Goose Neck Floor Lamps Are Great For Any Room

If you are seeking something very unique in a floor lamp but do not know quite where to begin, then why not consider goose neck floor lamps.These crazy lamps are generally placed behind your couch and then it comes up from the floor and curves over the top of your sofa. 

 

And some of those same models are still crazy looking today. And they still fit great in a cool 1980s bachelor pad. But these lamps have come a very long way in style since then and you would be very shocked to discover one, two or even a few that will completely enhance any room in your home.

 

For a classy tone with floral accents and soft colors, you might want to look for some torchiere style goose neck floor lamps. This style of lamp has the appearance of an upside down Tiffany style lamp with the soft lighting and the frosted glass torchiere shades. Quite often this style has three separate lights and you can turn on one, two or all three at a time to get the level of lighting and mood that you want.

 

For a contemporary look, you should consider some brass or gunmetal adjustable style goose neck lamps or maybe even a sunlight floor lamp. These lamps will stand out and make a great statement in any of your contemporary rooms and you can always simply adjust the neck of the lamp to shine the light wherever you like. These floor lamps will also work well if you want to show off one of your pieces of art.  Simply set the lamp near the piece and adjust the neck to spotlight the painting or sculpture.

 

If you have quite a bit of furniture in a particular room, or perhaps just a large sectional sofa, and need additional lighting but do not really have a space to put a lamp, then goose neck floor lamps are definitely the answer for you. You can simply place one behind a sofa and point it to shine the light exactly where you can sit and read. And these goose neck style of lamps are not only fantastic for saving space, but they also look great.

 

Do you have one of your children going away to college? There are some really nice goose neck floor lamps that will light up any dorm room. There are those that have colorful shades and crazy shapes. There are those models that have anywhere from one to seven lights, each of them with a different colored shade. These types of lamps are also great space savers as well, and they look really cool and so your co-ed will love them.

 

Gel Candles Demystified

Before I say anything else, I have to tell you that gel candles are invariably better looking than traditional wax candles. That is not surprising, considering the fact that their unique nature means that gel candles need not be completely solid in appearance. So they can be translucent and multi-colored, and offer ample scope for ornamentation. For instance, some manufacturers embed small colorful items like seashells and beads within the gel to come up with an exclusive look, or there are others who add swirls of color to their gel candles, creating a lovely work of art.

 

From experience, I have also found that gel candles last nearly twice as long as ordinary wax candles. Only a couple of days ago, as I was browsing through the stock at my regular candle-supplies store, I heard a woman place an order for 20 gel candles. When she caught me looking at her, she explained, “They’re for our mountain cabin. We didn’t want to spoil the ambience with electric lighting, and these candles each last at least three evenings!” In the case of aromatic gel candles, of course, this means longer-lasting light and fragrance.

 

However, some people still have a few misgivings about gel candles, primarily, I suspect, because they burn at much higher temperatures than wax candles. My answer to all these people would be, adopt certain safety precautions, follow manufacturer’s instructions, and you’ll be fine! Besides, most respectable gel candle makers take great care to ensure that the glassware that contains the gel is strong enough to withstand the high temperatures and doesn’t crack, because not only does a gel candle produce high temperatures, but it does so for a longer time, since it burns much longer than a wax candle. Having said that, one of the basic precautions to use with gel candles is not to move a lighted or just snuffed out gel candle. Wait until it has cooled before you pick it up.

 

The other supposed drawback of gel candles is that they cost a lot. In reply, I would say that the price is entirely justified considering the durability of the candles. 

 

Because they are easy to make, and supplies are abundantly available, gel candles have also become a great favorite with amateur candle makers. That is how I started out making these candles at home, and in no time at all, they had become a rage among my friends and acquaintances. The logical next step for any amateur candle maker is to set up a small business in gel candles, and in fact, such businesses are now burgeoning, as a casual online search will tell you.

 

Estelle Rodriguez of Sacramento is a 36-year-old single mother who runs a small gel candle business that employs three people. We have friends in common, and the last time I saw her, Estelle complained that such was the popularity of her supplies that she was almost afraid of new orders coming through and was seriously thinking of shifting her home-based ‘manufacturing unit’ to larger premises and taking on more staff.

