Megablab Home Improvement

How do you start to make a great picture frame?

Does it start with a design in mind?

Is the secret to formulate a good design? And if so, what makes a great design?

Throughout history mankind has pursued beauty in the form of art and design. Your choice of picture framing and wall decor is an extension of this pursuit. This information is a brief introduction into the world of improving your home and lifestyle.

Here are the first principles.

Firstly, you should consider your decor, take note of the colours and think about the lighting and mood.

It is said that a picture is never truly complete until it is properly framed.

Even the earliest murals had simple borders around them, this was because an image without a frame is unconfined and difficult to appreciate. Usually the greater the merit or value of the picture the more restrained the frame should be. A picture can be vastly improved by surrounding it with an attractive frame that not only draws the eye to it but also creates a sense of importance.

No matter how well a picture is framed it will lose impact unless it is displayed in sympathetic surroundings. Every picture presents a challenge, should it compliment, contrast, surprise or reassure. It will only look its best if it is in harmony with the setting where its hung.

Consider the following fundamentals.

Line, balance and scale.

There are several points to consider when designing a good frame.

The aesthetic principles of framing are mostly a matter of taste but here are some tips that will help your pictures look their best.

The lines found in your pictures and framing can convey different meanings that are deeply rooted in our psyche. Curved lines tend to imply femininity where straight lines can portray strength and simplicity. Combinations of lines in picture framing can strengthen or soften the overall result.

Balance in pictures and framing is a visible harmony of shapes and distances.

Often the widths of borders around pictures can be varied to achieve different effects. Usually the bottom margin of a mat is wider than the top and two sides, this creates reassuring feeling.

How you judge size when framing a picture is also important.

Pictures can look cramped if the matting is too narrow and sometimes a feature piece can lose that importance if the frame is too small The rhythm between the framing, matting and picture can create interest. This is usually done by introducing a variety of textures and shapes which compliment the picture and the room where it hangs.

Think about those perfectly crafted rooms you’ve seen in many decorating magazines, the overall effect is a planned approach to placing objects tastefully.

When you are considering framing a picture try to think of the effect you are trying to achieve in the room.

Colour plays a vital role in picture framing. With the right choice of colours your colour schemes your pictures will come alive.

You should consider the following colour schemes:

Monochromatic – based on one colour usually a combination of one pure colour with its tint and shade.

Analogous – combining colours that are adjacent on the colour wheel such as blue blue-green and green. They are usually based on three to five adjacent hues of varying intensity.

Complementary – complementary colour schemes are based on pairs of opposite colours on the colour wheel such as blue and orange or red and green.

Tertiary – tertiary colour schemes use double complementary schemes such as red-orange and red with blue-green and green, this creates a very dramatic look.

With practice you will find the balance between line, colour and scale in your picture framing.

David Schummy, owner of Fix-a-Frame, is a qualified framer from Brisbane, Australia. David authored 16 of the 22 modules the Australian Government uses to train picture framers. He has taught picture framing to professionals and hobby framers since 1991.
His latest DVD “Seven Secrets to Making Picture Frames” is available from http://www.fixaframe.com.au/ or please visit http://www.endurart.com/ to get your Free E-Book “The 10 questions to ask all Picture Framers”

Find out the common backing boards used for picture framing and mounting pictures. Why you should choose one backing material over another. Understand the properties of foam boards, Corflute, MDF, Masonite or hardboard, e-board and other cardboards. What makes one more suitable than another when it comes to picture framing.

Is foam board the best backing for picture framing?

All pictures that are framed require some form of backing material to provide rigidity and protection. Even stretched canvasses that are unframed should have some backing to prevent dust building up on the back of the painting. When dust accumulates it helps trap moisture which then promotes mould growth which in turn causes damage to the artwork.

Picture framers have used many types of backing board over the years. Foam board or foamcore boards have become one of the most popular choice recently due to their light-weight construction, rigidity and easy cutting. They replaced the cardboard, Masonite or MDF (medium density fiber-board) that framers had become accustomed to using but are they better than their counterparts.

What usually concerns framers most is the chemicals that can leach from the backing into the picture. Picture framers often talk about acid-free, lignin-free or 100% cotton rag in their presentation to customers. The harmful chemicals in non acid-free materials can cause staining and acid burn to prints, posters and artworks that they come into contact with. Sometimes layers of protection like barrier papers, mounting boards or polyester sheeting is placed between the backing and the picture. It is far better to eliminate the source of the harmful chemicals than to just try to slow down their migration into the artwork.

