Month: April 2013

Make a Grand Entrance to Your Home

April 26, 2013

A common welcome mat might get the job done, but why not give newcomers a little taste of grandeur? Add a dash of gravitas to your front entry with one of these robust relics, and you’ll have every onlooker longing to see what’s inside…

1. Entryway Accents: These statuesque elements look stately when positioned near or on either side of the doorway. As though plucked from the mouth of some forgotten temple, the Lions at Guard Sculptures harbor an ancient knowledge in their steady gaze and noble profiles. Taut tendons and rippling musculature give these stoic beasts an air of realism, while their weathered sand finishes convey quiet impact.

Lions at Guard Sculpture Pair

2. Doormats and Stair Treads: For drama felt in every footfall, outfit your entryway with stair treads and doormats. The recycled rubber Tuscany Stair Treads and Doormats are platforms of cobblestone fringed by cool-toned pebbles. Ascending your front steps or pooling outward from the threshold, these treads and mats beckon all into the arid reaches of your own Tuscan villa.

3. Address Plaques: Those standard black digits might whimper your house number into the streets, but the LaRoyal House Number Plaques will brandish your address with finesse. The bronze- or black-finished base is an ornate backdrop of twining scrolls. Raised gold or silver numbers display your house number. For weather and tarnish resistance, all plaques are finished with a protective powder coat.

4. Planters and Plant Stands: Perfect for displaying greenery, planters and plant stands give entryways a natural flourish. The Classic Roman Column Pedestal is antiquated and stately, alluring to time-honored architecture. With its scrolling volutes and ornate leaves, the ornamentation on this ionic column echoes the lush florals with which you will crown it.

All of these and more are the items necessary to spark a theatrical presence right at your front door. The outdoor area is an extension of your inner living space, a preview of sights soon to behold. So, tantalize your visitors. Make their every entrance a grand entrance.

Crown Your Bedroom with a Wall Teester

April 19, 2013

With a coordinating wall teester or bed crown, you can revel under a sumptuous canopy of curtains or appreciate the “waterfall effect” from afar. Wall teesters are stately accents from which curtains or scarves can be suspended, resulting in an elegant look as they part around the headboard to sweep the floor. A curtain rail just behind the bed crown allows for easy and discreet hanging. The bed crown, true to its name, gives the bedroom a royal impact that just can’t be imitated with any other accent.

For those attempting to coordinate with a classical or Old World theme, the unfurling plumage and antique ivory finish of the Natasha Wall Teester create the appearance of a timeworn heirloom. A leafy medallion fans out elegantly in the center, while a bouquet of acanthus scrolls grows rampant on either side.

The Teagan Wall Teester is a trim and sleek counterpart to Natasha, with metal swirls sweeping like wild vines. Golden-bronze wisps of fleurs and leaves burst at the end of each scroll, and the verdi bronze finish with gray wash is reminiscent of a sculpture burnished by many years.

P227TeaganTeester

After considering which wall teester will best complement your decor, you’ll need to select panels. The panels should be at least 84 inches in length and will look magnificent if you can tie the pattern or color into the bedspread. You might need longer panels depending on the height at which you mount the teester and whether you want the fabric to pool on the floor.

However you dress up your wall teester, mount it proudly above your headboard and watch your bedroom transform into an opulent palace.

Outdoor Curtains for Your Home Paradise

April 12, 2013

Crossing from the air-conditioned currents of your house and into the humid world outside is always a little dizzying. But outdoor curtains hung strategically over the exit make the perfect tropical transition, signaling to guests and family their eminent entry into an outdoor paradise of your own creation!

Sheer outdoor curtains deter the curious, over-the-fence-glance while still admitting sunlight and airflow. The Escape and Biscayne Sheer Outdoor Curtain Panels will make a breezy enclosure out of your pergola. A translucent waterfall of decadent fan leaves, the Biscayne panels invoke images of paradise. The solid sheer Escape panels, on the other hand, can coordinate with the patterned Biscayne to create visual interest. Exempting freezing weather, both grommet top panels are well-suited for the outdoors in most seasons. If they happen to get dirty (as outdoor items are wont to do), they are machine washable.

 

Sheer curtains may provide adequate privacy, but perhaps your idea of an outdoor paradise is more like a deserted island? The tab-top Matine Outdoor Curtain Panels are a “solid choice” for those wanting to create an isolated getaway safe from prying eyes. Solid hues of blue, green, pearl, natural, and white make coordinating with other outdoor elements a breeze. To diminish sunlight, choose darker colors; lighter colors will permit more natural light.

The Natural Bamboo Outdoor Curtain Panels are recommended for a covered porch or patio and look particularly tropical. The fibrous texture complements woven outdoor furniture, and the espresso color blends well with surrounding, earthy pigments. This window treatment should not be exposed to harsh elements. A damp cloth and a soft brush will make quick work of any dirt.

Last is the Outdoor Duo Tension Rod Set, the ideal hardware for a covered patio or porch. The espresso and nickel finishes, as well as the vast range of available sizes, will assure a perfect fit for every window treatment. The set includes an adjustable rod, end caps, and hanging hardware. Like the Natural Bamboo Panels, this Tension Rod Set should not be exposed to harsh elements.

Gazebos and decks, patios and pergolas, even balconies can all be transformed by the simple addition of outdoor curtains. Think of them as the finishing touches on an otherwise perfect space—the little paper umbrella in a glass of lemonade!