 

However, if you do start making gel candles at home, please be sure to adopt all the required precautions such as those to protect your skin. Also, make sure you use the right kind of glassware.

Candles as Gifts: Spreading the Light

Long before I began making candles of my own, I was famous among friends and family for giving away candles as gifts. It became something of a running joke, but I honestly felt – and still do – that candles make the most wonderful gifts because of their simple elegance, usefulness, and uniqueness.

 

Today, I am glad to see, more and more people share my views. Through my candle connoisseur friend Charlene, I have got to know a wide cross section of people who have a love of candles in common. One of them is Josip Kukolj, who immigrated to the US from Belgrade about 20 years ago and brought his candle-making enterprise with him. Back then, says Josip, candles were strictly something you saw in posh restaurants and homes where the power supply was not always uninterrupted. “In the last five years,” Josip told me, “my business has grown by almost 60%, and the overwhelming majority of orders are for gift candles.”

 

From a one-room unit in Lincoln, Nebraska, Josip’s business now occupies the entire ground floor of a building downtown, and he is considering a separate unit to meet his online orders. So it is hardly a surprise that web sites selling candle gifts have mushroomed rapidly in the recent past. In fact, had I not been too scatterbrained to run a business, I would have considered putting my stuff on sale!

 

Obviously, aromatherapy candles have overtaken traditional candles in the popularity stakes owing to their fragrance and beauty. Besides, rather than traditional candles, people are increasingly opting for gel and soy candles, which not only look better than wax candles, but also last longer and offer more scope for experiment. They are also non-polluting and produce no soot, which makes them cleaner options as well.

 

One of Josip’s best-selling items is a pineapple scented set of six soy candles, embedded with seashells that enhance their beauty. Among my friends, I have observed a marked preference for my lemon scented, green-tinted gel candles. Plenty of suppliers also offer such innovative items as floating candles, which make for great outdoor decorations. Then there are the spa candles, which are ideal for lighting next to your bath!

 

Most suppliers include stylish holders and jars along with the candles. That means in addition to beauty, you get great value for money as well! So the next time you buy a gift, why not try candles? Wouldn’t it be much better than a book your friend may never read, or a perfume s/he may never use?

Candle Holders: Problem of Plenty

Recently, a friend brought me a pair of really wonderful Celtic-themed metal candleholders from Wales, where she had gone on holiday. On a trip to Los Angeles, however, I spotted candleholders that looked almost exactly the same at a fairly obscure candle supplies store, so evidently Celtic themes candleholders are obviously quite common in the country, though I don’t have the heart to tell my friend so.

 

That brings me to the popularity and increasing variation of candleholders in the market today. Even a few years ago, a candleholder was something you used to stick a candle in, period. These days, candleholders are home decoration items in their own right, quite apart from whether you wish to burn candles in them.

 

Inevitably, my fondness for candles has now grown to encompass candleholders as well, and I catch myself browsing the Net to find unusual designs in candleholders that I might want for myself, or as a gift.

 

During my searches, I have discovered that the pillared style is still the most popular when it comes to candleholders, though there is nothing traditional about their designs any longer. Typically, most candleholders are made of metal, wood, or glass. For example, I ordered the most beautiful set of frosted glass pillared candleholders the other day, which I am quite sure I will not burn a candle in. However, they are just perfect for the mantelpiece and besides, frosted glass protects the wood as well.

 

When made of metal, candle holders bear extraordinary carvings, while wooden candle holders can be used as the perfect accessories to your wooden furniture. The best thing about candleholders today is that they can accommodate candles of almost any shape, because they almost always have a fairly wide base and can hold oddly shaped candles very well. Also, there are candleholders that can securely hold more than one candle at a time, so you get great value for money.

 

Speaking of money, candle holders are wonderful as budget gifts too, because they are relatively inexpensive, which means you can buy quite a few without overstraining your wallet. I remember gifting a wrought iron candle holder set to my niece a few months ago. You wouldn’t believe how good it looks as a centerpiece in her new home, even though I say so myself!

