walldecorandhomeaccents Archive Page
Monday, September 29, 2008
Are you expecting family for Thanksgiving?  Do you want to entertain, but fear that your dining room will fail to impress?  It doesn't take a fortune to dress up your dining room.  Just follow these simple steps. 

Slipcover or recover your chairs.  If you have cushioned chairs in your dining room, you can purchase inexpensive slipcovers for about $20.00 each.  If these chairs have wooden arms, you can alter the slipcover to fit by opening the sides to fit the arms through and sewing the slipcover back together.  If your chair is mostly wooden, then remove the seat, add new fabric and reattach the seats. 

Clean up or cover your table top.  If your table is looking worn and weary, purchase table top refinishing products and clean it up.  There are numerous products on the market that will remove scratches and breath new life into an old wooden table.  If the table top is beyond repair, use runners and tablecloths instead.

Add a dramatic wall art focal piece to the room.  Hang art that will focus everyone's eye to it and away from any areas that might be lacking.  One piece that will go a long way in catching the eye of your guests is these set of Boca Candle Wall Sconces.   They can be used together as one large focal piece or can be split up to dress up the room and to function an ambiance creating element.  In addition to being attractive to the eye, these candle sconces will allow you to turn down the lights and use candlelight instead.  Candle light will make any room look great.


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Saturday, September 27, 2008
It is great when you can supply a special room for kids to play and explore.  It is even more fun when you decorate that room in a fun theme that will inspire the childrens imagination.  There are many different themes and ideas you can explore. 

You can turn the room into a circus tent by painting wide blue and yellow stripes on the wall and creating a tent design on the ceiling.  Paint circus animals on the walls, and if possible, hang a swing or two (at a safe height) from the ceiling. 

You can create an all girls or all boys playroom, if your kids are all girls or all boys.  Go overboard with buying and painting everything in pink and blue and choose a theme that only your kids will love.

You can create an underwater theme by faux painting the walls in shades of blue and adding sea creatures.  Some of the creatures can be painted on and other creatures can be realistic looking half mount replicas. 

This 32" Octopus Half Mount Fish Replica is a fun wall decor to use in any rustic den, fishing cabin, or hunting lodge.  It is 32" in diameter and is lifelike and easy to clean.  It can be used indoors or out and is durable enough to hang by the docks.  This wall art peice would be great when hung alongside with other half mount fish replicas.


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Thursday, September 25, 2008

There was a time when the golden rule was to hang wall art at eye height.  This rule was interpretable to a degree as people come in all heights, so many decorators struggled as to whose eye level to hang a painting.  Still people didn't vary the wall art hanging height by more than six inches.  

This rule, like many other old decorating rules is no longer a mandate as many have become creative with hanging art high, low, and in all kinds of unusual places.  Some neat and unusual places to hang your wall art are:

At knee level:  Otherwise known as the eye level of crawling children, the lower portion of the wall is a great place to hang artwork.  Art hung at this level will not only stimulate a child, but certain adult pieces will also look great hung at that height as well. 

Around the top of the room:  Multiple art pieces can be displayed at ceiling height all the way around the room in place of wallpaper border.  A series of plaster medallions for example, are much more intricate and interesting than a wallpaper representing the real thing. 

On kitchen cabinet doors:  Make kitchens more interesting by attaching simple art sculpture pieces or stained glass art to the cabinet doors.  Make sure the art is secure to withstand the constant movement of the doors. 

In front of windows:  Fifteen years ago, the thought of hanging art in front of a window was almost criminal.  Now its called cool and unique.  Of course there are certain kinds of art that look best in front of a window such as this Malta Three Dimensional Metal Wall art. While it will look great against almost any color wall, having natural light shine from behind it will it and further enhance the brushed copper brass finish with subtle nuances of color.  This metal wall art piece is 36" high and 39" wide, and 3" deep. 


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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Don't know what kind of art to buy? Just buy something striking that catches your eye. 

Many people fret over finding art that looks good in their homes and that they will also enjoy.  Buying wall art isn't really something you should fret about.  You just have to buy what you like and that will also coordinate with the other items you love.  If this sounds simplistic, it is probably because it is. 

A good place to start your search for wall art is online.  Look for wall art decor and rate items you like or don't like on a scale of one to 10.  Still don't know what you like?  Start with simple forget the oil paintings and fine art prints.  Look for art with simple metal or iron elements that are more architectural than classic.  After finding a few 10's, and making sure they are in your price range, look at the measurements and also the places you are looking to hang your wall art pieces.  Do this a few times and you will be able to pick art on impulse.

A good reason to choose metal artwork when buying your first pieces is that they can more easily translate from one room to another, or one style or another.  They are more interpretable as fine art regardless of the price point because they have no subject.  A good example of such an artpiece is this Batavis Metal Wall Art with mirror.  It is a functional mirror and also a large wall art piece that makes a bold statement.  This bold painting that creates a fun optical illusion will be at home in many design styles and most especially modern and contemporary.


