Zebra Ottoman For Your Living Room

It is difficult to determine the origin of the word ottoman, as there are a number of similar words of foreign origin. The term also refers to an ancient Persian dynasty. In modern times, ottomans refer to upholstered low seats. They could be used for varied purposes. They serve as sofas, divans and footstools. Manufacturers offer a wide range of traditional and contemporary Zebra ottomans. This natural material is ideal for upholstered furniture as they are durable and guaranty longevity. These rawhide choices are stronger than other materials and can be cleaned easily with a clean damp cloth.
Some Zebra ottomans are designed to be used for storage as well as foot rests, they are combined with a sturdy wooden framework at the base. These could be shaped as a cube or may act as supporting legs for the ottoman. It is important to buy Zebra ottomans that are top grain varieties, as they have superior quality. It is important to buy guaranteed products or else they are likely to come apart at the stitches and seams. Zebra ottomans require interlocking double stitches to secure different pieces of hide together. They are available in pigmented varieties that may not be as soft as other types.
Ottomans made of Zebra are chemically treated, to offer a wide range of color, apart from rawhide shades. They are available at varied price ranges, and can be purchased online or at local stores. Before finalizing a Zebra ottoman purchase, potential customers can compare price, features and guaranty/warranty terms and conditions.
Zebra ottoman qualities vary depending on their method of processing. It is important to enquire about these techniques because inadequate processing makes, Zebra prone to mold and fungi. Such details are usually printed on Zebra ottoman labels. Zebra ottomans are available in diverse shapes, including cube and round designs. They are ideal for families with children as they are resistant to stains and spills.

There’s a simple philosophy behind Modern decor: Less is more. Decorating becomes easier once this rule is fully understood but there’s more to a Modern design that removing clutter.

Modern decor relies on a streamlined vision. Furniture is sleek and comfortable. The color palette here is neutral, black and white. Accessories have a geometric quality to them, with sharp angles. Most of all, Modern design bases itself in the idea that space is a crucial element of the design. Everything gets stripped down to its most basic level, and then is given lots of room to show off its elemental beauty.

Follow these guidelines to make a bedroom come to life in Modern style.

First, remove the clutter. Keep only the absolute essentials – bed, dresser, nightstand. Focus on keeping a few pieces of furniture and a few pieces for accent. Remove everything that’s small, cutesy or collectible.

Measure the room -walls, floor space, windows, furniture. Draw a scale diagram of the room and then draw in where the furniture will go. This will save time and frustration trying to put a large, heavy piece where it won’t fit.

If you haven’t already done this, remove all the pictures and art objects from the walls and flat surfaces. Whatever color the walls may be painted currently, consider painting them all white, off-white or a neutral tone such as beige, cream or light tan. Plan to hang only one piece of art per wall as a focal point.

Modern style focuses on straight, clean lines, so consider this quality when selecting new bed linens. Remember, “Less is more,” and apply it to your choices. If you select a comforter with a bold geometric pattern, then choose solid color pillows to avoid having too much. If the comforter is a solid color, such as black, white, tan or other neutral, then find geometric pillows. For texture to soften the angles, add a plush throw in a contrasting color to the bed.

Place reading lamps on bedside tables or nightstands on each side. Streamlined black metal lamps often work well with this look.

Create a reading space by installing a Modern-style chair next to a window or in a corner set up for reading. A leather-covered club chair would be perfect, and these days this classic style chair can be found in smaller sizes meant for today’s homes. Add pillow to the chair. If necessary, a large leather zebra ottoman that opens for storage can be set with the chair. This gives the occupant a place to rest their feet, a place to set a cup on a tray, as well as a place to store blankets or other comforts out of sight.

Finally, select a stunning area rug to complete the look. In fact, a good area rug can serve as a striking focal point for the room’s decor. Choose from among solid color rugs, geometric rugs or even shaped rugs to provide visual interest.

Now the crisp, clean, spare Modern design you had in mind has come to life in your bedroom.

Some would say that we are living in interesting times, particularly as another US-Iraq confrontation at this stage seems almost inevitable. Such is the present power of the United States that only a few voices in the rest of the world suggest that the United Nations should be the only party to be involved in any future decisions about the coming conflict. Nobody in the West is brave enough any longer to take a moral stance against the imposed economic sanctions, which by now have killed more than 1.6 million Iraqis, mostly children, according to the UN’s own statistics.

