How to Decorate for Christmas Using What You Already Have

Are you one of the millions of Americans who decorate their homes for Christmas? Many individuals choose to buy new Christmas decorations each year. While it is nice to have new Christmas decorations, you may not have or want to spend the extra money. There are a number of different ways that you can go about decorating your home for Christmas using items that can be found inside or around your home. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can use these items in a whole new way.

By using items that you have inside your home to create Christmas decorations you will actually be designing your own decorations. You can do this by taking items that you already have, and adding to them to create a Christmas decoration. One of the many benefits to doing so is that you can save yourself a fairly large amount of money. While it is possible to purchase Christmas decorations at an affordable price, it can get quite expensive. That is why you may want to think about decorating your home for Christmas with articles that can already be found inside of it. Use the extra money for Christmas dinner or to buy that something special.

Not only can you save yourself a little money, you can turn your Christmas decorating into a family fun night. Christmas is one of the times of year where we are able to spend more time with family. This is a wonderful way to spend time with your children or other loved ones. It is also a great way to stimulate your creative mind. If you have paper, colored pencils, markers, or even crayons inside your home, you can create your own Christmas pictures. You can also design your own Christmas tree decorations by using everyday items that you have inside your home. With a little bit of construction paper, scissors, tape, or staples, you and your children can create your own Christmas tree decorations. Cut construction paper into small strips and then connect them into circles, in links, as a nice substitute for Christmas lights or garland. You and your children could also make your own Christmas ornaments in a similar fashion. Pop some popcorn and color and string it for a festive substitute for garland.

After decorating the tree with your homemade ornaments and strung popcorn, use the leftover branches to make arrangements for your home. You can put the greens in a basket or bowl and add pinecones, bows and ornaments for a decorative feature. Use the branches to make swags to hang over the doors throughout your home. Take the evergreen sprigs and place them around your home, on windows, on a bookcase shelf or on a fireplace ledge. Evergreen branches and sprigs certainly reflect Christmas. Not only do they look nice but they spread a lovely piney scent throughout your home.

In addition to making your own Christmas decorations, there is a good chance that you may already have Christmas decorations from previous years. If so, you may want to think about reusing these Christmas decorations. You can spice things up a bit by rearranging the decorations and how you display them in your home to prevent them from looking too familiar. Add a Christmas bow to a wreath and you have a whole new look.

Why spend money on new Christmas decorations when you don’t have to? By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you can easily save your money for something better, such as your Christmas dinner or Christmas gifts for your friends and family. Decorating your home for Christmas shouldn’t be a dreadful task but a delightful experience that can help bring a family closer together. Make your own decorations and bring a truly homey feel to your holidays. Keep it simple and remember what the holidays are really all about. Merry Christmas!!

For your everyday decorative needs, don't forget to visit GoCeilingMedallion frequently for all of the latest designs.

6 Common Elements for Great Designs

The elements of design are the most basic component parts of any great design. They are the underlying structure that helps to convey your message when decorating your home. Here are the six most common elements to incorporate in your design for a beautiful room.

Color

Color is probably the most powerful of the elements. It will add interest to any area in which it is correctly used. Color can evoke strong emotions, which affects our perception of color. The human eye can see more than 16 million colors. When making choices for colors, look at the pieces in your room that will be staying and use those to choose your colors.

Line

Lines represent order. They give your eyes a direction as to where to look. Lines can be vertical, horizontal, curved, straight, diagonal, bold or fine. Lines can also have a psychological impact based on their direction and weight as well as on variations in both direction and weight. Curved and diagonal lines are dynamic while straight lines are more static. Lines can also be used to create a sense of movement or depth. They can also be combined to create effects of texture or pattern.

Pattern

Pattern is the way that a concept or design idea is arranged in a repetitive manner. It is an underlying structure which systematizes surfaces in a regular way. Pattern can be thought of as the skeleton of a design.

Texture

Texture defines the roughness or smoothness of a surface area. It can be both visual and tactile. An important element of texture is the ability to create the illusion of texture as well. Any sensation that we can imagine feeling can be described as texture. Rough, smooth, hard, soft, bristly and wet are all types of texture. Texture adds variety and interest to any design.

Shape

Shapes are forms used in a design. They are geometric areas of self-contained form. They can be 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional. They can be repeated to create a sense of movement, which increases the decorative effect of using shapes in your design. Try to limit the number of different shapes that you use in your interior design.

Space

Space is the relationship between two things. It refers to the area occupied by a shape or a form. Space can be positive or negative. It is positive when the area of space is filled in. It is negative space when used as a background. Space can add excitement or a sense of contrast to any design.

Use these six basic elements of design correctly and you can transform any room into a dynamic and interesting living area that you will enjoy spending time in. Visit GoCeilingMedallion for many more design options for your home.

GoCeilingMedallion.com Rebuilds Website Offering New Products, New Shipping Prices and More Payment Options

Mesquite, NV November 9, 2007---GoCeilingMedallion.com is in the process of rebuilding their website. "Although the site is not completely finished, we are allowing our customers complete access to it, because even in its unfinished state, it offers so many more products and advantages than our old website," states product manager Bob Tomaskovic. The new website will feature a larger inventory of products with the addition of more manufacturers, payment options not previously offered, a simpler shipping program and new search features.

