Unique Glass Home Decor

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(ARA) – Nothing’s harder to face than packing up your belongings after a week at a cozy beach house and heading back home to the real world. Sure, it’s hard to leave paradise behind, but who says you have to? Why not just transform your own living space to a beach-inspired haven that lets you get away from it all, even if you aren’t on vacation? It’s easy and inexpensive to do.

With some clever use of all those shells, beach glass and driftwood you’ve picked up during your travels, as well as scenic vacation photos and a little paint, you can transform your home into the ultimate beach cottage, creating an inviting, relaxing haven away from the real world outside your front door.

First, clear out the clutter. Cottage style is clean, bright and fuss-free because, if you think about it, beaches are simple, wide-open spaces – that’s where cottage design gets its inspiration. The beach experience is stress-free. Clutter equals stress, and you want to create an atmosphere that’s serene and fresh. A massive purging of extraneous clutter will give you a blank palette on which you can apply the true essence of the seashore.

Paint is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to completely change the look of a living space, helping make your beach decor a reality. Just be sure you choose the right colors, so you can be happy with your revamped rooms for years to come.

“Cottage style is all about taking cues from nature, so think sand, clear skies, sea glass and sparkling water when selecting the ultimate beach-inspired palette,” suggests Mary Ward, Dutch Boy Paints’ senior product manager. “To create a cottage-ready scheme use pale blues, aquamarines, periwinkles, sea-tinged greens, sandy tans and bright whites reminiscent of ocean foam and fluffy, cottony clouds. All of these colors, in any combination, can work to create a picture of rest and relaxation that’s reminiscent of a day at the beach.”

Serenity rules in walls painted in soft pastels or sandy neutrals with ultra-white trim. It’s clean. It’s clutter free. It’s fresh and airy. It says beach house, even if you are miles away from the one of your dreams.

You also can easily add a bit of beach chic to your furniture, further creating a feel of a distant getaway. Slipcovers give any room that easy-living feel that is so important to cottage style. Cover upholstered pieces in slip-on, easy-to-wash covers made from light canvas, cotton duck or sailcloth. Add a unique mohair throw on the back of your sofa or chair for a warm look. Paint dark furniture white to add a year-round summery glow to the space, or invest in a few inexpensive, fun wicker pieces to lighten up tired rooms.

Don’t stop here. Keep digging for ideas and inspiration using the vast array of decorating books and websites. One new site, Dutch Boy’s Restore My Decor! offers DIY tips and inspiration from professional designers, such as TV design personality Danielle Hirsch, as well as homeowners, all of whom can help you find more ways to add cottage appeal to any restored room in your home.

For example, consider incorporating these other ideas for adding beach-worthy serenity to your living space:

* Window treatments – Less is more. Think wooden blinds, plantation shutters or airy sheers.

* Floor coverings – Natural or painted wood floors with throw rugs are the hallmarks of cottage style. Think basic. Think organic. Think sisal and textures. Or paint your own canvas throw rug with sea-inspired motifs, such as shells and starfish.

* Lighting – Think soothing versus overly bright or dimly lit. Recessed lighting works like magic in any room. If you want to go for a more quirky look and make lighting a focal point, display inexpensive figural lamps in the shape of lighthouses or anchors. Or perhaps find one made from driftwood or shells.

* Souvenirs – Make use of those shells, sand, beach glass and driftwood you collected during your week away in paradise. Fill decorative glass bowls and jars with sand and shells. Display beach glass in vases of fresh flowers. Paint driftwood with beach-inspired images and hang it on the wall as art.

* Artwork – Make use of those vacation pictures, especially the ones you took of gorgeous ocean sunsets, lighthouses and sailboats. Use existing snapshots and enlarge some of your favorites, framing all to create a collage that not only says beach living, but also reminds you of a great time your family spent together at the seashore. Why buy artwork when you can make use of something that brings back such great memories?

“It all comes down to thinking light and breezy in everything you do decor-wise,” Ward says. “Use your imagination to create a true feeling of openness that beaches offer. Beach-inspired cottage style is casual, comfortable and fun – and reminds you of vacation, even if you’re miles away from the nearest beach.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Much like clothing fashions, design elements go in and out of style in a cyclical fashion. Blown art glass was a lost art in America until a resurgence that occurred in the 1960s. Ever since then, these unique decorative pieces have been charming hosts and houseguests across the country. Evidence suggests that the first hand blown glass vases were made in Syria before the birth of Christ. Venetian artisans revitalized the technique in the 12th century when their island became a trading empire.

Today, collectors as well as average homeowners appreciate such vases. When you purchase a hand blown vase, you’re not just paying for a mass-produced placeholder but rather a genuine work of art. The creativity and craftsmanship that go into every piece simply cannot be overstated.

Blown glass is unique in that the artistic process begins well before a blowpipe ever comes into play. Just creating glass out of raw materials takes skill and access to high-temperature furnaces. Sand is a primary ingredient of course, but most decorative glass also contains limestone, potash and a few additional components. Once the fused glass is removed from the furnace, it’s up to an artist’s creativity, imagination and adept hands to craft a masterpiece.

