Friday, March 16, 2018

landscaping and Decorating With Cement Sculptures

Sculptures have been used to decorate gardens and homes since this art form first developed. The earliest sculptures were made from chiseled rock and clay. As the art form developed new mediums were used like marble, granite and bronze. The labor intensive process of creating sculptures has traditionally made them very expensive and unattainable for most homeowners. However, today we have access to less expensive mediums and molding technologies that make owning sculptures more affordable, especially cement sculpture.

Cement sculptures are an affordable option for garden decorations and landscaping. Small cement sculptures can even be used in your home. The affordability of this type of sculpture is due to the low cost of cement and the re-usable molding technologies used to create these sculptures.

To create a cement sculpture an artist needs to first create the prototype of the sculpture in clay. This sculpture is then used to create a negative mold for the cement sculpture. This mold is treated with resins so that it will not stick to the cement. After the negative mold has been created it is allowed to cure and harden. Once the mold is ready to use it is assembled and filled with cement. The mold may be rotated to help work out air bubbles. The mold is then stored in a stationary position to allow the cement time to dry. Once the cement has hardened the mold is removed and the sculpture is allowed additional time to dry out. After the cement sculpture has dried completely the rough edges may be filed down and imperfections are removed. At this point the piece is either ready to go to the showroom or it is sent to the painting department to be finished.


Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Outdoor Lights - Beautiful and Practical Outdoor Decor

Depending on the space, design, and needs you have for your outdoor lighting, you can ornament and illuminate your home outdoors by hanging wall lights, post lights, hanging lights and much, much more. From antique design, to gothic design, to modern or even abstract designs - you can find great outdoor lighting for your garden, yard or patio. There are a wide range of many types of elegant, luxurious, and decorative, to simplistic and cozy kinds of lights for the purpose of hanging from the ceiling of a closed-in patio.

Exterior lighting can keep your outdoor area warmer as well as usable into the night because (of course) of the lighting itself. There are also outdoor lights available that serve as both a heater and a lamp so that you can enjoy the outdoors even more. I see outdoor lighting as an extremely decorative and accessorizing addition as well as the more direct purpose, the practical and necessary one.

By improving your garden, patio, driveway, pool or whatever else with the appropriate lighting you can also make it a project to seek-out wonderful looking outdoor lighting equipment. Low voltage landscape lighting can creatively illuminate your garden or garden pathway, a beautiful addition to any yard or garden. Low voltage lighting is also better for the environment because it uses so much less electricity than many other kind of indoor and / or outdoor lighting.

You can light up your mailbox, house number etc. with lights especially designed for mailboxes, stone carvings, waterfalls, and many, many more specific kinds of lights for specific purposes at night. Whether for practical or decorative (as well as practical,) purposes you can find wonderful lights for the outdoors.


Thursday, February 15, 2018

Everything You Need To Know About Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

Lighting the surrounding areas of your home is as important as it is to light the inside. Outdoor lighting fixtures serve to illuminate the outside areas of the houses. Most people fix the lights for security reasons while others install them to beautify the home during the night.

Before purchasing and fitting the outdoor lighting fixtures, there are various factors that you need to look at. Some of these factors are directly related to safety and as such cannot be brushed aside. Determine the power source for the lights. This can be gas, battery, or electricity. Also, calculate how much the additional lighting will cost you to determine if you will be able to foot the bill. As a tip, florescent and energy saving bulbs consume less power than tungsten bulbs and would provide a way to reduce your power bill.

Secondly, you would have to consider the application. Different outdoor lights are designed for specific areas: pool lighting, perimeter lighting. Below are some of the popular examples of outdoor lights:

Outdoor landscape lighting: The most common example of these is the directional lighting used to draw attention to the beauty of the homes landscape. They are intended to catch and appeal to the eye, thus drawing attention to their surrounding area, more so if there is a feature you want people to take note of. Since these lights are designed to play a specific role, how and where they are placed counts for a lot. For this reason, setting them up would require the landscaper to have a good lighting system plan in place.

