Saturday, November 26, 2011

Custom Wrought Iron Fire Screens - How to Turn Your Fireplace Into a Showpiece

Turn your fireplace into a showpiece with a custom wrought iron fireplace screen. You can dress up a plain fireplace or set off one that is a focal point in a room with a hand forged fire screen whose finish and size complement the rest of the room. Authentic, custom wrought iron fire screens are crafted with different finishes, from deep black to teal, gold and rust colors. Handmade fire screens are produced in different sizes to accommodate the varying scale of fireplaces in homes. The styles of custom fire screens span the gamut between ornate filigree and Gothic to classic Franciscan to match contemporary Spanish as well as Craftsman interiors.

Choose a Fire Screen Finish to Match the Room

A custom wrought iron fireplace screen is one of the easiest and most economical ways to upgrade the look of a room, whether it's your living room, dining room, den or your bedroom. It accents that one place where people love to gather. A fireplace draws people to it, but a beautiful hand wrought fire screen creates a mood with its reflections of dancing flames along its curves. Pick a finish color to go with your interior design, from deep teal to antique sand or nutmeg. Fireplace screens don't only come in black anymore, but you can still pick a rich black wrought iron finish to fit your room design.

Choose a Fire Screen Style that Enhances Your Interior Design

One of the best aspects of a handmade, custom fireplace screen is that it stands separate and apart from everything else in the room. It can either blend in with your existing interior design or make a tasteful, defining statement on its own. It makes a gracious announcement to all who enter the room, inviting them to come 'round, warm their hands and talk awhile. When a part of your home is this inviting, you definitely want to make it special because it's an extension of your personal invitation to family and friends.

An authentic wrought iron fire screen reflects your taste, your hospitality and personality, so it's a good thing that custom fireplace screens can be made in a style to match your own. The feel of it, the way it arcs and bounces the firelight across the room, the deep, rich colors seduce people to come closer and linger. And the best part is the delightful, warm feeling of gladness among your guests is provided by one little iron fireplace screen tossing the glow from your fire into their laps.

To find exquisite handmade wrought iron fire screens click on: http://www.stevenhandelmanstudios.com.




John Adams is a veteran in the field of web based business and real estate. He has imparted quality information and tips to numerous business start up companies.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Wrought Iron Wall Decor - Renewable Sustainable Resource

Wrought iron wall decor has been used for thousands of years and it will continue through generations ahead mainly for its beauty and longevity. This metal is a renewable and sustainable resource. It may be repeatedly recycled and has benefits from reworking. Scrap from wrought iron can be gathered, reheated and forged again into a solid mass. This produces an iron of a higher quality. Wrought means any metal which is hammered, twisted or bent into a shape.

Decorating with wrought iron décor has become a trend . It adds the touch of being able to bring nature to ones surroundings. The beauty of placing wrought iron pieces is that it can fit well in any room of the house. It is available in various sizes small or large and comes in various shapes such as round, rectangular, square, oval and abstract designs that have intricate scrolls, swirls and leaves. It also blends well with most décor primarily because of its neutral color usually in brown or black. However you can alter wrought iron to compliment your room's decor by adding a coat of paint. You may also find pieces that are in distressed white and verdigris finishes which are unique and add a different dimension to your décor.

Wrought iron wall products reflect a fine blend of traditional designs and contemporary styles. It has brought a revolution to our homes in the form of home decor products. The list of wrought iron products is never ending. You just think of a product and you will find it made of wrought iron.

The prices of the wrought iron products are within reach of every pocket. The price is decided on three main factors. The complexity of the design, the type of welding carried out and the quality of the wrought iron used. The quality of the wrought iron depends on the amount of slag fibers present in the metal.

Walls can talk and they say a lot. Wall décor should be hung so that the center of the piece is at eye level for the average size person. Relate your wall décor size to the wall size. Choose smaller pieces for narrow walls and larger works for big wall spaces. A single large piece makes a statement. It brings focus and helps avoid a cluttered look. Tall wall plaques or groupings should be hung in a vertical line. This will add to the feeling of height in the room. Hanging long pieces in a horizontal line tends to give a calming effect and the illusion of width to a narrow room. You should look for pieces that inspire you and use their themes and colors as the foundation for other room elements.

Wrought iron wall hangings can take on a completely new look depending on where they are hung. They go well with many decorating themes and styles. Best of all they will never go out of style and they can become family heirlooms and be passed down from generation to generation.

Here are a few ideas on where some wrought iron pieces would look great in your home.

