Tips for Buying Chandelier Lights Best Fitting Your Home

Chandelier lights have been around for ages. Medieval records show their usage in large assembly halls. However, the initial design of a wooden cross with 4 candles on each arm has gone through some much needed change. The initial changes adorned these lighting items with a look of royal beauty. This was done at the cost of convenient dimensions. These models could only be installed in big mansions or large summer houses. Much had to be done to introduce them to the simple British home.

For the more sophisticated mind, chandeliers designed in the form of ice particles are preferred. These light fixtures do not weigh heavily to pocket and can bring a peaceful feel to an otherwise chaotic children's room.Here is an important tip from Joe Rey-Barreau, educational consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA):Chandeliers now come in varying sizes and weights. There is one for everyone. However, several points must be considered first, such as:Chandelier Lights: Following the TrendsEvery room has a different set of parameters to be considered before adorning it with chandelier lights. For instance, the dining room. The chandelier for this room should be at least 50% of the dining table's width. Larger is better. For an 8-foot ceiling, you should hang the bottom of the fixture nearly 30 inches above the table. If the ceiling is more than 8 feet, increase 3 inchesfor each additional foot in the ceiling. All these calculations are based on the fact that the table size fits the room.� What design are you looking for in the chandelier?Chandelier Lights: Children's Light� What is the size of the object over which the chandelier will be suspended?�Placing a chandelier that is too small in a space is likely the biggest mistake because it's very noticeable. Great designers, therefore, tend to make their decisions on fixtures that may appear slightly larger than might be appropriate. It's generally always best to make the mistake on a fixture being too big than too small.�� What are the dimensions of the room where it will be installed?� How high is the ceiling on which it is to be installed?The fact that chandeliers have shrunk and can fit into any room also helps to this effect. The master bedrooms of middle class couples often spell luxury because of the designer bathrooms, chandeliers and luxury beds. Some even have a matching pair of chrome floor lamps to enhance this luxurious feel. Mix and match can also be a theme for the modern urban home, with a classic chrome floor lamps and transitional chandelier lights.Chandelier Lights: Things to ConsiderRegarding trends, Joe Rey-Barreau says, �Beyond laundry rooms and garages, any room is an open target for hanging a chandelier. More commonly, kitchens and bathrooms have become the popular locations for chandeliers.� These words best reflect the popularity of chandelier lights. People have started decorating their homes to bring in a touch of elegance and luxury in their day to day life. Dan Blitzer, Director of Education for the ALA, says, �People are treating their bedroom suites as more luxurious personal spaces with elaborate bathroom areas, so it is not unreasonable to consider chandeliers there, either.�This change started with the rise in the economy of the UK. More and more shunned the norm, which was that chandelier lights were an adornment of only the royal homes. People were ready to pay higher prices just to have these regal lighting options in their homes as well. This market demand led manufactures to consider an evolution in the creation and use of chandeliers.

For the more sophisticated mind, chandeliers designed in the form of ice particles are preferred. These light fixtures do not weigh heavily to pocket and can bring a peaceful feel to an otherwise chaotic children's room.

Author: Kathryn Dawson

How to Make Victorian Lamp Shades

During the Victorian era lighting was primarily from gas. But with Edison�s improved design of the incandescent light bulb in 1879, electric lighting began replacing gas lighting in Victorian homes. This change became the catalyst for a variety of lamp shades made to shield the glaring light bulbs.

Shade frames can usually be recovered or new ones purchased. An antique frame is stripped, covered with rust-retardant and recovered. Over the years, a large variety of styles were designed. Interesting, all the frames have names. Since flowers played such an important role in the Victorian decorating scheme, many have names such as Tulip and Daffodil.Bedroom lighting is important and rawhide lamp shades will add a quality of life through a beautiful warm atmosphere that you will enjoy day after day. And along with that also comes the function that allows lighting to serve you better. Lighting affects us on many levels and natural rawhide lamp shades will help you create the harmonious and peaceful bedroom that you need.A quality hand-sewn lamp shade given the proper care will last for many years.So this season if you are planning to change the look of your home and have a limited budget then there is nothing for you to worry because all you need to do is to consider buying terrifically beautiful and less expensive furnitures for your home, office, garden etc. Furnitures and accessories that are less expensive, beautiful to look and comfortable to use, like Eames Lounge Chair, Lem piston Bar stool Azumi, Arco Floor Lamp Castiglioni and many more will fulfill all your requirements.Rawhide lamp shades will work miracles on your rustic bedroom makeover. We have been discussing southwest style, but rawhide shades are also available in dark western hide for ranch or lodge d�cor and in unique colors for country d�cor. Each type of rawhide has its own special lighting characteristics. So weather you want to lighten your bedroom, darken it, or add rustic color, you will find inspiration in hand crafted rawhide lamp shades.The best aspect of using these modern classic furniture are that you don�t even have to worry if you have limited space in your home or office etc because you can use these modern contemporary and classic furniture items easily with convenience. This is because, now-a-days furnitures are not only made to enhance the look of your home and give a mighty touch to it, but they are also designed and developed in a way that they consume less space, thus you will have plenty of area to keep other necessary things.Copyright 2006 Candy Arnold

