Knoll Chairs are stylish, instinctive, supple, ecological and bendable.  Form way Design has invented the Knoll’s life chair.  This chair lends comfort and it is lightweight in nature.  The Life Chair helps in changing the position and you could rotate 360 degrees.   Both the back as well as the seat of the chair is designed in such a way that it supports each and every movement.  It comprises of a 52-65% recycled content which can also be recycled and used later.  Since it is recycled and used, the green color remains.

The Knoll chairs are provided with back suspension and they provide support and comfort.    The auto balance tensions support the weight of the person sitting on it and help in activating release and recline.  There is very less environmental impact.

The Life Chair has been designed in such a way that you would be assured of comfort, efficiency and convenience.  The same can also be said of the Bertoia side chair as its delicate structure belies its sturdiness and robust quality.

The loaded version assures of high performance arms which enables you to sit comfortably.  There is thick foam of 1.75″ and the special knitted fabric upholstery used lends additional comfort.   The simpler versions have a grey plastic base and plastic levers.  The seats are adjustable.  It is available in about four colors like Java, Zinc, Camel and Eclipse.

Knoll is very particular as regards environmental focus.    Knoll is committed and is responsible for a healthy environment.  It has been supported and encourage by colleagues in the same industry.   It has also been conferred the LEED certification.  This was conferred by the US Green Council.  You can be assured of defect free materials as well as workmanship which is warranted during its warranty period.   You could always make a complaint if you find any missing or damaged parts and the parts would be replaced for free.  There are no sales tax costs unless it needs to be shipped to Massachusetts.   The product comes with the certificate of authenticity.

These Knoll chairs are very useful when you need to sit comfortably and view the computer; when you buy a computer, you also need to get the right accessories so that you are comfortable.  The perfect desk and lighting also make a great impact on our working and playing on computers.   You need to buy an ergonomically designed keyboard so that you do not strain your palm and neck.

In terms of providing comfort while retaining the strength of an industrial type of product, the Mies van der Rohe chairs and rockers are a great addition from the Knoll stable and provide the right kind of ergonomic support for your back.

Ergonomics is gaining a lot of popularity nowadays and every home office is paying lot of importance to ergonomics.    It is important for you to understand that home office furniture needs to be purchased keeping in mind the ergonomics.  We spend a lot of time at our office desk and hence you need to use the right seating and work space area.

]]> http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/knoll-chairs/feed/ 0 http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/glass-furniture/ http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/glass-furniture/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 14:17:33 +0000 Anon http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/?p=1014

Choosing the right furniture for your home is of the essence.  It is imperative that you go in for furniture which suits your home décor, budget and also lends comfort.  You could either hire a professional to redecorate your home or use your own creativity.

Nowadays everyone wants to decorate their homes using the latest and most stylish materials.  Glass furniture is in trend nowadays.  Some of the different types of glass furniture are glass office desks, glass plasma stands, glass desks, dining tables.    They can be used both for office as well as home use.  They are perfect furniture items and they also look stylish.  The only negative is that it needs to be handled with care and caution.  It gels with any kind of interior design schemes.

Modular glass furniture is innovative and trendy.   There are glass shelves where televisions, home entertainment systems, different audio visual equipment can be placed.

Glass tables make style statements in the furniture industry and they are ideal in conference rooms, reception areas and other places of meeting.  The normal wooden tasks are also good enough and they can be handled roughly, unlike glass furniture.

Some of the innovative types of glass furniture have been developed using the latest technology and they are also equally appealing to look at.   Some of the contemporary types of British furniture are basically made of glass.  There is a wide range to select from and they come in different shapes and sizes.   Glass furniture comes in colored, clear and frosted varieties.    You could also mix and match different glass varieties to lend it the appealing look.

Trendy glass furniture has been in vogue in every household.  It is important the glass furniture lends beauty as well as durability.

Indian furniture uses an ethnic blend of both creative workmanship and skill along with dexterity of hands.  Appealing wooden furniture comes in various shapes and sizes to cater to different tastes of people.  The right type of furniture lends comfort to a home.  A comfortable set of furniture needs to be placed in each and every room, especially the living room where the entire family gets together in the evening.   Different types of furniture items like cabinets, racks, stools, sofas, tables, beds and chairs are used.  Some of the features of glass furniture are that it is made of stainless steel and tempered glass.  It is waterproof, equally stylish and has practical uses.  It is also easy to clean and maintain, but needs to be handled with care.

