2011/08/29

Tips on Adding Bamboo Decor on Your Home

There are several types of bamboo decor that you may want to add to your collection. You may also want to completely replace your current home theme to an environment friendly one using the exotic designs for bamboo furniture such as cabinets and beds. You can easily find these designs readily available on several designing websites on the World Wide Web. One of the excellent decorations you may integrate to your home design is the use of bamboo vases. These vases are available in a wide variety of styles you can choose from. The designs used for these ornamental home pieces can effectively add a distinct look on your room. You may choose from polished, natural and spun bamboo vases which would make a unique and fresh theme for your room design.

Bamboo decor may also take the form of picture frames. Most of the time, your memorable photographs are stored within these small pieces of craft. The bamboo frames can be used to give emphasis to these special pictures. You may even integrate your personal designs with the addition of a variety of colors which would also give the frames a polished and natural look. Aside from picture frames, you may also use bamboo bowls and bamboo candles to add uniqueness into your home design. Different types of bamboo bowls can appropriately fit on your kitchen area. Aside from being a perfect dining decoration, it may also add a classic accent when serving food into the dining table. A nice collection of bamboo candles can add texture to your bamboo decor. You may add your own taste on the designs by playing through the different shapes and colors that are available on the market.

There are other bamboo decor that you can add to your home collection such as drinking coasters, chairs and bamboo blinds. A set of natural bamboo coasters would surely create a traditional impression on your room theme and would perfectly fit on your coffee table. Adding bamboo chairs to your home tables is a good way to provide durability on your home furniture. There are a wide variety of these bamboo chairs available on the market such as modern and wicker types. To finish up your bamboo theme on your room, you may use colorful bamboo blinds in order to add a natural look and at the same time serve its purposes of blocking out the heat, sunlight and noise.

2011/07/13

The Culture Of Tiki Statues

Most people are now familiar with tiki statues and masks from a tiki bar or a tropical-themed resort. A tiki statue is a unique and fun way to add that tropical feel in your home and yard.


Tiki Statue
Just like other collection of tropical decor, Tikis can be easily converted into conversation pieces. Since they are hand-carved, no two tikis are the same. The history behind them comes from Polynesian culture. Tiki was the first man, somewhat equivalent to Adam in Christian theology. It is thought that the idea originated in the Marquesas Islands before spreading elsewhere in the South Pacific. In this ancient culture, the word "tiki" is also used to describe the spirit of a god or ancestor contained in a sculpture. The sculpture, which may be wooden or stone, is carved in their image. In Polynesia, tiki statues have been found dating back at least 3,500 years. This custom resulted in the popularity of tiki statues that today can be seen all over the world. Tikis were placed outside the doors of temples and other sacred Polynesian places.


Today, because of the mid-century tiki craze, tiki statues can be found all over the world. In Polynesia, there are artists and sculptors who draw their inspiration from the tradition of tiki statue carving. In the United States, "tiki" has become a blend of all of these ancient cultural forms. Our Polynesian style tiki statues can add a beautiful tropical touch to any landscape. These statues can be a creative, unique, and colorful addition to your home or yard. All of our statues compliment our other tropical decor such as a romantic tiki hut, tiki torches, a bamboo tiki bar, bamboo fencing, and more. To complete your ultimate paradise, don't forget to also check out our other products for your home and yard, including tiki poles, a Mexican thatch, or a tropical thatch umbrella. Create your island escape today!

2011/07/05

Tips on Growing Lucky Bamboo

Lucky Bamboo is known to bring luck and positive energy to the carrier. As described by Feng Shui and Chinese traditions, the different number of executives of lucky bamboo plant brings good luck to the wearer. It is believed that the two emerged plants bring good luck in love for the carrier, and eight stalked plant believed to bring wealth.

Most likely you've seen these lovely stalks in water display containers at a local store for mass selling. Perhaps you've thought it's a lovely, unusual plant even exotic looking and because of that impression passed it by thinking that it would just be too temperamental for your indoor planting abilities. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Lucky Bamboo as a house plant is one of the most striking and surprisingly one of the most easy as well. As long as you follow some very simple, logical planting rules whether you’re using water or soil as a growing material.

Pick out a few sturdy looking Lucky Bamboo stocks from that sales display. Look for the stalks to be a healthy green color, no yellow or brown on the stalks at all. Check to be sure that the leaves sprouting from the top of the plant stalk are looking healthy as well. You'll glance at the roots as you separate a few stalks, making sure there is a good number of healthy looking roots attached and importantly that the base of the stalk where those roots are growing is firm and not squishy.

Now you need a container for your lucky bamboo plant. Depending on the length and width of the stocks you chose there are quite a few interesting and lovely to look at options. A tall clear vase with some aquarium pebbles, or small marbles in the bottom looks lovely. A short ceramic pot filled with small rocks would be a sturdy home for your Lucky Bamboo.

With vase or pot chosen, simply fill an inch or so at the bottom of your container with pebbles, marbles, or small rocks. Put your stalk(s) of Lucky Bamboo in the container on top of them, then carefully add some more medium another inch or so around the stalk to keep it firmly in place. Add some bottled water to the container, filling to just above the line of your pebbles, marbles or small rocks.

So with some simple care instructions, the task of growing Lucky Bamboo to be happy good luck to you and your home.