On the eve of the Eid-Al-Fiter (the most widely observed Islamic festival marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan), the well-respected Qatar-based Arabic news network Aljazeera reported that in the past three months (from September to November 2001), more than 31 thousand Iraqis (including 21 thousand children under the age of 5) died due to the UN-imposed economic sanctions against Iraq, a figure even higher than the 1999 UNICEF estimate of an average 5200 Iraqi child deaths per month. This comes at the same time as warnings from Iraqi physicians about an escalating crisis of increased cancer cases in the southern part of the country. The report adds that the fear of having babies with birth defects is so great that many pregnant women choose to have abortions. I myself must accept some blame for not reorting this, having recently turning down an opportunity to visit the suffering patients in the hospitals in Baghdad in the interests of personal safety.

So what brought us to the point of the precipice, this point where two belligerent nations want to draw swords against each other in the region once known as the cradle of civilisation. This was the land of the Sumerians, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians where advanced civilizations flourished long before that of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. This Garden of Eden, this land of Abraham, where the Hanging Gardens on the River Euphrates were once considered amongst the Seven Wonders of the World and where the origins of our medicine once flourished. There is little doubt that any historian would say that the Mongol invasion of Mesopotamia was one of the turning points in the history of this region. Its long shadow and memory has left formidable imprints that are still discernible in thought formation of Iraqi political leaders right into this century. The destruction of many centuries of learning, being ruled for a period by barbarians, Ottoman Turks and later the British has left a lasting stamp on these proud people who want to protect their recently found freedom.

I would like to take time for a moment to consider life in this part of the world before the sack of Baghdad by the Mongols. I would like to identify the influence of the Baghdad School of Medicine on the medicine we practise today in the Western world. This influence has been neglected and unjustifiably overpassed by scholars in the West and this article is written to allow us for a while to acknowledge that fact and try and restore this missing part of our history. We must remember that medicine, as we know it today did not develop overnight and this knowledge over the centuries has been handed from one country to the other. Between the ancient civilizations of Egyptians, Greek, Roman, and the Renaissance era in Europe, there was a gap, commonly called “the dark ages”, during which the flames of the knowledge of medicine was hosted, not by the West, but by the Arabs or Moslems.

The nomenclature, “the dark ages” reflects the civilization in Europe between the 7th and 13th centuries, but by no means it expresses the state of affairs in the Arab world or the Islamic Empire at that time. By the ninth century, Islamic medical practice began to advance beyond the talisman and the people of Mesopotamia became avid for the wisdom of Galen, Hippocrates, and Paul of Aegina. By the tenth century, their zeal and enthusiasm for learning resulted in all essential Greek medical writings being translated into Arabic in Baghdad. The Islamic Empire continued to grow and extended its influence from the Atlantic Ocean on the West to the borders of China on the East. Arabic became the International Language of learning and diplomacy and the centre of medical knowledge and activity shifted eastward as Baghdad emerged as the capital of the scientific world.

This era also saw the introduction of hospitals with wards, the introduction of medical terminology and the regulation of medical students who by now had to pass rigorous examinations. Baghdad General Hospital soon became the envy of the Islamic world and incorporated innovations, many of which still sound modern by today’s standards. The hospital used fountains to cool the air near the wards of those afflicted with fever; it was the first hospital to have a ward exclusively devoted to the mentally ill. The Baghdad School brought a refreshing spirit of dispassionate clarity into psychiatry, which was free from the demonological theories that swept over the Christian world. It is known that Najab ud din Muhammad, a contemporary of Razi, carefully compiled observation on actual patients made up the most complete classification of mental diseases theretofore known. He described agitated depression, obsessional neurosis, Nafkhae Malikholia (combined priapism and sexual impotence). Kutrib (a form of persecutory psychosis), Dual-Kulb (a form of mania). At night, the pain of the restless in Baghdad General Hospital was soothed by soft music and storytelling. I still remember the open courtyard of the Ibn ‘al Bitar still being used in this fashion, just before the Gulf War, by the patient’s relatives at night as I strolled back from my night rounds.

There were also social policies introduced by the governing regime to Baghdad General Hospital, which assured that the prince and pauper received identical attention and the destitute received five gold pieces upon discharge to sustain them during convalescence. We must remember that this was at a time when the streets of Paris and London were still paved with mud and open sewers. Baghdad General Hospital was amongst the first to introduce separate wards for male and female patients and these were staffed by attendants of both sexes. This medical centre of excellence contained both a library and a pharmacy and it is known that medical staff attended outreach clinics to attend to the disabled or the disadvantaged who lived in remote areas.

