The garden style living room is light and casual, and gives the feeling that you're outdoors. Here's get the look right. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Select seating pieces that are upholstered in a light-colored fabric such as a solid off-white cotton or linen, country check, awning stripe or floral. Add coordinating pillows, some with flounces.
2. Go with a coffee table that doesn't have a heavy look. A dainty, light-toned wood table will work, or a glass-topped metal or wicker-and-metal model. Consider putting a glass top over a garden bench if you can find one in the right height.
3. Use end tables that are light-toned wood or are painted. Painted tables could be embellished with a floral design or might appear to be worn and weathered.
4. Light the room with table lamps that are low-key, with plain wrought iron or ceramic bases, or that underscore garden style and have floral motif shades and terracotta, wicker or floral-motif bases.
5. Choose an outdoorsy sisal area rug, or a wool or cotton one with a floral motif. If the floor is hardwood, keep it light - a dark stain could pull down the happy feel of your room.
6. Dress the windows simply or leave them bare to blur the separation between indoors and outdoors. Simple curtains that work well include checks, plain solids (for example, homespun-look tab-tops hung on a tree-branch rod), eyelet, and of course, florals.
7. Hang pictures that celebrate the garden - blooming landscapes, botanical drawings or floral still lifes.
8. Accessorize further with all types of flowers - dried, silk, fresh, potted - in pitchers, watering cans and vases. Other suitable accessories include lace doilies, vintage-look tablecloths, animal figurines, birdhouses, baskets and even well-worn garden tools.
Tags: floral motif, garden style, light-toned wood, with floral
If you have a broken piece of cast aluminum outdoor furniture, you may be tempted to throw it away. Cast aluminum is notoriously difficult to weld. Unlike other metals, aluminum does not turn red as it heats, so it's hard to monitor the temperature as you're welding. However, if you have the right tools, it can be done. Alumaloy welding rods work well with cast aluminum. All you need to do the job is the rods and a handheld propane torch. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Thoroughly clean the area you want to weld. It must be totally free of oil or any other dirt.
2. Preheat the Alumaloy rod using the flame of the handheld propane torch.
3. As the Alumaloy starts to melt, press the rod into the surface of the aluminum.
4. Continue to heat the aluminum while dipping the rod in and out of the molten puddle until you have built up the desired amount of Alumaloy.
The delicate, wrought-iron scrolling enhances a Tuscan decor.
Tables with wrought-iron bases supporting a glass top are created in a variety of decorating styles. The wrought-iron's patina, texture, curvature and density determine the table's design style. Selecting a sofa that complements the style of the table, conforms to personal comfort levels and falls within the allocated budget will help you find a cohesive match to your decor. Other pre-purchase considerations include the function of the sofa and its daily use. Does this Spark an idea?
Tuscan
The Tuscan decor is warm, rich and inviting, mixing old-world charm with comfortable furnishings. Earthy reds, yellows, browns, greens and blues make up the Tuscan color palette, mirroring the Tuscan fields and blue sky. Glass tables with scrolled, wrought-iron legs and bases characterize Tuscan design. Rich, chocolate-brown, leather sofas with ornamental nail-heads and bun feet are ideal for this decor. Faux leather sofas upholstered with an easy-to-clean microfiber is well-suited for families with children and pets.
Contemporary
Modern-style glass and wrought-iron tables feature simple, straight lines, sharp angles and a shiny black patina. Contemporary sofas in black leather or white upholstery fabric add comfort and interest to the modern decor. These sofas often incorporate a rectangular, boxy shape with shiny silver legs, blending nicely with the contemporary design. Neutral beige or gray fabric or leather are common options when selecting a modern sofa. Sectionals are an ideal choice for larger families.
Cabin
Chunky, wrought-iron tables with rustic patina finishes depict the cabin decor. Glass table tops supported by artistically shaped wrought-iron bases, such as pine cones or wildlife, enhance the cabin theme. A large sofa created entirely from dark brown leather or mixed with an upholstery fabric and displaying outdoor-themed motifs is well-suited for cabin decorating. Traditional, rolled arms are common to the cabin sofa. Sofas crafted from aspen, hickory, birch or pine logs complement the cabin decor.
Transitional
Slightly tapered wrought-iron legs supporting a glass tabletop characterizes the transitional decor -- a blend of traditional and contemporary style. Transitional color schemes include neutral grays, browns, greens, blacks and whites. Sofas made to complement this style have simpler lines than traditional style, but not as straight as the modern design. Gently rolled arms and chunky block legs typify the transitional sofa. Microfiber or chenille are ideal upholstery fabrics -- heavy-duty, casual and attractive.
Ornate wrought iron is typically the costliest fencing material.
Building your own fence can be a rewarding, budget-saving project. Professional fence builders can buy their materials at a contractor's discount, but once the retail mark-up is added, you may end up paying more for materials than if you had bought them at full-retail price. With knowledge of the supplies necessary to build your fence and price lists from various vendors, you can accurately estimate the cost of building your own fence. Does this Spark an idea?
Relative Costs of Fencing Materials
Price-per-foot can vary widely, depending on the style of fence you choose. Decorative custom iron fences are typically the most expensive due to the cost of materials and labor-intensive methods fabrication. The least expensive fences are those made with steel or wooden posts and wire infill. Between the two extremes are fences commonly used in rural yards and urban or suburban neighborhoods. Picket-type, wooden privacy and chain-link fencing are all moderately priced fencing materials.
Supply List
To calculate the cost of fencing materials, start with an overhead sketch of your fence project and a list of supplies. Include dimensions on your sketch. Draw fence posts; one at each corner and others, spaced 6 to 8 feet apart between the corner posts. Write the lengths and number of rails (horizontal members) and the total length of your infill material. Make a list all supplies, fasteners, hardware and optional supplies such as concrete, paint or stain.
Comparing Prices
An online search of local building supply stores, including weekly specials, is the most efficient method of finding prices for your materials. Locally owned lumber or building supply stores may not list their current prices, but it is worth your while to call or visit to obtain a price list. Compare prices from different vendors. You may save money by purchasing your supplies from multiple sources.
Negotiating a Price
Take your price-comparison list with you when you go to buy fencing supplies. Oftentimes lumber and hardware purveyors are knowledgeable about not only the materials, but also about building techniques. By developing a relationship with a reputable local vendor, you can often negotiate a lower price. Managers or owners often have the authority to sell you materials at the contractor's price or will inform you of an upcoming sale. In exchange for your loyalty, you may also have access to valuable free advice from an expert.
Tags: your fence, building supply, building supply stores, list supplies, materials contractor
Wrought iron doors need regular maintenance to keep them looking new.
Wrought iron is often used in gates, railings, fences and doors because of its strength and durability, but also because it is often crafted to create decorative designs. Wrought iron does require some upkeep, mainly in the form of painting and rustproofing, to keep it looking beautiful and to prevent it from rusting away. Painting your wrought iron storm doors can keep them looking new. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place painter's tape on both sides of the glass around the wrought iron.
2. Lay a drop cloth on the ground around the door to prevent any paint, paint chips or rust from getting on the ground and contaminating it.
3. Scrape away any paint that is chipping with a putty knife.
4. Scrape away rust spots on the wrought iron with a stiff wire brush. Take care while doing this so you don't scratch or break the glass in the door.
5. Sand the surface of the wrought iron lightly with a medium-grit sanding block or sandpaper. This will scuff the surface and make it easier for the paint to adhere to the wrought iron.
6. Wipe the dust and bits of rust off the wrought iron with a tacking cloth.
7. Brush an exterior-grade rustproofer onto spots where the wrought iron is rusty or there is no paint covering the metal. Allow the rustproofer to dry.
8. Paint the wrought iron with a paint that is designed for use on metal and contains a rust inhibitor. This will help prevent rust from occurring, and will also adhere to the wrought iron better than a paint that isn't designed for metal. Apply the paint with smooth strokes, and make multiple passes over the metal with the brush to prevent the paint from dripping. Allow the paint to dry.
9. Pull the tape off the windows.
Tags: iron with, paint that, wrought iron, wrought iron with, adhere wrought
French furniture is known for its understated elegance. From Parisian chic to Provencal charm, there are many facets to traditional French style. Blending together the simple with ornate pieces is signature French style. Does this Spark an idea?
Living Room
Armchairs have exposed wood and upholstered seats, backs and arms. Wood is either carved simply or ornately. A couch or settee has wooden legs and sometimes a curved back. Upholstery is done in rich fabrics like velvets and brocades.
