Web Design
Web Design

The Latest In Web Design Trends

Good Art & Design

Like most technological fields, web design is changing rapidly. Whether you are an enthusiast, you own a website, or you are a web designer yourself, it can be extremely useful to remain up-to-date on the latest web design trends. Seeing as yesterday’s trends become obsolete quickly, you want to make sure that you are right alongside the pack, if not ahead of the curve.

While mobile responsive trends are the top of everyone’s must-have lists, other trends are also becoming  fashionable and are being resurrected along the way. Staying on top of this, can easily result in added traffic, so it is important to take the time to absorb what is trending.

Animated GIF’s

Currently, one noticeable trend among fashionable websites is GIF’s. These are Videos that are smoothly looped over and over again. They have become especially popular on blogs and message boards alike. Adding a few to your own website would certainly be a trendy decision. Also, since most web pages are overly static, this is an easy way to spice up your site and give an appearance of action. Doing so, gives your visitors the impression that your website is the place to be, and it will certainly hold their attention.

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Contemporary-Kitchen-Design
House Design

Contemporary Kitchen Design

Good Art & Design

If you are one of those people who consider the terms modern and contemporary to be interchangeable you might get into difficulties when it comes to kitchen design according to the kitchen professionals.  While many kitchens have elements of the two merging happily, contemporary kitchens can easily be identified by certain specific elements.

According to homecenternews.com, to confuse you even further, a contemporary kitchen is more modern than a ‘modern’ kitchen because it incorporates all the latest trends. Here is a list of elements you can expect to find in a contemporary kitchen.

  1. A mix of different textures, colours and shapes all blended in together. For instance, you might see turquoise countertops and splashback with warm, wood grain floor and cupboards.
  2. A splashback that is quite different from the surrounding walls in colour and texture.
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Stone-cladding-inside-out
House Design

A Flooring Choice for Inside and Out

Good Art & Design

Most homeowners and builders would agree that the floor is one part of the home that deserves a full budget. If you need to cut back on spending, don’t do it on the floor. The reason for this is that without a floor the home is useless. In addition, some part of the floor is always in use so it needs to be strong. Natural materials such as limestone blocks can be used for the floor, for cladding and for the entertainment area outsidefeature wallStone cladding is also used for feature walls inside the home or outside, depending on the style and design of the home. Having a feature wall can make your home look truly amazing as well as unique. If you’ve never considered using it in this way, take a look at some home designs where it is included and you will see what a difference it makes to the look of the home. It can take the home from ordinary to spectacular.

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Outdoor-Kitchen
Furniture Design

10 Essentials for Your Outdoor Kitchen

Good Art & Design

If you are sick and tired of always being indoors, creating an outdoor kitchen may be just what you and your family need.  That way you can all enjoy time outdoors whenever the weather is balmy and there is no need to head back inside to cook the evening meal.  While a handyman can easily make the deck for the kitchen, you’ll need a qualified electrician to install the lights and connect any electric appliances you need.

Here are some of the essentials you’ll need for an outdoor kitchen.

  1. Storage – this needs to be sealed so that rodents and insects can’t get in. Make sure doors on the cupboards shut tightly. A mobile kitchen island is ideal for an outdoor kitchen as it provides both storage and a bench to work on – and you can move it around as needed.
  2. A spare set of cutlery and crockery so you don’t have to bring it out from inside all the time. It doesn’t have to be expensive; even plastic will do.
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Graphic Design
Graphic Design

What Exactly Does Graphic Design Encompass?

Good Art & Design

Graphic Design encompasses the entire art and craft involved in creating the visual and text based elements of a web page. This can cover graphics, video, words, images, and everything in-between. Graphic Design does not necessarily exclusively entail the creation of graphics online alone. Occasionally, a Graphic Designer can be hired to design even the simplest postage stamp. Designers are often sought out to create alluring and expressive logos, for brands and new companies alike. The contents that Graphic Designers create are done for a variety of purposes. Whether it be to advance a cultural cause, or simply illustrate a commercial aspect of business, Graphic Designers are sought out frequently in the professional world.