Outdoor Decorative lamps: These are usually mounted just outside the house front door. They come in eye catching designs which usually blend with the façade. These are mostly fitted for security purposes. As their name suggests, they are more of decorative pieces than security fixtures.

Outdoor wall lights: outdoor wall scones are examples of these lights offering brilliance and beautiful looks as well as offering security. They are basically fitted on the wall and you have an option of installing exterior flush lights to boost beauty. But other than adding to the beauty of the architectural design, outdoor lights are also used as signs, and map out paths and walkways at night.

Taking into account that these lights are the instruments you look up to for personal security and beauty, it is crucial to ensure that they are always in good working condition. You should always ensure that:

They are well fitted; poorly fitted lights bulbs could fall off and hurt people. It is advisable to seek professional assistance to fit the bulbs if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.

Switch them off whenever they are not needed; this helps to save power and reduce the power bill. It is also prudent to use the right type of bulbs for outdoor lighting because outdoor lights are specially designed to resist elements like rain and snow.

The idea of lighting the outside of your house is a concept that can be materialized by getting the right outdoor lighting fixtures, fitting them well and the result exhibits itself through beauty and security you enjoy with a clear surrounding and a clear mind.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Stylish and Practical Outdoor Furniture Bench Ideas

The exterior of a home can be enhanced with decorator touches, just like the interior. Carefully chosen outdoor furniture is practical, beautiful, and can complement any decorating or landscaping theme. One of the most popular and versatile pieces of outdoor furniture is the bench. Benches are available with or without backs, in various sizes, and in a choice of materials and styles.

When you add outdoor furniture to your pool or patio, you provide a comfortable place to sit as well as a chic, original touch. Your bench is also practical because its uses are only limited by your creativity. If you are entertaining and find yourself short of seating, it is simple to pull up a bench. Since wooden benches are easy enough to move, they can be used to expand seating around a patio table or provide stand-alone seating. Backless benches might also be placed strategically to make gardening easier. This can save save strain on your knees and back and provide a built-in workspace. Of course, you may also choose to add wooden benches to your home just because they are so beautiful and create a touch of elegance.

Typically all outdoor benches are made from a weather-resistant, sturdy wood. Popular choices include Brazilian cherry, alder, cedar, teak, cypress, and mahogany. Cedar and teak are two of the best choices because they are particularly pest and decay resistant. Both woods are sturdy and will remain beautiful for many years. Outdoor accent pieces made in the same woods are also available. These include wood arbors, planter boxes, and pergolas. They can be used to create a theme or just add beauty and interest.

Outdoor wooden benches are manufactured in many styles. You may choose them with or without backs, cushions, and metal accents. There are also various sizes. Whether you want to add the occasional small outdoor bench or provide seating for several people, you will find it easy to locate the size you need. Benches are manufactured to match decorating themes, from the simplest natural tastes to the most elaborate English gardens. The one thing they all have in common is that they offer elegant, practical outdoor decorating and seating solutions.


Sunday, January 14, 2018

Outdoor Decorating: Professional Landscaping Advice

Landscaping is a great way to do some home improvement that will have a big impact. Your landscaping really improves your home's curb appeal and it's one of the first things people notice about your home. One thing to ensure is that you also take care regarding the look of your lawn as a whole. Amazing landscaping won't really help you if your lawn is patchy, brown, or unkempt. A beautiful lawn with tasteful landscaping can really catch the eye of a potential buyer. It could mean the difference between making a sale and continuing to set on the market.

Even if you're planning to contract out the entire job to a professional, you can still save yourself some money. Spend a few hours clearing out the dead plants, weeds, and any debris or trash from all of your beds and lawn will save you paying a professional hundreds to do the same work. Clearing out beds is not something you need experience to do, so why not save your cash for the work you really can't do?

