If you were in the market for a new home, would you know what style of home appeals to you? Perhaps a bungalow, a ranch or a grand Victorian or maybe a Georgian? Having a basic knowledge of architectural styles can really help to narrow down your choices and assist your realtor in helping you locate that perfect house. Take this little quiz to find out how architecturally savvy you are. In fact, try it out on prospective real estate agents to see how well they know their peaks and valleys. What style am I? 1. I came on the scene between 1950 and 1970. My wood beams are displayed proudly, where other styles hide them. I like a plain non-ornamental look – no fussy trims for me. My interior is usually wide open with high ceilings. 2. I’m newer than most, attached to my garage, and tend to show off with a big picture window. I’m usually a single story design, but sometimes I get raised or split. 3. I originated in England, but I’m not an English cottage. My exterior is usually plastered with exposed half timbers, and I have a steep gabled roof. My interior uses a lot of dark wood, and I often have a large stone fireplace. 4. I’m pretty funky, with straight vertical lines and often times a flat roof. I was all the rage during the roaring twenties, and was the inspiration for the design for Radio City Music Hall, among other famous New York landmarks. 5. My design emerged in the second half of the 19th century and incorporated many features mass produced by new machine technology. Some of these include patterned shingles, spindles, and decorative brackets. I often have elaborate second floor curved towers and large airy porches. 6. I emerged during the late 1800’s as a result of a needed a change from the fussy Victorian designs. My styles included Georgian, Federal, Dutch and the more modern “Neo” variety. I have simple lines, often barn-like and dormers on the second floors. 7. My design is a little more formal; probably because I was commonly used by nobles in the 1600’s. I have a steep, high roof line, and often arched doorways with porch balustrades. 8. I’m one of the oldest style of house built in the U. S and am commonly seen today in modern subdivisions. My steep, gabled roof usually has at least one or two dormers with shutters. 9. Although I was commonly found in the Midwest, East Coast and San Francisco between 1850 and 1880, my name suggests European origins. My exterior windows and supports may share the same elaborate designs. I often have bay windows, one on each floor and small chimneys. 10. I originated in the 1880’s and remained popular until the Great Depression. My roof is a low pitch and my entry may sport a small covered porch. I am fairly plain compared to my Victorian counterpart and was even available as a kit from the Sears and Roebuck catalog. Answers:1. Contemporary 2. Ranch 3. Tudor 4. Art Deco 5. Victorian 6. Colonial 7. French Provincial 8. Cape Cod 9. Italianate 10. Bungalow
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How Well Do You Know Your House Styles?
Does Any One Know the Recipe for Christmas Ornaments Out of Flour?
i know that they have salt in them too and need to be baked.
4 Comments on Does Any One Know the Recipe for Christmas Ornaments Out of Flour?
Does Anyone Know of Any Websites That Have Instructions on How to Make Christmas Ornaments?
Or else do you know of any books that are good for beginners?
Does Anybody Know Where I Can Get Some Amazing Christmas Ornaments for My Christmas Tree This Year?
Other questions:
Does anybody know an amazing gift for a 13 year old? [not an iPod]
Does anybody know any Christmas songs?
Does anybody know any websites that have free down-loadable Christmas games for my cousin?
Does anybody know where I could buy artificial snow for my Christmas tree? [cuz, if I buy real snow, it my melt before Christmas, or it would get really hard, and it wouldn't be snow, it would be ice].