The other type of furniture which is in trend of late is wrought iron furniture.  It is a powerful combination of beauty, style and comfort.    The impeccable style along with practicality lends an ethnic feel to this form of furniture.  Some of the wrought iron forms of furniture are wrought iron patio, wrought iron tables etc.  They are strong and sturdy and they are maintenance free.  The table top of a normal wrought iron has a glass top and it blends brilliantly with wrought iron.

Cheaper rugs are not of inferior quality and are mainly directly procured from the factory floor.   The antique woolen rug is an exclusive piece and it comes in colors like ivory, olive green, burgundy and blackberry black. The texture is dense and it provides softness, durability and also feels fine to touch.

When purchasing a rug for your home, it is important that the features need to be considered.  Rugs come in a wide variety.  Some rugs are simple whereas some are classy.    Just like old wine, old classic rugs are in demand due to their classy and unique features.

From oriental rugs to Persian rugs, you could identify rugs which are very similar in texture and fineness like costly rugs.   There are many people who opt for designer rugs, even though they may not have the capacity to spend.  Rugs still aim at lending ambience and harmony to homes.    The right way to do it is to shop online for your rugs.

 As the name suggests, shaggy rugs have an unkempt and hairy look.  They are modern day rugs and they are a craze of late.  They come in various designs like European, Contemporary, Native American, Persian and Oriental designs.  Shaggy Rugs are used to beautify your room and space.  The first type of shag rug was made some 50 years ago and they were a craze during the 60s and the 70s.  They have made a comeback with a bang.  They are made by using wool types like art silk, leather, wool felt, New Zealand wool etc.

Shaggy rugs add warmth and style to any interior setting.  They are cozy and can be placed in front of the fireplace.  Modern day Shaggy rugs are strong and durable.

Modern rugs have a superb range of designs, color combinations and shapes.  These rugs have a solid color and perfect shape which can be suited to any room or situation.  You could go in for a modern rug which is solid in nature, if you live in a room with some crowded furniture.   Subtle colors in modern rugs are used nowadays, so as to give a bigger look to the room.

You could always go in for a country look rug like the rooster or strawberry vine.  Color is of essence when it comes to decorating your homes with rugs.  A small room can be made to look bigger and a bigger room cozier, if the right combination of modern rugs is blended.

From towels to bed linen they have a huge selection of products. In particular their luxury cushion covers come in a range of fabrics. Using narrow stripes, panels, paisley or Cyrillic, these sophisticated and chic fabrics can help transform your living space into a haven of modern and yet traditional style.

Moreover the most striking style of cover is the paisley pattern, which is available in red and also in a natural tone. This with the duck feather filled pads will help to complete your desired effect, whether you’re creating a place of tranquillity or using them to boost any feature areas you may have.

Textures have such an importance in any room that may sometimes be missed by many. For example a textured cushion on a smooth sofa or chair will help to make this stand out and also become more inviting. The same applies in a bedroom with textures, in some cases, being used to enhance a theme or highlight a particular piece of furniture.

To accompany textures think of patterns that will give your room an exciting new luxury feel. Try mixing traditional styles like the paisley cushion covers with more contemporary patterns. For example, a paisley cushion on a modern throw will again help bring your home to life.

The kitchen, the heart of every home, draws each and every family member through its essential purpose, building up hours and hours of bonding moments. It has even become a place where many homeowners entertain their guests. The most frequented area in the house, a splash of change is a great way to upgrade and refresh its look. Being one of the most noticeable features in the kitchen, kitchen cabinets refacing is an ideal task to undertake. This change can greatly add to the overall value of your home, enhance the quality of living and can even make up for an effective stress-buster, especially those living through the hustle and bustle of big cities like New York.

Kitchen cabinets refacing is one of the less expensive home improvement projects that you could tackle that could considerably create an impact to your home. Other than costing just about a third of the amount you have to allot to a cabinet replacement project, it cal also be done by a professional in as fast as two days. This can be done to whatever type of cabinet so long as the cabinetry is still in great condition and the layout suits you well. Refacing is your solution to an outdated look. But if there are already signs of damage and deterioration or you want to change the location of your kitchen cabinets, then you what you should be looking into is replacement for the whole feature which can be quite costly.

