02 September 2008
Art Deco Decorating
Art Deco is one decorating style that I just love. I had this style going on in my own home for a while and it was just to cool. Art Deco started out in the 1920s and lasted all the way up to the 1940s. Art Deco is first and foremost considered eclectic, and its characteristics include long, thin forms, geometric patterns and curving surfaces. The Art Deco style exerted a great deal of influence in the art and architectural worlds, not to mention the graphic, industrial and decorative arts. Art Deco designs made use of materials that included aluminum, lacquer, inlaid wood, zebra skin, sharkskin and stainless steel.
Today Art Deco is as popular as ever, and its design features include flowers; leaf swags; exaggerated limbs; glass figurines; sculptures; murals; furniture that is geometric in style and has plump, flat arms; curvilinear motifs and bold decorative color schemes. Materials that characterize today's Art Deco style of designing include lots of glass; metal work in the form of brass, copper and iron; rich woods; pottery; laminates and textiles. Rich Art Deco colors are inlaid with gold- or silver-gilded flowers or leaves for that simple, elegant look. Contrasting with the black and white as well as other neutrals are splashes of red, lilac, orange and ultramarine.
For your walls, think fresh, pastel colors which will contrast fantastically with your dark wood furniture. Keep it light and romantic, and for even more of a contrast, paint adjacent walls different colors. Go for a color such as light gold, celadon green or gentle lilac.
Beds that were rooted in the jazz era of the 1920s can still work today. I am talking about the Pullman Davenport bed, a genuine sofa bed and a Murphy (a.k.a. folds up into the wall when you are finished with it) bed. Choose large, sensuous round mirrors and armoires that are sleek and seductive looking. Choose multi-functional pieces for your furniture, both in the living room and bedroom.
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About Patt M. Judd
Landscaping
If you are going to plant trees and shrubs around your home, here are some guidelines: In Tennessee, if you desire morning shade, plant trees on the Southeast exposure of the the house. If you desire afternoon shade, trees should be planted on the Southwest exposure of the structure. A good choice for summer and winter energy savings is to plant deciduous species (those that loose their leaves). These will allow for shade in the summer and heating from the sun in winter. Also, we encourage you to carefully select the type the tree being considered. Decide what you really want from this tree or shrub – shade, fall color, or just eye appeal. Do you need a deciduous tree to shade an outside air-conditioning unit in the summer, while letting sunlight through in the winter? Do you want a line of evergreens to provide a windbreak in the winter and privacy the rest of the year? Another factor to consider is maintenance. Are the trees or shrubs drought resistant, or will they require large amounts of water? Along with these considerations, you should also think about their location in relation to plumbing lines, power lines, your foundation, roof, and gutters.
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