Monthly Archives: April 2008

In the world of interior design there is constant change of evolution and style, the latest craze in bedroom design is the French decoration style. There is little more romantic that a room with a luxurious French bed and accompanying stylish fittings. Not only will a French bed bring an air of romance to your bedroom but is a brilliant way to revitalise a tired looking room into one of sophistication and elegance.

Most French decor has a concurrent colour throughout, from the bed to the walls. These colours are usually light blue, shades of green and even gold although peaches, pinks and lilacs are becoming increasingly popular.

As long as the shade of colour matches the whitewashed furniture and adds to the distressed look the choice is yours, there is no need to stand on ceremony. Another great French design feature is to contrast the walls and soft furnishings with the bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers. Paint is not a prerequisite, French interior design regularly uses soft wallpaper patterns to compliment other fixtures in the room.

The bed is of course the most important aspect of any bedroom; for that distinctive French feel it is worth getting a rococo style bed with a plush, thick mattress and comfortable oversized pillows. The bed frame can be made of antique wood and should have a distressed look to it; ornate carvings are typical in paisley patterns and floral designs. The French love luxuries so do not scrimp on the sheets, plenty of linen in brilliant white or lace gives a simplistic clean look to your bed.

Added to the bed, other pieces of furniture should be oversized when trying to achieve the French look. A huge wardrobe combined with a chest of drawers should be in place while a dresser adds luxury if you have the space. If you have a large bedroom it is even worth adding a comfortable armchair or settee as well as other antiques made from wrought iron.

French bedroom design emphasises the window as a focal point of the room away from the bed. The use of long, flowing drapes tied back to frame the vista creates a stunning effect. Keeping the window clear is also vital in letting large amounts of light into the room, making it as light and airy as possible. Curtains should extend all the way down from the ceiling to the floor, adding a sense of height to the room and that luxurious French feel.

A hand painted screen near the bed can also create this sense of height and makes an outstanding design feature. It can also be placed in the corner to soften the edges of the bedroom and add a feeling of comfort. It can also add a romantic centrepiece allowing lovers to undress behind it in a seductive way, after all romance is a vital part of any French bedroom. Other accessories should include porcelain or pieces of artwork that are typically French and will help add to the look more generally.

In terms of lighting Tiffany lamps placed close to the bed are a brilliant way to recreate Art Nouveau style within your room. This classic elegance is easy to achieve and adds soft lighting to emphasise the romantic nature of your new French bedroom. A chandelier is also an advisable lighting solution if your room is large enough and can carry such a large light fitting. Candle holders are also ideal for adding romance and decoration for cosy nights in.

When considering your new French bedroom, remember to always follow your own taste. Thankfully it does not have to be an expensive look to achieve, even when considering the initial outlay of the bed. For a bedroom that is certain to bring romance and relaxation, the French style is the perfect solution.

Interior design expert Thomas Pretty emphasises the importance of a luxury French bed as the centrepiece of a romantic French styled room. To find out more please visit http://www.sandmanbeds.com/frenchbed.htm

It is relatively easy to make your garden more beautiful by building a retaining wall, which has a lawn or area of flowers behind it. A retaining wall needs to be strong enough to withstand the pressure of soil weight behind it. It must also be porous enough to allow adequate drainage. Walls made of either dressed stone or rubble are the most popular. When using stone for your retaining wall, you can choose from between two kinds of construction. Dry-wall construction uses earth as filler between the stones. Mortar construction uses cement as the bonding agent.

It is important for the base of a retaining wall to be below the front line, or about six inches down in the northern parts of the United States. For a wall without buttresses or projections, the width of the base should be one-quarter the height of the wall. Walls can taper to a width of about one-quarter of the base width. Walls with buttresses should have bases that are one-quarter as wide as the wall is high. This measurement refers to the widest points of the wall where the buttress will be used. In narrower places the base can be of a thinner proportion.

Every 24 inches and approximately six inches from the lower ground level of the wall, you should embed drainage pipes. If the wall material itself is sufficiently porous, it may be possible to eliminate the need for the drains. In any construction that uses mortar, however, drainage pipes are critical. It is possible to begin at ground level with dry-wall construction rather than six inches below the frost line, but this is not generally recommended.

