Archive for June, 2010

Follettmotors Aircooled Volkswagen Podcast #3 “Camper Van Interiors”. All about Volkswagen camper layouts and interior design. Features author Dave Eccles and camper refurbishment specialist, Calypso Campers. Listen to the podcast at www.follettmotors.com

Classic posters tell exciting stories about different unforgettable events and things. Moreover these posters are an outstanding part of our past. Today, you can get a variety of classic posters under different categories. The range includes food and beverage posters, entertainment posters, travel posters, war posters, sport posters, historical event posters, political posters, and so on.

If you are eager to spice up your home’s look with vintage decoration, try vintage art for your interior. You can buy these posters as gifts and collectibles too. Vintage travel posters can make the interiors of any home really striking and captivating. These travel posters have worked as good medium to platform the specialty of different wonderful places across the world and bring the image right in front of our eyes after many more years of their creations. For unique appeal and value, these posters have captured the hearts of people past and present alike.

As vintage posters grow older, they are likely to get rare and costlier. Because of their rarity the supply of original classic posters is often limited. Check out classic posters from following resources.

Vintage travel posters in all sizes are available at different city based poster outlets. Before going to buy them, ask poster dealer about discounts and shipping. If you have never purchased a classic poster before, you should also ask poster dealers for professional installation.
There are many art galleries with good collections of vintage poster. They often organize different auctions for selling their stuffs. If you are interested, you can buy them from those art galleries.
The best places to buy such classic posters are the online stores. Just with a simple click on their website, you can now buy your favorite travel poster right from your home or your workplace instantly. A search engine will let you quickly explore their inventory list any way you want such as by subject, country, poster artist, style, keyword, even by color and room setting. Some online stores specialize in framing solutions as well, so possibilities through the online stores are always more for you.

There are as many styles in the world of furniture and design as there are tastes to desire them. From the somber dark woods of the Jacobean period to the geometric characteristics of Art Deco, there is something for everyone, and often making a choice is the hardest part. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it is certainly true in the furnishing world.

Let’s run through some of the more well-known styles, defining and categorizing them so that with a little understanding, we can better analyze our tastes and desires. From rustic to formal, simple to elaborate, furniture creates a mood and shows off personal taste to best effect.

17th Century Furniture – Furniture has come a long way from the heavy 17th century Jacobean influences. This mediaeval-style furniture was typically plain wood with rush seats, straight lines and characteristically dark wood. In later years Early American style evolved, with typical European influence brought by the immigrants to the New World of America. In contrast, Louis XIV was busy creating the splendours and opulence of Versailles, with ornate gold carvings, fine artwork and magnificent craftsmanship in every room.

The later William and Mary style brought trumpet turned legs, ball feet and padded upholstery to English parlours with a new look in oriental lacquer work.

18th Century Furniture – As Queen Anne ascended the English throne in 1702, furnishings became more refined, with graceful cabriole legs, rococo ornate trimmings and shell curves. Tapestry and chintz were popular and this became known as Queen Anne style.

Colonial style American furniture was more conservative than English furniture of the same period, featuring carved pillars and less ornamentation. Following Queen Anne, Georgian style appeared and was particularly identifiable in architecture. In furniture, carved cabriole legs were the fashion, along with S-shaped curves and motifs. In the latter half of the 18th century, Chippendale furniture was in vogue, especially after the publication of Chippendale’s book of designs. His furniture was graceful, delicate and cultured and was further developed by Adam and Hepplewhite who introduced tapered legs, veneers and inlay to great effect.

From 1780-1820 Sheraton style was the most reproduced style in America during the Federal period, with bow-fronted chests and cabinets. Chairs now had sloping arms and upholstered seats with central splat detail on the backs.

19th Century Furniture – Shaker furniture is still a popular style today. It is defined by the simple, utilitarian furniture approved of by the religious communities in America. It is typically plain and unadorned, as was the architecture and lifestyle of those early immigrants.

Back in England, the Victorian era heralded much heavier and darker furniture than before. It is easily recognizable by its Gothic influence, and heavy substantial proportions. It often had elaborate carving or ornamentation to offset the dark finish of the oak, mahogany and walnut woods.

20th Century Furniture, and Onwards – With the dawn of the 20th century, Art Nouveau was a refreshing change. Furniture made a tremendous departure from what had gone before. Chair backs were balloon-shaped or bentwood. Furniture had curving lines, scalloped fronts and intricate patterns. This morphed into the Art Deco period which featured abstract designs, ornamental motifs, rectilinear shapes and a certain geometric style. It took the world by storm at the Paris Exhibition of 1925 after the dreary days of World War I. The Art Deco style is clearly illustrated in the pastel-coloured architecture of South Beach, Miami and the furniture within.

