When it comes to decorative wooden boxes you have almost no shortage of themes or motifs to choose from. This is because a plain wooden box of any size or design is one of the most versatile of fashionable objects that exists. You can put a box like this in any room to add a touch of rustic hominess or exotic Asian elegance.

If you go shopping for decorative wooden boxes you will note that they come in many different types of hand painted styles. You will also note that you can buy plain wooden boxes made of wood. You can varnish this type of box yourself or put a decoupaged image on it to make it more elegant. You can also get all kinds of different closings for these boxes including latches, leather snaps and interlocking parts. If you are really handy with glue and a needle you can also line this type of box by yourself with velour, silk or cotton.

Perhaps one of the oldest and simplest of styles is the Chinese lacquered box, which usually does not have much detail but rather concentrates on a single symbol or motif from nature. Many of the Chinese symbols painted on wooden boxes symbolize different virtues or qualities. For instance a wooden box painted with peonies symbolizes love; a crane symbolizes longevity and a goldfish symbolizes money. It is very common for wooden Chinese boxes to be lacquered and painted with scenes of royalty as well.

However do not buy these if you do not like the Asian look for your home – this is not the most versatile of wooden box styles.

It is very, very common to find wooden boxes that have wooden floral motif painted on the top. This is a kind of country or western style of box that has become very popular over the years. Usually the floral design is of a rose and it can be painted on a decorative wooden box of either very light or very dark colored woods. In the Depression era it was not unusual to find boxes painted black that had been decorated with a floral motif (usually in pink or gold.) These are quite classic and traditional looking boxes.

As wooden boxes are more valuable if they have inlaid designs it is also quite common to find boxes that have been painted with what is called “faux marquetry.” These are boxes upon which checkerboard or other designs are painted to resemble the real thing. You can also find boxes that have been painted with a faux wood burl or faux wood grain. The irony is that some of these beautiful painted boxes are so artistic that they are almost worth as much as the real thing!

A lot of the most contemporary modern furniture on the market today is based on retro 70s designs. This is because the modular nature and portability of this type of furniture is very well suited to today’s smaller homes, lofts and condominiums.

If you want your room to look like it is decorated with modern furniture then avoid floral patterns (unless they look like the old Mary Quant cosmetic logo) and stick to patterns that are more abstract. Cotton fabrics are also out of style and your place will look more modern if your couch, armchair or ottomans are made of leather, polyvinyl or a polyester blend.

Another tip is to choose a bright, almost neon primary color as the color scheme for the color of your fabrics and rugs. Colors that are very hot when it comes to choosing modern furniture are orange, brown, light green, pink, yellow and white. Black is still classic but it is not currently as sophisticated as brown or white. You should also choose exotic faux or real animal coverings when you shop for furniture. Brown and white calfskin would be a good trendy choice for 2007.

Wood is not that hip right now unless you choose modern furniture that has a bit of a Danish design flair. This type of furniture is usually made of teak or a similar durable yet lightweight wood. In the design of a table, coffee table or chairs look for designs where the chair legs are sloped slightly outwards. Molded arms and backs that are smooth and curvy are also desirable elements in modern furniture. Even heavier items such as stand up dressers and bureaus should have a light look to them. Also very hip right now are wooden items where the handles are carved right into the drawer surface.

When choosing a bed frame, couch or chair the idea is to choose items that are lower set. High set furniture is considered to be more nineties. You should also look for chairs that have beveled, molded shapes that seem to have a bit of concession to the shape of the human bottom and back.

Yet another good choice of modern furniture is molded plastic furniture. These are usually cubes or distortions of geometric shapes that are brightly colored and yet designed to accommodate the human body. You can also buy stacking coffee tables, stools and other items that have this seventies space age look to them to furnish your home or apartment.

Your choice of lighting can also go a long way towards making your seventies retro inspired décor more authentic.

Here are some great Feng Shui tips (the ancient art of Chinese Object placement) to attract love.

The kitchen is the domestic place of love and in Feng Shui things displayed in pairs attract soul mates so go ahead and use “male and female” salt and pepper shakers to magnetize the opposite sex. You can use the symbolism of salt and pepper shakers to attract a mate as well. A pair of chickens or ducks in the shape of salt and pepper shakes can symbolize a great love.

To enhance fertility, display copper fish molds. Copper is a favorite metal of the Chinese goddess Quan Yin and also of the Roman goddess Venus. Fish symbolize fertility so be sure to hang them on your kitchen walls. Round shapes are also conducive to creating good relationships.

