Home-Improvement:Interior-Design-and-Decorating Articles

Home-Improvement:Landscaping-Outdoor-Decorating Articles

Home-Improvement:Bath-and-Shower Articles

Showing posts with label innovative designs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label innovative designs. Show all posts

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Make Your Interiors Alive With the Elegant Wall Aquariums

Make Your Interiors Alive With the Elegant Wall Aquariums

Today, wall aquariums are gaining a lot of popularity in the market. You can easily notice various types of wall aquariums in the market. These interior decors are well enhanced with majestic and outstanding looks. You can simply provide a luxurious and unique looks to your home interiors with the help of wall aquariums. They are merely the artworks that are well enhanced with various advanced technologies.

Wall aquariums can be mounted on the walls very easily because they do not possess enough thickness. These interior decors are available in various designs and shapes. You can easily notice table top aquariums, small aquariums, large aquariums and medium aquariums. These aquariums are well enhanced with various water creatures. Their elegance and magnificence is the major reason for their popularity.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The Stunning Piece of Beauty of a Sunrise Spring Wall Fountain

The Stunning Piece of Beauty of a Sunrise Spring Wall Fountain

Fountains are always the centre of attraction for everyone. Wall fountain is one of the most attractive items meant for the interior decoration of your sweet home or business purposes. It means for the enhancement and the beautification of offices or hotels. It is purely an imaginative and exclusive design which is becoming the status symbol in this present scenario.

Various Features Of Wall Fountain:

  • It uses to hold very less space.
  • It is very prominently designed and exclusive part for the decorative purpose.
  • It is one of the eye catcher items placed on the entrance hall or lobby.
  • It is very light weighted and easy to hang anywhere on the wall.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Home Interior Decorating Step by Step

Home Interior Decorating Step by Step

Whenever you deal with home interior decorating of your house, you would like to decorate one area at a time. Often, an individual will attempt to handle the entire house in a single swoop and the actual job will become overwhelming as well as annoying. Rather, break the entire project down into small steps and undertake one smaller area, completing it before moving along to the next one.

It can be alright to plan the whole look for the house prior to starting. Just do not think that everything needs to occur at the same time. Do not buy all the decorating items you may need at once either or you will need to find space to store all the stuff until you need them.

Purchase fresh paint for an entire room at one time so you get the same paint mix that will complement perfectly. Do purchase fabric for a single room all at one time to be able to be sure you a sufficient supply. Additional items can be bought when needed.

Tips in Addressing Trouble Spots in Your Home Interior Paints

Tips in Addressing Trouble Spots in Your Home Interior Paints

Painting the house seemed to be a very exciting and fun-filled activity for new home owners who are venturing into the beautification and improvement of their homes. However, when you are starting to see trouble spots in different areas where you applied your home interior paints, then it gives you the red signal to do something about it as soon as possible.

Interior paint problems are imminent especially if you are not quite careful with the application of your home interior paints. Home painting has been a do-it-yourself endeavor which is why it is most prone to having troubles and unlikely effects in the future. Hence, in order to avoid this kind of problem, you must consult professionals or those in your local home depot regarding the proper and accurate application of wall paints especially if you are doing it yourself.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Fundamental Elements of Modern Home Interior Design

Fundamental Elements of Modern Home Interior Design

If you want a house with chic, clean lines and a fresh, updated feel, you will probably enjoy the look of an ultra-modern home interior design. The primary benefit of this type of design is that it offers a wide variety of choices when it comes to colors, fabrics and decorations that you can use, making it easy for you to come up with an overall look that is truly your own.

The trademark look of modern home interior design is that of class and elegance without the frills and extravagance that designs of previous decades are known for. On the contrary, the furniture and architecture used in modern home interior design are very simple, to the point of being quite minimalist. The colors are very solid as well, and the shapes are mostly geometrical. Intricate designs and lavishly ornamental pieces are very rarely, if ever, found in modern home interior design.

A Contemporary Look

Most of the appliances and furniture used in modern design are made from a combination of stainless steel, glass, plastic and leather, making for a very contemporary look. However, wood elements are also a nice addition to any modern room. The rich, dark tones of walnut and mahogany can soften the atmosphere in the area and they complement the coldness of metal and other modern materials.