Over 1000 new products have been added to GoCeilingMedallion.com, many of them new ceiling medallions. Once the site is complete, GoCeilingMedallion.com anticipates a catalog of well over 3000 products. "We now offer the largest selection of ceiling medallions available for purchase on the Internet," reports GoCeilingMedallion.com’s product manager. GoCeilingMedallion.com will offer full product lines available from several manufacturers, including new products that are not in the catalogs yet. "We're especially happy with the new line of 45 to 60 inch polyurethane ceiling medallions" continues Bob Tomaskovic, product manager. Other products to be offered will include: accents and inlays, and stair brackets in addition to the 45 to 60 inch ceiling medallions.

GoCeilingMedallion.com will also offer products from Medallion Factory and Chemcrest. Entire manufacturer catalogs and products from previous manufacturers such as Architectural Ornament, Century Architectural Specialties and Superior Building Supplies will also continue to be featured.

GoCeilingMedallion.com will be offering more ways to pay for products. In addition to accepting MasterCard and Visa, GoCeilingMedallion.com will now add an option to pay with American Express and will be adding Google checkout in the near future.

"We listened to what our customers have been telling us and one of the biggest problems was with shipping. Most of the programs we looked at overcharged customers on shipments of multiple products. Rather than working with all kinds of complicated methods, we decided to stick with basic flat rate shipping. No orders in the continental United States will ever cost more than $85 to ship. And orders over $2500 will ship for free. We've built in rewards for our customers," states CEO and President Pat Tomaskovic.

Finally, GoCeilingMedallion.com's new site will offer a search feature that will allow customers to locate products on the site's web pages using a variety of search factors. Customers will be able to use the name, size, manufacturer, and even part number, if they know it, to locate products. "Our new shopping cart with Network Solutions supports our larger catalog. We have found them to be a more robust solution to improve the shopping experience for our customers. Overall, we are just extremely excited with the changes taking place," continues Pat Tomaskovic.

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Visit the new website now at GoCeilingMedallion.

What's So Important About Ceiling Decor?

Look up. What do your ceilings look like? Are they painted and flat or are they (gasp!) that cottage cheesy material? Wouldn’t you like to have a ceiling that makes the most of the rest of the decorating in your home? There are many ways that you can make your ceiling more interesting and beautiful to look at. Ceiling accents like ceiling medallions, ceiling domes, and light rims can help to make your ceiling more visually interesting, more sophisticated, and can update a boring lighting fixture.

Most ceilings are very boring. Unless you are lucky enough to have a tray ceiling, most ceilings are flat and uninspiring, but by adding ceiling accents to your lighting features or as a decorative element, you will find that visual appeal will be added with this simple extra detail. They are easy to install and can be painted in any color or design that you want so that you can add as much focal appeal as you want. Visual interest helps to make a room feel more alive and inviting.

Sophistication can be easily added to a room with the simple addition of a ceiling medallion, ceiling dome, or light rim to your ceiling. Whether you want detail or a simpler look, these ceiling accents can be used to help enhance the feeling of formalness and sophistication in your room. There are many different designs that you can choose from, too, on goceilingmedallion.com, which is a great benefit for homeowners who are looking for that perfect accent.

If your lighting fixture is a boring, run of the mill one, you can use the ceiling medallions or light rims to help update and liven up this fixture. The light rims simply frame the lighting fixture that you have, while the ceiling medallion offers you a bigger frame, complete with detail if you so choose. Updating a light fixture that you love with a ceiling accent can help to make your lighting fixture even better.

You do not have to live with boring ceilings. Adding a ceiling medallion, ceiling dome, or light rim can give your ceiling that added oomph that you want and need for your room. They can be painted or they can be gold or silver leafed if you want. No matter what style that you enjoy, you are sure to find a ceiling accent that can help to enhance and complete the design of your room.

Accenting Your Room

Room accents are one way to help add some warmth and interest to your room. There are many different ways that you can accent and enhance the walls in your home to help make them more interesting to look at. The key is to find things that you love and that go with your decorating style to help make the most of your room and your creativity. This will help the room to become one that you love spending time in and want to invite others into. What are some ways that you can accent your room?

Rosettes. The beauty is in the details of any room. Yes, the colors and furniture that you choose are important, but what makes the room warm and inviting are the details that you choose to place in the room. Rosettes are one detail that can help make a room more visually appealing and romantic. Adding rosettes to help accent your décor in new ways can help to bring some of the outdoors inside and it can help make a room feel more airy and romantic. Rosettes can be used to enhance window frames, mirror frames, and anywhere else that you choose. Paint or treat them as you desire to help make them a cohesive part of your room.

Corbels. Corbels are one of the most flexible accents that you can use in your room. There are many different ways that you can use corbels, from under fireplace mantels to supporting shelves to decorative cabinet accents and more. They come in so many different styles and designs to help you find the exact ones that will enhance your room and your home. From simpler lines to more detailed corbels, they are all available at GoCeilingMedallion in all different sizes. They can be left as is or they can be painted or treated to help make them a focal point in your room.

Details are the essential part of the room that helps to show your personality to the people that visit and by accenting your room, you are helping to make it more inviting and welcoming for your friends and family. Enhancing your room’s design using interesting pieces can help to make your entire room feel more cohesive and put together. Using corbels and rosettes to help make your room more visually appealing will help make your room into that showplace that you want and that you can be proud of. Nothing is better than that.

Stop by GoCeilingMedallion to see how we can help you accent your rooms and get a sneak peek at our brand new site.

