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Home Decoration Pro; Glassart Decor

Would glassart fit into your home décor blueprint? What exactly is glassart? Can it be a profitable investment, and what are the details one needs to know? These are some of the questions I’m going to help you answer about the subject and I think you will enjoy the trip. You’ll see an example of how glassart is made as well as discover some essential resources if you’re interested in learning more. I’ll even enlighten you about an annual event at the Miami Beach Convention Center that will be a fun and intriguing show to visit if you’re in the area. What a great reason to visit Miami in the winter!

Glass Art Vase

Glassart (usually referred to professionally as “art glass”) is an art medium that has been used for centuries that’s evolved into one of the finest and most interesting of all art forms in my opinion. According to Peenstra Appraisals, “Art glass” refers to collectible glass pieces that have been crafted into works of art by a glass artisan. This could mean a vase, a pitcher, a bird figurine, a bowl or a variety of other forms.” To get a quick visual lesson of some of the most beautiful and interesting I’ve seen take a quick peek at a few of one of Dale Chihuly’s most impressive works on his web site. Dale, from Seattle, is noted throughout the art realm as one of the most gifted art glass artisans in the world. Art glass comes in all sizes, colors and styles, and you will be amazed at what’s available on the market. With today’s energy prices, labor prices, and high taxes, baked into the pricing along with the highly valued craftsmanship of the masters, it’s going to be a lot easier to start with older productions, and here’s an example of what can happen: “What my research uncovered was that John Lotton had recently retired from blowing glass and collectors were grabbing up his pieces because they knew they would become scarce. I learned that our $800.00 investment had instantly risen in value to about $1400. Today this vase would conservatively bring about $1700.00 at auction!” That was in 6 years, and comes from Deb Petersen Fitzsimmons of Molten Splendor, who deals in some beautiful wares.

If you decide to take the plunge and invest, be sure it’s not a low quality Chinese import which covers a large portion of the market. The mass Chinese productions are easily identifiable once you get familiar with the flaws, light weight, surface applications and their over all low quality. Because of a finish that’s usually added, the performance and visual stability of this particular medium is very disappointing. On the other side of the scale, Dale Chihuly’s hand crafted productions are definitely on the high end, but so is the quality. That doesn’t mean new productions are the only thing on the market that’s worthwhile. There are plenty of valuable antiques that are beautiful as well as some lesser known artist’s productions that have proven to be amazing art, and a great investment. As with any art, before purchasing, make sure it’s something you’re going to enjoy for an extended time. Today’s uptrend may be tomorrow’s downtrend, but if you enjoy your art on a daily basis in your own home or office you’re still going to realize your value.

The number one antique show in the USA will be arriving at the Miami Beach Convention Center February 2nd-6th, 2012 and according to Reyne Haines of “Justglass” who appears on Antiques Road Show, there will be plenty of art glass dealers on hand (over 800 expected) and will be a great place to learn what to look for as well as find beautiful and valuable art “at all price points.” Older, good quality art glass is easier to purchase and are some of the very best values since you’re not paying for today’s high production costs according to Reyne. And who knows, you may even win one of the free men’s or women’s Rolex watches to be given away at the event!

Robert Kaindl Art Glass

Before you go, lets take some quick notes about what to look for according to Glass Facets Glass Collecting: “The body should be free of paper burns, chill marks and cords. Paper burns are small bits of ash that stuck to the glass when cooling and shaping. They look like dull spots in the layers. Chill marks are uneven waves of glass; they refract light differently than the surrounding area. And finally cords are waves of glass that look like strands of material that refract differently than the surrounding glass.” Another thing I’ve learned is the deeper the color, the more difficulty there is in achieving a high quality piece. Additionally as I witnessed at Mary Hill Museum above the Columbia River in the state of Washington about 18 months ago, was the variety of interesting items that are being made. I witnessed some gorgeous and intriguing designs by William Morris from Seattle, one of Dale Chihuly’s trainees, who has become very well known in the glass art world for his own expertise.

If you have a safe area to display in your home or office, are excited about this concept, and ares prepared to make an investment into glass art, remember to purchase something you’re going to hang on to and enjoy no matter what the monetary value. If you get educated, shop carefully, and plan carefully regarding your decor surroundings there’s no reason you can’t find just the item (or two or three, or ?) that fits your style perfectly. You may even find a decor treasure that will become a financial treasure!

