Decorating Tips Archive

When displaying items of a shelf or table, try to stick with an odd number of items. This will add interest to your country or primitive display.

Take your room’s color scheme from floor to ceiling by choosing window treatments that match the colors in your flooring. We offer a cozy assortment from India Home Fashions, Park Designs and more!

Turn a cozy corner of a room into a work area. A tall decorative cabinet with lots of drawers can store your materials. A set of stacking nesting boxes can store supplies at your fingertips. Top that off with a decorative lamp with plenty of light and a nice quilted throw to cover up if you get a chill!

Bring a little contrast into your rooms by painting your trim a few shades darker than your walls. Have you seen our selection of Olde Century Paints? They are designed with primitive, country and Americana decorating styles in mind!

This one is quick and easy. Add a country focal point to any room by placing a Welcome Friends or other Welcome Wall Accent over any doorway in your home. You might be surprised at how much is adds to any space!

If you love the country look, and want to create your own design, why not purchase one of our dragon vine or twig wreaths and pip-berry garlands, and create your own wreath. Not only will you have the completed wreath to match your own decor, but you can tell all your friends that you made it yourself. Added tip: add some gingham fabric for a more rustic primitive look. Don't have the time or feel like making it yourself? We offer a wide selection in our store from which to choose!

Pot racks are great for hanging:

Decorative items are the icing on any decorating style and should help pull your Primitive decorating theme together. This design approach works perfect with primitave, unadorned decorative accessories which help bring out the comfortable and warm atmosphere of warmth and simplicity. Choose good quality accessories like knick knacks, wall art and pillows that add to your primitive décor to pull the look together.

Paintings and prints are a great way to add unique interest to your walls, but most people don't know the proper way to hang them. Single artworks should be positioned so the middle of the piece is at eye level, not so that the tops or bottoms of the frames are even as some people think. Try laying a group of artwork out on the floor initially to work out the best design. You can bring interesting flair into your Primitive decorating theme design with folk art which you could place in plain frames.

Knick Knacks can really bring a creative touch to any room, no matter what the design style. To round out your primitive country decorating, stick with accessories that have a comfortable and warm ambiance. Try putting a graduated set of pantry boxes stacked on a table or in the corner or adding antique baskets filled with dried flowers. You can inject your own distinct style to the room by selecting accessories which reflect your unique style. You don't need to spend too much cash to acquire great items, try identifying a consignment store nearby and you'll be surprised at the good quality accessories you can get for very little cost.

Some accessories that can help complete the ambiance of warmth and simplicity include folk art, tramp art, and vintage signs. You would be smart to pick accessories which coordinate with your overall room décor. Steer away from being too eclectic or the appearance you are trying to get could become diluted.

Another accessory you can think about to add charm to your design theme is decorative pillows. You can find a use for pillows in every room even the bathroom and kitchen. Displaying decorative pillows arranged at the head of your bed will add a fantastic professional allure. Pillows on your chairs or sofa may help insert the primitive country decorating sense to the furniture. In the kitchen or bathroom, a pillow put strategically on a hamper or chair can provide a comfortable touch. Using pillows that are plain and simple will help add unique charm.

Darker and heavier A sculpture is a good place to start for a focal point. Whether on the wall or on a stand or a table sculpture lends a sense of time and place. Choosing the correct sculpture at the outset is important as this piece may well set the tone, period and style of the space. Heavy rugs kept at strategic places could also add to the attraction. Perhaps you could place it in front of the fireplace (which could be as naturalistic as possible).

Displaying primitives such as old boxes and baskets can add a professional style to your Primitive decorating theme. Yet before you go out and select a variety of items, you would be smart to have an idea of the kinds of accessories you want and shop for those pieces. You will need to try also to acquire items in the proper sizes and also proportions. This way you can make sure to get accessories that fit and look together fabulous.

Grounded-Although elements of primitive decorating can be used on walls and above eye level they are generally associated with a grounded feeling. A darker flooring concept is usually the result with a certain strength that could support whatever rests upon it. A darker carpet could be used although a more visually natural based material like dark wood might be more appropriate.

May 2009
How to Decorate a Primitive Style Bathroom

Next to your kitchen, the bathroom is the most used room in the home. And some guests are more likely to see your bathroom than your kitchen. So your bathroom should be one of the best decorated rooms in the house.Even if you’ve never attempted home decorating before, creating a fabulous Primitive decorating theme in your bathroom can be simple if you know what to do. The Primitive decorating is especially captivating for modern decor and it's no wonder homeowners are looking for it�s comfortable and warm allure in their bathroom. Using a blend of primitives such as old boxes and baskets plus primary colors, this decorating theme can enhance your bathroom. Decorating with primitive country decorating will have you feeling like you are in warmth and simplicity.

With decorating, it's easy to become confused by the labels "country" and "primitive." Both are similar styles. However, primitive pieces invoke the image of colonial times, while country primitive focuses on the pioneer lifestyle. Since the bathroom may be the smallest room in the house, the sparse, less-is-more style of primitive decor can be achieved with just a few touches. Fabrics used in primitive decor include homespun or roughly-woven cloth, which can be incorporated into shower curtains, towels and window treatments. When artwork is used on the back of a toilet seat or corner of a counter, it should be handmade and painted in darker colors.

The country primitive color pallet looks more aged, as if it has been covered by a patina. Harvest colors predominate: pumpkin, apple red, cranberry, wheat and blackberry. Choose one or two colors for walls and accent pieces to tie the room together. Painted pieces typically are weathered, pickled or crackled, allowing the original surface to show through. Because of the moisture present in a bathroom, painted walls should be used instead of wallpaper. If you have space, a distressed, shaker pie safe can double as a linen closet.

When applying Primitive decorating, don't forget about the lighting. The proper lighting can also help to add interest to your decorating theme. To add interest to this kind of room design, you'll strive for your lights to be simple like tin lanterns to enhance the Primitive decorating theme room style. Adding recessed lighting in this design theme to your bathroom can be an interesting path to enhance on your room design.

Getting hamper, towel racks and accents that highlight your interior decorating scheme will give your bathroom a put together feel. Pieces which are aged wood should be ideal. Some of the types of pieces that look wonderful with this decor are shaker style items.

While you might not think too much about it flooring plays an integral role in your interior design style so adding bath mats to your Primitive decorating theme bathroom can really improve it’s style.  The sort of flooring you should think about for the comfortable and warm style is stencilled mats which should be beige, red, blue or green.Adding bath mats into your bathroom will likely help pull the decorating style together. Making use of the most ideal style as well as colors of flooring is important. Stick to beige, red, blue or green with your stencilled mats and these ought to augument the design theme nicely.

Installing window treatments for your bathroom is a very important responsibility due to the fact that the wrong sort can truly ruin your theme. You are trying to install a very simple design style, Therefore take this into account when shopping for curtains or shutters. For a different style consider some wood shutters.

Personal touches are an important feature of any decorating style and adding artwork and toiletry holders to your room can help augment the look. When designing accessories, a primitave, unadorned design is most suitable. Buying accessories could put your own charming touch on the space. Decorating your bathroom in Primitive decorating isn't that difficult if you pay attention to detail.

One popular accent piece is a large, tin barn star that you can easily hang on a wall. Other metal accents typically are made of wrought iron. Many people drape a garland of artificial cranberries or blueberries across a wall, on a counter or over a windowsill. These garlands also can be twisted into wreaths.

Another accessory you can think about to add charm to your design theme is decorative pillows. You can find a use for pillows in every room even the bathroom. In the bathroom, a pillow put strategically on a hamper or chair can provide a comfortable touch. Using pillows that are plain and simple will help add unique charm.

