I’ve been collecting fine art for 30 years. I buy mostly signed limited editions consisting of lithographs, prints, serigraphs, etchings, and giclees. These are art terms for reproductions, usually created from original paintings by the artist. He or she, in turn, supervises the print-making process and then signs and numbers the prints. These results become what is known as original reproductions. Because an original Picasso or Chagall can fetch a million dollars, this method is the most common way an average person can afford their work.
For example, very few can buy a Rembrandt painting and his etchings are now long gone because the plates from the 1600’s that made them were never designed to last long. So Durand, a master etcher in the mid-1800’s recreated his own plates from the originals and therefore we have Rembrandts after Durand. Those type of prints are relatively affordable and can be purchased by the masses. But the modern artists of today recognize the power of lithography and make 1000’s of copies available to the general public. That’s where you and I benefit. We can gather a collection of plate-signed Picassos for very little. Add in various posters and you have a plethora of opportunities. Frame them up and you can form a “Gallery Chez Vous” in your own home.
If, however, you want to invest in more collectible pieces, you’ll need to fork over a tidy sum to purchase the “hand-signed” versions. Because of the value of the autographs alone, the signed artwork will be priced accordingly. The more rare or “hot” the artist, the higher the premium for the signed edition. Also, the smaller the number of printed pieces, the greater the value. But check Ebay and the other Internet sites for the best prices. It’s a very competitive place online and you can pick up some amazing deals. Pay the least you can for what’s available or offer a low bid when possible. Buy what you like and what looks good, rather than something more valuable that you hate.
Another tip. Lithographs are the least expensive type of print but modern printing processes have made them almost indistinguishable from other types of high-priced prints. So bypass the aquatints and etchings and shoot for the “lithos.” Also try to buy pre-framed pieces to save even more money. Framing can be expensive. Finally, don’t be afraid to buy the lesser-known artists if the art is appealing. Unless you are totally into investment grade, art is art. There are many Picassos I can’t stand but I love the Disney cartoon cels. Buy what you like and decorate the walls of your house with the beauty of art for an amount you can afford. It will bring you great pleasure and joy over the years. And if you decide to change houses, it all goes with you. That’s right, it can even be a moving experience.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Reducing Your Home Decor Into Miniature Style
Many miniature collectors enjoy using the décor of their own home to determine how they will decorate their dollhouses. There are several aspects of home décor that can be directly applied to the style and design of your miniature displays. By taking the time to pay attention to small details, you may be surprised by how accurately you can recreate the ambiance and feeling of your own home’s interior.
Color combinations and the right coordination is the first and most important step to replicating your interior design. Even the smallest differences in color shades can clash, so look at your own home's room colors and choose those that work well together. Complimenting colors and shading on your walls can make the difference between a room that looks blended and warm and one that seems awkward. Also, be careful of patterns. Patterns that don't mesh well will have your dollhouse rooms looking out of place. If you've used specific color combinations and patterns in your own home and know they work well together, replicate them in your doll house design. Pay attention to flooring as well. Look at your own carpet colors or hardwood flooring patterns and work on trying to reproduce them as closely as possible.
Replicating furniture style is another great way that you can incorporate the feel of your own home into your dollhouse design. A quick and easy way to do this is to get a sample swatch for the fabric that was used to cover your couch or chairs. This fabric can then be used to create the furniture pieces that you place in your miniature dollhouse. Many pieces of furniture can easily be placed in specific period of history or certain geographical locations by their styling. Try to replicate the stylistic features of your furniture into the pieces that you select for placement in your collection of miniatures. Not only will the colors be the same, but also the decorative flavors and styles will match.
Your interior design is unique and you've carefully chosen objects or colors to give a certain feeling to the rooms in your home. Use that same creative energy in your doll house design. Taking care to add the special touch of just the right miniature sculpture or painting on the wall can add plenty of ambiance. Adding miniature pets curled up on the couch or in front of the fire does even more for your doll house design. Those who look at your dollhouse will feel an immediate connection to their own pets and the desire to curl up in a chair near the fire as well. Details such as these bring a unique flavor to your dollhouse rooms. You'll ensure that you have a one-of-a-kind miniature home that no one else in the world has.
Color combinations and the right coordination is the first and most important step to replicating your interior design. Even the smallest differences in color shades can clash, so look at your own home's room colors and choose those that work well together. Complimenting colors and shading on your walls can make the difference between a room that looks blended and warm and one that seems awkward. Also, be careful of patterns. Patterns that don't mesh well will have your dollhouse rooms looking out of place. If you've used specific color combinations and patterns in your own home and know they work well together, replicate them in your doll house design. Pay attention to flooring as well. Look at your own carpet colors or hardwood flooring patterns and work on trying to reproduce them as closely as possible.
