Faux finished cabinets are finding a welcome home in today’s kitchens. From the most timeworn distressed looks to high-end lacquered finishes, a decorative painter can add just the right touch to create the exact design and style most appropriate for your dream kitchen.

As we all know so very well, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s our source of comfort and joy. Whether we’re preparing a meal for our loved ones or just hanging out with our friends, the kitchen is the place everyone loves to be the best. And these days, the makeup of our kitchen environs is getting the attention it deserves.

Older kitchens are being remodeled and expanded. The kitchens in new homes are bigger than ever and are more accessible, too. Everything that goes into making a perfect space is being included — professional cooking equipment, granite countertops, sophisticated lighting, and especially important is stunningly beautiful cabinetry.

Giving the kitchen a particular feel can be easily achieved through decorative painting — whether the look is farmhouse French, Swedish country, or even slick contemporary. A sophisticated and experienced faux finisher has at his command many finishes and materials that can fit the needs of the designer, builder and homeowner. He is able to provide information on the best colors and most suitable techniques, plus bring unique artistic insights to the job.

Pricing for the finishes depends upon the level of complexity and the material used to get that “just right” look. A knowledgeable faux finisher can work with in your budget while giving you the best possible look to complete your needs.

Some of the faux effects that are popular in kitchens these days include one or a combination of the following:

Dry-brushing

Stippling

Strie

Stains and paints

Ragged glazes

Metallic finishes

Antique distressed finishes

Color washes

I encourage you to contact an experienced professional faux finisher for a free consultation when you are ready to begin your kitchen project. Discuss your ideas with a faux finish expert — look at colors, styles, techniques and samples. Then develop the perfect combination for your dream kitchen. Make your heart of the home as perfect as you deserve.

Jay Dorman is the owner of Greystone Artisans, a decorative painting and faux finishing company. This Houston-based company has been in business for eight years and has worked in many of the finest homes locally and in other cities in Texas. This team of talented artists is available for travel to locations outside of Texas, too!

Consultations are available upon request and are at no cost. Hundreds of samples including cabinetry finishes and wall finishes of all types can be seen at our showroom. The showroom, which houses our workroom as well, is open by appointment. Please visit us on the web at:

http://www.greystoneartisans.com

If you watch history programs on television or do much reading in this vein, you may recall seeing some of the beautiful medieval tapestries that frequently depict hunting scenes or well-known figures in freeze-frame motion. Hand-woven by women or perhaps monks with obvious artistic talent, these art forms preserve and showcase the exceptional talent of those who produced them centuries ago.

Tapestries originally were shaped like large area carpets that might be laid on a stone floor to keep it clean and dry. Instead, they were hung on drafty stonewalls of secluded palaces or fortresses to enliven the place and to prevent the damp cold from creeping into residents’ bones. Woven with heavy yarn spun from animal wool that had been dyed a variety of shades, the beautifully crafted designs capture the long-ago adventure of battle scenes, treaties, and other monumental events that shaped the course of history. Handed down through a long family line or traded in open markets as well as donated to museum collections, many famous tapestries from Europe and other regions survive today to remind us of the ancient artisans who wove them with great care.

You can get the same feel of history, art, and comfort when you buy a modern-day tapestry. Or, better yet, make one yourself. While you need not shear the sheep to get their wool for your project, you can purchase the wool or silk at any stage of its development that will be needed. Then you can needlepoint a selected design into the fabric to bring long-dead ancestors or family history to life. Your tapestry need not be as heavy or as large as those of old. Instead, begin by making a smaller version that can be used as a decorative wall hanging in your den or used as an accent rug in the family room.

You can get tapestry kits from a craft or fabric store. Choose a ready-made pattern or make one yourself from an old photograph or art piece. Then select the proper type of thread and needle that will be used to imprint the design on a fabric backing. Follow the directions posted in a tapestry guidebook, or enroll in a community college course or fabric store sewing class devoted to tapestry to learn more about this historical art form. No one will be disappointed if your first effort isn’t a masterpiece. Just learn from any mistakes and try again until you get the result you want. Your family will love the exquisite designs that you can mold from heirlooms and special mementos.