To add to your primitive country decorating think about a graduated set of pantry boxes stacked on a table or in the corner or antique baskets filled with dried flowers In addition to folk art, tramp art, and vintage signs to make the most of your decorating style. Displaying primitives such as old boxes and baskets can add a professional style to your Primitive decorating theme. Yet before you go out and select a variety of items, you would be smart to have an idea of the kinds of accessories you want and shop for those pieces. You will need to try also to acquire items in the proper sizes and also proportions. This way you can make sure to get accessories that fit and look together fabulous.

June 2009

Primitive Country Decorating Ideas for the Garden

There are immense benefits of gardening. Apart from the pleasure derived from nurturing gardens as a hobby, there are other benefits associated with gardening as well. Gardening helps in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and bestows one with a chance to stay associated with the beauty of nature. Many people consider a garden as an extension of their home. Hence, they want to beautify the area in a similar manner in which they have decorated the interior of the home.

There are different ways in which a garden can be decorated. Beauty of a garden is primarily dependant on the garden layout and the variety of plants and trees along with their flowers that are present inside. Plants like climbing roses, lavenders, daisies, delphiniums, fragrant peony bushes and rhododendrons are now available in a multitude of colors and sizes. Beauty of the garden can be glorified by the birds and butterflies that visit the garden. It can also be further enhanced by keeping certain ornamental furniture inside the garden.

Primitive style of garden décor is a unique way to decorate gardens using old antique statues, rustic pieces of tin, old and battered furniture and other artifacts. Birds get attracted to food and water. One can place some old-styled and traditional bird feeders and bird baths at the center of the garden. Apart from these, other popular garden décor item include statues and fountains. Primitive style of decoration includes designing a natural looking waterfall that blends with the garden design. Garden statues can be stone carvings or made of bronze. A variety of statues on different subjects can be used like those of animals, Buddha and cherubs. Lanterns can be used for providing lighting inside the garden and help to glorify its beauty.

Many are returning to the garden/backyard classics such as birdhouses and birdfeeders. (The more the better.) I heard of a great idea from someone that suggested an interesting display in her garden of a collection of old bird cages (the kind that you would normally keep indoors). She hung them from trees in her garden, atop old posts, and directly in the garden bed. These looked really charming with lobelia-laden pots inside the old cages, moonflowers and trumpet vines growing up the posts, and after a year of weathering in the elements, moss growing on the rooftops. It was a true country garden with some really unique accents!

Enhance calmness and peace in your garden area with the soothing
gentle tinkling of a windchime. For a little more prim or country charm, use a older tin coffee pot, and add some silver spoons at dangling various heights, attached by fishing line or even tiny barn stars!

Popular Ornamental Touches include Metal Garden Art and Lawn
Statues. Some rusty tin lawn art or metal sunflowers, or the classic rooster weather vanes, make a bold statement and add the perfect touch of whimsy, inviting a picture perfect welcome to all who pass.

Don't underestimate the beauty and versatility of garden flags. With so many wonderful choices and styles, you can change them as often as the mood strikes, seasonally, by holiday, or any other occasion.

Use your words...or someone else's. There are a number of weather-friendly outdoor wall plaques made on stone or resin. For a little extra protection, be sure to seal them with a clear outdoor spray sealant to help them "weather" any storm. Although true prim collectors love that beaten or rusty look all the more, so don't be afraid to let it look more worn either.

Have a small space, find some old coffee tin coffee pots or ceramic mixing bowls that catch your fancy, and turn them into planters. Just about anything can be turned into a planter. If you bring your planter to your favorite gardening center, they often will even help you choose the right flowers for your home or garden to best fit your needs.

An old bike or a favorite older chair you might be afraid for someone to sit it, can be turned into the most charming garden accessory with the right touches. Surround it with flowers, put a potted plant in it or on it, and everyone will declare how brilliant and creative you are.

July 2009

Primitive Country Decorating Ideas for the FRont Porch and Bonus: Patriotic decorating tips

Nothing says "Welcome" more than an inviting porch, and the primitive style truly lends itself to this endeavor. Porches have always been a place to build fond memories of time with friends and family, maybe to do the wash, or just a place to sit back, relax, and dream. Your porch should inspire all these activities with its laid-back decor and design.

First, think about the seating. If you can find a nice antique glider and a sturdy couple chairs--rocking or other, you are off to a good start. Remember the chairs don't have to match, in fact, they shouldn't! Twig furniture lends a rustic and primitive charm, and has been gaining more popularity with some of the crafters again. Some beautiful willow twig chairs can last for generations! Add some soft cushions or throw pillows and a comfy throw blanket, lap quilt or crocheted afghan, and you are ready for a good book or a cozy snooze. For another nice touch, add a prim doll or annie as a surprise for little guests. If you have a wicker or wood bench or small couch, you can really make a nice visiting area for more visitors.

Now that you have the seating taken care of, you'll need somewhere for your guests to set their cups of ice tea or lemonade. A couple small wooden tables with a distressed look to them, are just the thing. Stack a few cheese boxes or salt boxes near a couple well placed jugs or crocks, and you have country charm pouring from every corner. You can get creative though, and use a turned over wash basin on top of a stand, or turn an old wagon into a little side table, then just add some linens and wooden spools.

Don't forget the edges! Hangin grapevine or honeysuckle vine around the ceiling with little lights tucked is is a lovely touch, also. Show some American pride by displaying olde glory either on a wall. hanging from a grapevine wreath or placed (many small ones) in a crock or bucket with some twigs.

Along the walls, you might want to add a couple vine or twig wreaths, hang a quilt, and don't afraid to put pictures up as well. Afraid of the weather, get some pre-weathered signs or wood-backed pictures, or even make your own with a little mod podge. You can even add a vinyl lettering sign to the front door or above the door somewhere. These are very popular right now, and come in all styles, colors, and ideas.

A distressed potting bench gives the perfect place to grow little seedlings, herbs, or other cozy shelf spots for your odds and ends and needful things. Put a charming little block sign or hanging sign on it, to make it even more prim

Bottomless chairs make the best holders for your potted plants on your porch. Sure you can hang them around the edges as well, but don't toss those treasures when you can just repurpose them! Potted plants are perfect to place around your seating area as well for natural touches of color and the season. Fill some washtubs or an antique washer that with wavy petunias and other flowers.

Put an old bicycle (w/o wheels) or tricycle in the front garden area, and surround with flowers. Don't have a bike or trike, how about a wheelbarrow? Window boxes are a perfect touch, of course.

Don't forget style and Functionality when decorating a front porch. Pillows, upholstery, slipcovers, shades and blinds, lighting, flooring, and rugs all make a sunroom or a porch lush and comfortable. What you can use depends on how rigorous the weather is on the furnishings. In a relatively moisture-free hot climate, for instance, sun resistance is the quality you want to look for, but mildew resistance is not essential. In other areas, both sun and moisture (caused by dew at night) can damage the goods. Select products specifically resistant to mold and mildew and ultraviolet rays. Choices abound for products that work well in a protected outdoor environment. Here's some guidance on which are suitable for the outdoors.

Shades and Blinds: Simple matchstick or rattan rollups can protect furnishings from some rain and sun. Other treatments might include fabulous see-through screens and blinds that block ultraviolet rays while allowing breezes to waft through the space. Shower curtains or simply made fabric curtains are decorative solutions that add privacy as well as beauty. (Bed sheets are an inexpensive alternative to fabric.) Remember, however, if the fabric isn't sun resistant, the curtains will fade over time.

Flooring and Rugs: Tile, slate, concrete, and weatherproof painted wood are floor choices that require minimal care. Soften the look and the feeling underfoot with natural-fiber rugs, such as sisal or hemp, which by nature resist moisture damage; this type of floor covering works best in sheltered outdoor spaces. Another possibility is indoor-outdoor carpeting, which can be left outside all year long.

Fabrics: Cushions and pillows with fillings that allow water to drain through them take very little care. Add to this a wide range of new fabrics--acrylics, woven vinyl-coated polyester, laminated cotton that feels like uncoated fabric--and almost anything is possible. Look for these fabrics at tent, awning, or fabric stores, as well as the porch and patio sections of department stores and pool-supply stores. Don't overlook clear plastic to protect some fabrics, and go ahead and use conventional fabrics that catch your fancy if the area is protected. Store pillows when the weather turns foul. Fabrics treated for stain resistance are more expensive but wear better.

