beautifully sculpted using wrought iron? These pieces are perfect for housing collectibles and solving storage issues. Many also come with wine and wineglass storage.

The best thing about baker’s racks is their affordability. Baker’s racks of high quality and durability can usually be purchased for just a few hundred dollars. Of course, as with anything, you can spend more if your tastes and wants compel you to, but, for the most part, the addition of a baker’s rack to your space can be the most affordable solution to many design dilemmas.

So if your kitchen or living space is missing that special something, give some thought to purchasing a baker’s rack. It may just be the thing that you were looking for.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com. Her websites offer product and information about bakers rack styles, kitchen decor and other furniture for your home or patio.

Your boat requires the right kind of carpet for many reasons. Safety being the first and most important, and of course you want a carpet that’s going to hold up to the outside elements and still look good. That’s why the only choice for you is marine carpet. There are three top marine carpet manufacturers and many marine carpet retailers where you can purchase your marine carpet.

Matworks

Has been producing premium marine carpet for decades. They will even create custom mats and carpets for you. Whether you are replacing your old carpet or looking to add a little pizzaz Matworks has a carpet for you. They use only the highest quality materials designed to hold up under the toughest elements. So whether you need carpeting for your fishing boat or your yacht Matworks can provide it for you.

Desso

Desso is a division of Armstrong World Industries who has been in the carpet business forever. Desso is their marine division and it’s a carpet you can count on. They provide carpeting for cruise lines such as Carnival, Celebrity, and Princess, as well as several Ferry corporations. So you know the quality is there! This company knows how to produce the best marine carpet and how to deliver it to you quickly. They have a wide range of IMO certified carpets with a full range of colors, patterns, and sizes to meet your needs. So whether you’ve got a little boat or a huge boat they’ve got you covered.

Their carpets are ISO 9001 compliant which means that everything from washing the wool to packaging is completed within their own factories. You can’t get better quality control than that. They even develop their own yarn types. They are world leaders in the cruise and ferry segment and they can provide custom work for you to. They are an excellent choice if you are refitting a yacht. They’ll work with you throughout the project to ensure you get the perfect marine carpet or carpets for the project.

Cabela

Is known for producing a premium grade marine carpet that looks good and performs well, outperforming many of its competitors hands down. It is made from a tough UV stabilized weatherproof polypropylene that will take years of mother natures punishment be it sun or rain. You’ve got a great selection of colors to choose from so matching up to your boats interior colors won’t be a problem. It’s also available in 6 or 8 foot widths. They’ve been supplying the industry with marine carpet for a long time and are certainly worth having a look at what they have to offer.

R & S Textiles

R&S Textiles is a leader in the carpet industry and has a specialized marine division that is in the business of producing quality marine carpeting for big or small boats. There custom system allows them to tailor their products to each customers needs. Plenty of colors to choose from and a variety of widths available. UV protection and built to last a lifetime [well almost].

When it comes to marine carpet there are things it must have:

- UV stabilized and protected
- Long wearing quality material such as Olefin
- Rubber backing
- Non Prep - just glue down for installation
- Fade resistant
- Capable of exposure to the elements - sun, rain, salt, water, and wind

So if you are in the market for marine carpet be sure to check out these 4 top marine carpet manufacturers.

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

Are you looking for that special something to turn your kitchen into a room that dreams are made of? Are you tired of the everyday hum drum, and envision a gourmet kitchen that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family? If so, you can make your dreams come true with Powell furniture.

The Powell brand name of furnishings is one of the most sought after brand of furnishings in the United States. Known for their superior quality and unsurpassed beauty, each piece of Powell furniture brings a little special something to the homes they grace.

First established in 1968, the Powell furniture company has grown to become the country’s leader of home accent furniture. In fact, Powell furniture can be found in 95% of the top 100 furniture retailers’ showrooms.

Powell furniture’s commitment to the stay in pace with the changing lifestyles of customers and continued commitment to customer satisfaction has led to the development of new and innovative products to meet the desire and needs of every customer.

