Special Speech

1800flowers works to supply extensive choice in flowers, plants, and gifts & food to meet shoppers’ needs for a myriad of occasions. They also furnish a same-day delivery selection and bouquets, gourmet treats, and balloons to suit different budgets. In fact, 1800flowers has floral and gift selections for under $30, along with everyday value, sale, and clearance prices on bouquets and gifts.

The Martha Stewart flowers and gifts at 1800flowers represent more option for today’s discerning consumer. This specialty line supplies best sellers from the Martha Stewart collection. Examples include pink oriental lily bouquets, ‘Pako’ tulips, white phalaenopsis orchid bouquets, and rose bouquets, among others. Every floral design in the Martha Stewart line pairs with a unique vase, container, or basket inspired by her personal collection. This collection includes American ceramic bowls, art deco glass vases, arts and crafts bowls, and bamboo grove vases. They also include burnished gold vases, ceramic woven baskets, classic silvered vases, cut glass vases, among many others.

Birthday flower alternatives include red rose and Calla lily bouquets, Martha Stewart “Movie Star” roses, and long stem exotic pink roses. They also provide spray roses, Peruvian lilies, sherbet rose bouquets, and their multicolored roses of 15 to 30 stems. Their Slice of Life^TM birthday gift offering is a gift that incorporates floral arrangements layered together and placed in the shape of a cake slice. It represents a special variant on giving traditional flower arrangements as a gift for one’s birthday.

1800flowers regular delivery hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the delivery time zone. However, delivery times can vary because of peak holiday times or unfavorable weather conditions in a recipients area. They can deliver seven days a week, in most areas, although some rural areas may have limited or no delivery available.

While maintaining a dedication to quality bouquets, 1800flowers continues to present other gift alternatives to their client. Whether, fruit or other gifts, cakes and cookies, or balloons, they furnish alternative so gift buying is easier for those who opt to use their service. Along with their rewards program for frequent buyers, and their same-day delivery choice, they constantly strive to give what clientele expect of them.

Buying and selling property is not as easy as you may think. There are many things that you have to consider when purchasing a home, or when putting a home up for sale. That is why there are real estate professionals out there armed with the skills and knowledge needed to make this process easier. Read below to see how a real estate agent can help you in your real estate transaction.

The Benefits of a Sellers Agent

When you list your property through a real estate company, the individual with whom you list is known as the sellers agent, or listing agent. The very first thing that a listing agent has to offer a seller is a comparative market analysis, or, a CMA. A CMA compares your property to other real estate property listings, preferably ones that have sold. The goal of the agent is to compare apples to apples. In other words, they compare MLS listings (a.k.a the multiple listing service) with similar square footage, whether or not the property has a garage, the types of flooring the home has etc. In the end of this analysis, the agent provides you with a figure for which he or she feels that your property will sell.

Once you have chosen a sellers agent, you enter an agreement with them, often called an exclusive right to list agreement. This simply creates a legal relationship between your agent and yourself. Once your house is listed in the MLS listings, there is still much more your real estate professional can do for you. Real estate agents advertise property within their office and on their own personal websites. They often send out news letters, flyers, post cards and offer MLS bulletins for other realtors to see so that your property gains maximum exposure. In addition to advertisements, real estate agents also perform open houses on your property, during which potential buyers can see all that is good about your home.

The Benefits of a Buyers Agent

Many people feel that real estate agents are for sellers and sellers alone. But this is most definitely not the case. The first arena in which a buyers agent is helpful is finding the perfect home. Real estate agents have access to the MLS on a level that buyers do not. They can search specific criteria and find the perfect three- bedroom, two-bath home with a fenced in back yard and a rocking chair front porch. In addition, they can narrow real estate property listing searches by capping the minimum and maximum prices that the buyer wishes to spend. Once homes are selected for viewing, the agent then ensures that appointments are set up with the sellers of the homes to view the property.

Next there is the negotiation stage where a buyers agent comes in handy. The first part of this legal area is the writing of a contract. Real estate agents can help a buyer fully understand the ins and outs of an offer to purchase and give them a sense of exactly what they are getting into. Once a contract is created, presented, and accepted, the agent then sets up appointments on behalf of the buyer for things like the home inspection, pest inspection and appraisals. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.Buyers agents also have a sense of who is good at these things and who is not, making these decisions easier on the buyer. Then, when closing time comes, the agent is there to help the buyer warm up their signing fingers before signing all of the papers making their home ownership a reality.