Lighting: Outdoor ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), built-in lighting, and fans make all the difference for nighttime use of porches and sunrooms. Avoid conventional indoor lighting unless your space is attached to the house. And be kind to your neighbors: be sure lighting does not encroach on their space. (The same goes for any noise you create, such as from a television, radio, or stereo system.) Don't over-light, but do provide adequate transitional lighting from inside to outside, allowing eyes to adjust.

BONUS: Primitive Americana Decorating Tips:

Americana decorating describes a style that is both appealing and casual. It is full of easy to care for materials that make it perfect for families with children. This style can be patriotic, primitive, or country farmhouse, but most often is a combination of the three. Americana decorating includes many different motifs, including geography, folk art, and history, which can be adapted in a number of ways.

Primitive Americana most often includes folk art, tramp art, and vintage advertising signs. A dried flower arrangement in an old watering can or fresh flowers in a mason jar look perfectly at home on a distressed, pine top table. Faded, checked fabrics, or fabrics made to look like old flour sacks are perfect for this style. Some other motifs are:

Texture is a key ingredient to primitive Americana decor. Rusted and worn metal items add character to rooms. Coarse textured fabrics like burlap and homespun cotton are good for pillows and curtains. Berber carpet lends itself well to the flooring needs of a primitive room.

Handcrafted objects are perfect in primitive rooms. Shaker style furniture, pottery, and lanterns work together to bring warmth and coziness to primitive decor. Distressed book shelves are a great way to organize and display books and collectibles. Other types of distressed furniture are options for the Americana decorating style as well.

Place a collection of red, white and blue ornies in a wooden bowl, mixed with cranberry and rosehip potpourri.

For finished painted projects that you have sanded and you want a time worn look , here are a few options.Take a lint free rag rub on any stain,polish,or chewing tobacco and then wipe off , repeat process till you get that look you are going for.

Brown shoe polish by KIWI, It's my secret weapon I love it, I use it for all my projects that I paint. I also use warm color gel stains for example one of my favorite brand is Min wax Gel stain in walnut.

August 2009

Primitive Country Decorating Ideas
for Your BedRoom

Embrace the past with a warm and comfortable master bedroom decorated in a primitive country style. Deep wall colors, pine and twig furniture, handmade quilts and braided rugs create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Handmade and simple are the keywords for any picture frames, mirrors or other decorative accessories for your bedroom. Step back in time to an uncomplicated, down-to-earth master bedroom that you can easily create with these decorating tips.

• Wall colors can range from dark browns, dark reds, yellows, greens or whatever speaks primitive to you.  I find the lighting in the room gives it that back in time feel. Paint your master bedroom indigo blue, deep green or rustic red for a warm and cozy atmosphere.

• Find a poster bed made from pine with matching dresser, but find mismatched pine bedside tables for a more eclectic look. Light-colored pine furniture contrasts beautifully against the deep richness of your walls. Hardwood floors in deeper shades of oak or cherry complement and showcase the lightness of the pine.

• Find linens made from natural cotton fibers and decorated with plaids, botanicals or solid colors that coordinate with your wall coverings. Colorful quilts work as bed coverings or use them as wall art, framed or unframed. Earth tone quilts and pillows make a wonderful addition to the primitive bedroom. Put a quilt rack at the foot of the bed and drape a warm, cozy rag quilt on it. 
  

• You can also incorporate flooring into your design theme, and adding area rugs to your Primitive decorating theme bedroom can make the room look charming.  The right kind of flooring for the comfortable and warm style is stencilled mats which you might want to buy in beige, red, blue or green. Braided cotton rugs in different shapes and sizes work well in a primitive country master bedroom.

• Create a sitting area with chairs and a table made from twigs for a charmingly rustic focal point in your bedroom. Add cushions and a table cloth made from matching cotton or linen fabric that coordinates with, but does not match, your bed linens. A plain white vase or an antique coffee can filled with wildflowers and a picture frame made from pine or twigs would complement the primitive country appeal of your master bedroom.

• The proper lighting can also help to add interest to your interior design.  bedrooms usually have bedside lamps as their lighting source.  Look for lighting that is simple like tin lanterns or very simple and unadorned to accent the Primitive decorating theme room style. Place candle lamps on your end tables to give the room a very warm, relaxed feeling. You can also hang a wrought-iron chandelier or sconces on the wall beside the bed. Use grubby or mason jar candles and place lanterns around the room for additional lighting. You can also find wooden lamps or lantern-style electric bedside lighting that remain true to the primitive country decorating style while employing the comforts of modern conveniences

• Place books in primitive baskets on the floor and braided rugs at the foot and next to the bed.


• Place a primitive rag doll on the bed.  I have a window seat in my bedroom so I decorate it with small pillows and primitive dolls.  I try to match my pillows with my bedding to tie everything together.  Small antique carriages holding your favorite antique doll looks great in your primitive bedroom.  Place a primitive Santa in it and place sprigs of holly and berries inside for a seasonal change.


• You can also use an old trunk (I found one in my attic and painted it black) to hold spare quilts and blankets, magazines or whatever appeals to  you.  Try stenciling flowers or a favorite theme on the front, sides and top.  Or just choose one of the three.  When your trunk is not in use place a folded quilt on top!



• A chair rail around your primitive bedroom can be used to display some of your primitives and adds interest to the room.  You could also paint the top and the bottom of the wall different colors using a darker color on the top.   

• Stenciling around the top of the wall is a nice touch in your primitive bedroom.  There are an enormous amount of stencils out there to choose from. 


• Tart burners are great to use in the bedroom because they give the room that wonderful aroma!  Tin lantern-type tart burners can be bought at any country store and placed on your nightstand, dresser, windowsill, just about anywhere you can find a spot for them.  What I like about tea-lights is you don't have to remember to blow them out!



• Curtains can make a statement  in your primitive bedroom by just trying new ideas.Try tying longer curtains back with jute or raffia.  Raffia comes in many different colors so you can combine several to match your color scheme. For large windows in your bedroom (ceiling to floor) put several panels together and then section each one off and tie raffia around the center of each panel.  You can move the raffia up or down to have the effect you want. This is a very inexpensive way to have a different look!  If you want valances on the windows try cutting each valance into a triangle and then tying a piece of fabric three quarters of the way down.  This is very easy to do and a wonderful primitive look!  Just make sure your valance is a little longer than you'd like because once you cut it into a triangle the length will be much shorter. Any material you like will do.  I like cotton, but you could use muslin or whatever you like.  I just think cotton and muslin makes more of a primitive statement.  Again, experiment with stamps and stencils on your fabric.  It's really different and will be one of a kind!  Always wash any fabric first before making curtains! Once you have your windows decorated, You’ll find that your walls need some pizzaz.  To get your walls looking great think about using folk art in plain frames.

• Another way of bringing your primitive bedroom back in time is with the use of lavender.  It was used hundreds of years ago to not only alleviate aches and pains but as a natural tension reliever and sleep aid.  The benefits of this great herb are endless! 


• Add visual interest by using flower vases and photos in frames in addition to bed and nightstands.  You want to end up with a primitave, unadorned style with aged wood furniture.  Careful selection of furniture and accessories will enhance your primitive country decorating look.



• The finishing touches give your room an an interesting appeal so consider enhancing your primitive country decorating try a graduated set of pantry boxes stacked on a table or in the corner or antique baskets filled with dried flowers as well as folk art, tramp art, and vintage signs to accent your interior design.  You could also add pillows that are plain and simple along with some plants.

  Decorating for a Primitive decorating theme bedroom can be fun and easy if you think up a great plan ahead of time.  Simply purchase the furniture and accessories on your plan and put them in place - your room with have the feeling of warmth and simplicity in no time!