Bedroom
Beds can be wrought iron, black or painted, or made of wood. Side tables with curved legs can be used as a nightstand. Sleigh beds are popular in Parisian apartments. Dressers can vary from simple straight lines to curved and highly detailed pieces accented with gold.
Kitchen
In Provence, kitchen tables and chairs are simple, made of painted or unfinished wood with straight legs. Chairs with straw seats are traditional. For a small kitchen, a bistro table is a good choice. Modern ones are made of wrought iron but some 19th century French bistro tables were made of wood with wooden folding chairs.
Tags: French furniture, French style, made wood, wood with, wrought iron
An elegant iron gate has more uses than simply decorating the entrance to your property.
The most striking forms of home decor are often those that give new life to ordinary objects. You can commonly see this in the use of antique or vintage doors used as tabletops. If you come across an antique iron gate, you can absolutely put it to use in your home as a decorative piece, even if you don't have a yard or a fence. A wrought iron gate put to unexpected use will add a touch of invention and class to your decor, transforming your style in an instant. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Headboard
1. Push the head of your bed away from the wall. Hold the bottom of the iron gate a couple of inches below the top of your mattress, pressing it against the wall.
2. Mark spots along the right, left and center rails at the top of the gate, to indicate where you will install support nails. The spaces between wrought iron corners and decorative features are ideal. Set aside the gate.
3. Nail small but strong 1.5-inch nails halfway into the wall along your marks. Carefully hang the gate on the nails and push your bed back into place.
Tabletop
4. Place the iron gate on top of a table and center it. It's okay if the gate exceeds the dimensions of your table a bit, however, it can't be twice as big or larger.
5. Measure the iron gate and write down the measurements.
6. Visit a hardware or glass-cutting store and have them cut a piece of 1-inch thick glass with rounded edges to the dimensions of your measurement.
7. Place the glass on top of the gate and adjust it so it's perfectly centered. If it's the appropriate thickness, it will weigh down the gate sturdily and evenly.
Wrought-iron pieces have decorative, curvy details.
Wrought iron, which features rustic metal and a gently curving design, is a juxtaposition of casual and elegant. Wrought-iron accessories make ideal decor items for porches because they lend plenty of garden-inspired charm to the spaces. Depending on the home decor style you prefer, you can use the wrought iron accessories to achieve a wide range of looks, from a shabby chic to sophisticated Victorian. Does this Spark an idea?
Furniture
Wrought-iron furniture lends both style and function to a porch. A black wrought-iron love seat topped with a plush cushion is comfortable and elegant seating for guests. Accent the space with a matching chair for a coordinated look. You can also set up a wrought-iron bistro table and chairs for casual porch lunches and dinners.
Shelves
Accent a porch with eye-catching wrought-iron shelves, which are as decorative as they are useful. Hang a shelf on a wall and use it to hold candles or a seashell collection. Display potted plants and flowers on a multi-tiered wrought-iron plant stand. Choose a stand that is fitted for a corner to make the most of a small porch.
Lighting Elements
Brighten up the porch with wrought-iron lighting elements, which look decorative both day and night. Install wall sconces above a reading chair or dining set to provide soft illumination. Hang a wrought-iron candle chandelier in the center of the porch as a focal point. Fill an empty corner with tall wrought-iron candelabra filled with pillar candles. A lamp featuring a wrought-iron base comes in handy on a side table.
Wall Decor
A few wrought-iron decor pieces go a long way when hung on porch walls. Accent an empty porch wall with a large wrought-iron wall plaque featuring an intricate, lacy design. Other wall decor ideas include wrought-iron-framed clocks and mirrors, hooks for hanging wet pool towels and pillar candle holders.
Foyers are small spaces, typically at the entryway, that connect to the living room, family room or dining room, and possibly a stairway. Because the foyer tends to be a place for passing through, some people don't design lighting for it. A properly and stylishly lit foyer, however, makes a significant difference, especially if it's situated at an entry, because it is a person's first impression of the home's interior. Does this Spark an idea?
Spot Lighting
In many cases, foyers are lit through overhead lights, which tend to flatten the space and not flatter the room. Use small lights and fixtures in several parts of the foyer to spotlight different elements. For example, two wall sconces flanking the entryway add a formal tone to the room. A side table along a wall is the perfect support for a small table lamp that illuminates enough of the floor to help guide people through the foyer. Pendant lights that you suspend from the ceiling or walls add a bright spot of color around an adult's eye level. If you are lighting a two-story foyer, choose a bright light to hang from the ceiling, and use smaller lights and lamps on the first floor. Small foyers that do not have room for end tables benefit from recessed lighting that adds illumination without consuming valuable space.
Fixtures
Eye-catching fixtures can be the focal point of a foyer. An etched-glass pendant light adds ambient light as well as a sculptural aesthetic. Set a long wall shelf aglow with small lights in the shapes of candles or use actual tea lights. Chandeliers add a burst of light and come in many styles. Invest in a wrought-iron chandelier for rustic charm, or go for classic crystal or bohemian acrylic painted a bright periwinkle blue or shocking fuchsia. If you have more space, you can hang multiple chandeliers of different designs and sizes.
Light and Shadow
A dimmer switch is a useful tool in a foyer. Set your main light fixture on a dimmer so you can adjust the level of light and shadows that enter the space. You can also adjust the dimmer according to the time of day or season. Shadows can be an effective feature in a foyer. Keep certain areas in shadow and use light to emphasize the forward path into the home. Create mystery in the spaces between wall sconces and at the ends of tables. You also can emphasize certain elements or themes with foyer lighting. Use gallery-style miniature spotlights to show off a row of paintings or a sculpture. String party lights or small Chinese paper lanterns that are illuminated to create a festive entry.
Invert a rusty metal tub for a coffee table or fashion a wall sculpture from old horseshoes.
Imagination and an eye for spotting beauty in discarded or secondhand objects can facilitate adding touches of salvage chic to home decor at little or no expense. Secondhand shops, junkyards, construction sites and beaches can yield potential treasures. An old wrought iron gate can become a novel headboard or fire screen. Place a rusted cheese grater over a candle to create a "Moorish" lantern, or unroll some cheap burlap to create window curtains with bold, light-diffusing texture. Decorating with these found or low-priced elements provides a sense of history and whimsy to an interior and the satisfaction of recycling your secondhand discoveries. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Pave a picture or mirror frame, using a glue gun, with found seashells or employ the shells to cover a fireplace surround for a show-stopping bit of imaginative whimsy. Beach driftwood, with its worn silvery patina and fantastic shapes, can be transformed into sculptures for wall or table, candleholders, or hung above a doorway in lieu of a pediment.
2. Group old bottles of blue, amber and clear glass to add interest to a side table or as dining table candleholders. Use an old newel post with peeling paint as an interesting center post for a hanging fixture by attaching candleholder arms rescued from a trashed wrought iron chandelier.
3. Hang a weathered wrought iron gate as a spectacular headboard or transform a section of antique metal railing into a decorative fireplace screen. Connect tall, narrow ironwork gates or panels for a standing screen to liven an empty corner.
4. Cover walls with the texture of warm-toned burlap, using a staple gun, and cover the stapled seams with braided twine. Drape the burlap over a used decorative rod to frame a window or hem the burlap for curtains and top it off with a cornice of discarded planking or driftwood.
5. Add cracked ice to a worn scrub bucket to act as a wine chiller and utilize larger discarded metal tubs as planters or invert them for coffee, end or bedside tables.
6. Install an old roll-up classroom map as a wall hanging or window shade, or wallpaper a bathroom with sheets of vintage newspaper. Use your imagination and have fun.
Tags: wrought iron, curtains with, iron gate, table candleholders, wrought iron gate
Rustic interior design evokes a primitive or country feeling and welcoming warmth. Achieve the look using simply patterned fabrics, faux wood beams and planks, and antique-looking furniture, lighting and accessories. From cabins that feature primitive log walls to cottages that reflect the "country chic" trend, rustic decor can create a bucolic ambiance anywhere, even in a high-rise apartment in the heart of a teeming metropolis. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Install a floor made of irregularly shaped pieces of slate, or choose an engineered floor of random-width, beveled planks accented with pegs.
2. Install faux wood beams, spaced as desired and accented at each end by matching faux wood corbels, to create the feel of a ski lodge or old cottage. These beams are available in various stains and types of "wood." They look authentic and can be purchased and installed at a fraction of the cost of real timber beams.
