Friday, July 3, 2009

Better Decorating Ideas With Landscape Lighting

If you take pride in your property and decorate it with tasteful trees, shrubbery and flowers, then why not enjoy the space by night as well as by day? Landscape lighting is growing in popularity and has become very affordable.

The right outdoor lighting will allow you to enjoy your garden after dark and it provides better safety and security. In this article, we've got some great tips about installing and placing lighting to enhance the outside beauty of your home.

Although lighting everything in sight may be tempting, less is more when it comes to landscape lighting. However, don't be afraid to use beautiful ornate pieces. Outdoor chandeliers can be stunning on a patio or deck.

You can also use wrought iron chandeliers or glass chandeliers on a covered patio. Before you purchase the lighting, make a plan, take some digital pictures and make sure that you have an adequate power supply.

Outdoor lighting is as important as indoor lighting. Instead of choosing standard patio lights, shop around for attractive outdoor chandeliers or weather resistant iron chandeliers.

For the garden, lights can be decorated with glass or stone birds, butterflies, forest creatures or even angels. The key to good lighting is tastefulness. Select attractive fixtures, position them well and your property will look elegant both during the day and at night.

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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Home Decorating With Mosaic Tile Project

From ancient times to today, art mosaics are a popular and unique way to spice up any interior room or garden. Creating a mosaic tile piece is basically like applying grout to your kitchen or bathroom.

You simply pick a pattern, lay out your stone or glass tiles and add the grout between the tiles. Mosaics have been around since ancient times and are still popular today. You can add color and drama to your home or garden when you utilize the wondrous versatility of this art form.

To begin your mosaic tile project, you will need a few supplies, such as grout, adhesive, tiles, a sponge, a pencil or chalk, eye protection, brown paper, a squeegee and tile nippers. There are a number of choices when it comes to tiles for a mosaic design, such as glass, stone, marble etc.

Always wear heavy gloves and safety glasses when breaking tiles or using nippers to cut out shapes. It is so easy for shards of glass tiles to fly up and cause serious eye injuries. Keep your work area neat and tidy by discarding any fragments of tile or glass.

A good way to prevent a dangerous mess is to put each mosaic tile in a clear plastic bag before cutting, nipping or breaking. This keeps the shards and dust contained inside the bag.

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Monday, June 29, 2009

Creating Your Decorative Art With Stained Glass Mosaics

Did you know that almost any surface can be turned into a beautiful mosaic? Stained glass mosaics may appear complicated to create, but they are not. With only a few key supplies, you can become an expert in mosaic art!

You don't need to be a mosaic artist or even an experienced crafter to create lovely displays for every room in your home. Mosaics are also a popular option for gardens, patios and decks.

Grout is the material that fills in the spaces between the glass tiles in stained glass mosaics. It comes in a finer grain for narrow spaces and a coarser grain for larger spaces.

You may want to look for colored grout that complements your design, depending on the tiles you're working with. Use paper to sketch your design or arrange your loose tiles on to get a sense of how your idea will look in the final application.

No stained glass mosaics project should begin without safety goggles and a set of work gloves. It is a good idea to wear a respirator mask to keep from inhaling dust when mixing grout and cement adhesives.

The shape and design of your mosaic project can be something from your imagination or from something that you have seen and loved. It's all up to you!

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