Thanks
Formal Gardens – Everything You Need to Know
In strict terms, a formal garden is one that is entirely symmetrical, with one side mirrored by the other in a highly planned geometric pattern. Although there are many gardens of which this is true, formal gardens have now also come to signify a design that is laid out with a degree of geometry and regularity, and with stylised planting – not necessarily with mirror images. From the simplicity of a lawn punctuated by a single island bed to the complexity of an intricate knot garden, many types of formal garden may be planned. However simple they may be, formal designs are typically ordered and elegant, well proportioned and balanced, and often strongly symmetrical or patterned. Features typically include straight paths, closely mown lawns, borders defined by low hedges or edging plants, neatly clipped hedges or topiary, framed vistas and focal points, formal bedding in blocks of strong colour, and, on occasion, knot gardens and parterres. Formal gardens require very regular and precise maintenance and are usually very labour-intensive. The more regular the design, the more any slight flaws will stand out. The Principles of the Formal Garden StyleMany historic gardens were formal in design, and geometry has been used in garden styles from the very earliest times. Persian and Egyptian gardens relied on a formal structure of hard landscape, often within a courtyard, in which planting, pergolas and water features would be laid out in a symmetrical pattern. The great Moorish gardens were largely formal, as were the sumptuous gardens of Renaissance Italy. These gardens echoed the architectural styles of the day, and were designed to supply a strong visual connection between garden and house. In fact, any garden should do just that, but a formal style typically relies more heavily on the adjoining building for its inspiration. If the architecture of the house is classical, then formality in the garden should reflect this with features such as stone or gravel paths, parterres, stone paving, balustrading, formal pools, clipped hedging and framed views. Of course, a building does not need to be classical to have an adjoining formal garden, but it does need to be a building with some character of its own. In this way, a formal garden could suit a Georgian house or a Victorian villa, but it could also suit a modern architect-designed building, reflecting the regularity of the house and providing a harmonious link between the inside and outside. However, a formal garden is less likely to work well with a pre-war semi or a developer’s house on a modern estate. These tend not to have a balanced facade or strong layout, so an asymmetrical design would probably look, and certainly feel, more comfortable in these cases. A feeling of formality may be achieved by creating classicism and symmetry in simple ways: by planting two or a number of symmetrically placed trees; by placing pots or urns on either side of a gateway; or perhaps by positioning clipped shrubs to flank a front door. Such a strictly architectural style requires that plants be used to emphasise and embellish rather than dominate. Hedging, which can be close clipped, is the often one of the most important features of the formal garden. Many hedges are made from clipped and severely restricted trees, for example, limes can be ‘pleached’ to make a narrow hedge on clear trunks or ’stilts’. Fruit trees, carefully pruned for the purpose, can also be used to form linear barriers, and window-like holes can be even be carved into these hedges to create clairvoyees. Formal gardens rely heavily on surfaces for much of their impact, and the lawn is important for this reason. Colours are often muted in the formal garden, with green predominating, and the lawn acts as a subtle foil to other shades of green, such as the black-green of yew. Strictly speaking, plants should not be allowed to spill over on to hedges and paths, or otherwise break up the strict architectural lines of the garden. However, some gardeners bend the rules and plant informally within the formal framework. This often involves planting drifts of flowers in the borders, and using a larger range of plant material than would be strictly appropriate for the traditional formal garden. This method of planting undoubtedly softens the impact of the formal lines, but that loss is often compensated by the splendour of the plants. Classical GardensThe formal gardens of ancient Rome and Greece were the inspiration for the impressive palatial and villa gardens of France and Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries. The essential qualities of these classical gardens are their strong symmetrical and architectural designs, which closely follow the scale and proportion of the building that they adjoin. Italianate gardens are often set on elevated sites, with terraced gardens and flights of steps leading to long, shaded walks, cascades, fountains and canals. The cooling effects of water and avenues or canopies of trees are all part of the pleasures of these gardens, especially in the hot, Mediterranean climate. The terraces might contain parterre designs with symmetrically positioned topiary pyramids or obelisks and box-lined scrolls of flowerbeds. Other typical features include balustrades, statuary, and well-proportioned vases or urns for ornamental plants. Colour is generally limited to the dark green of the plants, the pale colours of the stone and gravel, and the white waters. Many of these classical features