Archive for the ‘Antiques’ Category

We all have some form of pendant lighting in our homes as this is the most common indoor light fixture for many homes.

When we talk about pendant lighting, we are referring to a light fitting that is suspended from the ceiling by an electrical flex and has some sort of light source, i.e.light bulb and lamp shade attached at the other end. Really speaking, pendant lighting is not just one type or style of light fixture. It can refer to chandelier lighting or just plain paper globes. Both of these light fixtures fall into the very broad category of pendant lighting.

By its very nature, pendant lighting is very noticeable and therefore it is wise to choose your pendants with great care. Pendant lights can range from the most simplistic of designs to the more decorative and ornamental styles so ensure that the type and style of pendant light you purchase, is one that complements the decor of the room. As well as aesthetics, you will also want to see how much light your potential pendant light will give out. Its not just the type of bulb that you have that determines the quality of light given out.

Factors such as the room size, the height of the light source above the floor, the size, shape and material of the pendant lampshade – all of these things affect the quality of light.

A lot of the pendant style lighting fixtures available these days draw heavily on their ancestors which, in the pre-electric days, were chandeliers often bearing multiple candles.
A more modern day type of light fixture that is still included as a pendant light is the faithful paper globe. These come in all different sizes and easily dominate a room with their full blown shape.

Rise-and-fall pendant lights can be adjusted so that they can be placed at different heights from the floor. These are the types of pendants that you would typically adjust so that the light fixture hangs low over the dining table in order to produce a more intimate mood.
The norm in many households is to have the pendant light in the centre of a room and then perhaps to supplement this light by various other light fixtures within the room.

A more creative way of using pendant lighting would be to have pendant lights in off-centre positions within the room, maybe to complement some of your interior furnishings or an ornamental object.

Pendant lighting can be used creatively to delineate areas of space within a room. So, by using your imagination and creative flair, you can use the lighting to segment your room into different areas, perhaps having an corner for listening to music or reading a book, for example. Also, having multiple pendant lights hanging together is a more effective way of showcasing your lighting and visually looks better too.

Even if you have pendant lights in different parts of the room, you do not necessarily have to ensure that they are identical provided that they still go together stylistically.

Pendant lighting is versatile, adaptable and is available in many styles and designs to suit every taste and pocket.

Lauren Tyler is a writer for LampLightWorld.com.

Author: Lauren Tyler
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Antique Bathroom Vanities do not mean they are really antiquated or old. Although, some of them may be aging from 10 to 20 years back but still in good condition. There are some which are designed with antique arts or even ornate designs just to make them look like antique. Yet they are so beautiful and inviting that will certainly make your bathroom luxurious and appealing.

Here are some important ways you should consider when choosing and buying Antique Bathroom Vanities;

The Age

When you are more particular with the age, then that would be the very first thing you should look into when buying antiques. While some of them are still in excellent condition, there are even some which you can consider vintage that you will have to pay much. If you think that antiques are cheaper than normal price, then you are wrong; they are even more expensive than the expensive modern vanities. Why do people opt to choose Antique Vanities?

#1. The Materials are Genuine

The very first thing that the antique collector looks into things is the materials used to build particular furniture. Let us take antique vanity made of wood to be the example. For those which are built 20 years ago, the hardwoods made to build are totally genuine and that could be one of the reasons why they will last for a very long time.

#2. The Quality of Work

While furniture builders before were gifted with finest materials to be used to produce their masterpieces, they were also gifted with talents as builders themselves. They were more concerned with quality before unlike today that most manufacturers are more concerned how they can mass produce a certain product disregarding the quality.

The Design

While there are genuine newly built Antiques Bathroom Vanities, we still cannot be sure if they are really antiques or just “built-to-look-like-antique” or in short, imitations. However, if you are fond of looking into antiques, you will easily spot what the difference between genuine antiques and imitations are.