Designers In Advertising

Designers have been arranging the creative elements on advertisements and various prints for a long time. In other words, their skills were sought out long before websites were around. As the internet came onto the scene, and personal computers as well as websites became more prevalent, Graphic Designers were sought out for assistance in the online world as well. Publishers of newspapers and magazines, have utilized the skills of Graphic Designers for the layout of their copy for many years.

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Minimal Interior Design
Interior Design

7 Secrets to a Minimal Interior Design

Good Art & Design

Many interior designers such as Sam Sorgiovanni, love the minimalist look and it certainly makes small spaces look larger if you don’t overcrowd them. But even the look of a large room can be spoiled when it contains too much ‘stuff’, being reminiscent of an overcrowded shop. You can’t appreciate the interior design because there is just too much to see.

Here are 7 secrets from mcmcabinets.com.au to a minimal interior design.

  • Balance and proportions are key elements to a minimalistic look. Nothing, especially the furniture, should look too big or too small for the size of the room. Don’t put more on one side of the room than the other or it will look unbalanced and uneven. Furnishings should complement and coordinate together – which doesn’t mean you can’t use accent colours.
  • Consider quality over quantity. Don’t just choose things from a catalogue. What is in a minimalist room will really stand out and become a focal point, so it needs to be at least uncommon, if not unique. If it is just ordinary, the room will look kind of blah.
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Pergola-Design
House Design

Home Pergola Design

Good Art & Design

When it comes to pergolas, Perth residents really enjoy all the benefits that the addition of this simple structure to their property brings. As opposed to Patios, Pergolas have no roof but a few beams that let in the rain and sun. They have no floor, but can stand on pavers or grass or be embedded into concrete. So how can they enhance your lifestyle?

  • You can have a pergola installed on the hot side of the house. With the addition of some climbing plants it will create living shade that makes the home much cooler.
  • It can be installed against a window and there will still be plenty of natural light come into the room.
  • A pergola can have shade cloth added to the roof or walls for added coolness without making a room very much darker.
  • It can be added on the sunny side to reduce the glare, something that people in southern areas of Australia find it difficult to contend with. Living vines are good at reducing glare and they won’t fall down on your roof during a bad storm like trees do.
  • The pergola is a great place to relax, surrounded by all those lovely plants that like a bit of protection from the sun and wind, but not too much.
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Outdoor-Room
House Design

Important Points for Designing an Outdoor Room

Good Art & Design

As well as landscaping their garden according to Lone Pine Landscapes, many people these days have an outdoor room they use for entertaining or just for the family to relax in. It enables them to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, cool evening or even a cool morning coffee before heading off to work. But for an outdoor room to really work well there are certain points that must be remembered.

  • It should be close to the house and preferable close to the back door for convenience. No one wants to wander all the way down to the bottom fence if they are on a time schedule. Having it close will ensure it gets used more often.
  • It needs to have a paved floor. This will save your shoes getting wet or muddy after rain and there will no need to worry about the lawn getting trampled or worn out in high traffic areas. It will also ensure more use can be had from this area. If it is not joined to the house, you’ll need a paved path to link the two for the same reason as above.
  • Shelter is important, especially in the summer. It need not be anything more complicated than a table with an umbrella, a small area of shade cloth or even a bushy tree to cast shade on hot days. You may also need a wall to protect against prevailing wind if your situation is exposed to strong winds. You could also enclose it in a framework that will support a louvered roof that can open and close or a permanent roof, especially if your climate is showery.
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Furniture Design

Furniture Design: What Is Boat Wood Furniture

Good Art & Design

When designing your outdoor haven it’s good to have some idea of the kind of material you want your outdoor furniture to be made from. While there are many different kinds and styles available in the furniture store, not all may be suitable for your location, or for your comfort level. For instance, you may want to use your outdoor space just occasionally due to living in a cold climate. In this case it might be more budget friendly to purchase alfresco furniture that can double as indoor furniture during the colder weather.

