Never Heard of Capodimonte?

Never heard of Capodimonte ? Neither had I until about 15 years ago. Then one day many years ago, I received a postcard in the mail from some company who was selling artificial roses. The deal was that if you paid $35.00 per month to this company, you would, in return, receive a different rose in the mail every month. Well, I fell in love with the roses and decided to participate in this offer.

Unfortunately, around the 8th month, I became short of money, and was . . .

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If you have never heard of spaghetti pottery you are in for a treat! In the image here, you can see a Capodimonte Lamp with a "Spaghetti Lampshade".

There a number of Capodimonte products that are made using spaghetti pottery. But because making Spaghetti decor is quite time consuming, the prices are a bit higher than for regular pottery and porcelain.

Making the spaghetti pottery is similar to the making of the spaghetti we eat.

The clay is worked into the desired consistency, then flattened with a tool similar to a rolling pin. When it reaches the correct thickness, the clay is then put through a machine similar to the one in the picture.

After the clay comes out of the machine and is shaped like "spaghetti", the individual pieces are then woven together into the desired shape. The clay is then baked. When it has cooled, various adornments are added and a glaze painted onto it. The piece is then baked again.

There is alot of hand craft that goes into these pieces, so if you are fortunate enough to acquire one, it is something that should be kept in good condition in order for it to both maintain and increase in value.

Currently there are a variety of bowls, baskets and "spaghetti" lamps

Adding the home accents and accessories to your decor may seem more challenging than it actually is.

Accenting your home should first begin with you. It is not just about your likes and your dislikes, it's also about any collections you may have. No collections yet? Well, collections are easier to start than you think.

Just think about the things that you are naturally attracted to. I love roses, so I began collecting Capodimonte roses. You? Are you attracted to clocks? Spherical things like decorative balls? Figurines? Keys? There are tons of things out there to collect. Simply begin noticing what things you are attracted to.

Many times people are attracted to certain things but hold off from getting them because they ask themselves 'what am I going to do with it?'

Decorating your home should be about showcasing who you are. Your home is a very personal place. It is where you can relax and be yourself. So show off who you are by surrounding yourself with the things you love.

Begin your own Capodimonte Rose collection.

Choosing home decor accessories can be a challenge sometimes. We know what we like but we don't know how to put it together.

For people that don't find home decorating easy, I recommend thinking in pairs. When you have a pair of like items you can create balance in a room.

Think about the table lamps in your living room. Generally we have an end table on both ends of our sofa. Each table usually has identical table lamps on them. This creates a sense of balance. The sofa is balanced by the end tables, the end tables are balanced by the table lamps.

If you repeat this pattern throughout the room, including the wall decor, you can create an atmosphere that you want to relax in.

Mix it up a little. Add some soft delicate things like pillows and throws. Then add some wrought iron or metal to your decor. Add a metal shelf with some porcelain pieces on it. Don't shy away from mixing textures. If you think in terms of 'pairs' of items, your decorating chore will be much easier.

Many of us already have, or have thought about, using decorative plates for our flower wall decor. Not every plate quite meets the standards of ''collectible plates'.

This one does! This decorative plate is from the Capodimonte Home Decorations Collection. This wall decor plate features elegant porcelain flowers set upon and equally stunning porcelain plate.

The size is 13" Diam. X 4" Deep and retails for $ 114.00. Seem a little pricey? Not if you consider that over time, Capodimonte pieces go up in price. What you are actually paying for is the name Capodimonte. Capodimonte home decorations have stood the test of time for centuries, with the original pieces being kept in major museum's around the world.

It is difficult to beat the value of Capodimonte.

A unique vase that comes filled with flowers already.

Brand new to the market, straight from the Capodimonte Home Decorations Collection, comes this charming porcelain vase.

Regular handles are not good enough for this vase. Two elephants, one on either side, act as the handles, making it just so quaint.

An important part of any room is the home decor accents that you choose. Sometimes a simple addition to a room will spruce it up just enough, and other times a major overhaul is required.

Introducing an elegant piece of porcelain, such as this glorious swan, is an easy way to add some character to a room.

The swan is Italian made and is 100% porcelain. It is a genuine Capodimonte home decoration that enhances your homes decor. It fits well with any traditional home decor, country home decor, or Victorian style decor.

This swan is a piece that is excellent for home that are already established in their decor, or could be a wonderful piece to begin a new collection.

Capodimonte home decoration collections are an excellent place to look if you want that unique touch.

How many of us love a well organized home that says "character & class" when you walk in the door? I think the answer would be that most of us desire that unique home with stylish decor that matches our personalities, and shows off our home decorating panache.

Here is one of the more unique plant stands and pedestals that I have come across in a while. It is an elephant plant stand with a matching planter.