If time will not permit you to make your own tapestry, visit one of the well-stocked specialty shops that offer this type of home decoration. Compare prices and quality before making your selection. Either way, your guests and loved ones will appreciate the unique look of a tapestry adorning your personal abode.

Find the tapestry of your dreams at The Tapestry Cart, located at http://www.tapestrycart.com.

During summer time, there’s nothing better than a bright cheery kitchen that lets the outside in. A few little changes can make your kitchen light and bright - even in the middle of winter.

How can you make your kitchen a fun summer getaway?

Summertime is all about light. Put the heavy drapery away and make the widows a focal point. While the light is great during the day - especially if you don’t need to turn on interior lights - you may dislike the cavernous black holes that they become late at night. For privacy and appearance, keep up the retractable blinds during the day and put them down at night behind a sheer curtain.

Use mirrors to capture the sunlight and bounce it around. This doesn’t mean a major change in your decor but you may find moving a large mirror to a different wall will optimize the light reflection in the room. Try it across from a window or on a wall that corners against the window wall for the most light distribution.

Open Up the Room

While some people change their furniture arrangement all the time, others rarely consider it. Moving the furniture into a ’summer arrangement’ can optimize your space and give it a more airy feel. Try putting away your big table and going with a smaller café style glass topped table or wicker set.

If you barbecue you might even switch the dining and living room area around if it will give you a better flow for entertaining and enjoying the evening sun during meals.

Roll up the area rugs, leave the table bare and get rid of excess clutter on your countertops. Accent the kitchen with light greens, aquas and melon colored accessories. Using bamboo placemats or having colorful fun summer plates and glasses out can really add to the look. How about leaving a tropical pitcher and glasses on a summer themed tray on your counter, sideboard or table?

Make your eating area light and breezy with like to use white cotton or canvas slipcovers on the furniture. Not only will it brighten the room, but they can come off easily to be cleaned so you needn’t worry about stains - which is never a good look!

Bring the Outdoors In

A large tropical plant with palm leaves will give an instant injection of summer to your kitchen. Adding some colorful cut flowers will add further summer appeal. However, too much of anything is not good. Don’t clutter your rooms with so many plants it feels like a conservatory.

Using one or two of these suggestions will be sure to help you take full advantage of summer - while its here!

Lee Dobbins writes for A Kitchen Decorating Idea Guide where you can find hundreds of articles on kitchen decorating themes.

Since the mid-1950’s Chile’s wood product trade has been rapidly expanding due to the cultivation of “plantation grown” softwood and hardwood trees. Chile’s unstoppable growth is also projected to rise within the next 15 years, making Chile an even greater player in the world’s wood product market. Chile is not the only country in South America benefiting from such fast-growing plantations. Both Brazil and Peru are beginning to enter the wood product market, but not with such ferocity and versatility. Chile has systematically managed to capitalize on both the raw product production and the bi-product product production of its wood products.

Experimentation with such fast-growing hardwoods, primarily eucalyptus, has produced positive results prompting Chileans to establish more experimental plantations. Such bold moves are based on the notion that the fast-growing hardwoods could outperform Radiata Pine and provide the industry with an increased volume of high quality fiber as well as saw or veneer logs within 14 years of plantation establishment.

Two trends worth noting, particularly among the larger wood product companies in Chile, are the high levels of horizontal integration within the plantations total operations and the extensive investment made in technology used throughout operations. Both of these trends can be expected to continue. Hardwood and softwood markets are here to stay.

Another significant trend emerging within Chilean wood companies is the investment in other Latin American countries. The recent signing of various free trade agreements with Central American countries, including Costa Rica, has resulted in the establishment of satellite businesses that directly market Chilean wood products. A Mexican wafer board manufacturer and an OSB plant in Brazil are part of Chile’s ongoing mergers. While plantations continue to emerge in Brazil and Venezuela totaling a near $40 million in investments, Chilean firms are confident the returns will be far greater than even they could have imagined.

So what does this all translate to?