  Need inspiration or any of the items mentioned above? Don't be afraid to explore our country and primitive nooks and crannies at The Market Place or ask us for some ideas. We are always happy to help. Inspired by something you bought and found the perfect place for it? Tell us about it on our guestbook. We'd love to hear from you.

September 2009

Primitive Country Decorating Ideas
for Your Kitchen

The majority of people imagine home decorating to be rather difficult, but if you have a plan for the furniture, accessories and colors to use, you can quite easily create your own Primitive decorating theme in your kitchen.  Look to the past to understand primitive decorating. It tends to be simple, uncomplicated and natural. Primitive décor lends itself particularly in the kitchen because of the tools and materials common to this room. Primitive décor generally uses wood, iron, wicker and stone in the objects and materials used to create the room. Here are a few tips on how you can have the feel of warmth and simplicity in your kitchen.

You should use primary colors as the color scheme for your primitive country decorating kitchen.  Primary, natural colors are typically the color palette for a primitive kitchen. Use the three bold colors of red, blue and yellow and then use these colors in muted shades as well. You'll want to use fabric like country homespun plaids, which are beautiful woven fabrics reminiscent of the weaving that women used to have to do to create fabrics for their homes. Keep the fabric on the windows simple. A basic homespun valance or lace café curtains are both suitable choices. Use dishtowels, napkins, place mats, tablecloths and dishtowels made with homespun threads. Place braided rugs on the floor and braided pads on the chairs. Quilts are also an important item to include in any primitive décor. Place a small country quilt on the wall in your kitchen.

Wood shutters are also distinctly primitive. Once you have painted, be sure you keep a paint card with the shades you have used.  Take the cards with you so you can match up your accessories and furniture when you are out shopping.

Now that your windows are perfect, You’ll find that your walls need some pizzaz.  To decorate the walls to compliment your decorating scheme, try adding folk art in plain frames.

In the kitchen, add a decorative touch by using pottery and dish towels combined with kitchen chairs and tables.  Go for a primitave, unadorned style with aged wood furniture.  Careful selection of furniture and accessories will benefit your primitive country decorating appearance.

Your interior decorating project can pay attention to primitives such as old boxes and baskets to add appeal, but don’t forget to change your window treatments, flooring and walls.  Window treatments for the Primitive decorating theme should be very simple. 

Traditional wood furniture is most common in a primitive kitchen. Aged wood in simple lines fits well. Often wood furniture has a distressed look, but it can also be beautifully finished, too. Look for a large chopping block to place on a countertop as well.

The right lighting can also help to boost your interior decor.  kitchens usually look best with overhead lighting as their lighting source.  Decorate with lighting that is simple like tin lanterns or very simple and unadorned to set off the Primitive decorating theme interior decor. Primitive lighting fixtures are usually made of iron. Think "simple and basic." Browse through thrift stores and estate sales to find primitive-style lighting fixtures. Overhead lighting should be classic and plain.

Your floors are a vital part of you room so it is critical that you have flooring to enhance your decorating scheme.  Integrate rustic materials into the kitchen to create the foundation for the primitive theme. Natural wood flooring and paneling fit well. Stone back-splashes and wall coverings are a natural choice. Wood countertops or natural stone countertops also fit this theme. Install an old-fashioned, deep farm sink for an instantly primitive, yet highly utilitarian, sink. Adding area rugs to your Primitive decorating theme kitchen can really improve it’s charm.  What you should turn to for the comfortable and warm look is stencilled mats which should be beige, red, blue or green.

Add accessories made from timeless and well-used materials. Often the items used to accessorize a primitive kitchen tie in to farm life and a country style. Place wicker baskets around the kitchen in different sizes, both for display and for use in the kitchen. Wooden spoons and bowls are also an integral part of any primitive kitchen. Add tin ware, old pottery, hand-dipped candles, tart warmers, wooden signs, potpourri, wooden boxes and roosters. For some decorative touches that will help  show off your primitive country decorating think about a graduated set of pantry boxes stacked on a table or in the corner or antique baskets filled with dried flowers along with folk art, tramp art, and vintage signs to complete your decorating scheme.  For a nice decorative look add pillows that are plain and simple along with a few greenery and plants.

Putting together a Primitive decorating theme kitchen doesn’t have to be difficult if you have a good plan before you start.  Be certain you focus on your plan and purchase the best items and your room will have the feel of warmth and simplicity before you know it!

OCTOBER 2009

Decorating a Nursery or Child's Bedroom in Prim Style

You are looking for your nursery to be comfortable and warm fantastic one great technique to get that is to decorate with Primitive decorating. This is a decor that gets its captivating looks from primitives such as old boxes and baskets together with primary colors. Below are a lot of tips on having the charm of warmth and simplicity in your nursery with primitive country decorating.

To totally get your nursery to stand out, you should try to go for intriguing accessories such as stuffed animals, artwork an d photos in frames. Think about decorative accessories which have a primitive, unadorned impression. Putting in your own appealing touches ought to include a hint of your style in your nursery.
Your nursery window treatments serves to add bit of zip to your space or blend into the background You should go for curtains that are very simple. For a different style think about installing some wood shutters.

You wish for your crib and baby accessories to coordinate with your room decor. You ought to decide on getting pieces that are aged wood to compliment primitive decorating. Decide on styles which are shaker style items.

One subject some people forget to make use of while decorating is the floor, and you should try to be certain to bring your primitive decorating down to the floor with the proper carpet. You need to make sure you shop for something that is in keeping with your interior design in both form and color. For a sharp decorative impact, why not make use of stenciled mats in colors such as beige, red, blue or green?

Lighting could be costly, but then if you acquire them at consignment stores, you can often afford wonderful lighting to add interest to primitive decorating. Have in mind picking out lighting that is simple like tin lanterns for matching results with this interior decorating scheme. So, placing this design style of ceiling fans and lamps in your nursery can help make the lighting an integral part of the design style.

Decorating with primitive decorating to decorate your nursery is a beautiful technique to get individual interest in your house. Just find good deals and you will likely decorate with interesting design style for less.

Create the outdoor scene with paint, wallpaper, stencils  - on the walls and ceiling with clouds, a colorful rainbow, hot air balloons and birds in the sky, trees and grass, add a picket fence around the bedroom walls, and hang personalized signs to establish each child’s personal space.

Regarding themes, for the little girl, Raggedy Ann folk art primitive country style with Americana  stars and stripes for the little boy. For either gender you can also use animals from nursery rhymes or stories, such as rabbits, pigs, horses and sheep. You can find these "critters" in various shapes and forms. Just be conscientious of child-proof features such as buttons and parts that come off easily in a child's mouth, when considering decorations for very small children. You can also use a celestial theme of stars and moon as well for either gender.

Add the warmth of quilts, throw rugs and throw pillows in corresponding prim colors that have been previously discussed, as well as using baskets for sorting and organizing the various baby toys and accessories. Consider adding primitive or folk art prints and alphabet samplers or even quilts on the wall.

Don't forget soft lighting throughout the room, but be careful of candles, candle warmers and even potpourri. I'd recommend fragrance spays or fragrance wicks (if kept high out of reach.)

Here is a super easy and fun crafting idea that you can do in your spare time or on a lazy weekend.

Fall Candle Decorating

A Treenware Bowl or Prim Bowl
Votive Candles in Fall Scents like Pumpkin or Ginger
Popcorn Kernels in assorted colors
Small mixed nuts and berries
Pine cones and Pine Needles
Essential Oil in a Fall Scent
For a Halloween Decoration you can Use Candy Corn

Simply fill a deep bowl with an assortment of nuts, berries, popcorn kernels, pine cones, pine needles or even fall dried flowers. Next add an assortment of Fall Scented Candles into your bowl. You can use clear glass candle holders if choose or leave your candles floating in your Fall Mixture. Next add a few drops of your favorite essential oils in the fall mixture to add wonderful aroma and scent throughout your house. This is super simple decorating idea and you can even change your fall mixture to a candy corn mixture to adapt your candle decoration to blend into the Halloween season.