#1. Carved not Stuck

While you might be seeing ornate designs in some antique furniture, you must be able to know that they are genuine if they are carved. Carvers before are high-skilled that they dedicate more of their skills by producing high quality carvings. Nowadays, mass produced antiques which bear ornate designs are simply stuck.

#2. Simple but Elegant

There is a great difference between the designs before and today when it comes to ornate and other antique designs. You will easily praise and stuck in awe upon seeing the simple ornate designs but elegant enough that they are simply appropriate to all furniture they are carved with; such is the result of dedication and love of art which carver possessed.

Antique Bathroom Vanities may just be the vanity you are looking for. Take time to learn and restructure your bathroom to know what the type of vanities you will need to perfectly blend with your design and taste.

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Author: Michael Colletti Jr
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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One of the primary motivators for the homeowner in considering a patio or deck area as an add-on to their home is its entertainment value. Cruise the neighborhood during the day and you will more than likely see only a few people using the patio or deck. However, as evening approaches the story changes. When parent(s) come home from work or when it’s the right time to plan a party for friends and relatives, the patio or deck is frequently used as the center of festivities that often last well into the night.

During the planning stages, it’s important to include a lighting plan to make sure that the patio and deck area are not only well-lighted but that the lighting design creates a magical effect for its visitors.

Starting with the most elegant (and usually the most expensive) deck and patio lighting we can take a look at lights that are built-in to the foundation elements of the patio or deck. These lights provide a soft uplight glow that can mark a pathway or just provide a non-functional source of beauty. The lights are generally installed by contractors during the patio and deck construction and are generally not a project that the average DIY should consider tackling. I’ve seen this type of lighting done in a variety of colors and have even seen systems that automatically change the colors during the course of the evening, providing a mood-altering effect.

Dimmers are also a worthwhile investment for ground level lighting, allowing the host to increase or decrease the intensity of the lighting depending on the mood desired. Ground lighting is very safe since the lights themselves are never in contact with the visitors. Contractors will make sure that the process for changing the bulbs is simple and straightforward.

Speaking of dimmers, it’s generally a good idea to keep your entire deck and patio lighting system under dimmer control. Bright moonlight can allow you to turn the lighting down a bit while dark moonless nights can prompt you to boost the light up a bit.

Ground level lighting can also be used to frame the patio or deck area particularly if you’ve planted shrubbery or other low plantings around the area.

Down lighting is another type of deck and patio lighting. As the name implies, this is lighting from above and can be used to simulate moonlight. Besides being a natural lighting source, down lighting also enhances the security of the area because a lighted deck or patio usually leaves the impression the there’s someone at home.

A creative way to use this as a security feature is to have your doorbell circuit tied into a switch that at least temporarily turns the down lights on.

Most down lighting is accomplished by the use of either or both floodlights and spotlights. The floodlight will provide more ambient lighting by illuminating the entire deck or patio area while spotlights can be used as task lighting to highlight such areas as stairways and entryways. Spotlights can also be used to accent special features such as fountains, plantings or cooking and eating areas.

Many deck and patio lighting is installed at the waist level to keep any glare away from the face and to provide an elegant touch. Some lighting can also be installed at the top of posts that are at the top of stairways or other areas that separate one part of the deck or patio from another.

Some homeowners use strip or rope lights to highlight the porch or deck railing or other areas that need special attention such as stair risers or seating areas. If you live in an area where you can use a deck or patio during the winter holiday season, give some thought to decorating the area with lighting that can be used year-round.

Have fun with your lighting plan for your deck or patio. Most of the lighting is relatively inexpensive and can be removed or modified relatively easily. You may want to divide your plan into lights, which need to be permanently installed, and lights that are movable and optional.

Please don’t get carried away with deck and patio lighting plans. This type of lighting is best understated although some decorative lighting such as hurricane lamps or tiki torches (used in moderation) are OK.

Bugs are often a problem at night and several manufactures offer lights that discourage or repel flying pests. Sometimes a bright light, strategically placed in a tree a bit away from the patio or deck will help keep these insects occupied elsewhere rather than with your guests.