Baghdad also introduced regulations to maintain quality control on drugs, they advocated that pharmacists became licensed, and legal measures were taken to prevent doctors from owning or holding stock in a pharmacy. Methods of extracting and preparing medicines were brought to a high art in Mesopotamia and techniques of distillation, crystallization, solution, sublimation, reduction and calcination became essential processes of pharmacy and chemistry. With the help of these techniques, the Saydalanis (pharmacists) introduced new drugs such as camphor, senna, sandalwood, rhubarb, musk, myrrh, cassia, tamarind, nutmeg, alum, aloes, cloves, coconut, nuxvomica, cubebs, aconite, ambergris, and mercury to the world. The important role of the Baghdad School and others in developing modern pharmacy is memorialized in the significant number of current pharmaceutical and chemical terms derived from Arabic: drug, alkali, alcohol, aldehydes, alembic, and elixir among others, not to mention syrups and juleps.

In 636 A.D., the Muslims conquered the Persian City of Jundi-Shapur, and after this period, Islamic medical schools mostly developed on the Jundi-Shapur pattern. In the late seventh century, only Baghdad and Jundi-Shapur had separate schools for studying basic sciences. In Baghdad Medical School, doctors learned anatomy by dissecting apes, skeletal studies and didactics while other schools only taught anatomy through illustrations and lectures. During the eight century, the study of medicinal herbs and pharmacognosy was added to the basic training and a number of hospitals in Baghdad maintained barbel gardens as a source of drugs for the patients and a means of instruction for the students.

Surgery was also included in the Baghdad curriculum many surgical procedures such as amputation, excision of varicose veins and haemorrhoids were required knowledge. Orthopaedics was also widely taught in Baghdad and doctors routinely used plaster of Paris for casts in the reduction of fractures. Interestingly, this method of treating fractures was only rediscovered in the West in 1852. Ophthalmology was practiced in Baghdad, but it was not taught as part of the curriculum in medical schools, rather an apprenticeship to an eye doctor was the preferred way of specialisation. The ophthalmologists of Baghdad exhibited a high degree of proficiency and it should be remembered that medical words such as retina and cataract are of Arabic origin. lbn al Haytham (965-1039 A.D.) wrote the Optical Thesaurus from which such worthies as Roger Bacon, Leonardo da Vinci and Johannes Kepler drew theories for their own writings.

In his Thesaurus he showed that light falls on the retina in the same manner as it falls on a surface in a darkened room through a small aperture, thus conclusively proving that vision happens when light rays pass from objects towards the eye and not from the eye towards the objects as thought by the Greeks. He presents experiments for testing the angles of incidence and reflection, and a theoretical proposal for magnifying lens (made in Italy three centuries later). He also taught that the image made on the retina is conveyed along the optic nerve to the brain. Razi was the first to recognize the reaction of the pupil to light and Ibn Sina was the first to describe the exact number of extrinsic muscles of the eyeball, namely six. The greatest contribution of Islamic medicine in practical ophthalmology was in the matter of cataract. The most significant development in the extraction of cataract was developed by Ammar bin Ali of Mosul, who introduced a hollow metallic needle through the sclerotic and extracted the lens by suction. Europe rediscovered this in the nineteenth century.

In 931 A.D. Caliph Al-Muqtadir learned that a patient in Baghdad had died as the result of a physician’s error and he ordered his chief physician, Sinan-ibn Thabit bin Qurrah to regulate all those who practiced medicine in Mesopotamia. In the first year of the decree, more than 860 doctors were examined in Baghdad alone. This led to the introduction of new examinations and a Licensing Board was established under a government official called Muhtasib. European medical schools followed the Baghdad pattern and even in the early nineteenth century, students at the Sorbonne could not graduate without reading Ibn Sina’s Qanun (Cannon).

During this period, Al-Razi moved to Baghdad where he became the Chief Physician of the Baghdad Hospital and the Court-Physician of the Caliph. He published several medical books, which were translated into Latin, French, Italian, Hebrew, and Greek including the differentiating between smallpox and measles, two diseases that were hitherto thought to be one single disease. It is also written that when he was asked to choose a site for a new hospital in Baghdad, he deduced which was the most hygienic area by observing where the fresh pieces of meat he had hung in various parts of the city decomposed least quickly.