A professional landscaper may provide lawn design or you may need to hire a landscape designer to draw up some plans for you. That doesn't mean you can't contribute to the conversation. Bring your magazine ads and photos to share with the designer so that they have a clear idea of what you envision in your yard. The designer can calculate plans with different options so you can see if your vision and your budget match.

Be sure to get references and referrals to find your designer. Talk with each of them and look over their ideas. Get estimates from each one, but don't let that be the deciding factor. Carefully consider what each one has to offer and weigh in their reputation and reliability.


Saturday, December 23, 2017

Get the Right Kichler Outdoor Light For Your Outdoor Decoration

In order to get the right type of decoration for outside of your home, sometimes it takes a lot of research in order to find just the right light. You don't have to search very far when it comes to getting a Kichler Outdoor Light because of all the different styles and types that Kichler makes available. Kichler is a very popular brand of lighting that not only creates outdoor lighting but also is the manufacturer of bath lights, chandelier lights, table lamps, and pendant lights, as well as many other lighting units that can be used in any room or outdoor area of a home.

The Kichler Outdoor Light units that are available include such models as lanterns that can hang, are wall mounted, or are mounted on a post. The post mounted outdoor lighting is very popular because the home owner can put them in different areas of their outdoors to light dark pathways. Kichler also is very versatile in the style that they offer. Their styles of lighting include country, ethnic, transitional, contemporary, traditional, utility, casual, eclectic, and Tiffany style. No matter what style of decor your home is, you are assured that you can find a light with Kichler that will match.

Kichler makes available a very informative website where you can not only shop for the Kichler Outdoor Light to fit your needs, but you can actually get advice on ways to place your outdoor lights in order to give the best effect for your landscape and home. You can browse through the hundreds of lights that Kichler has available in order to find just the right one. Once you find a specific style of light that you want, you can also correspond that light with other models of the same style.

You can view the traditional Kichler Outdoor Light which has the model #9357LD. This light is a wall mountable light that has heavy textures mixed in with dark tones. This light was not spared anything when it came to the detail that has been designed on its cast aluminum construction. If you want a unique and aged look to you lighting, you could view the outdoor lighting fixtures that have a Londonderry finish to them. You could spend a lot of time on the Kichler website looking through all the lights they have as well as all the tips and advice that they give to the consumer as well.


In order to get the right type of decoration for outside of your home, sometimes it takes a lot of research in order to find just the right light. You don't have to search very far when it comes to getting a Kichler Outdoor Light because of all the different styles and types that Kichler makes available. Kichler is a very popular brand of lighting that not only creates outdoor lighting but also is the manufacturer of bath lights, chandelier lights, table lamps, and pendant lights, as well as many other lighting units that can be used in any room or outdoor area of a home.
The Kichler Outdoor Light units that are available include such models as lanterns that can hang, are wall mounted, or are mounted on a post. The post mounted outdoor lighting is very popular because the home owner can put them in different areas of their outdoors to light dark pathways. Kichler also is very versatile in the style that they offer. Their styles of lighting include country, ethnic, transitional, contemporary, traditional, utility, casual, eclectic, and Tiffany style. No matter what style of decor your home is, you are assured that you can find a light with Kichler that will match.
Kichler makes available a very informative website where you can not only shop for the Kichler Outdoor Light to fit your needs, but you can actually get advice on ways to place your outdoor lights in order to give the best effect for your landscape and home. You can browse through the hundreds of lights that Kichler has available in order to find just the right one. Once you find a specific style of light that you want, you can also correspond that light with other models of the same style.
You can view the traditional Kichler Outdoor Light which has the model #9357LD. This light is a wall mountable light that has heavy textures mixed in with dark tones. This light was not spared anything when it came to the detail that has been designed on its cast aluminum construction. If you want a unique and aged look to you lighting, you could view the outdoor lighting fixtures that have a Londonderry finish to them. You could spend a lot of time on the Kichler website looking through all the lights they have as well as all the tips and advice that they give to the consumer as well.


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