Ceramic tiles bring love. Decorate walls and tiles with ceramic as opposed to linoleum. Pink or rose colored ceramic tiles as well as walls painted in rosy tones bring love especially if this color is in the kitchen or bedroom.

Crystal Ware can clear bad energy. You don’t have to use stones like quartz to clear bad emotional energy from a room. Any type of crystal glass, vase or statue can also be used to create loving chi anywhere in your home.

You also can’t go wrong with heart shapes in the kitchen. Hearts, especially twin hearts are a good theme for linen, wallpaper and statuary in the kitchen. Heart shaped cookie cutters and salt and peppershakers also attract love.

Considering baking your heart out! Heart shaped molds or cake pans may be hung on the wall to enhance the love attracting properties in the kitchen and of course every time you use on of these you are cooking up passion.

Light colored wood attracts love. Furniture should be made of a light colored wood. Woods made from fruit trees such as cherry attract love. Avoid heavy, metal or glass black furniture that create blocks to the free flow of energy.

Finally always make sure that your appliances are in good working order. If appliances are broken it can symbolize broken relationships.

Finally keep your home absolutely clear of clutter. There is an old saying that “Venus won’t enter an empty home.” Venus was the Goddess of Love. Keep your home absolutely pristine and clean so that love will feel willing and able to enter your life at any time.

There is no simpler or dramatic way to totally transform the look of a room than to change the window coverings. You can do this by buying new Venetian blinds or window shades but probably the cheapest way is to simply change the curtains.

One the least expensive window coverings is achieved by simply removing the current curtain rod and replacing it with a new one. You can forget about buying rails and all that jazz. The simplest and most modern looking window coverings are simply swaths of fabric that hang from pinch clips. Pinch clips are hoops, which like clothespins, grip the edge of the fabric and allow you to hang any kind of drape or material (hemmed or unharmed) from the curtain rods. One very popular look is to simply buy a very fancy wrought iron or aluminum rod and then hang white hemmed sheets from it that have been hemmed. You still get that romantic billowing look without the expense of spending money on prefabricated drapes. You can also sew your own drapes using any fabric that tickles your fancy, including eyelet, cotton, satin, velvet or sheers. Many fabric stores also sell ropes, tassels and ribbons that can be used as tiebacks for the curtains.

There are also curtains and window coverings available that don’t require any type of clip. These curtains come with fabric loops that easily slide along the curtain. These curtains, which come in a variety of designs and fabrics, are very inexpensive but you can also make your own by attaching your own loops to fabric. One handy feature is to have each fabric curtain loop fastened with buttons or Velcro to make the curtain easy to remove from the rod for washing.

You can also make your own window coverings out of specialty papers. These are transparent window blinds that are made from rice paper. Some of these papers are absolutely beautiful and feature details such as glitter, leaves or threads pressed right into mesh of the paper fibers. To make the curtain all you have to do is attach it to pinch clips. If you buy these in the store they are usually quite expensive especially if they are decorated with a motif pattern or a design as they are considered to be a bit haute couture.

Always remember that the more fabric, swags and pleats there are to your curtains, the more formal the room will look. The simpler your window treatment is, as would be the case with rice paper roll blinds or a single sheer hung from a curtain rod, the less formal the entire effect will be.

Here are some merry wreathes that you can hang on your front door and that can bring luck to you and your family.

Midsummer Hay Ring

This wreathe allows you to celebrate the height of summer’s glory with a dried flower hay ring composed of dried flowers in many colors. It can be hung on a rustic gate, on an outside wall or set up on a mantelpiece.

As it is made of hay you may prefer it outdoors if allergies are a problem.

Materials

Green twine
10 inches (25 cm) diameter copper wire ring
bundle of dry hay or dry sphagnum moss
selection of colorful dried flowers such as sea lavender, statice, cornflowers, strawflowers and carthamus
scissors
florists silver roll wire
wire cutters
stub floral wires
ribbons in colors that compliment the flowers

Step 1

Tie the twine to the outer circle of the ring. Place handfuls of hay or moss over the ring and bind it securely with the twine.

Step 2

Gather the flowers into small, colorful mixed posies. Cut the stems short and bind them florist’s silver wire.

Step 3

Cut several stub floral wires in half and bend them to make U shaped staples.

Place a posy over the covered ring, loop a staple over the stems and press them into the hay or moss. Bend back the wire ends and twist them around the back of the ring to secure them.