He also published a book called “Al-Murshid, in which he described the different types of fever including continuous, relapsing, and hectic. He stated that fever can be a symptom of a disease or a disease in itself. He introduced mercury as a therapeutic drug for the first time in history, which was later adopted in Europe. Al-Razi is attributed to be the first to use animal gut for sutures. He is credited with many contributions, which include being the first to describe true distillation, corrosive sublimate, arsenic, copper sulphate, iron sulphate, saltpetre, and borax in the treatment of disease. He introduced mercury compounds as purgatives (after testing them on monkeys); mercurial ointments and lead ointment.”

His interest in urology focused on problems involving urination, venereal disease, renal abscess, and renal and vesical calculi. He described hay fever or allergic rhinitis. He stressed the continued medical education of the physician advising him to record his own observations and encouraging him to meet with other physicians to discuss medical problems. The new Al-Adudi hospital in Baghdad was built in 981 A.D. and had interns, residents, and 24 consultants. An Abbasid minister, Ali ibn Isa, requested the court physician, Sinan ibn Thabit, to organise regular visiting of prisons by medical officers.

Many other Islamic physicians and surgeons of the period influenced the Baghdad School. In 930 A.D., Al-Zahrawi was born in Al-Zahra, a suburb of Cordova and later attended the University of Cordova, which had a long tradition of excellence. At that time, Cordova had a population of one million. Al-Zahrawi became an eminent surgeon being appointed as the Court-Physician of King Abdel-Rahman III. He was to influence the Baghdad School of Medicine through his four books, one of which “Al-Tastif Liman Ajiz’an Al-Ta’lif’ is still considered the best medieval surgical encyclopaedia and was used in medical schools in Europe until the 17th century. Al-Zahrawi described the ligature of arteries long before Ambrose Pare and he also used cautery to control bleeding. Interestingly, he also used wax and alcohol to stop bleeding from the skull during cranial surgery long before Sir Victor Horsley used it to effect in the late eighteen hundreds. His preparation made up of seven parts beeswax and one part almond oil is still known today as Horsley’s Wax.

Al-Zahrawi was also the first to in history to use cotton (Arabic word) in surgical dressings in the control of haemorrhage, as padding in the splinting of fractures, teach the lithotomy position for vaginal operations, to describe and use alcohol as a surgical preparation. He distinguished between goitre and cancer of the thyroid and explained his invention of a cauterizing iron, which he also used to control bleeding. His description of varicose veins stripping, even after ten centuries, is almost like modern surgery. In orthopaedic surgery he introduced what is called today Kocher’s method of reduction of shoulder dislocation and patelectomy, 1,000 years before Brooke reintroduced it in 1937. He described tracheotomy, orthodontia and described the different types of fracture before the introduction of X Rays.

In the rest of the Islamic world, the Iranian Ibn Sina (Avicenna 980-1037 A.D) suggested the communicable nature of tuberculosis long before the infectious nature of the pathogen was discovered. He was also the first to describe the use silk sutures for haemostasis and the first to use alcohol as an antiseptic. Ibn Sina originated the idea of the use of oral anaesthetics and he recognised opium as the most powerful mukhadir (an intoxicant or drug). He also used less powerful anaesthetics such as mandragora, poppy, hemlock, hyoscyamus, deadly nightshade (belladonna), lettuce seed, and snow or ice cold water. He introduced the soporific sponge, soaked with aromatics and narcotics, which was the precursor of modem anaesthesia. In his masterpiece Al-Quanun (Canon), he described complete studies of physiology, pathology, and hygiene.

However, the turning point in the great age of Islam’s contribution to medicine came when a confederation of nomadic tribes led by Genghis Khan, first conquered China, and then spread out to attack the rest of the Muslim Empire. By 1220, they had conquered Samarkand and Bukhara and by the mid-century, they had taken Russia, Central Europe, northern Iran, and the Caucuses. In 1258, Hulagu Khan invaded Baghdad and destroyed the ancient systems of irrigation with such extensive devastation that even today agricultural recovery in this nation is still incomplete. While in Baghdad, Hulagu made a pyramid of the skulls of Baghdad’s scholars, religious leaders, and poets, and he deliberately destroyed what remained of Iraq’s canal headworks. The medical knowledge of centuries was swept away and Mesopotamia became a neglected frontier province ruled from the Mongol capital of Tabriz in Iran.