Home Interiors - Very Fun to Decorate

Home Interiors - Very Fun to Decorate

Home interiors are by far one of the most stressful decorating endeavors that anyone can take on. While your intentions may be simple, you are almost inevitably doomed to find the task more difficult than expected which is why so many people seek out professional design help. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride when you sit down to do your next big project involving home interiors.

If you are serious about home interior decorating you might want to look into hiring a professional decorator to help you with your plans if you can afford it. This will remove a large portion of the stress from you and the results are almost always excellent. A designer can help you pick color schemes, recommend furniture placement to give your home interiors a roomy look and can even suggest decorative elements for around your house as well.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

3 Home Interior Design Ideas For Fast Results!

3 Home Interior Design Ideas For Fast Results!

When it comes to home interior design many people think that repainting your home and changing furniture are the only things that will make a big difference.

Yes, they will but there are a thousand other things, which can be done creatively apart from simple repainting you home that can make a huge difference. If you are planning to redesign your home then I you can save a lot of money by looking at the smaller things in your home, which will generate a perception of newly, designed home and that too in a small budget.

Here are some home interior design ideas that can help you.

1) Instead of changing the entire color of your walls try changing just one wall in every bedroom. Spot the wall in every room that receives direct sunlight and painting it with bright color (just an example) and see what happens.

How to Create a Romantic Home Interior

How to Create a Romantic Home Interior

A romantic home invites you to fall in love with the beauty of your surroundings. Hand-carved furnishings and elegant decor charm from every corner, and a calm color palette and plush seating appeal to the senses. To create your own romantic retreat, start by combining classic design with modern day comfort, and complete the look with a few opulent touches.

When selecting romantic furniture, who better than the French to turn to for amorous inspiration? French reproduction furniture, with origins in the era of the Louis kings, is known for its curvaceous forms, ornate carvings, and hand-painted details.

To build a backdrop for romance, choose hand-carved consoles, tables, and cabinets painted in whites and neutral tones to establish a calm, serene environment. Commonly known as shabby chic or French shabby, furnishings are heavily distressed to achieve a timeworn feel. Brimming with Old World character and elegance, French reproduction furniture is ideal for creating a romantic atmosphere.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Spotting the Best Place to Get Prefect Oil Paintings

Spotting the Best Place to Get Prefect Oil Paintings

The idea of decorating a home with paintings is not new. People have always been hanging different types of paintings to enhance the beauty of walls and rooms. Although there is a wide variety of decoration pieces that are now available for home decoration, there is nothing as sophisticated as a perfectly painted picture. And, things get even better if you opt for oil paintings.

Like other paintings, the idea of using oil paintings for wall decoration is quite old, but things have now becomes much more sophisticated. In past, there were only few artists with only few outlets to provide people with a chance to buy an oil painting, but things are no longer the same.

Now, it is not hard to find a place to get oil paintings of your choice. Using internet to buy paintings is a great option, but there is one issue which is about spotting the best place to get the perfect oil paintings.

Although it is quite tricky to find a right place for these paintings, you can still manage to get yourself at an authentic site by keeping following things in mind.

Make Your Home Charming With Country Home Decor

Make Your Home Charming With Country Home Decor

Whether you live in the city, on the beach, in the mountains, the dessert or out in the country you can make your house, apartment, condo where ever you call home more homey with some country home decor. A country themed home never goes out of style.

What is country home decor you may wonder, well it really depends on your own taste and has a wide span. For some great country decor ideas, look at some country magazines or online. I grew up on a ranch, working cattle and riding horses, raising every kind of farm animal you can think of.

Now that I am raising my own kids, I have always kept the country life they love it and their friends always say how comfy our home is. My kitchen is of medium size with red and white checked curtains, an old oak table.

On a shelf that runs all the way around the top of my kitchen I have a glass butter churn that has been passed down from generations, it is probably about 150 years old, and we still use it on occasion, there is also old metal milk cans, very old iron skillets, old tin log cabin syrup cans you get the idea anything old or old fashioned.

Decorating With Glass Corner Shelves

Decorating With Glass Corner Shelves

There are many reasons why someone would want to use glass corner shelves in their home or office. Whether you want to add a few little decorations to your room or you want to display an entire collection of small porcelain clowns, the shelves made of glass are the perfect choice. These shelves are delicate and go with any theme or style within a room.