3. Plaster the walls and ceiling in a rough texture.
4. Paint the walls in faded shades of barn red, buttery yellow, apple green or slate blue, accented with cream. Use bright white instead for a seaside cottage look. Paint the ceiling between the beams in cream or white. Apply crackle finish in some areas, if desired, to create the illusion of old paint.
5. Upholster comfy, overstuffed chairs and sofas in cotton twill in faded solids, checks, stripes and nature motifs. Select end tables, bedside stands or a dining table of weathered wood in simple, primitive designs. Add ladder-back or Windsor-style dining and occasional chairs in maple or oak. For a bedroom, choose an old-fashioned bed of brass tubing, painted iron or wood, and an armoire in a simple cupboard or French country style.
6. Cover the windows in stained or painted shutters, or use cafe curtains with valances in a checked or floral pattern.
7. Install a chandelier and sconces of antique brass, pewter or wrought iron. Add oil lamps or lamps of apothecary jar, candlestick or jug designs and shade them in old parchment laced with cowhide or cotton gingham.
8. Hang artwork with rustic framing and accessorize with basketry, pewter, earthenware, hooked rugs and patchwork quilts. Have fun and use your imagination.
Thick wrought iron requires a specialized cobalt drill bit.
Wrought iron gates add elegance to any building or garden. Gates keep out predators and pests as well as divide space in an outdoor area. J-bolt hinges are standard for wrought iron gates and consist of an L-shaped "male" part along with a "female" tube welded to a plate. The plate on purchased J-bolt hinges has two predrilled bolt holes -- one on each end -- and comes with two bolts and three nuts for each complete hinge. You will need to drill holes into one wrought iron post as well as in the moving gate door to install these hinges. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the gate post on which you wish to mount the hinge. Mark the halfway point of the post with a China marker or chalk. Then, mark the halfway point of each post half. These latter points are the center for your hinge installation.
2. Place the female side of one hinge centered on the hinge-installation point and mark the bolt holes. Repeat at the second hinge-installation point.
3. Insert a cobalt bit into your drill. Oil the bit and bolt-hole marks. Drill into the bolt-hole marks and through the other side of the post, keeping the drill bit parallel to the ground.
4. Place the hinges onto the bolt holes and insert the hinge bolts through the gate post. Secure with nuts on the other side of the post.
5. Insert the male hinge pieces into the female pieces. Lift the swinging portion of the gate up, so that it is level with the adjacent gate post. Mark the point at which the protruding male hinge pieces make contact with the gate.
6. Set the gate down and drill into the two marked points with an oiled cobalt bit. Continue drilling through the entire post, keeping the bit parallel to the ground.
7. Lift the male hinge pieces out of the female hinge pieces and insert them into the two gate holes. Secure with a nut at the other end. Oil the male hinge pieces that will make contact with the female pieces.
8. Lift the gate, with the male pieces attached, onto the post with the female pieces so that the male pieces fit inside the female pieces.
Tags: hinge pieces, female pieces, male hinge, male hinge pieces, bolt holes, gate post, with female
Barriers act as frames to set off areas of color, texture or function within a well-designed landscape. Whether hedges, fences, walls or walkways, barriers contain and define decorative elements of a landscape design, such as flower beds, greenswards, groves, streams and decks. Blending all these elements to produce a coherent look and feel throughout your landscape can be challenging, but thankfully, we have a wide range of materials from which to create our barriers. Does this Spark an idea?
Fences
Fences can be standard chain-link, picket fences or wood panel fences. If you're interested more in looks than in physical exclusion, log rail fences can provide a dramatic barrier line across your landscape. Rails can be made into snake rail fences, split rail fences and a wide variety of other variations on the split rail design. Wrought iron fences are more expensive but create a more formal look for your garden, especially with ornamental gates and posts.
Walls
Freestanding stone walls with ivy create a softer-looking barrier. Brick, block and poured retaining walls last a very long time, which offsets the higher cost of construction. Landscape timber retaining walls give your landscape a rustic look. Newer, stackable, shaped concrete wall blocks interlock with one another, allowing you to create dynamic changes in elevation along hillsides and slopes without having to use mortar. Another new wall building material is the stackable concrete bag wall. All you have to do is stack layers of bags of fast-setting concrete mix, alternating the ends from row to row like brickwork. When completed, just turn a sprinkler on the wall and, as the bags become saturated, the concrete in the bags will set up. Once cured, peel the paper off the bags, and it leaves a solid concrete wall that looks like a rows of rounded stones.
Decks and Patios
Treated lumber makes for beautiful wooden decks and patios. Concrete may be a bit more costly and labor-intensive, but concrete patios and decks are low-maintenance and long-lasting. Concrete flagstones can be laid over a flat sandy bed with or without mortar and provide a stable deck surface with less work than a solid slab. Sand sprinkled into the cracks between the blocks can brace the blocks, making them more stable. Use dirt instead of sand and sprinkle grass seed, and you'll soon have a weathered concrete block deck with grass growing between the cracks.
Walkways
Concrete curbs, landscape timbers, shaped concrete blocks or rows of rocks set in trenches alongside the path can be used to contain sand, river rocks or pea gravel filler to make a nice, crunchy path through the garden. Another quick way to lay a barrier path is to set your borders, then pour concrete mix between the borders. Sprinkle the dry concrete with water until it's saturated, then let it set up, creating a natural-looking path.
Beds
To set off flower beds, barriers can be anything from simple plastic strip barriers to decorative concrete blocks. Prefab concrete edging comes with scalloped tops, smooth arcs and flat edges. They come in straight and curved lengths that can be strung end to end. Old bricks can be laid flat, on edge or piled at an angle one on the other along the edge of the flower bed. Landscape timbers partially buried into the dirt also make an effective barrier. Rocks partially buried lining the flower bed create a rough natural border. A poured concrete curb provides a more formal edge to a swath of flowers. Short plastic and wooden picket fence-like border sections are widely available at home and garden centers.
Curbs
Concrete curb extruding machines allow you to lay straight or curved or virtually any shape you want simply by dragging the machine where you want the curb to go. The curbs are shaped by replaceable templates inserted into the machine. Drag the machine in a circle as you extrude concrete and you have a flower bed. You can fill it with dirt, mulch and plant it full of flowers. You can also pour concrete shapes and forms using traditional wooden forms or using concrete shaping tools to create custom barriers that define your landscape zones.
Weed Barriers
Plastic sheeting or landscape weed barrier cloth can be laid down under topsoil and mulch to hold back weeds from your planting areas. Barrier strips of mulch materials like pine and cedar bark, shredded rubber tires and recycled plastic can act as a physical barrier against weeds and stray vegetation.
Vegetation
Barriers don't have to be artificial. Hedges, shrubs, swaths of ivy and stands of flowers and plants can act as visual barriers in your landscape. Choose plants for barrier rows that are comfortable growing in close proximity to one another.
Water
Ponds, stream beds or artificial waterfalls make excellent barriers separating colors, textures and heights of landscape features. Pond kits, pumps, plastic and fiberglass water basins are readily available at landscaper, home and garden supply stores.
Tags: your landscape, concrete wall, rail fences, concrete blocks, flower beds, forms using
Castles in the Middle Ages were where lords ruled their lands and defended themselves against invaders. Although they were originally rough wooden structures, they became increasingly sophisticated. The finest castles symbolized power and were decorated with the fine materials. If this kind of theme catches your fancy, you can create a whimsical or romantic bedroom. Filled with rich materials, this bedroom should make you feel as though you are living in a regal time gone by. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Select appropriate royal wall colors for the bedroom. Choose purple, gray or bronze. For an even more castle-like look, consider using a faux-painting technique to create an aged-stone finish. Draping the walls with lush fabrics is another option.
2. Purchase luxurious and elegant bedding. Velvet and silk lend themselves to the castle theme. Accent the bedding with silk pillows. Build a canopy over the bed, or purchase a four-poster bed with an overhead frame. Hang fabric from the canopy or frame.
3. Incorporate wrought iron and ornate wood into furnishings such as the dresser, nightstands and vanity chair. These small details add elegance to the space.
4. Add accents. Large and decorative candle scones, a chandelier and gold or bronze picture frames pull the castle look together.