Chile has clearly proven itself to be a wood producing success story. Because of trade incentives, Chile has established some of the world’s most impressive plantations and no longer relies on native forests. In addition, the Chilean wood products industry has implemented a fully integrated supply and management system that represents one of the best models of efficiency within the industry. It can be expected that Chile will continue to prosper and emerge as one of the world’s most important wood products supplier resulting in an increased global reliance on South American and Latin American plantations.

This article and one-way link advertisement provided by LinkAcquire.com

David C Skul - CEO LinkAcquire.com and Relativity, Inc. is pleased to serve his clients through traffic generating articles and one way links.

All About Glass Sinks

The hottest trend in bathroom design today is the handmade glass sink – often referred to as a glass vessel sink - which has become the latest must-have for luxury homeowners. Combine the versatility in color and design offered by glass with the vessel mount trend and it’s no wonder that our company, Glass Artists Gallery, can barely keep up with demand. Vessel-mounted, fused, slumped, mosaic, under-mounted and hand-blown sinks have even influenced the faucet manufacturers’ designs because of their unprecedented popularity.

We find ourselves answering questions and dispelling myths surrounding sinks just about every day. This article was created to answer some of the more common questions such as "What is a handmade sink?" "Are they expensive?" "What are the differences in the glass sinks I see in the showrooms and online?" "Are they durable?"

Types of Glass Sinks

To better understand the three main categories of glass vessel sinks, it helps to understand the three main types of glassmaking:

Cold Glass — Working with glass at room temperature. Examples are mosaic glass, stained glass, glass carving and etching.

Warm Glass — The process of fusing, slumping or other kiln forming techniques at temperatures between 1100 and 1700 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hot Glass– The process of blowing glass using a furnace that melts the glass at 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the glass is gathered on the end of a pipe, the artist forms the hot glass using a "Glory Hole" (an oven that maintains a temperature of around 1200 degrees Fahrenheit). The resulting work is then slowly cooled in an annealing oven.

With the above in mind, there are three main categories of artisan crafted glass sinks you will find at Glass Artists Gallery:

Fused & Slumped — Glass fusing is the process of joining together pieces of glass. When the right kind of glass is heated and then cooled properly, the resulting fused glass piece will be solid and unbroken. Using fusing techniques, the artist creates patterns and designs in color. The resulting sheet of fused glass is then slumped into the vessel shape. In the slumping process the glass is laid into, or on top of a mold and heated just to the point where it "Slumps" to fit the form of the mold. Once the glass reaches the desired form it must be cooled quickly enough to stop the movement that will result in cracking. Although this might sound simple, the resulting sinks can be quite intricate in their design and require hours of painstaking labor.

Blown Glass — Hand blown glass sinks are created through a much different process. This "hot glass" process allows an artist to create myriad different styles, colors, shapes and sizes that are always unique. Layers of glass are "gathered" onto the end of a "rod" or "pipe" and formed, blown and worked into a vessel shape. Color is applied in many different forms at the beginning of the process. Once finished, the piece is "annealed" for a minimum of 48 hours for maximum durability. Due to variations in the glass blowing process, every sink will be unique.

Mosaic Glass — Pieces of hand-cut colored art glass are adhered to the inside surface of a 1/2" thick annealed glass bowl. Annealing is a process of bending the glass at extremely high temperatures to assure durability of use in the most extreme temperature conditions. The sink is then grouted with a specially mixed blend of sand and tinted cement, then sealed and finished with a protective clear polymer coating to create a smooth surface which is colorful, sturdy, easy to care for and a breathtaking focal point for any bathroom.

Handmade or Production?

As you can see from the types of glass sinks that are available, you have many different choices for incorporating a stunning centerpiece in the bath. The choice you will need to make is whether you want an original "work of art" - an artisan created sink - or a "factory produced" glass vessel. The trend in glass sinks has created a flood of offshore imports that are now available. We liken the current choices to the art world where you can find original art as well as "prints" or "reproductions". Production sinks made in a factory are mass produced generally using single sheets of glass. Many are painted with a design. Few, if any, are truly "slumped & fused".

Durability of Glass Sinks

How do we, as glass specialists, reassure the end user of a glass sinks durability? The analogy I use is that the glass sinks we sell are made by professionals and are able to withstand similar abuse as a porcelain sink. In other words, if you drop a heavy object into a glass sink with enough force to break it, you would have also broken a typical porcelain sink. They both have similar strength characteristics.