Copyright 2007

Special Touches for Any Room

Room decorating and designing can sometimes be scary with all of the choices that are available. Homeowners may feel afraid to decorate their home according to their own decorating style, because they are afraid that it will not look good. This then leads them to leave the room unfinished, which makes the room feel unappealing and boring. Adding special touches of décor in a room may be just the thing that a room needs to make it feel more complete, so that it will become a warm and inviting room to you and your family and friends.

Some special touches that you may want to consider for your room are ceiling medallions, ceiling domes, corbels, and molding. Each of these items can be easily installed and they can help add some detailing to your room to make it more visually interesting. Adding just one of these pieces can give your room that special touch that it needs to make it feel and look more complete and together. Where can you add these special touches?

- The ceiling. The ceiling is an often overlooked surface in homes. Adding ceiling domes or ceiling medallions in conjunction with your lighting fixtures or alone can add detail to your ceiling that is unmatched.

- The walls. Walls can seem to go on and on when you are trying to decorate. By adding touches of molding to transition to the ceiling, you can make the walls more visually interesting. Chair railing is also a great way to add a special touch to your walls. Breaking up the walls with chair railings will make them more appealing to look at.

Corbels and rosettes can make any wall look better. These decorative accents will give you decor that is unmatched by anything else. This could be the special touch that your room needs to help make it more appealing to you and your family and friends. They come in a variety of styles and sizes to enable you to find the right one for your room and for your particular decorating style.

Special touches can make any room feel warmer and more comfortable for you and your friends. By finishing your room, you will be able to relax and enjoy the room much more than you would if the room were left unfinished. The special touches may not seem like they make much impact, but the details are where the heart is-in your home and in your decorating.

Visit GoCeilingMedallion.com now to find these and many other decorative ceiling accents in a variety of styles and designs. Don't spend a fortune beautifying your home, just look like you did.

How to Use Tuscan Style To Decorate Your Home

If you are having difficulty making a decision about a home decorating theme, Tuscan style is a great home decorating idea. Many homeowners are attracted to the Tuscan style because it combines subtle elegance with simplicity. Using a palette of earthly tones, Tuscan style, which is an Italian country design, is meant to bring the outdoors inside. This great home decorating idea uses distinct materials to help accomplish this goal. Tuscan style is unique as well as beautiful.

When deciding to use a Tuscan theme to decorate your home, you’ll be using textures. This home decorating idea implements the use of various textures, such as stone and tile for the flooring. This helps to create a natural atmosphere. Plaster is suggested for the walls to add texture, providing an opportunity for you to be creative and have fun. Tables are often made of stone. Tile mosaics are another recommendation for tables in Tuscan home decorating.

Any home decorating theme that focuses on nature uses wood. Tuscan style makes great used of wood. One example of this is the exposed framework constructed from large wooden beams. This great home decorating idea uses wood in furniture as well. The goal is to make it look aged in appearance. This can be accomplished using staining techniques. Of course if you want furniture which looks really old, antique furniture would be the ideal choice.

Tuscan decorating is based on a cultural heritage. By using accessories, this Tuscan heritage can be brought out. Accessories that are homemade are common for this home decorating idea. Ceramics are frequently used in Tuscan decorating. Silver frames, silver candlesticks, copper pots are all common to Tuscan design. Wine and wine glasses are also popular accessories for this great home decorating idea. Large glass jars filled with olives is another great idea for Tuscan decorating. Terra cotta is a popular color when using the Tuscan theme so it might be nice to use terra cotta pots or vases.

Tuscan fabric is in a class of its own. When using this home decorating idea, you will be looking for fabrics made of burlap, abaca fiber, fibers from the banana tree, savannah cloth and tobacco cloth. These are all fabrics used to create a natural space. These materials are quite versatile and can be used for just about anything in your decorating project. Curtains, drapes, blinds, dividers, screens, placemats, and floor-mats can all be created from the various Tuscan fabrics because of their weight, density and flexibility.

This great home decorating idea makes use good use of colors such as yellow and red. These colors are probably used in tassels or painted beads in tie-backs to accent the drapes. Using yellow and red ribbon to decorate accessories like candlesticks or jugs is common in Tuscan decorating. Any material or accessory which resembles the sea, the earth or the forest make great additions to Tuscan style home decorating. This great home decorating idea found in Tuscan style is a good choice for your space. The color, texture, fabric and accessories will create a warm and inviting feeling in any space in your home. This theme of simplicity and nature is a great home decorating idea.

For more great home decorating ideas, or to find accessories to accent your Tuscan theme, visit GoCeilingMedallion. We are your GO TO people for all of your home decorating ideas. Let us help you turn your dream home into a reality.

Two More Moldings You Can Use to Frame Any Room

We've talked about so many types of moldings and ways that they can be used to frame and decorate any room. With molding, you can create so many different looks for your home, you are truly limited only by your imagination.

I want to briefly talk to you about two more types of molding that you can use to accent your home.

Frieze molding has been used throughout the ages in a variety of styles. The frieze is a flat molding, frequently decorated with relief carving or classical profile. Frieze molding is usually found under the crown molding or cornice.

Picture rails and friezes are often confused, while in actuality they are two separate entities, although the difference is slight. A picture rail has a rounded top edge protruding out from the wall, where hooks are often placed. Its main purpose is for hanging pictures.

The picture rail or frieze and the chair rail form what is known in the Victorian architectural style as a tripartite. The wall is effectively broken up into three separate areas. This type of wall treatment extends your options for decorating considerably.

Panel molding is used to break large surfaces up into panels. Panel molding is normally found on doors, but can also be used to decorate walls and ceilings. Fairly easy to install for the average do-it-yourself homeowner, panel molding can be used to create a custom look. Panels can be used in creative ways utilizing such features as size, curves, and decorative corners. Little details may be slipped inside to create an even more elegant look.