Above all, keep in mind that you want to create a magic environment that will encourage visitors to congregate and socialize late into the evening.

Chuck Lunsford is the content manager for LightnBreezy.com, a well-known source for deck and patio lighting fixtures. LightnBreezy.com features hundreds of products to choose from. To order your discountdeck and patio lighting fixtures and ceiling fans made by Westinghouse, visit us at LightnBreezy.com.

Author: Chuck Lunsford
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Antique bath vanities add style, flair and elegance to your new and existing bathroom. There are many places from where these things can be bought. One of the best collections can be found with Hannah Jane Collection Bathroom Vanities. Their vanities come complete with the marble tops, sinks, and faucet hardware. There are various types and kinds of these antique bathroom vanities. This antique bathroom stuff really looks beautiful and gives an entirely different look to your bathroom.

Sometimes when people talk about antique stuff and vanities for bathroom, the first thing comes to a person’s mind is that you are talking about vanities that are extremely old and are from different areas. Probably most of the times the vanities, which are discussed are the antique designer rather than the actual ones that are many years old. Some people do use actual antique bathroom vanities, where as some people are going for the modern reproductions, which provide the antique look without some of the problems that, can be caused by an antique vanity.

Many of the methods of the craftsmanship from the past have been used by these new vanities, which consists of an antique look, although modern technology is used as well. Many of the carvings are still done to these antique bathroom vanities and are done by hand for some beautiful and elegant looks. The Victorian style is one of the most popular styles among the antique bathroom vanities. These types of vanities usually come made out from the heavy wood as they have very heavy carvings, and also boast beautiful hand painted designs on them.

While these antique stuff and vanities for bathroom are made the new modern antique bathroom stuff and vanities try to make sure that they keep the old feel while still adding modern conveniences and technology as well. Just as their older counterparts were too the same way even these vanities are seen that they last for a long time as well. You may want to use the other decorative methods to play up the beautiful vanity only if you’re planning to base your antique bathroom décor around these antique bath vanities. A mirror can be added to your antique bathroom, which will make it look beautiful. Sometime you can actually find an antique style mirror, which can match the design of your vanity. Using old style fixtures and antique decorations, such as embroidery and pictures, can carry the antique theme throughout your whole bathroom.

You will have to choose between an actual antique vanity and the one of the modern antique bathroom stuff and vanities, which is merely a production if you are looking out for antique décor in your bathroom. This is what antique reproduction of bathroom vanity means and also makes your bathroom look complete and beautiful.

John Drew is an interior designer who has lots of real world experience in interior decorating. Believe it or not, his expertise is in bathroom vanity decor. If you’re interested in learning all about the wonderful world of bathroom vanities, turn to BathroomVanitiesPlus.com.

Author: John Drew
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The benefits of outdoor lighting systems offer increased lighting for safety and security, as well as adding beauty and elegance. It is also a great way to make use of your garden after dark, and highlights your landscaped spots.

There are different kinds of lighting called task lighting, and accent lighting. Task lighting is more inclined towards practicality. It may be used to light your landscape to help you move safely around, when preparing food, or as a safety measure to view level changes and stairs.

Accent lighting on the other hand, highlights your favorite landscape spots such as sculptures and trees, while drawing attention away from something like a garden shed.

Solar power and electricity are the two power sources you can consider for outdoor lighting. Undoubtedly, solar energy is better for the environment since it is a renewable resource. The solar energy charges the lights during the day, which can then be used after sunset. Furthermore, the fact that there are no ugly looking cables around, make them a popular option. The disadvantage however, is that they are not as bright as electric light; therefore they cannot be utilized as spotlights or in places that tend to receive little sunlight.

Electric lighting on the other hand, requires wiring and cables which you can actually install yourself. If you choose a 12V transformer, it must be used for electric lights as it acts as a power board. It is plugged into the power point and the lights are plugged into it.