Copyright 2006 Candy Arnold

Author: Candy Arnold

For A Southwest Style Bedroom Use Rawhide Lamp Shades

Rawhide lamp shades are what can turn your bedroom into a designed showplace of southwest style. By accessorizing your bedroom with rawhide shades you are infusing the key elements of the decorating process. It is the natural character of rawhide that captures the essence of southwestern design and adds the rustic beauty to your room. With just a few changes to your lamps and lampshades you too will find the warm inviting feel of a southwestern bedroom.

You can use lamps with rawhide shades in many locations around your bedroom, beside the bed, on a desk, as floor lamps and indirect lighting. Remember to use separate controls for reading lamps and to place the lamps so the light is projected from behind the reader to eliminate glare and shadowing.You might be surprised to find how many different types or styles work with southwest design. For example, you might find that you already have all the lamps you need and the addition of rawhide lamp shades makes them work perfectly. By displaying them differently with rustic shades, many lamps can be transformed from traditional to rustic style. It�s not so much the lamp as it is the shade that displays the rustic texture you want. Get creative with an old lamp by adding rawhide shades and watch the room come to life.It is best to match your rawhide lamp shades in your bedroom by color. For southwest style bedroom lighting, a light bleached rawhide shade is the color of choice. Draw your bedroom together with rawhide floor lamp shades that match the shades on your bedside lamps and any table lampshades that you might have in the room. Different heights and diameters of rawhide shades are also very attractive and add an interesting sense of drama to the room.The intricate patterns made by the joining of the metal wires create small �windows�. Each window (panel) is lined with satin, silk or other beautiful fabrics. While quality domestic fabrics are often used today, many individuals choose imported fabrics similar to those in fine Victorian homes.The shade is finished with braid, lace, ribbon and specialty trims. The finishing trim is applied either by sewing or with hi-tech bonding agents (not hot glue). Fabulous hand-dyed fringe or sparkling beads and matching tassels for pull chains complete the finishing touches.The frame is then wrapped with cotton twill tape to enable the maker to sew the fabric onto the metal. Wrapping with the correct tension is an art that either results in a quality product or a shoddy piece.

Rawhide lamp shades will work miracles on your rustic bedroom makeover. We have been discussing southwest style, but rawhide shades are also available in dark western hide for ranch or lodge d�cor and in unique colors for country d�cor. Each type of rawhide has its own special lighting characteristics. So weather you want to lighten your bedroom, darken it, or add rustic color, you will find inspiration in hand crafted rawhide lamp shades.

Author: Craig Chambers

Want To Decorate Your Home With Modern Classic Furnitures, Here Are The Best Options!

Living in an apartment or a small house does not mean that you have to compromise with your taste or choice for the home decorating furnitures and accessories you want for your home or neither you need to settle with less beautiful and elegant furnitures. This is because now-a-days markets are flooded with highly functional and magnificent looking furnitures that are available at reasonably cost-effective prices. Moreover, there are many online stores like Manhattan Home Design where you can find best quality glorious looking furniture and accessories like Womb chair Eero Saarinen, Eames Lounge Chair, Arco Floor Lamp Castiglioni and many more. These furnitures will not only cost you less money but will also make your home appear like it should be on the cover of a interior decorator magazines and other journal.

