The first clay objects found belong to 27000- 30000 years ago, mostly religious small statues.
Because these objects were very brittle, to avoid the risk to became soil again, man used to bake them.

“Ceramic” or “baked clay” is truly a page of human history where we can read how during all these years civilization was start .
Even this period name’s was devoted to the ceramics which is: “Neolithic age” from the Greek NEOS LITHOS (new stone).

In the same time were men that already knew the existent of small clay containers with the shape of a bell.

These people were called “The men of the age of the ceramics” or “The bells men”
How ever they weren’t the only ones that discovered ceramics and used for everyday purpose;
the big civilizations around the Nile River and in the Middle East already knew about the use of clay recipients and also of clay blocs to build their homes.
Around these times the Egyptians discovered the practice of colouring glaze which was used for their bricks or recipients.

Later on, ceramic arts moved to Greece, however just for home purpose and not for construction uses.

Greeks became famous for their clay vases from Corinth.
In fact with the term “Karamus”, that originally meant “clay” we have now the word “Ceramic”.
During the great Roman Empire ceramic arts were neglected, to appear as architectonical elements in the Middle East buildings especially in China where at this time porcelain was discovered.
Samarre’s artisans(Tiger) needed to create beautiful objects for their royal families so they tried to cover grey clay with a white layer; making for the first time in history the “majolica” ceramics.
Looks like that around the middle of XIII century some Persian ceramists immigrated to Spain, bringing along the recipe to make gorgeous “smalti”.
Majorca island (Spain) became the centre of these skills; in facts dealers from this period going to Italy carried with them a lot of these merchandise like vases, pots and cups which they took the name Of “Majolica” from the location “Majorca”.

After few years Italian ceramists discovered the secrets of these “smalti” founding in Faenza (Italy) the head quarter where exporting the ceramics all over Europe.
These precious merchandise coming from Faenza (Italy) rapidly adopted the name “Faience”.
Faience majolica declined when a man named Bottger invented for the first time in 1709 white paste porcelain and a year earlier the scientist Walther Von Tschirnhausen discovered the gress which is the first stage for porcelain.

The first man to discover ceramic tiles and making of it an industrial production was Josiah Wegdwood.

With tiles, ceramics discovered a new beginning going from XVII century up to now days and the centre was Italy again.

In this period ceramic was made in tiles and used as floors and walls covering and used just by the wealthiest family houses because too expensive. Having a floor tiles brought to these homes a very impressive effect.

With the industrial age ceramics and especially tiles knew their major grandeur because made by machine and not by hand like before.

Champion sunrooms have long been known for their high-quality sunrooms. They were one of the founding members of the National Sunroom Association, and are today still dedicated to making their customers happy. They began their business in 1953 and have showrooms in both Denver and Cincinnati. They ship their sunrooms all over the country, too. They come in two main varieties – a porch enclosure or a patio room. The original patio room was made to be enjoyed for three seasons of the year, instead of all year around, but the newer All Season Vinyl Patio Room is made to be used all year around, no matter what the weather. Champion also offers sunroom furniture, porch enclosures, and awnings to allow you to find the perfect outdoor living arrangement for you, your family, and your home.

Champion sunrooms, especially the vinyl Patio Rooms are a complete system that will create that sunroom that you have been dreaming of. Each component is made to work with the others in perfect symmetry, so that you can make a beautiful sunroom that you will enjoy. Extra features can be added to your sunroom design without much effort and all of these components are made with low maintenance in mind, which is an excellent benefit for you. Champion sunrooms are known for being high quality and durable, which means that they will last you for years – staying as beautiful as they were when they were installed.

Vinyl is the material that Champion uses on their sunrooms and it helps to make the sunroom durable and they need very little maintenance. The vinyl encases an aluminum frame which gives the sunroom added strength and sturdiness. It will hold up well to the changing weather and the weight of rain or snow. Vinyl is a great choice for material, because it holds its color without fading in the sunlight and it will not decay, which means that it will stay beautiful for a very long time. The doors and windows that are available from Champion will work well with the rest of the components to make you a strong and weather tight sunroom that you can enjoy no matter what the weather is like.

If you are considering a Champion sunroom, then you will want to make sure that you get one of their guides to sunrooms. This will help you to know what to look for and consider when purchasing a sunroom for your home. Champion sunrooms can increase the value of your home and increase your relaxation levels. That is why you want to carefully consider each design decision to make sure that you are making the right choice for your home’s style, your lifestyle, and your needs.

