Clocks, Lighting, and Home Decor

Unique Baby Shower Gift Ideas-Unique Night Lights

2011-05-22T22:11:00.000-04:00

UNIQUE BABY SHOWER GIFT IDEAS

The baby shower season is coming upon us! How we hate going to a big box store and buying the usual, boring gifts for a friends' baby shower. We scoured the web and manufacturers to find unique gift ideas or unique additions to the typical diaper gift to make your baby shower gift unique!

Every baby, child, mom and dad need a few unique night lights! One for the nursery, one for the hallway and one for the bathroom. Night Lights are no longer boring! Buy several as your shower gift, or purchase on to use as a unique addition to your conventional gift! Check out these unique and large kids night lights!

Lil Monster Night Light @ www.FunkyLights.com

This Lil Monster Night Light is substantial at 3" x 3" x 7" and will delight any parents who are Lady Gaga fans. Your adorable little monster can have their own cute little monster to watch over them at night!

Several different night light themes available including Rubber Ducky, Rocket Ship, Race Car and more!

Counting Sheep Night Light @ www.FunkyLights.com

This Counting Sheep Night Light is made in America by an artisan based in Seattle, Washington. Each night light is housed in a lustrous copper frame (90-95% recycled copper content,) illuminated by a bulb and packaged in lovely gift boxes of recycled paper. A unique gift for green or style focuses new parents! This night light would be a stylish addition to any nursery! Comes in a nice gift box.

Several different themes available including: Horse Themed, Moon and Sun Themed, Jewish Themed, and Nature Themed Night Lights.

ABC Blocks Night Light @ www.FunkyLights.com

This adorable ABC Blocks Night Light is adorable for any nursery and will fit any theme! is a beautiful, decorative night light. Its design is inspired by nature, beautifully sculpted, cast in bonded marble and expertly hand painted. It comes in a nice gift-box. Substantially sized at 3" x 6".

Several different themes available including: Mama Goose, Teddy Bear, Bird Themed, and Nature Themed.

Unique Outdoor Lighting and Furniture-Eclectic Style

2010-06-30T23:45:00.016-04:00

Your outdoor entertaining area should reflect your personality and design style just like your interior entertainment spaces. Why purchase bland big box store patio furniture and lighting fixtures when there is such a great selection of outdoor benches, tables, and lighting available!

PATIO, DECK AND PORCH FURNITURE.

Depending on your personal decorating style, there are many unique garden furniture options!
For the whimsical, eclectic, and fanciful styles there are several wonderful options available for purchase at www.FunkyLights.com.

WHIMSICAL AND ECLECTIC STYLE:

Whimsical and Eclectic Garden Furniture:

For Unique Garden Furniture, check out the iron butterfly bench, available in several colors. The Butterfly Bench has a very sturdy made of iron with a basketweave seat, carved arms, butterfly shaped back, with a durable powercoated finish.

On Sale for $189.99 at www.FunkyLights.com
Retails for $299.00

Whimsical and Eclectic Lighting:

Why not try the Dragonfly Wall Mounted Lantern?The Dragonfly Wall Mounted Lantern has a florentine and burgundy finish, holds votive candle (not included) and is made of tin and wire. Size: 28" l x 4.25" w x 23" h

On Sale for $48.50 at www.FunkyLights.com
Retails for $70.00

Or Check out the unique Fabby Ceramic Sun Sconce.
This awesome light is available in Interior and exterior versions. The exterior version is UL-approved for "Wet" locations. The exterior version is available in two sizes: 9"W x 13"H x 5"D and 7"W x 9"H x 5"D and uses a 75 watt bulb. The ceramic fixture is shipped with an off-white/bisque finish. The fixture can be used with its original finish or you can easily paint it in any color using a water-based paint which makes it completely customizable!

On Sale from $164-$209 at www.FunkyLights.com
Retails for up to $292

Space and Starship Themed Kids Novelty Lighting

2010-04-08T20:07:00.014-04:00

Space and Starship Themed Kids and Teen Lighting

Everyone wants to make their child's room special and unique. One area that often is overlooked when designing a child or teen's room is the lighting. There currently is a great selection in kids novelty lighting. Finding the right light allows you to highlight your child's personality in their room decor for. Some unique kids lighting that we've come across and love for a space, star trek, or spaceship themed room:

We love this whimsical Kids Spaceship Ceiling Light fixture will put a smile on you or your child’s face. This cool kids light will stir the imagination and create a lighthearted environment. Perfect for your littlest Star Trek or Star Wars fan! Dimensions: 7" H x 26" W, ext: 13", weight: 13 lbs. It requires: Four (4) 60 Watt incandescent bulbs and has a satin nickel finish.

This unique Ceramic Star Ceiling Light is a truly original creation. It is great as a focal point or subtle accent in your child's space themed room. What we love the most about this light is that it is handmade and has a natural off-white bisque finish. This finish is beautiful and looks wonderful against colored walls or against contemporary white ceilings. The finish is also paintable. You can use any water-based paint, no primer required! So you can customize the light to fit the color of your child's room. The light's dimensions are 21.5" dia with a 9"H drop. This is a great light fixture for a space themed kids room!

