| |
| |
|
Interior Decorating Information |
|
|
|
Trash or Treasure: Assessing Your Possessions
One personal junk is another personal treasure. Never is that more true than when you are doing a spring clean up. The good weather held out for Fred Dowling's 25th anniversary junk day and treasure exchange. Each year for the past 25 years, co-op residents have gathered in the spirit of reducing, reusing, recycling of their possessions. Residents trade and dispose of unwanted items; it's a win-win situation, all around. This year an Antiques Road Show was added to the day. I was on-hand as residents brought their prized possessions and family heirlooms to be appraised. Some of the riches unearthed include: a 1953 Coronation toy carriage at $350; a Queen Victoria Jubilee milk pitcher at $175;a pearl brooch for $250; an antique desk for $275. The "piece de resistance" was a silver and diamond necklace valued at $750. Here are some things to keep in mind when assessing the value of your items. Condition Chips, cracks and breaks on crystal, glass, porcelain and ceramics reduces the value of anything to a very minimal amount. Despite that fact, any item can have sentimental value even those with damage can have value to you. Spotting Damage Sometimes you can't tell if a piece of porcelain is cracked. Use the ping test - flicking you're your thumb and finger again the porcelain. If it gives a ping sound, there are no cracks. If it gives a thud sound, it is damaged. The same test applies to crystal. Value Appraised value, retail value and your selling value are all different amounts. The appraised value, sometimes called the insurance value is the amount that you would insure an item for. It is based on the amount you would have to pay to replace the item if it made an insurance claim. The retail value is the amount that a store would sell it for. Your selling price is the amount that you would get if you sold it. Your selling price will always be less than the retail value because most likely, you would sell your item to a dealer who in turn marks up the price. Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium, an antique shop located in Toronto, Canada. He does furniture restoration, caning and rushing repairs, custom reproductions, upholstery, teaches courses on antiques and does appraisals for estates and community events. He can be reached at 416-785-4555 or by visiting http://www.takeaboo.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Interior-Decorating - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Choosing Conservatory Blinds Since conservatories have so many windows, choosing conservatory blinds is extremely important. The blinds are a major part of the room's decor and can really help create a strong, beautiful design. Heirloom Decorating I love to surround myself with things from the past. To me "heirloom" doesn't necessarily mean something really old, because memories are always in the making, and displaying a family keepsake can be treasured whether it's from last year or fifty years ago. An Introduction to Air Purifiers Air purifiers have been around in various forms since the 1940s, when the first HEPA filter was designed to protect workers from airborne nuclear material. Since then, air purifiers have been used in hospitals, work sites, and homes to protect against viruses, mold, bacteria, pollen, pet dander, tobacco smoke, dust mites, and a great number of industrial and household chemicals. Go Vintage When Decorating Your Hearth With the weather cooling, it's time to put on the fireplace. Curling up near a cozy fire is a wonderful winter pastime but you'll need the right tools to tend your fire. Refinishing Hardwood Floors The quality of the wear layer determines frequency of refinishing of hardwood floors. Poor quality products can not withstand being refinished even once. Bathroom Vanity Sinks When shopping for a bathroom vanity sink, let both function and style be your guide. Bathroom vanity sinks must exist in unity with the cabinet and mirror. Soothing Symbols as Home Decor? Did you know that our bodies can automatically react to certain environmental changes and stimuli, even to symbols you might use as decorative accents? I have a little experiment for you to try in a moment so you can experience the power of this idea. Once you see the reactions that can occur, you may find you will want to to use this idea towards creating more soothing and peaceful home and office surroundings. The Charm of an Oak Computer Desk Oak was always used for furniture because of its strength and durability. Besides, oak furniture has a classic look and is good for ornate living rooms as well as stately office rooms. Decorating on a Dime Decorating your home and office can be a challenge if you are on a budget. There are so many different options, and most of them are outside of your financial grasp. Bar and Wine Cabinets: Entertain in Style Do you love to entertain in your home? Do you want to treat your guests to a truly sophisticated and luxurious experience each time they attend one of your gatherings? If so, perhaps you should consider incorporating the use of a bar or wine cabinet into your home's décor.Far from being just ornamental furnishings, bar and wine cabinets are very practical when it comes to entertaining a large group of friends. Buying a Bakers Rack Bakers racks are a perfect enhancement to any kitchen, whether for residential or commercial use. Having been around for many years, this decorative item adds a touch of charm as well as convenience and efficiency. Decorating Kid's Rooms On A Small Budget Now if your children are like mine they want to change the style and look of their room about every other week. One way to make them happier for a longer period of time with their room decor is to get involved with the activities that are required when redecorating their room. A Guide to Discontinued Wedgwood China Everything has its day and its time, and Wedgwood China is no exception to the rule. Because the company is 250 years old there are patterns that were used to create dishware that simply no longer exist, but pieces of the dishware still do. Kids Ceiling Fans There are ceiling fans designed especially for children, which have designs made to appeal to the imaginations and interests of young ones. There is a wide selection of children's ceiling fans from many different manufacturers. A Look at Fruit Gift Baskets The original, the granddaddy of all of today's items bought and sold as fruit baskets, was in fact a basket full of assorted fruits. While there is no clear cut evidence when the first fruit basket was wrapped up and delivered to it's overjoyed recipient, it is known that in ancient times fruit baskets were routinely given to kings and feudal lords all over the world as a sign of respect and loyalty. Choosing the Right Wallpaper There is literally thousands of different colors, different patterns even different types of wallpaper. How do you know which color, or which pattern will suit it's surroundings the best? Read on, and you will have a good idea!Color / Pattern - This for the most part is a personal chose; However there are simple things you can do to choose a color/pattern that will actually work. Antiques, Collectibles, & Memorabilia: Do You Know the Difference? The world of antiques can be confusing. What's the difference between an antique and collectible? Aren't collectibles and memorabilia really the same thing? In this month's column, I'll de-mystify these terms, so that you'll be appropriately armed for your next antique adventure. Latex Mattresses - Comfortable, Renewable, and Biodegradable A latex mattress is not exactly the same thing as a memory foam bed. Latex is a naturally biodegradable sap from the rubber trees of Indonesia and Malaysia. The Stress-Free Way to Add Color to Your Walls Looking for the most impact from a small decorating budget? Or are you tired of the 'builder's white' that is still on your walls since the house was built? Painting walls a color other than white can be both exciting and daunting, here's how to do it and get the job done without having an anxiety attack!Painting Walls with Color is Addictive!It's true. Just as many women find that cutting off their long hair releases some hidden desire to cut it shorter and shorter, painting with color can become addictive and you will crave color - bolder and more distinctive. Light Imitating Art - How to Use Lighting as a Decorative Feature Lighting is often thought of as a necessity, which it is, but not often as part of the decor. This is more the case in residential settings.
|
| home | index |site map |
| © 2006 |