There are two types of outdoor lighting options which are Halogen and Light Emitting Diode (LED). Halogen lights are meant to be used as landscape lights. However, the yellow light that they produce uses much more energy than LED lights, and they become very hot to touch. LED’s emit a purer white light which in fact helps portray the actual color of the landscape. Furthermore, they are a lot cheaper and don’t get hot.

There are a variety of creative lighting designs to have you spoilt for choice. Some of the main ones include uplighting, which directs the light upwards to highlight a feature and to some extent light up a bit of the surrounding areas.

Spotlights are bright lights aimed at one particular feature, which could be a sculpture, water feature or tree. Downlights are positioned at a high level and focus downwards. Path lights are mainly used as a safety and security measure, and should be placed at intervals along the pathway.

Surface lights are those that are built into walls, or used to highlight the deck and step surfaces. They assist visibility and security to some extent. Wall lightings are flat panels that are built into the wall which can light up any features on the wall, as well as highlight your boundary, giving added security.

So now there should be no more stumbling around because it’s too dark to see, and you can now entertain family and friends in your backyard, even after it gets dark.

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Author: Susan Fielding
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A successful lighting scheme that meets practical needs and creates atmosphere plays an important part in establishing the style and character of your home.

There’s more to home lighting than a central ceiling fixture backed up by a couple of wall or table lamps. A well-planned lighting scheme should be both practical and decorative.

On the practical side, the right sort of lighting provides illumination for cooking, cleaning, sewing, reading, and many other day-to-day tasks. Decorative lighting helps to create a relaxed atmosphere, and should complement your color scheme and furnishings.

A successful home lighting scheme is made up of several different elements. Most rooms will need a carefully thought-out mixture of these effects to work well.

Lighting Choices

General lighting provides overall or background light and should be used in every room.

A hanging ceiling light is a common type of light fitting, offering a variety of shade styles in materials as diverse as fabric, paper, or metal. A ceiling pendant that is the sole source of light in a room is a limiting choice; it provides a bright central space with shadowy edges.

Recessed or semi-recessed low voltage down lights spaced across the ceiling will give a good level of clear light. Depending on the type of bulb used, and the housing, a recessed down light can spread light over a wide area or in a narrow beam. Semi-recessed down lights (sometimes called eyeballs) can be swivelled.

Controlling down lights with a dimmer system is a good idea because you can then have some of the lights off while others are on, and can vary brightness.

Task lighting is designed to give concentrated, directional light over a small area and may be used in conjunction with general and accent fixtures. The type of task lighting you choose depends on the activity you have in mind.

A desk light with a flexible arm is the perfect example, as it can be adjusted to provide light exactly where it is needed.

A reading lamp should be tall enough to shine onto the pages of the book, but not into your eyes. A floor lamp positioned behind the reader is ideal.

Light for writing, sewing, or any other hobby should be positioned so that it shines down onto the work. Rise and fall pendants are useful for this, especially if you work at the dining table. Recessed strip lighting is useful for providing countertop light in a kitchen. Accent lighting is used to show off plants, pictures, collections, and interesting architectural features. There are many different types, which can be used to light objects from above, below or behind, or at an angle.

A narrow beam halogen down light may be used to light a single vase or piece of china. The lower part of the object remains in shade, so this gives a dramatic floating effect.

Pictures are often lit from above. An adjustable eyeball or ceiling spotlight focused on the picture, or a special framing spotlight, which will flood the painting with light but leave the walls around it in shadow, are worth considering, as well as the traditional brass picture light.

A table lamp with a wide based shade will throw a pool of light onto the surface below it and is an attractive way to light a small collection or some framed photographs.

Floor standing drum torcheres can be positioned below large plants to create dramatic leaf patterns on the walls and ceiling. You can light objects on glass shelves very effectively by positioning a row of small halogen spotlights below the bottom shelf. Wall-mounted sconces, wallwashers, or tall floor lamp-style designs will illuminate the detail on an interesting cornice or ceiling.