There are acid-free and cotton surfaced foam boards which are sold as conservation foam board but these are to be used with caution when used as a direct backing for artwork. One type of foam board made by Gilman USA is 100% plastic and could be considered as a conservation board but you would still normally add another layer of 100% cotton rag board or an alpha-cellulose board as a barrier. Many galleries prefer to use corflute due to its economical cost and again being a plastic product lignins are not present. Other conservation backings include smooth surface coated corrugated boards that are made from alpha-cellulose. A new development in the production of E-flute core board, where there is a double laminated corrugated core faced with white acid-free surface papers, is eagerly waited for by the framing community.

Using plastic based boards can have other effects that need to be carefully weighed up depending on the artwork being framed. Some plastics out-gas plasticisers and other solvents which may cause irreversible organic changes in some paints, photographic emulsions and substrates.

MDF or medium density fiber-board is popular for wet gluing and mounting of prints and posters and framers often use it to wet mount cheap mass-produced canvas artworks. The benefits of the MDF are its rigidity and low-cost but it is a very hygroscopic product so it tends to absorb moisture. The increased moisture promotes mold growth and it can also cause staining to the image by drawing chemicals to the front of the artwork. It can also buckle due to the expansion of the backing but this can be rectified by counter-lamination or sealing the backing with a waterproof varnish. If the artwork or poster is only for decoration and has no long-term value, MDF is a cheap substrate to use.

Straw-board was used by picture framers right through the 19th and to the mid 20th Century. Straw-board was made from straw and had a yellow appearance. It did offer some advantages due to its alkaline nature and framers would paste prints and watercolours onto it with rabbit-skin glue or pearl glue. The pearl glue was a glue made from gelatine and applied hot from a double-boiler. The old framers sometimes added mercury salts and other fungicides into the mix in an effort to prevent mould or foxing. In some ways these methods were better than when the invention of PVA glue came around. At least an old print could be lifted by gentle soaking but with the advent of PVA the pictures became permanently bonded to the backing.

Apart from framing disposable decorative items like mass-produced posters it is wise to consider using reversible framing techniques. Most of these techniques involve hinging the picture to the backing board using Japanese paper hinges or some other acid-free archival hinging tapes. If you choose the reversible method at least the picture can be removed from the frame and has the potential for easier restoration or conservation in the future.

David Schummy, owner of Fix-a-Frame, is a qualified picture framer from Brisbane, Australia.

David authored 16 of the 22 modules the Australian Government uses to train picture framers. He has taught picture framing to professionals and hobby framers since 1991.

His latest DVD “Seven Secrets to Making Picture Frames” is available from http://www.fixaframe.com.au/

Learn how to use foam boards at http://www.foamboards.com.au/

A house is a person’s greatest investment; for this, giving proper care and maintenance is essential. When it comes to proper house maintenance, it must include minor repairs as well as painting. It is essential to make a house attractive to make sure its value will not decrease.

Painting a house is not that difficult, as long as house owners will follow proper procedures, and technique. For affluent people who have the money to pay for professional house painters, then painting a house is no longer a problem. However, for ordinary office employee, it will be too costly to hire professional painting services. Doing the job on their own will help them save a lot of money.

All it takes for homeowners to paint their own house is to spend longer time to complete the job, not to mention the risks of a horrible outcome. Homeowners can prevent these risks by asking assistance from an expert. Paint store can also be the best source of useful house painting ideas. Read on for additional house painting tips.

First thing, homeowners need to do before painting their own house, is to decide which part they will paint first. Choosing the right paint color must come next. Homeowners need to know that selecting the proper color is indeed crucial when it comes to painting; since color needs to complement with other home furnishings and fabrics inside or outside the house.

The next thing homeowners need to do is to prepare all painting supplies and tools. Double-checking of the supplies, tools, and equipment is necessary to avoid delay. Next step is to remove all furnishings from the painting area to prevent paint smears. Surfaces must be clear from dust and other obstructions to ensure a glossy and smooth painting result. To achieve this, power cleaning is necessary.

When all of the surfaces are clear, homeowners must place drop cloths on the danger zone as well as furniture, which are too heavy to move. Placing masking tapes on the trimmings is also essential. This will help protect the trimmings such as window trimmings, doorknobs, electrical switches, junction boxes, and other lighting fixtures.

It is not enough to place masking tapes on the trimmings. Homeowners need to place adequate amount of masking tapes to ensure there is no paint bleed marks left after painting. In placing the tape, it is essential to cover the entire danger zone where paint has the possibility to bleed.

When it comes to house painting, homeowners can save a lot if they will just paint their own house. For homeowners who do not know how to paint, this article with its useful tips, will help them in their DIY house painting.