One thing that you may be afraid of is that glass is able to be broken easily. In addition, when glass breaks, someone can get hurt, especially small children and animals. While this can be very true, it is not something that you should have to worry about as long as you are installing the shelves properly.

If you are following the instructions and you are making sure that the shelves are hung properly, you should not have any problems. A good thing to do, when hanging corner glass shelving, is to make sure that you are using the right hardware. You have to be a good judge to determine if what you are using is going to be strong enough to hold the weight of the glass.

Since some glass weighs more than others, it is important to make sure that you are always assuming that the glass is a little on the heavy side. You will want to make sure that you are also installing the hardware into wall studs.

If you simply try to install the hardware for the shelves into drywall, without anything behind that drywall, you are facing a big mess when the glass corner shelves come crashing down. You have to have that stud behind the wall or else you will not be successful with this venture.

Once you have the glass up on the wall, you will see that all of the work you put into installing it was well worth it. You will find that once you begin to place all of your decorations on the shelves that it is a much better look than you first thought it would be.

Depending on the height of the shelves and the color of the glass, it may appear from certain angles that your decorations are just sort of floating on thin air. This is a very nice look for many rooms as it can help make the room appear and feel more spacious.

Just make sure that you are really taking your time when it comes to installing glass shelves. This way, you can rest peacefully knowing that all of the shelves are secure and in place and that your room now has a nice area to place all of your fancy decorations.

You might enjoy the new shelves so much that you find yourself thinking of other rooms in the house that you could use some new shelving.

Thomas Johnsen is an Author and Leading Expert on Glass Corner Shelves and the creator of Glass Corner Shelves 101. Visit these sites now to find more information about shelving in glass.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Make Your Bathroom Sparkle With These Frugal Redesign Ideas

Make Your Bathroom Sparkle With These Frugal Redesign Ideas

So, you don't like your bathroom and you certainly don't want to pay for an expensive remodeling project - so what can you do?

It is amazing what a few professional redesign tricks and tips can do to give that bathroom an entirely new look and feel for less than the price of a designer's first home consultation. So, let's get started giving your bathroom a new look for $100 or less.

Step 1 - Take a look at the room with a fresh eye. What are it's strongest features. Is there a built in cabinet that you love and want to accent? Is there a window over the tub that has always brought a fresh ray of sunshine in the room? What about the bathroom is your favorite feature?

Now for the opposite question - what characteristic is in the bathroom that you would really like to change. An old toilet? Pink ceramic tile?

Determine what can be changed and what is set in stone for now. Armed with that information, it's time for the next step.

Step 2 - Paint the room. The most inexpensive and totally transforming tool is paint. A quality gallon of semi - gloss paint will run you about $25. And, if you want to save even more than that, look at the clearance paint. These are custom colors that have been left by unsatisfied customers. The perfect color may be waiting for you at about $5 a gallon.

The good news is you don't have to be stuck with that pink wall tile, you can actually paint over those as well. Talk to your local Home Improvement representative for product advice, or look on the internet for "do it yourself" advice.

Step 3 - Accessorize. Here is what really makes the bathroom sparkle. The introduction of new bath linens in fresh colors to accent the wall paint will go a long way in freshening things up.

Shower curtains can be one of the priciest items on the list, so by purchasing a plastic liner and then visiting a fabric store to make your own "custom" curtain is ever so easy and will save you a lot of money.

Check those remnant and clearance racks at the major department stores to find towels at rock bottom prices.

Complete the redesign project by introducing over looked or items already in your home that can compliment your new theme or color scheme. A decorative lamp, a taken for granted picture hanging on another wall or those sea shells from the last trip to the ocean could bring some new interest into the room. A bench, baskets, vase, even string Christmas lights can be used in original ways to make that bathroom sparkle.

Whatever you choose to do - have fun and challenge yourself to try something totally fresh and frugally fabulous!

Visit Frugal Home Design for tons of professional design tips and secrets to make every room in your home frugally fabulous.

Visit http://www.frugalhomedesign.com. Confused about your design style? Take advantage of the Profile Miracle service that identifies your personal style and then provides a comprehensive package of information to get you started on your first design project.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Large Wall Hangings to Make a Great Impression

Large Wall Hangings to Make a Great Impression

Want to transform yourself and your guests when it comes to wall art? Then you have a few choices, and this includes large paintings and large tapestries. So what are the top 3 themes for wall tapestries when it comes to decorating your home? What can be used as large wall art to fill a space and to have an impressive impact? Let's go through them here.