In 1380, another Turko-Mongol confederation was organised by Tamerlane the Great, who claimed descent from Genghis Khan. They swept down on Baghdad again destroyed the hospitals and burnt the libraries with their irreplaceable works. It is said that the waters of the Tigris ran blue with the ink of the medical and scientific works destroyed by these barbarians. The result was to wipe out much of the priceless cultural, scientific, and medical legacy that Muslim scholars had been preserving and enlarging for some five hundred years. A minor scion of the Mamluk dynasty took refuge in Egypt and the ‘Abbasid caliphate continued the practice of medicine there late into the sixteenth century. In 1401, he sacked Baghdad and massacred many thousands of its inhabitants. Like Hulagu, Tamerlane had a penchant for building pyramids of skulls. His rule virtually extinguished Islamic dominance of medicine and Baghdad, long a centre of trade suffered severe economic depression. The medico-social innovations of the Baghdad scholars totally disintegrated.

To make matters worse, the southern province of Basra, which had been a key transit point for seaborne commerce was circumvented after the Portuguese discovered a shorter route around the Cape of Good Hope. Mesopotamia’s once-extensive irrigation system fell into disrepair, creating swamps and marshes at the edge of the delta. The rapid deterioration of settled agriculture led to the growth of tribally based pastoral nomadism. By the end of the Mongol period, the medical knowledge of the people of Mesopotamia had shifted from the urban-based Abbasid culture to the tribes of the river valleys, where it has remained well into the twentieth century.

Maybe, for a moment if we considered Baghdad’s great contribution to the world of Western medicine, we would not be so quick to see this nation as radically demonic and possibly even learn to respect the descendants of these original scholars who today still die suffering along the shores of the Tigris, sacrificed on yet another altar of human indifference.

Copyright (c) 2009 CMS

Replacement glider rocker cushions are great for sprucing up your favorite glider and making it look almost new. It is amazing how worn cushions can get with the spills, stains, and general wear, but a new set of replacement glider rocker cushions just gives the entire room a face-lift. And the great part is that replacement cushions cost less than the entire glider, so replacing your old glider cushions with new ones is really a win-win.

I want to show you some of the best replacement glider rocker cushions that I have found online. Oh yeah, you can also find great deals online on glider cushions as well.

The first is this Shermag Glider Rocker Cushion Set. This set fits the Shermag Model 37908 Glider and Ottoman which is one of the most popular and highest quality glider and zebra ottoman sets. It has a contoured seating cushion which means that it is more comfortable and will support your weight better. It sure beats the flat, cheap cushions that so many companies offer. Of course, this is Sherman we are talking about. Since they are an industry leader when it comes to high-quality gliders, you would expect nothing but the best from them.

I really like these cushions because they are especially easy to clean. Accidentally spill liquid on them? The liquid will not soak in; instead, it kind of beads up on the cushions. This allows you to wipe it right off with a dry cloth if you don’t let it set. This cushion set comes with the seat cushion, the side and high back cushions, as well as one for your zebra ottoman. If you are looking for a neutral color that will match just about any décor, these beige replacement cushions are exactly what you need. You can also get these in an oatmeal white color as well.

Strangely enough, Amazon.com does not have that many replacement glider rocker cushions. Usually, Amazon.com has everything anyone could want, but not this time. So I did a little more searching online to find more quality replacement cushions.

A place that I would suggest is called Glider Rocker Cushions World. They have a website, and you can go there and look at their prices and selection. They are known for their custom replacement glider rocker cushions, and you can choose anything from the style to the price to the fabric. They have cushions for specific models, and they also have a selection of ready made cushions that you can order.

You can also go to Walmart and eBay and find a few sets that you can purchase. But most of theirs seems to be the basic flat seat cushion with ties on the back corners. These are usually used for outdoor, wicker type seats, and not really for plush, indoor seating. I don’t know if it is just not cost efficient to buy replacement glider rocker cushions, but I just can’t find a lot of selection online. But for me, I am going to keep looking because I am just getting my glider broken in good!