About the Author: Lori Osenbaugh is a licensed Realtor® and e-Agent associated with Keller Williams - Cherry Creek, Colorado. For complete MLS access, new property alerts, and much more visit Lori’s web site & start your home search in the greater Denver area http://www.listwithcookie.myhomecards.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Does Your Chimney Stack Up?


Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company
Not all chimneys are created equal. There are accepted standards for chimneys, some of these standards vary based on geographic location and local ordinances.


How high your chimney should be: Your chimney should be at least two feet (2\’) above any portion of the building within ten feet (10\’) of the chimney and at least three feet (3\’) above the point where it passes through the roof.


What size flue the chimney should have: Your chimney should not be smaller than the collar from the heating appliance.


How far the chimney should be from combustible material: The chimney should be two inches (2\’\') if it is built partially or entirely within the structure, and one inch (1\’\') if it\’s built outside the structure.


The height requirements for metal chimneys: The height requirements for metal chimneys are the same as for masonry chimneys: at least two feet (2\’) above any portion of the building within ten feet (10\’) of the chimney, and at least three feet (3\’) above the point where it passes through the roof.


How to know your fireplace will draw without lighting a fire: Generally, you can know if your fireplace will draw without lighting a fire by checking just a few things:


1) Check for smoke stains on the front of the fireplace or mantle. These stains indicate that something has gone wrong. What that is will be determined later, but there is a problem if stains are present. However, if a fireplace is new or if the mantle has been recently painted, the stains may not be evident.


2) Check the size of the flue and firebox opening:


a. The chimney flue should be one-tenth (if square or rectangle) to one-twelfth (if round) the size of the firebox opening or larger (e.g., an 8\’\’ x 12\’\’ chimney flue, or 96 square inches, should have a firebox opening of 960 square inches, approximately 30\’\’ x 32\’\').


b. The chimney should be two feet (2\’) above the roof or any roof structure within ten feet (10\’) and a minimum of three feet (3\’) above the roof.


c. Other criteria such as the throat and smoke shelf should be considered. However, if the flue to the firebox ratio is correct and the chimney height is acceptable, the chimney will probably draw.


Most chimneys meet the basic requirements. If yours is not one of them, you probably would have figured out by now that something is wrong. Consult a local home inspector or a chimney specialist from a recognized chimney association. Chimneys should be cleaned after every cord of wood is burned!



Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

Flowers are one of nature’s greatest gifts. Their scent, their colors, their shapes… everything about flowers is beautiful. A colorful, cheerful flower can brighten even the darkest day. Even more enjoyable than looking at flowers, though, is growing them. Flowers can be bought from pots and replanted. They can also be grown from clippings. However, one of the most popular ways of growing flowers is from bulbs and seeds.

Growing flowers outdoors from bulbs is simple; in fact, it is so easy that it’s almost foolproof. One of the most important aspects is timing. Bulbs need to be planted about six weeks before the first frost. Bulbs must be planted in an area with good drainage and a lot of sun. Make sure the soil is loose, and then plant the bulbs about six inches in the ground. (Package directions may vary depending on type and location; when directions differ, following your package.) Try to place the bulb in the hole with the pointed end facing up. Cover the hole and water. Voila! You’ve planted your flower bulbs.

Flower bulbs and seeds make flower gardens accessible for everyone. They can be grown virtually anywhere. One idea is to plant them in containers. With container gardens, even apartment dwellers can enjoy the beauty of flowers. Container-grown flower bulbs and seeds also allow growers to defy nature. Flower bulbs can be planted indoors in any season and in any climate, as long as the indoor conditions are favorable for growth.

Flower bulbs are available in many varieties, such as tulips, daffodils, gladiolus, and crocus.

About the Author

Flower Bulbs Info provides detailed information on wholesale, discount, spring, summer, and fall flower bulbs for sale, flower bulb catalog and company information, and advice on planting flower bulbs. Flower Bulbs Info is the sister site of Flower Delivery Web.

(ARA) - The bad news for natural gas customers is getting worse. Families that shelled out an average of $540 for the 2000 season now face a bone-chilling boost to $860, the federal Energy Information Administration says. Now is the time to give your home a “check up.” Here are five tips from the Comfort Institute in Washington on what to look for and take care of so your home is ready for those cold north winds.

1. Have your duct system tested for air leaks. Many think that windows and doors are the major cause of a home’s air leaks. But according to recent research by the Department of Energy (DOE), gaps, cracks and disconnections in the typical home’s duct system are much more significant. The DOE states that the typical duct system loses 25 percent to 40 percent of the energy put out by the central furnace, heat or air conditioner. Leaks are usually the biggest problem.

