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New uses for your old household items

Paul — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:19:21 +0000

Photo: practicalowl / Flickr

Furniture and decorations can be expensive buys that really put a dent in your savings, while old household items gain little on the second-hand market and simply clutter up your home. Now you can kill two birds with one stone by simply transforming your old, unused household items into new and improved decorations that you will absolutely adore. So get recycling, restoring and reusing those old household items into something new and start saving.

Recycled goods

By recycling you don’t necessarily have to take things down to the dump – try recycling home items by finding new uses for them. Use interesting wine and salad-dressing bottles as vases, grow herbs in old yoghurt containers and organise your life with the help of your old shoeboxes and wine boxes. Use old frames as vanity trays to store your favourite make-up and liven up your children’s room by using a Twister mat as a tablecloth.

Materials

Old building materials and scraps can make great decorations for a rustic look. Painted bricks make for fantastic book ends, while old shutters make great shelves. Pieces of knotted wood can be hung in place of paintings and sticks placed in vases for a perennial arrangement. Leftover fabrics can be made into fun napkins or bookmarks and painted toilet roll inners make for fantastic storage for hairbands or wires can be threaded through them to keep them out of the way. A pretty ribbon or even a piece of string can revive an old lampshade or scatter cushion.

Have fun with it

Transforming old items isn’t necessarily about covering them up; sometimes the item itself lends a quirky and fun feel to your home. Consider recycling 6-pack beer holders as condiment trays while an empty tissue box can be easily transformed into a plastic bag dispenser. Mittens and socks make for great mobile phone, camera or sunglasses cases and magnets placed inside your bathroom cupboard can conveniently hold tweezers and nail scissors.

Thomas Chippendale’s furniture design

Jay — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:41:04 +0000

Photo: Knoxville Museum of Art / Flickr

Thomas Chippendale was an influential designer and cabinetmaker who worked and lived in England and it was thanks to Chippendale that the so-called Chippendale period of 1754-85 was born. Chippendale published The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker’s Director in 1754, which turned out to be one of the most highly respected publications at the time. Chippendale’s designs were influenced by Georgian and Queen Anne originals as well Gothic and Chinese styles – as seen in his ball and claw feet and heavy lacquering.

Solid workmanship

As much as Chippendale brought new ideas into furniture design, so did his workmanship continue to be of a high quality. Through careful fitting and joining, his pieces tended to last for a lengthy period of time.

Mahogany, which appeared on the scene in about 1750, was destined to become Chippendale’s favourite wood. He tended to decorate the dark wood with sharp and deep carvings using shells, foliage and scroll motifs. Finishes included the use of gilding and fretwork, as well as veneer.

Chippendale furniture

Chippendale was incredibly versatile in his treatment of furniture, especially when it came to his chairs which some have referred to as his masterpieces. The backs of his chairs were always designed with a distinctive pattern, including ladder back chairs and vertical-splat chairs.

The Chippendale influence was as strongly felt in America as it was elsewhere, graceful curves being one of the hallmarks of Chippendale-inspired furniture. During this period, Chippendale highboy designs were topped with carved finials and broken pediments by various cabinetmakers.

Chippendale’s influence in America

American cabinetmakers, influenced as they were by Chippendale, started making elaborate bookcases called breakfront bookcases. Breakfront bookcases had panelled doors in the upper sections and a bank of drawers (and sometimes a writing section) in the lower section. Wooden doors were often veneered with intricate patterns.

Tea tables, which had originally had a recess in the top during the Queen Anne period, now had an embellished fluted rim, reminiscent of pie crusts. This rim was found on round tables especially, including three-legged tables, whose legs often boasted the most elaborate carvings of the period.

Faux Finishing: Antiquing your Furniture

Paul — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:09:41 +0000

Antique furniture adds value to your home and spruces up the décor too. Antique furniture is considered to be a valuable asset as there is a very good demand for them in the market. Hand me downs from earlier generations can often be found in auctions and garage sales. Keep your eyes open for garage sales and auctions happening in your area or city and make sure you land a good bargain if you indeed plan to acquire antique furniture for your home.

The craftsmanship of antique furniture is very unique. The word antique can mean many things; a guitar can be antique, a watch like the Nixon the Player wristwatch can be antique, and even wine can be antique, but when most of us hear this word we think furniture. Antique furniture is carefully handcrafted pieces where quality was the focus of artisans. Carpenters produced pieces of furniture that never looked alike thus making antique furniture priceless and unique. With antique furniture now becoming a rarity, you can make your used furniture look like antique through the faux finishing or painting technique. This technique enables all your wood crafted items achieve that antique look. You can even give your walls and doors that antique look and finish.

You require a couple of things to get started, including paint, polyurethane, paint trays, paint mixing can, clean, lint free rags, measuring cup, wooden stirring sticks and paint brushes. Ensure your flat base has a coat of paint of a lighter colour than the antiquing glaze you want for your furniture. It is important you work on small areas of the furniture each time. Allow the area to dry completely before you proceed to the next area. Protective polyurethane is required to be applied finally for protection.

