The Spice Of Sculpture

There happens to be a very big difference between adding a good piece of sculpture to your living space and adding an incredible piece of sculpture to your living space. When you are looking for an outstanding work of art for your home, apartment or office space, the best idea is to make sure that you do a decent amount of shopping around in order to find the perfect piece that speaks to you. This way, each and every time you glance at it, you will have a unique and wonderful experience that only the perfect sculpture can bring.

As far as choosing your sculpture, you should keep in mind that it is always best to go with exactly what you like. This means not having to worry about whether or not the sculpture that you pick matches your current decor. After all, some of the most amazing works of art will end up being the ones that really stand out against everything else that is located within the room. You might even find that you will enjoy being on the hunt for a certain piece that happens to differ quite a bit from everything else that you currently have.

To get your hands on a terrific sculpture that will speak to you as well as all of your guests, you might want to look into the collection created by Govinder. One particular piece that is interesting and quite unique for any space is called Bad To The Bone. With the interesting design and splash of color, this is guaranteed to be a sculpture that you will be thrilled to look at each time you walk into the room.

Berit Kruger-Johnsen For Your Lover

It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day in order to purchase an amazing gift such as a Berit Kruger-Johnsen creation. Although, with the wonderful use of red and the romantic feel that these terrific paintings happen give off, it almost seems as though every single day of the year is February the 14th! Such a painting is just right for the special person in your life no matter what the occasion may be.

Perhaps you are going to be celebrating something incredible such as a one-year wedding anniversary or even an engagement. Any one of the beautiful paintings by Berit Kruger-Johnsen will definitely be appreciated and much admired by your loved one. You may even find that you really need some sort of a pick me up in a certain room of your home or apartment. The perfect placement of one of the paintings in this collection can bring a completely different look and feel to your space. You should be warned however, anything created by Berit Kruger-Johnsen has been known to become highly addictive, causing many people to want to purchase several others for other areas of their home!

The Combination Of Love happens to be the kind of a painting that really brings about quite a bit of conversation by everyone who has the chance to view it. When set up in your living space, you will certainly find that many of your guests will enjoy gazing at this painting for a while. Be prepared to get a plethora of compliments on such a wonderful art selection once you any one of these painting in your home.

Beautiful Art For Your Bedroom

Just because your bedroom happens to be one of the rooms within your home or apartment that most of your guests might not see, there is no reason why you cannot fill it up with some of your favorite art. You are sure to be very pleased with your bedroom once you have a couple of amazing strategic locations. All it takes is a little bit of consideration of what you might be looking for and a couple of empty spaces to fill up!

When you begin the process of choosing a couple of different pieces, you might want to begin by figuring our just what areas you might want to use to place your art. If you happen to have a big, empty wall space, you can opt for a wonderful large impact piece of even a nice collection. You might even find that you can add a nice sculpture on an empty bit of shelving or even on a corner of your bureau if you have a little room to work with.

Go ahead and begin your hunt for some of the pieces that speak to you and your tastes. You might find that you will want to go with a very dramatic piece that stands out in your room. Often times, straying from your current theme can add a bit of whimsy to your bedroom that can give you an incredible feeling each time you look at it. Feel confident in your choices and have fun with your choices and you should see that you will end up with the artful bedroom of your dreams.

Bathroom Art Choices

When you are making some decorating choices around your home, you really want to be sure that you do not neglect your bathroom. If you stop and think about it for a minute, you will find that the decor in your bathroom can make you very proud of your living space. After all, the bathroom happens to be one of the places within your home that gets used by many of your visitors. Making sure that you have a bathroom that is decorated with amazing art can bring you a lot of compliments.

A little bit of art in the form of a painting or a sculpture can transform just about any bathroom from a sterile and uninviting environment to a room that is comfortable as well as interesting. If you already happen to have a particular theme going within your bathroom, you can always find an incredible piece that can bring out the theme a bit. A nice aquatic theme can be accented with a wonderful painting of a seascape or even an underwater oceanic scene. You can decide if you want a large piece on the wall if there is room, or perhaps even a collection of smaller pieces if you are working with a tight space. A wonderful canvas painting with a bit of size for your bathroom that you might love could come from the David Thimgan collection. Many people adore the peaceful seaside and port views captured in these paintings, and you can enjoy it in your bathroom as well!

Arranging Your Art

So, you have begun to collection quite an incredible amount of art over the years, however you might be finding that you are in the need of rearranging it. You do not have to be an expert in order to find the perfect way to arrange your precious art, which is often obtained by spending quite a bit if your hard earned money. Such items that are so valuable to you deserve amazing placement within your living space!

