All posts by blogger

Adding Warmth To Your Modern Dcor

By blogger on

Modern dcor is often mistaken as being sterile and cold. The truth is, as with any style of dcor, warmth and style can be incorporated with use of color and choosing the right home accessories. While modern dcor relies upon clean lines and classic shapes, it can be warm and inviting when paired with soft accessories such as wall hangings, furnitures and floor coverings. Using color, texture and character pieces, even the most modern room can be warm and inviting.

To soften the sometimes cold look of a modern home design, begin by choosing pieces with natural wood. Wood offers warmth and comfort to any design. Adding soft cushions in restful, earthy colors to wood furniture pieces will create a comfortable, inviting area. Including home accessories that compliment the wood tones will help complete the design.

When it comes to adding warmth to modern designs, one of the most effective design elements is to allow the home to look lived in. Table dcor should be practical as well as decorative. Home accessories should reflect hobbies and interests. Even wall art dcor can incorporate travels and family photographs. Character and personality through little touches will help create a welcoming home.

Use of texture in home accessories will also add warmth to an otherwise modern and clean area. Fabric textures can bring interest and detail to pieces of furniture. Wall textures can have a warming effect on the whole room. Adding a touch of pattern or texture to any space will make it more homey and less stark and sterile. Even a neutral colored wall can be inviting when texture is added with wall art dcor.

Color is another important consideration when seeking to add warmth to an area. Modern design often relies on neutral walls and floors, and clean lines in furniture and decorations. By choosing a warm, earthy color to use as an accent in the home accessories throughout the room, the entire space will feel more welcoming and cheerful. Look for warm colors in deep, rich tones. Avoid primary colors or pastels, as these are not as restful or inviting. Incorporate these colors into furniture, wall hangings, small accessories and floor coverings.

Lighting is an important element in any home, but modern designs rely upon lamps and directed lighting to focus direction and create space. Use warm light sources such as natural light bulbs. Choose lampshades that create a warm light, instead of a cold, antiseptic and hard light. Mix and match a variety of light sources throughout the room, especially around those home accessories that you would like to accent.

Modern design is clean and appealing when properly balanced with warmth and comfort. No matter how modern your home design, you can create an inviting, cheerful home with the proper home accessories and dcor. Modern doesnt need to feel cold and hard. By incorporating pieces that reflect your interest and personality, choosing colors that are restful and cozy, and using natural wood pieces, your home will feel warm and friendly.

Vs 316 Stainless Steel

By blogger on

When first discussing the differences between 304 stainless steel and 316 steel we must first understand what stainless steel is. Stainless steel is always made using chromium. The minimum amount of chromium used to make stainless steel is 10.5%; it is chromium that makes the steel stainless. Chromium also improves the corrosion resistance by forming a chromium oxide film on the steel. This very thin layer, when placed under the right conditions, can also be self-repairing.

Other elements used to make stainless steel as well, including nickel, nitrogen and molybdenum. Bringing these elements together forms different crystal structures that enable a variety of properties in machining, welding and forming.
There are four major types of stainless steel. The first and most widely used is austenitic It has a nickel content of at least 7%, which makes it very flexible. It is used in a range of houseware products, industrial piping and vessels, constructional structures and architectural facades.

Ferritic stainless steel has similar properties to mild steel, but better corrosion resistance. This type of steel is commonly used in washing machines, boilers and indoor architecture. Martensitic stainless steel is a very hard, strong steel. It contains around 13% chromium and is used to make knives and turbine blades.

Finally, there is also a duplex stainless steel that is a composite of austenitic and ferritic steels. This steel is both strong and flexible. Duplex steels are most commonly used in the paper, pulp and shipbuilding industries. They are also widely used in the petrochemical industry.

Grade 304 is the standard “18/8” stainless; it is the most versatile and most widely used stainless steel, available in a wider range of products including stainless steel tables, cabinets and more , forms and finishes than any other. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. The balanced austenitic structure of Grade 304 enables it to be severely deep drawn without intermediate annealing, which has made this grade dominant in the manufacture of drawn stainless parts such as sinks, hollow-ware and saucepans. Grade 304 is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of components for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields. Grade 304 also has outstanding welding characteristics. Post-weld annealing is not required when welding thin sections.

Grade 316 is the standard molybdenum-bearing grade, second in importance to 304 amongst the austenitic stainless steels. The molybdenum gives 316 better overall corrosion resistant properties than Grade 304, particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments. It has excellent forming and welding characteristics. It is readily brake or roll formed into a variety of parts for applications in the industrial, architectural, and transportation fields. Grade 316 also has outstanding welding characteristics. Post-weld annealing is not required when welding thin sections.

How To Restore Your Wicker Furniture

By blogger on

Wicker furniture is known to be very durable, and can last for years. However, if you are thinking of purchasing wicker furniture for your own home, here is more good news for you. Not only is wicker furniture durable, they are also very easy to maintain. Wicker furniture can be stripped using a simple DIY process, and the physical appearance can be restored.

As in all furniture, even the most durable furniture starts to degenerate over time. This is mainly due to wear and tear, as well as exposure to harmful elements in the surrounding. For instance, if a piece of wicker furniture has not been cleaned for years, the dirt and dust accumulated on the surface area can easily spoil the appearance of the furniture. The wicker furniture will look old, dirty and unusable. In addition, due to wear and tear, the surface area may look ugly as there may be many scratch marks.

Fortunately, it is easy to restore a piece of wicker furniture to a decent condition. But first, before you consider stripping the furniture, try to clean the furniture with warm water. For wicker furniture that is not painted, this will often restore it to a satisfactory condition. But if the wicker furniture is painted, and the paint work has degenerated over time, then it may be a good idea to strip the wicker furniture for refinishing work.