In furniture the Mid-Century Modern style was progressing, particularly influenced by Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen and Gio Ponti, whose mass-produced designs in man-made materials revolutionised furniture in the mid 20th century western world.

From the 1960’s onwards furniture became Contemporary. Scandinavian ideas featured light natural wood, with simple lines, utilitarian design and very little ornamentation. This was later developed still more by such designers as Marc Newson into the Post Modern and Contemporary style which is popular today for modern homes.

This is the story so far, but progress does not stand still. With the advent of new materials, glass furniture and new innovations, styles continue to develop. No doubt by the end of the 21st century, several new terms will have been added to the dictionary of furniture design and style.

From contemporary modern furniture, all the way back to antique furniture – Crawleys Furniture has a wide range of items that can work with your home or office needs.

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If you think about it, we all have a style of living that we enjoy and find both comforting and relaxing. When I’ve been away from home all day, as I’m driving back I can almost feel the atmosphere that I’ll be stepping into, and that’s a great feeling. At the end of the day what decor lifestyle beckons you? For this discussion we’ll compare two similar yet very contrasting decorating styles.

These two styles take different approaches to a vintage look. First is Shabby Chic, which most everyone is familiar with. Shabby Chic is similar to cottage style decor and is known for white, distressed painted furniture, soft floral colors in pale shades of pink, blue and green, vintage accessories and comfortable, slip-covered furniture.

You’ll probably find fresh cut flowers, antique lace tablecloths, scented candles and crystals hanging from the antique chandelier. Shabby Chic decor includes a mix and match of fabrics such as stripes, florals and checks, tea stained fabrics and flea market finds. All in all, you will be comfortable and at home with Shabby Chic if you enjoy a soft, floral, feminine style of decor.

Perhaps you enjoy some vintage decor but are looking for a more refined look with a contemporary flair. Your lifestyle decor choice might be Simple Urban.

Simple Urban decor is a combination of vintage and contemporary with natural fabrics, medium to dark toned woods, rich neutral colors and decor accents of iron and glass. And, the result is an uncluttered and spacious look. Antique pieces with clean lines (no Victorian here) and flea market finds are integrated into the decor as a counterpoint to the sleek urban style. Unique accent pieces, vintage or new, take the spotlight in this decorating style.

You’ll find a color palette comprised of shades of tan, gold, cream, brown and black, with bold accent colors to give drama and excitement to the area. As you decorate your space, you might find some great upholstery at a flea market or consignment shop, or purchase new. It doesn’t matter as long as you maintain the overall clean look and love the piece. The same applies to lighting, as you may install some track lighting in one area and find a great antique lamp for another.

What other design elements are found in Simple Urban decor? You’ll find wood or tile floors with area rugs, with the rugs comprised of a natural weave such as sisal, or you could take a different path and create a bold look with a very colorful rug. Case goods, whether they are new, vintage or flea market finds, will be a medium to dark wood tone. There may also be metal or glass accents. Creating a unique look with unmatched pieces will enhance your Simple Urban decor, so use your creativity to find some great end tables, bookcases, dining sets and the like. Window treatments can be a simple as a window shade for privacy with fabric side panels hung on iron rods. You may opt for wood blinds, shutters, verticals, or nothing at all to cover the windows. Use fabric sparingly, as you don’t want a treatment that is over dressed.

The final touches are what pulls everything together in your Simple Urban home. Accessories can be big, bold and colorful, vintage, reproduction or contemporary. As with your other selections, if you find a piece that you love, then use it. Be mindful of how much you put into your space and always avoid the cluttered, messy look. Each piece should have a presence of it’s own.

So where do you fall in these contrasting styles? If you love the soft, whitewashed, floral vintage look, Shabby Chic is right up your alley. For those who prefer a subtle vintage decor with contemporary flair, Simple Urban may reflect your taste. Whatever you choose, enjoy decorating your home and creating your unique abode.

Why is it a sin to remove the old damaged finish from a chair yet not the old paint from a rusted car? Why do reupholstered car seats add value but reupholstered chair seats destroy value? Why is it okay to replace the tires on a car but not the rockers on a rocker? So why is it that furniture is being valued differently? Why is there a double standard when it comes to furniture?

As refinishers, we do have a voice in this issue and we need to use it. We need to educate the public through our customers that there should be no double standard when it come to valuing antiques-that what’s good for the Model A should be just as good for the pie safe. We need to turn the current trend back to the way it used to be, when restoration added value to antique furniture!