Use polyurethane moldings to easily create elaborate panel designs. Mix and match panel moldings with frieze moldings or chair railings. Some can also be used alone as small chair rails or you can use them to create wall or ceiling panels. More elaborate designs can be used by combining corners. There is no limit to what you can do with these versatile accents.

Visit GoCeilingMedallion now. We offer 100's of products for designing your rooms your way.

Measurement Legend Definitions

We get a lot of questions from customers asking us how to measure for their products. Here's a quick guide to measurements that we have found useful.

Center Diameter: Center area diameter measurement.

Depth: Projection measurement / how far "out" a product projects from the ceiling or the wall.

Fascia: Measurement of the exposed molding face.

Height: Vertical measurement.

Inner Diameter: The inner circle measurement of a decorative rim.

Length: Linear length measurement.

Outer Diameter: The outer edge measurement of a circular product.

Projection: The measurement product projects from wall or ceiling.

Repeat: The measurement of the decorative pattern on molding, from the beginning of the pattern to the start of the next pattern.

Width: Horizontal Measurement

Hope this helps!

Visit GoCeilingMedallion for all of your decorative needs. We are your GO TO people for all of your decorative needs and questions.

Framing Your Room With Moldings

Decorating your home can be a very overwhelming undertaking, due to the large number of details. Many times, homeowners just plain run out of ideas or steam when decorating their home and this can leave their rooms looking unfinished and incomplete. There are some simple ways that you can help to make your room look more finished and one of the most common ways is to add moldings around the ceilings or along the walls. Moldings frame the walls and the ceiling to help enhance the décor and to help make your entire decorating scheme look more cohesive and complete.

Molding comes in a wide variety of widths and designs, so you should have no difficulty finding one that has the look and feel you want to enhance your room. From a 2-inch molding to a molding that is 8-inches or more, there are a great deal of choices in how wide you want the molding to be. The wider the molding, the more noticeable it will be and the larger the statement that it will make. From detailed to simply designed molding, there are many rooms in your home where it will enhance the look and feel of your home.

Detailed crown molding with rosettes, roman designs, and geometric designs look best in rooms that are more sophisticated and formal, such as a formal living room or dining room. Plain and more simply designed molding looks best in rooms that are more casual in nature, including a country kitchen, a family room, or a bedroom. Whatever decorating style that your home is, you should have no problem finding a molding that helps to enhance that decorating style.

Molding can be easily installed by any do-it-yourselfer or you can hire someone to install it if you are not very handy. Mitered cuts will need to be made to fit the pieces together, so with a miter saw and a tape measure, you can make the cuts that you need. Be sure that you snap a straight line on your wall so that you can make sure that you install the molding straight. Some walls and ceilings are not necessarily plumb. For more detailed installation instructions see How to Painlessly Install Crown Molding.

Crown molding is the way that you transition the eye from the walls to the ceiling. This molding should be chosen based on the style of your room and your own personal desires. Chair molding is used as a decorative accent in the middle of a wall. Many times, homeowners paint the walls two different colors and the chair rail works to separate the colors.

Whatever the molding that you choose, it definitely can help to make your room look finished, as well as beautifying your decor. You are sure to find a molding that helps to enhance your room, your decorating style, and your personality.

For a wide variety of molding choices, see GoCeilingMedallion. We are your GO TO people for all of your decorative ceiling needs.

Use a Classic Wall Niche to Showcase Your Art and Photographs

Do you have some elegant statuary or beautiful art objects that you would like to display in a tasteful and artistic way in your home? Do you have photographs that you would like to show off in an architecturally classic way? If you answered yes to these questions, have you considered a decorative wall niche as the perfect approach to doing so?

Wall niches create an instant architectural focus for a timeless look of beauty and charm. Use niches to adorn your foyer, hallways, living rooms or any room that you want to decorate and showcase your precious mementoes.

Just to give you a little background on the history of the niche, in classic architecture, the niche is an exedra or apse that has been greatly diminished in size. The niche usually maintains the half dome heading which is characteristic of the apse. An exedra is a semicircular cavity set into the façade of a building. It is frequently crowned with a half-dome. These recessed areas were usually equipped with a ring of stone benches and its main purpose was as a spot to engage in esoteric and philosophical discussion.

The apse is probably recognized as the semi-circular section of the sanctuary of a church, usually situated at the east end beyond the altar.

The niche is basically a Gothic architectural feature that is frequently found in religious and university settings. They are often found throughout a church filled with statues. Look around church the next time and notice how many niches may be utilized, especially around the altar.

Gothic architecture is a style that is particularly associated with cathedrals as well. This architecture thrived in Europe during the high and late medieval period. In France, it became known as the “French Style” during the 12th century. The term Gothic itself became a sort of insult during the Reformation era. During the 15th century, it was succeeded by Renaissance style architecture. Then began the Gothic revival styles around the mid-18th century in England, spreading through Europe in the 19th century and on into the 20th century in, as mentioned above, largely ecclesiastical and university structures.

Wall niches were common fixtures in older homes built decades ago. They served a functional purpose in that they frequently held the home’s telephone. Even though they are no longer necessary, people still appreciate the classic look of the wall niche. Rich in detail and long on beauty, these decorative wall accents add special expression to any décor.