 

These days, I find myself very taken with quirky candle holders shaped like flowers, dolphins, and even cows! I found a lovely set of pewter dolphins the other day, and have added them to my wish list. And I have my eye on a set of copper dandelions. Now let’s see…

Creating a Home Bar

Not much effort is needed to set up your own home bar yet this does provide you with the joyful experience of enjoying drinks sitting in the bar at any time as per convenience in your own home. Though there are ready made home bars also on offer it is the home bar as created by you that holds greater significance. Your lifestyle, budget, time and home improvement skills determine whether you can create your own bar at home or secure a readymade one.

 

Going about with creating home bar

 

The objective of creating a home bar is to mix cocktails faster and in a smarter (more capable) manner so that an enjoyable party can be ensured. While proceeding with setting up your home bar you need to get hold of certain tools that are needed for creating cocktails- the very drinks of choice for enjoying which the home bar is being created. A number of these tools are already in your home, at the kitchen. The rest need to be purchased.

 

Cocktail glassware is to be the first to be purchased since any home bar is incomplete without a collection of select cocktail glassware in which the drinks and cocktails of choice are to be served. To hold the cocktail glasses solid brass stemware holders are to be suitably chosen. Quality cutting sets made of steel, sugar and salt rimmers that can keep the home bar neat and tidy should also be brought in. Similarly important is the introduction of a good looking napkin dispenser. Fashionable serving trays may also be kept to help serve at parties and larger get-togethers arranged in the home bar.

 

Securing bar supplies for home bar

 

Bar supplies for sprucing up the bar should include unique ice crushers to bar blades, cocktail shakers and ash trays too. Use of hygienic knives of superior quality for cutting bar fruit is also very important. These should have sharp edges in order to facilitate slicing of lemons and limes for drinks as also for preparing a garnish for cocktail. Alongside all these the making of arrangements for adequate storage facilities for holding and keeping fresh the drinks are necessary too.

 

A must-have for every home bar is perhaps a fine coffee or espresso machine. It is of crucial importance to maintain a coffeemaker that brews well. Trying out various models of coffeemakers at a given price range to decide upon what to select is important.

There may even be glass washers purchased as home bar supply. Persons in a hurry will find this especially useful. The glass washers (particularly the ones with taller brushes) help keep glasses well cleaned.

All About Soy Candles

A Candle Made of Soybean Oil?

Yes you read that right! Soy candles are made from hydrogenated soybean oil which is called soybean wax. They are easy to make, and a lot of people find soy candle making a great hobby. They are made by using different dyes and fragrances to create the perfect candle, and a lot of people consider the soy candle to be the best choice when buying or making candles.  They are easy to clean up if spilt and are virtually the fastest way to make a candle.

 

Soy wax is possibly the safest candle wax of today, and is made from one of the most popular plants. Soybeans are used for everything from oils, to animal feed made from the remaining husks of the soybean plant. Soybeans are increasingly popular in China and other Asian countries, where they are used for food in all different kinds of recipes. 

 

The History of Soy Candles

The wax from the soy candle was founded by Michael Richards in 1991. Because of the growing demand for candles, Richards was looking for a cheaper way to make an environmentally safe natural candle that would burn slower than regular paraffin wax or bees wax. After many tests on different plants he found that soybean oil was the perfect candidate for the perfect candle.

 

Nowadays, soy candles are manufactured all over the world and are a popular candle because of their strong scent and the fact   that they are environmentally friendly. Since soy wax candles will burn at approximately 100 degrees F the scent is spread quicker throughout the area. The average soy candle lasts about fifteen to seventeen hours giving them a much slower burning rate then other candles.

 

100% Non-Toxic

Another great thing about soy candles is that they are completely non-toxic, compared with paraffin wax which has small amounts of toxicity which burns black. Although you should never burn many candles in a small enclosed room, soy wax is much less harmful than regular wax and is safer for the environment. Soy wax is also easily removed from clothing and other materials with soap and water, compared with paraffin wax which is not easily removed from carpet or any other material. A lot of natural candle makers claim to be “soot free” but in reality they are not.  Not even soy candles are really and truly soot free, although they do produce at least 90% less soot. The fact that soy wax is non-toxic has made it increasingly popular among people who are more aware of keeping the planet earth clean and healthy.

