Archive for May, 2009

Bring Ambiance Into Your Home

Author: homedecorbylulu
27.05.2009

unique tea light candle holdersFragrance
Fragrance has the unique ability to transform our mood, elevate our senses and add a special ambiance to any room. Use top-quality fragranced items throughout your home, varying scents from room to room and even “layering” scents in the same room. Experiment and create your own special touch.

Room Surfaces
Wall surfaces are sometimes overlooked as we often focus on tabletops and forget those big blank canvases that beg to be decorated! Use paint color to transform a room, and watch the glow of beautiful candlelight bounce off your walls and create patterns of interest. Warm, darker tones create a feeling of richness especially at night, while lighter earth tones evoke nature and are compatible with most furniture and accessories.

Seasonality
Turn a number of “everyday” home accents into a seasonal display by adding just a few simple elements. Tuck pinecones, ornaments, miniature gifts, dried beans or seashells inside a glass hurricane holder to help tell the story of the season. Choose a candle color and scent that adds to the experience and reflects the season.

Multiples
Even the simplest of home accents can add big drama when displayed in multiples. Try two large hurricanes on a table with a tall vase filled with flowers or branches between them. Better yet, place these on a table in front of a large mirror. Or, try three, four, five or even six of the same small candleholders all in a row on any stable surface. Votive candleholders look especially nice this way. When doing so, we suggest using the same color candles.

Candlelight
Multiple points of candlelight add an instant glow to any room. Floater candles, in particular, add real drama by combining “fire” & water. The reflection of candlelight off the water and bowl is exquisite.

Room Lighting
Simply turn down the lights, add multiple points of candlelight around the room, and you’re on your way to creating a room right out of your favorite magazine.

Color
Color makes one of the biggest impacts when it comes to creating ambiance. A single bold item in purple, red, or even orange adds “punch” in a room. Neutral home accents let you experiment with different colored candles to get just the look you want.

Height Variation
Whether it’s displaying different sized candles or using home accents in varying heights, multiple points of candlelight at different height levels creates a lot of visual interest and ambiance.

Reflections
Mirrors create stunning visual impact, thus adding their own special ambiance. Placing candles on mirrors automatically doubles the impact of candlelight and color. Use one large mirror flat on a table with candles on it, or display smaller mirrors in multiples on a wall or mantel for an even bigger statement.



Trends Forecast for 2009(Part II)

Author: homedecorbylulu
25.05.2009

pink mohair throwIn addition to colors and styles, you will need to seek furniture and other home decor items to complement your space.  Finding functional furniture that boasts extreme comfort is no longer a significant challenge in today’s retail world.  Designers and consumers alike crave home furnishings items that evoke feelings of peace and create soothing sensations.  Coming home to a well-designed sanctuary is something that we all deserve after a long day or week.
2009 calls for lively colors combined with neutrals and grounded hues.  The combination can create a vibrantly soothing atmosphere inspiring good cheer and positivity.  Some of these colors include fuchsia red, palace blue and vibrant green among a plethora of others.  Utilizing color as a foundation for the ambiance that you hope to project within a specific room is a brilliant way to begin your redesign.
Gorgeous bright accent pillows or throws can accent a warm grey sofa for example.

Brown has lightened up a bit from dark chocolate into more medium tones like cognac and cinnamon bark. It is such a decadent, yummy and versatile color that works well with green, blue, yellow, orange, and even pink.

The consumer’s desire to add warmth and comfort into their decor has driven the return of draperies in home décor. Modern and sophisticated styles are dominating.
Use of velvets and shimmery sheers are the most prominent.

Roman shades are still popular since they are practical and versatile.

Making your home look beautiful is a dream of most people, and you can make that dream come true even if you’ve never decorated before.