When it comes to trying to find the perfect places for any of your sculptures of paintings, you will want to take into consideration several different factors in relation to your living space. After all, protecting your art while it is on display should be one of your number one priorities. Go throughout your living space and begin to identify some of the perfect areas to hang paintings or display some of your sculptures. Take note of the areas that have a good amount of direct sunlight and also be sure to choose areas that are not near vents, chimneys or doorways. All of these areas can end up damaging your precious artwork over time and should be avoided.

If you end up finding that you do not really have enough room to display all of your collection at once, don't be afraid to store some of it for a while. You are going to want to leave enough room so that you can give certain pieces their time to shine. Once you have everything placed where you want it, you can then sit back and enjoy it!

Framed Mirrors For Your Home

There happens to be all kinds of ways that you can try to spruce up your living space whether you live in a house or an apartment. Some of the tricks that folks like to use will include a fresh coat of paint, the addition of some brand new furniture, or even a cluster of brand new sculptures. However, have you thought of how simply wonderful it can be to add a gorgeous framed mirror to your home or apartment?

If you are a person who loves to decorate, then you might already know just how valuable a couple of exquisite mirrors can be to the look and feel of your living space. Mirrors can add a whole new dimension to just about any room within your home or your apartment. As a matter of fact, most design experts will tell you that the addition of a mirror to a smaller space can actually bring in the illusion that the room is much larger than it actually is.

Well, if you are on the hunt for the perfect mirror to bring into your home, then there is nothing quite like an exquisite framed version. You actually have your choice of frames including imported wood veneers, natural burls, and hand-rubbed gold or silver metal leaf with an antiqued look. Go ahead and choose the size that is right for your space along with the perfect frame and you will have a new addition to any wall in your home that you can feel good about with every single glance.

The Warmth Of A Thomas Kinkade

You might have fond memories of a painting that your parents had, or you have always been on the lookout for the kind of painting that seems as though it has been in your family for years. One of the things that mark a truly wonderful painting will include the ability to draw people in, making them feel as though they have had the chance to look at it and appreciate it for years and years. If you are in search of such a painting that will have a soothing affect on your soul, then you might just find that there is nothing quite like the detail of a Thomas Kinkade.

Some folks actually say that a Thomas Kinkade print will have the ability to draw you in and make you feel as though you have been transported to another time and place. Many people are even very familiar with this works that are shown frequently during the holiday season. Most of the winter scenes by Thomas Kinkade are quite popular for those who like to think of old fashioned holidays at home. Whatever your reason may be for purchasing a Thomas Kinkade print, you are guaranteed to be very pleased with your purchase.

The Rose Gate is a purely stunning limited edition Thomas Kinkade print that you can get handsigned and numbered. The colors in this piece really come alive, almost making the trees look as they are swaying in the breeze. This canvas print is going to be just right for your home or apartment.

Paul Horton Sculpture

Are you on the lookout for an amazing piece of art that you can bring into your home? Maybe you have been searching for a nice piece that will have the ability to make you smile each and every time you have the chance to look at it as you walk by. The great thing about art and sculpture is that you do not have to be an expert to know what makes you happy. When you want to bring a beautiful piece into your home, you might just find that a Paul Horton sculpture will do the trick.

Full of whimsy and plenty of ability to spark your imagination, each and every Paul Horton sculpture is just right to bring into your home. Whether you are already a collector of fine art and sculpture or if you are just starting out, you are guaranteed to find great joy with the purchase of one of these incredible pieces. You even usually have the choice of getting each of the Paul Horton sculptures made from either resin or bronze. Make your choice and you will be well on your way to a piece that will bring you years of happiness and a wealth of compliments from all of your friends and family members.

The Paul Horton limited edition resin sculpture called The Works is a really nice piece that is just right for your family room, den or even a special spot in your bedroom. The interesting cluster of buildings, wonderful colors and attention to detail are going to bring you to another place with every glance!

A Memorable Housewarming Gift

If you happen to have a friend or family member who is near and dear to your heart that is moving into a brand new home, then you are definitely going to want to make sure that you give them an amazing housewarming gift. Such an incredible gift will be cherished and talked about by them for many years to come. So, what kind of a gift are you going to buy for their house to make such a lasting impression?

A truly fabulous gift idea that many individuals tend to overlook for a housewarming present is a beautiful canvas print. This is really a nice idea that your gift recipient can use to hand on one of the walls within their new home! If you know their tastes very well, then you should have no problem at all picking out a terrific design that they are sure to treasure. Perhaps a hand signed and numbered limited edition Bonnie Marris is something that is just up their alley!