 

Candle Safety

You should always practice proper candle safety when using any type of candle whether it is soy candles, paraffin, bees wax, or any other candle. Always keep candles away from pets and children, after all anything containing fire or anything that will burn, should be kept out of reach of children and pets.    Keep wicks trimmed and never leave a candle burning for more that five hours at any time. Be sure to place the candle in a properly ventilated room, and never use more that one in a small space. Even though soy wax is non-toxic you should practice these safety measures, to keep you and your family happy, healthy and safe.

Give Your Home a Tuscan Touch

Among the many styles of home décor the Tuscan décor that recreates an old world Italian charm occupies a special place. This is a home décor style that is inspired by nature. Stone, wrought iron, hardwood and marble are made good use of in Tuscan style home décor. If an inviting and tasteful old-world style is what you seek in your home decor then you can consider proceeding with giving a Tuscan touch to your home.

 

A characteristic of the Tuscan home décor is making sure that nothing looks too new, too modern or too sleek and shiny. In Tuscan home décor the feel of outdoors are incorporated in the styling done indoors. A reflection of your inherent passion for associating with nature and the earth is observable in the Tuscan style of home decorating. The forgotten days of the old come alive and becharm you via the décor style adopted.

 

Giving Tuscan touch to home setup

 

Here are some tips for you to help transform your home the Tuscan way-

 

• It is common to use terracotta tiles on the roofs of Tuscan style homes. These give an earthy feel. The windows are framed by sandstone and wooden shutters and are deep set.

 

• An airy feel is what is sought to be achieved by adding Tuscan touches to the home. Keeping-in with this, wooden beams, plastered ceilings and uncovered windows ought to be featured in the home.

 

• White or soft gray colors are added to walls with accent colors and natural woods or stone added to create an interesting feel. To this Venetian plaster may be made use of (applied) to add texture. Faux painting techniques can also be advocated for delivering a well-worn look.

 

• Wide wood planks, stone, terracotta bricks or clay tiles are selected for giving the Tuscan look to floors.

 

• While doing up your home the Tuscan way outdoor spaces are to be accorded much importance. A decorated patio can be set up. A Tuscan home may also be surrounded by sandstone bricks.

 

Furniture and accessory items in Tuscan style home

 

Wood furniture- armoires or cupboards etc. finished with a varnish allowing the natural wood color to become prominent are the befitting furniture for homes done up in the Old Italian way. Furniture with wrought iron accents also fit in worthily. A long, wooden table that can permit dining of the entire family together is also an appropriate selection.

 

Presence of plenty of open shelves and cupboards that display ceramics, pottery etc. is typical of homes with Tuscan décor. Patterns reflecting nature and fabrics like tapestries etc. go well with homes touched up the special old-world Italian way. Articles like statues, old clock, stained glass, wall sconces for lighting and wrought iron hangings fit well with the Tuscan home style.

 

Tuscan home décor accessory items may be usually obtained as Italian style ceramic pieces. However, in case some hand made items can be chanced upon then it is all the more better to make good use of them to create a more genuine, natural feel.

Bamboo Flooring as an Eco-Friendly Choice in Home Decor

New Meaning To Green Thumb?

 

In today’s world we constantly hear about such things as global warming, carbon footprints, deforestation. We also hear about “going green” and being “eco friendly.” So, what does this all mean? With the loss of so much of our old growth hardwood forests we are seeing a heavy increase in lumber prices. As the timber is lost, so too is an important part of our planet’s fragile ecosystem. Trees are nature’s way of cleaning the air so that we have plenty of oxygen to breath. So, where does bamboo fit into all this?

 

When someone installs hardwood flooring in their home or business they are contributing to the deforestation process. By making the choice to use bamboo you are actually helping to conserve those hardwoods that would have normally been used. This is what “going green” means. It is the choice to use materials that have a greatly reduced impact on the environment. Bamboo is one such material.  With over one thousand species of bamboo found throughout the world, bamboo can be considered one of the world most renewable resources.

 

What Makes Bamboo Green?