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Sunday, September 21, 2008

A screened room doesn't have to feel like separate unit from the house.  With  just a few simple steps you can make it feel like room and an integral part of your home. 

Don't use lightweight or obvious outdoor furniture for your sun room.  You will still need to use furniture that can withstand weather, so a good choice for sun room furniture is dark colored heavy wicker.  Preferably the synthetic type that does not fade.  Pair this will quality weather proof cushions. 

Use lots of fabrics on your sun room.  You can purchase outdoor fabrics and hang them as drapes, only use tiebacks to keep as much of the window exposed as possible. 

Add a sturdy but attractive rug will make the sunroom feel more like a real room and when carefully chosen will tie together all of the elements of the room.  There are many indoor/outdoor rugs that fit this description. 

Add wall art pieces that can handle exposure to the elements are important.  Without hanging art, the room will look incomplete.  Metal wall, and other sculptural art pieces will work nicely.  These Asos Metal Wall Planters for example, will serve as wall art, and also help you to blur the line between indoors and outdoor by adding more greenery and flowers. 

This set of wall art planters are 21" and 26" each.  They are made of forged metal and have nail head trim embellishment with rich bronze coloring. 


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Friday, September 19, 2008
The key to making an eclectic interior work is to combine opposing decorating styles in a way that is pleasing to the eye.  They say opposites attract, but combining decorating features at oppose each other must be done carefully.  After all, you wouldn't combine wooden shaker chairs with a chrome and glass table, would you?  You would first need to find a way to make the opposite elements coordinate with each other. 

In order to make a glass and chrome table go with wooden chairs, you could spray paint the chairs to match the chrome element of the table.  If you were going to put an overstuffed table with sleek chairs, you would place pillows in the chair to soften the line.  Likewise, if you wanted to combine iron and wood chairs with a glass table, you try to find an iron or wood table base.  The trick is to find a common element between the two. 

This Arizona Swarovski Wall Mirror is a decorative peice that manages to combine two distinctive styles.  The mirror is framed in wood plans finished with pearl champagne paint finish and also with very luxurious swarovski crystals.  These two elements work well together because of the high quality finish on the wood planks. 

This contemporary styled decorative wall art mirror boasts 752 swarovksi crystals.  It is a juxtaposition of luxury and rustic with its pearl finished plank wood framing and embedded with crystals.  This wall art mirror measures 40 X 40 inches and and is square but can also be displayed as a diamond shape mirror.  It can work well in cottage style decorating as well any eclectic environment.


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Saturday, September 13, 2008
Have you ever hung a large painting on the wall and felt like something was still missing?  Sometimes wall art and other wall hangings, while beautiful and dramatic may need a little something more to look good in your room.  It may be that the artwork is not well balanced in the room.  It may be that the artwork does not fill the wall where it is displayed.  It may be that the artwork does not truly fit the design style of the room.  These problems can be easily fixed with the addition of a piece of architectural art.

This Open End Grille, for example, can be used in conjunction with any painting or abstract art piece to help balance the work of art.  You can display it above a work of art, below a work of art, or you can buy two and display one of each side.  The addition of an wall art piece such as this can easily compliment a piece of art by balancing the position or style of the art piece. 

This particular three dimensional wall art piece is designed to mimic abstract leaves which spring from this piece surrounded by a simple border and a rectangular design.  It has the look and feel of history and will also go well with modern and contemporary styles.  

This will  grill measures 49" wide  x 4" deep  x 21" high and can be placed in a variety of positions and spaces.  It comes in many different finishes from Sandstone to ebony, to clay finish, to coffee finish an and more. 


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Thursday, September 11, 2008

Mirrored walls go in and out of style.  One minute they are an excellent way to make a small room look bigger they look great in dining rooms and in small hallways.  The next minute they are garish, out of style, and quite dated.  The reason that with putting up a wall of mirrors is problematic is probably due to the fact that it is difficult to find mirrors that will cover a large wall area and that are also timeless and beautiful... until now. 

These Mississippi Hexagon Swarovski Wall Mirrors are heirloom quality and timeless in design.  Each mirror is framed with high quality hardwood with a weathered Aspen Snow-white finish. The border of the mirror is trimmed with approximately 240 genuine Swarovski crystals making it a timeless treasure. These wall art mirrors are truly an investment that will last for many years, even generations.  Each hexagon shaped mirror is 20" high X 16" wide and comes with mounting hardware for easy hanging. 

Imagine a wall full of these mirrors!  Hanging just seven of these mirrors (as shown in the photo) will take up approximately 60" X 40" and add depth to any room while adding timeless elegance and style.  Unlike a typical wall of mirrors, if you do get tired of having these mirrors on one wall, or if you move, you can easily take down these mirrors, re-arrange them, and even display them separately.  You can also use these beautiful mirrors as trays to enhance your table decor. 



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Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Wood grain is a very popular finish in home decorating and even in fashion.   This wood-grain style is known as faux bois, which is the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains.  Faux bois was originally popular from the late 19th century until the 1940's.  It was mostly used in the garden where concrete items were transformed to look like wood.  You will currently find shoes, sunglasses, furniture, and upholstery and more in a wood grain finish.  

