Vancouver Home + Design Show Exhibitor Spotlight: LUMAS Gallery

We're so excited to have LUMAS Gallery participating in this year's Vancouver Home + Design Show. This renowned company has recently expanded into Canada and is looking forward to talking to guests about incorporating art and artistic photography into their homes.

LUMAS helps people experience and acquire exceptional artistic photography. Throughout the years LUMAS has put together a diverse and dynamic portfolio. We can't wait to see what they're bringing to the show!

But before you explore Artwall G, get to know LUMAS a little better by reading our brief interview below.

Please describe your product.

"LUMAS Galleries strive to democratize the art market by offering a diverse, yet affordable portfolio of limited edition, beautifully mounted works from renowned international artists. With contributions from over 200 artists, our portfolio is expansive and dynamic offering something to suit every taste and space. LUMAS Art Consultants are passionate about helping guests develop personalized portfolios and select works for their home or business spaces."

What are your best decor tips?

"We love to encourage our clients to be bold and choose works with a colour not seen in the rest of their decor. A pop of unexpected colour is a great way to add a lovely sense of unpredictability that simultaneously elevates a space's entire aesthetic."

Will you have any show specials?

"LUMAS has recently partnered with Canadian actor and photographer, Patrick J Adams, to curate a capsule of his own intriguing work. We're very excited to have Patrick help us introduce LUMAS to Canada and to inspire our international galleries with some exceptional Canadian photographic art."

What's your favourite part of the Vancouver Home + Design Show?

"This is our first time exhibitor at the Home + Design Show. As LUMAS is new to Canada, we are so excited to introduce LUMAS to Vancouver and hopefully inspire visitors to start their own art collections or simply encourage them to give art a broader space in their interior design ambitions."

Is there anything else folks should know about LUMAS?

"Please follow us on Instagram for some daily inspiration! @lumas_canada"

The Vancouver Home + Design Show takes over the Vancouver Convention Center West, October 22-25, 2015. Discover the latest decor and design trends, get professional home improvement advice, see your favourite home and garden celebrities, and more - all in one place!

Don't have tickets yet? Right now, when you connect with us on Facebook you can get 2 tickets for the price of 1! Treat a friend or family member to the show. We can't wait to see you there!

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Buying & Selling A Home Is Heading To The Next Level

The home buying season is just around the corner and anyone who has looked for a home understands how much of an impact online images can have. One Des Moines Home + Garden Show exhibitor is taking the effect a visual element can have on a listing to the next level.

FSBOHomes.com is launching a 3D photography service for their customers as a means of enhancing both the home buying and selling process. We caught up with FSBOHomes.com before the Des Moines Home + Garden Show and had a brief chat about this new feature and what it will mean to consumers. Check it out below.

What will 3D photography offer?

1. Allows a potential buyer to virtually walk into any room in the house and look up and down. It has a similar feel to Google Street View, but takes place inside a home.
2. Creates a 2D floor plan of a person's actual home.
3. Creates a 3D dollhouse view which removes all exterior walls, allowing a buyer to get a feel for the layout of the home. The viewer can then enter into a room and look around.
4. Interested buyers can use a measuring tool to make sure their furniture will fit into the existing space.
5. You'll be able to change the wall colors and place simulated furniture such as coffee tables or seating throughout the house to plan possible decorating ideas.

Make sure to check out FSBOHomes.com in Booth #1106 at the Des Moines Home + Garden Show. The home and garden event of the season takes over the Iowa Events Center February 12 - 15, 2015. Buy tickets early to get the best prices and avoid box office lines. Right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets on Facebook. What are you waiting for? Grab your tickets now - we can't wait to see you at the show!

FEBRUARY 12 - 15, 2015.
IOWA EVENTS CENTER

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Philadelphia Home Show Exhibitor Spotlight: Life Art By Stacey Granger

We're excited to have Life Art by Stacey Granger joining us again at the Philadelphia Home Show, January 17-19 and 23-25 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Before you see this unique exhibitor at the show, enjoy our interview with them below...