2011/06/20

Many Uses of Bamboo Poles

Most people will agree that bamboo is a highly versatile and exciting product. Bamboo poles are an attractive addition to your indoor and outdoor entertainment areas. 
Bamboo poles hold up well in bad weather so they are often used in outdoor structures and furnishings. Anyone who is looking to enhance the appearance of their home or yard will find bamboo to be a relatively inexpensive product to use. Domestically grown or imported, they can be finished in a kiln and polished to show the natural beauty of the material. As a member of the grass family, bamboo grows rapidly which makes it plentiful in areas where climate and soil conditions are ideal.
A versatile building product even in raw form, bamboo poles are used in a number of home furnishings including beds, night stands, sofas, chairs, coffee tables, and dining room tables and chairs. The finishing touch to tiki huts, this type of furniture gives your porch or backyard an authentic tropical feel.
Bamboo is also used in a number of musical instruments. It is also used to create textiles as well as paper products like stationery. Some of the first pole vaulters used bamboo poles for their sport.
Ranging in price according to material and size, bamboo poles can be purchased individually or in lots. Due to their hollow insides, they can also be cut to size easily. Available for purchase any time of year, bamboo is increasing in popularity to the point that more and more items are being made from it.
People from all over the world use bamboo in different ways. A strong focal point of Japanese architecture, it can be seen in buildings, gates, and fountains. Bamboo poles are used as scaffolding in some countries and support beams in others. In leisure settings, they are used to accent structures and give them an island-like appearance. Bamboo laminate is increasingly replacing hardwood floors in homes around the country. Beautiful and exotic, it gives a room an earthy, natural feel.
A cost-effective way to entertain, bamboo poles create a relaxing vibe and can be considered a wise investment no matter what your income level may be. 


Source from: http://www.tikibambooandthatch.com/shopping_guide/many-uses-of-bamboo-poles-4229.html

2011/05/30

Choose Bamboo Blinds for Your Windows

Looking for fresh ideas to cover your windows and add new life to your rooms? You can try bamboo blinds. Having bamboo blinds in your home can add a touch of class to your place without much effort.

Bamboo blinds are becoming more popular each day. These blinds can add a contemporary and natural appearance your home creating a "green" look. Like other types of blinds, bamboo provides the same advantage, it blocks out the heat, cold, sound and light. Another advantage of using bamboo blinds is that it's durable and easy to clean compared to traditional fabric or curtains where you have to pay for the laundry.

Bamboo Blinds
Using bamboo blinds helps you turn your dull window into something elegant and presentable. They can help you resize your room. If you have a smaller window and would like to make it look bigger, you may use full length bamboo blinds which could reach down to the floor. Thus create an illusion showing your window is longer. Another way to create an illusion is to place the blinds near the ceiling, which elongates your window. You can also make your window look wider by bamboo blinds that are wider than the window, or hang multiple panels.

Bamboo blinds are environmentally friendly, durable and can resist harsh weather conditions. Installing them is quick and easy as they do not require any special knowledge. Enhance your windows by using bamboo blinds and take advantage of the full range of benefits.

2011/04/27

Using Bamboo Paneling for a Better Home

If you are planning to remodel your home soon, you may want to consider using bamboo paneling for your wall paneling or flooring needs. Although a bit more expensive than regular wood, bamboo paneling is highly regarded in the wood and timber industry because of its eco-friendly, aesthetically attractive and renewable characteristic. Grown in most parts of the world, bamboo is easily replaceable as it grows rapidly and can easily adapt to a varied climatic condition.


A Closer Look at Bamboo Paneling


Bamboo paneling is most commonly made of a bamboo species called Moso. The mature bamboo, usually reaching a height of 35 to 40 feet, is harvested and checked for deformities or pests. Those passing the quality check are then cut into slats, chemically treated to eradicate the pests and then dried. Dried bamboo slats are then glued together to form a bamboo paneling.


Different Uses of Bamboo paneling


Paneling made from bamboo may be used as flooring. Bamboo flooring can either have vertical or horizontal grain orientation and is available in different colors from natural or a darker color similar to oak. Dark colored bamboo plywood goes through a process called carbonizing. Through carbonizing, the wood undergoes exposure to heat and pressure to generate the desired color. Bamboo paneling is also used in making wall panels, ceilings or cabinets. As bamboo has an excellent water resistant property, it is even recommended for use in kitchens or bathrooms where hardwood and other wood laminates are not used.


Bamboo as an Eco-friendly Alternative


Bamboo paneling is usually more expensive that the regular paneling. But despite its cost, a lot of people prefer using this because it is a highly renewable resource available in most countries. Bamboo, classified as a grass and not a tree, is ready for harvest in four years while other hardwoods take around 100 years to mature. Harvesting bamboo does not disrupt the plant’s root system therefore no replanting is need for the bamboo to grow back.


Being the world’s tallest grass, bamboo is also as resilient as any other grass. Because of this resilience, it has even inspired people to see wisdom in what the bamboo represents. At one point, the once lowly bamboo was even compared to hardwood and according to a Japanese proverb, “A bamboo that bends is stronger than an oak that resists.” Literally or figuratively, the bamboo has many uses in homes. All we need to do is to look around us to resolve how this green grass can help us improve our homes and our lives.