Home Decorating - Bubble Glass

Glass is a naturally occurring noncorrosive, semiopaque substance fused by the heat of volcanic eruptions or lightning strikes. It is believed to be accidentally discovered by humans around 5000BC when Phoenician merchants, while feasting on a beach, could find no stones on which to place their cooking pots. They set them on blocks of soda carried by their ship as cargo. The soda blocks, melted by the heat of the fire, mixed with the sand and turned into molted glass. The intentional glass making involves precisely the same recipe: heat, sand and soda ash.
The mysterious physical and aesthetic properties of glass have always intrigued men. From the time of its discovery to the invention of the blowing pipe and to the emergence of the automated glass blowing machine, glass has become inexpensive and widely available. Yet this solid material, which has the random atomic arrangement of liquid that is sort of frozen into permanent substance, continues to fascinate even the most sophisticated modern men when it’s transformed into the most vivid forms from nothing but coarse sand and soda ash. While commercial glass production has undergone a tremendous evolution, the art glass creation remains a closely guarded craft. The glass blowing techniques have not changed much in centuries and are passed on from generation to generation of glass makers. The result is inspiration and skill melted into each piece created by the human hand.

Some truly distinctive glass pieces are created by an assembly of Czech glass artists at the Beranek factory situated in the heart of the Highlands, on the border between Bohemia and Moravia. These extraordinary glassworks began in 1940 with Emanuel Beranek who made his original glass in the most primitive conditions. At the time when most of the hand-made glass producers used generator gas heated furnaces, Beranek and his three brothers used peat for heating. Glass products were cut on a crank-brace and bits of bottle glass mixed with charcoal were used as raw materials. These harsh conditions undoubtedly put limits on the production assortment, but at the same time they forced the artists to experiment with glass. Most of the experimental outputs were techniques, which combined with advancing technology, eventually resulted in a variety of the most innovative ideas in glassmaking. One example is the bubble glass. Emanuel Beranek found the way to turn the original glass flaw into a magnificent artistic intricacy.

The air bubbles of the most vivid shapes and sizes are intentionally forced into the glass only where they belong according to the original design of each piece. Under any bright light, these bubbles produce an unforgettable effect. The light reflects in every bubble and bounces back resulting in a soft surrounding glow adding an ultra futuristic tone to any environment. Since its creation, the bubble glass has found admirers throughout the world.

See some examples of bubble glass:
1. Blue Bubble Glass Vase
2. Bubble Top Glass Vase

Since the very beginning, Beranek glassworks stood apart from the commonplace glass production. As the time went on, more and more glass designers and experts joined in the creation of these glass marvels. Today, there are 60+ world-class glass artists who focus solely on the design and production of contemporary glass decorative objects. Among them are glass vases, glass spheres, and decorative glass platters. This is designer glass par excellence. All items are hand made, most of them are hot-shaped without the use of moulds. Each piece reflects the successful synergy of the old-fashioned glass making techniques and the most unique concepts of modern glass design, which bring to its owner great beauty and delight.
Most items are made of the traditional soda-potash glass - it is shaped into its final form and decorated while it is still in its molten state right by the furnace. The furnace is the heart of the glasswork.

The work on the following day’s melt begins in the afternoon, towards the end of the working day. The homogeneity and transparency of the fine blown glass are dependent upon the purity of raw inputs and glass-melting methods, that is the ability to reach furnace temperatures over 1450 °C. This temperature is easily reached through fuelling by natural gas, which also permits a working cycle of 24 hours. The mixture of raw materials is loaded into the pots two or three times on any given day. The first load goes in at about 3 pm, at the temperature of 1350 °C to 1400°C. The last usually goes in at 10 pm. The temperature is raised to 1450 °C to drive any air bubbles out of the liquid and to let the glass become pure and homogeneous.

The entire process is completed at about 2 am and the temperature is lowered to 1350 - 1280 °C. When the glassmakers arrive at approximately 4:30 am, the glass is ready to be worked. It now has the viscosity necessary for working. It is now that the unshapely chemical compound will become a marvelous piece that will travel many miles, beautify homes throughout the world, perhaps even make someone’s day better, and on a grand scale, become part of the human history. All of this is at the hands of a skilled glassmaker whose personal touch and part of his being will live with each piece for years to come. Most pieces are blown using the flying-hand technique at the working temperature of about 1250 °C. The finished products are carried into electrical cooling furnaces which are pre-set to follow a 48-hour cooling curve to insure a perfect resistance of product against cracking.

"A success of work rests with a man' s determination, concern and love. It is certainly true of any human activity and it is clearly an inseparable condition of all pursuits in the field of any artistic creation. You cannot do without this. To create means to be able to identify yourself with your work, to do more than just the duty of it and to be able to really make use of the best you can do. Work and our total personal devotion are the basic roots of everything we pursue. Nothing goes by itself, each individual achievement is a sum of obstacles overcome, each final perfection comes out of initial confusion, failures and doubts, which have to be handled persistently and with patience. It is only natural that he who loves his work can find the resources within himself to make such an effort and this applied art is no exception. It is just as difficult and requires just as much strain as any other human activity, however, in addition to this, it has to be blessed with a deep personal involvement as the most crucial condition of its success." Emanuel Beranek

Author: Lena Jouran
For more information please visit us at www.StudioLX.com

Contemporary Acrylic Furniture at StudioLX

StudioLX (http://www.StudioLX.com) has recently introduced a collection of acrylic (lucite) furniture. The collection offers great selection of home furnishings for contemporary home decor lovers. It includes acrylic dining tables, console tables, coffee tables, chairs, acrylic floor and table lamps as well as acrylic sculptures and pedestals.