Due to the increase in faux bois items in decorating, you can now find many home and wall accessories that mimic the look and feel of wood without the destruction of destroying trees to create art.  This Milan Metal Wall Plaque for example, is made of metal but resembles a carved wood art piece.  This wall art piece is a dramatic wall decor item sure to spark conversation.  It is finished with a rich espresso coloring that evokes the warmth of wood, even though it is made of lightweight metal. It also has sleek chrome bead accents that add an eye-catching contrast.  This wall art piece is rich with variety of textures and curves that have an undulating effect, which also ads dimension.

You can display this round wall hanging in any contemporary space to create an instant focal point. It will go well in a cottage or rustic surroundings and among eclectic design as well.  It is quite substantial at 36" in diameter, and is sure to make a grand impact.  It weights only 9 pounds for easy portability making it easy to move and to install. 


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Sunday, September 7, 2008
Decorating on a grand scale does not mean you need to have a grand budget.  If you have one of those homes with super-sized rooms, you can still decorate your walls attractively without spending a fortune.  It does not even mean that you have search salvage yards and become an artist yourself.  Don't get me wrong.  These approaches to finding large statement pieces for your home are great; they are just not always necessary.  You just have to know where to look and what to look for. 

Wrought iron is a great element to use when decorating a large room.  Wrought iron wall decor pieces are generally quite large and also inexpensive. For example, look at this Green Meritage iron Wall hanging.  It is highly detailed with its wrought iron scrolls and finials and ads an architectural element to any home whether traditional, eclectic, or modern.

This large wall decor statement piece is 26" in diameter and incredibly affordable, so if you really like it you may want to purchase two, three, or more and use it to turn a boring wall into an incredible focal point.  This Iron wall art piece is circular in design  and incorporates many geometric components and attractive details.  This ornate but abstract design is meant to add beauty to the room without being a huge distraction.


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Friday, September 5, 2008
I am very fortunate to live in a large house with very large rooms.  My great room and foyer ceiling are twenty feet high and you could fit my last New York Apartment into my current Georgia Master Bedroom.  While this sounds heavenly, the size of the rooms in my home presented certain decorating challenges when I moved in.  All of my current home decorations and accessories looked like miniatures in my new home.  I quickly found out that while my small accessories worked well in my small apartment, that my large home needed large accessories. 

The reason you would need large wall decor in a big room versus using multiples of smaller accessories (which would also fill the space) is that too many pieces can make the room quite busy and overwhelming.  It is much more peaceful and cohesive if you seek out a smaller number of larger items. 

Speaking of large decor items, this Varsavia Metal Wall Leaf Plaque measures a staggering 4 1/2 feet tall and is over 2 feet wide.  This massive wall  art piece adds a grand-scale focal point to your walls and works well in any decor style with its natural fall motif.  It is handcrafted from durable metals into a nature-inspired abstract leaf shape,  and boasts lifelike foliage and gracefully scrolling details.  The finish is rich, earth-toned shades of metal with both hammered and wrought iron details.


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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Modern wall art by definition is simple in form and recognizable from its clean, simple, straight lines.  Modern wall art tends to take simple forms and present it as art.  Form is much more important than ornate decorations. 

By theory, just about any every day item found in the home can double as modern wall art.  This is why it is not uncommon to find a bicycle displayed as art in a modern loft when it is not in use.  You will also find salvage windows, and metal wall grills used to adorn the walls in modern spaces. 

While modern wall art has plenty of charm and beauty, it is also seen as cold and sterile.   But that does not have to be the case.   Modern wall, just like any other segment of design and decor is constantly evolving.  Forms are being combined and materials mixed to create a new genre of modern wall art. 

This Leros Three-Dimensional Wall Mirror gives modern wall art a new twist. It is utilitarian in its usefulness as a mirror and also features a sculptural three-dimensional design that could stand alone on its own.  It is made of flame-treated copper and burnished brass in a striking circular pattern that frames high-quality reflective glass. This dramatic piece is three feet in diameter, and can serve as the focal point of any room.



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Monday, September 1, 2008
If you've ever vacationed in a European Villa, you were surely left longing for the peaceful and elegant surroundings long after you returned home.  European villas mix history with  with comfort by combining traditional style and materials with comforts of today.  A stay in a European Villa really is a vacation from reality. 

When you return home, however, you don't have to leave it all behind.  You can use the inspiration you found there to update your own home.  Add a few European antiques, to your home, and remove a bit of the fussiness and clutter that plagues many homes.  Purchase accessories and artwork that brings drama to your rooms without overwhelming the senses. 

One such stunning piece of artwork is this this Round Fleur de Lis Grille.  This architectural art piece is the perfect way to recreate the passion and elegance of Europe in your own home.  At 33" in diameter it is a statement piece that will surely please the eye and breathe new life into a room.

You can purchase this item in sandstone finish or choose from other finishes that will coordinate with your home such as  Ebony, Whitestone, Clay, Mission Pewter, Rust finish and others.


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