If you’re scouting for some upscale silk floral decor for home or office be sure to check us out. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, our experienced craftsmen can probably put it together if you let us know what you need at the Silky Flower Store. If you’re not familiar with us yet we offer silk floral centerpieces, wall sconces, silk plants, silk floral wreaths, and silk trees and topiaries.

Check out the short video of the glass art making process by glass artist Ion Tamaian. I think you will be thoroughly entertained for 2 1/2 minutes.

My Best, Billy Goldmark

Home Decoration Pro; Exciting Grays Take Over Beige

If you haven’t heard, there’s a new décor color trend developing away from beige as a neutral, and toward shades of gray in offices, living rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms………let your imagination reign. Even grays in textured furniture options are getting to be widely available. Since the trend has serious momentum in that direction, and after some detailed study and analyzing I’m impressed with all I’ve found. I’ll be covering the primary aspects of what one needs to be aware of, and the essential guidance using gray tones for decorating. Needless to say, gray tones can

Living in Classic Gray

be dominant and strong, or light and airy depending on the depth and texture of the tones selected and complementary colors used. In regard to complementary colors, just about any color will work well with gray, since it’s a monochrome of black. So lets explore a little, and in case you’re planning to lay down some serious indoor wall and ceiling paint, I’ll even introduce you to a new painting tool that can “cut your painting time in half.” I thought that would get your attention!

The first thing to think about for any color scheme if you’re planning a makeover is to think about what emotions you want to evoke for that master bedroom, home office, or any space you may be planning for a new design. If it’s for a downtown office building plan you may want to go a little stronger with the darker tones if you’re looking for a powerful, but not overwhelming tone. Shiny black can be nearly intimidating, but a light monochrome will be much more comforting and easier to work with. On the other hand if it’s for a smaller bedroom at home, consider using lighter gray tones with brighter accents to help make it look cheery as well as larger. Your own tastes are what counts, so my main premise is that you can use these tones to achieve a wide range of themes that will fit your lifestyle. Don’t forget about adding differing textures in the room for added interest, comfort and sophisticated design. On another tangent, if you have a smaller room you’re working with consider using a dark gray tone at one end of the room and mid tone gray on the rest of the walls. This will give it a feeling of a larger room, and adds even more interest.

Greenery adds life to sophisticated gray dining area

If you’ve never been introduced to the 60-30-10 color scheme, it’s an important but simple concept. The difference between a nice room and a stunning living space will be determined largely on the correct use of this concept, so be sure to use it from the start. The 60 is the percentage of the dominant color you need to use; 30% is the amount of secondary color to use in the room, and the 10% is the percent of accent color to use. I’m not recommending you use a tape measure and calculator, but if you follow within reason those percentages, you will end up with a balanced aesthetically pleasing room provided you follow a couple more suggestions.

Don’t forget the greenery is my next suggestion. It always helps to liven up the living space and make it so much more inviting and interesting. Just look at the beauty the dining area image conveys with the complementary greens. You can go with live plants, or if you’re short on maintenance time never under rate all of the astonishingly realistic options available today with silk plants and silk flower arrangements.

One of the areas many often forget, or don’t plan for is the lighting effect for the room. First of all how much light will there be? How will it look with natural light versus light from fixtures? Will the lighting scheme also be changing, i.e., new window dressings or mirrors added to reflect the light? Lighting is not something to be ignored, so match the paint scheme to the different light the room will experience when choosing your colors, and accents. It’s always a good idea to have several different light sources in a room to fill shadowed areas and help add comfort and warmth. Of course the more natural light you can provide the lighter and more airy the room will feel.

Natural Materials wall sconce: another growing trend.

When it comes to accents for your space, how much “table space” or “floor space” do you have? Another trend in decorating that makes a lot of sense is a greater use of wall sconces for decorating or even additional lighting. There are plenty of options, but one I find pleasing and interesting is the use of natural materials for wall sconces. You may be able to fashion your own if you’re crafty and have the right materials at hand, or there are some beautiful ones available at reasonable prices.

One last thing is to choose carefully the sheen you want for your paint. Glossy is easy to clean, but is shiny and on the other end of the scale, egg shell is hard to clean and some brands may be removed when cleaning. My suggestion is normally to use a matte color, which goes well with natural surroundings and is not that hard to clean. Glossy may be better in younger children’s rooms “(Mommy, what color of hair do you want for your picture on the wall)?”