While niches used to be constructed of heavy plaster molding and woodwork, today they are made of a lightweight urethane, making them much easier to install. In addition, they come as one piece units. Paint your wall niche in a slightly contrasting color to your wall and you have added a tasteful focal point for your favorite art object.

While recessed wall niches require framing and some minor do-it-yourself handyman skills, you may also order surface mounted niches. Surface mounted niches do not require a hole in the wall or any special skills. Just attach it to the wall with screws. Then caulk it and paint it and voila, you have just added a unique and classically beautiful accent that anyone would be proud to show off.

Visit GoCeilingMedallion today and pick out just the perfect niche for your home.

Do You Have Questions About Our Products?

Our goal at Goceilingmedallion is to provide you with the best selection of high quality decorative ceiling products so that you can create the perfect ceiling for the room you want to live in.

We only sell products from reputable manufacturers at the high end of the quality range. Our manufacturers are dedicated to providing only quality product. We are all dedicated to excellence and to our customers.

To that end, I wanted to take a few moments to address some of our customer’s most frequent product questions.

What are the benefits of using polyurethane molding and decorative accents over other materials such as wood, plaster or gypsum?

Polyurethane products are engineered and manufactured to fit well against your walls and ceilings easily. Polyurethane products eliminate splintering, cracking, warping, rotting and finish sanding that are more common with wood products.

Plaster and gypsum products are heavy, creating problems with shipping and installation. Our polyurethane products are water and heat resistant, impervious to insects, and will not rot, crack, shrink, splinter, or warp.

Can I paint or finish my polyurethane product?

All of our products can be painted with any high quality latex or oil based paint. You can add a gold, silver or copper leaf finish for a more majestic appearance. Faux finish your ceiling medallion or crown molding in a marble, granite or gemstone surface. Experiment with one of the newer decorative finishes, like suede, leather, sponging or stippling.

Lacquer based paints or finishes are not recommended, however. Otherwise, the decorative possibilities are limitless.

Are polyurethane products as easy to maintain when placed outdoors?

Definitely! All products from our manufacturers are factory-primed and essentially maintenance free. Our products take nails without splitting, saw like wood; they are lightweight and durable. Polyurethane resists water, heat and insect infestation.

Is it beneficial to use fiberglass products?

Fiberglass products have been used for automobile and boating manufacture because of their resistant qualities. Fiberglass also has characteristics which allow for large product construction. Our manufacturers carry ceiling domes and niches made of fiberglass with these same impact resistant properties while retaining the beauty and elegance of handcrafted ceiling products. Domes and wall niches manufactured from fiberglass can be molded into one single piece. Each of our products is factory-primed and ready for your finishing ideas.

Are polyurethane and fiberglass architectural accents easy to install?

Complete and illustrated instructions for installation are provided with each of our products. Some are more difficult to install, such as our ceiling domes and wall niches, and may require good carpentry skills. Overall, polyurethane and fiberglass products are easier to install than wood, plaster and gypsum products due to their weight and size, as well as dimensional stability, precise tolerances and flexibility.

Do your products meet all applicable building codes?

Our products have undergone rigorous testing and meet or exceed all industry standards. All regional building codes and requirements should be reviewed prior to installation.

What is your return Policy?

I would like to take just a moment to address another issue: that of returned products. We will happily refund your order amount, less shipping, for any reason, no questions asked, provided you follow the proper procedure as outlined on our site at : http://goceilingmedallion.com/FAQ.html

Do not return the product!!! Returning items without authorization may cause them to not be properly credited to your account.

If you are not completely satisfied with a product, contact us within 5 days to arrange for a refund or exchange. We will issue you a RMA number to return the merchandise. For your protection, returned merchandise must be insured for the value of the merchandise. Repack items carefully in the original packing material and prepay and insure the shipping. (Please note you are responsible for the safe return of the merchandise and all shipping costs.) No refunds will be made on any merchandise that has been used or altered in any way.
I don’t mean to sound like I’m lecturing, but that is why we ask our customers to become familiar with our policies. We want to provide excellent customer service, but we do require your patience and understanding if we ask for your help.

We offer a large catalog of polyurethane and fiberglass ceiling medallions, crown molding, and accents of only the finest quality from only the most reputable manufacturers. Please visit our website at GoCeilingMedallion today to see our latest additions and specials. As always, we welcome your ideas for improving our website.

How to Use Flexible Molding

Have you ever wanted to put crown molding around an arched doorway or a curved wall in one of your rooms, but couldn’t find anything to use, so you gave up? Well, you might have given up too early. Flexible molding was designed for just such projects. Flexible molding makes it a cinch to decorate around curved walls and arched doorways and windows.

Flexible molding is made from a compound polymer resin that has been engineered to bend or curve around more challenging shapes. It can be bent or twisted without breaking or splintering. Flexible molding can actually be purchased in a range of grades, from very flexible to totally rigid.

You can find flexible molding in just about any design and type you can imagine. Chair rails, baseboards, cornice, window casements, and crown, are all available for your decorative needs. Keep in mind, though, that you really only want to use flexible molding where it is essential to your home improvement project, as it does cost much more than wood millwork.

One of the best features of flexible molding is it's superiority to wood. Flexible molding can be stained, painted, or sealed just as ordinary molding, but without having to prime the surface first. It also resists warping, wearing, splitting, or mildewing, so it's great for outdoor use as well.

Flexible molding conforms to any radius and it is easily installed. The cost of labor is kept down by eliminating standard procedures, such as steaming or cut-n-fill, that would usually be required when decorating rounded walls and columns.

