One Way Furniture
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- Shedding Outdoor Light
Your outdoor space isn’t meant to be enjoyed solely during daylight hours anymore! With a little crafty lighting and creative placement ideas, you can enjoy your space far into the evening hours. Use these quick tips to transform your open-air space into a well-lit sanctuary for relaxation and entertaining:
1) Candles add elegance to any setting.
Strategically placed candles can add a charm and grace to any atmosphere, but when brought to the outdoors they can bring an unmatched elegance. Beyond the basic candle-in-a-jar, there are wonderful ways to incorporate candles into your outdoor space. Luminaries are a delicate and easy way to dress up a simple tea light. A basic brown paper bag can be cut and decorated to create beautiful twinkling lights and shadows. This can also make for a fun and easy craft for the kids! Add a scoop of gravel, sand or cat litter in the bottom of the bag for stability from wind.
Be innovative in your candleholders and use what you have around you. For example, clean flowerpots or clay pots of all shapes and sizes can accommodate a variety of candles. Likewise, create your own hanging candleholders by adding wire to your glass jars. Hang these baskets in the trees around your outdoor space for magical elegance. If you have a space with water, floating candles make a perfectly whimsical use of any pool, pond, or waterscape.
Finally, not only can candles bring beauty and elegance to your space, but they also have a functional use. When citronella-scented, candles can keep away pesky bugs. You and your guests will appreciate your pest-free, delicately lighted space.2) Lighting placement is key.
Traditionally people assumed that outdoor lighting meant a spotlight off of a garage or deck. In fact, placement of outdoor lighting can range from a spotlight on lawn art, gardens, and waterscapes; silhouetting by placing behind an object; or tucked away to illuminate a secret garden path. You can entice guests to steal away to enjoy a quiet space in a corner of your yard. When placed around a pathway, consider solar lighting as an efficient and affordable lighting solution. Another tip to keep in mind is to place your outdoor lights such that your guest will not be distracted or blinded by a strong light. Lowering the voltage is a great way to ensure that you are not overdoing it, and can create a more romantic setting.3) Go beyond the ordinary.
There are a wonderful variety of alternatives to outdoor lighting that you may want to consider for your space. Torches, from the traditional bamboo tiki to the elegant and sturdy wrought iron, are a popular means of creating lighting more substantial than a candle, while still maintaining an ambiance of leisure. Torches can be staked to line the perimeter of your space, walkways, waterscapes or pools, and gardens. Smaller versions called torchets can be placed more intimately on tabletops or deck railings. Torches can come in candle or oil-burning form. Use citronella candles and oil in your torches for the added benefit of pest control.
Electric lighting has also come a long way for the out-of-doors. Outdoor quality lighting can include tube lights, lanterns, and decorative strands. When placed in areas such as around walkways, inside patio umbrellas or party tents, and in trees and bushes, these forms of lighting can transform a regular space into an outdoor oasis. There are even outdoor chandeliers that provide for a more elegant lighting appeal.4) Lighting creates safety.
Perhaps most importantly of all is the benefit of safety that comes with good lighting. Features such as motion-sensored spotlights and built-in walkway lighting can be as important as having good locks on your doors. While it’s fun to add the above lighting tips for your occasional recreational purposes, more permanent fixtures should also be a part of your outdoor space. Don’t skimp on the quality of lighting, as it is important to have sturdy and reliable products.
Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:59:26 -0400 - The Perfect Outdoor Event
As the warm weather approaches, so too does the promise of outdoor entertaining and dining. Whether you are decorating your apartment balcony, your backyard patio or your waterfront dock, follow these simple tips for a no-fail, fabulous outdoor dining experience for both you and your guests:
1) Plates and place settings
Picking a color theme can give your tabletop a sophisticated and together appearance while allowing you the freedom to mix and match shades of the same color.
Don’t be afraid to use mismatched pieces, including cups, plates, napkins, silverware and even chairs or bigger pieces. Hunting for funky glassware can be easier and cheaper by visiting your local thrift store or flea market.