may be integrated into contemporary garden designs to create a sense of grace, formality, and ordered tranquillity. Even in a relatively small area, the careful consideration to proportion, scale, balance, and harmony seen in classical gardens may be reproduced to create a simple, effective design. Knot GardensKnot gardens were particularly popular in the 16th century, and took the form of abstract patterns and interlacing bands containing coloured plants, sands or gravels, marked out and framed by low hedges. They were grown with a variety or aromatic plants and culinary herbs, such as Germander, marjoram, thyme, southernwood, lemon balm, hyssop, costmary, acanthus, mallow, chamomile, rosemary, Calendulas, Violas and Santolina. Most knot gardens had edges made from Box (Buxus sempervirens), whose foliage has a sweet smell when bruised. The patterns often took their inspiration from the knots and strapwork patterns of English Elizabethan and Tudor plaster ceiling decorations and needlework. So that this intricate detail can be truly appreciated, knot gardens are often best viewed from above, and they should be designed so that can be seen easily from a house window or raised terrace. Given the right setting and a well-drained, level site, knot gardens are not difficult to create and are straightforward to maintain. The patterns should be kept simple; this will ensure a pleasing design, and ensure that maintenance will not be too time-consuming. Some suitable plants for the hedges include cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) and dwarf box (Teucrium chamaedrys). If you decide to use plants rather than coloured sand or gravel to fill in the areas between the hedges, choose those that are in keeping with the character and scale of the design; as a rule, low-growing plants are suitable, although more unusual plantings, for example, succulents such as houseleeks (Sempervivum), may also he considered. Do bear in mind that any weeds that appear on the gravel surfaces should be removed by hand, as weedkillers could damage the shallow-rooting hedges. ParterresA parterre is a formal garden construction on a level surface consisting of planting beds edged in stone or tightly clipped hedging and gravel paths, arranged to form a pleasing pattern. Often confused with knot gardens, parterres are larger in scale, and consist of ambitious and complicated designs, with flowering, scroll-like patterns or symbolic themes. The pattern outlines are typically formed from low hedges of box, with the area in between the hedges filled with dense, colourful bedding plants, gravels of different hues or plants with muted pastel shades. There may also be evergreen shrubs trimmed into precise globes or pyramids, and other clipped, formal shapes in box or yew. A parterre should always be in scale with the size of the house or adjacent terrace. Parterres became very popular in the Victorian and Edwardian periods, especially in public gardens and parks, where they were transformed into extravagant bedding schemes and complex floral displays. TopiaryTopiary is the art of creating sculptures in the medium of clipped shrubs and sub-shrubs. The word derives from the Latin word for an ornamental landscape gardener: topiarius. For over 2,000 years, the art and craft of topiary has been practised in gardens; with time, patience, and suitable plants, “living sculptures” can be produced. Topiary is often used in formal gardens to add shape, height, and sculptural interest; well-clipped pyramids, columns or spirals are used to emphasise the proportion and symmetry of a design. A single piece of topiary can provide a strong focal point, whilst several clipped trees or shrubs can supply the garden with a design cornerstone. Simple, geometric shapes such as cones or spheres are usually the best forms of topiary for a formal or classical garden, although more whimsical styles such as animals, birds, or objects (such as chess pieces) can add a lively and witty touch. These more elaborate forms may be suitable in both formal and informal gardens, depending on the style, but would be out of place in a wild or naturalistic garden setting. Slow-growing, dense evergreen plants are the best sources for topiary, such as cultivars of box (Buxus sempervirens), bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), yew (Taxus spp. ), myrtle (Eugenia spp. , Myrtus spp. ), holly (Ilex spp. ) and privet (Ligustrum spp. ). Ivies (Hedera) may also be clipped and trained over frames to form various shapes. In our Topiary section, we look at how you can create your own simple or complex topiary pieces, and offer you step-by-step guides to clipping and maintenance. Sunken GardensChanges of level, even relatively small ones, can provide interesting features in a garden. A well-planned sunken garden can add a feeling of adventure and space, as well as bringing another dimension to the design. Traditional sunken gardens were usually rectangular or square, enclosed by walls, and bordered by paved paths or raised grass so that they could be seen from above. The layout was typically simple and geometrical, with flowerbeds divided by a symmetrical framework of walkways and paths, perhaps with a central sculptural feature, such as a sundial or fountain. As they are lower than the rest of the garden, sunken gardens are often secluded and sheltered, with a secret, sanctuary-like quality that is particularly restful and appealing. Formal bedding, herbs, and roses lend themselves particularly well for use in sunken gardens.
