Indoor Wall Fountains - Enjoy the Soothing and Peaceful Ambiance at Your Interiors

There are numerous options available in the market today through which you can easily decorate and beautify your interiors. You can beautify all the single spaces at the home through various accessories like floor fountains, wall fountains and many more exotic infrastructures.

If you are getting bored from your interiors and wish to renovate them with something special, then you can buy the interior fountains. These wall spouts are available in numerous designs and textures in the market. This spectacular art piece is really the best solution for all those people who love to provide an extra ordinary look to their home interiors.

Further, in this article, I will lay the stress on the major aspects that you must consider well before buying a wall fountain for your interiors.

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.

Wall Sconces From Kichler Lighting Give Off Beautiful Ambient Light at Very Reasonable Prices

If you plan to accentuate your entire home but do not know on where to begin, then why not try installing wall sconces for your home? Wall sconces are lighting fixtures that you install in your walls which can provide soft lighting in your home to set your mood. What is great about this particular lighting fixture is that there are a lot of designs that you can choose from and that these designs vary depending on your needs.

There are a lot of lighting fixture brands when it comes to sconces. However, there is a particular brand that is considered as one of the best when it comes to sconces which is Kichler. In fact, there is nothing like Kichler Wall Sconces to provide romantic ambiance to your entire room.

Just what are Kichler sconces all about? They are Kichler lights that you install in your walls. They provide illumination which is projected either upward or downward thus technically, they really do not provide enough lighting to the entire room.

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

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.

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.

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.

5 Things You Must Do Before Buying Your Garage Organizers

Have you been living with a messy garage and finally decided to get some garage organizers to help get your life in order? Perhaps with autumn in the air, you realize that it is time to do something if you hope to use your garage for winter.

Or, perhaps you are tired of hearing your spouse complain about the disorganization that she considers your domain. Well, regardless of the reason, if you are considering purchasing some garage organizers to set you garage in order, here are five things to do before making your purchase.

1. Get rid of what you don't need.
   
   Let's face it, the garage easily becomes the dumping ground for stuff that you do not want to deal with 'right now'. Take the time to go through that stuff and get rid of it. Some can just go to the dump. Other stuff may still be useful to somebody and can go to the local thrift store.
   
   Perhaps some has more value (i.e. - outgrown kids clothes) and can go to a consignment shop. Perhaps you have a lot of stuff with value and can have a garage sale, the proceeds can go towards the purchase of your new garage organizers.
   
   
2. Categorize.
   
   Take everything that is remaining that you need to organize and categorize it. Put all the sports equipment together, the tools, craft supplies, keep sake items, holiday decorations etc. in their respective piles.
   
   
3. Subcategorize.
   
   Within each category subdivide it according to need. By this, I mean how often you need to access the item. Is it seasonal? Among your tools, is it something you use a lot, or maybe just every year or two for a special project?
   
   The items you use more often, you want to have easier access to, if you only need to access it once or twice a year, then you don't mind if it takes a bit of effort to get to it.
   
   
4. Decide what type of organizers work best for different categories and subcategories.
   
   For example, tools that you use often would best go in easy to reach cabinets or on a peg wall above a work bench. Stains, paints and other chemicals would best be kept higher up, or even in a lockable tall cabinet.
   
   A peg board system would be perfect for sports equipment, lots of options for hanging baskets for balls, and various types of specialty hooks. The hook system is also great for gardening tools, ladders, hoses etc.
   
   Seasonal holiday items can go in bins on high shelves or hung from the ceiling. There are so many great garage organizers available, make sure you know what is out there to help in this decision process.
   
   
5. Measure out your space for the perfect fit.
   
   Measuring your floor space will allow you to pick one or more garage organizers that will work best for you. Decide how far out into the garage they can come without interfering with your car or easy access flow.
   
   Besides horizontal space, how much vertical space is available that can be used? Is there any ceiling space? This is a great untapped resource for hanging bikes and other large items, as wells as hanging shelves and other systems.

As you get your garage ready for winter, remember these 'Must Do' tips in organizing your space and in choosing garage organizers that will work best for you. Though it is a big project that make take one or two weekends, these tips will make the process much quicker and more efficient. And, you'll be glad you did it!

