Tag Archives: style

Decorative Wooden Boxes

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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!

How to Decorate With Seventies Style Mod Furniture

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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.