2. Ask your heating contractor to perform an Infiltrometer “blower door” test. The blower door is a computerized instrument originally invented by the Department of Energy. It pinpoints where your home’s worst air leaks are, and also measures how leaky the overall house is. While most homes are still far too leaky, some are now quite tight, and need mechanical ventilation to ensure the air inside is fresh.

3. Have your heating system cleaned and tuned by a qualified contractor. A tune up and filter change is a good investment. It reduces the chances of breakdowns in the middle of winter, improves safety, and pays for itself through more energy efficient operation. For a free report: “How To Identify a Good Heating and Cooling Contractor,” go to www.comfortinstitute.org.

4. Install a programmable set-back thermostat. Turning down the thermostat 8 degrees for eight hours a day will save 8 to 10 percent on home heating costs. An easy way to take advantage of these savings is to lower the thermostat temperature while away from home or sleeping. Ask your heating contractor about new models which are much easier to program.

5. Consider replacing your old furnace or heat pump. Just like a car, heating equipment doesn’t last forever. If your system is more than 12 years old, and you are planning to stay in your home more than a few years, many authorities recommend considering replacing it before it fails permanently. A new system is safer, more dependable, and can pay for itself through energy savings as it is up to twice as energy efficient.

However, recent research has found that many newly installed systems have energy wasting mistakes. Check out the free report “Tips and Secrets To Buying A New Heating and Cooling System” at www.comfortinstitute.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

EDITOR’S NOTE: Comfort Institute, Inc. is an international indoor comfort research, training and consumer protection organization based in Bellingham, Wash. with trainers and offices located throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, email info@comfortinstitute.org.

Photo caption: The Infiltrometer pinpoints where those cold drafts are coming from, and measures your home’s fresh air exchange rate.

About the author:

Courtesy of ARA Content

The importance of following feng shui decorating guidelines.

Feng shui decorating guidelines show us the correct way to place objects, furniture and how to decorate in order to achieve harmony. Living and working spaces and their decorations affect the people inhabiting them, and feng shui decorating knowledge studies the way to make that factor affect in a positive and harmonic way.

If you want to learn and be able to follow feng shui decorating tips, the first thing to do is to learn about feng shui in general and its main concepts. By learning this, you will find yourself naturally acquiring information on how to decorate any different spaces according to feng shui.

According to feng shui decorating guidelines, the way and the position in which we place our furniture, the colors we choose, the different objects and places we choose for them, everything can be done in a way that ensures harmony. Actually, in China people are used to look for a feng shui expert to guide them in occasions such as when they buy a new house.

Following feng shui decorating guidelines is not the same as decorating in order to make a space pretty or nice looking but it is about making it be in harmony with us. Actually, many times a decoration done by following feng shui would not look nice or be esthetically correct at all. By following feng shui, we could end up doing some of the things we would never have thought to do in our decoration.

For example, the position we place a bed can have main importance according to feng shui decorating tips. A bed should be placed in a position that allows the person to easily look at the door, but at the same time it should not be facing it directly and it should be against a wall. Even if this leads to an option which you wouldn’t have thought of for you to place your bed, you should do so in order to be able to sleep well and comfortable.

Feng shui does not see decoration with the same eyes a merely esthetically based decoration does. Feng shui decorating guidelines are meant to help people make their spaces as much harmonic and positive for their inhabitants as possible, even if esthetics have to be sacrificed for it.

By Jakob Jelling

http://www.fengshuicrazy.com

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.com. Please visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips you’ll ever need!

In the last 10 years, faux painting techniques have gone from obscure to popular, from the realm of professionals to do-it-yourself projects. These techniques are not difficult although they can be time consuming (what decorating or remodeling project isn’t though) and require quick hands.

Called “faux” painting because these techniques mimic or create a false look of stone, texture, leather, and more, you will find that the styles fall into one of two types: additive or subtractive. Additive (also called positive) techniques simply mean that you add color onto the wall. Sponging is the most common of this type. Conversely, subtractive (also referred to as negative) techniques means you take paint off after it has been applied. Ragging is a common subtractive technique. Most negative techniques use glazes and require that you move quickly before the glaze dries.