The difference between these two materials is that glass is more prone to "thermal shock". Thermal shock can occur when there is a sudden temperature change of more than 70 degrees. For example, you don’t want to pour scalding hot water (over 120 degrees) into a glass sink. Hot water from the tap is generally 100 - 110 degrees, so the temperature difference is well within the safe zone. The most common occurrences of thermal shock happen when a sink is left on a jobsite where the temperature is unregulated.

When installing a glass vessel sink, be sure your contractor knows that thermal shock can be a problem if the jobsite is not yet heated. In addition, make sure they know that the drain assembly should be hand tightened only. Over-tightening the drain is the second most common cause of breakage.

At Glass Artists Gallery, our clients use glass sinks not only in the powder room, but also in the master bath, guest baths and even children’s baths. When treated and installed properly, they are durable, safe and fantastic design options. With proper lighting, they will "glow" and cast wonderful light and shadow effects throughout the bath. They will certainly set your project apart!

To see all of the glass sinks available, as well as artisan crafted sinks in other mediums including stone, metal, ceramic and even wood - please visit Sinks Gallery

Jack Healy is part owner of Functional Art Gallery, LLC - Functional Art Gallery - a growing family of online resources for the designer, architect, builder and discerning homeowner. The company focuses on handcrafted functional & architectural works of art for both residential and commercial projects. The Functional Art Gallery family includes Glass Artists Gallery, Sinks Gallery and Art Lighting Gallery. Together these resources provide the largest collection of artisan and designer products available in North America.

Every Human being has a unique chemistry of his own body, choices, preferences, tastes, likes & dislikes and so is the level of comfort depending upon the specific type of Interior Decoration that one cherishes. It is a pure Art to know yourself, identify your needs closely and then make up a surrounding of your own kind which is as unique as you are. The interior which gives you the best satisfaction to live in or work around.

Very few of us are born with this talent to recognize their need of ambience that suits them the best. In other cases some people require Professionals, Experts engaged in the field of Interior Decoration with skills tuned to the nuances of perfection, art and nature. They discover ones style of life, day to day routine & the living habits and accordingly arrange a interior that is most compatible for them.

Almighty is the best Interior Decorator who always keeps us inspiring with his lovely creations, which we call Nature. We all always like to make a little comfortable world within our own surroundings / premises. At all times we try to follow the basic rules of Nature only, like the darker shades at the lower portions and light shades on the upper, heavy objects in the bottom and putting lighter ones in the upper part.

The Interior Decoration describes many facts about a person who relates to it. In other words, Interior Speaks its own language of art, style and life. A rich Interior elevates our soul !!!!

FEW TIPS

1. LIGHT ARRANGEMENT

Natural Light should be maximum used in any Space whether it is residential or commercial. Manmade lights should always be our second preference. Yellow Lights are good for a space to be used for celebrations / festive happenings. White light is good for reading space, worship places, lawns, lobiies, verandahs, restrooms. Light Blue colour lights are best advisable for Bed Rooms. The direction of light should be in front-top of a reader in the reading room or the subject in question. In all cases the level of lighting equipments should be lower than any Ceiling Fan or major fitiing which cuts the flow of light.

2. FREE SPACE

Free Space is a must between the Openings of different rooms and even inside also. It allows the free flow of positive energies in the premises and the cross-ventilation of fresh air, as well. The advisable direction to maintain a Free space is either North-east or Center of the total space. Free space is often called as breathing space also.

3. OPENINGS FOR CONTACT WITH ENVIRONMENT

Sufficient number of Main Windows, Ventilation Windows and Doors must be provided in any building or interior. It allows to keep us in touch with the free and fresh stock of air, energy and day light. Partial arrangements like blindfolds give a very special look to these openings while maintaing their role intact.

4. USE OF WOOD

The use of wood in our buildings and premises give us a feeling of being close to nature. It is much advised in the Inner parts of the buildings only, which are not much exposed to water / water usage. Natural colours of wood are always better, they never react with any kind of Interiors.

