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- How to Clean Microfiber Furniture [1 Update]
- How to Care For Teak Wood Patio Furniture [1 Update]
- How to Recover Patio Furniture Cushions [1 Update]
- What Furnishings Do I Need For My First Apartment [1 Update]
- How to Figure Out What Style Living Room You Like [1 Update]
- How to Arrange Furniture For Living Room [1 Update]
- How to Decorate a Living Room With Dining Area [1 Update]
- How to Arrange Living Room Furniture [1 Update]
- Tips on How to Decorate a Living Room [1 Update]
- Tip on How to Decorate a Small Living Room [1 Update]
- What to Use to Clean Cloth Patio Furniture [1 Update]
- The Best Wood For Outdoor Furniture [1 Update]
- Current Trends in Furniture Design [1 Update]
- The Best Wood Furniture Around [1 Update]
- Choosing a Coffee Table For Your Home [1 Update]
- Tips on Placing Furniture in Your Bedroom [1 Update]
- Modern Day Nesting Tables [1 Update]
- How to Make a Cheap Room Divider Easily [1 Update]
- Triple Bunk Beds For Kids' Rooms [1 Update]
- Damon, DiCaprio, And Double Lives: Dual Protagonists in the "The Departed" [1 Update]
- Movie Review: 6 Souls [1 Update]
- "Jesse Akre" <submissions@isnare.net> Apr 30 06:00PM +0800
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Article Title: How to Clean Microfiber Furniture
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 660
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Microfiber furniture is a wonder to behold, but it also holds some challenges when it comes time to clean it. If you've seen microfiber furniture, then you know that it can be made to look like virtually anything, including suede and leather. It is extremely soft and supple to the touch, yet very lightweight. It only has one weakness – watermarks. The very stain resistant properties of the furniture also makes it prone to water marks. If you use the wrong cleaning products and methods, you can even break down the microfibers themselves, leaving them lackluster and even weak.
Of course, the easiest way to keep microfiber furniture in top condition is to keep it clean in the first place with regular maintenance.
If you have pets you already know that microfiber fabrics love to hold onto their hair. A brush won't work. Instead you need to use a lint roller or a cloth that is specially designed to remove pet hair. You can also use masking tape that has been looped around your hand with the sticky side facing out. This is, after all, virtually the same as a lint roller. Body oils from pets and people can make the hair stick like glue. It's going to require more thorough cleaning. The best way to avoid this is to vacuum the furniture weekly to remove any hair and follow that up with the lint brush. This will prevent the hair and oil from having enough time to become engrained in the microfiber.
If there is a spill, use a highly absorbent cloth of white terry. Blot, don't wipe. Continue to blot until the area is as dry as possible. If there is a stain, use mild detergent. Use as little water as possible. Blot it dry and follow up with a hair dryer to completely dry any liquid that remains. Don't use a hot heat setting. A cool setting will do just fine. The goal is to evaporate the water, not make the stain permanent. Cushions of microfiber furniture should be flipped from time to time. This will reduce the wear spots that develop as people sit in the same place on cushions. If possible you want to keep the furniture out of direct sunlight so it doesn't fade. Another good way to avoid fading in sunnier climes is to rearrange your furniture occasionally so different parts are in the sun. One of the great things about microfiber furniture is that it's highly resistant to soiling and stains. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't need to be cleaned, however. Pollution, cooking vapors and grease will coat the fabric. To clean it you want to do a deep cleaning that uses low moisture levels. Don't use a carpet cleaner – it will cause wrinkles and the microfiber may even shrink. Also, never use acetone or any product that contains bleach or even a bleach substitute. Some chemicals can even dissolve the microfiber so don't be tempted to improvise.
Start your annual cleaning by reading the manufacturer's recommendations. Follow them closely. Vacuum the entire surface with a high powered vacuum at least once a month. If you're not sure how to clean microfiber furniture you may want to call in professionals, a company that is used to cleaning this type of furniture.
While it may sound like a good idea to save a couple of bucks and clean it yourself, you could end up making a very costly mistake. If you don't know what you're doing, you can quickly reduce microfiber furniture from one of your most cherished possessions to a candidate for the dumpster. Microfiber furniture, any furniture really, is a big investment and you want to make sure you protect that investment by giving it the care and attention it deserves. Occasionally, that requires the pros.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.GourmetDecorStore.com
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Article Title: How to Care For Teak Wood Patio Furniture
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 648
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Teak is a perennial favorite for outdoor furniture. It's dense, has a close grained structure and is an extremely hard wood. It is virtually impregnable to invasion by insects, won't dry out, even in the tepid heat of the Sahara, and it is naturally resistant to moisture. Because the wood contains silica, it doesn't rot easily, nor will it warp, shrink or swell. Small wonder why shipwrights have used teak for centuries to cover the decks of their ships.
In fact, no other wood compares to teak when it comes to durability, longevity and low maintenance. And because a lot of teak wood comes from managed forests these days, you don't have to worry about depleting the earth's natural resources. While teak wood is a great choice for patio furniture, it still needs some love. It will naturally change colors over time and to return it to it's original honey-caramel color, you'll need to care of teak woof patio furniture using the time honored techniques of sailors all over the world. While many will so-called furniture experts will tell you to use teak oil available at local home improvement stores, many aficionados of teak will say that these commercial products aren't of a high quality. Instead, they'll recommend the same teak oil boat owners use.
Of course, you won't find it at a hardware store. You have to get it from a marine supply store instead. Because teak is used on ships that must by their very nature weather elements far worse than your patio furniture will face, the marine grade of teak oil will outlast and outperform commercial teak oil. Another option is Danish oil. It is relatively fast drying and leaves a deeper luster to the wood without darkening it. Over time, teak oil can darken the wood as the oil builds up from multiple applications. Danish oil doesn't have that problem. It is available in any home improvement store and can be used on a variety of woods. The oils are applied in the same way. You can use a paint brush or a clean cloth or rag to apply it. Make sure the wood is saturated and free of puddles. If there's any oil left on the surface, wipe it off. Teak oil takes about 12 to 24 hours to dry completely. Danish oil slightly less, between 12 and 18 hours.
You need to use care with either product. Both are highly flammable and if you leave a cloth out in the open in a warm space, it can spontaneously combust. The fumes can be harmful, too, so it's best to treat the wood outdoors. Most experts recommend three to four coats of oil so you'll need to treat the furniture over a period of days. The good new is that you don't have to do this every year, only when the wood begins to look too gray for your tastes. When you're through applying the oil, dispose of the rags carefully. They should ideally be disposed of in a metal trash receptacle in the unlikely they combust. If you decide to forego the oil treatment and let your teak wood patio furniture age gracefully, that's fine. Because it's water resistant, it won't crack over time, but simply age gracefully to a silver-gray patina. Even if it's going au natural, you still should clean it once a year. With a soft scrub brush, apply a mix three parts laundry detergent and one part bleach in a gallon of water. If the surface becomes rough a little sand paper should be applied, followed by teak of Danish oil to recondition the surface once it has been sanded. Properly maintained and cared for, teak wood patio furniture should last for many years to come.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.morethanteak.com
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- "Jesse Akre" <submissions@isnare.net> Apr 30 05:41PM +0800
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Article Title: How to Recover Patio Furniture Cushions
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 692
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If cared for properly, quality patio furniture should last a long time. In fact, you may find that your cushions wear out long before the frame, leaving you to wonder whether you should replace the whole set or rejuvenate your tired looking patio furniture cushions instead. It's not that the cushions aren't made from quality materials. Like any other material, the fabric on your cushions will eventually show signs of wear and tear. Dirt, grime, stains, weather and daily use can cause the fabric to eventually give out, no matter how well you maintain them. Thankfully, it's not that hard to recover patio furniture cushions. And even if they're not worn out, you may want to consider recovering them as a way to give your patio a facelift without spending a lot of money.
When deciding how to recover patio furniture cushions, you first want to make sure that the underlying padding is still good. Remove the current covers and see that the underlying padding is still in good shape. If it is, recovering them will be relatively easy. Start by measuring the existing cushions. Be sure you leave a little extra in the measurements to cover seams, overlap and waste. When you shop for fabric at the store, look for outdoor rated fabric. Usually, a fabric store will have a selection of fabrics specifically designed for outdoor furniture. Don't bother buying a pattern you love if it's not made for the outdoors. You will be quickly disappointed in the results.
Once you have your fabric, it's time to create a pattern. Take your existing cushion cover and use it as the base. Lay it out on a piece of butcher paper or brown wrapping paper. Be sure to add in the seam allowances. Fold the fabric in half once on the horizontal and plate the patter on top of the fabric. Pin the pattern to the fabric and cut through both layers of fabric. Once you have the pieces cut out, it's time to start sewing. Flip the pinned pieces inside out. Use a heavy grade thread to sew the pieces together. A poly blend will last longer than cotton in the outdoors. Be sure that you don't sew all the sides closed. You need one end open to add the cushion. Some cushions are made of three or more pieces of fabric, not one. In these cases, take the current cushion cover apart using an X-acto or seam ripper and use the different pieces to create the pattern. If you do this, you don't need to add any extra seam allowances as the existing pieces you use as a pattern already have them.