Picture Framing is a great hobby to pursue that could always lead to working as a professional framer. You can easily make enough money by making picture frames if you become skilled. You can frame photographs, paintings, watercolors and even your favorite team jersey along with many other things. When you frame really nice things you will be able to impress your family and friends and you may even start to sell them.

The great thing with the craft of picture framing is that it can give families with limited resources the chance to have some really fine home decorations as well as improving their self-esteem since they will be creating these treasures with their own hands. It does take time to become proficient but everyone has to start somewhere in order to become successful. It’s never too late to start learning a new craft and picture framing is a fun hobby to explore as well.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to frame pictures you should definitely research the resources that are available on the net. You will be able to find plenty of useful framing tips and soon you will start practicing what you’ve learned. You can also get a lot of information from the picture framers forums online where the art of framing pictures is discussed.

When you’ve read a few articles and watched some videos you will know that you need some basic picture framing equipment to start making frames. A good mitre saw is a tool that you can’t live without if you want to become a picture framer. You will also need a decent mat cutter, string clamp and some other basic tools. These tools are the fundamental things you need to get started but you can always expand your equipment as you progress to making more complex picture frames.

Learning how to frame is a very satisfying hobby especially when you can sit back and say “I made that.”

It feels great to know that you’ve made the nice things around your home and your family will be very rewarded as well. Framing is a great skill to develop and perhaps one day it could become your profession if you desire.

I remember one of my students who had a full-time job in a hospital critical care unit telling me they thoroughly enjoyed the release that making a few frames provided. She explained at work when something went wrong at work somebody usually dies but if you cut a picture frame wrong it was no big deal, just fix it up and in the end the result was fantastic. Her experience was always positive. One of the things that has always kept me interested even after 25 years is the look of delight in the eyes of someone you have just framed a picture for.

Everybody gets something out of the craft so I urge you to give it a go.

David Schummy, owner of Fix-a-Frame, is a qualified picture framer from Brisbane, Australia.

David authored 16 of the 22 modules the Australian Government uses to train picture framers. He has taught picture framing to professionals and hobby framers since 1991.

His latest DVD “Seven Secrets to Making Picture Frames” is available from http://www.fixaframe.com.au/

Visit http://www.endurart.com/ for your Free E-Book “The 10 Questions To Ask All Picture Framers”

Call a contractor and ten thousand dollars later, your fireplace is installed chimney, hearth and all. But, you don’t need a fancy contractor to build you a fireplace wherever you want it. In fact, you don’t even have to worry about load bearing walls or any destruction whatsoever.

This is a fireplace design that is so easy and unique, you’ll wonder why the contractors haven’t thought of it themselves. The approximate build time for this particular fireplace design is four hours if you have all the supplies ready when you start. So, gather up your materials and get ready to build yourself a beautiful fireplace anywhere you want one around the home.

BricksBrick Panel18″x18″ Paving Stones or SlabsL-BracketsMortarTrowelMantel Floating Wall ShelfFireplace Insert

Of course with a little planning, you can have a fireplace looking any way you want. If you don’t like the design layout outlined here, pick and choose your own materials and build it to fit your style. That’s the fun of DIY projects! Learn from the outline. Then, turn it into your own.

The exact materials that you will need depend on the dimensions of your fireplace. This design is based on a simple 4.5′ wide by 5′ tall fireplace, not counting the mantel piece across the top. The mantel piece should be long enough to cover the width of the fireplace with some overhang.

Locate the place around your home where you would really like to have a fireplace. Clean out the area and cut any borders you might have. You want the fireplace to be flush to the wall, even if it’s not going to be built into the wall. Make sure that the border you cut away is exactly the measurement of your design. You want your fireplace to sit against the wall like it belongs there.

Begin with a base of brick. Apply mortar to the wall to begin your first line of brick. Also, apply mortar to the floor for your bricks to adhere to both surfaces. Six bricks wide by four bricks deep will make for a good base of the hearth. Use mortar between the bricks. You can pick up instructions online or at a hardware store for techniques on how to apply mortar with a nice finish. But, this base will be underneath paving slabs. So, it’s not particularly vital that you get it perfect.

Apply mortar to the top of the brick layer. Lay the paving slabs one top. Three slabs across will give you a nice hearth with an overhang of three inches on each side and two inches in the front. The hearth is complete. Give the mortar some time to dry. It won’t take long.

Using mortar, affix your brick panel to the wall to create a back. Then, build two columns on each side. Using brick and mortar, each column should be 10.5″ wide by 54″ high. A solid column is created by stacking three bricks with one standing beside as a first stack. Apply mortar to the wall as you are building each stack.