5. FLOOR CHOICES

The choice of Floor is an important matter which depends upon the usage of that part of Floor. Wooden Floor for the Living Rooms / Offices are very good owing to their appearance. However, glossy bright tiled / marble floors are advised for the Spaces which are to be used for Commercial activities and celebrations with very heavy usage.

6. COLOR RELEVANCE

Certain Colours are good for particular directions. However, Dark shades are advised in the Bed Rooms. Light shades are better for living rooms, study rooms. Red, yellow and Orange are good for kitchen or the cooking space.

7. WALL AREA

Wall Area should be treated well, where ever it is exposed to the use of water. Specially in the Bathrooms, Toilet and Kitchen, application of Ceramic Tiles gives an eligance and a clean enviornment. Walls can be decorated by using Handmade Tiles, Handpainted Scenaries, Handmade Murals, Ceramic Tile Stes. A wide range of such products and latest Ceramic Tiles / tiling trends can be viewed at http://www.ambalika.com

8. FURNITURE

Furniture is a primary need for usage and comfort. Also it decorates your interior without a saying. Optimum Furniture should be placed in any space specifically in accordance with the use of that particular space. Excessive Furniture just consumes the positive energies flowing in the concerned space.

Manoj Gupta is a eminent interior consultant running his import export firm by the name Ambalika Enterprises since last 15 years. His website is at http://www.ambalika.com

Color and trends in home fashion are coming of age in wild new hues that echo the sunny days of summer. Colors for 2006 will be warmer, clearer and brighter. Reddened oranges will replace coppery hues; yellows will gain importance; and complex neutrals will add sophistication and luxury to the 2006 consumer color palette.

There will be an extraordinary amount of bright colors. There are always bright colors for summer and outdoor wear, but now you’re starting to see it in home pieces like upholstery and bedding. Forecasted is a palette of Overexposed-electrified brights that are intense and saturated. These include Plasma - a bold, bright blue; Optimism - a sharp tangerine-melon; and Limelight - almost neon green.

The selection of color has become a far more thoughtful and exacting process than before. Consumers are using color schemes as a way to personalize their spaces. These include saturated brights that resemble popsicle hues, as well as some hyper-brights like Blue Splash - a new turquoise; Dazzling Green - kelly-green inspired but brighter and more yellow; and Fabulous Pink - a pink with a red cast.

All this translates well into home décor and accessories. Interesting pieces that pull color from one area of the room to another are essential for a harmonious blend. One company that has been able to maintain “escape within the home” as well as offer bold color opportunities is Home and Garden Party. Showcasing one of the many faces of this spring and summer’s hottest oranges and blues, the online catalog offers prime examples of sherbet sunrise and turquoise dream.

Lisa DeClue is a WAHM and Decorator in the Central Illinois area and owner of Decorating with HGPgal, an informative resource site with ideas, articles, theme rooms, terms and styles, Online Catalog, a DecoForum and the monthly PartyLine ezine. Grab your freebie for subscribing today. She can be reached at the website, http://www.HGPgal.com, or by email at Lisa (at) HGPgal.com. Your source for decorating information and beautiful details for your home at exceptional prices!

Did I get your attention? Sorry, I just couldn’t resist! When I was a little girl, we called them “brains”. We would gather them into huge piles and either throw them into the woods or throw them at each other.

I know what you are probably thinking, “That must have hurt!” It did but it never slowed us down. Still don’t know what I am talking about? I am fondly remembering the grapefruit sized, green, brain-like fruit that my siblings and I used to collect by the dozens each fall.

I ended up having two boys and when they were little they did the same thing I did years earlier; they threw them at each other. Of course I yelled words of caution but it never slowed them down either. Around that time I started to collect the “brains” and used them for fall decorations in my house. They have a pleasant smell and they are said to act as a natural insect repellant, although I am not sure if this is a proven fact.

I would gather several of them and place them into a carved wooden bowl or a natural looking basket. Next came the fun part, gathering the other things to go into my display. It varied each year but I would take a walk and collect natural grasses, colorful leaves or whatever captured my fancy. I would bring my “loot” home and create a unique looking arrangement each time.