Morning Run is the name of a breathtaking Giclee that you can order up in two different canvas sizes. You can send your gift recipient this beautiful piece in either the thirty by 42 inch size or the forty-five by sixty-two inch unstretched size. They may have already told you that they are looking for a stunning piece to hang on a certain wall. If so, then your recipient is definitely going to enjoy every single inch of this stunning piece depicting horses.

You Are Never Too Old For Disney

It is a know fact that there are just as many adults as there are children who enjoy anything and everything that is Walt Disney. This could be due to the fact that all of these adults grew up with Disney, or perhaps they really enjoy it because their own children do. No matter what the reason may be, it is just a fact that you are never too old for Disney!

If you are a big fan of anything and everything Disney, then the chances are very good that you have paid several visits to the theme parks, watched all sorts of the movies and are also quite familiar with most or even all of the animated characters. You might even be a collector of such items as Disney collector pins or even animals from their incredible line of plush toys. Well, when you are such a fan of Disney, then you might also want to look into the purchase of a wonderful limited edition print that you can be proud to hang within your home or apartment.

Perhaps you happen to have a favorite Disney movie that you enjoy watching over and over again. If so, then this is a magnificent idea for a print. All of the prints that are available are numbered and you can even get them already framed upon arrival. Spruce up an empty wall within your home with a limited edition print from movies such as Cinderella, Peter Pan, Finding Nemo, Alice In Wonderland and many others.

Holiday Shopping for the Dog Lover

Shopping for your dog loving friend is easy. Well, the shopping part is - narrowing down a good gift choice can take a little effort.

If you're looking for a fun gift, you can't go wrong with a C.M. Coolidge print. You may not recognize the name but you will certainly recognize the painting, it's the famous poker playing dogs. There are several in the series and the most well known of the bunch is titled, "A Friend in Need" it features a bulldog that has folded his hand slipping an ace to his buddy that has a pretty good poker hand going.

There are also other dog related items that would look fantastic on the walls. There is the absolutely sweetness of an Amy Brakenbury piece depicting a basket of puppies. Another fun item to give as a gift for a dog lover is one of Tammy Laye's beautiful prints. Her artworks are nearly photographic looking in detail and especially the piece, "Best Friends" is a truly heartwarming artwork. It has a little girl blowing bubbles for her faithful best friend, a large black laborador retriever.

Sculptures also make very nice gifts. You can't go wrong with a Roark Gourley piece. Schitzo Dog is a resin reproduction of the original piece. The brightly colored and roughly cut dog sculpture will appear to be literally walking off the walls.

Use these tips and get your dog loving friend a great holiday gift and one that they will cherish all throughout the year.

Give Yourself a Regal Room

Have you been watching those do-it-yourself room decorating programs and thinking to yourself, "I could do that"? Well, guess what? You can and it's very simple once you get yourself organized and figure out what you need to change in your room to get the look you want.

If regal is the look you want. Think rich colors. Dark, mahogany and cherry woods. Furniture upholstered in detailed tapestry fabrics and draperies that match. Recovering most furniture takes a little time but it isn't difficult. You can get a good idea for a budget on your furniture, which will probably be the most costly aspect of your room, by simply measuring your sofa or chair and then going to your local fabric store and picking out a few upholstery fabrics. Get a few swatches so you can take them home and see how you like them in your room. What looks great under the store lighting may look less than fabulous in your home.

Next, add regal touches around your room. Scroll worked bookends finished in a rich wood tone, shelving that has a scrollwork pattern or other accent will go well beyond the boring old wooden shelf. As far as artworks, put one Old Master on your walls. A gorgeous Rembrandt print or Renoir will add a sense of old world style to your room as well. The secret is to put them in very expensive looking rich woods such as mahogany or cherry finish.

Last but not least, change out your lighting or rather your shades. You can usually keep your lamps and just opt for classically styled lamp shades for a very refined air in your room.

Want a Country Kitchen?

What could be cozier than a country kitchen? If your kitchen is suffering from a case of low-budget decorating or it's just a matter of "haven't had time" decor - you can add some elements that will pull your kitchen together and make it look like you paid an interior designer to give your kitchen the country look.

Clear your room as much as you can and take stock of the items you have that will work. Put up clutter and knick-knacks. Then look around your room and you should have a pretty clean slate to work with.

First of all, if you don't already have one, invest in a hanging pot rack. It looks very country and it allows you to make use of otherwise wasted ceiling space and freeing up valuable cabinet space for other items.

Fresh flowers in simply decorated vases will also lend a fresh country air to your kitchen air. Go for an old fashioned gingham checked tablecloth and simple curtains in a light color to match. Gingham trim on the curtains will tie everything together nicely. Another way to tie in your room for a fun country look is to add a country themed artwork or two to your walls. Something with a relaxing country scene, wheat fields, landscape or a simple barnyard scene will fit in nicely with your decor.