Everything You Need to Know About Creating Different Types of Formal Gardens
In strict terms, a formal garden is one that is entirely symmetrical, with one side mirrored by the other in a highly planned geometric pattern. Although there are many gardens of which this is true, formal gardens have now also come to signify a design that is laid out with a degree of geometry and regularity, and with stylised planting – not necessarily with mirror images. From the simplicity of a lawn punctuated by a single island bed to the complexity of an intricate knot garden, many types of formal garden may be planned. However simple they may be, formal designs are typically ordered and elegant, well proportioned and balanced, and often strongly symmetrical or patterned. Features typically include straight paths, closely mown lawns, borders defined by low hedges or edging plants, neatly clipped hedges or topiary, framed vistas and focal points, formal bedding in blocks of strong colour, and, on occasion, knot gardens and parterres. Formal gardens require very regular and precise maintenance and are usually very labour-intensive. The more regular the design, the more any slight flaws will stand out. The Principles of the Formal Garden Style Many historic gardens were formal in design, and geometry has been used in garden styles from the very earliest times. Persian and Egyptian gardens relied on a formal structure of hard landscape, often within a courtyard, in which planting, pergolas and water features would be laid out in a symmetrical pattern. The great Moorish gardens were largely formal, as were the sumptuous gardens of Renaissance Italy. These gardens echoed the architectural styles of the day, and were designed to supply a strong visual connection between garden and house. In fact, any garden should do just that, but a formal style typically relies more heavily on the adjoining building for its inspiration. If the architecture of the house is classical, then formality in the garden should reflect this with features such as stone or gravel paths, parterres, stone paving, balustrading, formal pools, clipped hedging and framed views. Of course, a building does not need to be classical to have an adjoining formal garden, but it does need to be a building with some character of its own. In this way, a formal garden could suit a Georgian house or a Victorian villa, but it could also suit a modern architect-designed building, reflecting the regularity of the house and providing a harmonious link between the inside and outside. However, a formal garden is less likely to work well with a pre-war semi or a developer’s house on a modern estate. These tend not to have a balanced facade or strong layout, so an asymmetrical design would probably look, and certainly feel, more comfortable in these cases. A feeling of formality may be achieved by creating classicism and symmetry in simple ways: by planting two or a number of symmetrically placed trees; by placing pots or urns on either side of a gateway; or perhaps by positioning clipped shrubs to flank a front door. Such a strictly architectural style requires that plants be used to emphasise and embellish rather than dominate. Hedging, which can be close clipped, is the often one of the most important features of the formal garden. Many hedges are made from clipped and severely restricted trees, for example, limes can be ‘pleached’ to make a narrow hedge on clear trunks or ’stilts’. Fruit trees, carefully pruned for the purpose, can also be used to form linear barriers, and window-like holes can be even be carved into these hedges to create clairvoyees. Formal gardens rely heavily on surfaces for much of their impact, and the lawn is important for this reason. Colours are often muted in the formal garden, with green predominating, and the lawn acts as a subtle foil to other shades of green, such as the black-green of yew. Strictly speaking, plants should not be allowed to spill over on to hedges and paths, or otherwise break up the strict architectural lines of the garden. However, some gardeners bend the rules and plant informally within the formal framework. This often involves planting drifts of flowers in the borders, and using a larger range of plant material than would be strictly appropriate for the traditional formal garden. This method of planting undoubtedly softens the impact of the formal lines, but that loss is often compensated by the splendour of the plants. Classical Gardens The formal gardens of ancient Rome and Greece were the inspiration for the impressive palatial and villa gardens of France and Italy in the 17th and 18th centuries. The essential qualities of these classical gardens are their strong symmetrical and architectural designs, which closely follow the scale and proportion of the building that they adjoin. Italianate gardens are often set on elevated sites, with terraced gardens and flights of steps leading to long, shaded walks, cascades, fountains and canals. The cooling effects of water and avenues or canopies of trees are all part of the pleasures of these gardens, especially in the hot, Mediterranean climate. The terraces might contain parterre designs with symmetrically positioned topiary pyramids or obelisks and box-lined scrolls of flowerbeds. Other typical features include balustrades, statuary, and well-proportioned vases or urns for ornamental plants. Colour is generally limited to the dark green of the plants, the pale colours