November 2009

A Prim Christmas

Add a little primitive and country charm to your Christmas decorating this year with homespun fabrics, handmade cards, fruits, nuts and dried flowers.

It is not too early to be thinking about those primitive Christmas decorations. In fact, this is the time to REALLY start thinking about it! Many people think that Primitive Decorating is difficult. It is easier then most people think. Even the most modern home can add a few primitive items to soften the look a little. For those who want a taste of the past, primitive decorating is one of the best and least expensive styles to consider.

When trying to achieve a completely primitive style without a large budget, it is important to take small steps and purchase items that will provide the largest impact. Also, it is important to realize that few people can redecorate an entire home all at once, therefore, it is suggested that they start in one small corner and work their way out. For instance, adding baskets, primitive candles , and various textiles to an existing table or desk in a corner will change the look from new to old instantly. Primitive decorating is the comfort food of decorating. It brings us back to days gone by and gives us a feeling of relaxation that no other form of decorating can achieve.

Christmas decorating primitive style was all around in the days of old, especially in the Christmas holiday décor, but no one even knew it. It was just a way of life. I think of the hustle and bustle of the kitchen with all the children gathered round the stove as mother carefully pulled out the prized sugar cookies. That leads my mind to wandering about how the Christmas tree and home was decorated without all the pizzazz and frills of today.

In pioneer homes, the families cut their trees fresh, and a times it was a real trip to find one, particularly on the prairies. Christmas trees were decorated with primitive ornaments. Christmas trees were in fact decorated with ornaments as primitive as their lifestyles.

Things such as scraps of cloth, empty thread spools, stray buttons and small sewn stockings, gave them very simple, primitive but still charming accents. Some of them, were created by little children, using stitches that were slow and deliberate, and showed the childish crafting of the children of the time.

Spend the time and effort to make your tree really look great. Thoroughly planning out your Christmas trees decorations will give you a great result. Sit down and predesign what material you will use before jumping into the decorating mode. This will keep your look consistent and spectacular. Primitive country Christmas ornaments usually consist of wood crafts which are hand painted. This style can range from wooden signs to hang on your walls or traditional Christmas symbols such as Santa or snowmen that have been painted with bright colors. These ornaments create a very relaxed and cozy atmosphere and are perfect for those that enjoy country living and want their decorations to reflect that style.These style ornaments can be found at Christmas craft shows around the holidays.

There is such beauty in nature if we simply take the time to observe. Pine cones, feathers, berries and pods can turn a fresh evergreen tree or wreath into a beautiful work of art. Floral wire can easily be punched and twisted just right to wrap around your outdoor treasure and hooked onto a branch.

Christmas decorating primitive style is easy with home dried fruits which can easily be attached to greenery to make a Christmas ornament wreath. The fruit pieces can also be strung on fishing line for a delicate garland or on heavy gauge wire and shaped into a wreath. You can make your own dried fruit pieces. These pieces aren’t edible for humans but the birds will find them quite delicious if you take the wreath or tree outside after the holiday season. Slice apples and oranges in thin ¼” circles, seeds and all. You can have fun experimenting with other fruits too. Place them in a single layer on cookie sheets in a 200 degree oven. Leave the oven door ajar. Allow the fruit pieces to dry out for at least 5 hours. Check on them regularly to make sure they are not getting scorched. You will know they are done when they feel crispy to the touch and look a little wrinkly. Then you may want to use a high temperature glue gun to attach the pieces or poke a hole through them with floral wire to attach. The smell through the house as they’re cooking is wonderful!

When I think of Christmas decorating primitive style I also think of carved wooden sculptures of a humble little nativity scene. You can try your hand at carving or purchase a set yourself. Remember, if you give carving a try, they don’t have to be perfect. A rustic appearance is the whole point! They don’t even have to have faces.

Whatever you do, keep the decor to a minimum, (keep it simple, sweetie!), keep it charming and homespun and warm...and most of all, remember, YOU and your personal warmth and welcome are the key ingredients to making your primitive decorating a true success!

More Ideas for Prim Christmas Decorating:

• Forego the glitz and glam for natural materials, check fabrics and homemade country style. The beauty of this type of decorating is that it doesn't have to look perfect. The odd crooked stitch or slightly askew angel wing just shows that it is homemade and adds to the charm. Lots of these projects are perfect for children to help with too.
• There is a trend towards using a runner down the middle of the table to takeyour decorations and candles. This an ideal spot to add a country air with a red or plaid runner, bowls and platters piled high with fruit and mince pies, and red or cream candles swirled with ivy.
• You can then use plain red place mats underneath your plates, with a napkin on top of the plate and on top of the napkin the cutlery for that place setting tied together with a narrow check or tartan ribbon and slightly fanned out on the napkin. Add natural pine cones holding hand written name place cards.
• Dress up your dining chairs with simple chair back covers, just a hemmed runner of fabric to drape over the front and back of the dining chair secured at the sides with ribbon ties. These are perfect for decorating with ribbons, flowers and fresh foliage on Christmas Day.
• Make a welcoming display in your hallway with bowls of fresh fruit, candles, sweets and wreaths. Add huge jugs of rosehips or berries making a feast for the eyes when visitors arrive.
• If you don't have a real fire, use a bank of candles, especially scented candles, of all different sizes, but the same colour, to add a warm glow to your room. Remember to never leave candles unattended.
• For an elegant mantlepiece decoration use green foliage, cream flowers, cream pillar candles and fresh green grapes.
• Add red, green, or tartan wool throws or quilts to the sofa to snuggle under.
• Sprinkle essential oils, orange and cinnamon perhaps, to a bowl of fir cones, Christmas tree cuttings and dried orange slices for a wonderful Christmas potpourri.
• Use an herb wreath for the kitchen fresh herbs wired to a grapevine wreath and adding chillies, bouquet garni, tiny terracotta pots and a big gingham bow.
• Bring in the beauty of nature. Line the tops of cupboards and furniture with evergreen leaves and bright berries. Wind twinkling white lights around a branch and suspend above a doorway or use as the basis of a hallway for porch display.
• Display candles of different heights in terra cotta pots topped with moss.
• Add check ribbon bows to dresser drawers and cupboard handles.
• Place a quilt around the base of your tree for a great country look.
• It's nice to do a seasonal grouping. Mantles, shelves, and cupboards are ideal areas for displaying your seasonal collectibles. Ornaments strung on garlands add a festive touch too.
  
• A feather tree placed in a yellowware bowl, then the bowl filled with moss looks great in the kitchen.
• Fill a basket with greens and tie a Christmas ornament on the handle. After Christmas tie a snowman or mitten ornament to the basket and leave out as a winter decoration.
• Place sprigs of fresh or artificial greens on your shelves and around collectible displays for added dimension and color. 

• Gather together any greenery you can find, Christmas tree cuttings, evergreens from the garden etc. and wire them on to lengths of rope. These can then be draped around porches, window boxes, or fences. Add splashes of colour with berries, bows, red apples or painted pine cones.

• Place some rusted metal stars around your home.
• Hang some berry garland around the house at doorways, overtop/intertwined in curtain rods, around shelves, etc. Berry garland can get expensive, so be on the lookout for sales.
• Candles look lovely outside as long as they are in some kind of container to protect them from the wind.
• blocks of wood with the words Simplify, simple quotes etc., and place around the home above doorways, stacked on top of old books or just on a table top.
• decorative pillows and stitcheries to place on the sofa, chairs, windowsills, bedspread, etc.

December 2009

Snowmen Keep Your Decorating Warm All Season!

