Tag: Native American

Rustic Kitchen Design

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There are many different styles of kitchen design from which you can select your favorite when you are ready to remodel your existing kitchen, or when you are building a new home. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area that is noted for its scenic splendor, then your kitchen design may take a cue from nature, and become a rustic kitchen design. A rustic kitchen style would be perfect in a home that is situated in a wooded area, or on acreage that gives the feel of a ranch. There are many ways to achieve this liveable rustic kitchen design look in your own kitchen.

Finishes have a great deal to do with achieving a rustic kitchen aesthetic. Rough-hewn or handmade finishes lend themselves to a rustic kitchen. Finishes and hardware can also be applied to your rustic kitchen cabinets as well to make them fit in with this design style. Leaving the wood grain to show, rather than painting over it, is one easy step that can be taken to create the rustic kitchen cabinets-look. Using items found in nature to style the hardware, perhaps using stones or short sections of branches as the door pulls themselves, is an excellent way to achieve rustic kitchen cabinets.

Other design elements can be used to bring the outdoors in, creating a rustic look in your kitchen. By bringing the color green inside, through the use of plants or wall colors, for example, will help to give a rustic, outdoor appeal to the room. Using fabric prints that feature natural motifs, such as flowers or wood, or even insects or animals on couches, curtains, table cloths, runners and napkins, pillows, lamp covers and other surfaces can make the room feel at one with nature. Small collections of natural items, such as seashells, pinecones, rocks, agates, or other types of ephemerals can be grouped into vignettes that can be used to decorate table tops and cabinet shelves, to help bring in a rustic feel to other parts of the room.

A log cabin is the ultimate in rustic charm, and you may decide to have the room’s interiors finished in this manner. If so, you can also use camp decorations to round out the design scene to create a unified rustic appeal. Pennants from particular camps, found in vintage and antique stores, are great for this look, as can be camp chairs, bunk beds, Navajo rugs and other Native American art, including headdresses or masks.

To get help with coming up with ideas for a rustic kitchen design, you can contact a kitchen design specialist, who can assist you with suggestions that will work well in your particular kitchen space.

How To Use Home Furnishing To Improve Your Living Space

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The art of home furnishing and decorating your abode is really quite a big undertaking. Since your home is the place where you spend the most amount of time, a lot of effort and care should go into furnishing and decorating your home. It is an opportunity to infuse your unique personality and talents into your home. Other than the creative challenge and opportunity, home furnishing is a fun pastime. Home furnishing and decorating does not have to be an expensive endeavor as even small or inexpensive items can turn your home into an attractive, warm and comfortable abode. On the other hand, you can decide to hire an interior designer to help you create a stunning and beautiful living space, though of course that can get quite expensive.

You can always start by choosing a theme for your new home decorating effort. Depending on your individual tastes and preferences, you can furnish and decorate your home with American, French, Swedish, English or Southwest home furnishing styles. You can decorate your interior with an oriental touch or you can go for a Native American look. In the case of oriental furnishings, you can have fun with oriental screens, paper lanterns, porcelain knickknacks, bookcases, fans, cabinets, tables and more. Or if you decide to go with the Victorian look, you can furnish and decorate your home in earthy tones and search some antique stores to purchase Victorian rugs, chairs, couches, lamps, roll top desks etc. to showcase the Victorian charm. Options are also there to mix and match themes, with ultra-sophisticated, ultra-elegant, ultra-modern dcor with an antique touch to it.

Here are a few more ideas and tips for successful home furnishing and interior decorating. The best way to start home furnishing is to ask yourself some basic questions. Would you be living in the same house for long or is it a temporary stay? What are the essential furnishings that you must have? When your home decorating ideas become clear, start preparing the items you need to transform the ideas into reality.

You should shop in stores where you can find unique home furnishing items that are inexpensive. There are plenty of home furnishing items such as figurines, paintings, curtains, light shades, furniture, cabinets etc that can be purchased through discount home furnishing outlets. Some bargain deals are also available at consignment stores where people sell off their used furniture, and furniture warehouses that carry slightly damaged models to choose from.

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Facts About Zapotec Rugs For Southwestern Style

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Zapotec rugs are one-of-a-kind hand woven wool rugs. They are personal Indian art creations made only by the Zapotec Indians. These wool rugs are desired from collectors around the world.

1. Zapotec weavings are appreciated because of their old world craftsmanship, beautiful colors, and one-of-a-kind designs and patterns. These Indian rugs are the perfect decorating accessory for use in rustic homes and cabins, southwest style homes, or anywhere you would like to add color and elegance.

2. They work wonderfully when used as traditional area rugs. They also make great rustic wall hangings and tapestries. Use them for added color and design on your walls. They are quite similar to the Navajo rugs of North America. Zapotec rugs make it easy to achieve great southwestern or Native American style in any room of your home.

3. Learning some of the history of Zapotec rug making helps you more fully appreciate them. Weaving them is a time consuming work. The Zapotec Indians are from an ancient civilization. They had no known legends or stories of migration. They believed that they were born of the natural elements of their land, like the trees and rocks.

4. They were basically and agricultural center until the 1500’s and the Spanish conquest. They learned new techniques of weaving from the Spanish priests. They brought the design of the loom. The Spanish also brought the first sheep from Europe and taught the Zapotec how to weave it. The area of Teotitlan Del Valle in Oaxaca is a special place. This is where the world-renown rug making originated and still continues today.

5. The vibrant colors and designs are the first thing you will notice about Zapotec weavings. Some rug weavers have started to use synthetic dyes. However, many still use the traditional and natural elements from the area to dye their wool. Pass by the home or workshop of an Oaxacan rug artist throughout the week. You will probably see them dying the wool. They use large pots of rich colored dye, outside on an open fire.

6. Some of the elements used to dye the wool include moss, bark, plants, seeds, fruit and flowers. One of the most interesting dyes they use comes from an insect called the cochineal. Once the insect is dried, it is then crushed into a very fine red powder. This powder is used to make a rich scarlet colored dye.

7. Rug weaving often involves the whole family. Each member has their role in the production of a beautiful rug. The wool must first be cleaned and washed. Next, it is dyed. After that, it is spun into yarn. All this must be done before the weaving process begins.

8. It is fascinating that each rug has its own design. Each is a unique masterpiece of the artist. The fact that no two rugs are the same is one of the reasons that make these rugs very popular.

9. Zapotec rugs are ideal for American Indian art collectors that like original or one-of-a-kind pieces. They are also perfect for those who enjoy Native arts and crafts and rustic home decorating.

10. You have the choice to use your Zapotec rug, as a classic floor rug. You can also use it as a southwestern wall hanging or tapestry. You will definitely appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of these Indian rugs. With the many different styles and patterns available, you can find the perfect rug to go with your furnishings.

You might find Zapotec rugs or similar style southwestern rugs in stores that sell home decor. However, you will probably find better deals online. Dress up your southwestern or rustic style home. Add some color to your home’s decor. Share the beauty and quality that is characteristic of Zapotec rugs.