Name: Stacey Granger

Booth Number: 415

Describe your products:
"Fine Art Photography from Philadelphia and around the world, as well as custom photo gifts."

Best home or garden tips?
"You can have a beautiful structure, but when you decorate that structure you make it into your own work of art!"

Will you have any show specials guests can look forward to?
"New cozy photo throw blankets and woven photo throw pillows."

Any home or garden pet peeves?
"I keep changing my favorite colors so I end up redoing room after room. Thank goodness for the amazing pallet of paint Lowes has!"

What's your favorite part of the Philadelphia Home Show?
"Meeting new people and seeing familiar faces from the past years!"

Don't miss Life Art by Stacey Granger in Booth #415 at the Philadelphia Home Show. The event takes over the Pennsylvania Convention Center for two weekends only: January 17-19 and 23-25. Don't have tickets yet? Right now get 2-for-1 on our Facebook Ticket Deals. 

JANUARY 17-189 23-25, 2015.
PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER

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Ty's Tips: Tidying Up Your Pictures

Whether you’re a serious photographer or a simple iPhone snapper, the pictures you take help to tell the story of your life. Photography used to be just for professionals, but it’s become more and more accessible. From Polaroids to Instagram, there have been a lot of advancements to make it so you can take a photo and share it in seconds.

Image via Etsy

Since almost every phone has a camera, we take a lot more pictures than previous generations. We don’t have piles of disorganized Polaroids in the closet anymore; instead, we’ve got an abstract collection of images in the cloud. How can we keep them manageable, viewed on more than just Facebook, and part of our everyday lives? The one and only, Ty Pennington, has some great tips to help organize our pictures, create art with our memories, and keep our shots for years to come.

“I use tools everyday on the job, but along with my hammer and drill, the one tool you’ll always find me on is my camera. I love taking pictures of friends and family, but also of textures and patterns and anything that strikes me as cool, beautiful or unusual. With today’s digital cameras, it’s easier than ever to snap and save. But here are a couple of things for all you shutterbugs to remember. The next time you download pictures from your camera to the computer, take the time to go through and give each shot a title. It’ll be worth it when you’re trying to find that one great picture six months later. Next, organize photos using the software that came with your camera or check the web. Online, you’ll find photo-editing software, free photo-storing services, plus art-design software that will turn up copies of all your photos. This is a good idea, even if you use one of those storage services on the internet. Whatever you do, don’t depend on the hard drive of your computer to be the only place you keep your precious memories.”

Create new memories at the Downtown Raleigh Home Show, September 5-7. Ty will be appearing live on Saturday only – make sure not to miss him! Get tips on organizing, renovating, decorating, and more. Grab your tickets online now to get the best deals. We can’t wait to see you there!

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Black's: Exciting New Ways to Personalize Your Art

This fall, Black's will be showing off some gorgeous decor options at our Fall Home Show (booth 1110); they're on a quest to show you how to turn your photos into art, simply! Their range of decor, app-produced products and photo-gift options is incredible, and they're bringing to all this to the show!


To prepare you for the show, we interviewed the experts at Black's to find out what's trending this season...

What are some advantages to decorating a wall with Black’s Wall Art?

"There are many great advantages to decorating your home with Black’s Wall Art:

1.   It’s quick and easy – simply use our online tool which walks you through the whole process.
2.  It’s unique and personal – anyone can buy a generic print but creating your very own Wall Art at Black’s allows you to create meaningful and distinctive décor for your home.
3.  Get creative – the varying styles, materials and sizes of Wall Art allows you to express your own style and taste."

Describe the process of creating Black’s Wall Art to the consumer? 

• Where does one start?  
• "The easiest way to get started is at http://photocentre.blacks.ca/wall-art.html or you can always drop into one of our 99 stores: http://www.blacks.ca/blacks/storeDirectory.jsp" 
• What should be prepared?
• "Simply have your chosen photos ready, decide on which Wall Art you want and you’re good to go! If you choose to visit us in-store, make sure your photos are on any digital device.  Remember: we have Wall Art options in various materials, sizes and resolutions. Whether you want to use a photo you took with your smartphone, point-and-shoot camera or even a DSLR; we have a Wall Art option for it all."
• Is the process lengthy? 
• "Not at all! It takes about five to ten minutes to design your Wall Art and delivery is between 1 week to 10 days."

