ABC’s of Fine Design

Recently I got a sample of artwork from a website called Artaissance The site has some really amazing pieces and I really wanted to check them out. One thing that caught my eye first was the ability to buy a sample of an art piece that you like and then put that money toward the purchase of that artwork. The samples are a decent size and really if your looking for a very small picture to put on a desk, that might be all you need. I would suggest though that you save the money and buy the bigger paintings as they really are quite amazing.

They have many different categories of artwork such as modern, landscape and photography if your not into the painted look. The photography is also worth looking at, it is vibrant and very well done. The site also has a large directory of framing shops that can get this artwork framed for you. Usually this type of service is not available in my area, but they did have one that was close enough that I would drive to it to have this done.

If your unsure about ordering art online let me reassure you that this site does have a 30 day return policy. If you are not happy with the artwork all you have to do is let them know and they will either accept a return or replace the product, so there is nothing to worry about. Trust me though once you order the sample you will want to get the real thing and order again. Artwork can really make your interior design project complete, good artwork will make people talk about how well your project turned out.

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Since I am an interior design student I am very interested in art and history. Just over a year ago we went to Washington DC. I was very disappointed as most of the museums were closed for renovation. I was surprised as we went during the cherry blossom festival. The worst part about all of that was we had our German exchange student who really wanted to see both the American history museum and the native American museum, both were closed.

I plan on going back some day but I think I may end up at the Stark Museum of Art before I get back to DC. At least I will as long as I move back to Texas like I’m hoping to do. The Stark Museum is located in Orange Texas and has a large collection of Western art and native American art, it’s not just about art though they have books and manuscripts so you can learn a little about the cultures that are in the museum. One collection I am interested in is their decorative arts collection. This collection consist mostly of glass and porcelain. I’m interested in it from a design perspective. Of course all of the art interest me because of this. Another reason I would like to visit this museum is because of there connection to the stark foundation. This foundation supports the arts, education and human services.

Museums are a great place to figure out what kind of art you like. You can check out many different kinds of art and decide what you would like in your home. Art is a great way to express yourself and impress your guest. The best part is you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars. There are many reproductions of famous works that you can get for less the $100. I suggest though you find one piece you really like at an art auction, that way you have something to talk to your guest about. If your planning a summer trip you should really think about adding this museum to your list and visiting the town of Orange Texas. You never know what you may find to add to your home.

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I love style that can change with the times, the season or just your mood. That is one reason I love digital photo frames. They are easy to use and you can change the picture in them any time you want. I am hoping that I will have enough money to buy my mom one for Christmas this year as she had 5 kids and already has 3 grandkids. I think it would be a great way for her to be able to add to it and see all of them without cluttering the house with picture frames.

buying a digital photo frame can be tricky as most of them are smaller frames. If your looking for a big one to put on the wall you may have to wait a while or spend a lot of money. The small ones are still very useful though and allow you to store so many pictures. A classmate of mine has 2 of them over her fireplace with pictures of her nieces and nephews and her dog.

Not only do these frames keep your pictures organized they help you with your feng shui as well. You don’t have to have tons of picture frames all over to enjoy your photos now you can have them all in one spot and can enjoy a nice clean home design.

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When you walk into a room the lack of wall decor can sometimes ruin the whole experience of the room. You want the room to be inviting and fun.  But it can be hard to find just the right thing to go into that room.

Well thanks to the wonderful selection and prices at Wall Decor and Home Accents you can find just the piece you are looking for. The site is very easy to use and you will love what they have to offer.

Today I’m going to highlight their metal wall art. As you can see from the pictures on this post they don’t have just everyday metal art. They have interesting and fun pieces that will really make your room sing as you walk into it. A good piece of art can strike up a conversation with people who you may never have talked to before. Are you looking for a promotion or to get the attention of an attractive co-worker? Have a party get some great art and talk to that person.

It’s amazing what good design can get you these days.

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When looking for accessories you don’t always have to go to the most expensive thing, sometimes you just want to have something that if it’s ruined your not out $5000. This is the case with paintings. I personally would buy a painting that is a knock off or reproduction rather then the real painting. Of course there are exceptions but I still would not display them without some sort of protection and a good security system.

For most people though a monet oil reproduction is just as good as the real thing. So what is my advice when looking for paintings. Check some antique stores, the dollar stores are wonderful if you have kids or go ahead and splurge a little.

If price is not an issue, buy something you love, but something that will either go with your decor or stand out in a good way. If you have mostly antique furniture don’t buy a modern painting. The clash. If you have a mix of furnishings a modern painting may work well.

Whatever you do choose something for yourself, not because it’s expensive and it will help you make friends. People who buy things based on the money factor tend to not appreciate it as much. At least that is my experience anyway.

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My sister has talked about putting in a game room when she moves so that her kids can have their friends over and she doesn’t have to worry about what they are doing. This is a huge trend right now with concerned parents and of course a big trend in the design industry as well.

Decorating this type of room can be hard. You want it kid friendly, but you also want it to be fun for the adults and teens too. That is where good design comes into play. One great accessory for this type of room are posters and pictures that reflect activities that may either go on in the room, or just fun images that spark enjoyment. I like using Vintage Paper Ads because they have a classic but fun look to them that can liven up any room.

There are many sites where you can get ad’s like this, but one of the easiest to use is vintagepaperads.com. Use of classic ads like the one on the left is a great way to show children the history of some of their favorite products. Of course there are even more products to choose from at this site, some of the categories include, Alcohol / Beer, Food / Restaurant and Travel / Tourism. All great picks for a well designed game or entertainment room.

What else you add into that room all depends on your children and your likes and dislikes. Make the room fun for everyone and you won’t have to worry about what your kids are doing. You will know exactly where they are and who they are with since they will be right in your own home.

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There are many different ways to collect good artwork for your home, you can go to a gallery and buy it right off the wall. You can go to an auction and bid for the item against other people or you can walk through art and find what you really are looking for.

What I mean by walking thorough art is that you participate in many of the art fairs and art walks around the country. The St. Augustine Artwalk is suppose to be a wonderful and huge event, my grandparents go there every year, which is why we are having an early Christmas. They want to get to Florida early so they can buy some nice things to send back to us.

This is a great way to find unique art that no one else will have, artist from around the world attend these types of events. There is an art fair where I use to live that is held every summer. I have met people from china and Europe who have the most amazing artwork you have ever seen. The St. Augustine First Friday Weekend Art Walk is a walk around the gallery’s of the town, they even provide a shuttle for you if you don’t want to walk. This is a unique idea as I have never seen anything like this before. The best part about it is it’s not a once a year thing, it’s done on the first weekend of every month. So if your in the area check out this event and you may come home with a treasure that you can show off to all of your friends and may even be the completing piece to that design you have been working on.

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