Replicating furniture style is another great way that you can incorporate the feel of your own home into your dollhouse design. A quick and easy way to do this is to get a sample swatch for the fabric that was used to cover your couch or chairs. This fabric can then be used to create the furniture pieces that you place in your miniature dollhouse. Many pieces of furniture can easily be placed in specific period of history or certain geographical locations by their styling. Try to replicate the stylistic features of your furniture into the pieces that you select for placement in your collection of miniatures. Not only will the colors be the same, but also the decorative flavors and styles will match.
Your interior design is unique and you've carefully chosen objects or colors to give a certain feeling to the rooms in your home. Use that same creative energy in your doll house design. Taking care to add the special touch of just the right miniature sculpture or painting on the wall can add plenty of ambiance. Adding miniature pets curled up on the couch or in front of the fire does even more for your doll house design. Those who look at your dollhouse will feel an immediate connection to their own pets and the desire to curl up in a chair near the fire as well. Details such as these bring a unique flavor to your dollhouse rooms. You'll ensure that you have a one-of-a-kind miniature home that no one else in the world has.
Decorate Your Home With Area Rugs
Area rugs have been around for centuries. In modern decorating the usages seems to have peaks and valleys that cycle ever 10 to 15 years. Right now, area rugs are definitely the "in" floor covering. There are a number of reasons for their current popularity.
Carpeting in one manner or another has always been a popular floor covering. The decorating cycle that seems to be prevalent is between area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. One of the inherent problems with wall-to-wall carpeting is the difficulty in cleaning. Carpeting is one of the worst enemies of individuals with respiratory or asthmatic health problems. It traps, dirt, dust, mold spores, animal dander, and a host of other allergens.
The better the carpet, by number of fibers per inch, the worse the problem. Vacuum cleaners, no matter how powerful, never remove a 100% of the dust or other contaminants. If you don't believe me, use your current vacuum over an area of wall-to-wall carpeting (after vacuuming, with the power still on, hold the hose in the air, stretch and shake the hose as best you can to remove any dust that may be trapped in the hose). Clean out the bag or canister, ensuring that there are no dust remnants. Vacuum the same area again check the bag or canister and you will see more dirt and dust!
Area rugs have the same inherent problem of trapping dirt, dust, and pollen, however they have the advantage that they can be conveniently removed from the home and taken to be dry-cleaned a process which will remove all contaminants including animal dander and other contaminants. The residential and commercial so called steam cleaners, I say so called because they do not use steam to clean the carpet or rug they use hot water, do a better job than a vacuum, but they still do not remove all the dirt, dust and other contaminants that have made their way through to the under padding. As well, cleaning with water has the potential of doing damage to the floor beneath the carpeting.
Now that other floor coverings, such as hardwood and laminates have come down in cost and are being manufactured for installation by the home handyman, wall-to-wall carpeting is decreasing in popularity and area rugs are being used to create warmth and decoration. Where wall-to-wall carpeting is generally a flat color, area rugs give a homeowner the ability to decorate with an assortment of colors, patterns, and even textures.
Area rugs are not an economical replacement for wall-to-wall carpeting and although you can find area rugs for three and four dollars a square foot, you can find area rugs that are hundreds of dollars per square foot. A Persian hand made area rug can be in excess of ten thousand dollars.
Many wall-to-wall manufacturers sell their end of roles to other manufacturers who cut the remnants to standard sizes and apply edging to the boarders. Although these are sold by the big box retailers as area rugs, the base material is not made to lie flat on a floor. Wall-to-wall carpeting is manufactured to be stretched when installed. This is important to maintain the connection of the fibers to the backing. Wall-to-wall carpeting used as an area rug, will curl and will a relatively short life span.
Carpeting in one manner or another has always been a popular floor covering. The decorating cycle that seems to be prevalent is between area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. One of the inherent problems with wall-to-wall carpeting is the difficulty in cleaning. Carpeting is one of the worst enemies of individuals with respiratory or asthmatic health problems. It traps, dirt, dust, mold spores, animal dander, and a host of other allergens.
The better the carpet, by number of fibers per inch, the worse the problem. Vacuum cleaners, no matter how powerful, never remove a 100% of the dust or other contaminants. If you don't believe me, use your current vacuum over an area of wall-to-wall carpeting (after vacuuming, with the power still on, hold the hose in the air, stretch and shake the hose as best you can to remove any dust that may be trapped in the hose). Clean out the bag or canister, ensuring that there are no dust remnants. Vacuum the same area again check the bag or canister and you will see more dirt and dust!
Area rugs have the same inherent problem of trapping dirt, dust, and pollen, however they have the advantage that they can be conveniently removed from the home and taken to be dry-cleaned a process which will remove all contaminants including animal dander and other contaminants. The residential and commercial so called steam cleaners, I say so called because they do not use steam to clean the carpet or rug they use hot water, do a better job than a vacuum, but they still do not remove all the dirt, dust and other contaminants that have made their way through to the under padding. As well, cleaning with water has the potential of doing damage to the floor beneath the carpeting.