Adding a closure allows the pad to be removed so you can wash the covers in a washing machine. If you're not an experienced sewer, you may find that adding a zipper is a daunting prospect. But if you still want to make them removable, you can always use Velcro instead. Velcro is a lot easier to work with, but you do need to remember to leave a little extra material on the closure so the two sides of the Velcro can stick together. Before you put your recovered cushions back into service you'll want to add a light coat or two to the fabric to make them water repellent. You can purchase a spray can of it at most home improvement stores. This will help keep your newly covered cushions looking new and help prevent dirty and debris from staining them. That said, you'll still want to take precautions with your new cushions. For example, suntan lotion and oils can permanently stain some fabrics. Before you ever sit or lay down on your new cushions, be sure to lay down a towel to absorb any excess lotion. After all the work you've done to recover your patio furniture cushions, you don't want to deal with the unpleasant surprise of suntan lotion stains that won't come out of the fabric no matter what you do.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.simplybenches.com
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- "Jesse Akre" <submissions@isnare.net> Apr 30 05:30PM +0800
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Article Title: What Furnishings Do I Need For My First Apartment
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 767
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A first apartment is an exciting time for any young adult. But knowing what furnishings you need can be a bit of a conundrum. In the old days, most first time apartment dwellers were happy with second hand furnishings and shelving made out of cinder blocks and particle board. But today, there's many more choices, even for those on a small budget.
While it may be tempting to go dumpster diving or thrift store shopping, you can work a lot of magic with your limited budget by planning exactly what you need and what you can add later. By not trying to do it all at once, you can invest more money in key items you want to last a long time, such as a bed.
If you haven't purchased any furniture yet, make sure you can take measurements of your first apartment before you go shopping or deciding what to take from home. You don't want to spend an hour wrestling a king sized mattress up four flights of stairs, only to find that it won't go up the last flight in your apartment because the opening is too small.
To help you figure out what you need, let's go room by room.
Living Room
A really good option for seating in a first apartment is a futon or sofa bed. Not only does it offer a nice seating area, but you can use it when friends want to spend the night. Try to stay away from the old fashioned hide-a-beds. Their not comfortable to sit on, they're even worse to sleep on, and you'll get really tired of lugging them around from one apartment to another as you trade up.
Add a couple of end tables and a coffee table and you're well on your way to furnishing the living room. If you need additional seating, floor pillows can work or you can get an ottoman, if you want versatility. Of course, most people want an entertainment center, so get one that can grow with the size of TV you plan to get down the road. And don't forget storage areas, which can be in the entertainment center or you can use a bookcase with shelves and doored areas.
Dining Room/Kitchen
In a first apartment you may not need a dining room table, unless you want to use it to do homework or have a poker night with friends. Chances are a couple bar stools at a breakfast nook will do just fine. If you really want a dining table, go with a bistro table or kitchenette that can be reused down the road in your next apartment or house.
Bedroom
This is an important room to furnish since you spend one-third of your life there. Invest in a good bed because you'll probably have it at least 8 to 10 years, perhaps even longer. Try to get a queen or even a king, if possible, since you'll hold onto it longer than a full size. A dresser is a good option, too, since many apartments are short on closet space. Round it all out with a nightstand or two for an alarm clock and you're good to go. Alternately, a cedar chest can double as a night stand and give you additional storage space.
Home Office
In this day and age a lot of people spend as much time on their computer as they do in bed. It's wise to get the best chair and desk you can afford. A bookcase can come in handy, too for storing supplies and software.
Patio/Deck
If you have an outdoor space, you'll want to create an escape that is comfortable and relaxing. A bistro table will work nicely on a patio or deck, along with a barbecue. Alternately, you can get a couple of chairs and a small outdoor occasional table. It largely depends on the size of your space.
Decorations
This is a personal choice, of course. But personalizing your space can really make it feel more like home and you'll look forward to coming home to your first apartment if it feels comfortable and welcoming. Lamps are perhaps the biggest consideration, since apartments tend to offer a single fixture on the ceiling and nothing else. Choose lamps that will work well in your next couple of places. Don't go with something that's too trendy.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.simplytowelbars.com
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- "Jesse Akre" <submissions@isnare.net> Apr 30 05:20PM +0800
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Article Title: How to Figure Out What Style Living Room You Like
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 820
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If you've watched any of the countless shows on television that deal with makeovers and remodels, then you've probably heard the show's designers bandy about terms describing different styles: modern, rustic, antique, county, contemporary, colonial, etc. But what do these all mean? In most cases you want to choose a style before you ever start redecorating, so let's review the various design styles so you can match them to your own taste in furniture and décor. American There are several styles of American furniture: antique, modern, rustic, country and Amish. Antique: This style is just what it says. The look harkens back to the styles that came over from Europe roughly between the Revolutionary and Civil wars. They are practical pieces that can have some nice detailing, but were designed to be used, not simply admired.
Traditional: This includes Queen Anne, Chippendale and Hipplewite furniture. The woods are typically dark and the furniture is characterized by ornate carvings and an overall regal appearance. They make a living room look extremely formal and elegant. Modern: Also known as contemporary, modern furniture takes a page from the visionary designers of the Modernist movement who felt that form should follow function. As such, the pieces are streamlined and devoid of brash ornamentation. Typically, modern pieces use chrome or stainless steel, aluminum, plastics and fiberglass. Much of it is playful in nature and the emphasis is on comfort. Rustic: This style emphasizes natural materials, handcrafted pieces and often has regional or cultural influences. It is very casual and organic in approach and feeling. A rustic living room can feel like a cozy cabin that is comfortable and welcoming.
Country: This style of living room would focus on comfort and color. The use of simple lines and equally simple furniture is complemented by natural fibers, a weathered look to wood pieces and cottage style fabrics. Amish: This has a lovely handcrafted look. The Amish use lighter colored woods such as pine and oak, giving your room a warm, relaxed look that emphasizes craftsmanship and clean lines. European Of course, furniture with European influences can take many forms, given the centuries of influences from some of the greatest cultures of ancient and modern history. English: A living room inspired by English styles has a lot of oak, walnut and mahogany furnishings that are dark and heavy looking. Handcrafted details are evident and there's limited decoration. French: Obviously, Louis IVX furnishings come to mind when you're thinking about French décor.
The carvings are highly intricate and the elaborate furnishings use lush fabrics. It gives a living room a very fancy, formal look. Italian: Italian styles are ornate as well, but are typically larger that French. A living room decorated in an Italian style would take its influences from classic Roman architecture, using materials such as marble and stone. Other Styles A lot of people gravitate toward less formal styles. This can include urban and eclectic approaches to living room décor. Urban: This is a very minimalist style of design. Think IKEA and you'll get an idea of the urban look. Woods are black, blonde or white with lots of glass and brushed aluminum. The pieces are scaled for smaller rooms and work well in a small apartment or flat. Eclectic: If you want your room to be a mix of styles, you could consider an eclectic approach to your living room. While the pieces may span different periods or styles, they are tied together with a common color palette, texture, shape or finish. As you can see, there is a style for nearly every taste out there. In deciding what style your living room should be, you need to go with your personal preferences. You want something that reflects your lifestyle and tastes, not those of a famous interior designer or something you saw on HGTV. A big part of your decision will be the type of home you live in and the approach the builders used in building your home. For instance, you may want to go with an Amish look in an Arts & Crafts home while a downtown loft may demand a more modern, contemporary or even urban approach. The best way to narrow your choices is to look at the different styles online. Start by saving photos of rooms you like or pieces of furniture you're particularly drawn to. Once you have a collection of photos, go through them and look for common themes, such as colors, textures, design elements or style. The results may surprise you. Instead of thinking urban is the look for you, you may find your self drawn to traditional or antique styles instead. By focusing on images instead of labels, you may find that you like a style you would have never thought of if it were called by a particular name.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.eKnobsandPulls.com
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Article Title: How to Arrange Furniture For Living Room
Author: Jesse Akre
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If you visit many American homes, you'll notice that the living room furniture is often shoved up against the walls, leaving a large amount of floor space empty. This is a common decorating mistake, since it's often believed that this will make a room feel larger and that no one wants to look at the back of a sofa. Of course, this is simply not the case. Instead of meeting your design goals, the room ends up looking unfinished and not very welcoming. Rather than finding an inviting space where furniture is artfully and thoughtfully arranged, it looks haphazard, as if you're waiting for someone to come in and clean the floors. Arranging furniture for living room spaces isn't as hard as it seems. With just a few solid design techniques, you can easily and quickly transform your living room into one that you'll love spending time in. Most design experts will recommend that you choose a focal point for the room. It may be a particularly striking piece of furniture, a bay window with a great view or a dramatic fireplace. You want to build on this natural focal point rather than trying to create others that will compete with it. Your furniture should be arranged naturally around this focal point.