The cheapest way to construct a dry wall is to select local stone. You can pick larger stones for the main construction and smaller stones for the chinks. The largest stones you have should form the base of the retaining wall, with smaller stones rising to the top. The side of the wall that faces out should be as level as possible. Obstructions and edges of exterior stones should face inward. This allows the wall to hold the soil it is to retain and also makes a good appearance. Stones that have rounded surfaces should be eliminated because they do not form good walls.

All the stones should be placed in a good bond, which means that the edges of stones on one rose, or course, should overlap spaces in the lower courses, or rows. If a stone on an upper course does not fit firmly in place, earth and smaller stones can be packed in to improve the bond. There should be no vertical crevices.

The retaining wall itself should slope back, against the soil it is supposed to retain. This provides greater strength to the wall. The width of the base should be one-third of its height. This is a general rule, but in many areas, it is common practice to slope a wall as much as five to six inches for each vertical foot. This degree of slope is not required, however. The soil should be packed firmly in all the walls pockets and continued back in the soil that is being retained.

To find more tips about gardening the use of retaining walls visit http://complete-gardening.com

Getting the inside of your home looking good can be a challenge and does require a certain amount of skill and knowledge in order to pull it off. Using the right colors and combinations for the curtains, draperies, even your bed sheets and duvet colors can make a big difference in the general appearance of a room.

If you have a small living space then consider getting something like a sofa bed as it will save you a lot of space. Plants can also make a big difference in the appearance and feel of a room. There are many great benefits to using plants such as getting cleaner and fresher air as well as reduced humidity levels.

The plants that you choose should match and highlight the general colors in your home. Sometimes keeping a space design simple is often the best way to go. Try to remove as much clutter as possible and use simple color combinations like black and white. Installing some rope lighting under the bed can also be great to add a night light source.

Using candles effectively can also be great to add a nice decorating style to any room. Create a grouping with the candles on a side table or you can use floating candles on a bowl also. Adding relevant artwork and paintings can also greatly enhance the appearance of your home. Make sure the artwork does match with the theme you are going for in each room.

Keeping a room bright is often a great design choice and also keep in mind that it helps to elevate your mood when you are in a bright space versus a dull and dark area. Decorating your fireplace effectively can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of a room since the fireplace is often considered one of the main focal points. Try not to block your fireplace and leave the space around it clear and free from too much furniture.

Hanging a nice piece of artwork above the mantle can be a great accent and can make a nice difference in making the fireplace look better. Also try to avoid adding too many things on or around the fireplace as this will make it look cluttered and unattractive. Wallpaper is often difficult to replace and can get damaged easily thus repainting is often a better choice if you are looking to change the color of your walls or do a little touch up.

Remember that each room has its personality and style. For instance a bedroom style and theme depends on the individual. If you have a child that loves Spiderman then you will probably want to consider a red and black theme for the room with some relevant posters and even toys and action figures can really help to create an effective theme. Getting Spiderman bed sheets and pillow covers can also have a dramatic effect. Of course the design of these kinds of rooms will be for younger children as when the kids get older they will be able to make their own decisions.

Using proper electronics in a room can also help to improve the appearance. For instance switching to a good looking flat screen tv can make a big difference as far as increasing the size of the room and making the room look neater. Also do not forget to always add some personal items like photos, souvenirs and such that reflect who you are and show off your interests and personality. Follow some of these interior home decorating tips to help you get a better looking home.

Shakil is an online researcher, author and webmaster. If you are looking for discount bedding then be sure to visit www.mattresslinen.com where you will find many great bedding products including discount duvets and much more.

Because of my career in interior design, I have always loved Native American hand drums for their simplistic beauty when used for rustic decor, and for the significant role they play in American Indian drum music. Most people I come across do not realize that these hand drums are some of the most famous cultural representations in the world. For centuries, American Indian people relied on their belief in the unique power of these drums for spiritual and healing purposes, and have always considered the hand drum as a prized possession among all Native American musical instruments.

Though all Native American drums have comparable characteristics about them, you may not realize that native drums are different in many forms according to tribe. Some tribes use the hand drum exclusively in secret ceremonies, whereas in others, they are the focal point of the public event or powwow. Native people also use these hand held musical instruments for dancing, personal meditating and in sweat lodges. No matter how they are used, the hand drum continues to play a key role in American Indian music and in Native culture today.