I recently had a chance to tour the factory of the company who makes about eighty percent of the piano covers for our customers. This is part of an annual visit to the plant that I like to make so that I can be sure I know the people who we deal with on a daily basis by name and, more importantly, that they know me. This trip has enabled me to receive exceptional attention to any issues that have arisen and assured me that I will continue to receive that kind of support going forward. It makes a great deal of difference to be dealing with that type of supplier, one who says they will go above and beyond the call of duty to have a satisfied customer and who always follows through on the commitment.

This year I really wanted to spend time with the team that makes the piano covers. I think many of our customers have the illusion that piano covers are in stock and are ready to go as soon as they are ready to order the product. That is only the case for a handful of the piano brands. We typically have Steinway covers in stock and will have a good number of Knabe and Chickering models and sizes as well, but other models and sizes are typically made to order within about 48 hours. There just isn’t the sales volume to be able to make them to stock. As I watched the manufacturing and sewing process and asked questions of the team making the covers I was amazed at their knowledge of the materials and the pianos themselves. I asked them what the number one issue they face when making a piano cover and they responded in unison…patterns and correct sizes.

Patterns and Correct Sizes. Most piano covers are made from a pattern that already exists. When an order is placed for a cover the team at the plant will pull a pattern made of paper that has the outline of the top of the piano with the brand and the model number clearly marked in the middle of the pattern. For each model that they have made before, multiple copies of the pattern exist so that several can be made at the same time. The team told me that, while they have made piano covers for about every brand and model of piano, they still get custom sizes on a very regular basis, as many as two to three a day during the busy season. The tricky part of making a custom piano cover for a size they have not made before, they told me, is getting the pattern to be right the first time. When I asked how they do that they told me one word – communication.

When the need to make a cover that has not been made before arises they ask the customer to tape paper together on top of the piano so that it hangs over the edges of each section of the piano. They then ask the customer to simply trace the outer edge of the piano using a marker or heavy pen/pencil on the paper and to send it in. They take the pattern provided by the customer and make a pattern for their use directly from the pattern the customer provided. It always fits exactly the way the customer wants it to fit and the benefit to the company is that they now have a perfect-fit pattern for the piano brand and model that can be used again for the next customer. Very Impressive.

When your child reaches their teens they completely change their outlook and want to change the way their bedroom looks. Their ideas and hobbies change and they want different things; they have grown out of their baby bedrooms and now want bedrooms that are cool! Here are a few ideas for making a teenagers’ room look cool.

It depends on the teenager’s passions and what they are most interested in. Find out what they love or their hobbies first before decorating their bedroom. For instance, if they have an interest for horses, or favorite TV stars, star wars, movies, or sports like football, then there are plenty of themes from these ideas. If the teenager is interested in horses, then an equestrian bedroom would be a great idea to make them feel right at home.

Some boys may just want their bedroom decorated in certain colors, such as, blue, lavender, metallic. Perhaps, they are into funky stuff or rock music. Any of these are good choices for a teenager.

In a bedroom for a girl, there are lots of accessories that can be used to make the room stand out. Nothing livens up the flooring in teenage bedrooms more than colorful rugs. Area rugs like fluffy rugs or patterned rugs are a good idea. Place any type of snazzy rug around the room in various places like under a plant or a fancy chair. A fluffy circular rug in the middle of the room will stand out and give the room color. Even for boys area rugs are a great idea. Place a big square blue rug in the middle of the room and place their desk over it. For boys, plain rugs are better. Themed rugs can be purchased for boys, such as football type rugs. For instance, a Liverpool rug can be found or any other football team rug of their choice. Even funky area rugs can be placed in the room.

Bedding covers can be effective with all sorts of themed duvet covers and pillow cases. It can be matched with the same themed curtains to give it effective coloring to a bedroom.

Lamps are also needed for lighting when reading and doing homework. You can find an amazing variety in styles of lamps these days, so add some light with a decorative lamp or two.

Wall art is another great idea. Hang up water color paintings, oil portraits and black and white photos of people you don’t know, but would look cool in a teenage bedroom. Hang up posters of famous cool people, such as, pop stars or film stars or even sports people.

If the bedroom is large, then why not create a low and cozy sitting area for the friends to visit. Get a low table and some bean bags or soft seating like body pillows and different sized cushions around the area. Another option is to use wicker chairs or an zebra ottoman to create a sitting area. Place a large rug under all this to make it a unique spot. Even Prayer rugs are also a great decor and comfort items. All rugs are inexpensive and can be stored when not in use.