MJ writes for ClickShops Inc., where you can find a great selection of garage organizers for your home at thegaragedealer.com.

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

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.

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.

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.

Bio Tapestries Adorn New Orleans Homes

Tapestries are timeless pieces of wall art that have graced countless of stately homes throughout the centuries, including many New Orleans residents. Today, they are more attractive than ever and can enhance any design style whether it’s transitional or traditional.

Tapestries can be purchased through antique shops, flea markets or at upscale furnishing stores. Their cost can range from affordable to priceless based upon its age and beauty.

Today, I've feature Belien Mills, Weavers of Fine Art™. They are the only producers of European quality tapestries based in the U.S. They control the entire process from design through production and distribution.

The Belien factory custom-weave each individual piece with a combination of mercerized cotton and rayon yarns. Their typical larger tapestry will have over 22 miles of yarn in the heirloom quality piece.

Most pieces are available in multiple sizes to accommodate the broadest array of decorating options. The tapestry designs from Belien Mills originate from oil paintings, often by noted artists and recognizable by many.

The images are digitized and the artwork transferred to a computer-aided-design system, which determines weaves or colors for each piece. Purchasing a tapestry is an affordable alternative to wall art that will bring timeless beauty to any New Orleans décor.

Article is taken from Examiner.com

Her Tapestry Saga Is No Yarn

In a tiny apartment across from the Hard Rock Hotel, a 72-year-old nomadic artist who goes by the single name Sola has spent the past three years weaving a vibrant tapestry of Las Vegas that will blow your mind.

Embroidered and textured palm trees frame casino properties. Turquoise blue pools dot the landscape. MGM Grand, woven in metallic green, anchors the south end of the Strip. Golden beads mark streetlights that extend north toward the mountains.

Marquees announce Elton John, Danny Gans, Cher. Air-conditioning units sit atop the Sands Convention Center. Hotels, civic buildings, Hard Rock guitars, motel signs, office parks and side streets all clamor for attention.

She put more than 8,000 hours into the piece, working alone in her tidy, sparse apartment, sometimes measuring buildings and counting windows at night from the tops of parking ramps and Strip towers. If a hotel has 54 stories, she wove 54 stories from the ground up.

Holidays, birthdays, weekends, every day.

“I’ve reduced life to the simplest focus — my tapestry,” she says, glancing at the 11-by-7 1/2 foot work that leans against her living room wall.

Today, with the help of Marty Walsh, owner of Trifecta Gallery, the tapestry moves to Atlantic Aviation, the former Las Vegas Executive Air Terminal, where it will hang until it is sold. As she has with her other tapestries, she will donate the profit to arts and other organizations.

Sola has been weaving cities since the 1980s, when she wanted to create a portrait of Vancouver, British Columbia, for the 1986 World’s Fair, but didn’t know how to draw or paint. Textiles were her only sure terrain.

She mostly weaves Olympic cities, traveling to different countries, then moving on. She plans to be in London for the 2012 Olympics. She’ll know in October where she’ll be for the 2016 Olympics — Tokyo, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro or Chicago. She hopes it’s Rio.

She came to Las Vegas after reading about Strip implosions and felt an urge to document the city before the buildings were gone. Already, her piece is outdated — the Stardust (imploded March 2007) is on the Strip in her tapestry, and the Tropicana marquee lists “Folies Bergere” (closed last month after 49 years).

Recycling yarn from thrift store sweaters, Sola literally wove Las Vegas from the fabric of the community. Stretching a swatch of a coal gray Gap sweater, she says, “See, that’s parking lots.”

She’s friendly, chatty. Maybe that’s what happens when you spend all of your time alone, creating and building a city from yarn and string — you feel like talking again.

She has no valuables, aside from what will fit into a rolling suitcase, and buys furnishings at thrift stores and gives them back when she leaves. She wants to own nothing: “I wear the same clothes every day. I just wash them. It frees up income and imagination if you don’t have a lot to take care of.”

Fleeing is her history. As a child during World War II, she was sent away from her family in London during the blitz. She stayed with a host family in a village in Wales, roaming the hills and picking wool off fences, then returned to London after the war. In the ’60s, she settled in Toronto and opened coffee shops and other venues for folk singers and rock stars passing through.