5. Add an opulent chair, preferably one with a heavy carved frame. Upholster it in rich red, purple or gold velvet.
You can get years of use out of your wicker furniture if you do routine maintenance like cleaning, repair and repainting. Wicker furniture is made from cane or reeds that have been woven together to make chairs, settees or tables. Over time, reeds can be loosed, the structure may become rickety, and accumulated dirt and debris in the crevices of the weave can make your wicker furniture yearn for bygone days. A good program of restoration every couple of years will keep your wicker furniture in tip-top shape for decades to come. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Prep and Repair
1. Clean your wicker furniture with a mixture of 3 gallons of hot water and 1 cup of ammonia. Use a soft rag to remove visible dirt embedded in crevices. If you want to use a brush to clean, be sure the bristles are very soft so you don't break reeds in the process of cleaning. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.
2. Examine your wicker furniture once dry to assess its restoration needs. Run your hands all over the surface of wicker furniture to feel for reeds that have become unwoven (they may not be readily visible to the eye but may snag a guest's silk dress). You will need to repair each of these wayward reeds by re-gluing with a waterproof, super-strength, all-purpose glue that can be used outdoors.
3. Improve the stability of wicker furniture that may have become rickety from age by making a few relatively simple restorations. Turn your wicker furniture over and determine if the legs need to be braced. Cut (or have a home-improvement store cut) a small stockpile of 3x3-inch triangle wedges to use as leg braces.
Restore Functionality
4. Use a pneumatic nail gun to attach the 3x3-inch braces to each leg of a chair or settee that feels loose. Hold the brace while driving two to three nails through the loose leg into the sturdy wood brace
5. Drive two to three more nails through the brace into the seat bottom's rim. Be careful as the chair frame might split. Add braces to all the legs of a chair so that the stability and the look is uniform.
6. Cut a piece of plywood to the dimensions of the seat and nail it to the bottom of the seat, if the seat is sagging. The plywood would be visible through the seat lattice but you can add decorative chair or settee cover to hide this fix. You can also paint the plywood to match the wicker, which will help camouflage it.
Prime and Paint
7. Scrape and sand any peeling paint in preparation for painting. Wicker is traditionally painted the color white. However, you can paint your wicker furniture the color of your choice.
8. Use a high-quality primer to provide an undercoat for the paint. Consider two coats of primer to create a smoother surface for the final paint color.
9. Top with a high-quality oil-based paint using a brush. Paint on a day when the sun is out so that the paint can dry adequately. Spray paint will help you get into the lattice design of the wicker easier.
Tags: your wicker furniture, your wicker, wicker furniture, that have, wicker furniture, become rickety, chair settee
Weld wire mesh fencing is sturdier than other mesh fencing, which makes it easier to install. It is not necessary to stretch the fencing like with poultry wire; simply pull it tight and fasten. Weld wire fencing can be installed on the top of the ground or can be partially buried if you are trying to keep out rabbits and other burrowing animals. It can be installed with wooden posts or with metal T-posts, which are placed between 6 and 12 feet apart, depending on the application. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Lay out your posts, at pre-determined intervals, by following the fence line and laying posts on the ground where they will be installed. This will ensure that you have enough posts and also distribute them where they are needed.
2. Drive the T-posts into the ground along the fence line using the sledgehammer. Place the driving end on the place where you want the post to be and hit it with the sledgehammer to sink it into the ground. If you hit a rock, try rocking the post a little to possibly move it out of the way. If this doesn't work, you may have to remove the post and try again an inch or 2 over.
3. Drive all of the stakes into the ground around the entire perimeter of the fence line. Measure the posts to be sure that the parts sticking out of the ground are equal to each other and that there is enough post above the ground to attach the fence to. If you are trying to keep raccoons out of a vegetable garden, you may want fencing a couple of feet taller than your posts. This makes the top 2 feet less secure so that when a raccoon climbs on it, the fence will bend and very often scare the raccoon, dumping him back onto the ground.
4. Unroll a few feet of fencing and attach the end to the first post using the fence clips or 6-inch pieces of cut wire. Wrap the wire through the fencing and around the post. Bend the wire pieces and twist them to secure the fence to the post. Start with the bottom on the fence, then place one on the middle and on top. Secure with a few more pieces in between to end up with securing pieces every 8 to 10 inches.
5. Unroll some more fencing and pull it over to the next post. Attach the fence to the post with the fence clips or wire and continue the process on each of the fence posts until it is all installed.
Tags: fence line, into ground, fence clips, fence post, mesh fencing, post with
Fabricated wrought-iron fences have many design options.
A fabricated wrought-iron fence can provide a safe place for your children and pets to play in your yard. It also can set your yard apart from the neighbor's wooden fence. Wrought-iron fence components are easy to assemble and install. The hardest part of the fence installation is digging the fence posts. If you have several posts to dig, rent a power auger to make the job go faster. While you can build a wrought-iron fence by yourself, it helps to have an assistant when it's time to install the panels. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Establish the fence line by placing a pair of stakes tied together with string where you plan to build the fence. The string is your guide to keeping the fence installation straight.
2. Measure the length of the fabricated wrought-iron fence panels you are using. This amount is how far apart you need to dig each fence post. Mark post locations along the string line with spray paint. If you wind up with a space too narrow for a fence panel, adjust the length of the fence line. Your other option is to shorten a panel to accommodate the narrower space. It's usually easier to shorten the fence row.
3. Dig the postholes with a power auger. Holes should be 6 inches in diameter and at least 2 feet deep. If you just have a few holes to dig, use a pair of hand-held posthole diggers, or jobbers.
4. Mix a batch of quick-set concrete according to package directions. Place some concrete in the first hole with a shovel. Set a post in place. Hold a carpenter's level against the post to ensure the post is straight up and down. The front edge of the post should be against the string line you set in Step 1. Once the post is in position, fill the hole to within 4 inches of the top with concrete mixture. Finish filling the hole with dirt you dug up as you dug the posthole. Pack the dirt tight around the post with a hand tamper.
5. Set the remaining post as you did in Step 4. Allow the concrete two to three days to dry so it can better support the weight of the wrought-iron fence panels.
6. Slip the brackets that came with the fence panels over the ends of the horizontal pieces on the panels. Hold a panel between a pair of fence posts. Level it using the carpenter's level as your guide. Secure the top pair of brackets to the post using a drill to drive the self-tapping screws that came with the assembly kit. Fasten the bottom pair of brackets in place as well.
7. Continue setting the remaining panels in place between the panels. Check each panel for levelness before you attach it. It should also be level with the adjacent panel, unless you are installing the fence on a slope. In that case the tops of the panels look like stair steps.
Casters are wheels on the bottom of specific types of chairs which help the chair move when you are behind a desk. With iron chairs, which are heavier, specific types of casters should be used to support the weight of the chair so that it can roll easily on the floor. Does this Spark an idea?
Cast Iron Casters
Heavier casters made out of cast iron can be used on iron chairs, as they are solid and can support a lot more weight than other materials. These cast iron casters can be installed with steel bolts to the bottom of the chair, which you can do yourself with a few simple tools. However, it is important to use these cast iron casters on hard cement or stone floors or carpet, as these wheels can scrape or permanently dent softer wood floors. Make sure you look into what floor the iron chair and iron casters will be used on.
Steel Casters
Like cast iron casters, steel casters are strong enough to support a cast iron chair but also allow the chair to roll around freely on its wheels. These steel casters can be installed in almost an identical way as iron casters, but they are lighter and do not weigh the chair down as much. Steel casters also will do less damage to a soft wood floor or a tile floor. It is probably a good idea to only put this iron chair with these steel casters on carpet or cement.
Rubber Casters
Rubber casters can be used on iron chairs, as long as they are strong enough to support the weight of the chair and still roll smoothly across the floor. However, these rubber casters can be used on any type of floor and not damage it like iron or steel casters will. They will be the most efficient casters for a chair that regularly changes rooms and locations in a house or office.
Tags: cast iron, iron casters, iron chair, iron chairs, cast iron casters, casters installed, casters used
Use the comforter's bold color as the room's design centerpiece.
Although white comforters serve as a versatile neutral base when designing a bedroom, using colors like orange, red or yellow for your bedding materials presents the opportunity for potentially bold and risk-taking design concepts. Consider the room's overall style and theme before deciding on the bedding's fabrics, shades and textures. Does this Spark an idea?
Classic Look
For a conservative look, drape the bed in a basic cotton solid-colored comforter, such as candy apple red, dahlia yellow or carrot orange. Add a slight feminine touch by including a matching cotton bed skirt and pillow shams. Lay the pillows in an alternating pattern alongside neutral-colored shams, like gray, black, white or brown, depending on the design of the room.