This unique 52" Blue Moon & Star Fan is handcrafted and each blade is cut into the shape of a yellow moon and star. Who said Ceiling fans have to be ugly? This adorable ceiling fan (it comes in pink as well as blue) would look fantastic in a space themed or fairy tale themed nursery or kids room! The fan is 52" in diameter, has a 7" or 11.5" ceiling to blade clearance, and uses three 60 watt bulbs.

These are just a few great options! There are so many great kids and teen novelty lights in the marketplace. The only limit is your imagination.

All the lights above are available for purchase on www.FunkyLights.com, a small, family and woman owned online business headquartered in Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Turning a House into a Home

2010-02-12T03:01:00.007-05:00

When turning your house into a home, one needs to focus on details. It isn't the couch or the big screen television that makes a living room feel lived in; it's the family photos, grandma's throw; it's the little things that make the difference. One very easy way to give your couch, pillows, and your windows this personal touch is to add trim! Trim is a very personal choice. It can turn an ordinary looking window into a work of art, or a homestore bought couch into a chic lounge.

A feminine bedroom would look luxurious with pillows ringed with a feathery plume like Robert Allen's Larry Laslo Alchemy Plume in Quartz.

To give refined detail to a poker room, gameroom or 'man cave', utilize cord trim in a manly color as piping on a couch, pillows, or on his favorite recliner. A good traditional cord trim that would look classic in a more masculine room is Robert Allen's Trad Cord in Java.

Looking for the perfect additions for your tween girl's bedroom? Add Robert Allen's Classic Bead FG in Alabaster to the edges of her curtains, the base of her lamps, and to the edge of her pillows. This trim will turn every girl's room into a princess paradise.

Trim can turn an ordinary room into something special; a unique retreat, a man's domain, or a room fit for royalty. Make your house into a home today; find the trim that completes YOUR home.

All images in this blog can be found at:

Robert Allen's Alchemy Plume in Quartz

Robert Allen's Trad Cord in Java

Robert Allen's Classic Bead FG in Alabaster

DESIGNER FABRICS OUTLET

Use Designer Fabrics Outlet, http://www.DesignerFabricsOutlet.com, to order designer trim, fabric and wallcovering. Send us the manufacturer, pattern, and color; and we’ll give you an exceptional discounted price and the opportunity to order.

Measuring for Upholstery Fabric

2010-01-06T12:50:00.002-05:00

Important Tips for Upholstery
These are tips for measuring furniture that is to be upholstered. Following these tips should ensure you a more correct measurement of yardage. These tips are only guidelines. We do not take responsibility for incorrect measuring or incorrect usage of these tips.

ORGANIZE:
Make a list of the different sections of your piece of furniture. Figure A is an example of the different sections a chair may have. The sections on your list should be the ones where fabric is going to be applied. Remember to measure both the length and the width of each section.
Give yourself 2-1/2 inches allowance for most seams. Also always give yourself some extra yardage for mistakes and in case you made a mis-measurement. You can always use the left over material for pillows accessories, etc.

MEASURE:
Always measure the widest parts of each section. For example if your chair has a T-shaped lip to its cushion/seat. Measure the top of the T, for it is the widest part of the section. Figure B shows a sample for a chair. If possible, also measure a piece of furniture before you take off the old fabric. This will give you a more accurate measurement.

CALCULATE:
Add all your measurements together and divide by 36 to get the approximate yardage needed for your project.

OVER ESTIMATE:
Give yourself 2 1/2 inches allowance for most seams. Also always give yourself some extra yardage for mistakes and in case you made a mis-measurement. You can always use the left over material for pillows accessories, etc.

MOTIFS:
Patterns with large motifs and patterns that need to be lined up will require more fabric. It may be helpful to plan out you pattern pieces first.

SKIRTS:
Patterns with large motifs and patterns that need to be lined up will require more fabric. It may be helpful to plan out you pattern pieces first. If you are adding a skirt to your piece of furniture, two or three extra yards will be needed.

WEFTING AND PIPING:
Adding any piping of wefting to the edges of furniture will require an extra yard or two

ORDERING:
Order designer fabric from a designer or a design firm that has been in business for at least 10 years. Be cautious of deals that are too good to be true. There are a lot of sites up that offer really cheap designer fabric. These are typically fabric pieces that have been discarded by the factory as seconds that they can't sell. If you need help with a total house redo, see an interior designer. If you know what you would like to order, or need minimal help, use an internet fabric ordering site to get a good deal on designer fabric. Ensure it is a reputable company that has been in business for at least 10 years and is tied to an interior design firm. Two sites that I've found that meet these criteria are:

Commercial Interiors Outlet
Great site for small interior design firms, upholstery shops, painters, wallpaper installers, hotels, etc to open an account to expand their designer fabric, designer wall paper, and designer trim options to their customers. Great way to outsource, save money, and expand selection by only opening one line of credit.

Designer Fabrics Outlet
Great site for homeowners who know what designer fabric they want or see a designer fabric, designer wall paper, and/or designer trim in a magazine and don't need a designer. Removes the middleman fee that a designer would charge to order the fabric for you. Company can also provide design services as requested or needed.

