Antiques Today

Follow Our Carpet Buying Guide And Keep Your Sanity!

Carpet buying has plenty of options and plenty of price ranges to offer. In fact it can be a bit overwhelming at first. If you follow our carpet buying guide you'll have your home looking great in no time and still keep your sanity.

First you need to consider the style of rugs that are available and which room or rooms you want to put them in. Are your rooms traditional, modern, or are they rooms that are filled with antiques? If your room is filled with beautiful antiques you will want to consider an Oriental or Persian style rug. If your room is traditional or modern you may want to choose a braided style of rug.

One of main factors in choosing a rug are the colors in and around the area that the rug will be placed. Color directly affects the feeling in the room. The lighter the color the more spacious the room will feel. The darker the color the smaller and more intimate the room will feel.

Most carpets are more economical to maintain than smooth flooring is. Carpets also have some acoustical values because they absorb sounds and therefore improve the environment in your home or office. We live in an age of noise pollution caused by vehicles and heavy machinery an other equipment like phones, computers, faxes, air conditioning so carpet acoustic values can play an important role in you choice of floor coverings.

The price of a carpet is determined by the type of the pile which is related to the height, whether it is looped of cut, and the method of installation required. The higher the quality of carpet the better the energy benefits which provide insulation properties which make your room feel warm and cozy.

Unlike hardwood floors or linoleum which can be slippery, your carpets provides both anti slip properties and shock absorption. Low pile carpeting provides a good surface for wheel chairs. They are also a good choice for people using canes or crutches because they can be firmly planted on the carpets and they will provide a non slip surface.

The appearance, the colors and the aesthetics of the carpet is what will appeals to most people. There is a huge variety of colors, patterns, designs, and shapes to choose from. What style you choose will depend a great deal on the size of the room and the room's decor. You may want the carpet to make a statement or simply blend into the room. That's entirely up to you but remember nothing destroys the look of a room faster than a loud brash carpet that looks out of place.

The durability is very important for the look of the carpet. How much abuse will the carpet take before it begins to look worn and needs to be replaced. Will it retard stains, resist soiling ,and can it resist mildew. Are the colors fast and is the carpet flame resistant. Be sure to ask the sales person these questions when you are shopping for your new carpet.

Cost is also a consideration. Find out what your carpet is going to cost and be sure you get your quote in writing. Will you need under lay or under padding for the carpet? How well will it match up at a seam? If it won't you will need to allow extra for the seams. Find out what will your installed cost will be including the sub floor preparation and installed the underpad. Find out if the installer will remove and take away the old carpet or linoleum when he is finished as well as clean up all the left over bits and pieces.

Learn about the extra treatments that are available for reducing moisture or alkalinity and find out their cost. Find out what the expenses of maintenance will be and what it would cost if your carpet was damaged and you needed repairs.

Some of the other things you should think about is how long the carpet you choose will be in style. Also remember that over a few years the die lots can change and you will not be able to match the colors of the old carpet to the new. So if you are thinking about doing other rooms later on with the same carpet it is better to do it all at once. Plus you can often get a better price this way.

Shop around at all the local dealers to see if their price is lower or higher and to compare services. You can also get a better feel for their customer service when you visit their location. Be aware if the price of the carpet is really low compared to the other dealer that all things may not be equal so dig deeper. The carpet may look the same but it's quality may not be as good. You may find the carpet is the same but there are hidden extras such as travel time dumping fees and labor costs to remove the old carpet. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

Only deal with a carpet company that has been around for a while. Those truck loads of carpeting you see in the parking lots will surely be a disappointment to you in one way or another. Remember you will get what you pay for.

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website

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A fireplace often brings feelings of warmth, coziness, and tranquility to a home. The smell of the wood burning, the light of the fire, and the crackling of the cinders help to set the relaxing and even romantic mood. You can even make the fireplace that much more inviting by decorating the mantel around the fireplace. Here are some ideas on the best way to go about doing just that.

You have to consider the rest of the room the fireplace is in; obviously, you'll decorate a bedroom fireplace differently than you would a fireplace that is in a living room or den.