Textured Look
Give your bed a textured look by selecting materials for your comforter like microsuede, quilted down and silk. Use rich colors, such as red Bordeaux, dark yellow or burnt orange. Add texture by decorating the bed with throw pillows made from such fabrics as velvet, chenille or paisley. Use a variety of shapes as well, including round, square and tube-shaped pillows.
Shabby Chic Look
Create a shabby chic appearance in the bedroom by covering the bed in a quilt made from a combination of different shades of red, yellow and orange. You can also use a white or cream-colored bedspread dotted with small but similarly colored floral patterns. Add throw pillows as accent pieces, including tapestry or lace pillows in pastel shades like lemon chiffon, tea rose or apricot. Tie colorful satin ribbons around neutral-colored pillows.
Bed Frames
Accentuate the bedding colors and style through your choice in bed frames. Play up earth tone shades by selecting a rustic light wood or wrought iron bed frame. Complement textured fabrics and high-end looks with ornate bed frames like dark oak sleigh beds or chocolate brown leather headboards. For a shabby chic appearance, decide on a canopy bed, hanging gauzy fabric in colors that match the bedding. Add to an elegant look by choosing a cherry wood four poster bed or tufted headboards.
Tags: chic appearance, made from, shabby chic appearance, throw pillows
Wicker porch furniture welcomes visitors at an Ontario home.
Wrought iron and wicker are both traditional garden and patio styles. But whether you're decorating indoors or outdoors, combining the two materials gives a fresh, relaxing and elegant effect, reminding you and your guests of a comfortable afternoon in the garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Combining Wrought Iron and Wicker
1. Assess the wrought iron and wicker pieces you have. Decide which material dominates the collection. Wrought iron is bold and elegant, drawing the eye with its flat black color wherever it is placed. Wicker has less impact, but is likely to be the larger pieces of furniture. Decide which pieces of each material you want in the room. Set the others aside for possible use later.
2. Place the large furniture in the spots you want it. Think outside your usual room design; consider putting chairs at angles and couches away from the wall for a new look to the area. If the room looks too bare for you, add some of the secondary items you set aside.
3. Decide where to put smaller items. A wrought iron frame, candle holder or wall art piece can go on a wicker table; a wicker footstool with a colored cushion can go at the foot of a wrought iron chair. Be sure not to place all the wicker on one side of the room, and the same goes for the wrought iron. Create a mix of the two styles throughout the whole room.
4. Unite the room with other accents. A common color or pattern can tie disparate decorating elements together. Choose fabrics, ribbons and paints that can make a theme. For instance, take inspiration from the garden and choose shades of green, or leaf and herb patterns to add to your design. If you prefer a more dramatic room, choose deep reds and purples, with a Moroccan or Spanish print. Wrought iron is a hallmark of French, Spanish and Italian architecture; you may want to design the room around one of these styles.
5. Alter your pieces as needed. You may want to weave a sage-green ribbon through the openings in a wicker chair, or reupholster the cushions on a couch in a fabric matching your theme. If the area you are decorating is outdoors, give flowerpots or bird feeders an update to match your decor. For an eye-catching wicker-based decor, consider repainting your wicker furniture in a new color or two.
Repainting Your Wicker
6. Clean the wicker well. Wipe it down, getting rid of any dust and dirt. Place old newspapers or plastic sheeting under the item and around the area you are painting in.
7. Remove old paint, if applicable. Use a soft wire brush to scrape off as much as you can. If the paint is flaking in large pieces, you can use a flat-head screwdriver or a paint scraper, but take care not to damage the wicker. When you're done, lightly sand any rough spots, and give the whole piece a light rough-up with the sandpaper, to help the paint stick better.
8. Prime the wicker. Spray the furniture with a neutral-colored latex primer. This will provide a base coat so that the colored paint does not soak into the wicker.
9. Spray paint the wicker. Follow directions on the paint, shaking thoroughly and holding the nozzle the recommended distance from the material you are painting. Spray slowly back and forth across the wicker, shaking the can intermittently. The paint should be dry enough for a second coat, if needed, in about an hour.
10. If desired, do a two-tone piece of furniture by using a different color on the second coat. Use craft paper and masking tape to cover areas that you want to stay the first color. Tape paper over the back of any open-weave parts of the wicker if you don't want the paint to spray through onto the other color. Spray the second color as you did the first, and let dry.
Tags: Decide which, iron wicker, second coat, wicker Spray, Wrought iron, wrought iron
Wood decks offer a great place for the family to enjoy outdoor living.
The right seating for a wood deck provides enough space for guests to sit when you entertain. Good seats offer a comfortable and relaxed outdoor experience. You wouldn't want guests to get splinters in the behind or develop a backache from sitting. Also, remember to pick seating made from materials that stand up to the elements. Does this Spark an idea?
Amish Furniture
A timeless option for a wood deck involves deck furniture handcrafted by the Amish. Consider designs like log furniture glider chairs and A-frame porch swings. These types of furniture are movable. When it suits you, move a glider chair or porch swing to another part of the backyard. A glider chair may take up a lot of space and only seat one person, but two gliders are perfect for "couple time" on the deck. A porch swing suits couples and other combinations of friends and family.
Benches
Build benches into the design of your deck. Some patio decks feature wood benches along the entire length of the deck, and other patio decks contain strategically-located benches. For example, you don't want built-in benches blocking spaces such as windows and doors to the home or ramps and steps to access the wood deck. Built-in benches offer the attractiveness of blending in to the deck. Also, consumers can stain benches with the same product as the wood deck to prevent weather damage and splintering.
Patio Dining Setup
Benches, gliders and swings are not your only options. Create a space for group meals and adult social hours with either a picnic table and chairs or a patio dining setup. If you don't want wood furniture for the deck, buy a patio set made from materials like plastic, wrought iron or aluminum. A dining set might include a high table top and two, four or six matching bar stools or high-back chairs. Provide shade for this outdoor seating area with an umbrella that inserts in the center of the patio table. An alternative seating arrangement includes two wicker chairs or love seats facing a low wooden or wicker table.
Tags: wood deck, from materials, glider chair, made from, made from materials, patio decks, porch swing
Many outsiders to Texas aren't aware of the beauty of Galveston island.
Galveston, Texas is an island located approximately 50 miles away from Houston on the Gulf of Mexico. The island has a landscape that encompasses the best of both worlds: on one end of the islands are charming streets edged with oak trees; on the other end of the island are miles and miles of beaches. The online periodical Coastal Living has myriad ideas when it comes to the design of homes in such a unique part of the country. Does this Spark an idea?
Shutters
Shutters will add to the classic look of your home, recalling Galveston's 19th century European settlement. Aside from adding traditional flair, for coastal homes shutters are also a practical option. They protect your windows from stones, debris and strong winds. Paint your shutters a natural color such as blue, gray or green to create a look evocative of the seaside, or paint them a more Spanish-influenced color--reminiscent of its early Spanish settlers--such as a vibrant red, sienna or burnt orange.
Natural Lighting
Capitalize on natural lighting wherever possible. Let full-length windows be the source of most of your light; such a design move will also allow you to make the most of your ocean view. Wrought iron light fixtures such as chandeliers and pendant lights give the house a Spanish-style influence, reminiscent of the European settlers who first set foot on Galveston in the 1800s. Candles are suitable for night time as well--they provide a soft, non-intrusive glow, mesh well the natural coastal environment, and can give the house a slight Spanish flair.
Dark Wood with Light Wood
For a beach house in Galveston, Texas, one of the decor keys will be finding harmony between the coastal decor and Spanish-influenced decor, as Galveston was originally a Spanish settlement. An easy way to achieve this balance is to use dark wood with white painted wood accents equally. Thus, the interior of your house will never seem to dim at any given area, yet at the same time, it won't have a generic, white-washed feel. For example, use dark-stained oak or pine floors that have a strong Spanish style vibe with white walls, white window frames, doors and rails evocative of most beach houses.
Tags: Galveston Texas, Coastal Living, give house, most your, with white
Patio furniture does not come cheap. But what if your outdoor furniture has seen better days. If you have to leave your patio furniture outside year round, it can really reek havoc on your cushions even though they are usually designed to stay outside. Everything eventually needs replaced however it does not have to cost you a fortune. You can make you own replacement cushions for your patio furniture and save yourself a bundle in the process and here's how. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Remove the old fabric
1. Start by removing the old fabric from the cushions. You can use it as a template for the new cushions. Use a seem ripper to remove the stitching so that you can lay the pieces out flat. If the old foam is still in good condition, you can reuse it. If not then you will have to purchase new foam. Or you can wrap the old foam with batting which will help to firm the cushions up somewhat.