Acrylic furniture has become the latest trend in home furniture. It’s slick designs, colors, shapes as well as beauty has added a lot of interest. Interested client can potentially select of set of furniture that includes dining table, coffee table, console table, and chairs of the same design. Wide selection of differently sized glass tops helps clients to choose the size that fits their needs. There is also a choice of fabrics ranging from leather to vinyl to clothe, available for the acrylic chairs.

To complete the selection, a customer can choose from a wide selection of acrylic sculptures. The colors of the acrylic sculpture can also be customized to fit the home décor in which they will shine. Also, if someone is trying to fill a home area where a centerpiece is needed, StudioLX’s acrylic furniture collection can help with its selection of acrylic pedestals. The collection also includes items where pedestals and sculptures are really designed to be a one piece made of 2 pieces (a pedestal and a sculpture).

As part of its acrylic collection, StudioLX has also introduced a line of floor and table acrylic lamps. These lamps would be ideal for lighting of living room, dining room, or family room areas.
Acrylic furniture, sometimes also called Lucite Furniture, has recently been presented in a home décor series on HGTV (Home Garden Television) as the latest trend in home furniture in the United States. It has also been presented at recent furniture industry shows in Las Vegas, NV and High Point, NC.

To view the new acrylic collection at StudioLX, Inc please go to http://www.studiolx.com/acrylic-home-decor-accessories.html.

StudioLX, Inc
www.StudioLX.com

Home Decor Ideas: Ready, Set, Accessorize

Home Decor Ideas: Ready, Set, Accessorize

If you have ever ventured to seek home decorating inspiration online or in books and magazines, you probably found an assortment of sensible ideas like: mirrors can make a living space larger or painting a small room with dark color will make it seem smaller. These are all true and proven, except home decorating accessories are mostly left up to one’s imagination and too often they become an intentional clutter. We use objects to accent our homes – objects of artistic value, objects that bring memories, or just any objects we like. What we don’t realize sometimes is that some objects are not decorative at all. Have you ever been in a home where dusting seems like a mission impossible because some forgotten family artifact or a vacation souvenir occupies every two inches of every possible surface? Let’s face it - clutter is rarely attractive. Is there an algorithm for placing the right objects in the right places to bring up the best in our living spaces? We suggest coordinated pieces for those who look to avoid decorating disasters. And if you care to create a clean look and at the same time an inviting atmosphere, aim for a few focal points where each item is given an opportunity to stand out and be appreciated.

Color coordinated accessories work best, especially in smaller spaces, where they harmonize the interior and create a dominant theme. Take for example an assortment of contemporary ceramic vases of varying shapes and sizes like the ones from the Tribal Moss Collection from StudioLX. They, by the way, are irreplaceable for any type of wall or shelving units. Mix with an occasional platter elegantly presented on a fixture or perhaps as a centerpiece. Throw in a couple of cozy pillows, perhaps an ottoman or a decorative box, and consider your work done. The key to keeping it all tied together is color.

Color is an absolute requirement in contemporary home decor. Colors break up the monotony and set the mood for the entire living space. As a vital source of ambiance, colors can influence our mood, stimulating or relaxing our senses. Choosing the right colors is critical for making your home your emotional refuge where you find comfort and warmth. What colors you should choose is truly a reflection of your personality. Observe your reaction to different colors before selecting decorating pieces. Do you prefer the excitement and intensity of red or do you crave the serenity found in calmer colors? Choose the colors that entertain your senses limiting your selection to three or four dominant colors for each living space. This is where the more is not the merrier.

Remember to also stay on high pattern alert. Avoid mixing too many patterns within the same living space. Stripes and floral patterns rarely work well together. Try mixing stripes with solid colored pieces and you will gain a whole new appreciation for their beauty.
Luckily, today’s retail delivers numerous options for home decorators in the market for uniqueness and in the end you’ll finally find those cherished pieces that will set your home apart from any other.

Source: www.StudioLX.com

Green and Red Accent Pieces

Green and Red Accent Pieces

Here is the latest in home decor accesories design from Europe. What do you think???

Ascaso "Dream Crazy" Espresso Machines

Ascaso "Dream Crazy" Espresso Machines

Take a look at these machines from Ascaso. The latest in espresso machine design. Please share your thoughts.

BOSCH B30 Espresso-Coffee Center

BOSCH B30 Espresso-Coffee Center

This is a very nice espresso machine. Check it out. It works great and very easy to use.

Glass Home Decor

This blog is for people who want to talk about home decor, glass home decor and porcelain tea, coffee, espresso sets. It is amazing how many different vases, bowls, and platters are made of glass of different shapes, colors. The technology of making these pieces is also amazing.

You are welcome to share the pictures of the latest glass and porcelain design trends, talk about manufacturing processes, share your ideas about home decor, accessories, etc.