1. Use a landscape or verdure scene

Why a landscape? A landscape has the ability to make you feel as you've stepped into another world, and are inhabiting a different environment. How? It's when you step into a room where there is a beautiful art background to the entire scene.

When this occurs, you feel as if you're now in another place and time. A natural landscape is not only soothing, it is also beautiful and as such remains a popular theme for tapestries including large tapestries and wall hangings. A variation on this is cityscape and nautical scenes as these are a combination of nature and buildings to create a scene that you can just go into.

2. Use a portiere design

Loosely referred to as portieres, a portiere tapestry is any wall tapestry which contains designs arranged in a beautiful manner for decorating a space. They were traditionally used in castles to cover walls and doorways, but in modern homes refers to tapestries to decorate wall spaces.

Some tapestries are elaborate in design and contains images of heraldry, nature, animals and other design motifs arranged in such a way as to best decorate the scene. In other words, they are composed of various elements either in a simple way or in a totally rich and elaborate way, to create a specific effect.

3. Use a design that you simply like

This is another approach which is more modern and this is to say to choose any large tapestry that you like the look of.

Any theme can be had here including religious, French including the art works of Francois Boucher, William Morris, unicorn, medieval, old world maps, nautical scenes, Asian and Oriental, floral and fruit, art tapestries inspired from paintings and art ranging from the Renaissance to Impressionism and beyond.

Large art on the wall has a profound effect on the room, so choose something that you like.

So if you want to decorate a room or home, consider the impact that a large piece of art or tapestry can have on your home and see what effect you can achieve. For their romantic, scenic and decorative qualities, you can turn a room into something special.

Because of their ability to transform a room and to give a room real atmosphere, tapestries have been used as wall decor for centuries and continue to do so.

Tom Matherson writes for Worldwide Tapestries which offers a wide range of European wall tapestries and wall decor to transform any home. See this site for the latest in landscape art tapestries that you can use to enhance any room or home and to create a grand impression.

How to Create Romantic French Bedrooms

How to Create Romantic French Bedrooms

Have you ever wanted to create a romantic French bedroom theme? Well you now can with some simple steps. See a romantic bedroom in the French style can be achieved in various ways and can have different flavors or feel to it depending on your personal preference and taste. But there are some elements you should consider. Use these tips to help you achieve the look you're looking for.

1. Use elegant curtains in French style

If you have French styled windows and doors, that's great. But even if you don't, then you can still achieve the French look without having to replace these architectural features. How? It's in the use of French curtains, or specifically, curtains that reflect those used in French homes and palaces.

These include curtains with elegant curlicues and designs, ranging from beige and browns to more colorful versions in crimsons, greens or blues. The alternative is to use chiffon like drapes.

2. Use a piece of French antique furniture

Antiques are either old pieces or new pieces made to look in the old style. If you can find even 1 piece of furniture such as a side table with elegant legs and some detailed designs on the table drawer, then this piece adds visual interest to the scene and instantly makes you feel as if you've stepped into a French room or home.

3. Use a French style tapestry

A French tapestry or tapestry that is romantic or French in style is one of the most effective ways of transforming a room to look French. A wall tapestry because of its presence and ability to provide art in the room makes a very romantic and opulent impression and can take a room from simple to elegant and romantic very effectively. Works by Francois Boucher especially or any landscape or verdure scene can bring a sense or courtship romance and nature into a home.

4. Use an antique styled picture frame

Your favorite picture can be framed by an elegant or French styled frame to give it a romantic feel . This can be a small frame to place onto a table. This helps to anchor the feel of the room as the eye is drawn towards items of art such as paintings, tapestries and photos. So simply select an appropriate frame and see if it goes with the surrounding decor.

5. Use a bedspread that suits your mood and personality

Even though we are going for a French style, you can influence it in the more traditional or more modern direction simply by the use of your bedspread. If you want your room to feel like a French castle then you can choose a design with elegant detailing.

But if you prefer more modern chic, then choose something that you like yet will complement the rest of the decor that you have chosen. Add a throw or shawl for added effect.

So as you can see, there are several ways to make that romantic French bedroom scene come true. You can play with the exact items you're choosing to create a traditional or more modern feel. So go for it and live in romance and fun and create the room that you want.