Before getting on with the task, keep in mind that kitchen cabinets refacing require ample carpentry skills. In case of repairable damages like holes, certain measures like sanding, filling and sealing should be done first before the installation of new faces can be done. The current finish of the cabinets should also be determined as the removal of different finishes requires different products. Measurements need to be accurate. If you think you are not up to the job, then hiring a cabinet refacing contractor or company is the better way. Though availing of contractor services can add to the budget, this option poses less risks and can add considerably to the years that you and your family can enjoy the new look.

Kitchen cabinets refacing is done through adding new doors or faces, replacing hardware and improve the framework holding them. The framework can be spruced up using different approaches. The exposed portions of the existing frames can resurfaced with paint, matching wood or install laminate veneer over them. Veneer comes in cherry, oak and maple and is available in a range of stains and thickness. Some of the most popular refacing materials used by homeowners include: wood veneer, wood over wood laminates and plywood. When the hardware already shows signs of wear or still remains dull even after polishing, then it is high time to replace them. It is important to shop for hardware such as knobs, cases and pulls that complement the rest of your cabinetry. Your choice of kitchen cabinets refacing products will affect the overall price of the project, appearance and durability.

About the Author

Eugene Makeev has been in the home improvement industry for a while. His skills and expertise, which have been polished through time, are now used to help New York home owners avoid the common pitfalls in home improvements by matching their needs with the right, prescreened Cabinet Refacing Contractor New York. For more visit NYC Contractors.

Are you tired of using the traditional flower arrangement as your all-occasion centerpiece? Flowers are beautiful and can fit any decor which makes them a great choice for centerpieces. But why not try a different approach to decorating your table? Some of my favorite decorations are edible centerpieces since they provide such an assortment of colors, sizes and smells.

Edible centerpieces can be both functional and decorative. I love summer because of the fruits and vegetables that I can grow in the garden. I have a large glass fruit bowl that I keep filled with freshly picked tomatoes that I can eat whenever I like. The bowl sits on the middle of my table looking fresh and cheerful, while the tomatoes are in easy reach for food preparation. When I pick more tomatoes I rotate them to make sure the riper tomatoes are used first. Throw in the odd green tomato and you’ve got two complementary colors to add some excitement to your edible vegetable centerpiece.

I also use this glass bowl for in season fruits, provided that the fruits are hardy enough to not need refrigeration. During the Christmas season I keep the bowl stocked with clementines. The citrus smell is inviting and the fruit is easily accessed by guests if they want to munch on something sweet and fresh. Combinations of citrus fruits work great throughout the winter, depending on what your family enjoys eating. Try lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits together for a variety of colors. For a summer centerpiece, use pears and plums. Apples are perfect for autumn. You can make all of apples the same kind, or use a variety for added interest.

My absolute favorite centerpiece involves dessert! No surprise there! This is a great idea for parties where you have bite-sized desserts that everyone will be helping themselves to. In the middle of your buffet table, place a large serving plate with a slightly smaller serving bowl on top of it. It’s ok if they don’t match exactly, no one will be noticing! Fill the plate around the bowl with cream puffs, brownies, truffles and other small desserts. Then fill the bowl with freshly cut fruit pieces, like pineapple, melon, grapes, cherries, or strawberries. Make sure both the plate and bowl are overflowing with food so that it looks like a very decadent creation! You and your guests can then choose if they want to eat healthy or… not so healthy.

Edible centerpieces can be very versatile both in the kind of food you put in them and the container you put them in. I like using a fruit bowl, but you can choose any kind of serving plate or bowl, baskets, or even a nice colander for that just washed look. Be creative and you’ll find a winning idea on your table in no time.

Written by Stephanie Smith ]]> http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/home-edible-centerpieces/feed/ 3 http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/home-furniture/ http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/home-decorating/home-furniture/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:50:33 +0000 Anon http://www.ihomeimprovement.biz/?p=467 A beautiful house will look incomplete and strange without a trace of furniture. The unique and sophisticated furniture can not only enhance the beauty of the interior but also add a large amount of comfort to it. Now-a-days you can find wide variety in furniture designs and sizes. There are certain factors that you need to consider while picking up furniture for your home. If the rooms are spacious, you can opt for the lavish huge furniture. But in case of smaller rooms, it is advisable to use compact and multipurpose furniture. They will not only save space but also serve many purposes at the same time. You can select the material with which your furniture is made of. The common trends indicate popularity of traditional wood, wrought iron, wood dust and many more. You should have a different set of furniture for different rooms. The bedroom set generally features a king size bed, side tables, wardrobes, dressing table sets and stools. The white furniture looks extremely elegant if you have a complementary décor. The combination will change for the dining rooms and kitchens. The furniture can be modern or ethnic, but it should complement the overall interior of the house.