For a more formal table, consider individual place settings, complete with placemats, napkins, glassware and silverware, or go family style and stack your dishes, glassware and silverware in one location and allow your guests to set their place settings themselves.
No need to use the traditional red and white checkered, vinyl tablecloth for your outdoor functions. Instead, create your own gorgeous tablecloth by using a colorful bed sheet, or purchase fabric and create your own with a simple iron-on hem. Tie rocks or other heavy objects in the corners of your cloth for a quick and easy way to prevent it from blowing in the breeze.
For larger parties, tuck nametags into favors, napkins or hang them on the backs of the guest’s seating.
2) Decorating
Consider accenting flower arrangements with natural elements such as shells, rocks, or pinecones.
Carve a flat base and a hole in fruit for an instant candleholder.
Choose striking but simple centerpieces like tall flower vases with a single stem or an arrangement of fresh fruits and/or vegetables. Keep in mind that you don’t want your centerpiece to block anyone’s view from across a table.
Display unique personal items around your dining area such as family photographs, sports memorabilia, or decorative artwork. This will create authentic conversation pieces for your guests.
Supplement your outdoor furniture and decorative pieces with indoor items for a splash of elegance and sophistication. For example, bring indoor items such as area rugs, china, pillows and chairs to your outdoor space.
Create a beautiful and peaceful ambiance by placing a bubbling fountain nearby or by playing light background music.3) Accommodating Children
If children will be dining separately from adults, decorate their table with butcher paper and crayons and allow to creatively themselves as they eat. Both can be purchased at teacher or art supplies stores. Keep crayons in little beach pails for easy access.
Consider serving finger foods on funky colored plasticware for a quick and easy cleanup. Serving food in playful pieces such as a beach bucket with shovel can make children feel recognized and add a bit of fun to the meal.
Offer plenty of kid-friendly outdoor games and activities in a safe but separate location.4) Food servers
Be creative in your use of food receptacles and servers. Use pails, buckets, birdbaths, and a variety of mismatched servingware to present your food.
Use a wheelbarrow, a wagon or a children’s pool filled with ice to store and keep beverages cool.
Keep beverages on a rolling cart, separate from the dining or cooking areas and allow your guests to serve themselves.
Remember to place plenty of garbage receptacles around the dining area. Use containers such as flowerpots, metal buckets or pails rather than big plastic garbage cans.5) Lighting
Create the perfect mood for your diners by strategically placing a variety of candle arrangements around your dining area.
Use lanterns, outdoor light strands and torches to set a more festive mood.
If your party moves into dusk, be prepared to transition your lighting as darkness falls.
Put lighting in unique places such as in trees and bushes, floating in water, around walkways or paths and spotlighting focal points in your yard. Don’t be afraid to experiment with lighting.Be prepared for natural elements when planning your outdoor event. If you are eating during daylight, consider shading the area for sun and heat protection. Likewise, have available outdoor heating options such as patio heating or fireplaces. It is also a good idea to have readily available bug repellent and sunblock so that guests don’t have to ask for it. Finally, be able to move the party inside the house or a patio shade canopy in the event of inclement weather.
Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:58:19 -0700 - Patio Furniture Selections & Collections
Quickly think of all the houses you go to in the spring and summer who are in dire need of outdoor furniture. You might see a beat up patio table and an assortment of patio chairs that does not match. It might be the collection of a friend, relative, or perhaps its your own patio collection.
The secret to choosing patio furniture, or lets rephrase that to when you want a long lasting patio set, is to first look at complete outdoor patio furniture collections. The advantages to buying furniture in complete sets are outlined below:
1 – You save money collecting the entire set at once rather then purchasing it piecemeal.
2 – You don’t’ have to worry about collecting your set in pieces and not being able to find all available pieces when you want them.
3 - You have a complete set from the get go.