Whether your home is grand and formal or a small country cottage, you are guaranteed to find Powell furnishing that will turn your everyday kitchen into your own little piece of heaven. Spice up your kitchen with Powell bakers racks, kitchen islands, wine cabinets, dining tables and pot racks. Turn that everyday kitchen into the favorite room of the house.

Some of the best selling gourmet Powell kitchen furnishings include styles from all over the spectrum. For instance, the Sierra baker’s rack with hutch is one of Powell furniture’s top sellers. This honey finished rack features beautiful, elegant metalwork finished with a bronze leather glaze, a wine rack, shelves and drawer and cabinet space. It even comes equipped with a special place to store your wineglasses. The professional copper pot rack is also a favorite among consumers. Made with high polished solid copper, this rack is the perfect compliment to any gourmet kitchen.

You can also choose several different pieces from the same collection such as the Provence collection. This collection mirrors the country Mediterranean French style and is breathtaking in its beauty. Finished in antique white, the pieces feature hand distressing and intricately hand carved acanthus leaf designs. You can choose from pieces including dinette sets, center islands, bar stools and counter stools. Any one of these pieces can stand on their own and become an extraordinarily beautiful addition to your space, but when all of the elements are put together, a true gourmet masterpiece is created.

And Powell furniture is affordable. With Powell furniture, don’t expect to pay any more than what you would for fine furnishings of an equal caliber. Depending on your tastes, wants and needs, individual pieces of Powell furniture can start at a few hundred dollars. Of course, higher end and specialty items can be considerably more.

So if you are looking to revamp your entire kitchen décor, or you are just looking for that special piece to tie everything together, Powell furniture may have exactly what you are looking for.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com and http://www.SimplyBenches.com. Her sites offer product and information about furniture and decor for your home and garden.

With all the new types of carpet on the market when it comes to buying carpet it can be a bit of an overwhelming task. Be sure to check out the performance characteristics to make sure the type you are looking at will stand up to your expectations. The wrong choice will not last as long and you will disappointed. Follow these 10 tips to buying carpet that works for you.

1. Twist
Look at the twist in the individual yarn pieces. Several twists may give you good carpet. The number of twists will affect the performance and the density of the pile. Do not confuse density with the height of the pile. Pile height has nothing to do with performance.

Generally the more twists in the individual yarns the more spring in the carpet. Remember the more spring the more footprints that will be hidden. However if you are looking for vibrant carpets you will have to trade off the spring because the more vibrant carpets do not have that crimped texture.

2. Stain Protection
You should look for stain protection , soil protection and static guard. Most home owner only clean their carpet once a year so you will want a carpet to perform well over a three year period. Carpets should be cleaned at least twice a year but if you have a heavy traffic areas you may have to clean them as often as 3 or 4 times a year.

The carpet industry has introduced some amazing carpets with stain protection, soil and static protection these new products are better than ever before.

3. Reputable Dealer
Always buy your carpet from a reputable dealer. Look for a quality and customer service oriented dealer with a special carpet section. Make sure the dealer stands behind the products he sells.

4. Look then Look Some More
Look at all the different types of carpets that are available to you. Also look at the various under pads available for the carpet. Don’t skimp on the under pad. Just because it’s not visible doesn’t mean it’s not important. A cheap thin under pad will not do your new carpet any good and will shorten the life of your carpet. An under pad that is too thin will only fall apart under your carpet and damage the carpet over it.

5. Professional Install
You should have your new carpet installed by a professional installer. The dealer will either have their own installation crew or they will be able to direct you to someone they recommend.

6. Prepare The Floor
Remember the floor you place the carpet pad and carpet on will have to be prepared to protect your investment. The better grades of carpet usually need a better grade of underlay or carpet pad.

7. Choosing The Right Carpet
The color and texture will affect the look of the room and lighting conditions will affect the look of the carpet. If the carpeting is smooth or even surfaced it will have a velvety look or plush look like you would want in a formal dinning room. Use an oriental or a tapestry weave style to give a formal look to any room.

To help a room look lighter or brighter a more lustrous carpet fiber should be chosen. Remember a smooth luxurious carpets will show footprints and vacuum marks. If you like this look than ask for a luster fiber but if you do not like the look be sure to tell the sales rep that you do not want lustrous carpet pile.