Another great advantage of flexible millwork products is that they look just like real wood. They can be painted, cut, sawed, drilled or shaped just like real wood products. You can use flexible molding on any radius or curved treatment where wood can not be used.

Advantages of Flexible Molding

The advantages and uses for flexible molding are numerous and allow the homeowner to modernize their home in new and original design conceptions. Here is a brief recap of the advantages of flexible molding:

• It looks like real wood.
• It is durable so it can also be used exteriorly
• It’s flexibility is a major advantage
• It resists moisture
• It is insect resistant
• It can be finished like wood
• It can be painted like wood
• It can be found in a variety of designs
• It can be routed, cut, sawed or shaped like wood
• Flexible molding is not affected by heat, cold, moisture or salt
• It can be painted, sanded, or stained
• It can be drilled, nailed, or glued
• It is easily installed

GoCeilingMedallion.com offers several brands of flexible molding from our manufacturers. These moldings offer an incredible labor savings when your decorative molding installations necessitate a curved or arched product. They can be custom ordered from a wide collection of crown, cornice, chair rail, frieze, and panel moldings.

Most moldings can be ordered in incremental lengths from 4 feet to 12 feet and you can order any combination of these lengths for your application.

Some general recommendations for both types of flexible molding address surface preparation and pre-installation groundwork.

Before Installation:

• You may choose to finish (paint or faux finish) the molding before installation
• You should place the molding in the room for 48 to 72 hours before installing in order to allow the molding to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of the room
• ALWAYS store molding in a dry, well-ventilated, low-humidity area
• NEVER store your molding outdoors.

Surface Preparation:

• Clean all surfaces free of dirt and loose particles with a clean cloth or sponge
• Make sure the area is completely dry before installing.

The photos above give you some idea of the flexibility and advantages of flexible molding. Anywhere you can imagine using flexible molding or any style that you desire are possible to afford you the capability to design the home of your dreams. Give GoCeilingMedallion.com a call with your custom order today.

How to Painlessly Install Crown Molding

Crown molding, or cornice, is probably the most important architectural accent used to detail any interior space. Most interior designers today would agree that every room can be improved with the use of crown molding. Crown molding smoothes the transition from the wall to the ceiling and does a wonderful job of defining the architectural style of a room. Crown molding is also used to finish cabinets, built-ins, and fireplaces.

Crown molding will enhance the look of any room and is not that difficult to install. Installing larger, more complex moldings will require a little extra care to match the pattern at joints and corners. You can also build up larger crown moldings by using a number of smaller moldings. Used this way, custom crown molding profiles can be created to suit your tastes. Built up crown molding can also be used to help hide some of the variations in the ceiling and walls.
Follow these simple and easy to understand instructions to enhance the look and feel of any room in your home. Remember, safety is so important when attempting any project. Always follow approved safety practices. Use hearing and eye protection. When you need to use a dust mask or respirator, be sure to use the right one for the job.


Planning

Planning is probably the most commonly neglected part of any job. This is too bad because proper planning is what makes the difference between a quick and efficient installation or massive frustration and numerous interruptions to run to the hardware store. Planning is especially important when installing crown molding.

If your decorative project will include several types of molding, it is recommended that you choose the style and size of crown molding first, as it is the most prominently displayed. Then select the rest of the moldings to match.

Regarding the proper sizing of the crown molding, advice is abundant and many guidelines have been written. Most often the advice directs you to select the size of the crown molding based on the height of your ceiling. However, larger crown moldings have often been used to impressively decorate rooms of more modest proportions. What IS important is to properly scale the casings and other moldings to the size of the crown molding that you wish to use. When choosing crown molding for your interior, feel free to select the size and style that YOU like.

After you have decided on a size and a pattern of crown molding to use, your next step is to determine how much crown molding to purchase. You will need to allow for cutting waste at each joint. One way to do this is to simply measure the perimeter of the room and add a waste factor (usually 10%). The problem with this, however, is that it's not really accurate and it doesn't take into account one very important factor, namely, repeating patterns.

What I like to use is a cut list showing each piece of crown molding for the entire room. This lets me optimize my use of the stock lengths. I also use this information to allow for cutting waste from corners and for pattern repeat. A cut list is also useful to eliminate unnecessary joints by planning all of the joints before ordering the material. Some crown molding is available in more than one length. This can help to eliminate joints and waste. This is also the time to calculate how much adhesive and how many fasteners you will need.

Order Materials

Now that you have completed your planning it's time to order your crown molding. Order your adhesive, fasteners, caulk and any other tools or supplies you might need. Order everything at the same time and save yourself extra trips to the store.

Assemble Materials

Set up a work area as close as possible to the room you are working in and assemble all of your materials. Now is a good time to make sure that you have everything that you will need. If something is missing, stop and go get it now, before you start. Check over the crown molding one last time to ensure that it has not been damaged on the job. If your crown molding has been stored at a temperature significantly different from the room’s normal temperature, then allow 24 hours for the temperatures to equalize (72 hours if you are using wood).

Pre-finishing

If the finish you are going to use is more involved than a coat of flat white paint, you might want to pre-finish your crown molding before installation and then touch it up after it is installed. This is also a good idea if there is any danger of damaging the existing walls during the finishing process.

Layout

Draw a solid line all the way around the room showing the bottom edge of the crown molding. The distance from the ceiling to this line is the height of the crown molding. All ceilings have some unevenness along the joint of the ceiling and the wall. The joint where the crown molding meets the wall is normally more noticeable than the joint at the ceiling, so try to keep this line as straight as possible. Make a second line on the ceiling to mark the projection of the crown molding onto it. Now mark the wall studs and the ceiling joists. Make sure that all of your marks will be visible with the crown molding in place.