For clarification, we are not talking about a speciric truely museum quality antique furniture item that has been protected in its prestine condition and has become highly valuable and collectible. We aer talking about fine old furniture items that are probably family keepsakes.

A 1930 Model a Ford has just been discovered in a little old lady’s garage. Its tires are flat and won’t hold air; its battery is dead and won’t take a charge; its leather seats are dried, cracked and break when touched; its paint is dull and worn through on the tops of the fenders; and its running boards are rusty. Basically, this old Model A is in Original condition, but it has little value.

Same car three years later and totally restored: It’s now in showroom condition, just as it came from the factory. The car disassembled, its upholstery gutted, paint stripped, rust sandblasted, engine overhauled, brakes rebuilt; it was newly painted, newly upholstered and was given new tires, new wiring, a new battery-you name it. The only thing still original about this car is the steel from which it was made. The value now skyrockets.

Now take the same model, same year, same style of car found in a similar state of originality: this owner elects to disassemble, strip and gut it and then toss the fenders and hood, chop the top, lower the body, put in on a newer car fame, replace the engine with a full-blown, super-charged Shelby Ford, replace the tires with 16-inch drag slicks and paint the car bright yellow with red flames decorating the sides. He also adds air conditioning, power windows stereo and automatic transmission and, because the door handles have been removed, remote door openers. One touch of the key fob and the door opens. Push another button and red neons light up the underneath of the car as if it is glowing on flames. Wow! What a change! In the hot-rod market, its can be even greater than that of the fully restored car.

This scenario can be applied to almost any antique. Paintings can be cleaned and restored. Boats can be rebuilt, aircraft restored, buildings abated of their original lead paint and restored, – all with one thing in common: The value is increased through refinishing and restoration.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could totally redecorate your new home without having to buy any paint or materials while doing it? Using interior design software, you can try out unlimited designs, experimenting with colors, textures and more without and yet you won’t be required to make a single purchase.

Accomplished by using your computer, you won’t be required to leave the comfort of your home and you won’t need to visit any of the numerous home improvement stores in order to discover the perfect design plan.

How is That Possible

There are a number of ways in which computer aided interior design works and your required level of re-decorating your home will determine the application features you will utilize. For simple basic features, there are a variety of free websites which offer interior design based on a number of pre-made templates, materials, textures, designs, and colors.

You simply select the room template that most matches the conditions you will be working with. Many of these basic applications include limited capability to place doors and windows in a variety of locations. From there, you can experiment with furniture placement, lighting, wall colors, wallpaper, rugs, fixtures and more.

The free version of 3d interior design targets newcomers to interior decorating who are exploring various options and components before making any final decisions about the project they would like to undertake. Some online interior design programs require you to subscribe to the program for a fee. This will allow you to send them pictures of the rooms you would like to redecorate.

When they receive your photographs, they will convert them into digital images which you can then modify using their computer software. For many this is the preferred option as the physical representations in this interior design will be to the exact scale and location as the real life components they represent.

All real life conditions will be accurately displayed including precise placement of windows, doors, electrical outlets and even unique architectural elements such as cornice, bead boards and mouldings.

Benefits

There are several very attractive benefits to using a 3d interior design program to evaluate your interior design project requirements and end results. Obviously a wonderful asset, you are not spending hundreds to thousands of dollars purchasing materials, paint and furniture only to discover that this was not what you wanted after all.

The computer aided interior design software may well save you a lot of money in the long term. Using 3d interior design software is a lot of fun and will allow you the freedom to conduct some serious interior decorating without spending a dime.

Another wonderful benefit from home design software is that you can experiment with as many changes as you wish. Changes are easy and not permanent you are only limited by your imagination. trying out various designs will not cost you any money.

If you and your partner have different ideas, the interior design software allows you both to apply your own color schemes, wallpaper, furniture placement, rugs, and more until you come up with an acceptable design that you both find acceptable.

The advantage of using interior design software is that you have freedom to experiment knowing that ultimately the only thing you have invested to that point is your time.

Most people who love to eat also love to go the restaurants. Going to restaurants with family and friends is a pleasant experience for most people. But what attracts people to the popular restaurants? Good food is the obvious answer, but right after good food the most important thing is the ambience. In fact in many cases it has been seen that restaurants with better ambience and reasonably decent food attract more customers as well as keep them compared to restaurants that serve fabulous food but have a bad ambience. All this probably makes restaurant interior designers as important as the cook, if not more!

The work of restaurant interior designers

Restaurants interior designers have to keep in mind the interior, as well as the exterior look of a restaurant. They take the following factors into account -

Chalk out a budget which is feasible to the owners of the restaurant.

Special attention should be given to maintaining the cleanliness of restaurant premises.