When choosing one of these beautiful drums to add to your western style home decor or for playing in a drum circle, it is wise to choose one made with quality materials similar to the original materials used. The original, all natural hand held drums used throughout Native American history, were made of wood cut from a downed tree trunk. When cut correctly, the long thin strip of wood curled to make a ring that measured two to six feet in length, depending on the size of the hand drum desired. Once the drum ring was properly bent, it was held with one end overlapping the other and held in place with a piece of rawhide lacing. Allowed to dry slowly in the open air, the remaining wetness in the hand drum hoop would evaporate, allowing the ring to shrink to the final size.

As you look into the history of the different tribal hand drums made, you will notice that they were covered on either one, or both sides of the drum hoop with animal skin. Various woods and hides were used depending on the Indian tribe and where they were located geographically, but the most used materials were pine, and goat skin. These days, Native American hand drums are made and come in a variety of exotic hides, but traditionally, goat skin rawhide was the preferred skin because of its special stretching and sound quality.

Now days, you can readily find Native American hand drums online and in stores that sell western and country home decor. Whether placed on the wall in a cabin or lodge to enhance rustic decor, or simply being used for ceremonial drumming, these Native drums will add great character to your home and environment. If you are inspired with authenticity and traditional American Indian values, you will definitely enjoy having and displaying authentic Native American hand drums.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Native American Hand Drums for American Indian drumming and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Western tapestries are wonderful for enhancing southwestern decorating. If you like southwestern and western decor, you will certainly enjoy decorating with vibrant tapestries in your log cabin or rustic style home. Truly functional and versatile, you will find that southwestern tapestries, when used as a tapestry wall hanging or tapestry wall art, will brighten your home and give it a beautiful country feel.

A lot of times designers will add floor rugs and runners to the rooms in their homes but do not consider using wall tapestries made of the same beautiful material to decorate their walls. The truth is that a wall tapestry is a simple way to give color and texture to your rooms and bring life to your home decor. In addition, western tapestries can be used as vibrant pieces of artwork, worthy of display, because they are hand made.

There are so many different patterns to choose from that you will certainly be able to purchase the best western tapestry style to harmonize with your interior design. Southwest decorating usually uses combinations of desert colors like pink, purple and turquoise. Western themes look wonderful with beautiful accent colors like red, black and grey. For an American Indian feel, there are numerous designs available with the Navajo storm pattern being one of the most popular. It is possible to find vibrant colors in every style of woven rug, and tapestry patterns that continue getting more intricate.

The best thing about decorating with western style tapestries is that you can use them in all the rooms in your home. Use them as a hanging tapestry or as area rugs to complement rustic furnishings and southwest accessories. Or, put them in doorways, in halls, and in front of couches and chairs to fill vacant floor space. Use them in hallways or where you might normally put a decorative picture for a different design style. To achieve a more casual style, hang them horizontally to accentuate that it is wall hanging art. You will be surprised at how much they liven up your home design and what an impression they make on your visitors.

When you start your interior design, use your color samples to decide which western tapestries and tapestry rugs to decorate with in your rooms, and you will be excited with how they liven up your home. When you make your decisions, do not settle for cheap imitations that will reduce the value of your home. Buy wool tapestries and tapestry rugs that have been crafted by hand and not made by a machine. Hand made wool is more durable and will enhance the look you want.

Decorate your favorite room with a touch of the southwest, or give your whole home a makeover with western tapestries and tapestry rugs to give it that great designer southwestern style. Today you can easily find beautiful tapestries to use in your home decorating. Many people buy them online or in stores that sell southwestern and rustic home decorating items. If you want to add that one of a kind rustic or western style in your home, start by adding the beautiful, Native American colors and designs of western tapestries.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and offers free information online about choosing western tapestries for southwestern decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Looking for a great rustic decorating idea? Native drums used as rustic tables are the best and most inexpensive way to accomplish authentic southwestern design and enhance Indian style in your home. Along with using Indian drums as musical instruments in drumming groups and circles, you can use them to add designer, southwestern style to any interior. I recently redecorated my home, adding unique pieces of log furniture to give it an authentic southwest look, and found that adding a Native American drum coffee table and drum end table together with other western style accessories, looked very nice as accent pieces to my rustic furnishings.

Maybe you are like me and truly love western style floor drums and log drums to use as rustic tables in interior design and southwestern decor. Native Indian floor drums are certainly a very real representation of Indian society and customs and are widely-used by many American Indian tribes in traditional ceremonies and rituals. Indian drums for many decades, have always played a very important part during the Native ceremony, such as the powwow, and have helped form the ideology of religion and spirituality for the majority Native cultures.