Teak Furniture

Teak furniture adds the touch of elegance to the interior as well as the exterior of a house. Teak is the wood obtained from teak trees. It is yellowish brown in color and the durability of this wood is simply unbeatable. The teak wood is resistant to rooting and termites. The wood is capable of standing the weather extremities easily. Often ethnic, ornamentally curved furniture is prepared from teak wood. But it needs regular maintenance to retain the beauty of teak furniture. The polishing effects can make teak furniture glow noticeably. Teak cleaner and guard is available which are used in cleaning the teak furniture. Some of the popular brands manufacturing designer quality teak furniture like chairs, tables, bed, sofa sets, deep seating chairs are Kingsley-Bate , Rock Wood Casual Furniture, Country Casual, World Classics, Westminster Teak and many more. While shopping for teak furniture always look for brilliant workmanship in designs and good quality polish.

Dining Room Furniture

The furniture for the dining rooms should be space saving and sophisticated at the same time. Some people like to decorate their dining rooms with antique sets. The sets include a large six sitter or eight sitter dining table, chairs and side tables. Now you should consider the space before picking up a large table. The shape of the table matters a lot in occupying room. The oval and round tables engage much space than the square and rectangular ones. Those who have a small dining room can look for the small four sitter tables. You can also get modern designer tables which serve the purpose of a cupboard and a table simultaneously. The leather, satin and wrought iron dining room upholstery look extremely trendy and give your house an ultra modern appearance. The available colors for dining room furniture can be brown, dark chocolate, classic black etc.

Kitchen and Bathroom Furniture

You can be experimental with your kitchen furniture. There are ample scopes of decorating the kitchens with fashionable and useful furniture. The modular kitchen sets come as a complete solution for the entire kitchen décor. A set include the cupboards, sink, counter stools, small covered racks for utensils and everything else you can think of. They are available in various colors like beige, pale and dark brown, mahogany and black. If you wish to get the kitchen furniture separately and make a combination kitchen then the unique options available are microwave carts, Kitchen work centers and buffets and many more. Stylish kitchenware will give your kitchen an organized and compact look. The bathroom furniture includes shelves, basin cabinets, dressing sets including stools and mirrors, step stools, towel racks, laundry bags and many more. You are free to select the colors and shapes of this furniture that match the color of the floor and glaze tiles.

Furniture accessory

Shabby Chic furniture accessory is a popular line of bedroom and kids room decorative items. If you wish to incorporate both style and comfort in your furniture, this is going to be the best choice. You get this collection in unique colors to complement your décor. The floral patterns, fashionable stripes and elegant checks on the linens and mattresses add a different flavor to your room decoration. The kid’s room furniture accessories should feature interesting and multicolored patterns so that they can instigate imagination in your kids. The cushions, pillows and bolsters can be arranged nicely to create exceptional looks.

Now it is a very true fact that decorating the rooms with magnificent furniture and fashionable accessories is not enough for creating a perfect interior. You should maintain the beauty of your expensive upholstery with regular cleaning and organizing them everyday.

Designing your bedroom

If you are planning the most important room of your house – the bedroom, then it is not just about a large bed, bedding, pillows, bedcovers etc. It involves the right wall color, texture or pattern designs for the walls, special flooring, trendy curtains and curtain rods, stylish bed, side tables, comfortable mattresses and beddings, elegant bedcovers and bed sheets, pillows and cushions along with slip covers, the charismatic paintings, show pieces and many more things. This décor should reflect on the mood you want the room to project. The wall colors, lightings and furniture should be in sync with the overall mood and the theme being followed for bedroom decoration. Bedroom décor is a statement of style and personality of the occupant. As it is his personal space, a personal touch goes into designing of the bedroom. Every occupant will want this space to be cozy, warm and comfortable. At the same time he would want it to look elegant, stylish and trendy. Bedroom should express the taste, likes and mood of the occupant.