A bedroom fireplace should be made to reflect the coziness of the bedroom for the two people who occupy it. If there are certain elements that appeal to both people, such as certain types of accessories or pictures, they should be placed on or near the mantel.

However, a living room fireplace can become the focal point of the living room. Adding flowers or plants in the fireplace when it's not in use, on the mantel, or to either side of the hearth can provide an inviting, warm touch to the fireplace and to the room itself.

If you prefer a certain style of antiques, such as early American or French provincial styles, you can add antiques from those periods to the mantel. Of course, you should add pieces that blend in and complement the rest of the living room.

You can also decorate the fireplace in accordance to the time of year and any major holidays. For Thanksgiving, you could add some autumn-themed items, such as figurines of pilgrims, feathers, etc. For Christmas, you could add red and white decorations or lights, a white blanket to represent snow, a wreath above the mantel, etc. For Easter, you could add plastic eggs, grass, and baskets to the mantel, etc. There are many ways to be creative with a fireplace around the holidays.

A technique many interior decorators like to use to really bring out a fireplace is to use the "Three Plus One" technique. This involves putting three related, similar (but not exact) objects on one side of the mantel, while putting a larger object on the other side of the mantel.

The one large object can have a connection with the three smaller objects, but it is suggested that the large object either be twice as tall as the three objects or appear to have the same visual mass as the three objects combined.

The three objects should not be right next to each other, but rather, layered to give a pleasing visual effect. You can put one out in front, one more toward the middle, and one toward the back of the mantel. None of the objects should be so close to the edge that they draw attention to themselves; the fireplace should still provide an edging to their grouping and remain the focal point.

Of course, the three objects (and the larger object as well) should blend in well with the rest of the fireplace setting and the room itself. You could substitute different sets of objects based on what season or holiday it is.

A fireplace can add tranquility, warmth, and coziness to a home, and especially to the room it is located in. Decorating it will depend greatly on what room the fireplace is located in, how you have decorated that room and your home, and/or what season or holiday it is. One technique many interior decorators suggest for embellishing a fireplace mantel is the "Three Plus One" technique that involves three related, similar objects on one side of the mantel and one larger object on the other side of the mantel. Decorating your fireplace mantel can add to the coziness, warmth, and tranquility your fireplace brings to you and to your guests.

Discover Decorating Simple, simple decorating on a budget at DecoratingSimple.com

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Room dividers are not a new concept. They've been used for thousands of years and the screens that were made in the orient are now very valuable. I recently saw a set of 8 panels appraised on Antiques Roadshow for $35,000 and it wasn't even the full set. Plus they were damaged. Imagine their worth if they'd been in good condition and complete?

The Asian culture is famous for beautiful screens of silk that told great stories of their history and legends. The old ones are valuable, but even modern day versions are desirable as a way to decorate and designate spaces in a home.

They are both beautiful and functional. Many people find that either due to poor design of an open space or the need to utilize a room differently than what was originally intended, room dividers are a necessary addition to their home. There are a number of types of room dividers and they can do more than just act as a portable wall. Some serve as art, others as storage in the form of bookshelves, others are functional in a kids play room.

As an added bonus many dividers are highly effective in absorbing sounds, to thereby control the noise level of the task area. By masking surrounding sounds, the room dividers of this invention allow an easy understanding of conversations within the given area. Dividing space is sometimes quite necessary for small apartments. Choosing the right screen is simply a matter of personal taste.

Room dividers are used to block light if you have a window that is too bright at certain times of the day, typically in an entertainment room where it causes glare on the TV screen.

These are popular furniture pieces for city loft apartments that are essentially one big room with no walls. The huge advantage to a portable wall or room divider is that you can literally rearrange the size of your space at a moments notice. No longer are you required to have a 10x13 bedroom, you can make it 15x20 by just adjusting where the divider sits. Get more living room furniture? Move the wall over and you can accommodate for it. For those are of a more carefree nature it's a perfect way of life. It's the ultimate in flexibility.

For more information on folding room dividers and the portable room divider please see our website.

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If you're looking for a culture and art holiday, Europe is a fine choice. The continent has an impressive array of galleries, museums and exhibitions meaning that you're likely to find something of interest in almost every major city you visit. Yet with this much choice comes a new problem, how do you pick which European art city to prioritise? Hopefully this top 5 European art cities should help you decide which place to start your art history holiday in...