Once you start studying the rich history of Native drums, you will realize just how meaningful they are to the Indian people. For many generations, leaders of the tribe have used the drum beat as a bridge to connect with their creator and with the Spiritual world. Native Americans regard their drums as sacred and have great respect for the living spirit they believe inhabits each drum. The Spirit of the drum is believed to speak to the drummer and exemplifies not only life, but also Mother Nature.

Now days, many interior decorators are bringing these one of a kind Native drums into their homes to be used as western style furnishings such as rustic tables, coffee tables and end tables. There is something very inviting about adding an interesting piece of furniture such as a drum table to your southwest home decor, to embellish Native style in your home. You will love decorating with rustic tables because of the uniqueness they create in their ambiance. Each drum comes from a rich historical background that truly enriches the area where it is placed. One of the things you will love most about adding a decorative table drum along with your rustic wood furniture is that it is a very appropriate representation of native culture.

If you enjoy southwest style decor, you can easily find rustic drums to use as coffee tables, floor drums and rustic tables, online and in stores that sell western and country decorating items. No matter which way they are used, it is easy to find rustic style drums that will add true western style to the rooms in your home. If you are drawn to the rich culture of the Native Americans and wish to enrich the southwestern furnishings in your log home or cabin, you will certainly appreciate decorating with Native drums as rustic tables.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Native Drums As Rustic Furniture for American Indian drumming and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

When it comes to your home, there are very few things that are as make-or-break as the flooring that you choose. The color of the walls, the decor, and even the furniture in your home can all be chalked up to individual tastes, but a cheap carpet or a carelessly installed floor can not only become an eyesore in a hurry, but can also significantly devalue your home as it may show signs of wear and tear much earlier.

Installing a quality carpet or flooring that is both high quality and low cost is of the utmost importance for many home owners. Name brand carpeting and flooring, which can ensure the highest quality possible, may be the right option for you, while quality store brand flooring and carpets can alleviate the financial strain of having carpets and floors installed in your home.

A viable option for many home owners is using smaller family-owned carpet and flooring showrooms, as they often offer the best customer service and highest quality flooring and carpet while still generally being able to offer competitive prices.

Using Anaheim as an example: an Anaheim carpet company may sell carpet at $3.50 per square foot and offer excellent customer support and service while a larger national chain, lacking the same level of support and service, may only discount their products by a few cents per square foot making the local Anaheim flooring company a better overall value. Local flooring companies, in Anaheim and beyond, tend to pride themselves on providing quality products and superior service.

Connecting Locally via the Internet

Local companies throughout the world are becoming a stronger presence online as the appeal of the internet for smaller locally owned businesses increases. There are thousands of small, locally owned carpet and flooring companies online who can offer users the opportunity shop online or peruse and compare before making a final decision regarding their carpet purchase.

Searching for “carpet” or “carpet company” and your city name in most search engines will help you find locally owned carpet suppliers who offer wide arrays of carpet and flooring options for your home. Using the Internet to comparison shop can help you find the right carpet at the lowest prices, while using local companies can ensure that you get the best “home town” service and support – it’s the best of both worlds.

Building a new home or renovating your current one can be hectic and expensive, but shopping online for carpets and flooring can significantly decrease your level of stress while increasing your level of satisfaction.

Art Gib writes for Mooney Carpet (http://www.mooneycarpet.com), an Anaheim carpet company offering low prices and great service on flooring and carpeting.

If you’re decorating your home, it’s important that you find the right home decorating fabric. Whether you’re going modern, Victorian, or classic, the theme of your home decorating will be influenced by the type of fabric you choose. If you already know what particular theme you want, do a little research online to decide which fabric will fit best. You can also choose to look at home decorating magazines or books.

For example, if you use a Victorian theme, remember that this type of theme is both feminine and quite ornate. Therefore, the home decorating fabric you choose will be brocade, velvet, or other “heavy” and rich materials. For accessories, you can choose ribbons and bows, beads and lace for trim.

If you choose to go with a modern theme, you’ll want vibrant and bold colors in your home decorating fabric. Usually, when you go with a modern theme, the rooms are big and spacious and the concept is “open.” This is meant to draw your attention to the room’s details, including the fabrics used. The walls are usually done in light or cool colors.