I mentioned there would be a tip for cutting your painting time in half, and I confess I haven’t used this new tool yet, but if you plan on any amount of indoor painting I suggest you take a look (no affiliation) at this video to see how it works. I think you’ll find it intriguing and see how you can cut your interior painting time drastically and professionally. Here’s the link if you just want to go directly to the web site for Paint Helpers. If anyone has already used this tool be sure to help the rest of us with a quick review.

My Best, Billy Goldmark Silky Flower Store

Home Decoration Pro; Outdoor Patio Heaters

Patio heaters for décor? Of course, since they’re going to be a central gathering place during those cooler evenings on the way (we can only hope), you’re going to want something that’s functional, efficient, and of course adds beauty and comfort to your outdoor environment. So what are my options you may be thinking? There are many, but some thought needs to not only go into the type of unit you’re considering, but also who will be enjoying the warmth while it’s in use? What type of environment do you live in? How important is efficiency to you……or are you more concerned with the aesthetics?

After some review and personal experiences of the open flame types I have my prejudices as most of us do, but I’ll try to keep those in check and get you to thinking on your own to come up with a match that works well for you. It seems that some of the electric models have the highest ratings for efficiency, and of course all you have to do is plug them in, versus having a natural gas line installed, or refilling or replacing propane bottles, and with wood burners collecting wood, smoke issues, and clean up.

Coleman Patio Wood Heater

One more thing to remember is that depending on what part of the country or world you live in, you may be using your heater only during certain times of the year so will your investment be worth the time it will be used? Are you an outdoor party person, like to have cool evening barbeques, or just like to invite a few friends over for eve snacks and drinks? How many times a year do you entertain? I understand it’s not just for guests, but will you use it that much if others don’t join you? In other words will your money invested really be worth the time it will be used? I’ve been around patio heaters when they were much appreciated due to the cooler weather and the ambience they provide, but keep this point in mind about how often you will use them before you rush out and buy the perfect unit. Another important aspect is the open flame style heaters, and the risks involved with them. In even a light breeze you will need to be attentive to the portables as to where they’re going to be safe, as well as planning ahead in regard to having small children around. An important safety feature for gas models is an automatic shutoff in case the unit is tipped over (floor and table models), so be sure that’s included in any model of this style.

Instant Heat & No Mess

You can find natural gas / propane heaters which can be popular with some, but for safety and efficiency I lean toward the electric models. They’re versatile, very low maintenance, and ready to go at an instant with no fuss. A highly rated electric I’ll mention here is the Solaira All-Season Quartz infrared patio heater (around $250). The safety features allow this unit to be used under umbrellas and awnings without worry.

I don’t recommend the wood burners, because of the constant smoke problem, not to mention the other challenges, but still it may be fine for those who don’t mind “roughing it.” These can be purchased in quick and easy put together kits for $100 – $150, and in a rural area may be appropriate for some, but lets be responsible and very careful when using these.

There are a lot of choices for gas models and pricing varies widely. If you like the idea of a flame, a floor model would be my first choice. Table top models and floor models are available at reasonable prices, and many are advertised to create a warm zone up to a 20′ perimeter with an increase in temperature of 10 – 25 degrees F.

Table Top Propane Patio Heater

Gas Heater, Post Style

It always lends a friendly atmosphere and feeling of comfort to have shrubbery and potted plants nearby for that “homey” feeling, but be sure to plan for that as well. I prefer to keep the patio area clean and inviting, and if you don’t mind the constant maintenance for live plants in that area to keep them looking great have fun. However, as you might imagine, I much prefer to spend more time with friends and good conversation while relaxing than doing upkeep. If you have someone to take care of that for you more power to you, but you’re going to find that with artificial plants and topiaries in your patio area it’s going to stay a lot cleaner. If your open flame heater is going to be near the plants, again I prefer the silk plants that are fire resistant and safe as well as providing beauty. Even with the electric units you’re still going to have the possibility of damage to live plants if within typically 10 feet of the source. So, again this is another reason to use artificial plants in your outdoor heated living area.

Since this is an opinion piece and I’m sure many of you already have a patio heater please inform us of your experiences and opinions. Lets make this a great forum piece to help benefit one another.

If you’re considering buying a propane model, have just purchased one, or have a problem getting your unit to light this is a great educational and trouble shooting video.

My Best, Billy Goldmark

Silky Flower Store

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