| |
| |
|
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
How to Buy a Used Adjustable Bed Mounting health costs and cuts to government funding are making people seek cheaper alternatives like used or secondhand adjustable beds. Used adjustable beds are no doubt cheaper than new ones, but a lot of care should be taken while buying a used adjustable bed. Turning Your Childs Room into a Mysterious Jungle (When designing a child's room, you want to create an atmosphere that inspires and stimulates them mentally. The room should be interesting to the child, and should reinforce both rational thinking, and creativity. Country Decorating Ideas - Create Warmth and Charm with Country Style Decorating Ideas Country decorating ideas can help you create a home that is warm, inviting and the perfect home to live in. Country style decorating ideas help you capture the spirit of country living during modern times. The Benefits of HEPA Air Purifiers The military designed the first HEPA filter in the 1940s for use in the Manhattan Project, when safety from free-floating nuclear material was a primary concern. Today, HEPA air purifiers are very widely used to remove dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other airborne particles. Buying Down Alternative Comforters When the frigid winds of winter arrive, many people turn to lavish bed comforters to stay warm. Because of their luxurious feel and unbeatable warmth, down comforters are a popular favorite. The Value of Antique Grandfather Clocks These days, everything from ovens to telephones silently mark the minutes in glowing red and green letters, rendering the "tick tock" of the mechanical clock increasingly unnecessary. Digital clocks might be more convenient and accessible, but they will never hold our affection the way a good old-fashioned round-faced clock does. Ambient Orb or Mathmos Color Bubble The Mathmos Color Bubble is made by Mathmos - the company that created the original Lava lamp back in 1967). This is a very intriguing light that illuminates in a wonderful shade of blue. The Benefits of Outdoor Wood Stoves Outdoor wood stoves use renewable energy, are less expensive than many other heating systems, and are safer than indoor wood stoves.Outdoor wood stoves create heat by pumping water heated by the wood fire into the house through underground pipes. Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Choosing Bathroom Vanity Lights The basic bathroom vanity includes a mirror or medicine cabinet above, a sink or basin and counter or 'top' below, and a cabinet beneath. In some cases the sink and top are one unit. Discount Rugs - Buying a Discount Area Rug A quality area rug for your home can be an expensive proposition. A fine Oriental rug, for instance, can easily set you back several thousand dollars. Spring & Home Decorating - A Fresh New Look Open Windows ? Curtains fluttering from a warm breeze ? The air smells fresh and clean ? Buds on the trees are beginning to open ? Tiny flowers are popping up threw the ground ? Finally that little bird with the red breast is backAll of these can only mean one thing "Spring" has arrived. Those days of blustery storms and frosty drafts have come to an end. Building Your Own Grandfather Clock Timeless and elegant, classic and stately-grandfather clocks are all of those things. They are also rather expensive, with heirloom-quality grandfather clocks costing upwards of $10,000, making them inaccessible to much of the population. An Introduction to Wood Stoves Wood stoves are like small fireplaces. They are inexpensive and can be built into a home or added later. Custom Slipcovers Can Give Your Furniture A Stylish New Look If your furniture could do with a new look, then you may be interested in some custom slipcovers. Unlike re-upholstery, a slipcover can be easily replaced whenever you feel like a change and can be removed when it needs cleaning. Decorate Yourself Happy: How to Decorate For Everyday Pleasure/Joy Because psychologists relate true happiness to joyous occurrences happening frequently, decorating your home to promote everyday pleasure makes sense. If you're planning a home makeover, provide for the cumulative total of all the little pleasure moments. A Look at Picnic Gift Baskets Picnic gift baskets are a great gift for just about anybody who likes the outdoors and who likes to eat. Most people enjoy the idea of picnicking, but haven't invested in the supplies to be able to do so. An Introduction to Roman Shades Roman shades are a simple and practical window treatment to accent a room or to provide privacy from bright sun or noisy neighbors. A Roman shade is a piece of fabric that is mounted at the top of a window. Lamp Shades Decorate a Room When redecorating a room, don't forget about your lighting. While it may seem that you will have to purchase all new lamps for your new décor, sometimes all you need is a new lampshade. Incentives for Proper Home Theater Lighting One of the most crucial elements to consider in building a home theater system is also one of the most over-looked. The lighting used in the room has an incredible effect on the movie viewing experience.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