Once you have the focal point, figure out how the furniture should be arranged so that it promotes conversation but isn't formal. It should be centered around the focal point. If you have a large living room you may want to break it up into smaller areas. For example, you can create a main seating area with a sofa and loveseat and use two smaller occasional chairs and a table to create a quite conversation nook. Start by placing the biggest pieces first and don't add any of the lesser pieces until this looks right to you. Then add one piece at a time. Strive for balance and symmetry but not boredom. Everything doesn't need to be in perfect alignment or at a 90 degree angle. While you can place similar chairs at both ends of a sofa, you can also place them together on one end, if you have something else on the other that will create a visual balance. Once you have the room looking balanced, you can add in the smaller tables and lamps, knowing that they will build on the look of the room, not distract from it.
Seating in the living room should not be any more than 8 feet apart. If it is, you'll find it difficult to carry on a conversation. Coffee tables should be about 18 inches from the sofa and you want side tables to be the same height as the chair or sofa it is next to. Don't forget to leave room for easy access. It's better to leave out a piece of furniture such as an end table than to make the traffic lane feel cramped. The major traffic lanes in the room should have several feet of space to promote easy movement. The secondary traffic lanes can be 18 inches to two feet wide, such as the space between an ottoman and an end table.
The art of arranging a living room isn't a science. As you move pieces around, you'll start to feel when balance and harmony has been achieved in the room. That's when it's time to stop and take a breath. In fact, before you add all the minor décor such as vases, artwork and knickknacks, you may want to live with the room for a week or so to see if there are any tweaks you want to make before finalizing the arrangement and filling it in. And if you have heavy furnishings, such as large sofas, bookcases or a piano, you may want to use an online room planner or resort to good old graph paper to make a scale drawing of the room. That way you can move furniture around easily on paper before you ever engage in the back breaking work of moving a heavy piece to one end of the room and back again as you try to find the symmetry and balance that says, you're home!
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.econsoletables.com
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Article Title: How to Decorate a Living Room With Dining Area
Author: Jesse Akre
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Whether you own a home with a great room or a condo with a combined living room and dining area, it can be a challenge to decorate a living room with dining area so that the two areas remain separate, but complementary. Where does one start? Do you start in the dining room and let it determine the look of the two spaces? Or do you start in the living room? Should they be the same color? Should they have the same furniture styles? What about fabrics and textures? There seems to be more questions than answers, that's for sure. But it's not that hard to work with these two spaces, if you take some time to decide exactly what's important to you and make a few basic design decisions that will set the tone and direction of your decorating plans. The first thing to consider is how the two rooms flow together. In other words, you don't want them to look different, but complementary. So the styles and colors should work together. They don't have to be the same mind you; they just need to create a nice visual balance. Perhaps more important is the color scheme of the two rooms. Because they usually share common walls, you should pick a wall color that works with both rooms. If you have the luxury of buying new furniture, you can select a main color for the fabric of the sofa that will work with a second and third color. You can then use these secondary colors for the occasional chairs in the living room and the chairs in the dining room.
This allows the two rooms to blend together while retaining their own personality. With the walls, you can use a main color on the walls that run seamlessly from the one room to the other and then add a second accent to a shorter wall, such as a wall in the dining room. Just be sure that these colors work with the fabrics you've selected. You don't want guests to ask when the circus is coming to town. Remember, it's important to keep a visual flow between the two rooms, not create two separate rooms. If you want to do that, build a wall instead. The same principle works for all your accessorizing as well. For example, all the window treatments should match. If you use one type of blinds in the living room you should use them in the dining room, too. Even though the two rooms need to be tied together, they don't have to be identical. For example, you could go with a nice modern sofa grouping in the living room and accent it with an ebony dining room table in the dining area. That said, you don't want to put a heavy oak dining table in the dining area and try to force it to live in harmony with a black and chrome entertainment center that can be seen in the living room.
There's a fine line between eclectic and gaudy. To further define the spaces, use different lighting. You can go with a nice chandelier over the dining area and then choose lamps for the living room that pick up basic elements of its design. If the chandelier has a nice brushed chrome surface, you could add table and floor lamps that use brushed chrome accents in the living room, even if the main color is different. Just be sure that the lamps are useful as well as stylish. Good lighting is essential for creating dining areas and living rooms that are functional as well as beautiful. As you look at ways to decorate a living room with a dining area attached, resist the temptation to think of the two areas as being different visually, even though they serve very different purposes. You'll find your decorating project a much more pleasurable experience if you do.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.ekitchentables.com
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Article Title: How to Arrange Living Room Furniture
Author: Jesse Akre
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Many people initially arrange their living room furniture the day they move to their new home or apartment. Since there are so many other things to consider in a move, the furniture ends up where it ends up, with little thought about how it should be arranged. Unfortunately, it may just never feel right, even months later. But before you decide to start all over again, it's a good idea to have a game plan, one that is born out of solid design principles rather than the need to get everything out of the moving truck.
It's best to start with measurements. You want to measure the entire room, including the dimensions of the floor, the space between windows and doors and any feature that is going to be a natural focal point, such as a fireplace.
Next you'll want to measure all your furniture. Once you have all the dimensions in hand, you can draw the room out on a piece of graph paper or use a 3-D floor plan tool available online. Designing virtually allows you to play with different layouts without ever having to lift a stick of heavy furniture. Try different layouts, keeping in mind some basic design strategies:
• Create comfortable conversation. You don't want people to have to shout or twist constantly to talk. Create intimate groupings of seating whenever possible.
• Every room has a focal point, whether it's a fireplace, big screen TV or picture window with breathtaking view. Your seating should be arranged so it can always be in sight.
• Watch traffic patterns. You want people to easily move through the room without it feeling cramped. There should be a clear main path from the entry point of the room.
• Leave plenty of space between pieces. For example, there should be at least 18" between the sofa and a coffee table. Don't make people feel cramped.
• Everything doesn't have to be jammed up against a wall. Unless you have a bunch of fiberboard cabinets, it's OK for people see the back of a piece of furniture.
• If the room is large, consider breaking it up into different niches.
If your room doesn't have a primary focal point, your sofa grouping can do the trick. This is especially true if you have a lovely matched set, consisting of a sofa, loveseat and chairs or a large sectional. It can define the room and you can build around it instead of a fireplace or view. If you want to add a rug to a tile or wood floor, make sure it's big enough. All the furniture placed on a rug should fit within its comfines. That said, be sure you leave bare floor around your rug. Six to 12 inches should be fine. Area rugs need breathing room.
Scale is an important design consideration. For example, a coffee table or end tables shouldn't overwhelm the sofa, sectional or chairs you have. They should complement rather than dominate. Ideally, a coffee table is one half to two thirds the size of the sofa and the end tables should be the same height as the arms. Lower is OK, but never higher.
Once the layout is working for you, then you can add lighting. Remember that the room should be evenly lit. There should be no dark spots if all the lights were turned on at once. Obviously, you can use different lights to set the mood of the room. A combination of table lamps, floor lamps and ceiling fixtures should work in harmony to create drama and set the tone of the room. Dimmer switches are ideal for this. Lastly, it's time to add art. Choose pieces that fit the walls they are put on. In other words, don't put a small piece of art on a large wall or try to cram a large piece onto a small wall. Paintings, illustrations and photos should capture the attention of visitors for their beauty and artistry, not because they were placed in an odd location.
Remember that the room should reflect your unique personality. While you want the room to feel comfortable and in harmony to visitors, you're the one who is living in the space day in and day out. It should ultimately fit your needs, not those of your visitors.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.simplyendtables.com
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Article Title: Tips on How to Decorate a Living Room
Author: Jesse Akre
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The living room has changed over the years, transitioning from being a more formal entertainment space to being the primary living and entertainment space instead. This dual role creates some interesting design challenges, we well as some exciting possibilities. Where formal living rooms looked more like museum settings that should have a velvet rope across the entrance, today's living rooms can be vibrant, homey spaces that not only make guests feel welcomed, but serve your day-to-day needs as well.
You don't have to be a professional interior designer to decorate your living room. All it takes are some basic design principles and some tricks of the trade to turn your living room into a homey place that looks and feel fabulous. As always, it's best to start with an empty space. Before you make a single design decision, you have to get rid of all your preconceptions. Even if you have a favorite chair or work or art, you can't make it off limits as it will influence all your decisions. Start with a blank canvas and you'll find it far easier to decorate your living room. The first thing you'll want to do is decide on a general style for the room. It can be traditional, contemporary, retro, modern, shabby chic – there's any number of directions you can go. There's no right or wrong here, except that it should reflect your tastes. Ultimately, you're not decorating the living room with others in mind. You're decorating it for you, since you're the one living in it all the time. Paint is by far the cheapest and easiest way to give your living room an entirely new look. Best of all, if you don't like the color, you can always change it down the road. For less than $50 you can rejuvenate a tired room with a few coats of paint.