Colors and furniture for your bedroom.

You can go for warm and neutral colors on bedroom walls and enhance the look with some texture, artistic paintings etc. Bedroom furniture is usually made up of solid wood and metals. Master bedrooms should go in for king or queen size beds. Kid’s bedroom looks elegant with bunk beds. To suit your taste, market offers adjustable beds, air beds and platform beds. Choose the bed keeping in mind the size of the bedroom. A newly wedded couple can go for furniture with soft and pastel shades, that radiates warmth of love, while children’s furniture should reflect naughty streaks on outsides but be highly durable. Home furnishing bedding plays an important role in the decoration of any home. It is so vital that it gives the occupant a completely relaxed feel and helps him maintain good health. Today, fashion trends in home furnishing bedding are increasing day by day.  Easily available is a high range of bedding items that blends fashion with style perfectly. Mattresses should make you feel comfortable. Choose from the mattresses from wide range of springs to foam to latex. Cover your bed with cotton sheets having solid colors, prints and patterns. Select bedspread that complements your bed sheet and wall colors. There are many accessories like custom bed linens, comforter sets, mirrors, towels, cushions, quilts, cushion, carpet etc. which form an excellent range of home furnishings. Add some throw in pillows, which are available in different shapes, sizes and laces, along with the actual ones to give a level of comfort. It is advisable to change linens according to the seasons to bring out the desired effect. Side lamps or and they are a smart way to personalize your bedroom. Select the rugs that blend with rest of the bedroom decorations. Don’t leave walls and bedside tables without the extra personal touch. Photos, paintings, flowers are few nice ways to brighten up your room. Canvas photos definitely enhances the beauty and glory of your bedroom. Canvas photos are a priceless piece of art and no matter where you hang them, they brings color to the surroundings and compliments the décor. Today digital prints can transform your photo on canvas. designable candles add romantic mood to the bedroom. Area rugs add a depth to your bedroom.
An elegant dresser on the left side of the bed forms a fundamental piece of your bedroom furniture. Most popular styles of dressers have 6,7 or 8 drawers. Dressing tables come in different shapes and sizes. Some are large, some draped, some kidney shaped with elaborate mirrors and beautiful carvings. They add a touch of romance and glamour to any woman’s bedroom.

Final touch.

Do not overcrowd your bedroom. Bedroom should have an open and breathing space. If there is enough available extra space, it is always advisable to keep a rocking chair or a recliner inside the room. Having TV in bedroom is not recommended. Instead go for some soft music to give a soothing effect. This helps retain the personal touch of the bedroom, keeping it very private.

So, while designing your bedroom turn fashion into art, be creative. Make the bedroom, a place where you want to be.

When it comes to Christmas ornaments and lights, we often associate lights with Christmas trees, but ornaments and lights can be used creatively in so many ways! While Christmas lights are most commonly used to decorate Christmas trees, you can use them for so much more. If you are planning to decorate your home for Christmas this year, take a look at what else Christmas ornaments and lights can be used for!

Christmas lights come in so many different sizes, colors, and styles. You can purchase small white light bulbs or huge wildly-colored ones. In recent years, the growth and popularity of colored lights and creative ornaments has skyrocketed. This flexibility lets you use ornaments and lights, as art.

Purchase a single colored Christmas light, or a specific color combination of lights, to reflect you home decor, your personal style or personality. Use them to create a holiday theme. For example tiny twinkle blue lights on a white tree makes an “angelic” effect.

Use lights to decorate the outside of your home, too. You can easily find Christmas lights designed specifically for outside use. One type of outside use lights is the icicle light. What a frosty bit of fun! In addition to decorating the outside of your house itself, cut loose and decorate the trees outside of your home as well. Decorating the trees in your yard is a great way to bring a touch of Christmas to your neighborhood. Homeowners in many neighborhoods have made a tradition of staging an outside house-and-tree extravaganza for the neighborhood and their towns.

Use Christmas lights and ornaments to decorate different rooms of the house. Lights and ornaments are not just for the living room any more. Hang them along the top of their walls to bring extra Christmas spirit to the entire house.

