What if you like the calming effect of horizontal lines, but you can’t stand cleaning Venetian blinds? Here is a great solution. The Roman blind is not a dust trap like the slotted Venetian blind, and is more durable, with no rotating, and nothing to get bent. Cotton canvas and wood are a practical pair. They are also an attractive pair. This blind comes in seven colors to match your decor. The lighter shades, like this one in the photo, are translucent, while the darker shades are opaque. All provide privacy.
This design is versatile. You can include this shade in a Japanese style room, as it reminds one of a Shoji screen, but the blind will look equally at home with a rustic country decor, an ultra modern decor, or a beach home with models of sailing ships. You can even work them into a children’s room decor. They are not overly busy looking, and will help create a restful sleeping environment.
The great thing about this brand is that they come in five sizes to fit your windows. If you have several in one room, they look good because the horizontal lines at the same height lend continuity, and subconsciously create the sense of looking out over a great distance. being able to retract them as much as you like, allows for you to reveal as much of the window as you prefer at any given time. In this way, you can cut the glare from the sun while allowing a breeze to enter.
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Here’s a great idea for saving money and getting better sleep. Thermal curtains insulate your windows so you spend much less on heating and cooling your home. They also block 99 percent of the light, so you can really sleep deeply enough to produce life saving melatonin. This is perfect for shift workers, napping babies, and anyone who wants to see a sharper image when watching movies.
The nice thing about these thermal curtains, is that they are soft and drapery, not stiff like some others are.
They are available in black, chocolate, burgundy, beige, navy, and dark olive. The curtains measure 104 inches by 84 inches, panel: 52 inches by 84 inches. There are 6 grommets per panel, each 1.6 inches in diameter.
How do you create decor around such a large block of solid color? That’s easy, just employ symmetry and texture. The window becomes a focal point, so you put matching furniture on either side of it. For instance, matching dressers in a bed room, or matching console tables in a parlor. Place matching frames on the walls on either side of the window, and display a pair of pictures done in the same color pallet and of the same style.
An example would be amber monochrome photography of relatives, in wooden frames, placed over antique console tables with long narrow legs to contrast with the solid block of chocolate colored drapes in the middle. Then on the console tables place taupe colored items that have a variety of textures. This will contrast with the curtains even as the taupe combines with them harmoniously.
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This is a helpful innovation. Say you have a steel door with a window in it, like many folks do. You want a tamper-proof door that will protect you from burglary. You also want to be able to see who’s on the other side of it, without allowing them to spy on you inside. How will you attach blinds to the window frame? It’s not as if you can just whack a nail through steel. Your screw driver won’t get you too far either. Do you break down and beg the neighbor with all the power tools for help? That won’t be necessary, because you have a better option.
These blinds attach the the frame using powerful magnets. Forget about buying a special bit for your drill. This just snaps together instantly. No costly instilation fees, or the need to owe anyone a favor, you did it yourself in 3 seconds.
The blinds are durable aluminum, and come in a half or full size, to suit your window. The half blind measures 25 inches by 40 inches. The Full blind measures 25 inches by 68 inches.
Now you can peek out when you want to, and block prying eyes when you want privacy.
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Stenciled designs are a great way to liven up your home decor.
They are so versatile, you can stencil almost anything. You can stencil wool floors, hardboard, walls, ceilings, furniture, and even fabric.
To create a stencil, lay a photocopy of the pattern you wish to cut out, over the sheet of acetate, and tape it down so that it won’t shift. Using a craft knife, cut through the photocopy of the design, and through the acetate backing, along the outlines of the shapes you wish to create with the stencil. Then when you lay your stencil over the surface you wish to decorate, dab the paint in the cut out area with the end of the paint brush. When you lift the stencil, you’ll have a perfect design, every time!
Use this technique to make attractive borders around room ceilings, the perimeter of the floor, the backs of chairs, curtain ends, window and door frames, and anywhere you’d like a bit of excitement. Your room decor will be uniquely your own when you add this personal touch. Stenciling is fun for all ages, and there are stencil designs to fit every room in the house. Why not try one today?
Here’s a fun wall design element. This cheerful looking frog was hand cut from steel drums and hand painted in Haiti. What better way to enliven a tropical or bamboo theme than with a splash of color? In addition to the sultry island evenings this art piece brings to mind, a reminder of fragile rain forest eco systems prompts us to waste less. Made from a steel drum, this piece of art is an example of creative reuse.
The Chinese consider a three legged toad to be a good luck symbol likely to bring good fortune and help you to make money, something we could all use a bit of help with these days. This frog is therefor a good part of a Feng Shui design for the kitchen, which is the symbolic room of abundance and wealth. If you have a bathroom, laundry room, or pantry room with no window, the Feng Shui masters suggest adding a red decor item. This little red frogy is just right for the job.
Children will love this bright and happy little frog. He helps turn any room into a jungle. A hanger on the back makes it easy to wall mount this pretty fella. Approximately 9″ W x 9″ H, this extremely durable metal decor item will last, and is appropriate for use in your garden as well. Hung on a door, this frog helps small kids to identify their own room.
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Check out the other designs the Breeze On In company makes.
You can add turtles, parrots, sea creatures, geckos, butterflies, dragonflies, and frogs of other shapes and colors for a more diverse wall eco system, or to distinguish between doors to separate rooms.
The abundance of different fish and sea critters would turn your bathroom into an underwater kingdom of color. You’ll feel like you’re diving in a coral reef.
A great gift idea, the affordable price allows you to buy as many as you need. Just click on the pictures here and get to the product page.
Here’s an easy way to add grandeur to your house, rococo style – add this resin angel to the corners of a doorway, or two. Its neutral color really shows off the fine details of the carving and bring a peaceful serene motif right to your doorstep.
You can build it up into a theme, by adding several of these angels, placed on various frames, mirrors and doorways. A religious and romantic feel, all in one.
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