In the present times when market is filled with modern classic furniture that are beautiful, contemporary and of classic styles to fit any loft or apartment bedroom, it is the time you need to move away from the age-old and outdated methods of modifying your home. For example, if you want to completely change the look of your living room then instead of using the regular conventional looking sofa set you must try using LC5 Le Corbusier Sofa daybed or Outdoor Wicker sofa sectional furniture rattan and many more. You can also use lighter looking interior decorating accessories like Lem piston Bar stool Azumi or decorating pieces like Artichoke Lamp or even something like Arco Floor Lamp Castiglioni.Weather you use your existing lamps or purchase new rustic lamps for your bedroom, the key to having the correct look in the bedroom is to layer the lighting. In other words, create lighting zones that give you the ability to create areas of light that are suited to a specific function. One great trick to enhance your new or newly created rustic lamps is to use a dimmer switch. Because rawhide lamp shades are a natural product, different lighting moods can be set by allowing more or less light to filter through the rawhide. Another nice idea is to use remote controls, timers and automatic switches to turn light on or off in certain areas.

So this season if you are planning to change the look of your home and have a limited budget then there is nothing for you to worry because all you need to do is to consider buying terrifically beautiful and less expensive furnitures for your home, office, garden etc. Furnitures and accessories that are less expensive, beautiful to look and comfortable to use, like Eames Lounge Chair, Lem piston Bar stool Azumi, Arco Floor Lamp Castiglioni and many more will fulfill all your requirements.

Author: George Nelson

STYLIST'S GUIDE TO.. SPRING NEUTRALS

Meadow fresh From subtle sage to a flash of rainforest brights, leafy shades will add some verdant freshness to a neutral beige and brown colour scheme MAIN SHOT: Stacking boxes (bottom left) from pounds 3, Store Twenty One; Gold mug pounds 11.50, Pedlars. Green rug from pounds 80, Oslo chair from pounds 275 and footstool from pounds 149, spring meadow cushion (on chair) pounds 12, lanterns from pounds 40, Mariella floor lamp pounds 65, all Next. SOFA: Versuvious cushion pounds 11.99, Dunelm Mill, Panel detail cushion pounds 12, Colonial flower cushion pounds 14, Jemima sofa from pounds 599, shawl from a selection at Next; trilby from a selection at Pedlars.

Turn a chimney breast into a hot new featurePreparation is the key, so sand boards before applying varnish. Perfect finish diamond hard floor varnish in clear, pounds 47.98 for 2.5l (www.ronseal.co.uk or DIY stores)The final type of light is known as task lighting. As the name suggests, this type of illumination allows you to easily carry out daily activities such as reading, cooking or sewing. Task lighting can come from many sources including spotlights, table lights, floor lamps and wall lights. Floor lamps are perfect for use as task lights. You can position a floor lamp behind your sofa or easy chair to work as a reading lamp, for example.Up to 2 days..Wallpapering a whole room in a day is a tough call for even the most experienced DIYer. So for a simpler, do-it-in-a-day task, stick to one to create a bright, eye-catching feature wall. It's a quick and easy update that gives a big "Wow!" factor. Kids @ Home wallpaper 35799, pounds 16.94 per roll (www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk)Give your old chairs a new lookFloor lamps can function as ambient lights by shining their beams onto the ceiling. The result is a gentle, reflected glow around the whole room. Floor lamps can also work to provide focal points to a room.

STYLIST TIP: Grey-toned fabrics against slick white furniture create a coastal feel with a modern twist STYLIST TIP: Team greens with chunky wood furniture and wicker style chairs then add metal or glass for contrast STYLIST TIP: Designing a scheme can be imaginative and fun. It's easy to inject colour into a neutral room without even having to pick up a paintbrush. Simply add new curtains, bright scatter cushions and maybe a striking armchair, or add wall art for a bold focus