Metal art work is the most popular and a great idea for large bare walls since many pieces are on the larger scale and they make a great accessory for contemporary or casual designs. For inspirational pieces in bedrooms or small wall areas try wrought iron plaques and signs. The hallmark of wrought iron plaques is that they display an inspiring word or phrase in an artistic fashion. Wall scrolls combine the look of wrought iron in a beautiful painting. The wrought iron design around the edges of a painting gives a finished look. The best place to display the wall scroll is in the entryway of your home for a stunning first impression. For expansive walls with high ceilings or to fill spaces above and around wall tapestries and mirrors use wall candle holders or sconces. These will highlight the areas best and give your room the feel of sophistication and beauty. For something truly unique and unexpected mount a grouping of pressed wrought iron squares over the fire place and watch the reaction from others. The solution is to make your home uniquely yours with a wonderful assortment of wrought iron wall decor.

In my master bath I have found a wrought iron towel basket that I have mounted to the wall. It is hand crafted with a black powder coated finish. Every time I step out of the shower and grab a towel it gives me the feel of being in a luxurious hotel. For my guest bathroom I purchase a wrought iron wall shelf that I have placed essential items amongst the knick knacks. It brings the necessities out in the open for my guests while an elegance look and feel to the room. In my bedroom and guest rooms I have placed wall candle holders almost on every wall. It compliments the rooms with a dramatic touch and feel of romance. It embellishes the rooms comfort while creating a warm ambiance of grace and style. Scattered around my entire house are wrought iron decorative wall hooks. These provide a quick home accessory that adds function with style. I use these hooks to hang kitchen towels, pot holders, keys, bath robes, small kitchen and gardening tools and other small hangable objects.

Curtain, drapery and tapestry decorative wrought iron rods are the perfect finishing touch for your window treatments and art work. They usually require simple assembly but make a striking statement to what they adorn Make certain you place wall lighting effectively to enhance these features.

We are all in search of that perfect piece or entire room that screams out with our personality. With the vast variety of wrought iron available at your finger tips it can't get much easier to achieve. You to will have that regal, distinguished and sophisticated look you are after. All you need to do now is start shopping.




Barbara Tobiasz is an expert in interior/exterior decorating. Along with her husband Joe, they own and operate Wall-Decor-Concepts.com. For more information on Wrought Iron Wall Decor, go to: http://www.Wall-Decor-Concepts.com

Monday, November 14, 2011

Antique Fireplace Andirons Explained

Andirons are used to hold the logs inside the fireplace. American made andirons evolved a much different design direction since the 1600's, as wood fuel which was plentiful here was all but gone in much of England.

Sturdy forged iron designs have been made in the US since the early days of colonization, when the fireplace was used for both cooking and heating. Since great big pieces of wood burn for a longer time, a substantial design was required to hold these large logs in place. Forged iron is a process where a piece of metal is heated to make it malleable; the andiron is bent and hammered into shape, so variations within a pair of hand forged andirons are quite common. Where the shaft and leg of the andiron are made as individual pieces, hand rivets are seen on the earliest designs.

Brass andirons were made in America starting in the late 1600's for use in more formal rooms. Immediately following the American Revolution it was considered somewhat unpatriotic to import from England, though wealthy households did bring in many French designs. Between 1790 and 1810 there were many brass foundries established in the US manufacturing andirons in brass. European styles were often duplicated, but uniquely American designs evolved with patriotic symbols becoming popular. Paul Revere was a noted maker of household brass items including andirons. Common design elements include claw feet, ball feet and slipper feet; a tall shaft to keep the logs in place topped with balls, urns, flame tips and steeple tops.

Short shank andirons, generally less than 8" long, were a more recent design popularized in London. Although most Londoners were burning coal or peat, the formal design of andirons still appealed to them in the Victorian era and still do today.

Cast iron became a preferred material during the Industrial Revolution, and continues to be popular today. Cast iron is made from pouring hot metal into molds, enabling mass production Available in all styles imaginable, the Victorians had a field day with mass production of cast iron andirons, often using regional designs & patriotic styles to adorn andirons that are heavy duty enough to provide years - even centuries - of use with wood burning fireplaces. Again, Americana was popular so we often see designs incorporating soldiers, George Washington, eagles, ships, arrows, owls and more.