Berlin

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Germany's capital has been a thriving European arts centre, mixing the old and the new with great aplomb. For the culture vulture, the first place to investigate is the Museumsinsel ("museum island"), which is a section of five museums: the Alte Nationalgalerie, Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Bodemuseum and Pergamonmuseum. The Alte Nationalgalerie hosts works by German and French Impressionists, as well as German artists including Adolph von Menzel, Max Lieberman and Karl Freidrich Schinkel, while the Altes Museum hosts treasures from Ancient Roma and Greece.

Elsewhere in the city you can take in the Dahlemer Museum which displays art and culture from other continents, the Gemaldegalerie which features the paintings of Botticelli and Rembrandt, and the Neue Nationalgalerie which features more modern works by the likes of Picasso and Munch. Berlin is a great choice to take an art history holiday!

Rome

Rome's art and architecture spans two millennia, with ancient sculptures sitting comfortably alongside abstract modern pieces in one of the most stunning cities in Europe. Art is all over the city, and even if you wanted to avoid it, you'd be hard pushed to be able to do so! The Vatican Museums are the main highlight - composed of a large collection of renaissance works and antiques line the Vatican buildings, are there are a few modern works of religious themed work from the likes of Gauguin, Chagall and Picasso. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must see on your visit to Rome. Its legendary ceiling is one of the best known pieces of art in the world, let alone Europe. Alongside these Catholic collections, there are a number of museums and galleries most certainly worth a look, including the Borghese Gallery, the National Gallery of Ancient Art and the National Etruscan Museum.

Vienna

The Hapsburgs' empire is responsible for much of Vienna's impressive collection of artistic pieces on display to this day. The ruling family controlled vast lands between 1282 and 1918, and much of the spoils are on display to this day, making it an excellent choice for those wanting to see high quality art in Europe. The majority of this, and a clear sign of the diverse lands controlled, is visible at the Kunsthistorisches Museum which boasts ancient art by the Greeks and Egyptians, to (slightly) more modern pieces by Pieter Brueghel and Rembrandt. For something a little more modern, visitors to Vienna should head to the MuseumsQuartier Wien which hosts the Leopold Museum and the Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien. The former has work by Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, while the latter hosts contemporary pieces from hyperrealism to American pop art. If these three don't satisfy, Vienna has plenty more artistic merit going for it, including the Osterreichische Galerie Belvedere (medieval and baroque) and the Kunsthalle Wien (contemporary art including Kandinsky, Picasso and Pollock.)

Florence

Florence could well be the cultural capital of Europe - art is so hard to avoid during a stay there! With paintings, sculptures and architecture encompassing everything you see and do it's easy to become overwhelmed, but as the birthplace of Renaissance art this is no real surprise. Simply there are too many museums and galleries to list, and simply wandering where the mood takes you guarantees an educational and entertaining experience, but make sure you don't miss out on the most famous cultural buildings: The Galleria dell' Accademia (the place Michelangelo's David calls home!), the Galleria degli Uffizi (the first museum for modern art in Europe) and of course the magnificence of the Duomo. If you're planning an art holiday in Italy, this (along with Rome) should definitely be on your list!

Paris

Paris is such an art city that the greatest pleasure is exploring the smaller galleries dotted around the place, or taking in the wonderful architecture from a street side caf. That said, like in Florence, there are certain museums and galleries widely regarded as absolute 'must sees'. In terms of sheer renown, it's hard to beat the Louvre (though even harder to beat the crowds around its most famous exhibits - the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo!). A converted royal palace, even the building itself is aesthetically splendid, and a stroll around the building is a real pleasure. The Musee d'Orsay is another treasure - a neo-classical railway station converted into an exhibition space. It hosts an impressive number of 19th and 20th century pieces by artists such as Czanne, Renoir, Monet, Manet and Van Gogh. Fans of modern art can't go wrong with the iconic Centre Pompidou, which itself is a monument to modern architecture. As well as this famous trio, you can find several smaller museums devoted to individual artists, including Picasso and Rodin. If you're looking for a European art holiday close to home, you can't beat a trip to Paris.