Use Christmas lights to decorate a bedroom. This idea is often loved by teenagers and other children; many enjoy the bright lights and colors. Decorating your home’s bedrooms is a great way to bring the Christmas spirit into a room that you may have otherwise not decorated.

We all love to decorate our homes for Christmas, but decorate your office or your workspace, too. Not everyone celebrates Christmas and some offices have restrictions, even prohibitions, against decorating office space. If your job is one that lets everyone enjoy and have fun on their special holidays, a bit of conservative decorating cheer brings fun to the office for this special time of year.

Amazing all of the different ways that you can use Christmas ornaments and lights to decorate your home, your yard, and your office? The above mentioned examples are just a few of the many ways that you can use Christmas ornaments and lights. Try a few of your own creative ideas to bring the holiday spirit into your life and enjoy this magic of Christmas.

For Christmas fun, decorations, trees and gifts ideas for Christmas go to: ShopatChristmas.com

About the Author
Leona Maverick is an entrepreneur residing in NYC and owns and operates web shops for the betterment of self and community. Her favorite pastime is finding wonderful items with holiday themes from around the world.

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to think about putting up the Christmas lights. Here are some of the many advantages to using LED lights instead of old bulb based lights:

Inexpensive

Compared to traditional light bulbs, LED Christmas lights are usually a little less expensive when you first purchase them. Since LED lights are typically less expensive to manufacture, transport and package, the savings is passed on to the consumer in the upfront cost.

More Reliable

When you buy a string of traditional Christmas lights, you know that you will need to go through and check every bulb to make sure it works and won’t keep the entire string from lighting up. Many years, you’ll need to replace at least a few bulbs before your lights will work. Since LED’s are so much more reliable, it’s likely that you won’t need to endure this process again.

Lasts Longer

LED lights for critical applications such as for roadside lights, car lights or construction lights can last for years and year. However, since Christmas lights are only used once a year, for just a few weeks or just a month, and then only for part of the night, these LED’s can last for many Christmases, and it is unlikely you’ll need to buy new lights again for quite some time. Also, because LED’s are so reliable, you can enjoy great cost savings since you don’t need to replace them often, when compared to other types of lights.

Smaller

Incandescent lights, even the smallest ones are several times larger than your typical LED lights. This means less weight and less strain on your back when you are hoisting those lights on to your tree, roof or walls. Smaller also means that these lights will store easier and take up less room.

Less Energy

By using LED lights, you can get the same or more light while using less energy. LED’s are highly energy efficient and therefore you will save on electricity cost.

Brighter

LED lights are brighter and the light is stronger than traditional light bulbs.

Battery Powered

Want to light up your front yard this Christmas? Consider LED Christmas lights that use batteries for their power. This is far safer, easier to set up and less costly than using traditional lights.

Flexibility

LED Christmas lights can be easily dimmed, turned on and off and can change colors more easily than other types of lights.

So, the next time you’re considering getting out those bulky old Christmas lights, consider upgrading to LED Christmas lights, they are safer, more energy efficient, cost less over time, brighter, smaller, more flexible, more reliable and last longer. What’s not to like?

by L. Ward

Christmas is a great time for centerpieces. Centerpieces can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like. Depending on the flowers and foliage you use, they can also last a long time. The evergreens used in your centerpiece will last all month, and you can easily replace the flowers, if needed, to extend the life of the arrangement. This arrangement will look beautiful and smell lovely.

The supplies you will need to make a basic Christmas Holiday centerpiece include: a plastic centerpiece tray, floral foam, floral tape, wired wooden pegs, and if you want, a candle and spiked candle cups. The evergreens that can be used in this design include: juniper, which has small bluish berries, princess pine, incense cedar, and douglas fir. Other foliage to use includes: ming fern, eucalyptus, pittosporum and Holly leaves and berries. You will also need pine cones and hypericum berries. Recommended flowers include: red and/or white carnations, red and/or white spray roses, white chrysanthemums, cushion mums, button mums, and Starbursts (chyrsanthemums). Call your local florist to order your selection or pick up a bouquet of flowers from the supermarket.
Before you get started designing or putting together your floral arrangement, you will first need to prepare your floral foam by saturating it in water. You will then need to secure it in the centerpiece tray by using the floral tape. If you decide to use candles, insert those next. When using tapered candles, the use of candle cups is recommended. If you are using a wider candle, you can anchor it in the floral foam by attaching a couple of wooden pegs to the base of the candle using floral tape. Prepare the pine cones by wrapping the wire of the wooden pegs around the base of the pine cones. Now you are ready to begin adding the evergreens.