Thanks to the new mixing technologies, you can match just about any color you can imagine. If you do have a piece of furniture that you just love and which will serve as the focal point of the room, you can take one of the pillows with you to the paint store and pull off the perfect complementary color from it. The same is true for works of art, your grandmother's quilt – anything that has a color that you want to use to set the tone of the room. Remember, you don't need to paint an entire room the same color. You can use a bold color on a single wall to really make the whole room pop. The other walls can stay white.
If you have a smaller living room, you can open it up using a darker color with contrasting molding. Or add mirrors to create the impression that the space is larger than it really is. Mirrors can also reflect the light from a window, making the room feel sunnier and brighter than it would be otherwise.
Another way to add drama to the walls is to add art. Thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to purchase your favorites online. You may also find a real treasure at an estate sale or gallery. The goal is to find one major piece of art so it dominates the space and sets the tone for the furniture and other decorative items.
Bringing the outdoors inside is another good strategy when decorating a living room. Flowers and plants can make a room feel more natural and organic. They can also help purify the air without the need to add artificial fresheners. If you're not sure what will work in the room, ask someone at your local garden store. They should be able to help you pick a plant or flower that will grow well in the space you have in mind.
While many people have shades in their homes these days, give drapes a second look. Just as having the right frame on a painting can make the work pop visually, the right window treatment can make a window with a nice view become a real focal point and create a bridge between indoor and outdoors spaces.
Lighting is another easy way to update the look of your room. If you have overhead lighting you may want to not use it and use lamps instead. Track lighting can add emphasis to art or focal points in the room. Be sure to place lamps around the room so that they support their uses. For example, you want to put a good reading light next to a chair that you like to read in. If you've just moved to the location, remember that you don't have to do everything at once. Let the room speak to you in terms of design. It's easy to make mistakes by forcing a design solution that may not match the room's personality. For example, a contemporary loft in the city may not look right if you add traditional furniture to it – you may need to go with contemporary or modern furnishings to make the room feel right. Conversely, if you have an old Victorian, modern furniture can look totally out of place.
Finally, remember that you don't have to do everything at once. You can start with an overarching theme to determine the style, then move on to painting a single wall or finding that one defining piece of art or furniture to build around. From there you can build slowly until you have a living room that you love to be in. Living room aren't the showrooms of old anymore. Instead of looking like a stuffy museum exhibit, a successful decorating job will make your living room the favorite room in your house. Put the velvet ropes away and enjoy a room that is comfortable, cohesive and uniquely yours.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.onlytables.com
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Article Title: Tip on How to Decorate a Small Living Room
Author: Jesse Akre
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While it may seem daunting to fill a large living room with furniture, it can be an even greater challenge to make a small living room look comfortable without feeling cluttered. This is particularly true if you're a renter. You may have bought the perfect furniture for your last apartment but fitting it in your new one has proven virtually impossible. Nothing seems to look right, often because the room's dimensions are drastically different from the last apartment. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make a small living room more homey and comfortable. If your room isn't carpeted, you're already a step ahead. While wall-to-wall carpeting can make a home look warmer, it can also give it a cramped feeling. The eye can easily be fooled. Where carpeting can make a room look small, tile can make us think a room is larger than it really is.
If you're stuck with carpeting, not to worry. Leaving as much space as possible between furnishings can help the room look bigger than it really is. That said, it may mean that you will have to pare back on the amount of furniture you place in the living room. If you've been a lifelong renter then chances are good that you already have a sofa or other furniture that is scaled to apartment living. If you're moving from a home into an apartment, however, you may have to replace your sofa with a smaller one. Even if your sofa looked small in your home, it can look huge in an apartment, especially in a small living room. The same is true of occasional chairs. You may want to get rid of the large, overstuffed chairs, the recliner or the wingbacks and go with chairs that aren't as visually heavy. You want to increase the space between the chairs or between the chairs and loveseat to make the room appear larger than it is. If everything is scaled incorrectly, the room will look cramped and uninviting.
Another nifty trick can be done with fabrics. Furniture and drapes with vertical striping or patterns can make the room look bigger and taller. This is perfect for small living rooms that have low ceilings. If you want to spread a room along its width, go with horizontal patterns. If your living room is not only small but narrow, you will want to get rid of a coffee table and use end tables instead. A coffee table can really suck up space in a narrow room and it's far better to have a wide walkway than a little extra table space at the expense of a feeling of spaciousness. If you want to open up the room, consider using a mirror. Placed on the right wall, it can make your small living room appear much larger than it is. It can also bring in more light, turning a dark and dull living room into a bright, lively space. Maximize the light by placing the mirror on the wall opposite a window. As you know, space can be at a premium in a smaller apartment or condo. To get more space, go vertical, not horizontal. Get tall cabinets and bookcases and save the wide ones for bigger rooms or rooms with fewer furnishing needs, such as a guestroom. The vertical lines will help increase the perceived size of the room.
Get as much as you can off the floor. This includes entertainment center gadgets, CD racks, book cases and storage furniture. If possible, get furniture that has legs to increase the impression that there is amble floor space. Wall mounted shelves will give you plenty of storage without eating up precious floor space. Even a small window in the living room can help make the room look larger, if it's left unencumbered. If there are drapes or curtains, get rid of them if possible. Use a shade instead so you can shut out the light when you want to. Also, resist the temptation to place knickknacks on the window sills and don't add sun catchers or anything else to the glass. Let as much light shine in as possible by keeping the windows free of clutter. With these simple tips, you should be able to decorate a small living room with minimal fuss.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.morethanteak.com
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Article Title: What to Use to Clean Cloth Patio Furniture
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 622
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Just like your indoor furniture, outdoor patio furniture needs a little tender loving care now and then to keep it clean and comfortable year round. There's been some mystery surrounding the cleaning of cushions. While there's lots of information about keeping the wood or steel surfaces of patio furniture clean, cleaning cushions hasn't gotten as much press. The good news is that it's not that hard to keep your cushions in top form. There are plenty of great cleaners out on the market that are made especially for outdoor furniture and familiar household cleaning solutions will do the trick, too. The first order of business is to get all the stains out of the cushions. Usually, stains can be removed with a mixture of two tablespoons of baking soda to a half gallon of hot water. Using a brush with fairly stiff bristles, work the solution into the stain. Let it set for a while, the wash it thoroughly. Keep repeating this process until the stain is removed. If there are really tough stains you can try lemon juice and vinegar. Add about a half cup of each to a cup of hot water and rub it into the stain with a brush. This works well when there is a buildup of mold or mildew or other tough stains. Once all the stains are removed you can either use a commercial cleaner or the baking soda mixture mentioned above to thoroughly clean the entire cloth cushion. If that doesn't do the trick, you can use commercial cleaners. Before you do check the manufacturer's tag first to see their recommendations. Some cleaning agents can weaken the fabric or cause the color to wash out or become spotty. When the entire cushion looks clean, wash it once more to remove all the cleaning solution. Hang the cushions up and let them dry completely in the sun. For tough mold and mildew, you can also use a chorine bleach solution.
Mix a quarter cup of chlorine bleach with a gallon of water. Dab the solution onto the stain or use a spray bottle to apply it. Saturate the entire area well, then let it sit for 60 seconds. Rinse the cloth patio furniture with clean water. Once the surface is dry, add a light coat or two of spray-on fabric sealant made specifically for outdoor furnishings. Cloth cushions aren't made to weather the elements. While the sealant will add a certain measure of water resistance to the cushions, continual exposure to sun and rain can cause the fabric to fade and break down over time. Another enemy of cloth cushions is suntan lotion and oil. If you have friends or family who want to get in a little sun time, make sure they place a towel on the cushion first to soak up any extra oil or lotions. These can cause stains that can be difficult if not impossible to remove from the cushions, even with commercial cleansers and a lot of time and effort. At the end of each season, it's a good idea to completely clean your cloth cushions from top to bottom. Make sure they are stain free first, then give the entire cushion a full cleaning. Let it dry, add a weather resistant coating, then allow to dry again. Once your cushions are completely dried, store them in a corner of your garage or storage shed that won't get damp during inclement weather. Never put your cloth cushions in a plastic container or bag. This will almost guarantee that they will be mildewed and moldy when you go to look for them at the first sign of a warm, sunny day.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.edenvaleshoppes.com
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Article Title: The Best Wood For Outdoor Furniture
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 657
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The best wood for outdoor furniture will continue to remain strong and sturdy, even after season after season of being beaten by the elements - winds, rain, snow, ice, blistering sun and even the gloom of night.
While all wood furniture looks great when you first put it outdoors, most woods, especially softer woods, will begin to crack and eventually splinter and break during the harsh winter months.