Adam Peters contributes adding long articles on sunroom kits for allsunrooms.com allsunrooms.com . You can find more information and allsunrooms.com/champion.html resources on sunroom kits or Champion sunrooms at his website.

The average American kitchen is fast becoming the hub of modern family activities. Gone are the days when the kitchen is used solely for the purpose of cooking family meals. Instead, today’s kitchens are what we can accurately describe as multi-functional rooms.

The modern kitchen can now be used in preparing sumptuous meals, as a venue for the family to discuss events which transpired during the day, as an ideal place to entertain guests, as a study area for the kids, as a home office and virtually anything and everything in between!

Given this plethora of functions, a good kitchen must have a sufficient light source. We need to have the correct lighting at all the conceivable spaces we have so that we can be comfortable in doing whatever it is that we need to accomplish.

Wattage? Candle power? Reflectance? You may be overwhelmed with all these highly technical terms that a lighting specialist may throw your way when discussing what may be the best lighting options for your kitchen. Don’t despair! You’re not the only one in that situation.

We may not have the technical knowledge or have a grasp of the terms involved in this matter but we do know what we want and need. We can still tell them what effects we want in the final run.

Understanding the basics of lighting can benefit both the lighting specialist and us homeowners in the process. A kitchen is one area of the house where there are a number of different surfaces present. Countertops, cabinets and kitchen appliances are made from different materials and thus, reflect light differently. Furthermore, colors also play an important role in selecting the right lighting. As we all know, dark surfaces reflect light poorly while a predominantly white kitchen will reflect light generously. Hence, a good lighting specialist will take note of all these features to come up with the best possible lighting solution for your kitchen.

There are four basic types of lighting available for our homes. These include sunlight, incandescent, halogen and fluorescent light. Let us discuss each one of these to give you an idea of what type of lighting you may need.

Sunlight. It’s a good lighting source and best of all, it’s free! What could be more relaxing than basking in the warm glow of the morning sunshine as you awaken each morning? What could be better than sitting down for breakfast with the first glow of sunlight peeping through your kitchen windows?

Sunlight can be counted as the best source of lighting. However, it is also not always reliable. Not all days are bright, right?

Incandescent lamps. These kinds of light are highly favored since they emit a warm glow. These are available in a wide array of shapes and sizes and are generally available in most lighting stores. A typical incandescent lamp has a lifespan of approximately 1,000 hours.

Fluorescent lights. These are considered more efficient and more energy-saving compared to incandescent lamps. These may also come in different sizes and shapes and last longer (7,500 to 20,000 hours). One major setback of using fluorescent lights, however, is that they have a tendency to make some people feel physically ill.

Halogen light. Halogen lights are comparatively smaller in size than all the lighting sources discussed here but they give off a higher light output. Hence, they are ideal for highlighting specific items or spaces in a room.

There you have it, a run down of the various types of lighting available for our homes. Choose the right one (or a combination of several types) to suit your needs!

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to

Off to the store so many of us go time and time again, to find that special “gift” for ourself. Whether it is a decorative teapot, a decorative book or a wicker basket, we arrive home, not quite sure how to arrange our new purchases. Many of our purchases are beautiful to look at individually, but perhaps if somehow the items were grouped together with other small items, we could create a mood setting of a cozy atmosphere.

I took my teapot and put it on a large (silver plated) platter, any platter would do, with 2 linen napkins in napkin rings. I also took an old tea canister and put it on the platter along with other tea accessories. I placed the platter on the sofa in the living room. That one filled platter had created a cozy setting transforming the room.

I then filled the basket first with fabric, folding the ends, then with scented soaps, a small mirror hidden in the fabric for last minute checks and 3 silk flowers and placed it in the corner of the entrance of my home. Not only did this create a cozy corner, I also knew I could put my keys in the basket every time I entered my home; knowing they would be there the next morning.

See what you can gather and group together…perhaps you have a picnic basket? Fill it with newspaper, fabric on top… then start adding beautiful things to it, grapes, wine glasses, a good book, why not put it in your kitchen, it could be a fruit basket, a centerpiece, and a place to come to read your book when you find that precious time to do so. And best of all, it will make your kitchen cozy.

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I love shopping myself and seem to have a special gift… not when purchasing an accessory for my home, but rather a special gift of grouping it together with other accessories in my home, creating the perfect atmosphere.
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