If you have limited space, you might consider adding a tall and slender baker's rack to your kitchen. The rack won't take up much floor space but will go a long way to holding a large number of items. Other country touches are to hang strings of herbs, peppers, or garlic in your kitchen.

There are a lot of homey touches you can make to your kitchen and get an entirely new look without spending a fortune to do it!

Make Your Room Into a Tropical Paradise

With the cold winds of winter making their way into nearly every corner of the country, it might be fun make your main room into a tropical paradise that keeps the cold at bay - at least when you're indoors.

First of all, if you live in a part of the country that really has a frosty winter, keep your heavy fabric for your draperies as they do a great job of keeping the chill out of the room when they are closed. Opt for lighter colors however and you'll go a long way to setting the mood in your room towards a lighter and more tropical tone.

Next, think tropical items. Splashes of bright color here and there on white or lightly colored sofas and ottomans. A bright ocean blue pillow will look fantastic on an off-white sofa. Throws with tropical themes are also great. Put some artwork on your walls that depicts palm trees, palmettos and other tropical plants. Go one step further and put a bonsai palm tree in your room. They need very little care and can live for hundreds of years.

If you use area rugs in your room, opt for light colors that will lend a dreamy, relaxing tone to your room. Other items you can use to bring the tropics into your room include shells and also consider the addition of a tropical fish tank. You don't have to get the old boring rectangular shaped aquarium, they come in many styles and shapes, including some very futuristic tall and slender designs that look stunning in nearly every type of decor.

It may be cold and snowy outside but it can be a warm tropical paradise inside your home. Just make a few changes and you'll be sitting in your comfy chair and sipping a drink with an umbrella in it watching the snow fall this winter.

Purrfectly Wonderful Cat Lover Gifts

Got a cat lover on your holiday list and you're pulling your hair out trying to find the perfect holiday gift for them? Think art.

If you know the basic colors inside their house, you can get them a cat inspired or themed artwork for their walls and if they have a specific breed of cat such as a Siamese or Persian you can even get them an artwork featuring a kitty that looks just like their favorite feline.

A Tom Neel piece featuring a cat in a business window with a name like "Al E. Katz" or "McKitty and Sons" will lend a whimsical air to a room.

For a more realistic look a print made from one of Cortez's original paintings will make an outstanding gift. Cortez uses a technique of layering paint so it creates a very realistic effect. One of the best loved pieces in the series of paintings is "Unmade Bed" that features two rascally felines laying in a previously well-made bed that they have now ruffled up the covers and messed up the pillows with their play.

If you're not sure what the colors in their room are, you can opt for a small sculpture piece to liven up their decor a bit. The cat themed sculptures run the gamut from the realistic to the whimsical. You can get a resin cast of Bast the Egyptian Cat Goddess or a casting made of resin from an original metal sculpture.

Fun ways to present your present would be to stencil some cats on a plain wrapping paper or even gift wrap and put a little cat shaped frame with the holiday "to and from" gift message inside where the photo would go.

Update Your Kitchen

The two rooms in your home that you will spend the most time in on the average are your kitchen and your bedroom. If you feel like your kitchen is too small or not functional enough, consider a little updating in your cooking space.

First of all, get rid of the clutter. If you don't use a particular object on a daily basis- consider it clutter and find someplace to put it. You can put up shelves or even better, use a bakers rack or a standing kitchen cabinet to hold all your items. Most cabinets will have glass doors so you can see what is within and also close away the clutter.

One old fashioned kitchen apparatus that is making a comeback in modern kitchens is the hanging pot rack. The hanging pot rack is a simple, metal circle or oval with hooks that is suspended from a chain and will hold a myriad of pots, pans and even your long handled spoons and other cooking accessories. They stay up and out of sight until needed.

Stackable bowl sets and space saver storage kits not only keep your dry goods fresh, they end the clutter and space wasting of commercially packaged products. You can pour the cereal out of the boxes and into plastic containers and thereby save space and best of all, there's no mystery as to how much your kids have left in the box - with clear plastic containers you can tell just by looking.

After you create space in your kitchen, consider updating the entire look of your kitchen with new artwork for the walls. If you have a theme in your kitchen such as the sun or roosters; get an artwork or two that reflects those elements and you'll see a brand new kitchen with just a little effort!

Entertaining in a Small Space

If you want to have some holiday gatherings of family and friends are your place but you feel it is too small, don't fret - it might just be a matter of making the most use of your space.