These are just a few advantages to buying complete patio furniture collections.
Mon, 07 May 2007 11:36:02 -0700 - Redesign your Yard With Outdoor Patio Furniture
Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! It’s time to transform your yard and get it ready for all of those outdoor activities you’ve been waiting for all winter long.
Your first step to prepare for summer fun is to clean up the yard from the fall and winter mess that was left behind. An unsightly yard is an unappealing yard. Call in your landscaper for a quick fix or do it yourself if you enjoy the gratification that comes along with it.
Take last seasons leaf and foliage debris and turn them into organic mulch with a compost pile. The soil created is rich in nutrients that can be put back into your garden for healthier, stronger plants. If you don’t already own a compost bin you can purchase one or make one of your own. Even most everyday kitchen scraps can be used in the pile, which will lower your overall household disposed waste as well! Now’s also the time to turn your beds, prune your hedges and start planting your flowers.
How is your outdoor living space? Is it inviting? Does it reflect your own personal style? Your yard can be so much more than grass, trees and plants, it can be a place you go to relax and entertain. You should want to feel drawn to your yard. Believe it or not but the patio furniture you have can play a major roll. Different types of patio furniture create different looks. Between plastic, metal, wicker, and wood the style possibilities are endless. Choose the style that reflects you best. Make sure you have ample, comfortable seating. Matching patio collections make decorating easy. Some even have coordinating accessories like an outdoor bar and stools.
If you have the space you can transform your yard into the ultimate living area with sofas, loveseats and coffee tables. Add a chimnea or outdoor heater to extend the use of your yard into the colder seasons.
It’s always alluring to have seating in different areas of the yard. Do you have a sunny nook for a hammock, or a shady spot for a bench? Don’t forget your poolside space! A nice chaise lounge to sun on, or just some seating in that area makes it more welcoming. If you have little or no relief from the sun at all incorporate an umbrella or pergola.
Add flair with garden accents and lighting. Water fountains, gazing balls and other sculptures add interest and character to you yard. Scatter them throughout to draw the eye in different areas. Hide that unsightly hose in a decorative box, or hang it neatly on the house with a hose holder. Planters can extend your garden to your patio or poolside. You’d be surprised by what a splash of color can do!
Lighting can be functional or create a dramatic effect. Different types of lighting create different looks. The design of the fixtures themselves and also the type of light and direction it’s cast can change the mood of your yard. Solar lights are especially easy to install and are virtually maintenance free.
Now that you’ve created a multidimensional inviting yard that reflects your own personal style, it’s time to call over your family and friends – or just sit back and enjoy it all to yourself!
Mon, 07 May 2007 11:29:03 -0700 - Attention Long Lasting Patio Furniture
It’s that time of the year again—the thermometer begins to rise, the buds are on the trees, and the garden needs your attention. You know what this also means—it’s time for you to pull your patio furniture out of storage, dust it off, and set it up. Are you sick of that uncomfortable, hard plastic lawn furniture you’ve had for years now? Has it faded to a color so far from its original that you can’t even remember what color it was when you bought it? Is your wicker furniture beginning to look like it’s weathered one too many family picnics? Either way, you know that your outdoor space is in need of an overhauling. Regardless of the size, location, or layout of your space, you can have an appealing and comfortable environment with just a few key pieces of furniture and some creative touches.
For long-lasting pieces of furniture that will only get better with age, consider pieces crafted from teak. Made from an evergreen tree, teak is a hard, strong wood that lends itself well to outdoor furniture. Used originally in boat making, teak creates durable furniture that weathers well. With time, teak furniture turns a weathered grayish brown; however, due to the wood’s natural oils, it requires little or no maintenance.
Gone are the days of your grandma’s brittle wicker furniture, with white paint that requires a fresh coat each outdoor season, and branches that peel off with the years. The newest brands of wicker furniture on the market are not only durable, but also comfortable and trendy. Available in a variety of colors and shapes, they are made of real wicker and resin, so they can withstand not only the outdoor elements but also the rowdy family picnic.