Thrends Forecast for 2009(Part I)

Author: homedecorbylulu
23.05.2009

hand blown decorative glass bowlTrends forecast for 2009 emphasize chic, sophisticated, elegant décor, focusing on comfort, quality and practicality.
A new direction in style is emerging, as traditional décor meets modern with clean and simple lines. And contemporary furniture and fabrics are becoming warm and cozy.
There are also several cultural movements influencing how we decorate our homes, one of which being the environmental movement.
The consumer is becoming more knowledgeable about how their purchases impact the environment and they want to make a difference.
Leveraging 2009 home décor trends can help to easily transform and elevate the mood and atmosphere within your desired space.  Remaining aware of popular color schemes, newly designed patterns, and updated home décor and accessories can provide you with a simple way to reinvent and redesign any room within your home.

Grey is the newest tone of neutral, ranging from cool silver to warm charcoal gray. It will be used often as the base color in the room and accented with fashion forward colors like acid green, yellow, fuchsia and plum.
Metallic tones of silver, gold, copper and rust are the most dominate after grey. They will become increasingly popular in the next few years.
Bright colors can be seen in lots of funky accessories, such as hand blown glass vases, glass platters and any type of decor objects, so it can be easy to add a splash of color into your neutral décor.
Mauves and purples are still strong colors and blend perfectly with the new greys and silvers seen in fabrics and accessories.
Give yourself the bright and cheery space that you need, or an area with neutral colors that can help you to focus or meditate.  Whatever your designing and decorating pleasure is, know that you have the power to make it happen.



Accessories Art Deco Design

Author: homedecorbylulu
19.05.2009

tr3059.JPGBecause 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.



Treat Your Feet with Sheepskin

Author: Lulu-ation
18.05.2009
Treat Your Feet with Sheepskin

There’s nothing quite as luxurious as getting out of bed and stepping on a plush, luxurious sheepskin rug. These area rugs are amazingly soft, and they make the perfect treat for your feet. But if you want to make sure you’re getting the absolute best in sheepskin area rugs, make sure the product comes from a country or area that produces healthy sheep. After all, sickly or underdeveloped sheep aren’t going to have the softest or best feeling wool.

Because of the warmth offered by these rugs, they are perfectly suited to cut the chill on tile or wood floors. Particularly in the bathroom, the floor tends to be very cold in the morning, and it can make brushing your teeth or brushing your hair very unpleasant. For that reason, just throw a small sheepskin rug on the floor under the sink. It will offer warmth in the morning, and you don’t have to worry about the rug getting dirty. You can spot clean these rugs or dry clean them, and certain versions can simply be thrown in the washing machine.



Bring Color into a Room with Nature

Author: homedecorbylulu
13.05.2009


eco friendly artificial Sano FlowersSpring finally arrived; one of its greatest gifts to us is COLOR. Spring is the perfect time to bring a color into your home that you’ve never used there before: A teacup the tender golden yellow of an egg yolk, curtains the eye-opening chartreuse of new leaves, a hyacinth-mauve toss-pillow, a scatter rug the intense blue of a bluebirds wings. Every time your eyes rest on one of these fresh, bright, hopeful new colors, your whole self will feel refreshed.
And finally, what better way to bring color into your home than with fresh flowers. Stuck them in a couple of simple glass vases. It is a quick way to bring in some color. Artificial flowers can help you do the same thing and, obviously, last longer. These are a few ideas of how to add some color into your home.



The Martini On The Come Back

Author: homedecorbylulu
12.05.2009

romanian hand blown martini glassesThe martini has been around for a long time, but in the last couple years a new generation has breathed fresh life into the martini and many other retro-cocktails.

While no one knows the exact origin of the martini, it has definitely made a come back. The chocolate martini and other great flavors have made this drink hip all over again. There are so many things that you can do with this versatile drink that it really comes as no surprise to those that already love martinis that they are once again very popular.