Step 4

Continue fixing more posies around the ring so that the heads of each one cover the stems of the one before. Alternate the colors for the brightest effect. Fold the ribbon lengths in half and attach them to the ring with a floral wire.
You can also make a Striped Rose Ring Wreathe

This is a mass of roses in two contrasting colors that once placed on the ring create the optical illusion of stripes. The roses you use can be of any color. We have only used red and yellow here as an example.

Materials

Scissors
34 stems dried red roses
33 stems dried yellow roses.
4-inch (10 cm) diameter plastic foam ring for dried flowers
ribbon.
This is George Bush laying a striped style of wreath at Ground Zero in New York. Only in this case there are also carnations in the mix.

Step 1

Cut the rose stems to 2.5 inches.

Around the outside edge of the foam ring form a circle of alternating yellow and red roses by gluing their stems and pushing them into the foam. Be sure to leave a small gap in the rose circle for a ribbon to be fixed into.

Step 2

Inside the first circle construct a second circle offsetting the colors in the first ring. Continue building circles of roses until the ring is covered.

Your summer rose wreathe is complete!

Take your friends on an afternoon safari with a Kenya tea party that includes leopard and zebra print decor, spicy dips and curry from Kenya, traditional British scones with jam, German chocolate cake as well as playing croquet for a good cause.

Kenya culture has a bit of an unusual history. To throw an authentic Kenya Tea Party you will find yourself incorporating three different important culinary influences: spicy Kenyan dips and curries, German desserts and traditional British tea bites. This is because Germany was the first country to colonize Kenya in 1885 followed by England about 30 years later.

The theme of this party is Safari in Africa. This is your time to get out your best safari themed accessories and linens such as Zebra print, leopard print and bamboo print tablecloths and linen. Rattan and woven furniture also evokes the culture Kenya. The china can be a traditional British white or you can go for a brown earthenware look that is more German in flair.

A Kenyan tea party is perfect to throw for ten to twelve friends who just need an excuse to get together and perhaps indulge in a bit of croquet. To enhance the colonial feel you could ask your guests to dress in all in white. However much more fun would be to ask them to dress in leopard or zebra prints. Make sure the paper you send out the invitation on is also in a leopard or zebra print.

Another way to evoke the atmosphere of Kenya would be to play some indigenous African music, or at least music with a bit of a tribal sound. Many of the electronic dance bands from Germany incorporate tribal rhythms in their contemporary mixes.

As a party favor each guest could receive a little gift bag of Kenyan coffee or tea or a small donation to an African charity in their name. You could also encourage individuals to donate to an African charity by setting up a decorative donation box at the door. You could also set up bets as to who will win a croquet tournament and use the proceedings to help the Red Cross or another good cause.

Remember that the key to throwing a fantastic Kenya party is to make it a mix of German, English and Kenya culture.

Here are even more great tips for making your home more serene using the ancient Chinese art of object placement.
DECORATE WITH NATURAL MATERIALS. Stay away from plastics and formicas and go for bamboo, marble and cork surfaces. The less manmade and more recyclable the material the more peaceful your home will see. It is very Asian to decorate with furniture made out of bamboo, wicker and other natural materials.
KEEP FLOWERS AROUND. Keep natural fresh flowers around. Do not use artificial blooms unless you plan to keep them very clean. Dust on artificial plants is bad energy in general. The very best way to create a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere is to make sure that you have cut live flowers that are pest free. Do not keep wilting flowers around as that symbolizes fatigue.
KEEP EXERCISE EQUIPMENT OUT OF MAIN ROOMS. Exercise equipment that resembles boats or vehicles can create disruption in your home’s energy because they symbolize travel. They are especially bad in the bedroom and dining room because they represent motion when these are activities that should be enjoyed while one is still and relaxing. If possible store these items out of sight whenever you can.
KEEP CEILING FANS OUT OF BEDROOMS. These create “cutting chi” that is unhealthy and can interrupt peaceful sleep. This is because they symbolize the cutting of the air and air symbolizes energy.
REMOVE MIRRORS FROM BEDROOMS. Remove mirrors from any place that you sleep.. If you have one in your bedroom, remove it immediately, since it is said that the energy created by mirrors in this space can cause insomnia. Move mirrors to your dining room instead where the reflection of opulence and food brings wealth. Mirrors are also good in the kitchen. Whatever you do, do not hang a mirror so that it cuts off any part of the head. This will cause headaches.
CLOSE YOUR BEDROOM DOOR WHEN SLEEPING. This helps make your bedroom more of a womb or cocoon that facilitates relaxation. This is especially important to do if you have boisterous children or pets.
CREATE PEACE WITH PLANTS. Almost all plants create a peaceful atmosphere unless they are somehow dying or dusty. The bigger the plant the more calming it will be to you. Avoid spikey plants like cactus as they trap harsher energy. Instead opt for plants that have large fronds and leaves and that are more Asian or tropical in flair. As an added bonus – the bigger the plant the better it will be at cleaning the air with the oxygen that these plants produce.