Another popular home decorating theme is Oriental. With this, use elephants, Chinese dragons, screens and fans. This makes the room visually interesting and unique. The colors used are rich red, coral, jade and ivory. The Oriental theme usually uses silk as its fabric, and the rich colors stand boldly against the dark woods recommended for Oriental furniture.

For a more subdued “country” theme, choose light-colored woods, crisp fabrics such as linen, and light colors, perhaps accented here and there with dashes of dark red or blue throw pillows, for example. You can also choose sturdy knotty pine and rough tweed and denim fabrics for a more rustic look.

When you use home decorating fabric, you are putting icing on the cake, basically. The furniture you add complements the colors you use. In addition, the window treatments you’ll use also fit within the theme, using these same colors.

Home decorating fabrics can be found in many places. Cushions, slipcovers and curtains can be bought premade at department stores or online. Many stores or web sites also specialize in home decor and can help you with this process. If you are skilled in sewing and wish to make your own materials, it’s probably best that you go to a local fabric store so that you can see the fabrics you want to choose firsthand. Store staff will also be able to advise you on patterns, threads, and accessories such as buttons, ribbons and bows. If you are considering a particular color scheme, staff will also be able to help you choose fabrics in the right coordinating and contrasting materials and colors.

Whether you choose ready-made materials or are skilled at making your own, the right fabrics can make your home decorating project a success, so that you both have fun during the process and are pleased with the end result.

Gaetane Ross is a Home Improvement Consultant who has spent over 4 years focusing helping people remodel and improve their homes. She also specializes in Holiday Home Decorating.

http://MyHomeInteriorDesignIdeas.com

Did you ever wonder why pow wow drums are used in native ceremonies? I did, but never realized that they played such an important role in the Native Indian culture until I had the opportunity to attend one of these events, and started talking to the American Indian singers about the important part the pow wow drum plays in the ceremony. Native drum groups realize the significance of this type of drum in their culture, but most people I meet have only a small idea of how the native drum music is used and what it is used for. Because it is considered to be the heartbeat of Mother Earth and the tool used to call on the Spirits, the pow wow drum is, understandably, the life of the Native American ceremony.

If you ever have the chance to be present at one of these spiritual events, you will certainly be fascinated to watch how this American Indian drum is played during the ceremony. Made from a large base and covered with cow, deer or buffalo raw hide, the pow wow drum is played by eight or more men that strike the drum with drum strikers as they sing songs, often sung in the Native American language. These singers are responsible for knowing the songs required for the ceremony and for the songs asked of them by the singing leader.

You can also find the powwow drum and singers at dances, ceremonies and other events where a pow wow is necessary. The Native Americans regard these events and the native drums to be sacred. Since the drum was first given to the people by a woman, they are believed to carry her spirit and are highly respected for this reason. The people’s deep cultural beliefs make the Spirit world a very big part of these ceremonies and a time when they connect with their creator.

Today, you will not only come across Native American pow wow drums being played in native drumming circles but will also notice that they are very popular in rustic home decorating and western interior design. Many home designers, looking to create balance and peace in their southwest style home decorating, find that the powerful presence of the pow wow drum does just that. Because of their popularity in country and southwestern decorating, it is easy to find powwow drums online and in stores that sell Native American drums and other rustic home decorating items.

Whether using your pow wow drum in native drum groups or including it along with your rustic home decor, it is important to treat it with great care and the respect that it deserves. There is really no wrong way of expression when using your pow wow drum as long as it is done in the right way and out of respect to the important role it plays among the Native people. You can connect with the spiritual world in your Native American drum circles or produce peace and balance in your southwest home decor through the powerful presence created by pow wow drums.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Powwow Drums for American Indian drumming and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

Green home designs use eco-friendly reusable materials, furnishings and leftovers. These kind of designs feature the use of long lasting, non-toxic materials as well as recycling. Green home designs make use of materials that are renewable and long lasting. To remodel a residence with new materials every few years is not green building design.

When you use materials to be green, you restore and salvage what you have when possible. Options for green flooring design can provide you many different choices today. You can sand and refinish or even paint and stencil without using materials containing volatile organic compounds (referred to as VOC’s).

Green home designs today features the use of materials such as cork, bamboo and eucalyptus since they are earth friendly and renewable. Cork is especially good since there is no destruction of trees during extraction of the cork. Hardwood flooring can last forever and is very desirable, however, these kinds of woods are often the remnants of old growth from rain forest trees and this is not eco-friendly or green. You can select types of woods that have the approval and certification by environmental groups.