You could always bring them in during the winter to extend their life, but it's not always easy or practical. Outdoor furniture can take up a lot of space in a storage shed or garage, space that may be needed for other things, like your car during a snowstorm.
Not to worry. There are woods that will weather the elements extremely well.
The big three woods are Western Red Cedar, Northern White Cedar and Teak. The good news is that all three can grow in managed forests or plantations these days, so you're not only getting great wood furniture, but it is sustainable as well. But more on that in a bit.
All three woods are extremely strong and weather resistant. The two cedars will turn a lovely silver gray as they age and you can leave them out in the elements. They are naturally resistant to rot, even if they are touching the ground. You can leave them untreated and they won't shrink or become warped as the years pass.
Teak is another excellent choice. It won't warp either, nor will it swell. It is a wonderful hardwood that you'll also find on the deck of sailing boats and yachts. That said, it does require a little more maintenance to keep it looking like new.
The best method is to apply a layer of marine quality teak oil to your furniture. Don't bother purchasing the stuff from home improvement stores that says it's teak oil. Get the real thing from a boat or marine supply store. It will last longer and keep the teak looking gorgeous for years, if not decades.
If you don't treat the teak it will go from its initial warm honey color to a silver gray patina over time. This doesn't mean the teak is rotting or becoming weak. It's totally natural and it doesn't affect the wood, only the color.
There are more exotic woods to choose from as well for outdoor furniture. Brazilian cherry and eucalyptus are popular, but they aren't necessarily the best wood for outdoor furniture, only because they may come from managed forests. Increasingly, you'll find eucalyptus outdoor furniture that is eco-friendly and sustainable, so in the years to come, this extremely strong wood, which is fast growing and decay resistant, may give teak a run for its money.
Now for the issue of sustainability. Until a decade or so ago, the best wood for outdoor furniture came from forest land that was neither sustainable or renewed. As consumers become more concerned about the environment, eco-friendly outdoor furniture became more important and increasingly available.
Thankfully, many of the woods mentioned here are indeed grown on plantations and in managed forests already. So you can purchase the best wood for outdoor furniture, knowing that you aren't depleting our world's forests just so you can be comfortable on your deck, patio or garden.
No matter which wood you choose, know that the best wood for outdoor furniture is one that will last for many years to come with little maintenance and no need to put it away for the winter. A superbly crafted piece of outdoor furniture should be built to last, ever at the ready for that rare winter day when the skies part, the weather warms and the great outdoors beckon you to head outside and catch a few rays in your wood outdoor furniture.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.morethanteak.com
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Article Title: Current Trends in Furniture Design
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 749
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With the Great Recession behind us and better times ahead, homeowners are beginning to think once again about renovating and updating their homes. But the question becomes, what are the current trends in furniture design?
For years now, people have been making due with their current furnishings and most of the trends were focused on making due with what we already had and giving them a bit of freshening.
If you're playing catch up like most of us then you probably don't know what's "in" and what's not in furniture design this year. Of course, chasing every trend in the world isn't a smart idea, but the general direction furniture has been going recently offers some great tips for homeowners hungry to escape the "same ol' same ol".
Eco-friendly furnishings are here to stay. That means wood furniture that uses raw materials from sustainable forests. Bamboo is a good example. A fast growing grass, bamboo doesn't deplete forests and it can be used in everything from furniture and flooring to bath towels. It is by far one of the biggest trends in furniture today and if you're into saving the environment while having a lovely home you can't really go wrong if you choose wood furniture that comes from managed forests or plantations.
Asian styles had all but faded from view a couple decades ago but they are making their way back into American homes. In contrast to past designs, which were often a bit gaudy, Asian influenced designs are much subtler this year.
Not so with color. Current trends in furniture design let you be as bold as you like in color, using neutral colored pillows and accents to tone down the room a bit instead of having endless seas of beige and tan furnishings. Furniture is all about comfort, too. Look for large, overstuffed pieces and ergonomic designs that welcome you to relax and recharge.
Modular furniture is still popular, since it allows those on a budget to mix and match furnishings. This style is especially popular in urban communities, which tend to also gravitate toward modern and contemporary furniture, which by the way never seems to go out of style.
A major trend is taking a page from the past and giving it a fresh new look. Old furnishings are looking new again, adding features and new tricks of the trade to give them an updated look that is perfect for today's homes. If you're still trying to pull this off with slipcovers, put them away. They are passé.
Another current trend is adding décor that is influenced by the music scene. Those into country music are decorating their homes in earthy colors and gravitating toward rustic and rustic country style furniture to match it, creating a country inspired home. Those into hard rock are integrating metallics into their homes, creating an edgier look that matches their taste in music.
After years of being in a recession, people are turning to lots of color. Not only are furnishings getting a splash of color, but the walls are, too. After years of dulled hues and beige, walls are coming alive with colors. Some are even adopting an extremely bright palette to rid their home of the bland colors associated with bland economic times. Others are adding just a splash of color to make a room really pop.
Furniture is on the shopping list, once again. While people are still being careful with their money, they are shopping for new pieces that can become a signature piece down the road. In other words, they are selecting furnishings that bridge the gap between what they have now and what they want in the future. This may include a new sofa concept that will give them a slightly eclectic look near term, but will be the focal point down the road as additional pieces are added.
As people shed the blues of a worldwide meltdown, look forward to more homes taking on the unique personality of its owners and shying away from more generalized interior design influences. Homes are no longer showplaces, but showcases for the resident's interests, personality and pursuits.
That indeed is a very welcome change and one that we can look forward to enjoying for a long time, one that will most certainly have a lasting influence on current trends in furniture.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.econsoletables.com
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Article Title: The Best Wood Furniture Around
Author: Jesse Akre
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The best wood furniture around is high quality, using the very best woods and assembled by skilled craftsman who know the ins and outs of creating furniture that lasts for years to come.
Even though all furniture may look like it's well made on the surface, you need to look under the hood, so to speak, to see the real quality. A lesser quality piece doesn't mean that it's bad, but it may mean it won't last as long as a piece of higher quality furniture.
The best wood furniture around uses hardwoods. This can include oak, birch, maple, mahogany, teak, alder and cherry. Some are harder than others, and even some hardwoods are softer than the so-called softwoods. Confused yet? Not to worry. Most woods will be fine for use inside your home. So if you love pine, it's OK. It will hold up well, assuming that the actual piece of furniture is well designed and constructed.
If your wood has knots in it, don't fear. Some of the best wood furniture around has knots. For instance, pine has a lot of knots. While this may weaken the wood slightly, it will also add beauty. And all knots are not the same. A pine knot will stay in place forever. If you have a knot in oak, however, it may pop out unexpectedly.
Any furniture made of solid woods will give you longer performance than plywood or composite materials, which are sometimes called particleboard. This is typically used on less expensive pieces of furniture, which is then covered with a veneer to mask its sawdust-like appearance. Plywood isn't all bad. It can serve admirably for the sides of the drawers because its laminated layers are often stronger that traditional wood and less prone to warp.
Veneer isn't a sign of cheap furniture necessarily. It is actually a great alternative for furniture pieces that don't get much use. In fact, you're likely to find veneer on highly collectible antique furnishings, since it was originally developed to provide a high quality look on pieces of lesser quality in the 1920s and 1930s.
Often, veneer is composed of exotic woods, cut into precise shapes and glued in place to create decorative designs on otherwise solid wood pieces. These veneers can add beauty and value to any piece of furniture and the work is performed by highly skilled artisans.
In the old days, furniture that had to be assembled was supposed to be a sign of inferior quality. This is no longer the case. Furniture is often shipped partially assembled, simply to reduce shipping costs. In fact, many of the pieces you'd see in a traditional furniture store - dining room chairs and tables, for example - may have been shipped from the point of manufacture and assembled at the store. You just never saw them being put together in the stockroom.
That's one of the reasons why it's a smart idea to visit online furniture retailers, to see what they have available. Because their showrooms are virtual, they can often carry a broader selection of furnishings. Shipping is often free, too, so you don't have to factor in the delivery cost. Even a lot of neighborhood furniture stores charge for delivery these days.
When selecting the best wood furniture around, think about how it will be used in the home. If it's not going to be used daily, you may be able to go with a slightly lesser quality piece of furniture. But if it's going to be used regularly, you really want to invest in a quality piece from a reputable company that stands behind its products.
Higher quality pieces are easy to identify. They are even and square in appearance and have tight joints. They have good hinges and if they use any lesser woods, they are in out of the way places, such as support beams or the back of an entertainment center or desk. Quality furniture should have a heft to it, it should be stable and the drawers should pull out smoothly and not jam or scrape when opened and closed. Ideally, they are mounted on ball bearings, though a well made smaller drawer can work fine without them. Screws should be countersunk and covered. The upholstery on wood furniture (dining room chair seats, for example) should be evenly tucked and securely fastened. Doors should fit tightly and close securely.
These are just a few of the many features you'll find in higher end wood furniture and are the usual marks of quality.