2. Lay the new fabric face down on a flat surface and place the old fabric face down on top. Pin the old fabric to the new fabric with sewing pins. Use electric scissors to cut out the new pieces of fabric. Cut out both a top and bottom piece for the cushion. Remove the sewing pins. Now pin the new pieces together with right sides together leaving one side open.
3. Sew the front and back fabric pieces together with a 5/8 inch seam, removing the pins as you sew. Turn the covers inside out. Insert the foam into the open end of the cover and sew it closed with a simple hand stitch.
Tags: Cushions Patio, Cushions Patio Furniture, fabric face, fabric face down, face down, Make Cushions
Make sure she can sleep soundly by building her a secure bed.
You can choose from several different materials for your child's bunk bed. Metal can be one of the more durable choices, and can stand up to the wear and tear of your child's bouncy years more effectively than wood. These materials will help you build a bed that will serve your children well and still be sturdy enough to make for a tempting offering at a garage sale when they are grown. Does this Spark an idea?
Tools
To assemble the metal bunk bed, you'll need a power drill, channel lock pliers, a wrench, a tape measure and a pencil.
Structure: Bed Frames
A standard twin mattress is six feet long, so your frames want to be a bit longer. You'll need four heavy-gauge metal bars, 76 to 78 inches in length, two for each frame. For crosspieces at the ends of each mattress, you'll want four shorter bars of the same gauge, 40 to 42 inches in length. Instead of the slats you would find on a wooden bed, you'll want metal frame supports that are long enough to connect the longer bars -- no more than three inches shorter than your end bars.
You'll want four sturdy metal posts for your bed's vertical supports. Keep your bottom bunk a foot off the floor, and give at least three feet of space between the top and bottom bunk. Your posts will need to be between 49 and 51 inches in length.
Hardware
You'll need some carriage bolts (with corresponding nuts) to hold the vertical bars to both of the bed frame. Choose bolts that are at least 1-1/2 inches in thickness. You'll also want some three-inch screws to connect the mattress supports to the long bed frame bars and to connect the rungs to the side bars of the ladder.
Structure: The Ladder and Guardrails
For the top bunk, you'll want metal guardrails that are the same length as the long side of the mattress--generally, these will come with your kit. You'll want some narrower-gauge bars for the sides of the ladder and anywhere between four and seven crosspieces for rungs.
Flowing lines and curves dominate art nouveau decor.
The art nouveau style means "new art" in French. This style emerged in the 1880s and lasted through about 1910. Art nouveau focuses on the flowing lines found in feminine forms, flowers and stems. Other objects often depicted in nouveau art include birds, insects, curving lines and right angles. Decorating your home with eclectic art nouveau gives it interesting and unusual appeal. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Paint your walls in a solid color instead of using wallpaper that detracts from the form and shapes in the art. Try to find a color that is present in all your art nouveau objects, such as taupe, beige, off-white or another neutral shade. Painting the walls in this common shade helps provide balance and unity to the ragtag assortment of art.
2. Search for furnishings and accessories with flowing lines and curves. Wrought iron chairs, tables and wall art often are crafted in the art nouveau style. Bold carvings in wood also reflect this style.
3. Purchase posters or other artwork that depict femme fatales with flowing gowns, bouquets of flowers or whimsical birds and insects. One section of a painting or other form of art often seems to glide into another with curving stems, flowers and other objects creating visual flow.
4. Buy the art nouveau objects that appeal to you, not those that necessarily match or coordinate. If the art speaks to you, generally it is significant to others as well. A magpie collection of art is charming in its simplicity and diversity.
5. Pick solid-colored fabrics for your upholstery and drapery. Too many patterns in the room detract from the appeal of the art nouveau objects.
6. Purchase lampshades, rugs, sculptures and other accessories withflowing lines that reflect the fluidity in art nouveau. The plain walls and furniture provide a neutral backdrop for the art that makes it seem to pop in the room.
Tags: nouveau objects, with flowing, accessories with, accessories with flowing, birds insects, flowing lines
A security door prevents intrusion and is the door that is opened before reaching your entrance door. They are made from steel or heavy wood and has a lockset, the latch and doorknob set, that fits in the rectangular pocket on the door's side to form the lock. The spindle connects the parts on both sides of the door. Understanding locksets and the construction of security doors are significant when purchasing them. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the size of the opening in between the brick mold casing (the exterior casing around your entrance door between the door and siding). Write your measurements on a piece of paper.
2. Visit a major retail chain such as Lowe's or Home Depot. Locate the "Millwork" section. Pull out your measurements. Decide whether you need a storm door or a door to prevent intrusion. Also consider the look and construction of your door--whether you want a steel door or heavy wooden one. Wood doors are stronger than metal skin doors. Look for storm doors with a solid wood-core finish that will not dent or rattle.
3. Search for a door that provides "welded" corners (held together by iron) as opposed to "capped" (held together by plates) corners. Do not consider caps because water can get into the caps and they can be lost. If you're considering a door to prevent intrusion look for one that has "galvanizing." Galvanizing steel has been coated in zinc and can withstand rust.
4. Choose a door that doesn't have a built-in lockset. Its latch, doorknob and spindle has already been set within the door and may not satisfy your needs. Purchase a heavy-duty lockset for your commercial building to ensure the lock is always rigid on the outside. If purchasing for your home consider a medium-duty lockset that cannot be loosened and has deadbolt protection. Locksets with this feature has a ring around the lock that cannot be tampered with by intruders.
5. Feel the door. Feel how it opens and closes. Check for the heft so the door will close more smoothly. Look for material that will not "give" when force is applied.
6. Purchase your security door. Have a budget between $70 and $450 for either storm doors or doors to prevent intrusion.
Tags: door that, prevent intrusion, door prevent, door prevent intrusion, entrance door, held together
Installing a wrought-iron door not only adds security to your home but elegance as well. The wrought iron door supplier needs the exact dimensions of your existing door to custom build the wrought iron door to fit. The do-it-yourselfer can measure and supply any required templates to the wrought-iron-door supplier but will need some help when it comes time to install the new door because of its weight. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the width of the existing door jamb. (The door jamb is the wood or metal frame that the door fits into.) Measure at the top, middle and bottom. Write down the smallest of the three measurements.
2. Measure the height of the door jamb. Measure the door height at each side and in the middle. Measure from the threshold up to the door jamb above the door. Write down the smallest of the three measurements.
3. Trace a template of the top of the door if the door is not square. Apply double-stick tape on the door jamb where the exterior door trim attaches. Carefully press heavy construction paper against the tape keeping the paper as straight as possible. Using a marker, trace the profile of the door jamb on the construction paper. Include the entire arch and about 6 inches of the straight door jamb on your template.
Tags: door jamb, construction paper, down smallest, down smallest three, existing door
Wood head- and footboards most often connect to a metal subframe that can develop noise.
Some people lay down to sleep and do not budge an inch. Other people toss and turn all night long. Metal bed frames inevitably develop noises that are readily apparent each time a person rolls over or tosses in bed. The two basic noises a metal frame will produce are squeaks from metal rubbing and pops from loose joints. Curing the noise produced by the frame and any type of movement is a matter of installing simple lock washers to each joint. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Move any bedding off the frame including the box springs and mattress.
2. Disconnect the first bolt identified using a screwdriver or open-faced wrench as necessary. Remove the bolt and nut from the frame.
3. Attach a lock washer, which is a simple washer with a split in it that will grab onto surfaces for increased stability, to the bolt. Thread the bolt back into the hole and attach a second lock washer. Attach the nut and tighten the bolt down securely.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for each additional bolt on the unit, including any used to attach headboards or footboards.
A garden swing adds a pleasant touch to your yard, and you can build your own using a metal grate, chains and hooks. Plant some herbs and flowers in the area, and the aromas will blend together as you swing by. You can find everything you need to build a garden swing at your local home improvement store, salvage yard or from online retailers. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Select the seat for your garden swing from ready-made decorative metal grates that are typically used as furniture inserts and architectural detailing. Choose a thick grate, at least 16-gauge, and one that is rectangular. Finished edges, including a smooth protective strip along the front and the back side of the grate, are an important feature for your garden swing. The type of metal is less important than the size, which should be at least 24 inches wide and 15 inches deep. You can also find old cast-iron gratings at your local architectural salvage yard or have your garden swing custom made by a metal artist.
