SLEEPING under the stars can be romantic, exciting, fun, relaxing and inspirational but with British weather as unpredictable as it is, us Welsh folk rarely get the chance.
But what if you can make this happen every night for the rest of your life?
This is the gift from one South Wales artist who has brought a new trend in interior design to bedrooms and bathrooms.
As the artist creates his masterpieces, there's nothing to actually see - that is until the sun goes down.
Although not quite on the same scale as the Sistine Chapel, Clive Jones does spend his time painting ceilings (and walls), forming pieces of art as unique as his technique, which he is cautious not to divulge. What he will say however, is that it's not stick on, nor created by way of a projector - it is magic, invisible by day and incredible night and can be applied to any type of finish or contour, complimenting rather than detracting from existing dcor or value of your home.
Clive says: "I've found that having a room that glows in the dark appeals to people of all ages as there are so many themes you could choose from. It can act as a night-light for children and it can be educational as well as fun - especially if you choose a night sky theme or a birth sign constellation, a shooting star or hundreds of glistening stars as they are all accurate representations of the constellations. For adults, it can be romantic, soothing and relaxing. It's really up to the individual person."
So what is it exactly? "Seeing really is believing when it comes to something like this," says Clive. He often finds it hard to explain what he does without demonstrating it.
Essentially however, the paint is translucent so during the day it's invisible. As the paint is a strong photo phosphorous, it absorbs light allowing it to glow a glacier blue colour when the room is darkened. The finished effect - the impression that the ceiling has been removed and above you is a perfectly clear night sky canopy that can glow for up to 25 hours. As soon as it's daylight again, the ceiling recharges itself.
For rooms that may not get enough daylight to charge the paint, each room comes with its own blacklight tube - a small portable charger, which recharges the whole mural in less than 15 minutes.
Once applied though it's permanent, non-toxic and washable. You can forget about it - that is until the lights go out.
As a novel way to jazz up your home, it won't break the bank either. An average size room costs in region of £100, which includes agreeing a design, materials and time spent creating the finished product. However, the more complex the design, the more you will need to pay.
"The more complicated the design the longer it takes to create, but there is no limit to what can be achieved using this technique," explains Clive. "A room is my canvas, which I can transform into just about anything. Not only can the night sky mural be put on your ceilings and walls such as the Milky Way or the Big Dipper, I can also make a fairy fantasy in space or a Star Wars scene for the little believers. Special constellations can also be created permanent reminders of special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, or the sky under which your loved one asked you something special."
Clive's talents have not been confined solely to the bedroom either. Local schools have commissioned his work as a science learning tool and Eglwys yr Derwyn School in Penarth worked with Clive to create a sensory room to aid rest and relaxation for pupils with special needs.
Clive set up the company in October last year and hasn't looked back since. "It's worth its weight in gold to see customers expressions. There's nothing quite like it and gives me great job satisfaction. What's more I get to exercise my imagination and artistic flair every day of the week - truly magical."
If you would like any more information about Stargaze Ceilings, contact Clive on 02920 521971 or visit his website at www.stargazeceilings.co.uk. You can also visit his exhibition trailer at Wyevale Garden Centre, St Mellons on weekends.
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