The following site is a calculator for estimating fabric.

http://www.dominomag.com/knowhow/decorating/calculators/fabric/

Patterned Fabric Additional Yardage Estimation Chart

Fabric Width Plain Fabric 3" - 14" Repeat 15"-19" Repeat 20"-27" Repeat 28"-36" Repeat 37"-45" Repeat 46"-54" Repeat

54" 0% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

50"-52" 10% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

First add the fabric's vertical and horizontal repeats together (for example, a 7" vertical repeat plus its 10" horizontal repeat gives a 17" total). Then find the appropriate column on the chart, and increase the yardage estimate by the percentage indicated.

For example: The yardage estimate is 5 yards of 54" wide fabric to cover a chair and the pattern on the fabric repeats horizontally every 10" and vertically every 7". Add up the repeats (10" + 7" = 17") and find the appropriate column (15% for this example). 15 percent more fabric is needed to cover the chair while matching the pattern at the seams. 5 yards plus an extra 15 % is 5.75 yards.

Is your Dining Room Table ready for the Holidays?

2009-11-04T19:32:00.002-05:00

The lighting in your Dining Room sets the scene for your holiday festivities.

Is your Dining Room Lighting ready for your holiday entertaining?

How to choose a Chandelier for your Dining Room:

1) Decide on the theme or period of your Dining Room Decor. Is your Dining Room Traditional? Contemporary? Modern? Transitional?

TRADITIONAL CONTEMPORARY MODERN TRANSITIONAL

2) Decide on the metal or finish that complements the furnishings in your Dining Room.

Metals or finishes don't need to match, but they should complement each other. Silver finishes compliment silver based finishes such as nickel and stainless steel, it also compliments neutral finishes like iron. Silver finishes can give traditional rooms an updated or more modern look. Brass is limited to yellow based finishes and iron. Brass is used in very traditional rooms, and can make rooms feel dated if not used correctly. Iron or black finishes compliments almost every finish: Silver, Brass, Oiled Bronze, etc. Iron finishes can be used in traditional, transitional, modern and contemporary rooms.

3) Consider the size and shape of your Dining Room Table when picking out your chandelier.

Size:

If hanging a single Chandelier, your Chandelier should be approx. 1/2 of the width of your Dining Room Table. If you have a 48'' x 72" rectangular table, your Chandelier should be approx 24" in diameter. If you have a 72" diameter circular table, your Chandelier should be approx 36" in diameter.

If hanging two Chandeliers over a long Dining Room table, your Chandeliers should be approx. 1/3 of the width of your table. A 60" x 120" table would take two (2) 20" diameter Chandeliers.

Shape:

A Round or Square Table can accept any shape of Chandelier, they look especially regal with a classic, round Chandelier.

An Oval or Rectangular Table can take wider Chandeliers, or Chandeliers with more tiers.

4) When determining the Height of the Chandelier, the Height of the room dictates.

The golden rule of thumb is to multiply the height of the room in feet by 2.5 or 3. A room that is 14' high will take a Chandelier that is 35" - 42" in height.

5) When hanging the Chandelier, hang it between 30" and 36" above the table. Also hang the Chandelier centered over the table, not centered over the room. (This is a common mistake)

6) Always install a dimmer for your Chandelier. This will allow the room to be used for more than just dining and holiday dinners.

Once your Chandelier is installed, set your table and let the celebrating begin under the lights!

Trend Alert! Sunburst Wall Clocks

2009-10-26T15:28:00.001-04:00

Sunburst Shaped Wall Clocks are going strong in Home Decor!

The Sunburst trend in wall clocks have come into style along with mid century modern and retro decorating themes in home decor. These clocks fit every decorating theme in metal, silver, wood, and plastic models.

The clock on the left was inspired by George Nelson's Design and closely follows the original design of this wooden sunburst crown clock. Triangular Wooden spindles plus metal radiating "protons" capture a transitional and mid century modern style.

http://www.coolclockshop.com/george_nelson_clocks/george_nelson_spindle_starburst_wall_clock.html

This Silver clock showcases the Sunburst trend as a modern wall clock. This contemporary wall clock is perfect with modern decor or as a modern office wall clock. This clock is a conversation showstopper.

http://www.coolclockshop.com/contemporary_wall
/silver_triple_starburst_wall_clock.html

This Antique Copper and Gold Wall clock is an example of a traditional of the sunburst trend. This Unique Iron Wall Clock with a Sunburst Design would be perfect as a living room wall clock, dining room wall clock, or wall clock for any traditionally decorated room.

As you can see, there is a Sunburst Wall Clock for every type of home decor. This trend will be here for a long time. Timeless and simple.

http://www.coolclockshop.com/decorative/sunburst_antique_copper_and_gold_wall_clock.htm

Fabric Width	Plain Fabric	3" - 14" Repeat	15"-19" Repeat	20"-27" Repeat	28"-36" Repeat	37"-45" Repeat	46"-54" Repeat
54"	0%	10%	15%	20%	25%	30%	35%
50"-52"	10%	20%	25%	30%	35%	40%	45%