This little elephant plant stand is not so little. He stands about 25" tall, but isn't he just adorable?

Since he (or is it she?) is made of porcelain, dirt could easily stain the inside of the planter so I would definitely keep my plant in a separate pot, then insert the entire pot, and plant into the planter itself.

I can just picture a wonderfully large fern plant inside the planter, with the entire elephant plant stand and planter placed just inside a foyer ready to meet and greet your guests.

Can you imagine the squeals of joy this elephant planter would provide? What a great conversation piece!

Searching for just the right wall decor for your home can be a daunting task. Very often people overlook a most common wall decor item. That is.... a wall clock.

If properly placed, a wall clock can bring your entire room together.

The wall clock featured today is Italian made, and is from the Capodimonte porcelain home decorations collection. Since Capodimonte does not make a lot of wall clocks, if you can get one, you know you have a treasure.

The abundance of the Victorian Style Home Decor has remained ever popular. The rich abundance and the decadence of the Victorian Era symbolized the affluence of the Victorian ladies and gents.

Richness of colors and overstuffed furniture represented comfort to those of that era, and still today, many homes boast the Victorian Decor.

Tureens were popular in the Victorian Style Decor. They were mainly used as soup tureens or stew tureens. Today however, tureens are mostly decorative, as is the one pictured here.

Capodimonte and Victorian Style Decor go hand in hand. Capodimonte produced many Victorian style home accents. In the beginning these pieces were actually used in the home. Today they are decorative pieces used to decorate the home.

Capodimonte Tureens have become a collectible item because there are less and less of them being made, not to mention that they are not always available. If you can get your hands on a Capodimonte Tureen, I would do it, because the days are coming quickly when they will not be available at all.

Caring for your Capodimonte

Capodimonte offers many home décor pieces that once set around your house will need to be cleaned, like everything else in your home, on a regular basis.

Because Capodimonte is more delicate than many of your home décor items, the cleaning must also be delicate. Using a clean, dry brush that is very soft, you simply wipe gently around the piece. A soft damp cloth can also be used. It is important to remember that detergents will destroy the finish on most Capodimonte.

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Fireplace Mantel Clocks

As a decorative part of our home, a fireplace
commands attention. Your mantel clock mantel clock should command attention as well.

Choosing a mantel clock is sometimes a difficult choice. It is wise to assess both your
personal style and your homes design. A mantel clock is an important way that you
can make a personal statement about both yourself and your home.

Read More . .

Gift Giving Guide for Men - Part I

OK guys, how many times have the holidays, or a birthday come around and you have nearly trembled
in your boots because you had no clue what to buy? If you are like men I have known, it was almost
every time! Most men are just lost when it comes to selecting a gift that the women they love will love and appreciate. So here are a few simple tips to knowing what your lady wants and buying it for her...... Read more

In Part One I talked about how to pick the right gift for your woman and I used the football - golf story remember? As an example I said that you are a big fan of sports, with, let's say, football being on the top of the list and golf being on the bottom of the list. This is simply hypothetical, I hold nothing against golfers, it is only meant to be used as an example okay? Now your lady knows that you like sports so when your birthday comes around she goes out and get you the finest golf clubs that money can buy and gives them to you. Are you going to be overjoyed with the gift? Wrong! Read More

The lighting in our homes living room is expected to serve dual purposes. The general purpose is
for everyday living. The second purpose is for entertaining. Many of us expect our living room lighting to switch from general lighting, to the softer lighting that we prefer when we entertain.

Recognizing that we expect the lighting to suddenly "morph" into the entertainment mode is half the battle. The other half is in selecting the lighting that can actually accomplish this. Read More . .

The clock was the first thing I noticed when I entered the room. Having never been in this home
before, for some reason my entire focus was directed to the fireplace mantel clock. It was an ornate piece that sat in a cathedral shaped cubby just above the fireplace. Then slowly, my eyes wandered lower to the actual fireplace mantel and below it, the fireplace. A slow burning fire was crackling away in the fireplace, casting a romantic glow into the remainder of the room. The mahogany bookshelves that were on both sides of the fireplace held a variety of books, some family pictures, and a few knick knacks that appeared to be Italian in origin. My eyes wandered back to that mantel clock. Read More . .

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Let's talk about lighting today. When you think about the various types of lighting in your home you generally think about the lighting fixtures. Table lamps come to my mind immediately.

Table lamps are great because they supply a source of task lighting, accent lighting and ambient lighting.

Think about the style of your home and your own personal style. Then think about what type of Table lamp reflects both of those. Then start searching for a table lamp that is both unusual and interesting.

Whether your style is modern, classical, traditional, victorian or country, select a lamp that reflects who you are and want you want to become.

Click here for more information on the table lamp featured here.

But just any old table lamp won't quite do. You need to get creative and show off both your personality and your homes personality.