of the stone and gravel, and the white waters. Many of these classical features may be integrated into contemporary garden designs to create a sense of grace, formality, and ordered tranquillity. Even in a relatively small area, the careful consideration to proportion, scale, balance, and harmony seen in classical gardens may be reproduced to create a simple, effective design. Knot Gardens Knot gardens were particularly popular in the 16th century, and took the form of abstract patterns and interlacing bands containing coloured plants, sands or gravels, marked out and framed by low hedges. They were grown with a variety or aromatic plants and culinary herbs, such as Germander, marjoram, thyme, southernwood, lemon balm, hyssop, costmary, acanthus, mallow, chamomile, rosemary, Calendulas, Violas and Santolina. Most knot gardens had edges made from Box (Buxus sempervirens), whose foliage has a sweet smell when bruised. The patterns often took their inspiration from the knots and strapwork patterns of English Elizabethan and Tudor plaster ceiling decorations and needlework. So that this intricate detail can be truly appreciated, knot gardens are often best viewed from above, and they should be designed so that can be seen easily from a house window or raised terrace. Given the right setting and a well-drained, level site, knot gardens are not difficult to create and are straightforward to maintain. The patterns should be kept simple; this will ensure a pleasing design, and ensure that maintenance will not be too time-consuming. Some suitable plants for the hedges include cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) and dwarf box (Teucrium chamaedrys). If you decide to use plants rather than coloured sand or gravel to fill in the areas between the hedges, choose those that are in keeping with the character and scale of the design; as a rule, low-growing plants are suitable, although more unusual plantings, for example, succulents such as houseleeks (Sempervivum), may also he considered. Do bear in mind that any weeds that appear on the gravel surfaces should be removed by hand, as weedkillers could damage the shallow-rooting hedges. Parterres A parterre is a formal garden construction on a level surface consisting of planting beds edged in stone or tightly clipped hedging and gravel paths, arranged to form a pleasing pattern. Often confused with knot gardens, parterres are larger in scale, and consist of ambitious and complicated designs, with flowering, scroll-like patterns or symbolic themes. The pattern outlines are typically formed from low hedges of box, with the area in between the hedges filled with dense, colourful bedding plants, gravels of different hues or plants with muted pastel shades. There may also be evergreen shrubs trimmed into precise globes or pyramids, and other clipped, formal shapes in box or yew. A parterre should always be in scale with the size of the house or adjacent terrace. Parterres became very popular in the Victorian and Edwardian periods, especially in public gardens and parks, where they were transformed into extravagant bedding schemes and complex floral displays. Topiary Topiary is the art of creating sculptures in the medium of clipped shrubs and sub-shrubs. The word derives from the Latin word for an ornamental landscape gardener: topiarius. For over 2,000 years, the art and craft of topiary has been practised in gardens; with time, patience, and suitable plants, “living sculptures” can be produced. Topiary is often used in formal gardens to add shape, height, and sculptural interest; well-clipped pyramids, columns or spirals are used to emphasise the proportion and symmetry of a design. A single piece of topiary can provide a strong focal point, whilst several clipped trees or shrubs can supply the garden with a design cornerstone. Simple, geometric shapes such as cones or spheres are usually the best forms of topiary for a formal or classical garden, although more whimsical styles such as animals, birds, or objects (such as chess pieces) can add a lively and witty touch. These more elaborate forms may be suitable in both formal and informal gardens, depending on the style, but would be out of place in a wild or naturalistic garden setting. Slow-growing, dense evergreen plants are the best sources for topiary, such as cultivars of box (Buxus sempervirens), bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), yew (Taxus spp. ), myrtle (Eugenia spp. , Myrtus spp. ), holly (Ilex spp. ) and privet (Ligustrum spp. ). Ivies (Hedera) may also be clipped and trained over frames to form various shapes. Sunken Gardens Changes of level, even relatively small ones, can provide interesting features in a garden. A well-planned sunken garden can add a feeling of adventure and space, as well as bringing another dimension to the design. Traditional sunken gardens were usually rectangular or square, enclosed by walls, and bordered by paved paths or raised grass so that they could be seen from above. The layout was typically simple and geometrical, with flowerbeds divided by a symmetrical framework of walkways and paths, perhaps with a central sculptural feature, such as a sundial or fountain. As they are lower than the rest of the garden, sunken gardens are often secluded and sheltered, with a secret, sanctuary-like quality that is particularly restful and appealing. Formal bedding, herbs, and roses lend themselves particularly well for use in sunken gardens.