Which glues and finishes to use for floor installation are issues that should concern you since many contain toxic synthetic formaldehyde resins. It is best to use non-toxic low to no VOC sealants as well as non-toxic cleaners, polishes, finishes, refinishing and adhesive products. To do so will result in having better indoor air quality since your home produces less toxins and is a healthier environment to live in.

Even buying low to no VOC products does not guarantee your safety and good health for you and your loved ones. Since we encounter so many chemicals on a daily basis, nothing can be 100%. However, it is essential to select eco-friendly products for the green design benefits. This helps to better our environment and not expose us to as many chemicals every day.

While creating your green home designs using these ideas, be sure to include many glass window and doors as well as roof and wall skylights to allow natural lighting into your home. Skylights provide the green design benefits of reducing and avoiding moisture accumulation in a room while conserving energy consumption.

Concrete floorings have made the circle of fashion, coming back in style. They come in various colors, patterns, textures and polishes. This type of flooring is not so harmful to your health since it uses no glue, finishes or refinishing products and their chemicals.

Green home designs in the kitchen can feature the use of concrete counter tops since they are a natural appearing material and have become quite popular. They can add a modern look and style to your kitchen, bathrooms and fireplace.

Vertrazzo, which is recycled glass, is another popular choice for green kitchen counter tops. Recycled glass is attractive and comes in various colors to match your decor perfectly. You can use it as both kitchen counter tops and as a backsplash. Recycled glass tiles are another beautiful alternative in trends of green kitchen designs.

While choosing your appliances, consider their functionality, style and energy efficiency as well as your budget. When you replace appliances or remodel your kitchen, be sure to find the most energy efficient appliances available as well as those that use less water. To recycle old appliances, call your local recycling department for advice on what to do to recycle them.

Sending your appliances to a landfill or passing them on to someone else is not a good idea, since ninety-five percent of refrigerator parts are recyclable. Older models that are not as energy efficient will not save you money and they are not good for the eco-system. You should recycle all of your old kitchen appliances.

Green home designs add lots of ceiling and wall insulation to your entire home. This is most beneficial and keeps your home more energy efficient. Remember to use eco-friendly insulation materials. Always chose high performance windows and double or even triple pane windows, doors and skylights as they help conserve energy as well.

With rising energy costs, energy efficient design makes economic sense. Saving money after the initial investment, reducing exposure to toxic chemicals and helping save the environment all are goals of green home designs. Learn as much as you can about the choices you have in the green interior design products that will best serve your interests.

Copyright 2008 InfoSearch Publishing

Learn more green kitchen remodel ideas and how to create healthier kitchens. David Lee Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com – visit the website for a wide variety of articles on home improvement.

Antler lamps are wonderful for enhancing western home decor. So much more than average home lighting, antler lamps add charm to your environment. If you have a mountain cabin or southwestern home, the rustic character of antlers with their unique shapes and variations in natural color will give your area the unique old west style you desire.

Ranch owners as well as those designing modern log homes have used antler lamps for years as the beautiful rustic lighting to complete their ranch style home design. Because of the natural shape of antler lamps and chandeliers there is a unique beauty in the antlers themselves that wonderfully goes along with any variety of ranch style furniture. There is something dynamic about antler lamps that combines all the elements and gives off a sophisticated country feel within the room. Antler lamps have a unique quality about them that easily enhances rustic beauty in any environment.

Antler lamps also go along with many other rustic elements in home interior design. In the Northern states or “north woods” antlers may be put on snow shoes and complimented with rawhide lamp shades to fashion beautiful wall sconces. The light colored wood and rawhide lacing of the snow shoe, along with the leather binding and pleasant glow of the rawhide shade, make it a wonderful harmony. Weather you prefer to adorn your antler lamp with rustic light rawhide shades or western style dark rawhide lampshades, the choice is yours and the result will be beautiful.

Smaller antler chandeliers are sometimes made from whitetail deer antlers while large chandeliers may have many tiers of huge elk antlers. Weather your area is large or small an antler chandelier will enhance western decor.

In Jackson Hole, WY the downtown is embellished with arches made from Elk antlers. It is certainly one of a kind and you can create the same rustic look with antler lamps. Small lamps can be made from whitetail deer antlers while large chandeliers may have tiers of elk antlers with rawhide lampshades. One of the most sought after lamps is made with moose antlers, recognizable with their broad dark palms and beautiful dark rawhide lamp shades.