Looking for romantic French tapestries? Tom Matherson is a writer for Worldwide Tapestries which offers a range of French style tapestries by Francois Boucher and wall decor to transform any home. See this site for the latest in wall tapestry art and wall hangings that you can use to enhance any room in your home.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Simple Yet Effective Ways to Decorate Your Home

Simple Yet Effective Ways to Decorate Your Home

Want to know how to create an atmosphere and a warm feeling in your home? Ever felt that your home lacked something that will capture the emotions of your guests? Then it may be time to add romance to your home. These tips will transform your home from a room into a place where you and your guests both love being in.

Step 1: Remove all clutter and mess

This simple step is often overlooked but it's very important. If there are any mess such as piles of papers or anything else lying around that does not entice your visitors to stay, it's time to put them away. Best to start with a clean slate than to try to add decor to a room that needs space clearing.

Step 2: Add a piece of wall art

Art and beautiful objects draw the eye and fires the imagination and makes a house a home. You can use wall hangings, paintings or photos to add a sense of beauty to a room. It not only makes your guests relax and stay, it will also transform your experience of the home as well.

Step 3: Add live foliage

Indoor plants including potted lavender, rosemary or jasmine because of the fact that they're natural, adds a touch that will relax and beautify the entire room. Choose a plant that you like the look of, and a nice pot to place it in. It will invigorate and enliven the room.

Step 4: Add color in rooms

If you have a room that you spend a lot of tie in such as your lounge room, bedroom or study, and ensure that they contain colors that you like. Too much beige, white or black without variation can look dull, so add an object, shawl, curtain or even just cushions can add color where it is needed.

Step 5: Add a photo

A photo that you have taken yourself of family or nature can add much needed color and interest to your room. It creates a feeling of family and warmth and smiling faces here can add positive emotion to a room that appeared a little cool before.

Step 6: Add light

When you've added your touches and there's a need for light, such as a room with not just one small window or if the season is cold and dark, then a lamp can help add warmth to the area. Overhead lights are fine, but lamps with lampshades create a softer light.

Step 7: Add an item from your hobby

This adds a lot of interest to your room. If you enjoy bird watching, then add a photo or illustration of a bird. If you enjoy painting, then add one of your own. Whatever it is, it makes your space even more personal and at the same time, interesting to others, as this will spark conversation.

So there you go. Use these steps and you will soon see that any room or home can be transformed into a place where you love being in.

Looking for gorgeous wall tapestries? Then see this wide range of art tapestry wall hangings to enhance any home. Tom Matherson writes for Worldwide Tapestries which feature a wide selection of wall tapestries including art floral tapestries and works in all other categories to transform any home.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Chenille Tapestries As Wall Decor

Chenille Tapestries As Wall Decor

If you've been in the search for soft furnishings or wall decor, then you would have heard of the term 'chenille'.

In this article, let's have a look at a couple of questions about this chenille: What is chenille and why it is so popular for tapestries, throws and wall hangings? And how do you choose a chenille tapestry for your home.

What is chenille?

Since the 18th century, manufacturers have turned to chenille to provide beauty, comfort and a touch of artistry to homes throughout the world. French for 'caterpillar,' the lengths of chenille yarn look like these creatures.

The secret to chenille's soft character can be found in the way it is manufactured. Short lengths of fabric are wrapped around a tightly wrapped core. This causes the edges to stand straight out from the center, creating a fluffy appearance that is both soft to the touch and extremely durable.

While you may associate chenille with bathrobes and bedspreads, this elegant material is actually an extremely versatile material. In fact, chenille tapestries have become so popular that they are considered one of the most accomplished textile based art forms.

Traditionally, tapestries have been woven in silk or wool. While the artistry is wonderful, these materials are prone to being damaged. Chenille is much more resistant to the elements and will stay beautiful for many years to come if properly cared for.

Chenille has an additional benefit as well. Because of the way the strands are made, the fuzzy threads add depth and texture to the tapestry, something that is more difficult to do with traditional materials.

How do you choose a chenille tapestry?

If a room in your home is in need of a new look, chenille tapestries can add beauty and presence to the space without breaking your budget.

Hung from tapestry rods mounted on the wall, these hangings portray some of the most classic scenes in the art world as well as contemporary works that will fit nearly any decor or style of home imaginable. It's simply up to your imagination as to what you'd like in that space in your room or home.