First, get the tools ready. Any liquid stripper will work. The liquid stripper is used to soften the wicker so that it can be stripped. When it dries, it will become hard again. Prepare some brushes for cleaning purposes. An old toothbrush and a paint brush will come in handy. There are many types of paint brushes available. Choose one that has hard bristles. That will allow you to clean the wicker properly.

When you start applying the liquid stripper on the cane, you will notice that the cane will soften and become loose. You can then strip the wicker and clean the cane. You will also notice that as the cane absorbs the liquid stripper, the color may change slightly. Dont worry about it. You can always renew the outer appearance of the cane by giving it a spray finish later on.

Once you are done with the stripping, let the wicker dry for at least 48 hours before applying any finishing.

Spray paints work best with wicker furniture because it gives the surface even layers of paint. Spray paints also help to reach the nooks and crannies that wicker furniture has. After that, apply lacquer for a polished look. Again, use spray lacquer if possible for the same reason. Avoid lacquers that will become very hard when dry. This may cause the paints to become brittle and crack. In severe cases, it may even cause the cane to crack as well.

Stripping wicker furniture can be a time consuming process. But it can restore your wicker furniture and make it look like new. But at the end of it all, not only will you save money on a new piece of furniture; you will also get the satisfaction of successfully restoring your furniture.

The Barcelona Chair Exemplary Modern Furniture Design

By blogger on

If you consider yourself a modern furniture collector, chances are that you own a Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Chair. If not, then you should definitely have one. Part of the prestigious Barcelona collection which also includes the Barcelona Ottoman and Table, the Barcelona Chair is considered to be Ludiwg Mies van der Rohes finest work in furniture design and a classic example of the modernist furniture style.

Similar to his Tugendhat and Brno Chair, the Barcelona Chair was made by Mies van der Rohe as part of the interior furnishings for his architectural project, namely the Pabelln Alemn or German Pavilion, in 1929. The chair, as well as the Pavilion itself, were Germanys official entry to the prestigious 1929 Ibero-American Exposition in Barcelona, Spain and meant to symbolize Germanys cultural resuscitation after World War I. During this period, Mies van der Rohe collaborated frequently with designer and longtime companion Lilly Reich.

The inspiration of the Barcelona Chair was that of the Egyptian folding chairs and the campaign chairs of the classical Roman period. The chair was also said to complement the sculptures of George Kolbe, which were also on display during the Expo. During its display the Barcelona Chairs enjoyed instant acclaim, with critics calling it a design worthy of king. Coincidentally, the Chair was also priced at a kingly sum of $6,281, a contrast to the furnishings for the common man philosophy of Bahaus school which Mies van der Rohe was part of.

Today, re-editions of Mies van der Rohes Barcelona Chair are manufactured by Knoll of Pennsylvania, USA. Knoll acquired the rights and Mies van der Rohes name to the chair in 1953 as well as its trade dress rights in 2004, making it the sole recognized manufacturer of authentic Barcelona Chair reproductions. However, several third-party manufacturers such as Alphaville Design California and Gordon International New York also produce chairs based on the Barcelona Chair design.

How To Look After & Maintain You Oak Or Hardwood Flooring Once Down

By blogger on

Lacquered floors

Prevention:

Place doormats inside and outside the front door to stop dirt and grit being walked in, which can cause
considerable wear.
Put protective pads on furniture (not metal feet, which mark wood floors) to avoid unnecessary marks and scratches on the floor.
If you have a pre-lacquered floor in rooms where you know water is frequently spilled, we recommend that you lacquer the floor again after laying. This helps to seal the joints between the boards and gives better protection against water.

Cleaning:

For daily cleaning, use dry methods such as vacuuming. When necessary, damp-clean the floor with a well wrung-out mop/floor cloth, the floor must only become slightly damp. The film of water formed in this way must dry within one minute.

For the best cleaning results ensure that your floor cleaner is pH-neutral (maximum pH 8). Do not allow spilt water to be left on the floor, particularly on Beech and Hard Maple floors, which are particularly susceptible to moisture. The frequency of damp-cleaning depends on how much the floor is used and how soiled it gets.

Eventually over time (possibly as long as 30+ years) your floor will show signs of wear and will start to look lifeless. It is at this stage that a lacquered floor will need to be sanded and re-finished, please consult an expert regarding this.

Wax Oiled Floors:

Prevention:

Place doormats inside and outside the front door to stop dirt and grit being walked in, which can cause considerable wear.

Put protective pads on furniture (not metal feet, which mark wood floors) to avoid unnecessary marks and scratches on the floor.

If you have a pre-oiled floor in rooms where you know water is frequently spilled we recommend that the floor be treated with an extra coat of Osmo Polyx Oil after laying. This helps to seal the joints between the boards and gives better protection against water.

Cleaning:

For daily cleaning, use dry methods such as vacuuming. To remove stains the floor can also be mopped with a well wrung-out mop/floor cloth, the floor must only become slightly damp. If done regularly adding Osmo Wash and Care to the water will help to clean and maintain your floor.

Stubborn stains can be removed using Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner, just apply to the floor using a cloth.
If the floor starts to look a bit lifeless after a while revitalise it using Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner. This can also be applied to specific areas (i.e. near doorways and in the main thoroughfares) without the need to do the whole floor. Apply the Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner neat but very thinly to the clean floor
with a lint-free cloth and then polish.

For particularly defined wear marks the floor should be given a new treatment of Osmo Polyx Oil, again this can be applied to only specific areas if
necessary.