When it comes to glazes, there are two types: latex (water based) or oil based. Latex is by far easier since it cleans up with soap and water, but oil based glazes provide longer working times and generally provide a harder, more durable finish. However, for do-it-yourselfers, I recommend latex glazes and working in small areas at a time. I have also seen solutions that you can add to the glaze to lengthen the working time. For your first glazing job, you may well want to consider using this additive available at finer paint supply stores.

Here are the various type of faux painting techniques:

Sponging: Probably the easiest method, you apply paint to a wall with a natural sea sponge. It provides a richly textured look. In addition to good looks, it’s a simple way to camouflage an uneven or repaired crack wall. Use a couple of colors over the base paint to add greater depth. Be bold or subtle; it’s up to you. You can use glaze or paint just as easily with this technique. I’ve seen this done in a negative manner, but it is most commonly performed as a positive method.

Ragging/Rag rolling: Typically a negative technique, you paint a tinted glaze over the base painted walls. The glaze should be tinted darker than the base coat, keeping in the same color family as the glaze allows some color through it as well. Either use a wadded up dry rag or twist a rag into a cylinder. Then dab or roll the rags to remove the glaze. You can use one or two colors over the base coat. You may also do this in a positive method like sponging for a softer look and texture.

Color Washing: In this additive technique, you apply the tinted glaze mixture over the base coat using a circular motion as if you were washing the wall. Use rags for a very soft look or a natural sea sponge for a more textured appearance.

Strié: Create a historical and aged texture to the wall, with this negative method. Roll tinted glaze over the base coat, then use a wall paper brush to make fine lines from top to bottom. The glaze should be darker than the base coat to allow the lighter base to show through the fine lines.

Striping: The only difficult part of this positive technique is getting your stripes straight. Be sure to use a level or drop a plumb line. Tape off your stripes, then paint every other one with glaze. If you use a bold color, you do not need to tint the glaze to get a delightful two-tone effect. For softer colors, you may wish to slightly darken the glaze
although it is not necessary. This technique may also be combined with color washing as you color wash the stripes for more interest and texture. Of course, for a more dramatic look, you can use paint in complementary or various colors.

Dry Brushing: This is a positive method in which you use a small amount of paint on a brush in herringbone patterns to create the texture. You will need tow or three colors to achieve the best results.

Frottage: Using plastic sheets for this negative method, tinted glaze is applied over the base coat and then plastic sheets are applied and smoothed over the glaze. Once the wall is done, the plastic sheets are removed for a marbling effect.

Faux finishes can provide interest and texture to your rooms - and less expensively than wall paper. While you may need to block out a full day to do the work, by the end of the day, you can sit back and admire the rich, luxurious look of your new room.
About the Author

Julie Lohmeier is the veteran of numerous home remodeling and building projects and has seen the entire spectrum of home improvement. She shares her remodeling tips, home decorating ideas, and other various rants at http://www.myhomeredux.com?FAUX_GO.

@copyright 2005, Julie Lohmeier, www.myhomeredux.com
Use this report in its entirety.

Electricity and Water Features

Water and electricity DO NOT MIX and since most water features require an electricity supply it is crucial to take precautions to ensure the safety of anyone in the vicinity of the feature.

Since it is much easier and also SAFER to install the electricity before construction of your water feature is complete, this should be done in the initial stages.

The need for safety in outdoor electrical installations is apparent, thus, all electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrician.

Before any electrical work commences check that the electrician:

• Is licensed (ask to see the licence)

• Will provide you with a Certificate of Compliance

NEVER use makeshift wiring for outdoor installations, it is simply dangerous!

Pond Pumps

Incorrectly installed or damaged 240 V electrical water pumps in garden ponds, may create a serious electric shock risk in and around the pond, resulting in injury or death. This is because the risk of electric shock is higher in the presence of water.

A 240 V pond pump should be:

• good quality and be purchased from a reputable retailer

• protected by an Safety Switch (RCD), that is tested by means of the integral test buttons at least every 3 months

• installed in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

• provided with cables that are protected against accidental damage

• maintained in good working order, including cables and any connections

• switched off when carrying out pond cleaning.

If any defects are found, switch off the water pump’s electrical supply immediately and have the pump repaired by a licensed electrician.

Outdoor Lighting

Incorrectly selected, installed or damaged 230 V outdoor lighting installations may create a risk of electric shock, resulting in serious injury or even death.

For 240 V lighting in the garden:

• buy good quality electrical outdoor lighting equipment from a reputable retailer

• make sure outdoor lighting fittings (luminaries) are weatherproof

• ensure lighting fittings used for water features are waterproof

• have it installed by a competent electrician in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions

• check regularly for damaged lighting fittings, cables and connections

• remove leaves and dirt from lighting fittings

If any faults are found, switch off the electrical supply immediately, and have them repaired by a licensed electrician.