If you're not sure about any of these issues when shopping at a furniture store - either online or in your neighborhood - don't hesitate to ask. Reputable companies are very forthcoming about the furniture they sell and will gladly answer your questions before you make a purchase. That is the true sign of the best wood furniture around after all - a furniture manufacturer or retailer who stands behind the products they sell.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.ekitchentables.com
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Article Title: Choosing a Coffee Table For Your Home
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 863
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Until recently, coffee tables were something of an afterthought when it came to designing a living room that was both handsome and comfortable. Hidden in the shadow of magnificent love seats, sofas and chairs, the poor old coffee table was relegated to second place and on occasion, was omitted entirely.
This has all changed, thanks in large part to the new designs that have been turned out by manufacturers in recent years that are not only beautiful, but add functionality and warmth to the living room.
In fact, a carefully selected coffee table can actually become the focal point of the room, complementing the other pieces of living room furniture while becoming the center of attention in its own right.
When choosing a coffee table for your living room, you want to consider two main factors: style and function.
Choosing a coffee table style
The perfect coffee table complements your décor, of course. Ideally, you want to select a table that is in the same style as the rest of your furnishings. For instance, a country inspired design may stick out like a sore thumb in a contemporary furnished living room. Conversely, a stainless steel and glass table may look out of place in a home decorated in a tropical style, or one that features highly ornate furnishings. Unless you are an experienced interior designer, you may want to stick to with a table that is in the same general style of the rest of your furnishings, ie, traditional with traditional, contemporary with contemporary and so on.
Selecting a coffee table for its function
It used to be that all coffee tables were created equally. But no more. Today, you can get a range of models, some with features that weren't even on the drawing boards a decade or so ago.
For instance, if you like to eat and watch TV at the same time, you can get a table with a top that cantilevers up and out, creating an eating area that is far more convenient and elegant than TV trays. If you have children, you may want to get a coffee table that has extra storage, so you can easily store kid's toys and games while you entertain company. Some coffee tables also have thoughtful storage areas for remotes - a big help for those who have a number of them to keep track of.
If you entertain a lot, you may want to get a larger table to hold munchies and drinks. You may also want to get something that is a fairly indestructible, so that it won't mar, stain or develop rings if your guests forget to use a coaster.
Scaling your coffee table
Scale is an important consideration these days, as larger living room furniture can dwarf older tables. When looking at coffee tables you want to look for one that won't look lost in the room, overshadowed by other furnishings. Conversely, you don't want one that takes over the room either. As you measure your room and furnishings, remember that the coffee table will be about 18" away from your sofa, love seats and chairs. It needs room to breathe and it needs room for you and your guests to move around it without it getting in the way. Most tables are 16" to 18" high, but some contemporary designs can be lower, so you want to factor that in if shopping for a modern style. Ideally, your table should be one to two inches lower than the height of the seat of your furniture. As far as length, it should be about two-thirds the length of your sofa. If you have an 8' sofa, for instance, your coffee table should be a little more than 5' in length.
These are just general rules, however, as the exact scale is also determined by the size of the room and the location of the furniture.
Color/finish is important
Finally, you want to consider the color of the piece. While you want your coffee table to complement the other pieces you have, but it doesn't have to be a carbon copy of the end tables or the entertainment center. Instead, it should stand on its own while accenting the love seat, chairs and sofa you have, as the table has much more in common with these than the entertainment center that's set away from it and has a personality of its own. Remember, you want to take the entire space of the room into account, selecting a coffee table that adds to the beauty and charm, not detracts from it.
Finally, don't rush your selection. Be sure to look through the hundreds of styles available online these days. As certain ones catch your eye, note their style, their product name and the site they were on. Then start to narrow down your choices as you consider the room, your own personal tastes in décor and the character of the coffee table that hopefully will soon become a cherished addition to your living room.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.onlytables.com
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Article Title: Tips on Placing Furniture in Your Bedroom
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 1061
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If your bedroom isn't exactly the oasis of relaxation you want it to be, it could just be that your furniture needs to be rearranged a bit. Placing the furniture in your bedroom is not a haphazard undertaking. It takes a bit of planning and some basic interior design principles to transform your bedroom into a place you look forward to being in, even when you're not sound asleep.
While it may be tempting to just go out and buy a new bedroom set, you may want to take a look at what you already have now and then add new pieces to the room once you have everything rearranged to your liking.
Moving a lot of bedroom furniture can be a real painful undertaking. It's best to do the initial planning on a piece of paper before you ever move a single stick of furniture. This will not only save you a lot of time, but a lot of pain as well.
Begin your planning by measuring your room. Then plot the measurements on a piece of paper, letting ž" on the piece of paper represent 1' in the room. That means a 10' wide room will be 7.5" on the piece of paper. Once you have the shape of the room drawn out, mark in where the windows and door are as well as the closet. If you want to be really detailed, add arrows around the outside of the room where the wall sockets are so you won't block them with a bulky piece of furniture, at least before you're able to plug in an extension cord.
Now, measure all the furniture. Draw each piece onto a piece of paper and cut it out. Once they are cut out it's time to start placing furniture in your bedroom, on paper that is. Start with the largest pieces first, which is usually the bed, followed by dressers, chairs and finally, chests and nightstands.
Don't be tempted to simply live with your first idea. Try different approaches until the room looks good to you. This will serve as the base of your rearranging project.
The goal is to create a room that feels spacious, uncrowded, inviting and uncluttered while still having personality. Start adding furniture to the room one piece at a time. Before you do, you may want to repaint to save you some work later.
The bed is the focal point of any bedroom. When placing furniture in the bedroom, it should be in the dominant place, the first place a person would look when entering the room. Ideally it shouldn't be crammed into a corner or backed against a wall. There should be breathing room all around the bed so that in the middle of the night you don't have to stumble over other pieces of furniture or stub your toe on the dresser.
Dressers are next in importance. If space is tight you may want to see if you can purchase highboy dressers instead of chest dressers. This will allow you to make use of the wall space, since these dressers are vertical instead of horizontal. If you have a horizontal dresser, add it first before adding the dressers with the smaller footprint.
If your room is big enough, you may want to consider adding a blanket/storage chest at the foot of the bed. This is a great place to store additional pillows and blankets for those cold winter nights. Storage always seems to be at a premium in homes and the foot of a bed is a great place to add storage easily.
A well-designed room doesn't happen by accident. Even if you do a layout on a piece of paper you may have to make adjustments on the fly as you're placing furniture in your bedroom. That's because you can't see how the height of different furnishings affects the look of the room. In other words, several tall dressers grouped closely together can make an otherwise spacious room look crowded.
When placing furniture in your bedroom, ask yourself if a piece that just doesn't look right is really necessary. In smaller bedrooms a chair may just not fit. Don't force it. It's better to leave the room a little open than cram it to the brim with furniture.
As you arrange the room, it's important to vary the height of furniture. Go from high to low or high to medium in height as you place furniture around the room. Also, you may want to put a tall dresser on a small wall in your bedroom rather than place it on a longer wall where it wastes valuable space.
Another decision to make is to have one nightstand, two nightstands or no nightstands in the room. If you don't read at night you may want to forego a nightstand all together and free up some room. A floor lamp can add light without the need of a table.
If you watch TV in bed you may want to wall mount it, which frees up space on your dressers. Today's plasma televisions have such small footprints that adding them to the wall is akin to adding a work of art in terms of visual impact.
Speaking of art, don't overload the walls with paintings or photos. This can make the room look crowded, especially if you have a large headboard, a four-poster or several tall dressers. You want the walls to have some breathing room as well so the room doesn't look too crowded. However, that doesn't mean that your room should be void of personality. Add knickknacks and photos as you see fit. Just don't overload it to the point that it looks cluttered again.
Placing furniture in your bedroom can be a really fun weekend project, if you do a little initial planning and take the time to consider the space you have, the types of furnishings that are available to add to it and the mood you're trying to set. Remember, the room needs to be a place you look forward to being in, so design with that purpose in mind and you should end up with the bedroom of your dreams.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.edenvaleshoppes.com
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Article Title: Modern Day Nesting Tables
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 785
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Nesting tables, usually three small tables that can be stacked onto or under one another, were the creation of 19th century English furniture designer Thomas Sheraton. The came back into fashion in the 1970s, fell out of favor again in the 1990s and have now enjoyed a resurgence, largely because of new designs and materials that have transformed them from being a relic of the past to a must-have of the future.
Nesting tables were originally designed to save space in the smaller homes of the time while still providing much needed additional space for entertaining. These modern day tables come in a variety of designs, shapes and styles, so it's easy to find one that suits your particular tastes.
Modern day tables are fairly small, certainly smaller than a coffee table or dining table; more along the lines of an end table. The largest of the nesting tables is usually about 20". They then get successively smaller and slightly shorter, so that one can tuck under the other to save space, hence the name nesting tables.