Now that other floor coverings, such as hardwood and laminates have come down in cost and are being manufactured for installation by the home handyman, wall-to-wall carpeting is decreasing in popularity and area rugs are being used to create warmth and decoration. Where wall-to-wall carpeting is generally a flat color, area rugs give a homeowner the ability to decorate with an assortment of colors, patterns, and even textures.
Area rugs are not an economical replacement for wall-to-wall carpeting and although you can find area rugs for three and four dollars a square foot, you can find area rugs that are hundreds of dollars per square foot. A Persian hand made area rug can be in excess of ten thousand dollars.
Many wall-to-wall manufacturers sell their end of roles to other manufacturers who cut the remnants to standard sizes and apply edging to the boarders. Although these are sold by the big box retailers as area rugs, the base material is not made to lie flat on a floor. Wall-to-wall carpeting is manufactured to be stretched when installed. This is important to maintain the connection of the fibers to the backing. Wall-to-wall carpeting used as an area rug, will curl and will a relatively short life span.
Asian Decor is Calm and Soothing
In Asian Decor both Japanese and Chinese philosophies believe that our most basic need is for space. Our spirits need room to breathe, move, and think with ease.
Keep the center of your room open. This principle comes from the Eastern belief that the center of the room represents the heart of your self and therefore should be kept open to allow the flow of energy to have full freedom of action.
One of the first steps necessary to transform a home into Asian decor is banishment of clutter. It is necessary to strip away all that is unnecessary in terms of furniture, accessories, and material possessions. For Westerners, this is a very difficult thing to do. If you want a true Asian style home, this is the first step.
Asian decor is attuned to nature and the environment. It would therefore follow that materials used in this style would be natural and bring good feelings to our senses. Oriental flower arranging in the Japanese Ikebana style and bonsai trees are often used. Bamboo is considered to bring good luck when used in a home. Water fountains are in use to bring calm and order to the mind
Natural fabrics and materials tend to hold more interest for us. Unlike manufactured products, every piece of natural material is unique. It is impossible to get two stones, two pieces of wood, or two pieces of natural fabric to look exactly alike. Natural materials add a new dimension to a design every time they are used.
Do Colors Have to Match Perfectly in Every Room?
Did you grow up with the idea that colors had to match? Whether that idea was in reference to colors in home decor, shoes/purses, makeup, or any number of other areas of our lives, everything had to match! That thought is not as prevalent today but still merits attention especially as your home decorating ideas begin to develop.
You might say that color is an imperfect science. If you don’t believe me, try looking through a paint sample display for that “perfect” color. Remember, the lighting in the store is much different than the lighting in your home which also changes with the weather conditions and the time of the day and year.
Let's look at the pros for matching colors in your home decorating plans:
* You have a favorite color
* Your favorite color makes a statement and you want lots of it
* You don’t want to make so many decisions—you know what color you like and stick to it
* You love the challenge of perfectly matching colors
* Matching colors is second nature to you and you don’t want to change
Now, let's look at the cons for matching color in your home decorating plans:
* It’s difficult to match color because of texture
* It’s difficult to match color because of light
* You want to incorporate several colors in your decorating plans
* You like the challenge of mixing and matching colors
* There is more flexibility and freedom to change your home decor over time
Consider a “middle of the road" approach
I prefer a “middle of the road” approach which would include coordinating and grouping colors as well as paying attention to lighter and darker shades and tones. Putting three varying shades of purple together will look magnificent. Putting five reds with the same tone together will certainly give energy and pizzazz to a room—get the idea?
As you walk from room to room, color makes a home flow comfortably; it is the connecting component. In your mind you unknowingly take the color scheme from room to room for a few brief seconds. Use a single color as a theme that runs throughout the house while still providing each room with its own color persona. Keep that in mind as you are embarking on your next home decorating project.
You might say that color is an imperfect science. If you don’t believe me, try looking through a paint sample display for that “perfect” color. Remember, the lighting in the store is much different than the lighting in your home which also changes with the weather conditions and the time of the day and year.
Let's look at the pros for matching colors in your home decorating plans:
* You have a favorite color
* Your favorite color makes a statement and you want lots of it
* You don’t want to make so many decisions—you know what color you like and stick to it
* You love the challenge of perfectly matching colors
* Matching colors is second nature to you and you don’t want to change
Now, let's look at the cons for matching color in your home decorating plans:
* It’s difficult to match color because of texture
* It’s difficult to match color because of light
* You want to incorporate several colors in your decorating plans
* You like the challenge of mixing and matching colors
* There is more flexibility and freedom to change your home decor over time
Consider a “middle of the road" approach
I prefer a “middle of the road” approach which would include coordinating and grouping colors as well as paying attention to lighter and darker shades and tones. Putting three varying shades of purple together will look magnificent. Putting five reds with the same tone together will certainly give energy and pizzazz to a room—get the idea?
As you walk from room to room, color makes a home flow comfortably; it is the connecting component. In your mind you unknowingly take the color scheme from room to room for a few brief seconds. Use a single color as a theme that runs throughout the house while still providing each room with its own color persona. Keep that in mind as you are embarking on your next home decorating project.
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