If you are into recycling, you may be interested in boat wood furniture. Generally speaking, boat wood is timber recycled and reclaimed from boats, both locally and overseas. You can be sure that such wood is suitable for outdoor use, since it survived many years as a boat. It’s not only a strong and viable option, but offers an interesting conversation with guests while speculating on where exactly it came from and who owned it when it was a boat.

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Ducted-air-conditioning
House Design

Airconditioners And Home Design

Good Art & Design

Once you’ve made the decision to purchase an air conditioner, you’ll need to decide which one is best suited to your needs and budget. It may also depend on your climate. It doesn’t take a lot of research, since there are basically 4 different types of air conditioner. Ducted air conditioning, split systems and window systems.

Ducted air cons

Ducted air conditioning must be the king of all types, because you can have it in every room so you are totally comfortable no matter which room you have to be in. But it costs more than the other options. However, you get more for your dollar with vents in every room. It is likely to cost more to run, since you lose coolness through the ductwork because the ceiling cavity is extremely hot, unless you pay extra for insulated ducting.

Ducted models can be evaporative or refrigerated. The former works only as a cooler, while the latter can become a heater in the winter. This saves on the expense of adding another type of heating.

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Veranda-Design
House Design

Home Veranda Design

Good Art & Design

Many homes have a veranda or deck out the back or a porch on the front that rarely get used. This seems a shame because every homeowner would agree that they want more floor space in their home. Even a deck or veranda can only be used with the weather is not too hot, cold or rainy.  This can change by adding aluminium sliding windows to fully enclose it.

This will allow anyone to use the veranda no matter what the weather is like because you can add heating and cooling as well as lights.  The windows can be fitted with flyscreens, so when they are open flying insects cannot enter. You’ll be able to use the space for dining, relaxing, playing and hobbies with no worries about the weather spoiling anything left out there.

Windows can be fitted from ceiling to waist height or they can go right to the floor, depending on your preferences. The smaller windows allow more privacy, while the larger ones let in more sun and light. If the veranda is facing the sunny side, in the winter the sun will shine right in, warming the veranda and the home.

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Carpet-Tips
House Design

Flooring Design: Carpet Tips

Good Art & Design

Even though they are some of the most expensive, wool carpets are still popular due to their superior look and feel. In addition, they are ideal for anyone looking for organic and eco-friendly choices.  Wool is a natural substance that is renewable, making it a sound, environmentally friendly choice for your floor coverings. However, carpet cleaners like brilliance carpet cleaning will tell you that cleaning procedures need to be undertaken carefully.

Just like a wool jumper, care must be taken in cleaning it, not only because of it being wool, but in some cases due to the type of loop the carpet is made with.  So here are 7 tips to help you clean your wool carpet in a way that will not harm it. Its life will then be extended, giving you many years of beauty and the pleasure of soft but strong wool underfoot.

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Removalist
Interior Design

How to Keep Your Mirrors and Glass Safe When Moving

Good Art & Design

Mirrors and glass are two very fragile items that can easily break in a move if not packed properly. Even if they are only chipped this can render them unsafe to use as well as being unsightly. For instance, a chip on the edge of a glass table top would be highly visible and could cause a cut on a child’s hand if it was kept in use. So here are some tips from the removalist to keep your glass and mirrors safe on moving day.

  • Use wide packaging tape to make large Xs on the back and front of the glass item or mirror. If the glass is dropped, this can help stop it from shattering and potentially save the frame if it does break.
  • The corners are most likely to take the knocks, so buy corner protectors or make them from thick cardboard. Tape them in place before wrapping the item in bubble wrap.
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Clean-the-Pool
House Design

How to Get Your Kids to Help Clean the Pool and Like It

Good Art & Design

Having a pool is great and the people who use it most are very likely the children. Cleaning the pool regularly is essential and the easiest way to do it is to use an automatic pool cleaner. Even then, you’ll still need to scoop leaves and debris from the surface daily. You may even need to manually scrub the walls and other surfaces that are in the water. This is a hard job, so why not get the children involved by making it a competitive game. Do it like this:-