2. Select a strong chain for your garden swing from your local home or hardware store. Pay special attention to the weight limits of your chain. Purchase two sections long enough to hang from your tree limb or swing stand to the ground.
3. Wrap each section of chain around the tree limb or swing stand and connect it to itself with a carabiner hook. Feed each end of chain through the side of your decorative metal grate and hook the chain to itself with a carabiner hook. Carabiners hook through the links on the chain and close completely so that the chain will stay securely connected. If your chain is too big to fit through the grate, connect the chain to the swing seat with the carabiner hook alone.
Tags: garden swing, your garden, your garden swing, carabiner hook, with carabiner, with carabiner hook
The style of fence a person has around his property says something about that person. Fences can be functional or artistic, and in many cases they can be both. The materials that fences can be made of also vary quite widely, from common wood posts to intricate whorls of wrought iron. Because it is more durable and often stronger than wood fencing, metal fencing in a variety of styles is becoming more and more commonplace. Does this Spark an idea?
Chain Link
One of the most common styles of metal fencing is the chain link fence. This fence is not meant to be decorative, but it is extremely functional. Chain link fence is made up of hundreds and thousands of wire links that are connected to form a metal mesh. This mesh is connected to steel poles that are sunk into the ground at regular intervals to lend the fence strength. This style of fencing provides good security, and it's helpful for keeping intruders out and large pets in.
Wrought Iron
More expensive than chain link fences, wrought iron fences are made of bars of wrought iron that are twisted into shapes. These fences can be simple square patterns formed by stakes of wrought iron sticking up with crossbars of the same design, or they can be more intricate, with designs worked into the fence in a pattern. These fences are commonly seen in cities and surrounding much smaller properties because they're often more decorative than they are functional.
Metal Lattice
Latticework, which is commonly made of wood, can be made equally well from metal. Lattices are interconnected fencing that are often used to decorate the side of a house, or are used in gardens so that plants can climb up the fence and add their own decoration. These fences can be made of a variety of materials, including aluminum and wrought iron. Aluminum is durable and light weight, but wrought iron brings a feeling of gentrification to a garden. Lattice fences are almost entirely decorative in nature, and are never used for security or safety.
Tags: wrought iron, fences made, These fences, link fence
Creating a small Tuscan kitchen with function and style.
Tuscan decor, which is known for its use of earthy colors, warm ambiance and wrought-iron details, is a favorite design style of many homeowners who admire its rustic charm. This style is perfect for any kitchen area, whether it is big or small. While small kitchens spaces often have their own particular issues in regard to available storage space and lack of spaciousness, there are many decorating techniques that make a small kitchen appear larger. Combining Tuscan decor and small-space decorating ideas results in a visually expanded kitchen area that is functional and stylish as well. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose light-colored paint for the walls. When selecting the wall color for the small Tuscan kitchen design, choose traditional Italian hues in warm, light shades of rustic tan, sun-yellow or cream. Colors low in intensity reflect light, which makes the room feel larger than its actual square footage, and the Tuscan-inspired paint choice gives the room an authentic Italian visual appeal at the same time.
2. Select coordinating flooring. To further enhance the small Tuscan kitchen decor, add a wooden, tile, slate or marble floor that is light in color to give the space an expansive appearance. Choose colors and styles with minimal pattern and color variation to create an illusion of additional space.
3. Choose painted wooden kitchen cabinets. There is nothing that quite opens up a kitchen area more than painted cabinets in white or cream. Select varieties that have a distressed, "old-world" appearance and choose upper cabinets with glass fronts to give the room an expansive feel.
4. Incorporate granite or marble countertops. These polished surfaces help amplify the overall Italian flair of the kitchen space and enhance the entire decorating scheme. Choose light-colored materials in soft browns, tans or creams for a spacious and stylish room.
5. Add wrought-iron details and lighting accents. Further the Tuscan small kitchen decorating scheme by adding pieces in wrought iron, such as kitchen island bar stools or a ceiling chandelier for an authentic, rustic element to the space, or wrought-iron knobs and drawer pulls.
6. Plan storage. Small kitchens need extra storage solutions that range from a hanging pot rack to a vertical spice storage unit on the inside of the cabinets. Keeping the kitchen well organized helps the room feel more expansive.
7. Add accessories. While small kitchens are not the place for a myriad of accessories, be selective and choose items that are practical and decorative at the same time, such as wire baskets holding fruit, tabletop wine racks filled with wine bottles and colorful pottery serving dishes or decorative serving trays.
Tags: kitchen area, small Tuscan, small Tuscan kitchen, Tuscan kitchen, Choose light-colored, decorating scheme, room feel
Iron planters have a sculptural presence that make them a welcome addition to any home's exterior landscape. But when placed outdoors and exposed to air and moisture, an unfinished iron planter will begin to rust. Prevent a rusting planter by sealing it with metal paint. Metal paint comes in a variety of colors. To mimic and enrich the blackness of the iron, use black paint. Clear coatings are also available. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Clean the iron planter, especially if it is old. Clean any dirt and grime by scrubbing the planter with degreasing cleaner. Scrub away any rust with a wire brush.
2. Prepare the iron for acceptance of the paint. Scour all surfaces with medium-grit sandpaper, then wipe them down again with degreasing cleaner, using a clean rag or sponge.
3. Paint the planter with a coat of rust-inhibiting metal primer. Aerosol and brush-on primers are available. Use a clear-drying metal primer if opting not to alter the original color of the iron. Leave the primer to dry.
4. Paint the planter with a coat of metal paint. Leave the paint to dry, then apply a second coat.
Tags: planter with, iron planter, degreasing cleaner, metal primer, Paint planter, Paint planter with
Fake birds are not just for decorating your yard with.
Decorate with full-size fake birds to showcase your love for the animals, without the upkeep and care real ones would take. Use the critters as inspiration for the rest of your decor and create a jungle habitat for exotic varieties, a lodge feel for water birds or a garden scene for the songbirds that are found right in your own backyard. Use color and whimsy in your interior design scheme to reflect your passion for nature and bring the outdoors in with your other decorative elements and accessories. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Jungle Decor
1. Surround yourself with an exotic jungle scene.
Paint a jungle mural on the walls of the room. Kits are available to create the look you want, use stencils or rent a projector for an easy trace and fill-in design.
2. Set up fake tree limbs in corners for your fake parrots and other exotic birds to sit on. Add other jungle animals such as snakes and monkeys hanging from them as well.
3. Bring in complementary furniture such as hammocks and bamboo couches or chairs. Tan wicker sets work well when decorating in a jungle theme, too. Upholster them in colorful prints that contain images of your full-size fake birds.
4. Hang mosquito netting for window treatments, room dividers and canopies. Hide all your electronics behind closed door entertainment centers when not in use, painted to match the jungle bird theme so that they blend into the background.
Lodge Feel
5. Display your waterfowl decor in a natural looking setting.
Paint your walls in a deep brown. On one of the walls paint a mural of a lake scene, complete with waterbirds in flight.
6. Bring in heavier pieces of wood furniture, in a rustic homemade looking design. Place your life-size fake birds, such as decorative duck decoys, on branches placed on smaller tables in front of the mural.
7. Upholster the furniture in earth tone fabric containing colors found out at a cabin in the woods. Hang window treatments in complementary hues, such as browns, greens and blues.
8. Bring in other rustic decor touches such as handmade antler light fixtures or wood carvings of bears and deer. Displays of taxidermy hunting collections work well when decorating in a lodge bird theme.
Garden Theme
9. Live in the garden of your dreams.
Paint the walls a crisp white and attach lattice board all around the bottom half of the room as wainscoting. Add a garden mural scene to the top half if you want whimsy.
10. Attach fake tree limbs and birdhouses to the mural to display your full-size fake birds in a natural setting. Hang them from hooks in the ceiling if you want them to look as if in they're in flight.
11. Paint roses or ivy climbing up the lattice board for additional splashes of outdoor colors. Plant the real thing in pots in front of the wall to bring living decor in when decorating in a garden bird theme.
12. Bring in outdoor furniture for authenticity such as wicker patio sets or wrought iron bistro sets and garden benches. Attach the full-size birds to the arms and backs of the furniture pieces, as if they are sitting on them.