Add more Warmth and Personality to your Kitchen with Decorative Refrigerators

Jay — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:44:44 +0000

If your kitchen has undergone re-designing and has a whole new modern and stylish look, then you need to get some designer appliances to complete your dream kitchen. Most people are of the opinion that refrigerators have only one use, namely to keep their foods in good condition. What they fail to realize is the right refrigerator can provide your designer kitchen with stylish looks. How is this possible, you may wonder? Well, all you need to do is equip your kitchen with a decorative refrigerator.

Refrigerators have undergone many changes as we move into modern era. From being drab looking appliances to funky coloured appliances, refrigerators have come a long way. Refrigerators come in a variety of colours now, although most simply have a white exterior, like the Hotpoint FF175, or a stainless steel finish. Still there is a lot of variety and you can choose one that complements the décor of your kitchen. A good option would be for you to purchase a regular refrigerator and get your carpenter to fix wood or laminated panels on the fridge to match the wooden décor of your kitchen. If your kitchen has been fitted with stainless steel appliances and utensils then you can get a stainless steel model to match everything else in the kitchen. Your kitchen will sport an elegant look.

Look out for the Sub-zero brand of refrigerators, which have become the symbol of high-end designer kitchens. These refrigerators are expensive and come under the luxury items category. Some of the models in this range of refrigerators have glass doors that make them look stylish and elegant. Glass doors allow users to see what is inside the refrigerator. There is thus no need to spend time rummaging through all the items to search for something you want.

Equip your designer, dream kitchen with a decorative refrigerator and enjoy the experience.

Enhance your kitchen with Vintage Home Appliances: Make a unique style statement

Paul — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:48:41 +0000

When most homeowners are equipping their homes with an ultra modern designer look, some people prefer shopping around for vintage furniture and home appliances. Incorporating vintage home appliances and furniture in your homes is certainly going to make a signature statement. Your home is truly set to look unique.

Many of us would have condemned the hand me down furniture that were used in our parents and grandparents homes. However, these very pieces are in great demand in the market these days. The vintage Baumatic RETRO2 fridge freezer is definitely a throwback to earlier times, and actually lends a cool ambiance to your vintage kitchen. People are shopping around at garage sales and other places looking for vintage furniture and kitchen appliances so they can make a similar fashion statement in their homes.

The internet is an ideal source for many ardent vintage home appliance fans. A little search will help you locate various vintage home appliances like ovens, pans, pots, stoves, refrigerators, etc in excellent working condition. A search on the internet is sure to lead you to authentic sites selling vintage home appliances and furniture. Interested buyers can browse through the items on sale and make a purchase if they find anything to their liking. Of course there is nothing like attending an auction and inspecting vintage furniture or home appliances personally. You should know that you are paying money for a good piece.

Other than the web, vintage furniture and home appliances can be found at auctions and garage sales. Check your local newspapers for advertisements regarding these sales and ensure that you pay them a visit. You never know. You may get a good bargain and locate that perfect vintage furniture or appliance for your home.

Kitchen Styles: Reinvent your Kitchen in numerous Ways

Kyle — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:30:47 +0000

Kitchens are undergoing transformation with the new age living. Gone are the days when kitchens were just a place to prepare meals and serve them. Kitchens are built in a variety of styles these days to suit the taste and lifestyles of homeowners. Some varieties of kitchen styles include the Shaker-style kitchen, small white kitchen, contemporary kitchen, Classic black and white kitchen, Country corner kitchen and traditional wood kitchen.

In shaker style kitchens, the units are simple, white roundhouse with shaker style doors. This modern country kitchen has hinges, which are sleek and exposed. The counter worktops are Kashmir white granite. The flooring is of oak wood and helps highlight the white unit. The small white kitchen style has a Rangemaster cooker, like the Rangemaster Classic 90 Deluxe cooker, and the island unit is sturdy and from Barratts Garden centre. Elmridge Gardens has provided the silk flowers, which have been tacked to the ceiling.

The contemporary kitchen style has walls with built in stainless steel cupboards that come with frosted glass doors. The floor consists of polished stone tiles. The dining table is of dark wood and the chairs are textured and curved with metal legs. The room has a large round mirror and shelving units help divide the space.

The country corner kitchen comes with white painted cabinetry built around the chimney. There is a granite worktop and the wooden flooring with a border around its edge gives a classic and elegant appearance to the kitchen.

The traditional wooden kitchen comes with an elegantly fashioned marble granite island, which provides a classical style look to the kitchen. A chandelier that hangs overhead adds opulence to the room. There are traditional wooden cabinets with glass doors.

Retro Kitchen Décor: Give your Kitchen a whole new Atmosphere

Kyle — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:11:09 +0000

If you want your kitchen to exhibit that stylish look then retro décor along with some retro kitchen appliances will help you achieve this. There are many stylish smart kitchen appliances available in the market these days that will make your kitchen look stylish and elegant. Retro kitchen décor includes kitchen furniture, flooring, kitchen appliances and countertops.

In any retro kitchen decor, the countertops are the centerpieces of attraction. These can be made of laminated materials with curved sweeping edges. The laminates come in various styles of design, including the eye catching retro motif designs. Retro style countertops come with metal banding around their edges to provide that elegant and sleek finish. The cabinets in a retro kitchen are made from wood or matching plastic laminates that enhance the kitchen decor.

