Halogen torchiere floor lamps, freestanding lamps with open, shallow bowl tops that provide indirect “up lighting,” have become increasingly popular since their introduction in the United States in 1983. These lamps use halogen tubular bulbs, which get much hotter than standard light bulbs. Since the tops are open, flammable items such as curtains can easily ignite through direct contact with the halogen bulb.Most regular torchiere floor lamps use halogen bulbs that burn at temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees hot enough to fry an egg in 30 seconds! This is well above the combustion temperatures for paper, wood and fabric, which range from 350-500 degrees F. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has attributed at least 31 deaths, 114 injuries and at least 350 fires resulting in $2 million in property damage to these lamps.

But Energy Star labeled torchiere floor lamps use compact fluorescent bulbs that burn much cooler, last 5 times longer and use 80% less energy. For example, an Energy Star torchiere uses a 56-watt fluorescent bulb, which gives the same amount of light as a 300-watt halogen bulb. Energy Star torchieres have full range or 3 ways dimming, come in a variety of styles and have a two-year warranty.

For something fun and funky, use a yellow painted bulb covered in silicone. This is a pricey bulb, but it’s definitely a conversation starter. If you enjoy brilliant colors with stained glass shades, check out the style stained glass lamps. From stained glass, contemporary table lamps, desk lamps, traditional lamps, and mica lamps.

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If the window looks onto streets or sidewalks, then curtains can be used for privacy. Translucent curtains like net curtains or sheer curtains will only block sunlight partially. These types of curtains do not provide any privacy, especially at night. For privacy opaque curtains are better.Curtains are also used for light control to prevent glare, for sleeping during the day, or watching TV etc. Opaque curtains are suited for light control. For partial light control sheer or net type curtains are better suited.

Curtains are also used for increasing the aesthetic appeal of a room. An elegant curtain greatly increases the aesthetics of a room and gives an opulent look. On the contrary dirty or ill matched curtains give a room a gloomy look. When the window looks onto a street it is better to give thought to the underside of the curtain as the curtain can be seen from outside and will dictate the appearance of the house.

Types of Curtain

There are lots of varieties of curtains available in the market today. Few of them are:

Curtain Valance. These have deep frill fabrics framing the window and usually the curtain rod is hidden. They generally have pleated heading. The pleated headings can be decorated using braid, ribbons, tassels and trimmings.

Cascade Curtains. Cascaded curtains consist of two or more curtains hung over the window. The tiers are hung from transoms.

Shirred curtains. These types of curtains have the fabric threaded through curtain rods at the top and bottom.

Tie back curtains. These curtains are gathered at the sides of the window and decoratively tied back at the lower part of the curtain with a sleeve or cord.

Café curtains. These are designed to cover only half of the window and are stationary. They are usually used in kitchens and bathrooms for privacy and are made form scalloped headings.

Pelmets. Pelmets are structures mounted above the windows on which the curtain rod is fixed.

The choice of curtains depends on the purpose for which the curtains are being installed. Color, fabric and style of curtain give the room a formal or informal appearance. There are lots of decorative rods, pelmets, cording, sleeves, beads, fringes, rings, eyelets available in the market to decorate curtains. Also a thought should be given on safety for floor length curtains when pets and children are present in the house.

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Although ceramic mural tile goes through phases of popularity, its appeal reached an apex during the Arts & Crafts movement, which endured until the 1920s. Because of the current resurgence of interest in the Arts & Crafts period, ceramic mural tile has once again experienced a surge in status among designers, decorators, and, of course, ceramic mural tile artisans.Learning the craft of making ceramic mural tile takes more than an inherent artistic talent. It also entails becoming educated about such things as different clays, paints, firing techniques, kilns and other firing equipment, and a host of minute details only someone truly committed to the task would undergo. Most serious ceramic tile artisans spend a lifetime not only fine-tuning their craft, but constantly searching for means and methods of improving their techniques and learning about the latest and best processes necessary for creating quality ceramic mural tile for their patrons.

An awareness of the length of time and the commitment necessary to learn the techniques of creating high-quality ceramic mural tile makes it easier to understand the sometimes eyebrow-raising prices these artisans require. Most of them with reputations for superior work ask for – and get – sixty dollars or more per hour to create custom ceramic mural tile offerings for customers with specialized requests.

So the next time you see a gorgeous, hand painted ceramic mural tile example, keep some things in mind. When one considers the history of the craft, the hours and hours spent learning and perfecting it, and then the actual creation of ceramic mural tile, the price suddenly comes into perspective. You may even come to think of that painstakingly rendered ceramic mural tile you have hanging in your home for just what it is – almost priceless!

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• November 7, 2009 — Suggestions for Decorating Your Bathroom (4)
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