They even look great by themselves too. One year I dumped an armload of them into a wooden crate and placed it next to my front door for a colorful fall display.

Fall has always been my favorite season, and collecting my next batch of “brains” is something I always look forward to. Several days ago while I was out gathering some, it occurred to me that I didn’t even know the real name of these funny looking green orbs. After a little bit of searching I discovered they are called Hedgeapples and these non-edible, non-poisonous fruits come from a tree called the Osage Orange Tree.

As you read this article, you are either shaking your head saying, “Oh yeah, I know what she is talking about.” or quite possibly you have never seen a hedgeapple in your life. If you are curious and would like to see pictures, please visit me at http://www.flowers-and-garden.com/decoratingwithbrains.php

This fall collect a few “brains” and create a beautiful fall display of your own!

Visit Candee at Flowers and Garden.com if you would like to read more gardening and landscaping articles.

Kitchen decor themes can turn a dull kitchen into a beautiful living space. Being the central gathering place for family and friends, the right theme can make any occasion a memorable event.

Kitchen decorating can be bright and simple or with a little more work can become a great conversation piece. Because you spend so much time in your kitchen decorating to suit your taste is very important for long lasting enjoyment.

One of the more important aspects of kitchen decor themes is creating areas of open space. Next, large counter tops with easy to clean surfaces are always a good idea. And picking materials for the floor which are both beautiful and durable belong in anyone’s modern kitchen.

Kitchen decor themes have many advantages but be sure you give plenty of time for careful planning and thoughtful consideration for a kitchen that is stylish and functions properly according to your families needs.

Kitchen design themes can be made to fit anyone’s taste and budget. Here are some of the more common themes:

Antique Kitchen Themes
Home Sweet Home Kitchen Themes
Bright Colors Kitchen Themes
Country Kitchen Themes
Italian Kitchen Themes
Grape Kitchen Themes
Rooster Kitchen Themes
Mexican Kitchen Themes

With today’s access to the internet shopping for kitchen decor themes has never been easier and can be a whole lot of fun creating yourself.

Curtis Miller is a successful author and publisher of Kitchens 4u. Your source for quality items for your kitchen.

Step 1: Pick a motif and go with it! Don’t pair your childhood bedspread with a new wrought iron bed and lace curtains. Choose colors that remind you of things you love. For example, my bedroom is all done in tan and pastels, because those colors make me feel like I’m in a spring meadow. Other favorite motifs include ocean, fall or sunset. Make it the vibe that fills the room. This mean not just your bedding, but also any framed artwork or standing decorations should go with the motif.

Step 2: Make it smell yummy! A room with a pleasant, inviting fragrance is a great start to creating that special space where you go to escape. Choose scented candles in your favorites smells. Vanilla is always relaxing and tantalizing. Another choice: incense. It comes in limitless scents, and you can be constantly changing your scented sticks to match your mood. Plus, incense holders are decorations in themselves. They can be wooden or ceramic, and some even come in statue form, so pick one that goes along with the motif you’ve selected! If you’re not up for burning, then go with a nice air freshener or plug in to give your space the smell that makes you come running.

Step 3: Make it soft! Your bedroom is the place where you should feel the most comfortable, so make it your own nest. You should hardly be able to hold back from cuddling up in your soft bedspread (I recommend down!) and pile of overstuffed pillows. Also, a soft, cushy rug beside the bed is the perfect way to start your day of on the right foot.

Step 4: Get rid of the mess! Nothing kills a good mood like walking into a cluttered room. Your place of relaxation should not be polluted with dirty clothes on the floor and piles of things "to be put away." If you take the attitude that your room is your paradise, and when in it you should feel spoiled, you won’t want to leave yucky messes lingering among your goodies. Invest in plastic crates that slide easily under the bed or in the closet for out-of-sight storage.

Step 5: Personalize! If someone else entered your room they should know you live there. Fill it with things you love. Whether you like artsy decorations or plant life or black and white collages of you and your loved ones, surround yourself with the things that make you feel happy!

Research from: Cosmopolitan, February 2005

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher who offers advice on choosing your couch sofa, recliner, or leather sofa