You can really have a lot of fun using snowmen as your decorations for the holidays.  You may be the kind of person who likes to keep their Christmas decorations up for as long as possible and when using snowmen as a decoration, you can leave it up for the entire month of January if you want to…much to the chagrin of many of your neighbors, I’m sure.  If you have a covered porch area, you can use fabric or cotton covered snowmen.  As long as these items are protected from the elements and will not be rained or snowed on (causing mildew), you can make your front yard incredibly festive and fun! For us in the Midwest, we can count on snow through early March - sometimes even later. With the beautiful fallen snow - comes fun filled days outside making snowmen. Why not keep that same fun filled feeling inside by keeping your snowmen in your decor for the rest of the winter season? Create a family of snowmen that mirror the members of your family to add a bit of humor to your front yard!  Your family and neighbors will get a kick out of it!

Group a collection of snowmen with some favorite ornaments together for a simple centerpiece. Add a couple candlesticks rising out of the middle or a small prim tree.

One of the most elegant, most beautiful, and easiest centerpieces is a large bowl full of holly sprays. No bows, no glitter, no other flowers, just dense, lush holly. If you can find a neighbor or friend with holly in their yard, offer to pick enough for a bouquet for you *and* for them. Then top it with a snowman ornie (ornament) or figure.

One great idea is to find round white candles in various sizes, and paint or draw a snowman face on them. Then set them in a wooden bowl, decorative basket, or the bottom of a hurricane shelf candle. Set a pip berry garland or candle ring around the edge for an extra touch of color and warmth.

For a fun and creative display, create a cool snow scene for the table. In a big, spherical bowl, put white aquarium gravel or white stones, covered with fake snow until it was about 1/2 full. Then carefully bury a battery pack with 10 white mini Christmas lights. Then put in an adorable resin snowman or couple and a few white stones, plus a small, snow-covered tree to scale. The switch for the lights has to be located close to the surface of the snow to carefully turn it on. I discovered that the batteries lasted through 2 parties. It looks best with the whitest items. This is a knockout night light!

For February, scatter little hearts around your snowmen or group snow couples around, place them inside grapevine wreathes or in the center of a table with a berry garland in front of them.

Put some bare twigs in a vase and insert gumdrops or cranberries on the ends of the branches for an unusual 'tree' centerpiece. Place next to a small snowman grouping for an extra treat.

Have a large collection of snowmen? Place them on each step of your stairway, or hang them like snowflakes from your ceiling.

There is so much you can do! Snowmen can be a festive Christmas decoration for any home.  There is just something about a roly poly, jolly round snowman that brings a smile to anyone’s face and evokes a fun feeling of the holidays inviting warmth and spirit in even the coldest and cynical of holiday hearts.

April 2010

Feather Trees - The Perfect decorating staple for all seasons!

If you are looking for the perfect primitive staple item for your decorating, that is going to weather ALL the seasons of the year, you must add a feather tree to your list! This versatile piece looks fantastic decorated or undecorated and comes in so many different colors and sizes. The branches are spaced to show off the ornaments of your choice or season to their best advantage. You can put them in every room and each one will look different to complement the style or season your are emphasizing in that room.

For Easter, it is very popular to hang eggs and other prim ornies from these feather trees, to the delight of every child (or inner child). So whether you have been looking for the perfect item to spruce up your decorating decor that provides a variety of looks, or you are looking for the best way to try primative decorating in your home, the feather tree is the best place to start!

What is a feather tree? Feather Trees were the first artificial trees made to resemble the white pines in the German forestland. They have wide spacing between their branches which makes them great for showing off any style of ornaments! Feather trees were first made in Germany over 100 years ago from real goosefeathers. Today's reproductions emulate the style and beauty of the original feather trees, at a fraction of the cost of those vintage trees.

History of the feather tree: The tradition of feather trees began in Germany in the mid-19th century, when the cutting-down of trees was banned to save German woodlands.

German immigrants brought feather trees with them when they sailed across the Atlantic to the New World. Their popularity was increased when President Theodore Roosevelt also responded to the diminishing supply of fresh evergreens in American by ordering that no live trees be used in the White House holiday decorations.

However, as part of White House lore, it is told that President Roosevelt was surprised and angry when he discovered that his two sons, Archie and Quentin, had smuggled a live tree into the mansion and set it up in Archie’s room. Some sources indicate that goose feather trees may have appeared in the White House as a response to Quentin and Archie’s defiance to the president.

The original feather trees, which are currently quite collectible, are sometimes called the Nuremberg Christmas tree. They were the first alternates to live trees. These trees, unassembled, looked hardly like a Christmas tree since they were a series of wires wrapped with feathers, a wooden trunk, and a painted wooden base, either round or square.

Since the trees were easy to assemble and were easy to ship, they soon became available from the well known "wish book", the Sears Roebuck catalogue, about 1920. Sears first offered trees as small as two inches tall to as tall as thirty inches. Later, trees eight feet tall were available.

Lavender and gold versions introduced in the 1930’s never became as popular as the white version that was also introduced. The white feather trees were never as popular as the green ones. As for decorations, they usually included exquisite hand-blown glass ornaments, homemade tallow candles, and fresh garland. Later, Sears offered feather trees with electric lights.

In the 1950’s a sad-looking Christmas tree similar in style to the feather tree appeared in the Charlie Brown comic strip. A sort of revival of feather trees occurred, probably in response to the popular comic hero. Some feather tree enthusiasts even refer to them as "Charlie Brown Trees."

Many can remember having feather trees in their homes or in their grandparents’ homes. Some of our fondest and earliest recollections of our grandmother include celebrating Christmas around her goose feather tree. As soon as she set the base of the tree on a pedestal-style table and began assembling the trunk and branches, the magic of Christmas began.

In recent years, feather trees have achieved a new level of status among Christmas enthusiasts and especially Christmas crafters. The completion of a feather tree represents the epitome of craft projects as they afford the crafter the challenge of creating an enchanting reproduction of a bit of folk art as well as a family heirloom.

Storage and Cleaning: Feather trees need to be stored in climate-controlled areas. Heat and dampness are enemies of feather trees and can cause brittleness and mildew, respectively. If stored properly, however, a feather tree can last more than 100 years. Feather trees can be cleaned by vacuuming if cheesecloth covers the nozzle of the hose to make the suction gentler.

Warning

• Although real Christmas trees can hold candles if under constant supervision, never use lighted candles on feather trees--or any artificial trees. We recommend the clip style candle-looking lights for a that touch of nostalgia

May 2010

Primitive Recipes

Primitive Bread
By WholeFood Chef brought to you by The Market Place www.TomahMarketPlace.com

Recipe Details

Level of Difficulty: 
Medium

Ingredients: 
Sourdough bread dough
Plenty of green leaves (maple, aspen, bay, magnolia, birch, etc.)
Hot coals

Directions: 
Allow the bread dough to rise once. Pat the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick cake. Place the dough on several thicknesses of leaves. Scrape coals and ashes to one side. Place the leaves and dough on the hot fire base. Cover the dough well with more green leaves. Then cover with ashes, followed by a layer of hot coals. Let the bread bake under the ashes and coals about 10 to 15 minutes. Test after 10 minutes by poking the bread with a long, thin twig. If it comes out clean, the bread is done.

SPICED TEA

Ingredients

• 4 tbs lemon juice     
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• Sugar syrup (equal parts sugar and water boiled together until syrup forms)  
• 1 tsp whole allspice
• 6 tsp tea        
• 1 small piece cinnamon
• 6 cups boiling water                
• Mint sprigs
• 6 tbs orange juice

Directions:

1. Pour boiling water over the allspice, cloves. and cinnamon. Cover and let boil 3 minutes.
2. Add tea, and let steep about 3 minutes. Strain.
3. Cool and add orange and lemon juice.
4. Sweeten to taste with sugar syrup.
5. Serve in tall glasses with cracked ice.
6. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
   
   

CHICKEN ROLY-POLY (A very old recipe)

Ingredients:

• One quart of flour
• two teaspoonfuls of cream of tartar mixed with the flour
• one teaspoonful of soda dissolved in
• a teacupful of milk
• a teaspoonful of salt;
• (do not use shortening of any kind)

Directions:

1. Roll out the mixture half an inch thick,
2. lay minced chicken, veal, or mutton onto rolled batter.
3. The meat must be seasoned with pepper and always salt and be free from gristle.
4. Roll the crust over and over and put it on a buttered plate and place in a steamer for half an hour.
5. Serve with gravy over each slice.

