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The marketplace would be boring without logos. When it comes to the swoosh and the golden arches logo most people recognize them immediately. Even as early as in our childhood we start recognizing various company logos. As one mother has stated, when her son was only three years old he was able to tell the brand of a truck by the logo on it as it came down the road. Some people even wear clothing with product and company logos, and some furniture and home decor have logos on them to display.

Logos are consider one of the forms of brand recognition, and they’re more than just something used by the country’s huge corporations. By using logos, these small businesses can build the brand recognition with the people in their community and the surrounding areas. Include it in your business signature, on your car, in your phone book ad, in coupons, on business cards, on stationary and in your website’s news section.

Even as utilizing a logo is easy enough, designing one is a whole other ballpark. References on the Internet go into a few simple errors as far as logos are concerned. The first mistake that many people will make is to use clip-art in their logo. Many people can recognize many clip-art pictures and designs when placed in front of us. As a case study, a firm was utilizing what is referred to as a string bean man that they obtained off of a popular clip art database. Such an image will make your organization come across as unprofessional and my reduce your potential customer’s faith and confidence in your product or service.

A second common misstep involves the utilization of a logo with only text. Text only logos also generally lack the visual appeal that makes a logo stay in the minds of a prospective customer. You don’t want them to have to remember too much. Yes, there are some text logos out there that have been quite successful, but they are few and far between.

On the other hand, very intricate designs should also be avoided. Fancy, photographic special effects can make an image look muddy and unappealing when in print. Ensure that your logo appears terrific as a black and white version. Newspapers and telephone books often prefer black and white images. Color logos will be copied and faxed as well, whether you know it or not. The logo has to look good once it has been changed to black and white in a fax machine.

If you can afford it, hiring a professional designer to develop a logo for your company is a good investment. There was a sweepstakes game developed in 2000 that had a graphic designer on the development team who created its logo. The result was a memorable, fun and simple product which the pros indicated in the criteria of producing the logo. It also transferred well into black and white from its original red and green.

That graphic designer was quite an asset to have on the team. Graphic designers are fantastic people to know. But if you don’t, you will have to go looking for one. Designers are not difficult to track down. All you have to do is Google the term ‘logo’, then you will see what I’m talking about.

One columnist from a website suggests that you do not simply choose the first or second companies whose names come up in a search list. His suggestion is to take your time and locate four or five companies that have portfolios you find you like, and that they fall within your price range. You should also take into account how well they work with their customers in cases like refunds, tech support, as well as things like what kind of formats they offer their files, and how much opportunity they give you to revise your logo.

Check out the graphic designers and marketing consultants in your own area. You should always remember that your logo is an investment, just like your website. A bad decision may leave probable clients feeling curious as to whether or not you could have done a better job, which ultimately falls back on your company’s reputation. If you make a good investment which produces a well-designed logo that will be remembered, you’ll be promoting an image of both you and your company that will also be in sync with the company’s mission.

Other than the kitchen, the bathroom is the most used room in the house. But unlike the kitchen, a well-designed, decorated, and accessorized bathroom is more than just a place for personal hygiene. With creative bathroom decorating ideas you can turn your bathroom into your own personal spa-like retreat where you can escape from the world, relax and rejuvenate yourself.

There are two main considerations for decorating a bathroom. First, if you’re in an older home remodeling bathroom ideas are more challenging because older homes typically have much smaller bathrooms then homes built over the last 20 years. Still, decorating a small bathroom can often be easier because small subtle changes can have a much larger visual impact. The second consideration is the amount of money you’re willing to spend.

The Details in the Budget

Whether your bathroom is large or small one thing is certain, you’re going to have to spend money if you want an updated bathroom. How much money you need to spend depends to a certain extent on the size of your bathroom and how much updating you feel you need to do to give the look and feel you desire.

If you only have a couple hundred dollars to spend then generally you’ll be limited to mostly cosmetic changes such as paint, hardware and accessories. Though this may not be much money to spend, don’t discount the effect that a new coat of paint, some new hardware on the doors and drawers, and some additional accessories such as an inexpensive prints or new towel racks may have on your bathroom. Often that is all that is necessary to give your bathroom a very fresh and updated look.

If you’re willing to spend a little more money, say $300-$600, then your budget could also include things such as shower curtains, rugs, upgraded towels, additional storage units and/or mirrors, and perhaps even additional or upgraded lighting. Throwing a beautiful rug on your bathroom floor, and adding storage units and unique mirrors can definitely change the look and feel of your bathroom. And since we all judge the quality of a hotel by the quality of their bath towels, having those plush bath towels in your own bathroom certainly goes a long way to making your bathroom feel more luxurious. Updated light fixtures can also add that additional touch of elegance that can really set your bathroom off.