Small floor torcheres positioned behind a sofa or armchair will wash the walls with light and make the room seem larger.

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2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard.

Author: Kathy Burns-Millyard
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Antique lighting fixtures are an excellent way of enhancing your home. Some very old fixtures, date back to the time of the Romans with their oil lamps. These lamps can still be found but they have little use as forms of lighting, although they can be used as beautiful antique ornaments. When we speak about antique lighting we usually mean lighting fixtures dating back just a few centuries and up until the beginning of the 20th century.

Over that period of time the lighting in the rich houses and castles evolved from wooden and gilded chandeliers to wrought iron or brass and bronze, crystal and later on to gas lamps and electric lights. Over this same period of time, sconces and table lamps also became fashionable and these vary in style from period to period.

The important thing to consider when choosing an antique lighting fixture is that it should not only be in a style that you like, but also that the lighting itself should be complete, as, if there is an element that is missing then it will often be difficult to find it. A missing glass shade, for instance, may prove extremely difficult to find. Another determining factor is where the light will be used and what purpose it is expected to serve.

Ambient fill-in lighting is one of the most important elements to consider. They also explain that to obtain this effect you should use a soft white light which washes the ceiling into the corners of the room and bouncing off the walls. For example, antique lighting sconces are great to create this effect

When lighting your dining room for instance what do you want? A drop or a chandelier? If you choose a chandelier, you should use low-voltage electric bulbs. And to provide fill-in lighting, you should add sconces. You’ll also have to take into account the height of the ceiling and the width of the table when choosing the height and the diameter of the light fixture. On the other hand, a drop bowl, will give your room a marvellous source of light which is not direct and washes the whole room.

To light the kitchen antique lighting pendants are perfect over islands, open counters or sinks as they are a good source of light under which to perform kitchen tasks. These can be supplemented by lights over cabinets that don’t light the ceiling.

In the bedroom at least one kind of sconce has to be used to give a fill-in lighting effect, otherwise the lighting fixtures should reflect the taste and needs of the people who use the room. Lighting fixtures near the bed will be needed.

Some dealers offer advice on the best way to light a room and on which antique lighting fixture or fixtures to choose. It is often a combination of a central lighting feature plus sconces and table lamps. The fill-in light effect is also important. This effect can be obtained using low-voltage lamp bulbs to which you add sconces.

The budget available which naturally greatly influence your choice of antique lighting fixture. Genuine antiques can be very expensive, and in fact over the last ten years, antique lighting fixtures have more than quadrupled in price. This does, however, have a positive side, as a genuine antique lighting fixture may also represent a good investment.

There are plenty of Internet sites that offer a wide range of antique lighting fixtures. Such sites and showrooms may also offer antique lighting for the exterior of the house such as lanterns and post lights, hanging lights and sconces for your porch.

When buying original and genuine antique lights it is important to buy only articles that have a warranty provided by experts who have a proven track-record for integrity in their field.

There are also dealers who are less scrupulous and claim that their antique lighting fixtures are genuine when in fact they contain just tiny antique parts, all the rest of the light being reproduction. Reproductions, have their place of course, for instance when it is necessary to buy more than one piece, such as in a hotel. In that case the use of replicas may be useful. But it is important to know whether you are buying a genuine antique or a reproduction as their value will differ greatly.

For further information on antique lighting fixtures see

Antique Lighting Fixtures or Valuable Antique Lighting Fixtures

Author: Adva Jones
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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It has been found out that we humans spend about 25-30% (it could be more for all those beautiful women’s out there) of our life inside the bathroom. Just like the rest of the house, nowadays bathroom too reflects individual’s changing lifestyles. More spacious multi functional and cozier, these once functional quick in and out place have become glamour havens — private corners designed for relaxation, escape and self-indulgence.. Good bathroom lighting is important for you so whether you are putting on makeup or combing your hair, you need a positive view of yourselves, which can only be accomplished by using the right lighting shades and fixtures. The bathroom is the part of the house with the densest assortment of materials and finishes with wall tile, floor tile, shower tile, faucet hardware, towel bars, large mirrors, bathtubs, shower fixtures, etc all in a space often smaller as compare to other parts of the house.

