Author Archives: Jennifer

How To Decorate With Copper Tables

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Do you love the burnished look of a copper table? You can buy affordable copper table with round tops and four legs that look perfect next to any bed or armchair or draped with hanging plants.

The great thing about a copper table is that it can suit a lot of different decors from rustic, to nautical to contemporary to post-modern.

If you are a looking for a copper table that seems contemporary then it is good to look for one that has a bit of a retro seventies feel. A great example of this type of table is the Aquidneck Island Copper Table which has a beautiful splayed four legged base crafted out of recycled boat wood.

The top of this type of table is a sheet of copper, crimped like the edges of a coin with a beautiful map of Aquidneck Island etched into the top. You don’t have to go for this classic image however. You can commission any image you want as a graphic on these copper table tops.

Most copper tables are handcrafted by artisans in the Cape Cod area so of course boat themes are to be expected. These tables look great anywhere there is a lobby, living room or outdoor patio near the ocean.

The ultimate nautical theme is the antique compass. Look for the ones made out of rose copper that have the famous compass rose which features an eight pointed compass with a wild rose image in the center. This famous sea faring image as been around since the 1300s.

There is a copper table design that is cropping up in the nicest newest post-modern cottages along the Eastern seaboard that features a gleaming strand of orange copper running counter clockwise in a spiral through a flat bed of bright aqua oxidized copper. The green/blue color is technically known as verdigris and usually would take about thirty years to naturally happen. However a group of Rhode Island artisans has figured out how to accelerate the rusting of copper to create these unusual tables. Not one is like the other as they have to be hand-made and hand-treated to achieve the slightly psychedelic effect of the table top.

When shopping for copper tables make sure that they are protected with a resin coating so that they do not oxidize on you and turn green – unless the greening of the table is part of a chic effect that you want.

How to Decorate a Fish Tank

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If you are going to decorate a fish tank it is a really good idea to NOT use any found items. By them at a reputable shop or you could poison your fish.

As a general rule, fish like cover. Fish that are from shallow ponds or lakes, or slow-moving rivers prefer “soft cover,” which is primarily plants, but includes other fine or lush forms of decor. Fish from rapid running waters or from deep, open areas tend to prefer “hard cover,” which is generally rocks, logs, and other large, solid objects.

For most fish, covering the tank with decorations over 50% to 75% of its space is appropriate. This means that a great deal of your aquarium will be taken up with decorating material. However, this also means that your fish feel comfortable. Remember that fish like tanks that have lots of decorative cover.

In a freshwater tank it is also a good idea to avoid real shells and coral skeletons, as well as limestone, as these materials will dissolve slowly in the aquarium, increasing the hardness and pH of the water.

It might seem obvious but please remember to put larger plants and decorations at the rear of the tank – this way you can view the fish whenever you want without obstructions. You can deliberately use taller decorations and plants to conceal the workings of the fish tank such as pumps, air tubes and wires.

Use groupings of the same type of plants and offset them with groupings of plants with a different color or texture to create a more attractive space. You can also use smaller plants or rocks to hide the edges of castles, volcanoes, water wheels, or other resin, ceramic, or plastic decorations to make them look more natural in the tank. Take two decorations that are your favorite and make them the focus of your plant.

Do not hesitate to give your fish a background to swim against. background provides a dark, or at least solid, wall for the fish, which can help make them more comfortable. A background will also help hide things that could otherwise detract from the appearance of your aquarium.

Decorate your fish tank with decorations that you like – provided that they are not toxic to the fish.” In most cases, the fish don’t care what your enchanted castle looks like! How natural you want it to look is truly up to you!