Simple ways to add architectural interest to any room

Have you ever noticed that the houses built in the 60s and earlier, seemed more details in sports architecture? Wider frames, arches, niches, built in cabinets and bookcases. Details such as brackets and columns were used in combination with partitions and doors interesting details.

Builders of the 70 showed that, by eliminating unnecessary details, they could reduce costs and build more houses that profit margins increased. Certainly it was a good "business" move, but let us all with a simple, unattractive rooms. Therefore, placing 1970 houses lost that attractive "architectural interest" now that we want.

With a further step towards focusing on interior living spaces across the country, a trip to your local outlet of the house now provides a wide selection of moldings, details, wooden cabinets and kits "do it yourself "door that architecture to bring into our homes.

Architectural detail is the "bones" of the Interior and is usually the first consideration when considering a room makeover. Generally, rooms are stripped of all furniture and window coverings to reveal exactly what the room really to offer.

With few details added by manufacturers, it is up to us as owners to restore.

Plaster cast is a way to add architectural interest to a room as clear moldings, corbels, columns, mantles and further detailing created by placing permanent fixtures to walls and ceilings.

If our country has taken a new attitude of conservation in recent decades, we see more and more products 'false' (false) entered into the world of interior design. One example is the new, ornate moldings, resin. These detailed lists seem to be carved and painted wood. Yet they are a plastic and wooden material that holds up well to abuse, rot and insects, and is more durable and long lasting than regular wood moldings. Similar material is used for flooring in the open.

So how do you go about adding architectural interest to your room? Here are some ideas:

Use 1 x 6 boards around the inside edge of your ceiling a "framework" to create. Fill cracks between pieces of wood with paint or caulking joint compound and smooth. Then paint the ceiling a very pale blue paint of the new image in the same color as your walls. This creates a "tray ceiling" which is now so popular with new home builders and is a good but inexpensive way to instantly add detail to the ceiling. Promotion of the project by adding moldings against the new framework on level of the wall a more finished look.

Make your own simple columns:

Make two squares, open wooden boxes measuring 6x6 pre-sanded "(you later add a 6x6" in each box). It will be used as column header and background. Before the buds on each box, plug in a station 4x4 in sand together by heavy bolts. Add the tops to the boxes and then get up and press in place between the ceiling and floor with a rubber mallet. Then the top and bottom with the forms of the crown of the paint color is the wall. Measures 4x4 "post depends on the height of your ceiling. Do not forget the length of your column header and combined down to your final measurement to be taken. The entire column can be embellished with an ornate molded plaster or Plaster raised stencil for more details. short columns can be made in the same way be used as plant stands.

Consoles are a great addition to architectural and increasingly popular. These can now be purchased at your local home store or special websites (just do a search for consoles on the Internet) or find bargains on great auction sites. Consoles come in many different shapes and sizes, and can be used under your fireplace mantel, under your kitchen cabinet finishes inside wide doors or door elements to create unique on the outside edge of a door or window, then add a glass or on a wooden shelf above the use of displaying collectibles.

Even if you do not want to go through the trouble of replacing your existing profiles, do not look exciting accessories to moldings now found in your shop at home. These are wooden, corner accessories that add interest to the corners of rooms and can be included directly into your existing lists. Straight versions of the same designs are available. I prefer to use them in the top corners of the frames for an old "Victorian" look.

There are many ways to the growing importance of your rooms. Get help from your local hardware store owner for more ideas.

Victoria Larsen is a professional designer wall stenciling and interior specialist. Its products and ideas can be seen in Better Homes and Gardens, Women's Day? S, Craft Trends, Creating Memories, Stampin rubber manufacturer and retailer of storage magazines and The Wall Street Journal. Visit on-line Victoria Decorating with Class Blog http://www.victorialarsen.com: http://victorialarsen.typepad.com

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Kitchen Lighting - All you want to know about

The magnitude of the activity takes place in the kitchen makes an important place where the use of practical and decorative lighting is a must. Some things to watch;

A number of questions before we begin to turn your kitchen

First question first, you must ask when designing your kitchen lighting is how much you're willing to spend. After all bulbs do cost something - and this is not the only son and switches, but also the nature of the lighting, colors and bulbs. The next question in your mind is whether you have a lighting plan kitchen. A good plan will definitely go up lighting in architectural and decorative details of the room. A plan will help you invest wisely in the kitchen lighting needs. If you want to go to a lighting design progressive view that you do not have enough budget say for example a series of pendants over the island center, or a glass chandelier at least install boxes sufficient junction devices can then be bought at a later date and easily added the kitchen lighting needs. After determining the budget and plan, you should think about the space in your kitchen. This is important in determining the amount of light, and in which areas of the kitchen need for special lighting. We must also consider whether the Board except for a single central light, how many other multiple lighting options may be needed. This is determined by the area or room space, activities in the kitchen and are important, and placement of interior items such as stove, sink and kitchen-table if present. For example, small kitchens require only a central light pendant ceiling and a number of recessed lighting task hidden under a wardrobe. More elaborate kitchens will demand a mixture of general, task and accent lighting.