Her daughter lives in Vancouver. Her mother, 96, lives in London. Friends are spread across the globe. Her income comes from knitting hats that sell for about $40 in Vancouver. “Thank you, Gap, for using such incredibly beautiful materials,” she says, stretching a stylish hat, one of hundreds stacked in her bedroom.

Sola shows no sign of fatigue. Trim and fit, she talks about wanting to live to 100.

“If I can touch yarn for 10 hours a day then I am in absolute heaven and I want to do it for as long as I live.”

She heads soon to Vancouver, where she’ll stay through the 2010 Winter Olympics. A cartoon map of Vancouver is taped to a door. When she leaves her apartment for the last time, she will peel it off, fold it up and tuck it into her suitcase. It will be the last item removed.

Taken From LasVegasSun.com

Tapestry Of Picasso's Guernica Marks Whitechapel Gallery Reopening

The Whitechapel Gallery in London's East End has marked a £13.5 million expansion by welcoming a version of Picasso's anti-war work Guernica, 70 years after the original was shown there.

Turner Prize-nominated artist Goshka Macuga helped convince Margaretta Rockefeller to lend the Whitechapel the 20ft long tapestry for a year, which has been on long-term loan in the United Nations building in New York since 1985.

It was commissioned by tycoon Nelson Rockefeller, Margaretta's late husband, in 1955.

Seventy years ago Picasso's monumental painting, which depicts the 1937 Nazi bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, was shown at the Whitechapel for two weeks, attracting 15,000 people.

Polish-born Macuga, 42, said she was inspired to revive the spirit of that event.

Knowing that the Museo de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid would not agree to let the painting travel, the Whitechapel approached the Rockefeller family.

Macuga said the tapestry had been given extra significance as an anti-war symbol since Colin Powell delivered his flawed evidence on the apparent existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in the run-up to the invasion in early 2003.

Then the Guernica tapestry, which normally hangs outside the UN Security Council chamber, was covered by a blue cloth - apparently to make television pictures of Powell clearer.

The excuse fooled no one.

Macuga said: "If you are starting a war you are not going to do it in front of an anti-war symbol."

To accompany the tapestry, Macuga created a hollow round-table for people to hire for discussions, filled with war and anti-war propaganda. She commissioned a bronze cubist-style bust of Powell, which she said represented "a figure who is falling apart morally". In 2004 Powell admitted the evidence he submitted to the UN on WMDs could have been wrong.

The commission, sponsored by Bloomberg, marks the gallery's reopening after its £13.5 million Heritage Lottery Fund-sponsored refit, which has almost doubled its exhibition space.

Iwona Blazwick, the Whitechapel's director, said: "The expansion enables us to be open all year round so there will always be something for free to see."

It reopens to the public on April 5.

Taken From Telegraph.co.uk

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

Arena Stage's 'Delicate Balance': Perfectly Weighted With Subtlety & Smarts

By Peter Marks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 16, 2009; Page C01

What a pleasure, lapping up all that angst. You wouldn't call "A Delicate Balance" a consoling experience. And yet you do feel swaddled in comfort during Arena Stage's revival of Edward Albee's brilliant dramedy of the inarticulate fears marinating in the martini glasses of the elite.

That's because the expert hands deliver an evening of combustibly entertaining drama, of a variety that reminds you how enriching a play can be with a subtle and sophisticated grip on the human psyche. This is grown-up theater -- the bristling sort that gives a playgoer hope, even when the theme is a strange brand of hopelessness.

Not to bring the room down, but you do also find yourself wondering, as you absorb the pleasures of six actors going at one another in the becomingly civilized quarters of Todd Rosenthal's living-room set, why more evenings can't be like this one, especially at Arena.

No major company in Washington represents a more vital link to the American tradition of great playwriting, and none has more authority to reaffirm it.

So let the endorsement of this production also be an entreaty: Give us more work of this caliber, please, even if these plays are harder to sell than they were in yesteryear. (And even if it means fewer visits by tours of famous-songwriter jukebox revues.)

As presided over by director Pam MacKinnon, who staged the juicily satirical "The Unmentionables" at Woolly Mammoth 18 months ago, the revival of Albee's Pulitzer-winning piece feels as solidly built as the immaculate manse in which the turbulent story unfolds.