In the last blog we discussed Feng Shui tips for a peaceful home. In this blog we are going to add a few more suggestions that can help bring serenity to your life.
KEEP THE TV OUT OF THE BEDROOM AND LIVING ROOM. For the ultimate calming atmosphere put the television in an area known as the family or recreation room. Other rooms should not be interrupted by the constant noise of the television. The constant chatter is disruptive and not condusive to meditation. The same thing goes for radio, iPods, laptops and anything that makes a lot of noise.
KEEP THE LIGHTING LOW. Dispense with overhead lights that are harsh and glaring and instead opt for lights that are more obtuse. Angle lamps so they spotlight special areas in the room. However even though it is a good idea to be decorative with lights make sure that the room is not actually dark as this is considered to create bad luck when it comes to the fine art of Feng Shui. Red or soft pink lighting is considered to be very reassuring and also lucky.
GET RID OF FLOURESCENT LIGHTS. Fluorescent lights are too white and the light is too flicker to be relaxing. White is not a lucky color according to the principles of Feng Shui. You should not be basking in any type of glare.
GET RID OF PROTRUDING CORNERS. According to feng shui theory, corners or any sharp, pointed objects are “poison arrows” that carry ill fortune and direct negative energy toward whatever they face. If they point toward the bed, they can interrupt sleep. If you can’t move the offending objects, try re-angling your bed so that you don’t face any of these potential energy-sappers when you are trying to get some rest.
DON’T COMBINE LIVING AND WORKING SPACES. Many people who live in condos have this problem. For instance you should never sleep where you work or relax where you work. Think of another option for your work area. Banish bills and paperwork from your eyesight so you are not disturbed.
DON’T DECORATE WITH FLIMSY FURNITURE. Furniture that wobbles, is cheap or that simply seems skimpy in structure does not create peace in a home. It creates an atmosphere that seems unstable and this insecurity can translate itself into your relationships. If you do put together furniture from Ikea or a similar store make sure that you do it properly and that the screws and nails are in properly to avoid problems.
DECORATE WITH CRYSTALS AND STONES. Crystals and stones help ground a room and give it an earthy, grounded quality that is conducive to relaxation. The more natural the materials are in your room, the closer to nature you will feel and the more comforted you will feel in your own home.
9.
Feng Shui Decorating Tips for a Peaceful Home
Here are even more great tips for making your home more serene using the ancient Chinese art of object placement.
DECORATE WITH NATURAL MATERIALS. Stay away from plastics and formicas and go for bamboo, marble and cork surfaces. The less manmade and more recyclable the material the more peaceful your home will see. It is very Asian to decorate with furniture made out of bamboo, wicker and other natural materials.
KEEP FLOWERS AROUND. Keep natural fresh flowers around. Do not use artificial blooms unless you plan to keep them very clean. Dust on artificial plants is bad energy in general. The very best way to create a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere is to make sure that you have cut live flowers that are pest free. Do not keep wilting flowers around as that symbolizes fatigue.
KEEP EXERCISE EQUIPMENT OUT OF MAIN ROOMS. Exercise equipment that resembles boats or vehicles can create disruption in your home’s energy because they symbolize travel. They are especially bad in the bedroom and dining room because they represent motion when these are activities that should be enjoyed while one is still and relaxing. If possible store these items out of sight whenever you can.
KEEP CEILING FANS OUT OF BEDROOMS. These create “cutting chi” that is unhealthy and can interrupt peaceful sleep. This is because they symbolize the cutting of the air and air symbolizes energy.
REMOVE MIRRORS FROM BEDROOMS. Remove mirrors from any place that you sleep.. If you have one in your bedroom, remove it immediately, since it is said that the energy created by mirrors in this space can cause insomnia. Move mirrors to your dining room instead where the reflection of opulence and food brings wealth. Mirrors are also good in the kitchen. Whatever you do, do not hang a mirror so that it cuts off any part of the head. This will cause headaches.
CLOSE YOUR BEDROOM DOOR WHEN SLEEPING. This helps make your bedroom more of a womb or cocoon that facilitates relaxation. This is especially important to do if you have boisterous children or pets.
CREATE PEACE WITH PLANTS. Almost all plants create a peaceful atmosphere unless they are somehow dying or dusty. The bigger the plant the more calming it will be to you. Avoid spikey plants like cactus as they trap harsher energy. Instead opt for plants that have large fronds and leaves and that are more Asian or tropical in flair. As an added bonus – the bigger the plant the better it will be at cleaning the air with the oxygen that these plants produce.