Throughout the year, groups and associations like the Boy Scouts will search for the prized sheds. If you ever find antler sheds in the wild, it is a thrilling event. Antler lamps bring that same spirit in your home and can change your home’s atmosphere in a most exciting way.

Antlers are available in different qualities that are graded like rare coins. The best quality is awarded an “A” grade. The grading criteria, indirectly, has to do with the amount of time the sheds lie on the ground before found. The longer they are left on the ground, the more they lose their quality. Newer antler sheds will be a darker brown color. Sheds that are not discovered quickly will begin to fade in the sun until they are a chalky white. Another reason they loose their quality is because of chew marks from small rodents and stains from wet ground or moss.

There are also varying forms of making the antler lamps themselves. Some lamp makers simply glue the antlers together. Others may lash them together with rawhide thong for a western look. And some of the most appealing antler lamps may use a combination of glue, screws and lacing, with the holes sealed for a natural look. Better quality lamps will almost always use rawhide lamp shades.

Each antler is slightly varied than any other, so each antler lamp is a unique treasure and works wonderfully for rustic lighting. Try antler lamps with rawhide lamp shades in your home to create true rustic charm and to give it that warm, inviting look and feel that everybody loves.

Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use Antler Lamps to create beautiful rustic home decor. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com

The kitchen is often considered the most important room in the house, redesigning a kitchen requires a lot of thought and effort to create the ideal space. Before visiting a supplier and considering replacing all of the worktops and cupboards there are certain considerations that should be factored in. As a room that contains many essential appliances, use of space should be a major concern.

With so many kitchen suppliers out there offering deals on worktops, cupboards, appliances and lighting solutions it is important to shop around. Getting as many quotes as possible is vital to ensure you find the best price and the most productive work schedule. Remember having a new kitchen fitted can be a stressful experience, thorough planning will help reduce this stress.

One catchphrase that is often bandied about in kitchen design circles is the ‘golden triangle.’ However technical it sounds it primarily refers to the fact that the majority of appliances should be located close to each other with worktops in between. This is a vital component of the kitchen design process as efficiency of use is always the most desirable outcome. Put simply it will make cooking less stressful and more enjoyable.

This triangle theory to kitchen design does however have a problem. It is in no way generic as people use their kitchens differently and rank the importance of certain appliances and worktops in their own way. Some would put the oven, fridge and sink as the most important while others may choose a dishwasher, microwave and washing machine as vital components of their triangle. Whatever the choice, the top three should be used as the anchor points of the kitchen triangle.

A side note to the triangle is the aesthetic pleasure that a kitchen should provide. The choice of worktops, cupboards and decor are a vital component of this and unsurprisingly the choices are limitless. Worktops come in softwood and hardwood, all with a specific varnish. Hardy materials such as granite and marble make great kitchen worktops and stunning design features. Increasingly contemporary kitchen design has started using industrial materials such as stainless steel for the truly post modernist look.

Storage should always be a major concern in kitchen design; it is easy to have too little or too much storage space. If you have too little an easy remedy is utilise a suspended rack that you could use to stow pots and pans without taking up space in the cupboards or on worktops.

Strangely it is possible to have too much storage space in a kitchen; the amount of clutter you store away soon grows and storing the out of date food that fills cupboards can be seen as a fruitless task. Also the space used for extra cupboards can often be better utilised with a breakfast bar or extra appliances.

If you are pleased with the layout of your kitchen there is no reason to go for a complete re-haul. There are certain ways to revamp your space that will give your kitchen a new lease of life at a fraction of the price of a full redesign.

Re-painting can give a fresh new look, as can re-tiling certain areas. An extremely cost effective way to revamp a kitchen is to replace the cupboard door handles or even the doors. By refitting new worktops your kitchen can take on a completely new look as will updating the current appliances.

There are many ways to improve the look of your culinary area. As the hub of most houses getting the decoration right is of paramount importance, as utilising the correct layout ensures ease of use and efficiency. Although DIY may be an option, for a clean and tidy look using professional services is advisable; after all nobody wants ill fitting worktops. Great design is essential to facilitate the harmonious family life that the majority of people desire.

Interior design expert Thomas Pretty looks into elements such as kitchen worktops in the layout and decor of kitchens. To find out more please visit http://www.designinteriorsolutions.co.uk/