Also, the mortar in between the stacked bricks should bring the height level to the one standing brick. Then, stagger the next stack so that the standing brick is on the opposite side. As you are building the third stack, use a trick that brings solidarity to the entire project.

Drill holes in the brick for the L-Bracket that will add extra hold for the paving slab. Screw the L-Bracket in place. Apply mortar to the column and put the paving slab in place. Screw the L-Bracket to the slab. Build each 18″ section in like manner until both columns are complete.

Install the mantel floating wall shelf in place at the top of the columns. Put your fireplace insert in place. You are finished. Bring the family in the room to see the awesome work you have just completed.

A fireplace like this can be built anywhere around your home. You can have one in the bedroom, the den and even in the bathroom if you have space. Cost to do this project is based on your location. But, I would venture to say you can manage it for less than three hundred dollars. That beats ten thousand and the outcome is much more aesthetically pleasing because it has your style all over it!

Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction all her life, under her father who retired in 2004. Her passion turned to interior design and strangely evolved into becoming a fireplace expert. She has written such great reports as DIY Outdoor Fireplaces, Fireplace Ideas Report, and DIY Fireplace. Read further details about the Ventless Gel Fireplace and the Ventless Gel Fuel Fireplace. Keep yourself up to date. There is always new and innovative information for home improvement, home interior and lawn and garden.

Organizing does not come easy to most people, leave alone organizing to do lists. However, getting organized with your to do list can help you get things done on time, quicker and leave you feeling more fulfilled once the task is completed. On the other hand, an unorganized to do list will make you feel like you are constantly chasing deadlines with your stress level touching an all-time high. In order to prevent this, you need to categorize the action in your to do list just like mothers categorize the clothes for laundry. This is your first step towards getting organized with your chores and errands. Read the rest of this entry »

Tiling is something every home DIY “expert” should have a go at, as it really isn’t as difficult as it first appears. Yes, there are one or two pitfalls to avoid, but hopefully the tips below will inspire you to give it a go, whether fixing a small section of damaged tiles or undertaking a complete bathroom renovation.

Choose the right tile for the job

This seems a little obvious but there are a lot of different tiles available. For example, don’t try using heavy terracotta floor tiles on your walls! This also extends to working with a tile that you’re comfortable with – big, thick tiles will probably need cutting with an angle grinder. This is a relatively dangerous piece of equipment and should only be used if you’re feeling confident. Read the rest of this entry »

The Australian lighting company, Crompton Lighting has been around since 1878 when it was founded by Colonel Crompton in Great Britain. With that many years in the lighting business, it goes without saying that Crompton Lighting has a lot of choices when it comes to lights and lamps to brighten up any home, garden or office.

Crompton has an array of table lamps for just about any desk or table in need of lighting. Table lamps are a personal choice, so which one you choose says a lot about you. Take for example Crompton Lighting’s metallic table lamp with a pendant base and translucent blue shade that resembles a crumpled piece of plastic. It’s the perfect table lamp for the owner of a modern loft in need of mood lighting. Or what about the Magnum angle-poise desk lamp with a built-in 3x magnifier and clamp base? If you saw it in someone’s house, you’d have to figure it’s owned by a coin or stamp collector who needs a better view of all those tiny objects that need studying. Read the rest of this entry »

When the air is crisp and cool and the smell of freshly sharpened pencils fill the air, it’s a sure sign that fall is just around the corner. For most, moving back indoors is eminent and so is the ritual of getting our homes back in order. Make the transition from summer to fall an easy one with these simple organizing tips.

Protect Your Summer Duds
Sort through and pack away out-of-season clothes. Store them in airtight storage containers to protect them from dust, mold and moths. Storing them in quality storage boxes will save you time next year from cleaning them and money from replacing damaged garments. Read the rest of this entry »

No matter whether you have insects, mice, or other pests in your home, it’s going to be a nuisance to you and your family, and it could even end up causing some health problems. Given how many issues insects and pests can cause, it’s important for you to get rid of them as soon as possible. Your first instinct may be to pick up the phone and call a professional, but there are some steps you can take before doing so. You may be able to get rid of the problem on your own and save yourself some money while you’re at it.

If you don’t want to pay the money to hire a pest control professional, then there are some DIY options that you can consider. Before you mbuy any products, you’ll need to make sure that you have a handle on what the problem is. If you have an ant problem, then you’re not going to approach it in the same way that you would approach a rat problem. You’ll need to find out just what insects or pests you are facing, and then you can look for some products to help deal with them. Read the rest of this entry »