These tables have many uses in today's homes. Even though homes are a lot larger than they used to be you can use nesting tables as additional dining real estate during holidays, as extra tables during a party to hold munchies and drinks, or as dining tables for the kids when there's not enough room at the "grown up table."
Nesting tables are also great for playing games, especially when it's game night and everyone wants to play a different game. Rather than reaching across a large dining room table, you can use the smaller tables, which are perfect for board or dice games.
You can also choose to use them next to one another or separately. Place the tables against a wall or at the end of a sofa and use them to display photos and knickknacks. When company comes over and you need a little extra elbowroom, you can always nest them again until the party is over.
The main table will set the tone for the set, since it will be the one everyone sees. As such, you need to be sure that the style, finish and features of the nesting tables match your overall décor. You can be as eclectic as you wish, of course, but you do want to create a family feel for all your furnishings. Though a single nesting table may not look out of place, even if it's more ornate or more modern than the rest of the furnishings, remember that there is the multiplier effect when all three tables are being used. So, it's best to stick with a look that complements rather than contrasts with your overall approach to the décor. Traditional nesting tables look best in a traditional styled home and contemporary ones look most at home with other modern furniture.
One of the great things about nesting tables is that they are scaled to fit nearly anywhere in your home. They don't have to be used in the living room or family room. You can add nesting tables to a guest room, spare room or even the master. There, they can serve as an additional nightstand or end table until you need them to entertain. Then, simply pull them out and enjoy the convenience of additional table space, which is especially prized during the holidays.
When selecting these tables be sure to choose ones that match your tastes and needs. Some styles nest perfectly together while others stack in a step fashion, each one sticking out a little more than the other. Some nesting tables are designed with two identical small square tables that fit under a larger rectangular one. Both styles are nice, but you want to make sure the nesting tables you choose will fit nicely in the space you have in mind without looking crowded.
Originally, these tables were made only of wood. But today, you can find a wide range of materials, from traditional wood to steel, chrome, glass, wicker and composite. There's really something for everyone at a price point nearly anyone can afford.
Don't look for these tables to fade from favor anytime soon. Right now, they are just on the upward spiral of being an indispensible part of home décor and you can look forward to them being a staple of American homes for years to come. Best of all, selection is at an all-time high, ensuring that you are almost guaranteed to find a set of nesting tables that are perfect for you and your home.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.simplybenches.com
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Article Title: How to Make a Cheap Room Divider Easily
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 859
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With the current state of real estate, with homes underpriced, tons of inventory on hand and many mortgages upside down, many people are learning to make do with their current home rather than trading up.
Unfortunately, families have a way of outgrowing their living space, especially as children grow older and space is at a premium. Worse, the once in-demand great rooms in homes can greatly limit the ability to create new space easily and affordably without major reconstruction costs. And who wants to put more money into a home that isn't even worth what you're paying for it?
One of the great design secrets is to use room dividers. These can break of a large space into more intimate quarters, such as dividing a dining room from the living room or creating private spaces in a bedroom for children who have to share the room with a sibling.
A cheap room divider is fairly easy to make and it can be both beautiful and functional, if you invest a little time and effort into its design and construction. While you can spend the money to buy a ready-made room divider, we think you'll like the results of making your own better, since you can customize it to meet your unique needs and the unique constraints of the room you're adding it to.
Making a cheap room divider is easy, even if you don't have a lot of construction experience. It requires basic tools such as a drill, electric saw and measuring tape and some off-the-shelf construction materials you can pick up at any home improvement store. There are plenty of instructions for how to create a room divider on the cheap on do it yourself websites. There are so many options we really can't include them all here.
Before you go too far, look at the different styles and options online. This will help you settle on a design direction. For example, you can go with a Japanese style folding room divider, which is striking in appearance and lets the light shine in through the translucent paper screens. Or you can go with something more opaque and permanent looking. Screens can be permanent or portable, so that's another important design consideration.
The advantage of a portable screen is you can remove it when entertaining or when you've decided that two spaces work better than one. The downside of these screens is that they usually have to be set up with a Z-shape fan fold so they won't fall over. If you have small children and they knock it down, it can cause serious injury. Instead, you may want to anchor it to at least one wall.
A Japanese style screen will work wonderfully in a room shared by two teens or tweens. It provides immediate privacy without requiring any demolition or permanent installations. And once the kids are grown, simply remove it. These screens are also great for hiding cluttered areas while company is over. Simply set up the screen and all your dirty laundry, hobby supplies or other clutter magically disappears, at least while company is visiting.
If you are used to working with wood, you may want to go with a more grandiose style of screen. Even a wood screen can be done on the cheap, relying on plywood and pre-done trim to do a lot of the magic for you. You can then stain the divider, paint it or, if you're artistic, use it as a canvas, painting a lovely landscape or seascape or any other design that catches your fancy. An added benefit of doing this is that your visitors won't even think of it as a screen - it will be a work of art.
Alternately, you can create a divider that will hold family photos. You can do this one of two ways. If you have a miter box or a miter saw, you can use pre-done trim to create photo frames on the divider. Add a little glass or Plexiglas and slip the photo into the slot from the top. You can also purchase ready-made frames and glue them onto the divider. Suddenly, you not only have a new living space but also a wall of memories that you, your family and friends can enjoy every time you pass it.
If you're not that handy with wood, you can create a room divider with a set of paneled doors that usually go on closets. All you have to do is add a set of hinges between each door panel and voila! - instant room divider. A lot of communities have reclaim centers where you can purchase these panels inexpensively. Thrift stores may have them, too.
Making a cheap room divider is easier to do than you think. Thanks to today's home improvement stores with their wide selection of materials and accents, you can create a room divider that will make your existing home seem like a new one. It's one of the least expensive home makeovers you can do.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.simplytowelbars.com
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Article Title: Triple Bunk Beds For Kids' Rooms
Author: Jesse Akre
Word Count: 746
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Many of us who grew up in the "old days" have very fond memories of life in bunk beds. Whether you shared your room with your brother or sister or first experienced a bunk bed away at camp or in a dorm, they are a unique bedding solution that has become something of an institution when it comes to bedroom furnishings.
Even with today's expansive homesteads, bunk beds are still a popular solution for kid's rooms. Even an only child can enjoy the benefits of multiple beds in their room, especially if he or she has friends or cousins who like to have sleepovers.
Today's bunk beds are a far cry from the ones of the past. Those of days gone by were often horribly creaky and slightly unstable, the product of poor engineering and design. But these beds out on the market now have nothing in common with their rickety ancestors. And you no longer have to just make do with doubling up - triple bunk beds for kids' rooms are all the rage these days.
The reason? Flexibility and fun. Why else would you want these beds? They give you unparalleled flexibility when it comes to sleeping arrangements. Don't think for a moment that these triple bunk beds look as if they belong on a Navy destroyer. They are not only functional, but extremely stylish.
You can choose from any number of arrangements for triple beds. While you can get ones that do have the beds three high in a single stack, you can also get L-shaped triple bunk beds that put two kids on the top in the 'L' and a second one down below.
You can also get L-shaped bunks with a lower and upper births stacked upon one another with a second bed middeck, creating the familiar 'L' shaped.
The choices are virtually endless, really. Not only do these designs come with three beds, but you can select a model that also has a built-in desk underneath. How do they manage to pack all that into a single bed unit? You'll have to see photos of them to believe it. If only they had these back in the day - we'd probably still be staying in our parent's homes, never wanting to leave.
Triple bunk beds aren't necessarily three beds, either. You can also get models that have a full sized bed down below and a twin up above, creating a handy sleep solution for those who entertain overnight guests. A couple can sleep down below while their child sleeps up above. Who says bunk beds are just for kids these days?
There are a couple of considerations to take into account when adding triple bunk beds to your home. First, some of these models would be better off with a higher ceiling. While they work fine with an 8' ceiling they really shine with a 10' ceiling. You won't hear things suddenly go bump in the night when the upper bunk mate suddenly sits up after a bad dream.
A triple bunk bed may seem like a nightmare to make up in the morning or even get into. But furniture designers have come up with some really smart concepts to make it easier to access those fitted sheet corners or even the bed. For the kids, getting into bed can be a ball. Some models have ladders or even a small staircase, making the bed a place for adventure as well as sleep. Don't be too surprised if you find the sheets hanging off the side in an attempt to create a makeshift fort. In fact, you may start to wonder why you ever made the bed in the first place.
Triple bunk beds are a big treat for youngsters and young teens a like. It makes it easy for them to have sleepover guests on occasion, where all the kids can spend the night in the same room without ever having to roll out a sleeping bag or make due with the floor. And if you have only one child in the family he or she can sleep on a different level every night, at least until a new baby brother or sister comes into the world.
If you're looking for a lot of flexibility for kids, triple bunk beds are the hot ticket for today's homes.