It's easy to incorporate a pair of antique andirons into your home decor, even if you prefer the modern convenience of a gas or electric fire. When using gas logs, it's often easy to slide the shaft of the andiron under the log grate. Similarly with electric fires, place a set of electric logs or an electric insert onto your andirons. Painting the inside of the fireplace with high temperature black paint will provide a better focus on your "fire" and an aged look to bring the eye forward to your andirons.




Karen Duke is a fireplace, chimney and hearth industry expert with 30 years experience in both the retail and service sectors. Karen is the webdesigner for her family's retail fireplace store, Victorian Fireplace Shop, in Richmond, Virginia. Visit http://www.gascoals.net to see their extensive selection of antique and vintage reproduction fireplaces and accessories.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Brighten Your Moments With Glass Tealight Holders

Candles are an important part of interior decor. They can be used as the focal point in a place and the rest of the theme of the decor is based on them and they can also be used as accessories to support the decor theme. A lot many types of candles and candle holders are available online and in the market. They have different shapes and styles and are made of different materials like glass, metal, wrought iron, pewter, even plastic. The beautiful candle holders can add grace, elegance and beauty to any place they are out in. They can be used on the walls, in the center of the main tables or on the side tables to illuminate the place. Candles surely add sensuality and romance to the environment if intelligently used.

A tea light is a candle that is small in size and usually is placed in thin metal case. They are wider than the height, small and not very expensive. As they are small and wide, usually a group of tealights are used at a given time. These are also used as floating candles too. In addition to that they can also be used to heat scented oil to keep a place fragrant. Their burning time is from 3 to 5 hours. Different types of tealight holders are available off the shelf. These glass tealight holders can be used to brighten any occasion. As for decorating a tea table, glass tealight holders are the best choice. If you are serving your guests with something that you place in a tray or even in the tea trolley, the tray and the trolley can be decorated with glass tealight holders. If you get a wrought iron candle stand suitable for multiple candles to be used at the same time, you can use glass tealight holders on that stand and place it anywhere you like.




Uzma Shafiq
Sm0ke_screen@hotmail.com
+92 333 5611 875

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Wrought Iron - From Outside to Inside and From Old to New

If you want to create a truly unique and stunning look for your home or office, consider wrought iron decorative art. The old world look of wrought iron adds a statement that no other art form can achieve. While it is still available in antique shops, you no longer have to search these shops. You can use the internet to make your search simple and relatively effortless with many websites offering wonderful reproductions and even custom options.

When we think of wrought iron, we tend to envision the wonderful decorative wrought iron art accents from English gardens; be it iron gates, garden arches, or eighteen or nineteen hundreds garden furniture. But, artistic metal decorative items have been with us for many centuries and their special statement; as interior art decor, has been reborn.

Early iron work dates back to Egypt in the 8th century B.C. and central Europe by 600 B.C. Prior to the middle ages, metal was used primarily for weapons. In the middle ages, iron use spread from nails, pipe, horseshoes, to door stops. From the sixteen hundreds on, iron work became sophisticated and highly decorative. It was used for balconies in Spain, to gateways in France and London, and ultimately to the fabulous streets in New Orleans. Even the Eiffel Tower is a form of wrought iron.

Today, metal art pieces are readily available and at a variety of price points. Most pieces are actually mill steel; however, retain the name as they are wrought or worked by hand.

Choosing your wall decor can be intimidating. Is the space you are working with large or small? How will the wall decor fit with your other furnishings? What color or shape should I choose? Metal wall decor allows you to address all of these concerns. It allows you to create the ambiance you want as it is available in a wide variety of sizes and colors.

Wrought iron and metal art accents are available in multiple finishes from black, to pewter, to bronze or nickel to forest green. Less traditional accents are available in almost any color. Can't find the exact color or finish you want? It is not a problem. Most metal art pieces can be primed and painted with commercially available spray paints in almost all colors, shades, and finishes.

Metal art accents are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and patterns. Contemporary wall decor has sleek conventional lines. If your needs are more traditional, scroll work, leafy and carved patterns in intricate designs are sure to make your wall stand out.

The choice is yours, and it must be what you enjoy and reflect your personality and taste. The options available in wrought iron wall art decor are wide and wonderful and should be considered in your decorating options.




Linda Romersa is the proprietor of her own website which offers home decor and decorative accessories for every room in your home. Online shopping makes home decorating easy, fun, and relaxing. Just shop, select, and decorate. http://www.TheArt4UStore.com

Saturday, November 5, 2011

How To Choose The Ideal Office Decoration To Brighten Up Your Space

If you find your office space dull and uninspiring, its time you found the right office decoration or decorations to improve it. Understand, this doesn't mean you need to perform a complete makeover on your office; it's simply a matter of improving what you already have by adding color, knickknacks, wall hangings, lighting and/or other décor to add a little spice to your working environment. In fact, in many cases, all one usually needs to add is a single element to brighten up their work space.