All You Wanted to Know About Italian Tapestries
It would be a great idea to make use of wall tapestries from Europe if you are thinking of renovating your home, adorning your new home. You can even use these tapestries if you want to give the empty wall an ideal look. These tapestries will be the solution to the dilemma that you have regarding your home décor and design. These tapestries give your wall grandeur and deepness and your offspring will appreciate and treasure it. Are you having doubts whether you will be able to get a good art wall tapestry that will suit your wall decoration? Well, do not worry because you can always get the right tapestry if you attend the conventions of a professional designer. The most recent trend: The place where you will find Art tapestries is this place only. We all know that the prints from artists like Mucha, Cristin Atria, Waterhouse and Claude Monet are well respected and dazzling. If these printed were made in to tapestries then they would look superb. We take pride in our tapestries that are mentioned above. Victorian Interior design: We know that the mansions and homes that have Victorian look are very beautiful. These homes elaborate the interior decorations. The Victorian homes were not vulgar as the Victorian age was very refined. However, the design caused a little havoc. You will discover a number of wall tapestries like still life animal Victorian Wall Tapestries, extensive sceneries, filigree ornamentations and floral tapestries. Time of the Renaissance: You are very privileged if your home has the design of the Renaissance time. The famous tapestries of the renaissance period were made in France and Italy, such as these http://www. european-wall-tapestries. com/store/customer/home. php?cat=21. These tapestries symbolize the fashion during the period of renaissance. It was the time when philosophy and fine arts were inspired. It was also a time when style and sophistication were observed. A number of artists and prints became famous during this period. Boucher created the romantic tapestries settings that are still well known today and the lovely landscape wall tapestries was created by Portiere for the castle of Princesse De Polignac.
Anyone Know a Way to Clean Non-Colorfast Felt on Vintage Christmas Ornaments?
I need to clean up some old vintage Pixies. However, they all have at least 2 different colors of felt used to make them, of course it’s all noncolorfast. Is there an easy way to clean them, without having the colors run into each other or doing damage to the felt itself?
Buying Viking Jewelry: Know the Tips to Buy an Authentic Piece
Look does matter. When it comes to looking good and being fashionable, mankind, since the early times, has been associated with jewelry. It adds an extra touch, an extra elegance to your overall presentation. Sometimes you want to turn the fashion cloak back to a bygone era to come up with a nostalgic look. In such a situation, you can rely on historical and antique jewelries. Viking jewelry is one of those vintage jewelries which will give you a blend of past and present fashion. It is one of those jewelry types that refuses to fade away with time, but is more valued as time passes by. Historical jewelry, as such, is a timely piece of ornamentation. You don’t need to be a Nordic to appreciate the beauty and style of Viking artistry in jewelry, it appeals to every jewelry lovers and to those who have a fine taste for historical artifacts. Though this jewelry collection is most popular in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, it has buyers from across the world. If you are one of those looking for this collection, a vast market is open before you. But first make yourself familiar with this jewelry collection. It usually comes in three designs: Thor’s Hammer, a Cross, and Earth Mother. You ought to know these designs because some designs are not inherited from the past, but are sold under Viking collection. It is important that you get the best of the original craftsmanship and style that carry the legacy of a true Viking. Now, coming to the market, almost all major antique stores deal in different designs of Viking jewelries. But be careful that you are buying a genuine product. Examine the jewelry, ask questions, and get its facts. Prior knowledge of this jewelry type, its design and style, will help you in choosing an authentic piece. Many a times, naïve customers have become victims of fraud. There are also many online stores selling such jewelry collection. You should be even more careful if you buying a Viking jewelry online. Read the reviews and always buy from an online provider which offers a return policy.
Anyone Know Where I Can Find Christmas Ornaments of Same-Sex Couples?
I need to buy a Christmas ornament for my brother in law and his partner for our annual family gift exchange. I thought it would be cute to find one that I could personalize with their names. Or does anyone have any ideas on how I could make one?
10 Comments on Anyone Know Where I Can Find Christmas Ornaments of Same-Sex Couples?