Author: JESSICA CONTOMICHALOS

MINI MAKEOVERS

Spruce up your shelves

Transform your hallway The hallway is one of the trickiest areas to decorate due to its shape and all those doors, but as it's used so much, it's worth the effort. Sophie Conran Magnolia wallpaper in green, pounds 19.98 per roll, Baroque-style mirror, pounds 30.68, Tarn 3-light leaf pendant with glass drops, pounds 64.98, Angelina small table lamps, pounds 17.48 each, all from B&Q (www.diy.com, 0845 850 0175)Spray old boxes in pretty pastels then stick a photo of each pair of shoes to the front. Plastikote super spray in pale lilac, blue lilac and sumptuous purple, all pounds 6.95 per 400ml can (www.plasti-kote.com, 01223 836400 or DIY stores)The great thing about revamping your home through the use of floor lamps and light shades is it can be done without touching the structure of the building. Just buy them, position them in the required spot, plug them in and then all you need is a little tweaking.Create wall artStain or varnish a wooden floorYou need to be sure your shades are transparent enough to allow the required amount of light through otherwise your rooms might be too gloomy. It depends on the functionality, however. When it comes to accent lighting, dark lamp shades are popular.The first is ambient lighting, the overall illumination for a room. This type essentially replaces daylight and provides the general lighting you need to live comfortably in your home. This generally comes from ceiling lights but can also come from wall and floor lamps.Spring break DIY 3 page specialWhen it comes to developing an effective lighting plan for your home, another fast and easy way is through the judicious use of light shades. This is a powerful way to quickly change the illumination in a room.Up to 3 days..Effective illumination is key to a quality environment. Other than making our homes functionally livable, lighting also enhances beauty, creates desired moods and complements lifestyles. In order to get it right in our home we need to understand the three main types of lighting.COFFEE TABLE: Monaco coffee table pounds 275, white hydrangea vase pounds 45, both Next. Bowl pounds 5.99, Dunelm Mill. Candles from a selection at L'Occitane. DINING ROOM: Teal retro canvas pounds 70 (set of 2), Teal sculptured bottles pounds 36 (set of 2), Teal lacquered ball curtain pole from pounds 50, retro floral curtains from pounds 40, Ombra dining chairs pounds 125 (per pair), Opus table pounds 235, vase pounds 12, reversible placemats pounds 8 (set of 4), Amble 12-piece dinner set pounds 32, teal conical wine glasses pounds 16 (set of 4), polka dot cutlery pounds 12 (16 pieces), all Next. Peonies pounds 14.99 each, Rockett St George.Lamp shades come in a range of styles and sizes and you'll have to experiment to get the ones right for your rooms. Time was when your choices of lamp shade were white or cream. Nowadays, you can find them in a vast range of colours or embellished in a range of motifs such as tapestries, abstract designs or exotic plants and animals. And the choice of materials is wide, too.Sort out your shoesMake a family notice boardYou don't have to tile the whole room... just areas that take a lot of water. Try starting with an easy project, such as the splashback behind the sink - a perfect beginners' job!Repaint your kitchen.. from top to bottomThese fun blackboard stickers make it quick and simple to create an organiser for the whole family. Convincing your little darlings to stick to it might be another matter... Stickers pounds 24 each (www.spincollective.co.uk, 01242 255244)The next type is known as accent lighting. This works to highlight special areas and objects in your home to show off their qualitative and create a certain mood or atmosphere. Track lights, spotlights and wall lights generally provide accent lighting. You can also get accent illumination from floor lamps judiciously positioned to shine onto the desired areas.DINING ROOM: Facet mirror pounds 110, Buddha head pounds 30, Santiago dining chairs pounds 235 (per pair), Delamere table pounds 335, Green lacquered ball curtain pole from pounds 50, Green taffeta stripe curtains from pounds 60, all Next. DINING TABLE: Bowl pounds 29.95, hydrangea flowers pounds 14.99 each, both Rockett St George; wood candlesticks (set of 3) pounds 25, Botanic 12-piece dinner set pounds 30, wine glasses pounds 18 (set of 4), all Next.Perk up your paintworkSTOCKISTS: Next (www.next.co.uk, 0844 844 8000), Store Twenty One (www.storetwentyone.co.uk, 0844 884 4808), Pedlars (www.pedlars.co.uk 01330 850 4000), Dunelm Mill (www.dunelm- mill.com, 08451 656565), Rockett St George (www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk, 0208 350 5450).Making over your home with lighting is quick and inexpensive and the results can be astonishing. The deft and tasteful use of floor lamps and light shades can transform the whole look of your rooms and create magical spaces to live and work in comfort and style.Turin wall tiles in beige, brown, grey, charcoal and white from pounds 15.49 for 44 tiles (www.focusdiy.co.uk, 0800 436 436)..Turn over for fab 4-day ideasSIDE TABLE: Delamere Cube table nest pounds 175 (set of 2), Amaryllis flowers tied bundle pounds 35, from Next; Coasters pounds 4.99 from Rockett St George.Transform a room with a bright new feature wallTile key areas of the bathroomSTYLIST TIP: Grey-toned fabrics against slick white furniture create a coastal feel with a modern twist STYLIST TIP: Team greens with chunky wood furniture and wicker style chairs then add metal or glass for contrast STYLIST TIP: Designing a scheme can be imaginative and fun. It's easy to inject colour into a neutral room without even having to pick up a paintbrush. Simply add new curtains, bright scatter cushions and maybe a striking armchair, or add wall art for a bold focusWhen it comes to light shades, you have a wide range of fabrics to choose from, everything from cotton and linen to damask, mica and silk. Each fabric adds its own special quality to the light and thus each creates its own mood. You can also get shades crafted from paper and glass, with Murano glass from Venice being extremely popular. Also timelessly appealing are Tiffany shades based on classic stained glass designs.MANTELPIECE: Green Blossom canvas pounds 99, (set of 3) Next.

