A guide to patio awnings

In many homes, especially in suburban and rural locations, the patio is one of the most cherished places in the home. Patios remind us of good times with friends and family, as the kids play and the ribs sizzle on the barbecue. Many of us also spend a considerable amount of money on our patio furniture and equipment to make it a more inviting and charming location.

Patio awnings are one way to increase the enjoyment of your patio experience. Patio awnings provide shelter from summer heat and provide much-needed shade on those sweltering evening cookouts. Patio awnings are increasing in popularity and are available in an endless variety of styles, colors and options.

Some people like the fact that patio awnings seem to add space and square footage to a home. A patio in itself is an attractive feature of any home. When you add patio awnings, however, it seems almost as if a room has been added to the home. A patio awning seems to almost enclose the patio and creates an outdoor room that everyone is sure to enjoy.

Patio awnings are available in both manual and electronic styles. The manual style patio awnings allow the homeowner to manually adjust the depth, or pitch, of the awning’s fabric. You can choose to have the awning completely open or merely partially open according to your preferences. Automatic, or electronic, patio awnings are controlled by electronic “arms” with the push of a button; many also have remote controls for easier use. Automatic patio awnings usually also come with a manual override feature in case of a power outage. or if the motor should stop performing.

Interior decorating and home decor with inuit art from the arctic north

In order to help give a room a classier touch, interior decorators have used sculptures to bring in a mansion or even museum-like feel to a home. This is particularly true for the interior decorating of living rooms, dens, home offices and hallways. When many people consider sculptures as home decor, the thought comes to ancient Roman or Greek mythological characters like Apollo, Venus or Zeus. Others think about abstract contemporary fine art sculptures that are sometimes difficult to interpret. Since there has been a trend in recent years towards a more natural look with more earthy color tones for interior decorating, Inuit art from the Canadian Arctic north can fit in nicely as part of home decor.

Most subjects used in Inuit art tend to be focused on the observations that the Inuit people (formerly referred to as Eskimos in Canada) make of their Arctic surroundings whether the pieces are soapstone sculptures or prints of drawings. We often see Inuit art depicting Arctic wildlife including polar bears, seals, whales and walruses as well as lifestyle scenes involving family or hunting. The Inuit have been carving stone sculptures for thousands of years but it was only introduced as fine art to the modern world on a significant scale during the 1950s. Today, Inuit art has gained international recognition as a valid form of contemporary fine art.

Colors of Inuit sculptures tend to be polished shades of blacks, grays, browns, greens and whites. Inuit artists also tend to utilize relatively neutral colors for their art prints which work well with all color ranges of today's more natural styles of interior decorating. Adding an Inuit sculpture on an end table, mantle or shelf gives a living room or office that gallery touch. An Inuit art print on the wall of a hallway or corridor also works the same way. Since the majority of people especially outside Canada have never seen Inuit art before, such artwork in a home will often end up as conversational pieces with guests.

There are Inuit stone sculptures to suit almost every price range and budget at about $100 to several thousand dollars for large, intricate pieces. Most can be purchased at galleries located in major Canadian cities but there are now a few galleries located in the USA and Europe that specialize in this form of art. Not surprisingly, the latest retail source of Inuit art is on the internet. This development is especially useful for those who are not located near an Inuit art gallery. Check out some examples of Inuit art either in a gallery or online and imagine how a piece or two can be part of your home's interior decorating.

Hideaway beds - have you considered a fu-chest

What is a Fu-Chest? It's a full length bed that folds and stores itself into what looks like an elegant chest of drawers. It's a hideaway bed for the decor conscious! When the bed is stored away you see a chest of drawers, but it's actually a faux chest containing your hideaway bed.

This innovative "hideaway bed" pulls out neatly to rest on a raised wooden platform. The sleep experience is comfortable with the mattress being fairly thick and cozy. The sturdy platform is a great feature to keep your guests off the floor. This gives them a more comfortable sleep time, just what every host or hostess strives for.

The Fu-Chest mattress is a B-fold innerspring mattress, or you can purchase a specially designed futon mattress that will work just as well and it's normally available at a lower price.

Designs of the faux chest include both contemporary and traditional pieces with handsome hardware in both light wood pieces and darker wood. There surely is a good match available for your current decor. If you'd like something that also provides some storage space, look for designs that include a usable storage drawer. When not in use, the top shelf can also be used to display collectibles or books, whatever you like.

I find the Fu-Chest is a terrific option for those who wish to offer their guests a cozy bed to sleep on, but don't have the space for a permanent guest bed. It keeps guests off the floor and on a comfy mattress. If you have space concerns yet need something for guests to sleep on, consider a Fu-Chest. I find it to be a worthwhile investment for those who need a guest bed but don't have the space for one.

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