Install a Safety Switch

A Safety Switch (RCD) is a safety device that switches off the electricity automatically when it detects an earth fault and should be considered mandatory when using power outdoors. Any socket-outlet that may be used for plugging in portable electrical equipment that is to be used outdoors should have Safety Switch (RCD) protection.

TIP

Consider low voltage equipment when installing water features.

About the Author

Danielle Dickinson is an avid water feature enthusiast. She is a regular contributor to Gardening Magazines. Visit her website http://www.waterfeaturesonline.com.au for more information on building and maintaining any type of Water Feature as well as a huge range of water gardening products.

(ARA) - What’s the fuss? You walk into a room; flip a switch. Light. You walk out; flip. Dark. Sure, it works, but you are missing the big picture. Lighting isn’t just there to make sure you don’t trip over the rollerblades in the middle of the floor.

“With a few easy changes it can enhance the décor of any room and set a mood unique to any situation, and it can save money in the process,” says Larry Lauck, vice president of communications for the American Lighting Association (ALA) in Dallas, Texas.

“Dimmers give us complete and intimate control over our lighting systems,” adds Dan Blitzer, the American Lighting Association’s consulting director of continuing education. “I say complete because it allows us to adjust the intensity of the light to meet the needs of different individuals and different tasks, to warm the color, and to extend the life of incandescent lamps.”

Such control allows the homeowner to set a mood in any room, not just the dining room. Adjusted lighting is ideal in a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and breakfast nook — nearly anywhere. The only rooms that may not benefit from dimmers are laundry rooms, storage areas, and pantries. Basic dimmer controls are simple to install in any existing or new setting, but there is more to the dimmer than the common knob-style.

“As a category, lighting control is virtually unknown,” says Suzanne Miller, of Lutron in Coopersburg, Pa. “But not being able to control your lights is like not being able to control the volume on your TV, or the temperature in your oven. People want choices, they want control — and that includes being able to control lighting levels in their own homes.”

Lighting controls come in four different types:

* Integrated dimming systems allow the most variety. Homeowners can create several preset lighting settings in a single room. With the touch of a single button from a wall box or a wireless remote control, they can recall the pre-selected settings.

* Touch dimmers create a lighting change with the press of a single button. One-touch recall allows the homeowner to return to the previous lighting level without resetting the light. Some dimmers also have a lighted indicator to show the intensity of the current setting.

* Slide dimmers offer manual control of the lighting in a room. Some also include a button on the plate so it is easy to return to the previous setting.

* Rotary dimmers are the ones most likely to conjure images of your Mom’s dining room. The manual dial allows a homeowner to alter the lighting level by turning the dial. Some have push-button control to switch the light off while keeping the current setting in place.

It is also possible to control the lighting in your entire home by building in a custom system. This is the most cost-effective route, but it is possible to add a whole-house lighting system to an existing home. Wireless, infrared systems and radio wave dimmers are available, and can go with you when you move. Another easy way to add the control of dimmers is an extension cord dimmer, which is a quick way to alter the light level of individual lamps.

Prices for lighting control systems vary based on their technology and the extent of their control. A single dimmer will cost a few dollars, but an automated system for the entire home will run in the thousands.

“Every incandescent light in your home should be connected to a dimmer,” says Lauck. “Just so that you can get the benefits of installing the light the way you want it and take advantage of a dimmer’s ability to extend lamp life.”

A dimmer’s operation is fairly simple. It essentially limits the amount of electricity that goes to the light. “The end result is you use less electricity,” says Miller. “Dimming a light 10 percent cuts electricity usage by 10 percent and [that] generally has a direct correlation to cost. What’s more, the human eye adapts to light so easily that you probably wouldn’t even notice a 10 percent decrease.”

Dimming controls will also extend the lamp’s life, which will save you cash over time. It can also save you the hassle of replacing bulbs in hard-to-reach places.

“I think the real benefit is to lamp life,” says Penny Henderson-Maher of Lightolier’s in Garland, Texas. “By dimming the light somewhat and turning it on with a soft fade, the lamps last a long time, like 3 to 4 years on a lamp that would normally last 6 months. That’s really convenient because the light bulb always blows out when you don’t have a spare. It’s all sorts of drama, convenience, and comfort, and energy, and lamp savings all wrapped into one.”