About The Author: Jesse Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites that offer decor advice and style suggestions. His websites offer product information about patio furniture, outdoor living styles and decor for your home and garden. http://www.eKnobsandPulls.com
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Article Title: Damon, DiCaprio, And Double Lives: Dual Protagonists in the "The Departed"
Author: Zachary Mandell
Word Count: 911
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Through criminal exploits and false bonds, "The Departed" explores duality and the unceasing consequences faced by people who practice it. The movie's two lead protagonists embody the concept of duality, acting as character foils in their reactions to similar scenarios. While they share some of the same childhood influences, subtle environmental differences propel each character's choices and tragic downfall.
The film is about the lives of two Bostonian Irishmen, both of whom pursue careers as state police. Matt Damon's character, Colin Sullivan, seems like the typical hardworking man and do-gooder. He sails through police training, plays football with his colleagues, and quickly rises to a lead position in a special unit that handles organized crime cases. However, Sullivan is merely a mole and was recruited as a child by the local mob boss he's now tasked with investigating. Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Billy Costigan, has troubles in his past and a family history of criminal activity. He initially excels at the police academy but finds himself deterred from moving forward by two state police looking to recruit him. Much like Sullivan, Costigan becomes a mole in the crime syndicate helmed by mobster Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson).
The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and, like many of his works, is about corrupt and unhinged people who behave in ways that are both unsettling and entertaining. The lengthy opening sequence cleverly sets up the polarity of Sullivan and Costigan's situations. Sullivan grew up in the community controlled by Costello but was raised by his grandmother and maintains the air of an honorable citizen. Costigan also comes from a broken family, living with his mother in a middle-class setting and visiting his criminal father in a neighborhood overrun with corruption.
When Sullivan is accepted into the organized crime unit, Captain Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Sergeant Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) note his impressive track record and sound work ethic. On the other hand, Costigan is approached aggressively by the same men, who pick apart his family's criminal involvement and question his motives for joining the police force. However, the viewer quickly learns that it's Costigan's marked intelligence that causes these two men to deem him unsuitable for the force, not his background. To Queenan and Dignam, Costigan represents the perfect balance of cop and criminal. His family is already connected to Costello, and Costigan clearly has the mental dexterity to infiltrate the crime ring without revealing his true identity. At one point, Dignam correctly accuses him of using two different accents around his mother and father. The exchange shows that Costigan's dualistic nature surfaced at a young age.
Sullivan is equally dualistic, but his fraudulent behavior is conditioned. He is groomed to be a plant and copes with conflicting loyalties while struggling to take control of his own identity. In an early scene, Costello buys groceries for Sullivan and his grandmother, establishing a father-son relationship that gradually becomes burdensome to Sullivan. Despite being one of Costello's most valuable cohorts, Sullivan is trapped in a shaky servitude and is often threatened by the same man who serves as a mentor figure.
In fact, the movie's ending reveals how tenuous their connection is. Costello is initially suspicious of Costigan but quickly brings him into the fold and forms a similar father-son relationship with the police mole. Sullivan is an insider handpicked by Costello but never truly earns his trust. Costello teaches Sullivan skills that make the false cop a threat as he grows more independent. Costigan, on the other hand, is seen as a loyal foot soldier because he cleverly downplays his intelligence and manipulative abilities.
The idea of owning personal identity is a major theme in "The Departed." Sullivan falls in love and dreams of a different career. He realizes he must neutralize Costello in order to claim that fantasy life and destroy evidence of his past. Costigan's identity is owned by Queenan and Dignam. His real identity is replaced with his criminal persona, and the two officers are the only people who can verify his undercover assignment. Both Sullivan and Costigan are physically affected by their deceptive lifestyles. Sullivan begins to suffer from impotence, and Costigan becomes paranoid, insomniac, and mildly dependent on prescription drugs. Queenan provides a stabilizing influence for Costigan that Sullivan never receives.
Another notable presence is Sullivan's girlfriend, Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), who is also Costigan's psychiatrist. Both men form sexual relationships with Madolyn, but neither can be entirely truthful with her. Sullivan exhibits an arrogance and abrasive confidence that somehow attracts others, but as a psychiatrist, Madolyn slowly sees traces of what lies behind the façade. In contrast, Costigan challenges her mentally and reveals glimpses of the emotional strain he suffers from. The strong connection between Costigan and Madolyn reminds the viewer of the kind of man he is underneath the criminal intrigue. While they outwardly seem to come from different worlds, Costigan is brilliant and virtuous and would realistically be the suitable match for Madolyn.
During Costigan's interview at the start of the film, Queenan asks whether he wants to be in law enforcement or simply appear to be. This theme develops alongside the dual protagonists, who try to abandon their false identities and reclaim their real ones. In both cases, those attempts end tragically, leaving the audience with an important question: Is identity self-imposed or determined by the perceptions of others?
About The Author: As a long time fan of Hollywood I was able to carve out the perfect career in the entertainment industry by writing initially for celebrity news sites and am now the owner of http://MovieRoomReviews.com
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- "Zachary Mandell" <submissions@isnare.net> Apr 30 01:00AM +0800
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Please consider this free-reprint article written by:
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Article Title: Movie Review: 6 Souls
Author: Zachary Mandell
Word Count: 804
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Rating: R (violent content, disturbing images and terror)
Length: 112 min
Release date: Mar. 27, 2010
Directed by: Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein
Genre: Horror, Mystery, and Thriller
Stars: 3 out of 5
In the movie "6 Souls," Julianne Moore plays Dr. Cara Harding, a shrewd forensic psychiatrist in for a world of surprise when she makes a shocking discovery about one of her troubled patients. The movie opens with Cara grieving the death of her beloved husband. Her husband was brutally murdered in a senseless act of violence, which left Cara questioning God, herself, morality, and everything but her steadfast understanding of the human mind.
One patient's unusual and, in Cara's mind, impossible mental affliction will test even her unwavering belief in science. Cara's relationship with her father, another well-known psychiatrist played by Jeffrey DeMunn, is in constant turmoil due to the extreme differences in their professional philosophies. Cara is a modern psychologist who believes that multiple personality disorder, removed from the professional psychological diagnostic manual years ago, is not a legitimate psychological disorder. Her father is a staunch advocate of the disorder's existence, and the two frequently butt heads over the issue.
Hoping to inspire Cara to venture into more open-minded territory about things that she can't explain, the senior Dr. Harding takes her to visit a puzzling patient of his. Adam, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers of "The Tudors" and "Velvet Goldmine" fame, is a young man struggling with the very affliction that Cara claims does not exist. Not only does Adam's personality change when he turns into one of his alternate identities, but he begins to take on their physical attributes as well. Cara is suddenly faced with solid evidence of the impossible, and her faith in both science and God will now be tested more than ever before. As an added twist, Cara discovers evidence that Adam's personalities are the ghosts of people who were brutally murdered.
"6 Souls" is an innovative movie simply on the grounds that it tackles a much debated concept in psychology that has been poorly portrayed by many Hollywood movies in the past. "6 Souls" bravely attempts to succeed where other movies have failed, and it does. Jonathan Rhys Meyers does an excellent job at portraying the chaotic and torturous existence of a young man forced to share his life and body with other people. His performances are chilling and will remind fans of the horror genre of classics such as "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" and "Sybil."
Julianne Moore also delivers a riveting performance as the analytical and world-weary Dr. Cara Harding. Cara's loss of faith and struggle to hold onto science, the only thing she has left to believe in, is relatable to anyone who has experienced sudden loss. The senseless death of her husband weighs heavily on her throughout the film and informs the character's perceptions and reactions to the events that follow. Her relationship with her father is another crucial element that makes the film stand out from others in the thriller genre. Audiences sympathize with Cara as she fights to help Adam and protect her family from becoming victims, all while dealing with the painful memories and feelings that Adam's case brings up from her husband's murder.
The entire film has an eerie, ominous atmosphere that only picks up as the story progresses. What begins as a cold, scientific world is eventually turned on its head. By the end of the film, viewers likely won't know which way is up, and that's exactly what director Christian Alvart seems to have intended. The supernatural is definitely at play in the world of "6 Souls," but it's up to the viewer to discover just how extensively.
One of the most disturbing and unique elements of the movie is the stark contrast between characters. Adam's rough personality gives way to his various alter egos, each of whom brings out a side of his personality that is dormant in his normal life. Cara's dad represents the open-minded intellectual who lives more in the realm of treatment and anecdotes than academia, while Cara herself is the hardened professional who refuses to give up on logic until that alone is the most reasonable choice she has.
Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy this fast-paced human genre with strong supernatural overtones. Neither science nor faith is ever dismissed in this thoughtful and thought-provoking film. True believers and skeptics alike get a fair shake in Alvart's story. The entire film is so well thought out with storytelling based on such a unique concept that it is only a matter of time before "6 Souls" gets inducted into the psychological thriller hall of fame with the likes of "Sybil" and "Memento."
About The Author: As a long time fan of Hollywood I was able to carve out the perfect career in the entertainment industry by writing initially for celebrity news sites and am now the owner of http://MovieRoomReviews.com
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