Before you go through the trouble of replacing your furniture or adding or subtracting items, use the items you have to their biggest potential Small bookcases can do double duty as nifty places to store wine and glasses. Just use the bookshelf as normal and on the top, put a nice tray with glasses and a two or three choices in wine.

Not enough seating? Large, overstuffed pillows can do the job of providing a comfortable place to sit for guests and they can be stacked quietly in the corner until they are needed. Recycle a broken wooden chair and trim the legs to be shorter and take the back off to make a small stool. Topped with a pillow it will make a comfy place for guests to sit.

If you don't already have some shelves - they are a cost effective storage solution and will end a lot of the clutter. Another way to open your room a little more is to switch out your window treatments for lighter colors and add a mirror or two to your walls. Mirrors create the illusion of more space and depth to your room, they also reflect light and will add to the overall feel of the room.

You may have a small space but by using some of these tips and tricks, it doesn't have to feel small!

Mad for Erte

You may not know his name, but you've certainly seen his style. Erte was born Erte Romain de Tirtoff and was of Russian descent. He lived to the ripe old age of 97 and created an incredible body of work and is considered to be among one of the most influentially unique artists of the 20th century.

When he was young he moved to Paris and embarked on an art career. He was quickly recognized as his style was unique and didn't fit into any of the known categories for art. He collected patrons quickly and thus was able to develop his talents quickly and support himself through his art.

His art influenced both artists, theater and fashions. In 1915 he won a coveted position with Harper's Bazaar and designed every single cover of their magazine for the next two decades. He is considered the father of the "Art Deco" movement and he expanded his artistry to not only canvas and print but to fashion designs and created designs for some of the biggest names of the day including Joan Crawford, Lillian Gish, Marion Davies, Anna Pavlova, Norma Shearer and more.

When he was 75, Erte was encouraged to recreate designs that called back to his youthful days in Paris and they were captured in bronze and serigraphy. Once again, the Art Deco movement came back with a stronghold in many aspects of both home and fashion.

Add a piece of Erte to your walls and experience the unique vision of this talented artist. The Rooster is a gorgeous piece that shows the bold lines and bright colors without being garish that make up the Erte style.

Make Your Room Cozy

If your main room that you have your friends and family over in seems to be seriously lacking in warmth and coziness, there are a lot of little tricks you can do to make your room radiate a warm and fuzzy feeling to all who enter.

First of all, apply the clutter rule to your room. The clutter rule is if an item hasn't been used in 1 month and it's still sitting out, find a place to put the object up and out of sight. The next mood killer for a room is the lighting. Bright lights aren't cozy. Soften up your lighting in your room with heavy shades and add a dimmer light that will allow you to warm up the mood with a flick of your wrist. Candles also put off a nice warm glow that will bring an air of warmth and friendliness to the room.

Also make a central gathering point. Put your furniture a little closer to make the spot where people sit the most into a cozy conversation pit. Seating doesn't have to be formal for these gatherings. An ottoman will serve the same function as your Queen Anne chair in the corner. A table in the middle where you can share snacks, drinks and stories will make the room even more inviting.

Next pay attention to your wall spaces. If you don't have photos of your family and friends, warm up your room with some individual touches. Also, artworks depicting love, togetherness and even a fireplace scene will continue the cozy vibe you have going on in your room.

It's easy to change the entire mood of your room with only a few additions or subtractions. If you want to have the best gathering spot for your family and friends this holiday season, use these tips and make your place the number one choice for everyone to meet up!

Art for the Holidays

Do you envy the people who seem to be able to transform their homes for every major holiday? On New Years, their homes are a collection of sparkles and newness. With silver accents and white to symbolize a new year. When February rolls around they have an abundance of hearts and flowers to celebrate the love and friendship on Valentine's Day.

If turning your house into a celebration of every major holiday throughout the year is a bigger job than you truly have time for, don't fret; just pick one holiday to celebrate and turn your house into a fun celebration of the season.

The holiday season from October through December is a perfect way to get your house in the mood for the coming celebrations of family and friends. Right after Halloween, start adding some autumn touches to your room. Burnt oranges and earthy tones will further add a tone of the season to your room. You can add pillows to your sofa and touches of dried flower arrangements to continue the colors of the season throughout your room.

As you get nearer to Christmas, you can add touches of pine cones, red and green candles on your fireplace mantle and many people set out small Nativity scenes as well. Another fun way to celebrate the holiday is to change out a couple of your art pieces on the walls with pieces that ring in the holiday season. A fun snowman, excited children on Christmas morning or a dreamy winter's night watercolor will more than fit the bill.

Use these tips and give yourself a beautiful room to celebrate the holiday season in with your family and friends.