Cut the evergreen pieces to the desired length as you begin your design. I suggest starting with one type of evergreen, spacing the pieces evenly around the design, and continue one kind at a time. Once most of the evergreens are in place, add any other foliage like the fern you may have. The goal with the evergreens and foliage is to have the floral foam completely covered before flowers are added. This method of putting them in is only a suggestion, there is a lot of freedom involved with floral design, though inserting the greens first and covering the floral foam is strongly recommended.

Now the arrangement is ready for some flowers. Cut of the individual blossoms on the stems of pixies, sprays, and mums. This gives you more to work with, spread them out in the design, or group some together. Begin with the focal flower, like the carnations or Starbursts, and then fill in with the filler flowers. If you decide to move things around once they have been poked into the foam, just make sure they are reinserted into a new place. Never pull out a flower and stick it back in the same place in the floral foam, it will loose its capability to absorb water and therefore will die sooner. Once the flowers are in place, it is time to add the holly and the hypericum berries. Finally, place the pine cones in the design and enjoy your beautiful fresh flower Christmas Centerpiece!

Some more ideas: if you would like, place a bow made of Christmas ribbon in the arrangement. Use less expensive flowers during the month such as carnations and replace these with more expensive flowers like roses or lilies for your holiday dinner. Remember, you must water keep your tray full of water in order for the flower arrangement to last. You could also make a centerpiece using silk flowers following these exact same steps. The only difference would be to use dry foam instead of wet foam.

About the Author

L. Ward is a student of floral design and has experience putting dozens of arrangements together. L. Ward loves to shares what she has learned about fresh flowers, caring for fresh flowers, and offers ideas and instructions for floral design. These ideas are shared at http://www.FreshFlowerIdeas.com and http://www.FreshFlowerIdeasInfo.com

The world of fabrics. A voyage into textures and colours that never ends.
My most pleasurable part of an interior design project!

As an interior designer I can spend hours sitting down at the fabric store going through infinite piles of fabric swatches. Looking at one and forgetting about the other. Placing dog ear marks on the favourite ones to go back to later and combine them with the rest of the colour of the room. One has to really and truly understand fabrics, know the way a fabric is going to respond to a certain treatment. Will it sag? Or will it stay stiff enough? Or maybe this particular fabric will not let in enough light through it!

I have just returned from Spain and Italy a couple of weeks ago, updating our fabric collections and bringing with me the very latest in styles and trends. Once again, my heart was doing pirouettes in my chest when all the new collections were being shown to me. Selecting the ones that would be ideal for use in our homes and having to sadly refuse others that are not suitable. The textures, the patterns, the weaves, their weight! It is like being at a restaurant where one serving of food just tastes better than the next, leaving the restaurant pleasantly full looking forward in returning soon.

This year most of the fabrics all reflect darker earth tones. Patterns are more daring than ever. Large woven patterns on a black background accompanied by metallic treads and shimmery sheers. It is all heading towards the glamorous and shabby chic direction. Rough linens embroidered in fine intricate designs or smooth silk crushed and creased to create a rougher look. In this period of French revival one also comes across the traditional patterns and colours. Damask as a matter of fact, woven onto an old gold or pewter colour. Used as panels on dining chairs or even as a tapestry on a Roman blind.

Smoky charcoal grey tones super imposed over tans and coffee tones. They get as close as one may get in almost calling them monochromatic. It’s a game between textures, which one of them is getting the most attention or which pattern is screaming out the most from the lot? Gone are the days when a client matches three or four co-ordinates from the same sample book to play safe. It is an adventure and challenge of combining different types of fabrics, from different fabric houses even! It all boils down to the ability of doing so. A natural flair that comes with experience.

In our mediterranean countries we definitely can accommodate this latest trend in fabric as our houses are flooded with light. Using sheers behind a curtain is always what I suggest to my clients. It blocks off the rigidity of the door or window frame and filters the glare. It also gives privacy without having to sacrifice the light.