After few years use, patio chaise lounge cushions can become stained and faded. It is commonly happened that the frames of the furniture are still in a good condition but the cushions are not attractive anymore. Purchasing cushions can be fairly expensive and it is possible that you will find difficulty to meet the pattern and the color that can work with the ideas that you have in mind. Therefore, these are going to give you several tips that will guide you to recover patio chaise lounge cushions.

Firstly, you need to examine your old patio chaise lounge chair. You need to check the condition of the foam of stuffing. If it is not in good condition, you have to measure the cushion and you should buy the new foam or stuffing material. You have to make sure that the new filler for your cushions is certainly designed for outdoor use.

Secondly, you have to measure your old cushion in order to easily determine the yardage required. You need to purchase the required yardage, and then allow extra to match the stripes or patterns and also for making ties to secure the cushions to the frame of chaise lounge. After that, you need to purchase the fabric. If the cushions will be left outside for all time, you should purchase sun resistant fabric.

Thirdly, you should make the pattern of your old cushion on the newspaper. You need to allow for inch on all of the sides for the seam allowances. Then, you can start to measure the length of the old ties and you need to make a note of it.

Fourthly, you need to cut the new foam by using newspaper pattern. After that, you should cut the fabric by using pattern drawn and cut the fabric for ties.

Fifthly, you need to sew the seams of fabric, leave one end open for the stuffing and then turn right side out. The ties must be sewed and attached to the cover of the cushion by utilizing the same positioning as the old cushion. Moreover, you need to sew the Velcro to the both sides of the open end of cushion cover.

Lastly, you need to stuff the cushion into the cover of the cushion and then fasten the Velcro opening. After that, attach to the frame of the chaise lounge with ties.

Now you can bring some cottage chic to your own back door with some pine patio furniture on your deck. If you want the classic look of an Adirondack style chair or prefer to sway the day away in a charming porch swing you can get these pieces expertly crafted from southern yellow pine.

Pine is an ideal wood for outdoor furniture because it is strong and durable and extremely resistant to wear. It is also resistant to rot, water damage and insect infestation. Wood like this is perfect for the outdoors. It has also been used to make marinas and decks, and it is virtually maintenance free. All you need is a little soap and water to clean it.

Available in four finishes; natural, pristine, distressed and washed you will definitely be able to find some pine patio furniture to suit your patio décor. Readily abundant and easily grown, pine is a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy solid wood outdoor furniture. Get a patio table set or maybe a chaise lounge to really relax. Whatever you choose you can get it in a color to match your motif and add a punch of your personality to your patio décor. Dress it up even more with some brightly patterned patio cushions. Or have fun relaxing on a pine garden bench in your backyard.

You can kick your feet up and relax. And when you close your eyes you can almost smell the pine forests that embraced your grandpa’s cottage where you spent your childhood summers. Ah memories! Now you can make more memories in your own backyard on your natural pine patio furniture that is at once rustic and luxurious. Maybe you want to relive your vacation to Martha’s Vineyard and purchase some Adirondack chairs in pristine white. Include an zebra pattern ottoman and put your feet up. Add a side table and your iced tea and magazines are within easy reach. Or hear the waves as they crash on the North Shore while you doze in your faded green chaise lounge. No matter what feelings you want to invoke in your backyard haven it is comforting to know that all you need is some pine patio furniture in the style and finish you want and not much more.

Whether your style is rustic country, sleek and modern or simply classic you’ll find pine patio furniture to suit your needs. You’ll make your patio or porch somewhere you want to spend time that is both comfortable and easily accessible. So open the door and step outside. Take a deep breath. Survey your newly re-done patio and smile. You’re ready for anything. Whether a friend stops by for some cocktails or you decide to have a barbecue blow out, your pine patio furniture will be there to hold the food and drinks. And afterwards it will be there to rest your tired bones under the star-filled sky. Your patio may look like a seaside resort or a house on a lake, but it is yours. And pine patio furniture helped you make your wonderful escape.

Your bedroom should be a reflection of coziness and comfort, which can mean a variety of things based upon preference and style. People also want bedrooms to be crisp and clean, as a general rule, in addition to coziness. One way to marry the two concepts is to focus on the lines of the room and ensure they reflect elegance and simplicity. This can be done by focusing on three basic concepts: Texture, color and balance.