Know the nature of the kitchen lighting

Lighting a kitchen is a different ball game compared to other rooms in your home lighting, as no light source can provide all the necessary kitchen lighting needs. It is very important to know that a good kitchen lighting is not only considered the aesthetic standpoint, but from a functional standpoint. This will help us ensure that we today take different types of lighting to LED lighting and tech went to the different levels of cooking operations to be performed. What is usually referred stratification lamp instead of lighting requires a blend of three to four different types of lighting. To meet this demand of lighting in layers, there are basically four types of lighting that meet the mark;

Working lights or lighting Chore: It relieves the most functional and practical kitchen by providing adequate lighting for essential tasks such as cooking cut vegetables, food preparation and, yes, read recipes. Most accidents that occur in the kitchen are usually due to these tasks and design the appropriate task lighting can really happen. Work areas must be light enough so you can easily see what you are doing too dull or eye-dusk effort. The important thing to remember is mostly instead of task lighting to brighten up a work area, the shadows. For this does not happen, the lights work is best placed between the actual workplace and your head, causing lights to say under the upper cabinets are very useful. Thus, lighting placed above the sink, stove and food, when poetry is performed regularly. Most of the lighting is accomplished by using a uniform lighting recessed lights, table lamps or raised surface at the top to secure. Remember that each task lights, if possible, would have its own switch and honestly, you'll be happy with the result. Given the nature of halogen lamps for lighting and task of the CFL (energy efficient light bulbs category) are less light and shade with a large surface is best to go. He electrifies the look of granite and marble countertops and still allow you to enjoy your cooking task seriously.

Or ambient light or indirect lighting: This type of lighting gives a warm glow to your kitchen, creating a warm welcome to those entering the kitchen. It plays an important role in mitigating unwanted shadows, making the contrast kitchen and light the vertical surfaces of the room to give a better appearance. In general, it should be noted that the four types of lighting, room temperature is often overlooked. In fact, the most dramatic aspect and gentle that you can achieve in a kitchen is by mixing with other forms of lighting indirect lighting. It is often created by hiding the light source from view when it bounces off a ceiling or a wall and produces a warm glow that adds great atmosphere if done correctly. The best places to mood lighting can be hidden on top of wall cabinets and the ceiling is low or they can be installed in areas of ceiling layers that surround the space of a kitchen. In the event that your kitchen is equipped with light-colored surfaces and lots of windows, you may want to have lots of natural light during the day. CFLs on the basis of tubes (the link light) are well suited to the job of providing ambient light.

Accent lighting or eminent: This type of lighting gives depth and dimension to your kitchen. It helps you your more decorative in your kitchen even as a glass or crockery beautiful, elegant, luxury cutlery sets, stunning canvas art prints or your food beautifully prepared as possible. For example, lighting can be placed in a glass front cabinet to illuminate glassware, and other collections, as well as recessed, adjustable low voltage lighting used to illuminate canvas art prints. You can make use of spotlights to your cooked food that will also help to stay warm for long relief.

Decorative or ornamental lighting: This type of lighting is used to add effects to the sparkling kitchen that can be jealous of your neighbors. It can also be useful for finding this type of lighting, especially if the kitchen is also used as a dining room of the house. Today, because of the range of available light, you can opt for a decorative lighting as functional. For example, many functional enlightenment in a number of finishes such as wrought iron, rust, nickel is an aesthetic sense to give your kitchen. Painted finishes are also popular, with stained glass bypasses plain white catchy. You might also consider a decorative luminaire with three or more lamps. As a trio on an island provides good light, because it breaks in areas of decorative kitchen modules, but you can still see through. Some other ideas could be decorative lighting table space is illuminated by a decorative candelabra style projector, which offers light meals.

Finally, some tips and common mistakes to avoid

No matter how much light you have in your kitchen, it is advisable to follow them separately so the lighting is zoned. You can create an atmosphere by mixing the various lights on.

If it is possible, even when you shop online, take a picture of your kitchen or at least know the dimensions of your kitchen. What is the ceiling? How much space is there between the cabinets and the ceiling? How much space is there between the cabinets and the countertop? To make sure you cook the best lighting scheme for your kitchen, use a free advice from the store of professional lighting. It is best to go shopping done before the actual purchase.

Maybe you have the perfect lamp, but we can not forget the bulbs just as important. To make the most of your lighting to do, try using lights with different beam spreads for different effects. The projectors are ideal for creating large-scale lighting and a central ceiling, while the spots are ideal for shedding light on specific areas such as accent lighting.

No matter how many types of lighting or appliances to install, use lamps of the same color for all kitchen lighting

If you spend money in a pretty box or a table in the kitchen, for example, want to ensure they are well lit. If not, the light actually creates gray shadow areas. If you have deep cabinets in dark corners, you want to consider installing lights in it so you can see what is hidden in the back

When it comes to kitchen lighting is the most common mistake of trying to get the whole room with a ceiling with a knife. The end result visually overwhelming everything in the kitchen. Recessed lighting, if installed in a generic script, is not much better. Many people are wrong, and they will end up with too much light in some areas and shadows everywhere else

On the other hand, another common mistake we all do, about lighting and results, the kitchen gets too hot. The goal here is to moderate, even lighting and the most important mixtures of different lights. For example, you can not continue to add recessed lights because of the visual aspect, instead of mixing different types of lighting.

We, in an effort to make your garden better homes really hope that the information provided above will help you make an informed decision about your kitchen lighting design and enjoy your food more to leave. So if you invite us over a meal!

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