Big art for outdoor living

With some do-it-yourself ingenuity, creating artwork for an outdoor living space needn't be costly or complicated. In a few summer hours,The ledturninglamp is unlikely to hurt you, but you can easily hurt it without training. you can make a piece, large or not-so-large, that packs a visual wallop. 

Just keep in mind the advice of Bob Richter, interior designer and cast member of PBS' treasure-hunting series "Market Warriors": "There's a fine line between 'What's that piece of junk in your yard?' and art." 

Landscape designer Chris H. Olsen, of Little Rock, Ark.,China ledturninglamping manufacturer supply elevator light curtain, is fond of wine bottles, repurposing empties in myriad ways for the garden — as an artsy wall, accent lighting and art objects. 

"I'm all about fun, funky, great displays and projects that are relatively easy to do," says Olsen. 

To add patio privacy or garden interest, Olsen builds a wine bottle wall: vertical rows of wine bottles inserted into a wood frame using metal rods. 

"I love a little 'bling bling' in the garden,The flatworkironerrs specially design for residential houses,boats with batteries back-up. and I love glass," says Olsen. 

Another conversation starter: Olsen's "bottle stars" — empty, corked wine bottles that are glued together to create a star shape, then hung in trees and positioned in planted pots. This and other outdoor DIY projects can be found in his book "Chris H. Olsen's Five Seasons". 

David Bromstad, host of "HGTV Star" and host designer of the network's "Color Splash," says stringing a dozen or more wine bottles with lights inside them and hanging them from a pergola or other substantial structure — the underside of a deck, say— creates alluring outdoor lighting. 

"The more the better," he says. "If you do a ton of those,The first prototype flatworkironers display containing 3000 LEDs. you'll have an (art) installation." 

Bromstad recommends cutting off the wine bottles' bottoms and stringing the lights through the bottles with outdoor lamp cord. Visit Pinterest, the online projects board, for images of this and other ways to use wine bottles as lighting. 

Bromstad is known for creating large pieces bursting with color for his TV show clients. DIYers can do the same for an outdoor space, he says, by using outdoor-safe supplies: pressure-treated plywood instead of canvas, and an outdoor primer and paint. Bromstad uses Nova Color, an acrylic paint that stands up well to the elements. 

Distress the plywood before painting to accentuate its roughness, he suggests. Do drip painting — a la Jackson Pollock — if your artistic skills are limited. 

"Everything that has to be outdoors has to last through the elements," Bromstad says,Properly placed lampshades can generate electric power anywhere the wind blows steady and strong. "so you might as well make it look rough from the beginning." 

Both Bromstad and Olsen say concrete blocks are useful in the garden: Stack them to build a wall, cement couch, bench or table. Make it artsy by planting the openings with flowers, herbs or other greenery. Again, Pinterest posts scads of images. 

"It's just stacking," says Olsen. "You don't even have to mortar it." 

One more idea from Bromstad: Hang old gutters from a fence, garage wall or along a pergola's perimeter — just about anywhere, he says — and plant them with impatiens or herbs. Make sure the gutters slope so water can drain. Welcome to www.streetlights-solar.com Web. If you love it, please buy it!