When looking for a chenille tapestry for yourself, you want to keep a few things in mind.

First, you should like the piece. It should speak to you. This shouldn't be too hard, since there is a tapestry for nearly any taste imaginable. Tapestry subjects range from animals, wildlife, castles and unicorns, scenics, historical events and fine art.

Second, it should also fit the color scheme of the room you have in mind. Many tapestries come in different colors so choose one that you feel will fit in well with your existing color scheme. You can choose a work that matches subtly, or a work that gives a focal point to the room.

Finally, be sure that the one you select fits the shape and size of the space you have available. Chenille art tapestries come in a variety of shapes and sizes so ensure that it will fit nicely into the space available.

So now you know the reason why chenille fabric continues to be a popular material for wall tapestries and throws, even to this modern day. Its beauty and durability makes it a great choice, and this is why it's considered a material of choice when it comes to wall tapestries to be used to add beauty to any home decor.

See this fine collection of chenille tapestries that will bring elegance to any home. Tom Matherson writes for Worldwide Tapestries where you can find a range of wall art tapestries and wall hangings to decorate any room or home.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Debbie Croft: Tapestry of an Artist

Debbie Croft: Tapestry of an Artist

Thomas Hill was a landscape artist in the 19th century who favored monumental vistas. Done in soft, expressive tones, many of his paintings are of the awe-inspiring landmarks within Yosemite National Park.

Born in England, he and his family immigrated to the eastern seaboard of America when he was 15. After attending art school and then visiting Yosemite for the first time, he kept coming back. Eventually he opened a studio at the Historic Wawona Hotel. Some of his works have cost as much as $10,000.

Several of Hill's paintings have been reproduced on canvas, and are now hung "salon style" (covering the wall from floor to ceiling) in an exhibit at the Wawona. For hours of operation and other information, please call the Wawona at (801)559-4884, or visit the Web site: www.yosemitepark.com.

And in the Sonora area, which is only a hop (to Snelling), a skip (over to La Grange) and a jump (through the hills and up to Columbia) away...

The Sierra Repertory Theatre is featuring the lively musical "Sisters of Swing," a tribute to the Andrews Sisters. SRT Artistic Director Scott Viets says, "This show celebrates not only their music, but also appreciates their impact on our country and why their accomplishments have given them an honored place in history."

Read complete article in MercedSunStar.com

Redevelopment Changes The Tapestry Of Quilting Capital

Redevelopment Changes The Tapestry Of Quilting Capital

PADUCAH, Ky. - Dressed in black, smoking cigarettes and disaffected by youth, 22-year-old Reuben Gearhart is one of the few people who doesn't like what he sees in his rejuvenated hometown.

Too quaint, too many restaurants he can't afford, too many tourists. Especially during quilt week. Paducah is one of the world's quilting capitals, and every April the pre-eminent quilting show more than doubles the town's population.

"The thing about downtown is that it's beautifully tailored to the people they want here: rich, old people," said Gearhart, who plays drums for a band called Vicious Mistress.

Which, funny enough, is exactly right. This town's fortunes have risen during in the last decade by appealing to "rich, old people," - that is, tourists who spend money - and sprinkling in the things most visitors, young and old, would want within about 10 square blocks: quality food, cozy accommodations, art galleries and, of course, a quilting museum. Even the parking is free.

For a town of 26,000, you could call it sophisticated. The key has been two redevelopment efforts - one for the downtown, which sits on the banks of the Ohio River, and the other for the city's oldest residential neighborhood, Lowertown, where dozens of artists have been lured by the promise of cheap or free land.

Where there were blight, drugs dealers and broken sidewalks 10 years ago, there now are art galleries in restored late-19th century brick homes. The city's Artist Relocation Program has been widely hailed and frequently copied.

Read complete article in Philly.com

Monday, March 16, 2009

St John’s: 2 More Tapestries Ready

St John’s: 2 More Tapestries Ready

Restoration of the second set of tapestries from the St John’s Co-Cathedral collection is now complete and the Belgian Embassy in Malta is investigating how to bring them back to Malta – although it is still not clear where they will be displayed.

The Cathedral Foundation recently dropped unpopular plans to create an underground museum beneath St John’s Square which would enable all 29 tapestries to be displayed at the same time. However, no other plans have been put forward yet.