 

MOLASSES DOUGHNUTS

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup sour milk        
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. Soda
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cups flour or just enough to handle easily

Directions:

1. Fry in hot fat (380). Turn once.
2. Makes about 2 dozen donuts.

Click here for a printable version of thes recipes in pdf format.

June 2010

Decorating with primitive/americana flag buntings

What is Bunting?
Bunting was originally a lightweight worsted (the fibers lie parallel to each other) wool fabric used for making flags of the Royal Navy. The origin of the word is uncertain. Today, "bunting" is a term for any festive decorations made of fabric, or of plastic, paper or even cardboard in imitation of fabric. Typical forms of bunting are strings of colorful triangular flags, also known as pennants, and lengths of fabric in the colors of national flags gathered and draped into swags or pleated into fan shapes. The term bunting is also used of a collection of flags, and particularly those of a ship.

Bunting is a great tool for decorating any space to make it look more patriotic. You can use bunting to decorate the top of tables and can be used as a table skirt or to make great flag fans in any size you need.

Flag bunting is done generally in red, white and blue colors of the US flag and it usually patterns for the stars and stripes. The Bunting material can be used in different ways; it can be string on the porches or over the fences. The process of bunting can be displayed in various ways and there are particular rules that one need to follow for displaying the flag in a bunting style. The flag bunting can be displayed at several times but whenever you will do, you will do it proudly.

Some of the best times for displaying flag bunting can be:

Fourth of July: Bunting can be done best on 4th of July holiday. This is the day, when people will be all the more interested in hoisting the national flag or decorating their house with American tricolor unlike other days. Flag bunting decoration will be something unique and different from what others have done in their homes. The flag bunting can be displayed on porches, windows, parade floats, fences or anywhere.

Other American Holidays: Buntings can be done for displaying on other American holidays. It can be Memorial Day, Labor Day or Armistice Day. You can celebrate these holidays and flag bunting can help you with celebration. It can be used for table decoration, hang from balcony or can be used for boat decoration during boat parade.

When troops return: Bunting can also be used when troops return from war or service. Bunting can be displayed around telephone poles or on residential homes or windows. The bunting can be used for decorating an armory or another place with American flags of white, red and blue decorations.

The buntings always represent a festival and they can be used for various occasion. They are popular even at race ways, sporting events and even at school parties. All bunting can also be personalized with favorite color of the person or in case of the birthday parties. All anniversary celebrations also include the number of years on the flags.

The process of preparing bunting is a simple process and the entire process will be a total fun and exciting.

- Measure the distance between the points at the point where the flag will hang. It should be measured and cut into two strings.
- Determine the size of each of the flag and then you can keep on the bunting. An outdoor flag with bunting decoration is generally about 10 inches long and 8 inches wide. The surrounding of the flag should also be noticed and then the size of the flag should be determined.
- The shape of the individual flag should be determined and they often come in different shapes and sizes.
- All paper patterns should be in shape and size of the flags and then cut the patterns

The fabric for American flag bunting should fold in half and there are two edges on the fold of the fabric. They can be traced around the patterns and then cut through the layers to form the exact shape of smaller version of the American flag.

Decorating with Prairie Swag Curtains

Country style portrays a rustic and romantic village life and this is the reason that people are more attracted to the rural style of decoration. Country style decorating ideas are now more savvy and sophisticated along with the comfort level they offer, after a hectic day's work. Country-style decorating can draw its inspiration from French, English, Swedish, American, and other cultural influences. However, pieces from different periods and traditions can be blended in one home as long as comfort is the principle ingredient. No country-style room should be too studied, for it is meant to be lived in. While country style decorating has evolved and changed with the times, it remains unchanged in that it still follows the basic principles of the past.

As the seasons change, so change our home interiors. New curtains are hung, accent pillows are added to the sofa, place mats are replaced with the appropriate seasonal design and rugs are added to lend warmth and eye appeal. No matter the season, many homemakers participate in the seasonal ritual of changing their window treatments with enthusiasm and the resolve to "change the scenery." For example, when switching to Fall decorating,choosing or making kitchen curtains to go along with fall decor is all about color or pattern. The style of curtain depends on the size and placement of the window, and the style of the kitchen (country, modern, contemporary). When considering color, notice how much natural light gets into the kitchen through the windows. If natural light is scarce to begin with, do not cover the windows with a dark or thick style curtain. Choose a rich, earthy color that is still bright, like yellow-gold or neutral beige. If a deeper shade like rust, burgundy or brown is a must, choose fabric that is slightly transparent. If the kitchen has windows that allow considerable natural light, choose a rich, earthy color in a dark shade to make the kitchen feel more cozy and warm as the weather gets colder. Using a pattern fabric like plaid or paisley to accent the main curtain can achieve a country-style fall decor.

The minute you do hang up those prairie swag curtains, you will immediately notice a softer and warmer looking room - it is simply the element of the soft fabric that creates that welcoming look.

Mix and Match On A Budget

Call it “country” or call it “provincial” this design style causes most everyone to recall home and hearth. This style of decor borrows from styles considered grander, whether that be “Queen Anne” or “Louis XV." The roots of the country style lay in the commoners’ interpretation of any style which was beyond their financial means. Today however, “country” is anything but cheap.

An inexpensive and effective way to add new interest to your window treatments is to "recycle" your curtains and drapes to another room. When purchasing prairie swag curtains do not buy drapes with a single room in mind. Instead, choose prairie swag curtains and window hardware with an eye to versatility

Plan to use the curtains in more than one room. When we changed our summer curtains to our fall curtains, we took the curtains from our office and hung them in the bedroom and switched the bedroom curtains to our office, creating a totally refreshing new look at no added expense. Interchanging curtains from one room to another works well to eliminate costly purchases of several new window treatments, and becomes a smart investment! Prairie swag curtains can be strategically added to your window to add charm and beauty. This technique worked well in our living room when we hung two lightweight curtains on either side of the window with two sheer panels hung between the lightweight drapes. Across the top, four looped decorative valances of two contrasting colors were hung which added a beautiful accent to the drapes and sheers. Another inexpensive but lovely addition to your window treatment is one window scarf, looped through a drapery pull on one side of the window which gives you another lovely inexpensive window treatment.

The fabrics and materials used for the window curtains are usually multi-colored cotton. If you really want them to have a true old fashioned country look, a fabric in a small gingham print - you know those cute little boxes like on Dorothy's dress from 'The Wizard of Oz' - is the ultimate way to go.

Windows dressed with ticking stripes and tiny florals are one of the building blocks of a country design theme. Flour bags were given eye appeal with ticking stripes and tiny floral designs. These stamped print bags were always recycled by the wives of farmers struggling in an agrarian society. Use fabrics printed with these timeless florals and stripes for curtains, quilts and other home accessories essential to the country style.

Use as much or as little color as you feel comfortable with. Solid colors or prints are refreshing and draw attention to the window. Soft, neutral colors can complement the colors in your carpeting, furniture, or wallpaper. If the window is interesting architecturally, you may want to emphasize that feature through color selection.

Colors used to decorate in the French Country style come from the full spectrum of the color wheel. Sunny yellow and soft gold,firey red and burnt rust, bright grass green and dark hunter green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones -- all these are found in this wonderful decorating style. The beautiful colors of the French countryside decorate fabrics used in French Country decorating. The traditional fabrics combine well with basic plaids, checks, and stripes in modern homes. Provencal prints combine shades of primary colors with greens, lavenders, and bright orange.