Light can dictate the activity in the room it is illuminating, according to Henderson-Maher. Bright light creates motion and a lot of activity. It’s ideal for getting everyone going in the morning, but not for relaxing. For that, or if an intimate party is what you have in mind, keep the perimeter of the room a bit darker. The “campfire effect” will draw people to the brighter area at the center of the room. Trying to get folks to mingle at a large gathering? Brighten the accent lighting around the perimeter. It will encourage people to move around.

Experiencing the environments varied lighting can create is really the key to understanding its importance in a room’s décor.

“It is one thing to say dimmers create an ambience,” says Miller. “And it is another to see it for real. Why settle for ‘on’ and ‘off’ when you can have ‘on,’ ‘off’ and everything in-between?”

ALA-member retail showrooms carry a wide selection of dimmers for the homeowner to choose from. Consumers can visit the ALA Web site at www.americanlightingassoc.com or call (800) BRIGHT IDEAS.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:

Courtesy of ARA Content

A Little Savvy with Framed Art Prints and Photographs

Can Help Successfully Pull a Room Together

By Celeste Teresi DeSapri

Maybe you’re restricted by an older living space with existing furnishings, or overwhelmed by the possibilities a stark new space may offer. Maybe you’re decorating with unlimited funds, or on a shoe string budget. What ever the circumstances, framed art and prints can offer numerous solutions to decorating dilemmas, and they are often key elements in bringing a room together.

To use framed art successfully, as wall décor, color, and grouping, proportions and hanging need to be given careful consideration. Begin by thinking about the feeling or mood you wish to convey. Consider the colors and styles of existing furnishings, you may wish to reinforce, contrast or complement especially those that would be difficult or costly to change, such as flooring or bathroom fixtures. Study the space itself. Is it large and expansive, with high ceilings, or small and intimate?

So, now that you’ve begun thinking about mood, space, color and placement, here are some thoughts about materials and tools. If conservation is an important concern, the matting material should be one hundred percent acid free rag board. This is what museums use. Double mats may work well in situations where you want to maximize an accent color. The accent colored mat is usually placed under the lighter mat so only about one sixteenth to one quarter inch (about three to five centimeters) of it shows. Mats are usually four ply, but thicker, eight ply mats can really draw in the eye. They work best with photos and very small prints. Silk mats may be used in more formal and classic situations. If a mat is not used there are spacers, called fillets that may be used to prevent the piece from touching the glass. This prevents condensation from forming. UV glass does not prevent, but will cut down the amount of fading, over time. Always make sure your mat and frame are not distract!

ing the viewer’s eye away. They should compliment the piece, not compete for attention. And, finally, I suggest a level and a good sturdy hammer, if you’re doing the hanging yourself.

Careful hanging, relationships, and grouping will help give a professional look. Unity is most important in bringing a display of pictures, prints and photographs together. Grouping frames for your walls are will give character to the setting. Frames in the same color and finishes unify a collection, even if pictures are of various shapes and sizes. Framing different subjects with the same color mount also helps unity.

Placing all the items you wish to group for a particular wall, on the floor in that room is an easy way to visualize a plan. You can rearrange the items until you are satisfied. Then, step back and check the arrangement, before going to the wall. Remember, a consistent spacing factor between each item is important. Picture cords and large hooks may be hidden under bell cords, ribbons and decorative rosettes. For formal settings, chains can hang pictures on traditional picture rods. Large, bold pictures can be further away, in more open rooms. Small detailed pictures should be hung in intimate halls and baths. The most common error made in hanging pictures is to hang them too high. Standing eye level of an average person is fine for halls and entryways. In living and dinning rooms, pictures should be at eye level when seated.

Celeste is a free lance designer and illustrator who earned her BFA degree, with a major in illustration and a minor in portraiture, from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her works can be found in various corporate and private collections as well as online at The Northern Ohio Illustrator’s Society where she serves on the board.

For more works of art, please visit our Art Gallery of Fine Prints and Posters from CrookedWall.com. Home to over 100,000 art prints and posters, easily sort able by artist and style.

Celeste is a free lance designer and illustrator who earned her BFA degree, with a major in illustration and a minor in portraiture, from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her works can be found in various corporate and private collections as well as online at The Northern Ohio Illustrator’s Society, www.nois.com, where she serves on the board.

For more works of art, please visit our Art Gallery of Fine Prints and Posters from www.crookedWall.com. Home to over 100,000 art prints and posters, easily sort able by artist and style.