Start Installing

Decide which inside corner is going to be the least noticeable in the finished room. This is where you want to start since it is not always possible to get a good match on the pattern with the last piece. Wood moldings are normally coped at inside corners and lapped at straight joints. DO NOT COPE OR LAP POLYURETHANE MOLDINGS.

When installing polyurethane crown molding, miter cut both the inside and the outside corners. Use straight butt joints to join polyurethane molding. Double check the lengths and use your cut list to make sure that you cut the moldings the same way as planned. Otherwise you might run out of material or be forced to make an extra joint.

What you need to remember when cutting crown molding is that it is turned upside down on the saw or miter box. To ensure a tight inside corner, cut the molding a little long and spring it into place (add 1/8 to 1/4 inch for polyurethane or 1/16 inch for wood). Before you apply any adhesive, you should dry fit each piece of crown molding to be sure of a proper fit. If necessary, you can trim any extra with a razor knife, rasp, block plane or sandpaper. Once you are satisfied with the fit, attach the crown molding using coated trim screws or finish nail. Install fasteners into studs where possible.

Polyurethane crown molding with a face measurement over 8 inches will require a 1/4 inch bead of adhesive at the top and bottom in addition to mechanical fasteners. Although it is not required, we recommend the use of adhesive with all polyurethane molding installations. Adhesive is also required at all joints.

Finish up

After the adhesive has dried for 24 hours; fill in all the holes made from the fasteners, caulk the top and the bottom, and then either touch it up or paint it.

Last step: show it off!! Have fun with your project.

Copyright 2007 goceilingmedallion.com

GoCeilingMedallion.com has the best selection of high quality ceiling products, featuring a full line of over 100 patterns of crown molding and 18K Gold leaf crown moldings. If we don't have it, we'll find it for you. We are your GO TO people for all your decorative ceiling needs.

The International Builders' Show: Youv'e Got To See It To Believe It!

Let me start this blog off by apologizing for my lack of posts over the past 2-3 weeks. It has been a very busy time for us here at GoCeilingMedallion.com.
I plan on getting back in the swing of it over the next couple of weeks. We have a lot of changes going on right now and we think you will really appreciate many of them.

One of the things that has kept us busy was the International Builder's Show (IBS). What an unbelievable assembly of some of the world's latest talent and technology to hit the home builder and design world. This was actually my first trip to the Show. The Show was held from February 7-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. I was amazed at the sheer size of it first of all. More than 1 million square feet were devoted to the most innovative products and services.

The 2006 President of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), David L. Pressly, Jr. said, "...the IBS is the world's premier showcase of products and services for the home building industry." The exhibit included products from over 1800 cutting edge developers and builders, with about 450 new exhibitors this year. This was the biggest turnout the NAHB has seen to date.

Although Bob and I did not get the opportunity to attend any this year, the IBS is also well-known for it's educational seminars and workshops. These programs included topics such as marketing, finance and business practices, as well as sales and the economy. There were more than 290 different seminars available to anyone looking to stay abreast of all the latest in this competitive market.

We took advantage of the networking aspect, meeting our suppliers and manufacturers. Bob and I were also busy searching out a variety of new products to offer our customers. Stay tuned over the next few months because we are going to be offering a whole new assortment of products to you at the best and lowest prices. You may also see a total remake of the website in the future.

I included some photos from the IBS. There's the entrance at the top. That's Bob in the second photo and the third photo with a new product. The last photo is a shot of everybody moving between buildings. We had a great time!

Look for photos of some of the products we'll be adding to GoCeilingMedallion.com in later posts. I also have photos from a trip to New Mexico. Wait until you see some of the architecture in Silver City.

Well, that's all from me for now. Let me know what you want to see. Don't forget to send photos of your finished rooms. I would love to post them on our blogs. Thanks again to all of our loyal and new customers.

How to Size a Ceiling Medallion Properly

One of the easiest and least time-consuming projects that anyone can undertake is the installation of a ceiling medallion. Although in the past they were made from plaster, today these decorative ornaments are made of lightweight polyurethane foam. This makes them much easier to handle. Ceiling medallions are used to draw attention to chandeliers and light fixtures, or to enhance crown molding. They are also used to create a special charm and ambiance reminiscent of an era where comfort, warmth and elegance flourished.

Our goal at GoCeilingMedallion.com is to provide you with the best selection of high quality decorative ceiling products, tools and supplies, along with ideas and assistance to help you create that special atmosphere unique to you. We want you to have the perfect ceiling for the rooms that you want to live in. To that end, our full catalog features over 150 ceiling medallion styles, including a new Elegant Series.

One question that we get asked quite often: What is the best way to size your ceiling medallion? We want to answer that question for all of our readers and customers with this blog post.

There are essentially three factors to keep in mind when you are choosing and sizing a ceiling medallion:

1. Size of the fixture. The ceiling medallion you choose should be one that is either larger or smaller than the diameter of the actual fixture, not the base of the fixture. However, when combining it with a ceiling fan, medallions are usually those with a smaller diameter. You can combine the ceiling medallion with a ceiling rim to further enhance a larger fixture, too.

2. Size of the room. You want to make sure that the medallion you choose is proportional to the room in which you plan to use it. In other words, if you will be placing it in a grand entryway, you will want to use a larger size, for the best effects. Use a smaller ceiling medallion in cozier rooms or in narrower spaces.