The kitchen flooring for you retro setting can either consist of wooden planks or linoleum tiles. The checkerboard patterns on linoleum, which come in colour schemes of either black/white or red/white, are the favourite choices among consumers.

Retro kitchen furniture includes swivel stools, chairs with vinyl upholstery, all this with a gleaming chrome finish and metal banding. There are various styles in the market to equip your kitchen with. Stylish retro kitchen appliances for the kitchen come in colours like pink and green while shapes are usually irregular. All the retro kitchen appliances are readily available at stores and include accessories like canisters, blenders, salt and peppershakers, or toasters like the Morphy Richards Accents retro toaster that looks like it is from the ’50s. Some of the places where you can scout for retro kitchen appliances are the antique stores, garage sales and eBay.

Contemporary Cupboards for your Kitchen: Give it a modern Look

Lindsey — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:18:09 +0000

Today, there are numerous options for highly functional and stylish kitchen cupboards. With advancement in engineering technology, engineers are redefining kitchen cupboards.

Today’s kitchen cupboards are not just boxes of the same size to accommodate various appliances. Space is provided for various small accessories too including the serving trays, cutting boards, knives, etc. In fact every kitchen cupboard is custom built to suit the requirements of every home depending on the appliances they have to place. For instance, many kitchens have a slot specifically reserved for a microwave like the LG MH6347GR, or other small appliances. In fact, you can even create an attractive space in your kitchen to beautifully display family heirlooms including the attractive china set.

With a good organization and planning, kitchen cup boards can be made to stock various things including dry foods, medicines or just about anything miscellaneous. Cupboards with shelves and compartments can be designed to accommodate everything so the kitchen looks very neat and clutter free. Contemporary cupboards in kitchens are made to customer specifications. So you can sit with your family and spend some time planning the cupboard design. After all, once it is made and installed, it is a lifetime companion.

Another aspect is to place your contemporary kitchen cupboard at a convenient place in the kitchen. If your kitchen is small, there is no problem. But if it is a large kitchen, it is important not to place it too far away from where you do your cooking. You can strategically place them under the kitchen island, above the oven, near the kitchen sink, just about anywhere you feel will be within comfortable reach.

A well planned contemporary kitchen cupboard placed at the right place is thus an asset to any kitchen.

Kitchen Colours add Life to your Home

Jay — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:29:18 +0000

As with every other room in the house, it is important to paint the kitchen in colours that are pleasing to the eye. In fact, the colour you choose for the kitchen plays a role in deciding how much time you spend there. While choosing the paint or wallpaper colour for the kitchen, keep in mind the overall kitchen décor, including the colour of the cabinets, appliances, etc. Traditionally, appliances used to be white in colour, but now we find a host of attractive coloured appliances in the market.

Sometimes, the colour of the walls is nice but clashes with the colour of the cabinets or the appliances producing a very jarring effect. For example if the colour of the cabinets is dark, then it makes sense to paint lighter colours on the walls for contrast. If the walls are also dark, then there is a gloomy feel in the kitchen. Brightly coloured kitchens add to the overall cheer and make sense even if you have bright appliances like the illuminating Breville TT68 Blue Ice 2 Slice toaster. If you have curtains on the kitchen windows, you can match or contrast the colour of walls with those. You can place some beautiful flowers and herbs strategically lying around for that effect.

Colour your kitchen to perfection for motivation to cook excellent and healthy meals. Light fittings also need to be taken into consideration as you choose the colour of kitchen walls. Most importantly, kitchen is a place prone to a lot of spillage and staining. Keep the cabinets therefore darker and the walls lighter to make the kitchen one of the most interesting rooms in your home.

Ever popular wooden Furniture makes a great Addition to any Home

Jay — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:14:21 +0000

For years, wooden furniture has been the favourite of many people who like to give their home a classy look. Though other forms of furniture have come and gone, wood has never faded away, always retaining its charm and beauty.

Nowadays, the main concern for anybody looking to furnish an area is the space. Wooden furniture is great for any kind of space. The usage of wood has also changed dramatically with the passage of time. Modern wooden furniture uses copious amounts of high quality wood, good craftsmanship and a wood grain coating. Earlier, everything used to be painted with black lacquer but this has now changed. In an age for nearly every appliance we own and use a lot, like the stainless steel Rangemaster Professional 90 oven, is either made of metal or plastic, there is something rustic and done to earth about owning wooden furniture. The various types of wood used for making furniture are walnut, mahogany, oak, rosewood and fruitwood. Each of these has amazing resilience to weather and they look majestic.

Today, modular furniture rules the roost. The feature that stands out here is this furniture is made from several pieces which are juxtaposed together to form a single piece. If for any reason you might feel like reorganising, these pieces can be toyed with and fitted back differently. Needless to say, modular furniture has proved to be extremely popular in offices and workplaces. Today, where impressions are made very quickly and at the first sight, nobody takes chances with the wrong kind of furnishing.

History has witnessed the best and the worst of the use of wood but then and now, what has been established is that wood is here to stay for a long time.