Beyond this point, ideas for bathroom remodeling tend to include the more costly aspects of decorating including changing out fixtures, sinks, toilets and bathtubs, and adding additional furniture. If you’re somewhat handy you may be able to replace the sink and tub faucets on your own, perhaps to the more currently popular darker oil rubbed looks or polished nickel. Beyond that, replacing sinks, vanities and bathtubs will generally require a contractor and/or plumber. You must be very careful when using a contractor since this is typically where the cost of bathroom remodeling can quickly jump by thousands and thousands of dollars.

A couple of other options available that can offer some bathroom remodeling help include simply resurfacing your bathtub instead of replacing it. Resurfacing is only a one to two day process and can generally be done for around $500 or less. Re-grouting or re-tiling walls is another option that can easily brighten the bathroom for minimal cost.

Finally, one of the newer methods of giving your bathroom an updated look is the installation of acrylic liners over your old bathtub. Your bathtub is measured to ensure a perfect fit, and an acrylic liner is molded and inserted over the old bathtub. This method can even be extended to the shower and walls and can this give your bathtub, shower and walls a totally updated and new look. Acrylic liners can cost anywhere from $700 to well up into the thousands depending how much you want to have done.

Our bathrooms, unlike many other rooms in the home, tend to be very personal to us. It’s the first place we go in the morning and the last place we leave at night. We spend a lot of time in our bathrooms, and we want to come away feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Great bathroom decorating ideas don’t necessarily have to be expensive, they just need to provide a bathroom that is warm, inviting and comfortable to be in. A well designed bathroom helps us prepare for the day ahead. Update and Enjoy!

We have always tried to make sense of the world around us and it is this drive to understand and document our environment has given rise to one of arts’ least appreciated gems – antique maps and cartography.

Although today we are used to maps as dry, functional things that we occasionally reach for when lost, it was only a few centuries ago that they commanded the attention and wonder normally reserved for great works of art.

History of Cartography
The earliest maps date back to ancient Greece and the works of the Greek astronomer Ptolemy from the 2nd century are still referred to now as superb examples of the rise of early cartography.

Map making in Europe declined during the Medieval era as leading philosophers concentrated more on religion and spiritual matters than the practicalities of geography. However with the rise of European navies in the 16th and 17th centuries all this changed with cartography attracting not only the best geographers and astronomers, but also attracting the attention of many skilled draftsmen and artists.

During this time cartography took on new importance with many commercially produced maps being considered valuable works of art as well as useful tools for maritime travellers.

Art and Science Combined
The leading lights of this era produced some of the most memorable and distinct maps of any time, before or since. Since maps had to be sold many of the decorative embellishments were designed to attract buyers and make each map maker distinct from rivals.

As well as accurate map detail many maps from this time used decorative elements, such as sea monsters, mythical creatures and cartouches to help elevate the works from useful tools to works of art. It is this embellishment that makes them so attractive to art lovers today, as we are used to maps as dry objects.

World Map Tapestries
Given the recent rise in interest in textiles in the home it is no surprise some of cartographies best examples are now reproduced as wall tapestries. The distinct weave of high quality tapestries expertly captures the detail, drama and artistry of antique maps dating from the 16th and 17th centuries ? adding a striking dimension to art that already impresses.

One of the most famous examples is Typus orbis terrarum by Abraham Ortelius (1527 – 1598). It covers the known world at the time, and is a testament not only to the craftsmanship of cartographers but it demonstrates an impressive level of knowledge for its day. As a wall tapestry Typus orbis terrarum cleverly combines the expansive detail of the original map with the depth found in textile design making for a striking work of art.

One of the most famous maps ever produced was Jan Baptist Vrient?s Obis Terrae Compendiosa, meaning ?A Brief Representation of the World?. It contains an astonishing amount of detail matched only by the breadth of its knowledge. Like earlier maps that it was based on it is decorated with numerous details including symbolic figures at each corner, exotic animals and fauna from the far-off shores it represents and landscape vignettes. As with all quality tapestries it?s subtlety and vibrancy transfer well to textiles, adding an almost antique quality to and already distinctive work of art.

Rediscovered Majesty
Nowadays many people are looking to antique maps wall tapestries to add some charm and history to their home decor. With a vast array of options to choose from, including some of history?s finest examples of cartography art, there’s never been a better time to appreciate these unique works of art.

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If you are attempting to build your own handrail or to repair your staircase’s existing one, there are a number of things that you should know about this wondrous support before you even think about starting. Not only is the safety of the rail something that should definitely be taken into consideration, there is a certain terminology associated with handrails that it definitely helps to have an understanding of. There are actually a number of parts that comprise a handrail as we know it, and they can be defined by the following: When it comes to choosing the various parts of your handrail, it is of the utmost importance that you are consistent with your choices and that they all blend together seamlessly. This will not only ensure that your staircase works, it will also ensure that it is aesthetically pleasing. When building your repairing your handrail, it is also important that you take into account any and all safety regulations, as this will ensure that accidents and injuries are prevented as much as possible.