Spring break DIY 3 page special

Author: ANGELA MACFARLANE

Simple Lighting Touches to Transform Your Home

If you're looking for ways to transform your home into that special place for living, take a look at your lighting. The fact is that proper illumination plays a major role in the look and feel of your home. In particular, the judicious use of floor lamps and light shades can makeover the mood and functionality of your home quickly and inexpensively. Floor lamps are the perfect accessories to ramp up your home lighting as they're so easy to set up. And lamp shades can add style and atmosphere to your rooms in a trice.

Fitting a funky glass splashback is a DIY job - you just need to make sure your wall is properly prepared. Spend a day making sure it is painted and smooth, pick your design then fit. Enki Muted Sage glass splashback from pounds 95 (60x70cm). Matching up-stands and different sizes available in 27 colours (www.cpgroupuk.com, 0845 519 7039)Transform an old set of chairs with new fabric covers. Carefully remove the existing cloth then use it as a template for the new covering. Chair material: Babushka pounds 28 per m. Curtain material: Lilia pounds 34 per m (www.harlequin.uk.com, 0845 1236805)Fit a glass splashbackIt's easy to lay a new floor with the Uniclic system - each panel simply slots into the next. There are many edgings and skirtings available to help you get a professional-looking finish. Lagune Dark Varnished Pallisander panels in Shipdeck, pounds 33.99 per sq m (www.quick-step.com)Sea breeze Take your colour cue from the splashes and sprays of the ocean waves by mixing soft teal with cobalt and a sprinkle of sparkling silver tables pounds 99, all Next. Melamine bowl pounds 9.75, melamine cup pounds 4.95, both Pedlars. Rug from pounds 49.99, Dunelm Mill. Cushions on sofa: velvet cushion MAIN SHOT: pouffe pounds 100, star cushion pounds 35, both Rockett St George. Chatres chair from pounds 199, St Ives table lamp pounds 60, Toulouse sofa from pounds 399, nest of pounds 7.99, Dunelm Mill, folds cushion pounds 12, dandelion cushion pounds 14, both Next. MANTELPIECE: Stella mosaic mirror pounds 125, vase pounds 5.99, Dunelm Mill, peonies pounds 14.99 each, Rockett St George, LOVE letters pounds 12, sculpture balls pounds 16 (set of 3), frame pounds 7.50, vase pounds 10, all Next.Under one day..Add drama to your living room by painting the chimney breast a different colour to alcoves either side, then use a stylish stencil to highlight its shape. Walls paint: Smoulder Solo Matt Emulsion pounds 15.99 for 2.5l, chimney breast paint: Rebel Feature Wall pounds 9.98 for 1.25L, metallic paint for stencil: Striking Fashion pounds 15.99 for 2.5l (www.crownpaint.co.uk, 01254 704951). Motif 6 stencil pounds 19.99 (www.stencil-library.com)Lay new laminate flooringGive tatty old shelves a new look in minutes with sticky back plastic. Granite-effect Fablon stick-on sheets from pounds 5.99 per roll (www.hainteriors.com, 01670 718300, www.amazon.co.uk or DIY stores)COFFEE TABLE: Delamere coffee table pounds 185, faux apples pounds 8 (set of 8), Glass pear and apple pounds 18 (set of 2), all from Next; Esher platter pounds 34.95, Rockett St George.Three days should be plenty of time to repaint your whole kitchen. You could add a fresh lick of colour to everything from the floor to the tiles, units and even your storage jars! Kitchen painted in furniture and cupboard paint in Lovely Olive and Warm Mink, both from pounds 17.99 for 750ml (www.international- paints.co.uk, 08444 817 817)

To get ideas about the range of lights available, you can browse the web sites of the UK's leading lighting vendors and get an idea of what kinds of lamps and shades are available. You can then place your order safely online for swift delivery.

Author: Kathryn Dawson