The interiors are usually lighted with soft lights, this makes the environment soothing.

The tables and chairs should be comfortable so that the customers feel at home.

There should be a clean and spacious washroom with toilet paper, towels, hand washes and continuous supply of running water.

The kitchen should be clean and large so that chefs can go about their work with ease.

There should be first-aid arrangements for any medical emergencies.

Adequate safety precautions should be taken. The kitchen is a place which can easily catch fire, so it should be designed in such a way that chances of any accidents are minimized. Furthermore there should be adequate provisions for emergency exits, fire-extinguishers and emergency alarms.

Going beyond general considerations

The above were general tips concerning the safety and comfort levels of any restaurant. And they should be looked into by every competent restaurant interior designer. Moving beyond them, one also has to take into account some other factors that will help present the restaurant in the best possible light and ensure maximum profitability. These factors are the lifestyle and preferences of the target market. A restaurant that is catering to teenagers or those who are still in their twenties and single would be designed in a much different manner than a restaurant that is aiming to serve families. Similarly there will be remarkable differences in the interiors of a restaurant that caters to primarily to the affluent classes compared to that which caters to the middle class.

Are you considering a makeover of your home? Do you think that the usual home décor items won’t be that much appealing for your renovated home? Let’s talk about something new –something that’s absolutely awe-inspiring and will surely become your neighbors’ envy and your prized possession. This is the time to think wise and do something new with the old stuffs! Vintage posters can be the next best thing you would do to your home décor.

Yes, vintage posters are just the perfect answers to your aesthetics quest as they can literally give your home a charismatic look with their eternal appeal and magnetism. These posters are collected from all over the world in their original states. While most of the posters are retained in their real forms, only a few undergo trimming culture so that you get the maximum durability and protection from dust, wind, rust and other harmful elements. Why not try a vintage poster to impart a spectacular appearance to the interiors of your home?

Today, vintage posters can be purchased from a variety of outlets in your city or abroad. If you go abroad for a tour, then the best thing you can bring for your dear ones as gifts are surely these posters. Besides revamping the interiors of your home, these posters give out a clear idea of your rich aesthetic taste and preference. What’s more, now you can avail these posters without even having to step out of your home.

With easy access to the web across the globe, it’s now an easy task for you to have the most popular and world renowned posters delivered right at your doorstep. These online vintage poster sellers specialize in different kinds of such posters and they have very good and reliable shipping facilities for many global locations. Among some of the most popular vintage poster categories include liquor posters, people and places posters, war and historical events posters, food and appliances posters, movie, theatre and music posters and many more. You can find the poster vendors online by carrying out a simple search through your preferred search engine.

Choosing furniture is indeed a difficult thing to do. Since there are a lot of furniture manufacturers that exist, it seems quite impossible to look at all that these furniture shops have to offer. Thus, the most convenient way of looking for furniture is through furniture directories.

Furniture directories provide a systematic listing of furniture, furniture types, and furniture styles. This definitely saves time and effort in looking for furniture, most especially if you already have a specific furniture type in mind. All you have to do is search for all the furniture makers under the specific type that you like, and you can visit these shops or simply contact them for queries.

China is known for its fine craftsmanship, such that China furniture has garnered approval from customers all over the world. One of the furniture types that China is most famous for, is antique furniture. China’s antique furniture can be found in China furniture directory. Most of the antique furniture suppliers in China are found in the furniture directory.

Nowadays, China uses an online furniture directory in promoting its furniture. This is more convenient than the typical printed directory because you can look at various options easily. Moreover, pictures of the actual furniture are even provided in some of China’s furniture directory. With these pictures, customers can actually get an idea of the furniture size, and other physical attributes.

Another furniture type that China is famous for is wood. China is known to be home of beautiful varieties of wood. As such, many of its wood furniture are exported to different countries all over the world. China furniture directory can provide you with the details of wood furniture manufacturers for orders and purchases. In fact, most of these furniture makers are also based online and can receive orders and purchases online as well. Shipping and handling arrangements can also be done online.

With today’s trend of online market, furniture makers in China compete globally by being listed in online furniture directories. This is probably the most effective way of promoting China’s furniture to the rest of the world. Furthermore, online furniture directories do not cost as much as TV, newspaper, or radio advertisements. Most importantly, online listings reach the widest market of all. This is the reason why, most of the products and services are already marketed online including China furniture.

In selecting the best China furniture, you can actually search for the best furniture makers through China furniture directories online. There might be a lot, and choosing might seem difficult, but you will be certainly guided with the various categories and details that are provided by these China furniture directories. In addition, for more convenience, China furniture directories can also be printed for future references.