In these troubled times your home should be your sanctuary. Feng Shui, which translates from Chinese to mean “wind-water” is an ancient art that teaches us how to arrange furniture, belongings, and other parts of our home to enjoy better health, prosperity, comfort, and a higher quality of life overall.

Here are some tips from the realm of Feng Shui (the ancient art of object placement) to give your home a more harmonious and peaceful vibe.

CLEAR ALL CLUTTER. You have probably heard this advice again and again when it comes to Feng Shui but it really is true that good energy does not generate in a messy home. Clutter is negative because it traps Shar Chi (negative energy) in places and this can manifest itself in conflict amongst family members and visitors. Clutter also causes boggled thinking and confusion.

CLEAN YOUR DRAINS. Water represents emotions in Feng Shui so if your drains are clogged then it symbolizes old repressed feelings like resentment or jealousy overwhelming the psyche. Make sure your drains work properly so that people are not holding onto negative things in your relationships. Flooded sinks, bathrooms and toilets mean a personality that is also flooded with negative emotions.

GET RID OF SHARP OBJECTS. Don’t leave sharp objects like scissors, pliers or knives just lying around. Put them away and make sure they are sheathed. Don’t hang knives on the wall or put them on display in the kitchen either. You should also not have decorative swords or knives hanging on the wall. Sharp objects symbolize harsh words and the cutting of ties in important, intimate relationships.

PUT UP PICTURES OF NATURE. Pictures of flowers, birds or peaceful landscapes help set a peaceful tone for the room and create calm and quiet. Cityscapes and ships sailing on stormy seas create an opposite effect. If you put up pictures of flower buds or birds in duos you encourage the sustaining of a relationship and fidelity. If you are single pictures of birds or blossoms in duos can help you meditate on the goal of finding a true love.

PAINT ROOMS IN A SINGLE COLOR. Painting a room too many colors can cause disruptive energy. To keep a peaceful atmosphere about the home paint each room a single color or in a single color palette. Some colors are definitely more calming than others and this may depend on personal taste. Pinks are calming for some individuals and yet others like dark earth tones and greens. Loud colors such as bright red are not that calming for most people but once again the color may depend on the context of the room.

Here are some more tips for making a cocktail look absolutely great.
A great substitute for the maraschino cherry in a cocktail is to make your own brandied cherry. All this requires is soaking your favorite type of cherry in a bottle filled with brandy. These brandied cherries can also be used to garnish desserts. You can also try Queen Ann cherries that have been soaked in dry French Vermouth.
To make a cherry tomato flower simply dissect a cherry tomato by cutting it into four slices from the top downwards. However don’t slice through to the base of the tomato. This allows you to fan the “petals” of the cherry tomato. They look great dropped into the bottom of a drink.
Red clover is an edible flower that really goes well with lamb. This is because it has a bit of a licorice flavor. The flower also makes a nice garnish for a glass of Sambuca or Pernod,
Making Sambuca flavored Martini? Try garnishing it with a strip of licorice. Licorice also goes well with milk cocktails.
To add a peppermint twist to a mug of alcoholic hot chocolate or coffee try garnishing it with a candy cane. You can also grind up a candy cane in your food processor until it is powder and use it a rimming powder for your mugs.
Honeysuckle flowers make a beautiful and unusual garnish for just about any type of drink!
A cranberry ice ring can be floated in a punch bowl or simply placed on a plate to keep other items chilled. To make, fill a ring mold with an inch or two of water and freeze. Once frozen, place a pound of cranberries on top of the ice and cover with more water. Freeze until solid and then unmold on a platter or into a punch bowl as desired.
Violet blossoms also look nice frozen in ice cubes to give a drink a dash of purple.

To add a dash of glamour to a glass of champagne sprinkle a bit of edible gold glitter into the glass. Add a strawberry to make it extra elegant.
A smoked oyster paired with a black olive makes a super modern garnish for a modern day vodka martini. In adventurous bars in L.A. the trend is to serve a raw oyster at the bottom of a martini made with pepper vodka.
The next time you serve a rum Collins or any kind of tall rum based drink consider using a long tall stick of sugar cane as a swizzle stick. The sugar in the cane also adds natural sweetness to the alcohol.