When clients usually get to this stage, the stage of hanging their curtains and upholstering their sofas, finances would have started running low as the project would have endeavoured most of the bank account. However, one has to keep in mind that fabrics add the soul to the interiors. It is literally dressing up the finished interiors. It’s like going out one evening and having the perfect outfit to go with it! With the perfect shoes and the perfect accessories. It just seals off the space and makes it all just perfect.

Source – Kenneth Tanti

Yet, the “hopeful to make a sale” agent reels off “A little paint, and a few flowers and you’ll never know the place“.

Of course, beautiful home decorating takes more than a splash of color and a vase full of Canna Lilies to transform a dodgy flat into stylish living quarters.

But a few simple renovations can make a world of difference and here’s how:

You can begin your home improvement with the flooring. If you currently have older wooden floors, either rent a machine and sand them to bare wood or have this done by the professionals. To turn dark aged wooden floors into a modern lighter look, simply stain the freshly sanded floors with a natural (clear) stain and have them coated with a light poly varnish.
For carpeted floors, replace the old rugs with a modern berber textured carpet or install a style from the new marble finish ceramic tiles. These 10″ by 10″ tiles are very inexpensive, easily installed and add quite the air of marble elegance at a cost of around 50 pence per square foot.

Now that you have found the perfect pair of shoes for your home improvement ensemble, move on to wall coverings.There are two thoughts to follow when choosing wall colours and texture… contrast and blend.

Do you want to paint your walls in a darker brilliant color to offset the lighter effect of the floors, or would you prefer to have the walls blend with the floor in a continuous visual line.

The answer to this depends on the lighting.

In large window lit rooms, at least one wall of the room should be done in an accent colour. This can be a medium to dark shade of paint, a floral print wallpaper, or even an exposed area of brick revealed beneath existing plaster.
A thought to remember is that large rooms, especially naturally lit ones, need accents. Exposed bricks, timbers, or a fireplace all are examples of such.
For smaller rooms you must continue the colour and visual line of the floor. Paint with a shade or two of difference. On darker floors lighten the walls by two degrees. In rooms with light coloured flooring, add but a shade of darkness to paints and wall papers. In using the latter remember that small prints are for small rooms and large prints are for large. No grand brocades for the pantry or breakfast nook. Always bear in mind that no one desires to live in a cave.
Always choose shades of colour two lighter than looks fine on the sample. When that shade is amplified by the size of a wall it will appear much darker.

• Small rooms must appear large and airy.
• Large rooms must lead the eye from point to point.

The hues that you select for your rooms are up to you, this is an area strictly defined by personal taste. Just as some might choose a blue blouse to match their eyes, you should choose floor and wall colours that match your personal style.

Home decorating when styled by small home improvements begin from the ground up. Lighten floors and connect the walls to the flooring visually.

Then, all you will need are the Canna Lilies.

Color Wheel

Choosing color combinations is easier once you understand the important tool: The Color Wheel. The color wheel determines what colors are complimentary to each other.

There are three basic groups that comprise a color wheel. They are as follows:

Primary Colors

The primary colors are red, blue and yellow and when used in decorating color schemes, offer a strong feeling to your room.

Secondary Colors

The secondary colors are green, orange and purple. Secondary colors are made from the combination of two primary colors.

Tertiary Colors

The tertiary colors are the combination of a primary color and the closet secondary color. For example, Red-Orange.

Color Moods

Even though the color wheel is an important tool in choosing complimenting colors, we must also consider the mood that the colors emit and create. Colors behave in three ways:

Active

Active colors are warm colors such as red, orange and yellow. Warm colors tend to stand out and dominate a rooms presence.

Passive

Passive colors are cool colors such as blue, green and purple. Using cool colors helps to calm atmosphere.

Neutrals

Neutral colors are beige, brown, gray and white. Neutral colors neither activate or calm a room. They merely act as a combination between active and passive colors.

Color Characteristics

As colors have general moods, each color has its own influence it creates when used in decorating color schemes. Browse through the influence some colors have to choose the right scheme for you.

Red – Symbolizes passion, empowers, stimulates, dramatizes.

Orange – Stimulates appetites, conversation, and charity.

Yellow – Increases energy, expands.

Green – Encourages emotional growth, balances, refreshes.

Blue – Produces peaceful moods, relaxes.

Purple – Comforts, spiritualizes.

Pink – Soothes, promotes affability and affection.

White – Purifies, energizes.

Black – Strengthens, encourages independence.