 

Many species of bamboo grow quite quickly. Some are ready for harvest within four to six years. Past this point the quality actually begins to degrade. This is much quicker than the decades that hardwoods take to mature. What makes bamboo grow so quick? Bamboo is actually not a type of tree at all. It is really a type of grass. Even though it is a grass there are species of bamboo that can grow up to four feet a day! This means that the time between harvests is greatly reduced allowing for a much quicker harvest.

 

Another benefit to bamboo can be seen when harvesting it. Bamboo forests are actually made up of a few plants that grow underground through a series of nodes. Once you harvest a bamboo plant one or more new shoots will begin to grow. This means there is no costly or time-consuming process of replanting required. This also means that no fossil fuels will be used to replant the bamboo thereby lowering the harvester’s carbon footprint. Doesn’t it feel good to know that you would have a hand in helping reduce the amount of pollution being released into the environment?

 

Ready To Go Green?

 

Now that you know some of the benefits when making bamboo flooring your choice of flooring material, you are all set. Make the choice to go green and help to make the world a more enjoyable place. Help to conserve our beautiful and majestic hardwood forests. Be sure to spread the word to any of your friends that are considering a hardwood floor as well. If we all pitch in and do our part we can soon have the world in a much better condition. So, whether you do the work yourself or have a contractor install the floor for you, make sure that you ask for the most eco-friendly flooring material of all; bamboo!

 

Decorating Your Home With a Creole Twist

Of all the styles of architecture and decorating around the world very few have taken the best of all the others and made it a little bit better in quite the way that the style often referred to as "French Creole" has managed to do. The truth is that while this style of architecture that New Orleans is famous for is really heavily borrowed from many other cultures and yet uniquely New Orleans at the same time.

Creole architecture for many brings to mind intricate wrought iron work, long shutters (to cover the windows during hurricanes originally), huge windows and doors (these were designed larger than typical homes in other parts of the country in order to create breezeways for the wind to come through in the sweltering hot summer months), and bright colors that you aren't likely to find in most million dollar neighborhoods. This style of architecture and home décor is also famous for huge balconies-also with wrought iron railing.

The amazing thing about the Creole style of home decorating is that there is no one identifiable feature that labels a design style as decidedly Creole. Lagniappe is a term that people here quite often in and around New Orleans. For those who do not know, it means "a little something extra". From an extra donut to a freebie bookmark and many things in between, that little something extra has a long history in New Orleans from the architecture to the music there always seems to be a little something extra that you couldn't get anywhere else.

The interior design style of the Creole is also very similar. Some consider it gaudy but the locals consider it that little something extra and it is. You may find a little Gothic style, a little bit of Jazz, and a whole lot of Mardi Gras in one room and it s quite all right because you are getting all that and just a little bit of lagniappe too. Home decorating in Creole country is an art form that defies logic and yet makes perfect sense for the rich culture and heritage that it encompasses.

For those that need a little inspiration who would love to incorporate a little Cajun or Creole spice into their living spaces, perhaps the following suggestions will prove to be helpful.

1) Red peppers. Nothing says spice quite like a red pepper. There are all kinds of items you can find with red peppers in them these days from wallpaper borders to hand blown glass peppers, jar toppers, pot holders, kitchen towels, strings of lights for patios-even kitchen canisters decorated with red peppers. There are all kinds of options available to incorporate this theme into your home or one room of your home.
2) Music notes. Most people cannot think of Cajun country without thinking of the music that calls this great section of the country home. Music notes are a great way to symbolize the music that made New Orleans famous.
3) Mardi Gras Masks. Many people find that New Orleans symbolizes Mardi gras in their hearts and minds though New Orleans is not the birthplace of Mardi gras. The masks are a way that people from around the country can bring the 'spirit of New Orleans' home with them and decorate their homes with that attitude that can only be referred to as Creole in many hearts and minds.
4) Food. Believe it or not the food is as much a part of the Creole home as any other design element. For this reason a French Creole style kitchen is often the way to go when it comes to home decorating in the Creole fashion. The kitchen is the heart of a Cajun home and food is what makes it that heart. Use jars of beans, rice, pastas, and other lagniappe as part of the overall design and you might just be amazed at just how Creole the room begins to look.

The most important thing to remember is that Creole is more of an attitude than a design style. Bring the attitude of "No Worries" into the design features of your home and you will have the true Creole style to an art.