It's been populated with a splendidly well-suited cast, particularly in the person of Kathleen Chalfant, who plays Agnes, the lady of the house, as a reluctant, caged scorpion with a finely disguised stinger.

Her match is met by Ellen McLaughlin in the bravura role of Agnes's younger sister Claire, a truth-telling lush whose specialties seem to be making messes and drowning in her anger at Agnes's unbreachable wall of composure.

What's constructed here is a portrait, flavored with Albee's lacerating wit, of people losing their grip, divesting themselves of the lie that life makes more sense as we grow more maritally settled and materially secure.

The collapse of the facade is terrifying for no group more than those who have the money for minks and wine cellars and country clubs, those who have committed the most belief to the illusion that all's well that ends well.

At the moment, the entire world is feeling a sense of dislocation. It's surprising how presciently this 1966 play nestles into contemporary consciousness -- even as the mysteries in Albee's tale keep a line open to the absurd.

We find ourselves in the tony home in a wealthy suburb that Agnes and her husband, Tobias (a bracingly convincing Terry Beaver), share with volatile Claire. Perched in Arena's Crystal City space, Rosenthal's light-filled set all but smells of old money, down to the demitasse cups and tapestry hanging in the hallway, and costume designer Ilona Somogyi dresses the women, from blowsy Claire to sleek, buttoned-up Agnes, to perfection.

Agnes opens the play, commenting about someday losing her mind, and from there on we get the escalating idea of everything around her coming apart.

The childishly exhibitionist Claire seems to be slowly drinking herself into oblivion. Agnes and Tobias's unpleasant, eternally unsettled daughter Julia (Carla Harting) turns up, a refugee from her fourth failed marriage.

Then, most curiously, into the driveway pulls the car of Agnes and Tobias's best friends, Edna and Harry (Helen Hedman and James Slaughter), who have arrived uninvited and soon make it clear they have no plans to leave.

The choreography of understated responses to Edna and Harry's outrageous condition -- they experienced some type of existential crisis in their own house, and now are too frightened to go back -- is handled in crackerjack fashion by MacKinnon and her cast.

The dread they've brought into the house is swept to the side in the spirit of hospitality. Or perhaps it's only vaguely acknowledged because Edna and Harry have violated a taboo, bringing the terror everyone secretly harbors into the open.

Hedman and Slaughter niftily maintain the traumatized couple's sociable air, as if their imposing on Agnes were as expected as showing up for cocktails at 5. You laugh at first because everybody's been there, with the guests who wouldn't leave.

As you watch further, however, they become less funny, more harrowing. Despair always leaves you with that certain feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Albee threads through the play's three acts the battle between Claire and Agnes, a conflict the actresses treat as a delightful blood sport. Behind her hooded eyes, McLaughlin vibrantly portrays Claire as a wounded thing, rebelling against her sister's sense of propriety and yet holding back some ammunition, for fear of doing more harm to Agnes than she intends. Chalfant's droll ripostes to the wilder Claire are so dry you think the paint might spontaneously start to peel.

Harting envelops Julia in an aptly sour perfume of failure; as with Claire, Edna and Harry, Julia's taking shelter with Agnes and Tobias is a way of shutting out the world and in her particular case, a world of disappointment. But as the play reveals, awful truths pursue you, and walls have a way of closing in, no matter how beautifully they're decorated.

A Delicate Balance, by Edward Albee. Directed by Pam MacKinnon. Lighting, Allen Lee Hughes; sound, Timothy Thompson; wigs, Chuck Lapointe. About 2 hours 55 minutes. Through March 15 at Arena Stage in Crystal City, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington. Visit www.arenastage.org or call 202-488-3300.

Taken From WashingtonPost.com

Animals Tapestries - A Great Idea for the Den or Family Room Wall Decor

Having a menacing cheetah roaring on a wall in your sitting room or a stately elephant raising its trumpet on a wall of your lounge can really make all the difference there can be to the decor of these rooms.

With animal tapestries, you can really set a mood to the room decor. Just think the kind of difference putting up a cute puppies tapestry could make over putting up a moose tapestry. The tapestry could change the entire outlook of the room. But that's exactly what people who use animal tapestries in their rooms are looking out for.