Let's assume for a moment that you can only add one office decoration to your space. What would you choose? The following are some ideas for you to consider:

Color - If you have walls, what color are they? Did you know that color can have a dramatic affect on your mood? The best office wall colors are light warm shades of yellow, neutral tones such as taupe, or light shades of cool colors such as green or blue. Warm colors provide you with energy; neutral colors keep you in a state of balance; and cool colors help to relax you. Painting your walls may be all the office decoration you need to help improve the look and feel of your space.

Wall Decorations - If your office is a cubicle that cannot be painted, your walls are already a color you enjoy, or you are not permitted to change them, your next best option for improving your walls is to add a picture or another form of wall art. If you enjoy pictures, consider making a collage of family photos, or of a special vacation, or of good times spent with friends - anything that makes you happy. If wall art is the appealing office decoration, choose a painting, poster or photograph of scenery, architecture, animal, etc. that really appeals to you; something that will put a smile on your face, and provide you with an instant escape as soon as you lay eyes on it.

Ornaments - Trinkets or knickknacks (I.E. good luck charms, family photos, etc.) for your desk or other shelves in your office may provide you with that little jolt of inspiration you need when you reach the difficult point of the day.

Organization - Believe it or not, but a filing cabinet, shelves, pen holder, and other organization furniture may just be the décor you need. Too much clutter in your office can cause you to feel excessive stress. Therefore, while you may think a new picture is what you need to rejuvenate your space, in actuality, all you may require is a little organization so you can appreciate the decorations you already have.

Lighting - If you find you have enough decorations and color in your office, but something still seems to be amiss, your problem is likely related to lighting. If you don't have a window in your office, make sure you have sufficient overhead lighting. It is also a good idea to obtain a desk or floor lamp with a flexible neck so you can not only move the light to where you need it most, but also so you can use full spectrum light bulbs (light bulbs that mimic sunlight) and shine the light on yourself to rejuvenate your body.

Finally, other office decorations you can consider include plants, window treatments, area carpet, chair, etc. Just remember, when decorating your office, you need to ensure you don't clutter up your space. The idea is to be comfortable, not overwhelmed. Therefore, carefully consider one office decoration at a time to ensure you create the best working environment designed to fit your personal and professional needs.

Find dozens more articles like this at Wall Décor and Home Accents, where you can also find divine large wrought iron wall décor, iron wall candle sconces, and discount home accents. In fact, if you later find your order has not being what you expected, we'll refund your purchase plus in full!




For more articles by Jessica Ackerman on EzineArticles.com, see this interesting article on ideas for bathroom decorating.

Jessica Ackerman is the featured author at http://www.walldecorandhomeaccents.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Wrought Iron Lanterns Work Well Indoors and Outdoors

Wrought iron lanterns can add a unique look to both your interior and exterior décor. Inside, they can be placed on tables and used as lamps or suspended from the ceiling or attached to walls to serve as room lighting. Outside they can be used for porch, patio, or deck lighting. Again, they can be suspended from a ceiling or attached to exterior walls.

Because wrought iron is iron that has been heated to a very high temperature so that it becomes soft (or malleable), it can be pounded into many different shapes and designs. For this reason, you have a wide variety of styles of wrought iron lanterns to choose from.

You may even have the advantage of choosing your own design, especially if you live in an area where an ornamental ironworks business is located. You can draw a picture of the design you have in mind and take it to the shop. There, you can discuss the design with the employee who handles such things, and find out how much it would cost, how long it would take, and other information.

Wrought iron lanterns that can be used outside come with wall brackets that can be anywhere from 7" to 12" long. The lanterns that either hang from them or fit flush against them are sized to fit the specific size bracket, so your lantern fixture itself can range from a smaller one to one that is big enough to fit on the larger bracket. Of course, the size of the lantern as well as the design and the light openings will determine how much light the fixture casts.




Speaking of light, most wrought iron lanterns for outside use operate electrically. Inside, however, it is possible to have some that are designed for candle burning or for electrical use. For example, you may be able to find one that even though it is technically considered a wall sconce, it holds a lantern globe. This would be a very unique decorating feature for a living room, hallway, or anywhere you choose to place it.