Vinyl vs. wood fence is the big debate when choosing fencing for your home. Vinyl and wood can keep the pets and small kids in the yard. Tall, privacy fencing can also be constructed from vinyl or wood. The deciding factor could lie in how much you are willing to spend. Does this Spark an idea?
Installation
A homeowner skilled with power tools, levels and knowledge of post hole digging could install either variety of fences. The average homeowner, however, should consider paying extra to have the fence professional installed because it is not an easy task.
Design
The design of a vinyl fence mimics that of wood fence design options. With either fencing material, you can get pickets with varying design caps and space between pickets, tall privacy fencing with no gaps between the pickets and various gate designs.
With either, you can replace a single damaged picket. Vinyl fences will not discolor with age while unstained or unpainted wood fences will discolor. Wood fences can be painted or stained any color, which can delay the onset of fading. Vinyl fences are limited to light colors, usual white, cream or light gray.
Strength
Vinyl and wood as fence material can withstand minor forces, like small children pulling on the pickets. Vinyl outperforms wood when it comes to stronger hits, like someone riding a bicycle into the fence. Wood pickets are more likely to splitter or loosen from the railing, while the vinyl fence will remain unharmed as they spring back following impact. Vinyl will not face the same types of bug issues, like termites, that can affect improperly treated wood fences.
Care
A big difference in vinyl vs. wood fence is in maintenance. Wood fences will need to be painted every two to three years, or stained every one to two years. The nails or staples securing wood pickets may come loose, particularly if the pickets are repeatedly struck or bumped. Wood fence may develop green mildew that may need to be pressure washed off.
Vinyl needs no special care but like wood, vinyl may develop green mildew in prolonged humid conditions. Soapy water--you may need to add vinegar or bleach depending on the severity of the mildew--and soft bristle brush is all it takes to scrub a vinyl fence clean.
Cost
The purchase price of vinyl will be higher than wood but with no upkeep, vinyl will be cheaper in the long run. For comparison, at Lowes, a 42-inch high by 8-foot length of Gothic picket fence costs $19. Also at Lowes, a comparable 36.5-inch high by 8-foot length of vinyl gothic picket fence costs $35.
Tags: fences will, vinyl fence, 8-foot length, between pickets, develop green, develop green mildew
Over time, wrought iron furniture rusts and corrodes.
Just as you take time to outfit an indoor room with furniture that suits your taste and budget, give the same consideration to outdoor furniture as well. As with indoor furniture, there are a myriad of options for outdoor furnishings, and wrought iron and aluminum are two possibilities. At a quick glance, aluminum furniture can be mistaken for wrought iron, but there are considerable differences between the two types of furniture. Does this Spark an idea?
Weight
Aluminum furniture is lightweight, whereas wrought iron furniture has considerable weight. Keep the weight factor in mind if you foresee frequently re-arranging pieces.
Maintenance
Aluminum furniture pieces require minimal maintenance, needing only an occasional rinsing with water to remove dirt or debris. Wrought iron needs light maintenance, and periodic wiping with diluted dish soap. To help protect wrought iron from rain, apply a spray wax once or twice a year. Over time, wrought iron furniture also may chip or scratch. To repair the areas, lightly sand them with medium grit sandpaper and apply matching paint to the area. It is best to cover or relocate wrought iron furniture during inclement weather, or extremely cold or hot temperatures. This will help to reduce potential damage and possible maintenance.
Durability
Aluminum and wrought iron are durable materials for different reasons. Aluminum is resistant to corrosion and rust, holds up well to outdoor elements and lasts a lifetime. Aluminum furniture is finished with a powder coat finish, which lends to its long-lasting quality. Although wrought iron is susceptible to rust and corrosion, its heavy weight makes durable.
Considerations
If an artistic flair and fresh design are important characteristics for your outdoor furniture, then aluminum is the better choice. Aluminum pieces are made from liquid material poured into sand casts, which are molded into new designs. The freedom to create new molds allows for intricate detailing, which often is not found in wrought iron.
Tags: wrought iron, iron furniture, wrought iron furniture, Aluminum furniture, wrought iron, outdoor furniture, Over time
Your old Singer sewing machine might be worth more than you think.
Determining the value of your antique Singer sewing machine requires that you first realize that "value" means more than price. In the sewing machine world, models are generally considered antiques if they are manufactured prior to 1900. Machines built since 1900 are thought to be vintage and are valued more by crafters and quilters than by collectors.
History
Singer began manufacturing sewing machines in 1851. By 1856, they introduced the Singer Family model which was so expensive that the company had to implement a payment plan. Gradually, Singer worked to make the sewing machines more affordable for the average family. Today, the value of an antique Singer sewing machine in good condition made prior to the 1900s could be appraised in the thousands and is based less on condition and more on rarity.
Significance
To find specific information about your sewing machine, call Singer at 1-800-4-SINGER. Before you call, find the serial number of your machine on the right side of the machine bed. With this information, Singer can tell you the date your sewing machine was manufactured as well as the model number. Armed with a date and model, you are better equipped to determine the cash value of your machine and whether it is an antique or vintage.
Types
Value could include sentiment as well as money. The Singer that your grandmother passed to you is infinitely more valuable as an heirloom than it is likely to be for a collector. Decorative value is also something to consider. The treadle machines in good condition are quite desirable to some designers and the Featherweights manufactured after 1900 are popular to collectors and crafters.
Features
The earliest Singer machines were mounted on stands and look considerably different than today's models. The later antique sewing machines had lock-stitch vibrating shuttles, which Singer patented in 1859. Toy or miniature travel machines were made from cast iron and are quite collectible, in good condition. The earlier machines had only one pedal, while later models had two. The cabinet housing for the sewing machines became popular after 1900.
Considerations
To receive the highest value possible, Singers built prior to 1900 should be in good condition but are not expected to be pristine. Working machines are worth more to collectors along with machines complete with all of their parts. For vintage machines built after 1900, even the smallest scratch can make a difference in the desirability of your collectible.
Tags: sewing machine, good condition, after 1900, sewing machines, Singer sewing, Singer sewing machine
Add a bit of French flavor to a plain-Jane kitchen with French wall decorations. You might try something simple, such as dedicating an open display shelf for creating a tableau of French wines, or you might invest in a more expansive project integrating architectural elements or faux finishes. The key to a French kitchen, be it classic or country, is that the pieces have a personal connection for you, or that they incorporate details of craftsmanship that you admire. Does this Spark an idea?
Types
There is all manner of wall decor for French kitchens. The most expensive types are antiques from France, typically dishes or framed artwork. Considerably more affordable art pieces that are reproductions of French antiques or pieces inspired by French design and style. Then there is wall art that is more about France rather than French style, incorporating motifs such as vines, grapes, roosters and fleur-de-lis.
Features
French wall decor for the kitchen often involves natural materials that are more weathered or timeworn. A simple metal rusted sign advertising French soda can be a work of art in a French-inspired kitchen. Rustic wooden pieces such as floating shelves, niches, small cabinets with drawers and spice racks can evoke French style if painted an antique white, soft black, mustard or faded cornflower blue. Fill metal buckets, glass pitchers, painted ceramic pitchers or a small watering can with lavender in blue or sprigs of rosemary for a French touch.
Considerations
One classic element of a French kitchen is bringing the natural world and nature's bounty into the room. A wall shelf may hold an earthenware bowl filled with ripe persimmons, or a niche may contain a tin plate with a bunch of purple grapes. Wall art in a French country kitchen may feature painting or rolling hillsides and vineyards or lavender fields in bloom, while a more urban version might feature black and white photographs of Paris markets.
Effects
French wall art is evocative and meant to spark conversation. Strike a French bistro tone with ornate wrought iron wall art painted with a thin coat of antique whitewash and distressed to allow the underlying metal to show through. Go more Bohemian with an eclectic arrangement of framed and unframed art postcards, small drawings and watercolors. Bring in a French farmhouse aesthetic with a simple rustic wooden frame around an arrangement of pressed flowers.
Benefits
The great benefit of French wall decor in the kitchen is that it integrates the well-loved with the mass-produced, the flea market find with the work of enduring elegance. Line your collection of tea cups on a rustic wood shelf with wrought iron supports, and add some cobalt blue glass bottles as bud vases. Try something bold that gives the kitchen dimension, such as a wall mural of a French garden or a plaster relief wall sculpture.
Tags: French wall, wall decor, decor kitchen, French kitchen, French style, French wall decor