Of all the cultures that have embraced the glass blowing over the centuries, Mexican artists have perhaps contributed most to the medium. With little more than a glob of fused glass positioned at the end of a blowpipe, artists can create vases, beads, bottles and many other types of hand blown glass art. In some cases, the pieces are embellished with individual flourishes such as blobs of color or tiny stones.

When my husband and I bought our first home, I relished the process of picking out interior décor. Since my husband had no interest in the design work, I had free reign to decorate the way I saw fit. I began in the kitchen, adding some stylish vases stocked with fresh flowers. After that, I bought a fruit bowl and piled it high with apples, oranges, bananas and even plums. By the end of the first week, the kitchen was a vibrant amalgamation of lively colors.

But the effect didn’t last long. We became too busy to replace the withering flowers with new ones, and neither of us could eat enough fruit to keep up with the apples and oranges as they eventually spoiled. It struck me that I could find decorative glass bowls that looked great on their own, and the same was true of vases. In some cases, the receptacle is just as impressive as its contents – if not more so.

Here is a great martini recipe that I enjoyed this summer. This awesome summer drink recipe is just one of the few that I love and highly suggest trying. We will love it, if you share with us your favorite drink.

This is what you will need:
1½ oz Vodka
½ oz Triple Sec
½ oz Vermouth
4oz Cranberry Juice
Ice
Martini Shaker
Large Martini Glasses
Garnish with cranberries

1. Invest in a set of handmade and colorful cereal bowls.
2. Granny Smith apples are a pretty countertop accent.
3. Treat yourself to a fresh set of dishtowels.
4. Display a vintage dishware collection on open shelves.
5. Dress the windowsill with two or three pots of moss or herbs.
6. Install energy-efficient under cabinet lighting.
7. Use hand blown glass flutes for your orange juice in the morning.
8. A potted orchid in a white ceramic pot is an accessory that lasts longer than fresh cut stems.
9. Install a new faucet.
10. Use a tray by the stove to store cooking essentials. It will keep everything exactly where you need it.
11. Treat yourself with a new set of canisters.
12. Say no to paper napkins and switch to a colorful fabric set.
13. Banish old knobs in favour of new ones.
14. Display a pineapple when you are expecting guests. It is the symbol of welcome.
15. Make a pretty message board by placing fabric or decorative paper behind the glass of a large frame. Then use a dry-erase marker to write on the front.
16. Install a plate rack. Use it to display a collection of platters or cookbooks.
17. Keep utensils contained and at the ready in a plain white pitcher, it goes with any kitchen.
18. The next time you buy groceries, bring home fresh flowers for the kitchen table.
19. Display dish soap in a pretty container.
These are a few ideas of how to spruce up your kitchen décor.

Any wine enthusiast has a favorite wine glass to drink from. Maybe it’s a glass he picked up while visiting a beautiful winery, a glass leftover from a fun tasting, or a glass he received as a gift. In any case, he won’t want anyone else to drink from that glass, so he should be sure to have some nice wine glasses on hand for when he has company. Fellow wine enthusiasts have seen every type of wine glass out there, so he’ll really want to find some glasses that will impress his friends.

A guaranteed way to impress guests is with hand painted wine glasses. You can find hand painted wine glasses in a variety of styles and designs, and they’re sure to be conversation starters. You can buy different colored glasses so each guest which one is his, and you can even give them away as party favors or wedding favors if you’re feeling generous. Be sure to hand wash your hand painted glasses with gentle soap only!

Color Glass Vases will create an expensive art look with an inexpensive price. Our collection of beautiful glass vases includes tall vases, colored vases, clear vases, cylinder vases and bud vases that are catered to the home décor and gift industry. Priced low enough for everyday use, but decorative enough for special occasions, you’ll love the added attraction that one of these glass sculptures will add to your home. Add flowers to one of these beautiful glass vases and display it on a table or shelf for a stunning arrangement. Use one to brighten your office. Some vases have matching glass bowls or plates that combine to create a colorful display.

Because Art Deco interiors are minimalist, colors are used sparingly. Most color schemes include black, combining green and black, red and black and white and black. Accents are of chrome and gold. Pale blue or dove grey provides a softening effect.
Form is important in Art Deco interiors. Mirrors made of nickel, chrome, or silver are decorated with motifs of deer, peacocks, roses, and geometric shapes. Bronze sculptures are sleek covered with colored or pearl beads. Desk sets of pen and pencil on a base are streamlined in design. Door handles and candlesticks molded of nickel, chrome, or silver have woodsy or chevron shapes. Frosted glass or black and white marble are used for vases. Inlay is common and adds color and design. Cameo glass vases show under layers of color exposed by etching away top layers of white or clear glass.
Art Deco style was modern for its time and many elements of the style carry over to design elements of later eras. For unique handblown glass Art Deco vases and plates, please visit our store.