3. Height of the ceiling. If your ceilings are 8’ high, the ceiling medallion that looks best will be one that is smaller. Too large and it could overpower your room rather than enhance it. Use a larger medallion if your ceilings are at least 10’ or higher. Again, you can utilize a ceiling rim with your medallion to have the effect of a larger medallion.

If you still aren’t sure, try one or both of these methods to help you pick the right size. Cut out a paper or cardboard cutout of the ceiling medallion that you like and affix it to the ceiling to get a better idea of how your medallion will look with your fixtures. You can also try varying sizes and compare them.

If you want the mathematical formula: Take the length of your room and multiply that by the width of your room. Divide that number by 7 to get the diameter of the ceiling medallion. For example: You have a room that is 12’ x 12’. That’s 144 square feet. Divide by 7 and you get a diameter of 21” for your ceiling medallion.

One final consideration to keep in mind is the style of your room. You may wish to complement the room with your ceiling medallion, in which case you should look for something that matches the pattern or style of your molding.

Ceiling medallions can also be combined with a rosette and used to decorate an otherwise plain ceiling. You can use these architectural ornaments as wall decorations. Use several small ones in the hallway. Ceiling medallions are versatile and come in many styles and sizes. They can be painted to match any room. They are frequently manufactured from high-density furniture grade polyurethane. This makes them lightweight, durable and easy to use. They are less expensive than molded plaster or carved wood, yet indistinguishable from those products. Ceiling medallions are one of the most popular architectural details utilized to enhance your home.

When all is said and done, however, there are no hard and fast rules. It is your home and you cannot go wrong when you are comfortable and happy. Like the Australians say: No Rules, Just Right.

So get started today with a ceiling medallion from GoCeilingMedallion.com. If we don’t have it, we’ll find it because we are the GO TO people for all of your decorative ceiling products.

Copyright 2007. Patricia Tomaskovic

Polymer or Polyurethane? What’s the Difference?

We talk about our products being manufactured from polymers or fiberglass or polyurethanes. Builders, designers and manufacturers bandy these words about easily. But what exactly do these terms mean? What is the difference between a polymer and a polyurethane? Or between polyurethane and fiberglass?

I decided to do a little research on Wikipedia.com and Artlex.com to help distinguish the similarities and differences between the three terms for all of our readers and customers. This is what I have come up with.

A polymer is a chemical compound that is formed of large connecting molecules. These molecules, when arranged together, make up natural or synthetic (man-made) resins. Resins are sticky substances used to create paints, plastics and nylon. Polyurethane is one type of material made of polymers.

Polyurethanes, then are any of a variety of polymers which contain urethane. A urethane is a "crystalline compound that is used as a solvent and as the basis for polyurethanes" (Artlex.com). Urethane and polyurethane are used interchangeably to refer to the same type of substance. Polyurethanes are actually chains of organic polymers that are joined together by urethane links. These can vary in characteristics such as flexibility and rigidity.

Polyurethanes are found in many items. They are used in resins, adhesives, fibers, foam padding and insulation. They come in several forms, such as rods, sheets and liquids.

Polyurethanes are frequently used as an alternative to such materials as wood, plastics, metal and rubber. And for good reason. Polyurethanes are resistant to wear and tear, weather, impact, scratching and erosion. They are also more cost-effective as an alternative as well.

Other uses for poyurethanes, in addition to those mentioned above, include: fibers, seals, gaskets, condoms, hard plastic parts, carpet underlay and sealants. Items such as domed ceilings, moldings and ceiling medallions are easier to construct of polyurethane foam rather than wood.

In its most flexible form, polyurethanes are found in upholstery fabrics, while the more rigid foams are used inside the metal and plastic walls of most refrigerators and freezers. They are commonly utilized to make up paints, varnishes and glue. Your computer mouse-pad bottom is most likely made of polyurethane foam.

Variants are also used in tires, roller blades, skateboards, wheelchair tires, bicycle tires and auto parts like steering wheels and bumpers. Tennis grips, electronic parts, some surfboards and the foam used in chairs, couches and mattresses is of polyurethane foam. Polyurethane is also used in furniture, school tables, furniture found in hospitals and banks and shop counters and displays.

Wow!! Quite a versatile substance. It's low cost, lightweight and anything you can do to wood, you can do to polyurethane. Sounds like the greatest invention since sliced bread.

Finally, we come to fiberglass. Fiberglass is sometimes referred to as spun glass. It is also a light and durable product. Fiberglass is composed of a plastic resin fortified with glass fiber. These glass fibers are very minute and they are used to reinforce polymer products. Then we call them fiber-reinforced polymer or glass-reinforced plastic, both of which are commonly referred to as fiberglass.

Fiberglass is found in mats, insulation and fabrics that are heat resistant, corrosive resistant and high strength. Ceiling medallions, ceiling domes and moldings can also be constructed of fiberglass.

Fiberglass products are often as economical as polyurethanes. They are light weight and resist erosion, wear and tear and weather. They can be sanded, nailed, planed and painted, just as polyurethane products can be. Fiberglass products provide yet another alternative to more costly products as wood, ceramic or plaster, which are also more difficult to work with.

So there we have the nitty-gritty behind polymers, polyurethanes and fiberglass. I know I learned a bit more about each and I hope that you also found this to be an informative resource.

Visit GoCeilingMedallion.com to see the decorative ceiling products offered that are constructed of these amazing substances.