Janus et Cie - The Ultimate Teak Umbrellas

Janus et Cie Teak Octagonal Umbrellas

Janus et Cie makes the ultimate in teak umbrellas. I am fascinated by the attention to detail and craftsmanship they put into their umbrellas. The brass pulley assembly and the leather strapping is what makes this teak umbrella a work of art. I like to refer to it as the 'Hermes' of umbrellas. How wonderful to sit under this umbrella and gaze up into the beautiful design of the interior. Janus et Cie's teak is plantation harvested and is truly an investment that will give years of pleasure.

Janus et Cie Teak Octagonal Umbrellas

Care and Maintenance for Teak: Teak is a wood that has traditionally been used on ships because it is strong and durable, and because of it's ability to stand up under humid conditions. Teak is one of the best woods for outdoor furniture and umbrellas because it requires little or low maintenance depending on the look you want. If teak is left untreated it will weather to a beautiful silvery gray patina, while retaining its strength and durability for many years. Weathering can be accelerated by washing the teak with a mild soap solution and the addition of a teaspoon of bleach to a gallon of water. Rinse with clean clear water. If you want to keep the natural beauty of teak, treating it with good quality teak wood care products will enable it to keeps it's characteristic golden honey golden color. If oil is applied to teak, it must be done to a perfectly clean and dry surface. Proper care and maintenance of your teak umbrella and teak furniture will enhance its beauty for years to come.

Other related posts you might be interested in:
How to CLEAN and CARE for LUCITE      25 Top Patio Chairs    Summer Inspiration

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

New Uses For Aviator Sunglasses - Celebrity Lamp

Anyone have a few pairs of Aviators lying around they don’t want?!

You could take inspiration from Celebrity Lamps and turn them into a stylish shade for your table lamp! This is a great way to recycle the old lenses of your old sunglasses to give you a really hip lamp!

The lamp is made by incorporating forty pairs of Aviator sunglass which have been customised to fit around the circular shade frame. Supported by a slender chrome coloured stand and including a quirky switch made from one arm of the sunglasses, this table lamp makes me smile!- maybe because it reminds me of summer and warmth!

When not illuminated the lenses reflect their surroundings in a similar way to a fly’s eye, in a strange sort of way and when light up casts some wonderful shadows into the room.

I’m a firm believer in having various diffused lighting effects in a room rather than a bright overhead light. The inclusion of stylish table lamps is an essential requirement in all homes irrespective of their interior design style.

How cool would this Celebrity Lamp look in a bachelor’s bedroom, providing really chic style. Like all celebrities who wear Aviators, anyone who has one of these funky lights will not need many excuses to invite people to see and marvel over it!

Imagine the great colours combinations and lighting effects you could create to make a lamp such as these from different styles of sunglasses if you can’t lay your hands on any unwanted Aviators!

For further information on Celebrity Lamp and image source visit Surroundings

Welcome to my Townhouse

Last weekend was my Birthday and I was presented with this exterior rendering of my Townhouse by Michelle Morelan. Apparently she was busy out front of my place the week prior taking photos to get her rendering just perfect for me, and was concerned that I would see her through the window and ruin her surprise.

Thank-you Michelle, I was totally surprised and I love it!!!
PS It was a good thing that the leaves were not out on the tree in front or else it would be hard to see the facade.
Meanwhile, we're still patiently waiting for Spring here in Vancouver.  

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Blue and Green Should Never Be Seen- Nonsense!

Use spring colours to fire your imagination and achieve a crisp and clean home which is a haven of all things ‘you’, modern and bright!

Those who haven’t got round to freshening up your home can get some great ideas from interior design journal or online blogs about smart ideas, tip and tricks such as Tip Junkie.

This home style may not be to everyone’s liking but you have to admit the colours work well together and it does look crisp and bright!

I love the colour combinations and simply adore the large floor lamp, although it virtually touches the ceiling which means most of the light will be reflected back down rather than illuminate the surrounding over area!

There’s an old saying ‘blue and green should never be seen unless there’s something in between!’ which basically stems for past ideas about using two colours which sit next to each other on the colour wheel and all that bygone nonsense!

Well, the inclusion of brilliant white has complied with the blue and green ‘rules’ and as long as you choose colours in the same vibrant hues you are onto a winner in my opinion!

Having said that blue can be a very cold colour and is not always a good option, unless like this room it has an abundance of natural sunlight streaming through the windows.

I also like the geometric design on what looks to be ready made curtains, which adds a cheerful and trendy touch to the large expanse of glass; the mix of furniture styles also works well and is a great way to add interest and cohesion to the room.

10 Top Four Poster Canopy Beds

A canopy bed is a decorative bed similar to a four poster bed but with a top to it. A typical canopy bed usually features posts at each of the four corners extending four feet high or more above the mattress. Ornate or decorative fabric is often draped across the upper space between the posts of the bed and a solid swath of cloth may create a ceiling, or canopy directly over the bed. The modern version of the four poster canopy bed is often left undraped. Canopy four poster beds make a dramatic design statement for the Bedroom.

The canopy four poster bed came into existence more from practical purposes than that of extravagance or decadence. The the earliest incarnations were probably beds of common people seeking an additional layer of shelter and warmth beyond that of a less-than-impenetrable thatched roof. Canopy beds with curtains that could completely enclose the bed were used by lords and noblemen in medieval Europe for warmth and privacy, as their attendants often slept in the same room. Please take the poll in the right hand column and let us know which is your favourite Four Poster Canopy Bed.

1. Top Picture - An antique four poster canopy bed by Stephen Sills Associates.

2. Viceroy Mayakoba features this distinctive four poster canopy bed with a canopy of woven reed textile.

3. 'Loire' Four Poster Canopy Bed by Niermann Weeks One hundred years ago you would find
four poster canopy beds like this in colonial hotels and residences in the four corners of the world.
The distinctive "bell or square top" was originally conceived for attachment of mosquito netting. 

4. Bodie and Frau Four Poster Canopy Bed is Perfect for draping or leaving open & fresh.

5. 'Turner' Four Poster Canopy Bed in Natural Cherry by Restoration Hardware.

6. 'Willa' Four Poster Canopy Bed Oly Studio.

 
7. One of my favourites is the ultimate 'Daydream' Four Poster Canopy Bed from Dedon.
It is designed for outdoor use, but I think that it could make the transition to indoors quite nicely.

8. 'Valois' Four Poster Canopy Bed from Niermann Weeks in Venetian silver leaf with antiqued mirrored panels.

9. A Huanghuali Six-Poster Canopy Bed with Latticework Railings, Jiazichuang.
17th Century Christies Images Corbus

10. 'Arezzo' Four Poster Canopy Bed Richelieu Mahogany by Niermann Weeks.

Other posts you might be interested in:
DIY Canopy Beds
Turquoise Aquamarine
What's Hot - Leather Slipcovers
8 Great Ceiling Treatments
White Bedrooms

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™