Don't hesitate to experiment with mixing naturals and whites, or prints, stripes and solids. Warm shades of reds and yellows will add life to a room. Cool colors ... blues or whites ... or earth tones like greens and browns ... are restful. Work toward harmony and complementarity in color selection.

Your country style home is just waiting to be created and admired by all of your guests. They will soon be leaving your country house with several thoughts in mind. When can I go back? How can I learn to decorate with country decor? I want my house to look like that! That was such an inviting and relaxing home!!!!

Our affordable window treatments are made with quality and fashion in mind, so they will work with various design motifs. Stop by The Market Place in Tomah today, and browse our selection of Prairie Swag Curtains for your Country, French Country, Primitive, Americana, Rustic and other decorating styles, and we'll help you find just the right selection for your home.

Decorating with Braided Rugs

Decorating with braided area rugs is one of the easiest ways to revitalize, update, improve and beautify any room in your home. Braided rugs can turn a drab room into one full of color. Or you can use braided rugs to create a focal point or define an area of interest. Braided rugs can add warmth to otherwise cold tiles, stone or concrete floors. Braided rugs will protect hardwood floor or wall-to-wall carpeting. And the right braided rugs can tie together all of a room’s décor elements.

Braided rugs are extremely versatile and can serve numerous purposes in your home. Whether you are decorating your living room, family room, bedroom, kitchen, hallway or patio, there’s a braided rug that is right for you. Unlike wall-to-wall carpet, which is normally best kept rather neutral, braided rugs can bring colorful patterns and designs into your room without overwhelming it. Plus, unlike carpeting, braided rugs can be changed with the seasons – or your mood – and are yours to keep should you move.

There was a time in this country when housewives not only made their family's clothing, they spun the yarn and wove the cloth too! Every scrap of fabric was precious and nothing was thrown away. When clothing was torn, faded or no longer fit, the fabric was recycled into quilts and rugs.

Braided rugs take us back to a time in history when, for many people, resources were scarce. Cloth fabric and woolen yarns were woven and spun in the home, becoming the basis for all manner of clothing and linen. Braided rugs were first made by early American settlers to inexpensively add color and warmth to log homes. Originally made from strips of cotton, braided rugs today include wool braided rugs, chenille braided rugs, as well as braided area rugs made from synthetic fibers such as Derclon. Braided and cotton rugs are now often used in country-style decorating, especially in kitchens, porches and family rooms where an informal look is desired. Cotton and rag rugs easily lend themselves to a casual home. When used as kitchen rugs, they bring a down-home feel to your most popular gathering room.

Woven and hooked rugs are found worldwide, but braided rugs are uniquely American. The tradition, dependent on the availability of fabric, started in New England, which was also the birthplace of the American textile industry. Braiding was a craft that all women learned as girls, caring for their hair. It required almost no equipment and could be done with minimal lighting so it became a pleasant evening pastime in the days before electric lighting and evening television. The rugs provided early New Englanders with color, softness and warmth in their austere homes.

In the mid 1900's there was a huge resurgence of interest in rug making, and mills throughout the northeast sold fabric remnants by the pound for that purpose. Because both braiding and hooking use the same fabric scraps, there was often an overlap of techniques; hooked rugs were often finished with sturdy braided borders.

If you are lucky enough to have wooden floors in your home, braided rugs are the perfect compliment. With a little care your wooden floors will last forever. They don’t collect allergens the way carpet does, are easy to clean and provide a perfect background for a beautiful braided rug. But even if you have wall-to-wall carpeting you can still use braided rugs. Simply place them in high-traffic areas to protect the carpet or use braided rugs to tie a seating area together. Flipping the rug occasionally will help to prevent premature wear. You can even put braided rugs on the walls to create an interesting display!

The Importance of Using a Quality Rug Pad

Experts in the home décor industry all agree that every braided area rug requires a good-quality rug pad underneath it. Not only does this promote safety in your home by preventing the rug from slipping, it also increases the life of your braided rug and makes it much easier to regularly vacuum. Never use tape or adhesive to anchor a braided rug to your floor or carpeting. This can easily damage both the floor and rug. 

Useful Information About Braided Rugs

Braided rugs are not only beautiful but for decades they have served a variety of practical purposes. Braided rugs are extremely durable and can withstand the test of time better than almost any other construction. The construction of braided rugs has evolved and improved and they continue to be one of the best-selling types of area rugs on the market. Whether on wood floors, linoleum, tile or wall-to-wall carpet, braided rugs can help protect your highest traffic areas from wear and tear. Entranceways seem to fall victim not only the worst of the household traffic but also the most household traffic. Not even the liveliest children will be able to wear out a well-made braided rug. Braided rugs will enhance any home or business regardless of where you choose to place them. Braided rugs are great for all areas and surfaces and are offered in assorted colors, styles and sizes. Braided rugs work well in: the living room, den, children’s room, foyer, dining room, kitchen, hallway, bedroom, or entry ways.

Braids have taken on a new, more modern appeal with the Capitol and Green World collections. With matching chair pad, table runners, and hall runner styles, you can coordinate your rugs for any area of your home. The Market Place has a wonderful selection of top-quality braided rugs, from classic two-toned themes with distinctive rich yarns, to bolder collages of color. They can even be custom ordered for larger styles or coordinating pieces. The best way to choose a braided rug is to match it with your room décor. You need to remember the fact that the easiest way to remodel your home or office is to perhaps choose classic braided rugs and place them in the appropriate and exclusive place.

Many of today’s braids make them durable enough to stand up to high traffic areas including outdoor porches and patios. These exceptionally strong braids are unaffected by water, moisture or mildew. Braided rugs are extremely sturdy, long wearing, comfortable to walk on and easy to care for. Tightly braided and laced together, these rugs only required sweeping with a stiff straw broom and regular turning over to reverse the wear. Braided rugs are also very economical: most are reversible, which is like having two rugs in one! Removing gritty dirt is easy and prolongs the life of any rug. Rough shaking or beating on a line puts too much strain on the lacing that binds the braids together but they can be vacuumed - and should periodically be vacuumed on both sides. Stains can be sponged away with soapy water or professionally dry-cleaned. If your rugs are subject to heavy traffic, you can further equalize the wear by rotating them end to end. Braided rugs are tough.


Modern braiding equipment creates a special texture that results in unique and beautiful home products. Although braids have been in existence for thousands of years, new and innovative patters and styles continue to be introduced. Home decorators are discovering the versatility of these braided rugs, which often combine traditional craftsmanship with the latest trends in home fashion. 

Braids can be made with virtually any yarns or fabrics. This provides you with a tremendous number of options for color, style and durability. Cotton rugs and rag rugs are very easy to wash – just throw them in the washing machine.

Regardless of the material used, the technique has not changed. Most rugs are braided with three fabric strips or thick bundles of yarn. The braids are coiled into round, oval, heart shaped or rectangular rugs and laced or sewn together with sturdy thread. They are shaped in part by specific increasing and decreasing braid techniques and by the frequency of the stitching that binds one to the next. How tightly a rug is assembled is a prime indicator of the rug's quality. After all, it doesn't matter how good the fabric or tight the braid if the lacing is weak. When you purchase a braided rug, look for tight braiding and tight stitching. Tightly braided rugs are heavier and firmer. They are thicker and softer to walk on and repel dirt better.

The size rug you buy depends on how much surrounding floor you want showing or covered. Furniture is usually placed entirely on or off an area rug, but traffic patterns and your furniture might dictate differently. Allow rugs to extend 30-36" beyond the chairs at a dining or kitchen table so that the chairs don't catch as they pull in and out.

Remember, there is no room in your home that will not benefit from the addition of a beautiful, new braided area rug. Nostalgia and charm are important to country decorating and braided rugs rank high in both! Stop by The Market Place today and discover some of the beautiful selection of braided rugs we have in stock!