That will make you realize how important it is to choose the right kind of animal tapestry. The drawing on it is of supreme importance. There are animal tapestries with just one animal on it, or there are tapestries with groups of animals, usually of the same species.

There could be tapestries with just sketches of the animals, or some kind of artwork that represents the animals but does not show them explicitly. These are usually the more interesting ones, but they do not set a particular mood to the decor of your room.

Speaking of mood, you can also get an animal tapestry of mythical and extinct animals to set a really enigmatic mood to your overall room decor. Lets not forget the horse lovers who have large quarters, stables and other areas to hang more than one large tapestry.

Messenger of Spirits is a subtle, yet powerful and sophisticated horse tapestry that all of our lovers of horses would be proud to hang in their wall decor collection.

One thing that you remember when getting animals tapestries is that the border at times is very important. This actually accentuates the entire look and feel of the tapestry. You will find both broad border and narrow broader animal tapestries.

The broad border ones generally have a darker color with some animal motifs interwoven into them. The mail animal picture in the center is in a lighter color. Due to this contrast of light and dark colors, the entire feel of the tapestry comes out to be quite nice.

These are more graphic in nature and the tapestries rely more on their weave rather than the mastery of the artwork. Narrow bordered animal tapestries, on the other hand, focus completely on the picture of the animal.

In most cases, this picture is a natural picture, i.e. a picture of the animal in its natural surroundings. A lot of detail goes in these pictures. These tapestries (narrow bordered ones) are also more expensive than the broad bordered ones.

The rods you select for hanging the animal tapestries do not matter quite as much as in other tapestry forms. In animal tapestries since the design it is so effective; accessories such as the tapestry rods take a backseat. Plain black rods will do quite well for the animal tapestries.

Maridee Hanselman writes about home decor enhancing your wall decor and your lifestyle. Animal tapestries can be created in a contemporary tapestries motif that work exceptionally well in the den or family room, which a dramatic flair and subtle tones and colors.

A creative way to enhance, but not go overboard in your room decor. Usually, the African safari comes to mind, but consider a beautiful messengers of spirit tapestries with a horse motif, as another good choice for the horse lover, too. Pick up more tips on wall decor from this popular website, photophobias.com. Nothing scary here.

The Perfect Way to Hang Tapestries in Your Home

A tapestry is a marvelous work of art that can easily become the stand out item in your home. You do have to consider a few things when deciding which tapestry to purchase and how to affix it to your wall.

Too big of a tapestry in a small face will overwhelm a room; a tiny stretched tapestry on a huge wall can look lost. By taking a little time to figure out exactly what effect you want, you can save yourself a deal of trouble.

Evaluate Your Space

Your first step should be to look at the room you want to house your tapestry in and evaluate what type of tapestry would suit it best and where it should go. If you have a room with many doorways and not much open wall space, a vertical tapestry may work best.

A long hallway could benefit from a series of small tapestries, and a kitchenette could feature a long horizontal piece displayed high on the wall.

A huge room with a blank wall such as a bedroom or a den could accommodate a larger tapestry; this could either serve as a background for a bestead or couch or face it depending on the layout. An accent wall is also a great place for a larger tapestry - you can choose a contrasting paint color for a background to make your chosen artwork pop.

Measure twice, buy once. Allow for space around the tapestry for a balanced look. Nothing is worse than excitedly bringing a new acquisition home and finding out it is a foot too wide. If you are in doubt as to what would look best, pin up a contrasting sheet and figure out what the right shape and size would be for your space.

Hanging It Up

There are several different ways of hanging your tapestry once you have found the perfect one. The most traditional way to hang large tapestries is with a rod - most modern tapestries are woven with a pocket designed to hold the top edge flat and to distribute the weight evenly.

The larger and heavier the tapestry the stronger the rod needs to be, so a hefty drapery rod with sturdy mounting brackets is preferred fro many tapestry applications.

Simply slide the tapestry onto the rod, center it, and measure as close as possible to the exit point on either end for the brackets. Use a level to get a straight line on the wall so your tapestry will hang plumb.