  • Divide off the wall into manageable sections. Use string or coloured wool slightly longer than the depth of the pool. Attach a weight to each end and have one end on the edge of the pool and the other end right below it on the base.
  • Have a brush for each child, preferably all different colours.
  • Use witches hats or some other marker with each child’s initials on them to define ‘their’ section. Once each section is cleaned, the hats get stacked somewhere back from the edge.
  • No child is allowed to cheat by placing their competitor’s hats back on the edge.
  • Supervise so each section is properly scrubbed. Smaller sections are the best.
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Carpet-Types
House Design

Flooring Design: 4 Different Carpet Types

Good Art & Design

No one wants to become a slave to carpet cleaning so in order to make the best choice, it is essential for consumers to know all the ins and outs of the different types of carpet as far as their cleaning methods and soil resistance is concerned.  This will help them to make the right choice of carpet and carpet cleaner. There are 4 main types of carpet and they are: –

  1. Nylon
  2. Olefin
  3. Polyester and
  4. Wool

Each one of these products has good and bad points in their durability and resilience as well as their ability to resist soiling – or not, as the case may be.

  • Nylon is the most popular carpet choice due to its affordability and durability. It is also known to be the easiest type of carpet to clean and usually looks amazing afterwards. However, it does tend to stain more easily from the usual food and drink spills and is especially susceptible to acid spills such as from some soft drinks.  While it is fairly colourfast, chlorine bleach will remove the colours. For this reason it should not be used where pool water is likely to be tracked into it, or in bathrooms or the laundry.
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Art

Female Artists

Good Art & Design

A month or two ago someone sent me a comment criticizing the lack of any female artists on my site. Of course that’s a silly claim since I have quite a number of paintings by female artists here, and since I judge paintings by whether they are good rather than whether they are made by men or women. Be that as it may, I did a little checking just to see if there were any female artists whose work I had overlooked and I found a few interesting paintings that were on my list of things waiting to be considered and so I decided to scan them and post them for all to see. Ordinarily, I dislike exhibitions of art organized by sex, race, or similar irrelevant characteristics, but in this case they just happened to come to my attention at about the same time because of these silly allegations, so here they are…

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Art

Art Teacher Suspended for Recommending Figure Drawing

Good Art & Design

In December Middletown, New York art teacher Pete Panse was suspended for recommending that some of his advanced students take a figure drawing class that included nude models, on the grounds that mentioning such a thing constituted a potentially sexually unfomfortable situation for some students or their parents. Since January I have been assisting Mr. Panse in his efforts to fight this procedure and we are making good headway so far. You can read all about the case, learn how you can help, and sign an electronic petition.

Please help any way you can!

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Art

Christie’s Auction

Good Art & Design

The same day I went to Sotheby’s I also went to a pretty similar showing of auction items at Christie’s. Here are a few highlights…

I was particularly impressed by the Monsted landscapes I saw that day, though I had not heard of him before then. There was a particularly impressive one called A Wooded River Landscape, Deer Grazing in the Distance at the Sotheby’s auction that was similar to this, but which was impossible for me to scan because of how it was printed in the catalogue (it spanned the spine of the book). He was definitely an under-appreciated genius!

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Art

Sotheby’s Auction

Good Art & Design

A few weeks ago several Art Renewal Center people met in New York to view some 19th century paintings being auctioned off later that week. There was a lot of amazing stuff to be seen there including some artists I had not been aware of. Here are a few highlights of what I saw there.

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Art

Sargent Murals

Good Art & Design

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) is best known for his portraits, but I have been interested to discover that he did quite a number of public murals, some of them at the very end of his life. They are quite a contrast in style from his more famous work. Here are a few examples.

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Art

More on Bouguereau

Good Art & Design

Brian Shapiro recently pointed out that the Bouguereau I posted last week was incomplete (the feet were cut off) and he was right! Here’s what the whole thing looks like. It has a nicer color than the one I found as well. Thanks Brian!

Along the way I also found the following pair of Bouguereau studies on the same site…

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