Texture plays a key role in making the bedroom cozy from the perspective of linens, carpeting, rugs, fabrics, walls and furniture surfaces. Textures can vary from soft to coarse, patterned to nubby, and shimmering to flat. Focus on textures that reflect your style and what makes you feel serene. However, adding a variety of textures can add dimension to your room. The most interesting decorative approaches often include a wide variety of textures meshed together in one cohesive approach. There are a variety of ways to incorporate texture from furniture styling to a throw on the bed. Some designers recommend using soft chenille or cotton fabrics for the duvet cover or coverlet. And, a must for some, is crisp sheets, which provides that “hotel-like” feel. Another element to keep in mind is the texture used for the floor. Avoid tough surfaces like sisal, which can feel like the equivalent of walking on sandpaper. Soft surfaces or rugs add to the coziness of the bedroom.

Color is also a key element in the overall feel of your room, primarily because it is most often linked to an emotion response. Warm colored rooms automatically seem warm, regardless of the contents or accompanying designs or furniture. However, don’t be afraid to use cool colors. Cool colors can be warm and cozy if done in a soft or deep color and accented with a warm neutral tone or warm stain color for wooden accents or furniture.

Balance is the third element of style that is fundamental to creating a cozy space. It entails a point and counterpoint approach to designing a room. For example, if your tastes tend to be modern or transitional, you might consider adding a sleek piece of furniture and contrast it with a textured fabric with a warm color. In spite of how sleek or contemporary you may like your spaces to be, adding enough detail in the right balance can add warmth to the typically sterile feel of modern styles.

Regardless of what elements you decide to incorporate, the most important element is that you feel as if you can retreat to your bedroom at the end of the day. Some designers recommend having lots of down pillows for propping up in the bed. Another suggestion is to have a chair or zebra ottoman in the room (and not for the purpose of throwing laundry on to). Having a chair creates a nice relaxing place to curl up and read or relax. Adding a bright light next to this chair also prevents from having to have bright lights throughout the room. In doing so, you can have various levels of soft lighting in the room, creating a more romantic and intimate feel. If you lack the space for a chair, an alternative suggestion is to have swing arm lamps on each side of the bed, which frees up space on night stands for a book or glass of water.

Have you ever wondered why interior designers place slippers on the zebra pattern ottoman in magazine photos? They do it to make the staged setting look as if it’s a lived-in room. Pictures and illustrations in decorating books, magazines, and other advertisements are designed to sell a product or an idea.

But what’s missing in the staged rooms of most interior design books and magazines? People.

When it comes to decorating your own your home, forget the empty rooms you see in the magazines and books. You should design your rooms as backdrops for the people who use and live in those spaces. In order to best utilize the spaces in your home, try these simple techniques:

Leave empty space. Empty space gives you breathing room and allows the most important items in the room to shine, which are the people!

Use small patterns on walls and furniture. Avoid large-patterned fabrics and wallpapers with designs larger than your head. Huge florals will interfere with the appearance of the people in the room. You don’t want to have to compete with bold patterns behind your face. Patterns on sofas and chairs that clash with clothing will also make you and your guests feel uncomfortable.

Use colors that complement people. Finding the right colors to complement your skin and eyes deserves planning. Most people look great when surrounded by color. For light skin colors, use yellows, pinks, and beiges. For darker complexions, yellows, olives, and tans can make people stand out. Since most people no longer have bright white in their eyes, avoid pastels that are whiter than the white in your eyes.

Add textures that feel good to the touch. Support your sense of touch by adding textures that are nice to caress. You don’t have to touch velvet to sense its softness, and soft textures like chenille and satins will visually support your feeling of being pampered, as well.

Arrange accessories to shore up emotions. In one of my rooms, I arranged my mantle accessories to make a statement, and it looked great in photographs, but after analyzing why the mantle didn’t seem to smile, I realized that it wasn’t personal. When I filled it with Mili fiori lamps, crystal candlesticks, and antique vases, the space looked great, but it really began to smile when I added a Mexican Rose rock under the painting.

Think comfort before pretense. Just because a sofa or chair looks fabulous doesn’t mean the piece is comfortable. Remember, when you walk around a showroom, sitting down on any piece feels good, but in order to truly test a piece of furniture, you need to sit on it for a long time, until you feel totally rested. Only then will you be able to feel the real support and comfort level of that piece.

Remember, your home is a place for people, and when you and your guests look and feel great in your home, you can be sure that you’ve designed a great setting; one that far outshines the staged sets you’ll see in magazines and books.

Joy to you!

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.