Affix the brackets according to your measurement, then hang the rod. Your brackets should hold the rod right where it exits the tapestry pocket on both sides. Screw on finials and your tapestry will be mounted properly. Tapestries hung this way appear to float against the wall.

Another approach recommended by some manufacturers advises sewing a strip of wide Velcro along the leading edge of the tapestry, then stapling the mated strip to a sturdy board. The board should be painted to reduce chemical interaction with the tapestry, and no glue should be used for the same reason.

The board can be mounted to the wall and the tapestry attached via Velcro. This works best for medium sized tapestries that are not excessively heavy, and prevents sagging and rumpling.

Small tapestries can be framed or stretched or even placed in a shadow type box for a magical effect. Many people keep older tapestries under glass, as sunlight can cause fading and damage. Tapestries should also be checked regularly for signs of insect damage.

Tapestry Styles

The type of tapestry you decide on will reflect your own personal taste and individuality. Often tapestries are bought to fit into an existing house, but occasionally you have the opportunity to build a room around one focal point. This is when you can get creative, and let your inner spirit take over.

A rich Renaissance tapestry sets the mood for a luxurious room full of rich brocades and tasseled pillows. A bold Native American design makes a southwestern ranch house crackle with style. Oriental themes go well with modernistic apartments, and Celtic designs can spruce up a library or study.

With all of the choices available today, from local home interior shops to online decorator havens, you can rest assured there is the perfect tapestry out there especially for you. Just consider all of your options before purchasing your very own! With luck, the one you select will become a family heirloom and you will be able to pass it down to future generations.

Angela Dawson-Field writes extensively on home decor and tapestry & textile art. She divides her time between family and The Tapestry House

Home Decor - A Guide to Wall Tapestries

Today's larger homes and open floor plans are perfect for wall tapestries. Once the hallmark of mansions and castles, wall tapestries offer today's homeowner a terrific design solution that adds beauty, warmth and charm to the home.

Selecting the perfect wall tapestry for your home is an easy and enjoyable process, if you follow these simple guidelines.

Location

Unlike a painting, a wall tapestry demands attention. So you want to select a location before you start shopping for a size, subject or style. You want to select a wall that doesn't get a lot of direct light or constant sunlight. Direct sun can cause the threads to weaken and fade the color of wall hangings over time.

Size

Once you have a location in mind, you can decide on the rough dimensions for the wall tapestry. A tall and thin wall space will look better with a vertical work while a large wall space may look better with a horizontal piece.

Scale is very important in wall or home decor. A general rule of thumb is that a tapestry can occupy up to 80% of the wall (you can't do that with a painting!). You don't want to get a wall tapestry that is too small or too large for the wall you have in mind.

Subject Matter

The subject of the wall art tapestry is a matter of personal taste. There are an endless selection of styles - scenic, still life, heroic deeds, mythology, Medieval, portraits, castles, landmarks and a myriad of more contemporary designs and themes.

When selecting the subject matter, be sure you factor in the palette of colors used. You don't want to select a design where the colors clash with your existing furnishings and wall colorings.

Time to Buy

Now that you found the wall tapestry that fits your taste and your color scheme, it's time to buy. Most tapestries come in several sizes so you can select the one that most closely fits your wall dimensions. When selecting a vendor, you want to find a reputable one who can answer your questions, help you narrow your selections and provide you with the ideal size for your wall.

Installation

Most wall art tapestries come with a tunnel that you can thread a hanging rod through. This allows you to easily hang your tapestry, much like you would a curtain. Once you have your tapestry in place, you want to give it the proper lighting.

A repositionable ceiling fixture or track lighting works well for lighting any wall tapestry, large or small. If that's not possible, a floor lamp or even a table lamp may give the wall tapestry enough dramatic lighting, especially if the room has some indirect natural light filtering in.

No matter which wall tapestry you choose for decorating your home interior, you can be sure that it will quickly become a focal point for your decor that few other works of art can match. The rich textures, vibrant colors and dramatic scale of these tapestries are as inspiring as they are beautiful.

Looking for wall decor to decorate your home? You can use wall tapestries to enhance any room or home. Tom Matherson writes for Worldwide Tapestries which features a range of quality wall tapestries including large wall hangings as unique wall art to transform any home.