The Cathedral Chapter, which is represented on the Foundation board, was unanimously against the project and has recommended that an extra floor be built on top of the annex.

The tapestries are being restored by the King Baudouin Foundation at the Royal Manufacturers De Wit, a company of weavers and restorers founded in 1889. Today, it is the leading tapestry restorer in the world for museums and one of the leading laboratories for private customers.

The first 2, depicting Grandmaster Perellos and the Triumph of the Catholic Church, were sent to Belgium in November 2006 but the delicate restoration process took less than the 2 years expected and they were returned to Malta in December 2007.

The embassy in Malta got involved to sort out a tricky logistical problem: Getting them to Belgium, no easy task given their size and weight.

Current ambassador Jean-Francois Delahaut explained that his predecessor, Thomas Baekeland, managed to get help from the Ministry of Defence to use a military plane, which stopped off in Malta on its way back from an overseas assignment.

They were then taken from the military airport to Brussels and then back the same way to Malta.

Mr Delahaut confirmed that the next 2, Triumph of Faith and The Institution of the Feast of Corpus Christi, were sent to Belgium in December 2007 and are now ready.

“The whole collection of 29 needs to be restored. The long-term intention is to go on with the restoration of the whole set so there is quite a few years’ work. Each of the tapestries has its own particular problems. Time has not treated all of them equally,” he told www.di-ve.com.

The budget for the first 2 alone ran into 6 figures. The set, considered to be priceless and unique, was ordered from the Brussels atelier of Judecos de Vos for the sum of 40,000 scudi and was based on cartoons of the same subjects by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), except for the panel representing the Last Supper that was woven on the cartoon of Nicholas Poussin and a panel with the portrait of Grand Master Perellos, probably based on a drawing by Mattia Preti.

Mr Delahaut expressed confidence that the right solution would be found for the tapestries’ display.

“The tapestries survived the centuries in good condition, which shows that they were cared for, for over 400 years, by very competent people,” he said.

Taken From Di-Ve.com

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Comfort & Style in Classic Wall Decor

Comfort & Style in Classic Wall Decor

With the myriad of choices available in the online and offline décor market these days, it can be quite overwhelming to choose just one particular wall decor type or design to suit your personal style and needs.

Anything you can think of has been made the subject of numerous decorative wall arts all over the world. If you are seriously thinking of using a tapestry to decorate or adorn your house, and it is your fist time to do so, it is suggested that you narrow down your selection to classic wall tapestries or classic wall décor.

Classic wall decorations, in the form of woven works of art, are highly recommended for people who are buying this form of art for the very first time.

The reason for this is that classic wall decors have, as the name implies, classic, timeless, and universal themes and designs that will never go out of style and will stand the test of time. Examples of such themes and designs include human emotions (such as love or sorrow), human nature, the five senses, tragedy, death and the like.

Time periods and eras are also considered classic, timeless, and universal in nature. These time periods include the middle ages or the medieval time period, the Renaissance, the neo-classical age, and the Baroque era, just to mention a few.

Woven works of art with a medieval theme feature events that took place during the medieval times, hunting scenes, unicorns, royalty and noblemen. Woven wall art with Renaissance-inspired themes, on the other hand, feature subjects inspired by romance, myths, knights and the aristocracy, and Verdure.

Meanwhile, woven wall pieces from the neo-classical and Baroque time periods feature works commissioned by kings, popes and clergymen, as well as members of the European nobility, sieges and battle scenes, historical and religious events or accounts, and the lives and times of historical figures and famous personalities.

Some of the most well-known pieces under the umbrella of classic wall tapestries include the Bayeux Tapestry, The Hunts of Maximilian, The Lady and the Unicorn series (also known as La Dame à la licorne), The Hunt of the Unicorn series, the works designed by the master-artist Raphael for the Sistine Chapel, the Valois series, the Manufacture Royale des Tapisseries de la Couronne (which was originally made for Louis XIV of France), History of the King, and Triumph of the Gods, among others.

Alex Hanson writes about furnishing your home with style and comfort. Wall decor is important as an accent to any room. Tips and advice are provided in this article to help you think about some ideas and choices for your home decor. Classic wall decor includes some of the famous and favorite artists works woven into fine and exciting tapestries from Europe.