All of these cities offer a great mix of culture, art, and splendid atmosphere to enjoy the rest of your holiday. Whether you want a European art history holiday, or just to supplement the area's other attractions, you can't go wrong with any of these cities.

Kieron Sellens is the marketing manager of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AiTO). With AITO's cultural breaks you can choose from tailor-made art holidays, historical tours, musical trips and many more. The independent tour operators that AITO represent specialise in worldwide holidays tailored to their customers' requirements.

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The game of golf is steeped in history. Golfers are appreciative of the game's history, and enjoy learning about the great players of the past, and the memorable tournaments. Just watch any major championships on TV: there are always segments about prior championships played on that course, who won, and what were the memorable shots. Golf's long history also presents the opportunity for an interesting and potentially lucrative hobby, collecting vintage golf equipment. Displaying vintage clubs or balls can add a lot of interest to any golfer's home.

Just as anyone who appears on PBS' Antiques Roadshow program can attest, it is tremendous fun to try to find bargains in antiques, and vintage golf equipment is no exception. Vintage golf items are relatively easy to find, and pursuing this hobby can be a way to learn more about the history of the wonderful game of golf, and how equipment has evolved and improved down the years. It's fun to grip an old hickory-shafted club form the '20's, set down a gutta percha ball, and imagine trying to actually play with this type of equipment! You quickly gain greater appreciation for today's forgiving clubs and juiced-up golf balls.

As with any other form of collecting, there are pitfalls, however. You need to make sure items you are buying are authentic vintage equipment, not fakes or replicas. For instance, new clubs can be distressed to look antique. If you are buying items with signatures from great players, you need to make sure the signature is authenticated. These types of collectibles, if authenticated, can enjoy great price appreciation over the years.

You can of course search for vintage golf equipment online. The mega-store eBay has an extensive "Vintage" golf equipment section on their site, often with more than 1000 items. Golf collectibles are not necessarily just clubs from the late 19th or early 20th Century. The original "Ping" putters from the 1960's are highly sought after collectibles. Items bearing the signatures of greats such as Ben Hogan or Byron Nelson also fetch hefty premiums. Prices for vintage equipment can start very reasonably, $20-$50, and be as high as several thousand dollars for certain rare items.

There are also online sites devoted exclusively to golf collectibles.

Antique Golf Clubs from Scotland describes itself as "the leading online resource for antique golf clubs and memorabilia from Scotland, the birthplace of golf." http://www.antiquegolfscotland.com/antiquegolf/main.php3

Niblickgolf.com offers clubs and balls from the 1900-1930 period, obtained from a private collection. http://www.niblickgolf.com/antique.html - A vintage driver runs around $125, a Mashie (5 iron) is $95 and a mesh-patterned golf ball in good condition is $75.

Before beginning your acquisition of vintage golf equipment, you should do some research. An excellent guidebook is: Antique Golf Collectibles: A Price and Reference Guide (Paperback) by highly respected golf collector and publisher, Chuck Furjanic. This book includes comprehensive information on literally thousands of collectibles: antique clubs and balls, autographs, signature golf balls, artwork, medals and trophies, as well as trading cards and other collectibles. With more than 500 photographs, this book is fascinating to read as well as an important price guide for would-be collectors.

A few other tips:

1) Try to find items in as good a condition as possible. These are more likely to hold their value or appreciate. "Vintage" doesn't mean in beaten-up condition.

2) Putters are among the most popular collectibles.

3) When you begin collecting, stick with equipment items, clubs, balls, vintage golf bags, etc. rather than golf artwork, which requires more study in order to make informed decisions.

Want to know more about cheap green fees, discount golf equipment, and budget golf vacations? Check out Golf on a Budget, tricks and tips to save money on golf. More golf tips. Brian Hill is the author of several nonfiction books, screenplays, and the novel Over Time.

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In order to ensure you get the correct insurance and the best deal, make sure you give the full facts when applying for insurance - if you do not, your policy may not be valid if you make a claim. Sometimes insurance sales staff put undue pressure on people to buy insurance they may not need or could get cheaper elsewhere, so it is better to obtain a series of quotes and then take your time looking through them - you can then contact the provider you prefer in your own time.