Another outdoor furniture staple is wrought iron. Now painted with good base coats and a strong finishes, there’s no need to re-paint chipping pieces year after year. And with a few decorative outdoor cushions and pillows, you can add a touch that’s all your own. Be sure to buy cushions and pillows made from 100 percent acrylic fabric and polyester fill—they aren’t going to fade and are quick-drying. You can leave your cushions out all season and in all weather without worrying about having to throw them out when the season ends.
Whether you go for teak, wicker or wrought iron, keep in mind that you all you need is comfortable seating, a table to set a drink or a book on, and some well-placed accessories. Even if you don’t have a patio or deck, you can take advantage of garden pieces such as a trellis or a lattice wall, or place your furniture in a corner of your yard to define your space and give you some privacy. Consider an umbrella to provide shade and as well as a focal point to your space. A few thoughtfully placed outdoor lanterns, candles, or torches can take your space from a daytime retreat to a nighttime entertainment area. Regardless of the space you’re working with, you can turn it into a comfortable yet functional outdoor retreat that will serve you well for months to come.
Tue, 03 Apr 2007 23:20:53 -0400 - Baby Nursery on a Budget
Pacifiers, diapers, bottles, oh my! As if having a baby isn’t enough work, you must think about having a baby-ready nursery before you can even welcome your little bundle into the world. While some purchases to prepare that space are essential—especially to the baby’s safety—others are simply frills that aren’t possible on all budgets. But regardless of your budget, you can still express your creative side, and make a space that will be unique to you and your baby. Keep the following tips in mind as you go:
1. Safety first! Above all else, DO NOT skimp on the pieces of furniture that must be safe for your baby. It may be economical to buy secondhand or use hand-me-downs from your relatives, but it’s not always safe. Manufacturers’ standards have changed over the years, so the crib that your sister’s children, who are now grown and sleeping in bunk beds, used isn’t likely to be safe for your baby. Buy new products that you know have gone through rigorous testing and meet the most current safety standards.
2. Spend more money on items that will grow as your baby grows. If you’re willing to invest the money up front, you can purchase items that your child won’t grow out of as fast as she grows out of her clothes. Purchase items such as a baby crib that converts to a toddler bed and then to a twin bed, or invest in a dresser made from high-quality materials that will be around long enough to see your child through middle school.
3. Just like furniture, decorate for durability. Spend a little more now on items such as washable wallpaper, removable decorative wall decals or borders, and machine washable window treatments that will stand up to the wear and tear that your child will put them through. You (and your bank account) will be thankful you did for years to come!
4. Steer clear of decorating with the traditional tickled pink, baby blue, rubber duckies, and teddy bears. Opt instead for a more neutral color scheme, while utilizing some of the tips already mentioned. Softer pastel shades such as a butter cream yellow, sky blue, and a sage green will allow you to get more years out of your decorating.
5. Recruit family and friends to help you decorate and build your baby’s space. Don’t be afraid to ask for a hand when it comes to painting, assembling products, and moving the baby furniture. Why spend money to pay the painter, the interior designer, and the moving company when you can get your loved ones to help you out for free?
6. You aren’t done using your family and friends just yet! Have colorful pictures of your family and friends blown up at your local photo shop, and frame them with equally colorful frames. This way you add a touch of color and life to your baby’s room, while introducing her to the people important in her life early on!
7. Set a budget and stick to it! Talk to other parents and find out which pieces of furniture and baby products are absolutely necessary and which are splurges. Allot funds to the essentials and only buy splurges if you have money left over when you’re done.
The choices can be dizzying—especially when it comes to decorating or furnishing your new baby’s room. In a world of customized layettes, baby blankets, and hand-painted nursery wall murals, follow the tips above and make a few smart choices that will ensure that your baby has a one-of-a-kind nursery that won’t break your bank!
Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:00:07 -0800