However before going further in designing your bathroom lightings, few precautions or guidelines are necessary. IEEE (An international electrical standards body) recommends some bathroom lighting guidelines which we will discuss here. Firstly it is important to understand the rating by which bathroom are classified. IP rating stands for ‘Ingress Protection’ and is always followed by two characters. These two numbers refer to level of protection and it is important that you choose bathroom light fittings with the correct rating according to where they are to be sited within the bathroom. Lighting inside the bath or shower itself must be low voltage, (max 12v) and be rated at least IP60 which is total immersion proof. Area above and around the bathtub, shower corner, wash basin or any other water using space to a height of 2.25m from the floor, a minimum rating of IP44 is required. If the fitting is 240v which is common for UK homes, a 30ma residual current device (RCD) must also be used to protect the circuit in this zone. Lastly other area of the bathrooms which is in no contact with water, generally no IP rating is required.

In bathrooms, it is quite important to provide adequate light around the vanity and other practical areas like mirrors. While lighting your bathroom, avoid excessive illumination and use your judgment depending upon the size of your bathroom. The general thumb rule is to go on the basis of task lighting or with the lights that do the most work. Like for mirrors, use one for each, then for showers corners, toilet and the rest for proper illumination of the whole bathroom. If possible use switchers or regulators to control any excessive lights depending upon the mood needed and natural light conditions. When illuminating the whole bathroom, always go for a combination of recessed halogen flood lights with other forms of lights to give proper illumination. Using just halogen flood lights can lead to scary shadowing effects and thus other lightings like Bathroom Wall mounted lights in their variety of sizes and shades are useful.

Bathroom ceiling fixtures is also another option to give needed illumination. A decorative light fixture suspended from the ceiling provides an elegant touch while adding extra light. Shower lights can or bathroom wall mounted lights with IP64 can brighten up enclosed corners. It should be bright enough to help avoid spills while making washing and shampooing yourself easier. If you have tubs, then like showers, need good general light, which can be provided by a recessed fixture. To avoid dull lights, focus the light’s beam at the outside edge of the tub. Reading lamps by the toilet provide more focused light if you want one.. Good bathroom mirror lighting, like that provided by warm fluorescent vertical wall sconces or bars, will provide the even facial illumination necessary for eliminating dark circles and shadows. Choose mirror lights to give a proper, with glare and shadow image of yours since you have a practical job to do, grooming and looking your best. If needed, use single sconces on either side of the mirror to remove shadow on your face.

Bulb selection is as important as choosing and placing the right fixture. For lighting vanity areas, try colored or low coated bulbs designed to enhance facial features. Look for wall mounted fixtures that beam down so the heat dissipates easier from the sockets and creates a longer life for all bulbs. In general, fluorescent is not a best choice; it tends to make people colourise. Instead try incandescent bulbs, or bulbs that advertise their similarity to daylight. Remember that the wrong bulb can make anyone look terrible. In all, use energy efficient lights bulbs which are good to look and ease on energy savings. Also keep some spare one for emergency cases. Also, fixtures should be easy enough to maintain and should be guaranteed. Before installing them permanently, hold them up to daylight and be certain you like what you see.

Thus with proper bathroom lighting plan and inspiration to spend quality time out in your bathroom, lighting it will be a just a click of a button.

You can also view this article in our website’s news and article sections at:

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We at For your Home are specialist in helping you make better homes and gardens. You are always welcome to visit our online store at http://www.foryourhome.co.uk and our bathroom lighting space at [http://www.foryourhome.co.uk/index.php/cPath/373_479]

Author: Stuart Wintergear
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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