You have, of course, selected a reputable self-storage firm, haven't you? If the insurance broker has any doubts about the storage company's equipment, security measures or premises you might well find it hard to get insurance.

Normally, the insurance on self-storage will cover all your home contents and personal items such as sports equipment, boats, motorcycles, cycles and trailers whilst they are within an individual self-storage unit for an agreed period (the location and period of hire will be named on the insurance documents). You will often need to make separate arrangements to insure property relating to any business or commercial venture. You will, most usually, be covered for physical loss of or damage to your possessions arising from instances that your home insurance will be covered for, such as fire, explosion, lightning, storm, flood, burst pipes, impact by road vehicles, vandalism and theft.

There will, of course, be exclusions and you should check these with your insurer. These might include a maximum limit of 5,000 on individual items - so you will need to specify items above the maximum and give its value in the insurance policy (if anything is not itemised in the policy it won't be covered). There are usually limits on the value and quantity of certain items in the self-storage area, for example www.insurastore.com puts a limit of no more than 500 for jewellery, watches, money, precious stones, deeds, bonds and securities. Other exclusions might include stamps, lottery tickets, living creatures and plants, so if you are using the unit during a house move or while you rent, make sure you know what you can and can't store, such as that coin collection or those house plants.

For insurance purposes, your home contents and personal effects are normally valued at the new replacement cost. Other items, like antiques, fine art, boats, clothes, motorcycles, cycles and trailers, are likely to be valued at their market value, rather than new. And remember if you are planning to store documents and digital data, you should note that they may only be valued at their new stationery costs (not their value to you.)

Some insurers will cover your possessions on the way to and from the storage facility, again with certain conditions attached. They may not, for instance, insure you for loss or damage where the vehicle was unattended or for more than an upper limit, say 10,000.

Finally, you should also check the offer is right for you and ask questions if you are unsure, particulally about the small print. Remember, with insurance, do not always buy on price alone; shop around and compare levels of cover as well.

Insurastore provides low cost flexible and comprehensive new for old self storage insurance for household and domestic storage in a self storage facility or unit within the UK. Permission is granted to publish this article electronically provided that a working hyperlink remains to our website.

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Is gift selection difficult for you for certain "hard-to-buy-for" friends and relatives? One possibility is adding to their collection of some kind of memorabilia, or even getting them started on a collection with some specific theme. Many people enjoy Coke, and like getting and collecting various articles with the familiar red logo. Best of all, Coca-Cola collectibles come in every price range and nearly every type of item.

The company produces many seasonal and special items throughout the year. Many of the items, which range from clothing to coasters, are collectible. Some products cost just a few dollars, while others can cost several thousand dollars. Some collection items go up in value at an amazingly rapid pace, so make sure not to throw them away!

If your gift recipient likes vintage presents or collects other antiques, historical Coca-Cola collectibles may be an even more appealing selection as a gift. Just like the newer collectibles, old bottles, vintage signs, and vintage vending machines come in a huge range of prices and choices. A working antique vending machine can be a really charming gift and many places still bottle the proper size bottles.

Smaller items can be very affordable, even stocking stuffer prices for buttons, coasters, cards, and posters. Other Coca-Cola collectibles are intended especially for children, with a charming polar bear being a favorite. There are even toy vending machines that dispense make believe cans of soda. Caps, mittens, socks and scarves are also modestly priced and a hit with many children.

Old signs, serving trays, and posters are works of art in there own right. The company has a long tradition of using famous artists to create holiday themed art for its marketing items. These items are highly sought after jewels in many collectors' collections. Old wooden or metal signs, in near mint condition, are considered valuable and rare finds.

You can also add Coca-Cola collectibles to other kinds of collections, such as a logo mug with a special theme to someone who collects mugs. Whatever your intended gift recipient collects, it is likely that Coke makes something from that group, or has at some time in the past.

Soda-Pop-Collectibles.com features Coca-Cola collectibles items as well as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7UP, Hires Root Beer, and many other soft drink makers. View our huge selection of Coke memorabilia with new items added daily!

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