How can www.blacks.ca help people with the design/décor process? 

"Our website is designed to assist customers at every step of the design process. Choosing a Wall-Art option is made incredibly simple as our Wall Art creator tool guides the user through each stage. Our blog frequently features great décor and design tips as well as offering advice on Black’s newest products."

We also have a ‘My Products’ section on our website which enables users to save and share their projects so they can work on their designs at their own leisure."

What’s the most common misconception about Black’s?

"That we’re still the same Black’s that has been around for over 80 years.  Sure we’re still an iconic Canadian brand but we’re making some big changes.  Our unique Wall Art is an exciting new line of products that allows you to turn your own images into your personal art. We've also launched three exciting APPs that allow you to use the photos from your SmartPhone, Facebook or even your Instagram account  in quick, easy and creative ways!  

Sure we still sell cameras, phones, frames and accessories but the Black’s as you know it has gotten a serious upgrade. We now offer new, exciting and distinctive photo services you can’t find anywhere else."

    

Black's is giving away two $100 gift cards online! Click HERE to enter.
  Don't miss them, October 3-6, 2013 at booth 1110!   



FOR 2-FOR-1 TICKETS TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE & SAVE! 

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Black's: Turning Memories Into Art @ Toronto's Fall Home Show

This fall, Black's will be showing off their stylish decor options at our Fall Home Show; they're on a quest to show you how to turn your photos into art in a fun and easy way!  You won't believe the range of decor, app-produced products and photo-gift options they're bringing to the show.

To prepare you for the show, we interviewed the experts at Black's to find out what's trending this season.  Check out what they had to say below!

What is trending for the home at Black’s this season?

"It’s all about bringing your photos to life by creating your very own Wall Art at Black’s– your memories, your art.  With our Wall Art category of products, your photos can be made into stylish, striking and personal artwork in a range of sizes and materials."

"Our Little Black’s Book app allows you to create a simple PhotoBook by selecting and sending us your favourite photos straight from your SmartPhone and delivered to your home!  We also offer a range of products Made just for Instagram, that take your square format, filtered photos, creating square prints, canvases, books and more!"

Does Black’s Wall Art come in various options? 
"Absolutely! Black’s Wall Art comes in various materials and sizes. Sizes ranges from 8”x12” to 20”x30”. Wall Art can be made from canvas, acrylic, aluminum and even metal! You can also choose to make your images into posters or a poster collage. Our split-panel canvas option is an impactful way to spread your photos across several canvas panels." 

What are some tips for choosing the best pictures to convert into Black’s Wall Art? 

1. "Choose the right material for your image. Black and White images look better on canvas, while bright, bold and impactful colours look great on metal or acrylic.
2. The higher the quality of the original image, the higher the quality of your Wall Art. Poor quality/resolution photographs will appear fuzzy or blurry on your Wall Art. For specific resolutions, we list the recommended resolutions on the individual wall art pages on www.blacks.ca
3. Think about the size and shape of your image. If your photograph is square, choose one of the square Wall Art options to avoid cropping your picture.
4. Choose a picture that fits with the style and décor of your home. Consider the colour scheme and space you’re trying to fill."

Why is it important for people to add art to their walls? 
"Adding art to a wall is a great way to bring your own unique style and personality to a room. A well-chosen piece of art can brighten up a room and act as a great focal point for your decorating choices. What’s more, a great piece of art produced from your own photography can inspire you or make you smile whenever you see it."

    

Black's is giving away two $100 gift cards online! Click HERE to enter.
  Don't miss them, October 3-6, 2013 at booth 1110!   

Black's will have their experts at the show, demonstrating Wall Art options, and other special products and possibilities.  Don't miss them, October 3-6, 2013 at booth 1110!   

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