You can get carpeting in a uneven surface where the looped pile is a bit uneven so it looks to be tailored. By combining different piles at different heights you will get a sculptured look. This look can also be duplicated by the color or the carpet being varied colors. You will find that some carpets get this look by carving on the surface of the carpet pile.

On the sculpted carpet the incoming light strikes the uneven surfaces of the pile at different angles. This type of carpet shows no footprints. The low densely packed carpet is the best for wear. Because the carpet loops are not cut in a low densely packed carpet it will wear longer than a cut pile carpet will. The taller the pile the more sound absorbing capabilities the carpet will be. Remember that high pile carpet is not good for high traffic areas. These fibers will be trampled and will be harder to clean.

8. High Traffic Areas
The basic pile or low loop is a good performer in a high traffic area. You will often see this type of carpet in offices. It wears like iron and cleans up easier than a pile carpet. The chunky look of Berber will have a level loops and have a chunky look. The wear factor is good but not as good as level loop carpeting but it will hide the dirt better.

9. You Get What You Pay For
Remember as like all things in life you will get what you pay for. A low quality carpet is a low quality carpet. Be aware and select the carpet you need and like. Just because it looks like a good deal at the time, you might not think that when you have to change the carpet in 3 years instead of 10 or 20 years. So shop carefully!

10. Guarantee or Warranty
Find out what the guarantee is on the carpet and what the guarantee covers. Does it just replace the carpet or does it also cover installation. What will void the warranty and what is not covered. Know before you buy.

These 10 tips will have you choosing the right carpet for the room in no time. Your room will have a brand new face lift and look awesome!

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

Contrary to popular belief, the addition of a center island to your kitchen does not have to be permanent or a huge investment. By using portable kitchen carts or kitchen islands, you can achieve the sophisticated look that is associated with a center island without having to do a major remodel or take out a loan.

In kitchens of yesterday, the kitchen table served as the center of activity in the kitchen. This is where people prepared the evening meal, socialized and dined. Today that trend has shifted to the use of a kitchen cart or kitchen island.

In addition to providing extra workspace, today’s kitchen carts and islands offer practical solutions to storage and design issues. They can be either small or large, and can range in design from simple to elaborate. Use them to prepare foods, serve buffet style dinners, or to provide extra cupboard space. Need extra counter space? Kitchen carts are available in a wide range of sizes to give you that added space you need.

The design options associated with portable kitchen carts and center kitchen islands are endless, which means that kitchen carts can be incorporated into any style of kitchen. Whether your style is contemporary, country or formal, you can find the perfect kitchen cart to complement your particular sense of style.

Even if you are looking to capture the look of a specific decorating style, you will most likely find that those styles have been incorporated into kitchen islands and kitchen carts. Take for instance the Tuscan, Provence and cottage styles, these are just a few of the styles that you can choose from when selecting your kitchen cart or island. Some of these styles even feature elaborate pieces that have been adorned with intricate hand painted or hand carved designs, which will serve to make your new addition not only a very practical one, but a very beautiful one as well.

Kitchen carts and islands come in wide array of finishes that can be handpicked to look as if they were custom made for your kitchen. There is also a large variety of work surfaces to choose from including wood, stainless steel, granite and butchers block.

The bottom line is: no matter what your style is or how much space you have to work with, you can find the perfect kitchen cart or island to customize your space without having to hire a contractor or invest in expensive cabinetry.

And they are very affordable. The pricing for kitchen carts and islands starts at a couple of hundred dollars. Of course, the price goes up from there and can get a high as $1,000 or more. It really just depends on what you choose. For example: A high-end kitchen cart may have intricate hand carved woodwork, plenty of work and storage space, a wine rack and a granite work surface. Whereas a lower-end kitchen cart may consist of simple elegant lines, a cabinet or two, and a wooden work surface.

So before you go all out for a kitchen remodel, why not take some time to see how a portable kitchen cart or island would complement your space.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com. Her websites offer product and information about kitchen carts and kitchen islands, bakers racks and other decor and furniture for your home or garden.