Today you can go to just about any bar or restaurant and have a whole host of martini flavors to choose from. It’s important to remember though that the taste of the martini will depend in large part upon the alcohol that is used in the drink. It seems as though anything goes, but many consider a true martini one that is made with gin and perhaps a wave of a vermouth bott.e. Today vodka is also offered. Many have said that there really is not much difference anymore between a martini, a cosmo, or a simple cocktail. The bottom line is that if it is in a martini glass chances are it can be called a martini!

It doesn’t matter what flavor you like, you can create or purchase a martini in that flavor. Today some of the common flavors are chocolate, green apple, orange, dirty, clean, and just about every other fruity concoction that you can think of. With all of the great flavors to choose from, even if you are new to the martini, you will likely find something that you love to whet your whiste!

If you don’t happen to like the gin varieties you may want to try some of the vodka varieties as they each offer something very unique. A martini bar is where many people experience their first martini. Many clubs offer martini bars where patrons can indulge in their favorite flavors or try a variety of flavors. This can be a great way to make a bachelor or bachelorette party truly special and tasty, too!

Many have considered the martini a woman’s drink in the past, but many men enjoy the variety of tastes that are available through this very diverse drink. Whether you are having drinks with the girls over dinner or having friends over to your home for a get together, the martini is the perfect drink. Experiment with a variety of flavors and alcohol to get the perfect mix for you. When it comes to the martini everything goes these days, so take advantage and enjoy creating drinks that you really love and love to share with others!

For beautiful Romanian hand blown martini glasses, visit our website www.homedecorbylulu.com.



Decorating for Summer

Author: homedecorbylulu
08.05.2009

Mango Wood Vase


When summer finally arrives, we spare no time moving our lives outdoors — firing up the barbecue, dining al fresco, landscaping the yard, picking fresh herbs and relaxing in the wonderful sun and warm air.

However, with so much focus on the great outdoors, it’s easy to dismiss simple seasonal ideas that can freshen up the indoors.

As you stretch out your arms and embrace the warmer weather, the colors of summer make themselves obvious. Colorful blooms of bright greens, yellows and purples cheer the soul.
Taking your cue from nature doesn’t necessarily mean using only neutral or subdued tones. Give your room a colorful facelift with a fresh coat of paint. Get inspired by the proud peacock and add bright, rich jewel tones. Dress up a basic wall with a piece of art in shimmering blues and greens and highlight a special piece of furniture or high ceilings with a tall vase filled with teal, royal blue and celadon fronds.
Lighten up any room by exchanging heavy fabrics for breezier ones. In the living room, take down drapes or replace them with an open weave such as chiffon or organza. Replace throw pillows and sofa slipcovers in the den with  bright solid or floral ones. Use white crisp percale or linen sheets in the bedroom and opt for natural woven placemats instead of a tablecloth in the dining room.



Mother’s Day Picture Frames

Author: homedecorbylulu
06.05.2009

glass picture frameMother’s Day is about letting your mother know how much you appreciate her. Choosing a Mother’s Day gift can sometimes be difficult, especially when your mother tells you that there isn’t anything she needs. Every parent loves photographs of their children and grandchildren, and it isn’t possible to have too many pictures. That’s why picture frames are such a popular choice for this wonderful day to celebrate motherhood.



04.05.2009
Staying Warm on Cold Spring Nights

As we progress further and further into spring, the weather only looks to get warmer. But that doesn’t mean that your house or apartment won’t cool down once the sun goes down. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to have a supply of light throw blankets available on the back of the couch or at the foot of the bed. While large, thick fleece or wool blankets are helpful in the winter, a lighter cotton blanket is the perfect thing to just take off the slight chill in the spring air.

These are perfect to wrap yourself in when you’re feeling cold, but they’re also great for outdoor use. Meteor showers start picking up in late spring and into the summer, and it’s a great time to be a star gazer. But if the sky is clear, there’s still bound to be a little nip in the air. You can cut that cold with one of these throw blankets and a cup of cocoa, coffee, or tea. For some added light and a little bit of warmth, light some candles while you’re watching the stars.