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April 26, 2006
Window Shutter Styles
Six basic configurations include single and double-panel, bi-fold and bypass panel, plus single and double-hung cafe style.
Hurricane - Protect your windows from high wind storms and flying debris.
Interior - A new indoor decorative window covering idea. Indoor shutters are made of the finest quality hardwood polished to a fine furniture finish. The 2 1/2 inch louvers offer you Custom Made Plantation Shutters at an affordable price. Wood Blinds are available in matching colors to help you coordinate your home. The interior styles also come in faux wood. Outdoor styles are made of polypropylene copolymer and are U.V. stabilized with molded-through color making them maintenance-free. Styles to fit on the outside of your windows come in sets with louver or raised panels.
Exterior Styles - High quality, kiln dried wood alleviates warping, tongue and groove joints add strength and durability, special tension springs keep louvers in position, and double doweling and glue at each corner insures stability
Plantation Styled - offer a deep wood grain texture without the worry and maintenance of wood. American brand shutters are an elegant way to add warmth and sophistication to any home.
Carpet Pads Prevent Sliding and Slipping
If you have a hard floor surface that you have placed your area rug on, you may notice that there may be sliding and slipping once in a while. For example, a rug placed on your living room hardwood floor may not stay exactly in place unless you have an area rug pad underneath it. There are a few different kinds of area rug pads or underlay to choose from, but the purpose remains the same.
These carpet pads can also help extend the life of your new purchased rug by providing a smooth and supportive base to the runner. This will also allow your rug to breathe. It is treated with an anti-microbial to inhibit the growth of odor causing bacteria or any mold or mildew.
Most pads can be custom cut to fit any size you need or you can trim and resize yourself with normal household scissors. The cost of the underlay is very minimal and it is a good idea to include it in your carpet or floor treatment budget when you are purchasing your rugs. You will want to protect it as best you can right from the beginning.
The other thing to consider is that if you have a hard surface that you have placed your rugs onto, you will notice that there may be sliding and slipping once in a while. In order to prevent someone from injuring themselves, the area rug pad can easily help prevent the injury. For example, a linoleum, hardwood, or laminate flooring are all surfaces that will need a pad placed under it.
There are a few different kinds to choose from, but the purpose of them remains the same. Some will have a longer warranty and will provide a supportive base as well. The area rug pad is usually treated as well with an anti-microbial to inhibit the growth of odor causing bacteria or mold or mildew. You can check a few before you buy, but they are usually very inexpensive and well worth it.
Wrought Iron Chandeliers
Wrought iron chandeliers are a nice alternative to over powering crystal chandeliers. They can add a very formal look in a dinning room over a wood dinning table. If you are looking for a more French style the kathy ireland french garden chandelier is a great choice.
A more contemporary iron chandelier is the La Costa double tier copper chandelier, it has a warm look with contemporary overtones. Double tier design features curved arms, an antique copper finish and alabaster glass shades. Takes twelve 60 watt standard base base bulbs. Another very charming light fixture is the iron chandelier look with stylish scallop glass shades and has a dark weathered patina finish. It even comes with six feet of chain.
Decorating with wrought iron chandeliers opens up a whole new way of enhancing your home without have to paint or wallpaper. Classic and traditional chandeliers are always popular with everyone. It is a home accent that can change the look of a room just by changing the light fixture.
Is it time to replace your old windows
Sooner or late you will have to replace the windows in your home if you live their long enough or if you buy a older home. You can save yourself some pretty big headaches and damage costs if you know when to buy replacement windows for your home.
The points below will help you decide if your old wood framed or metal framed windows are neat the end of their life span.
If you windows are hard to open and close or sound like they are dragging. If air leaks in or out around the frame. Windows that fog up or condensation starts to collect between the glass panes. ( seals are gone)
Safety is a factor when windows are hard to open or jam or if they had to be nailed shut, this may prevent a safe escape during a fire.
Examine all around the frame and glass for chipping, deterioration and water stains. If you see water stains on the frame and wait too long, dry rot and mold could begin growing and then you have real problems.
If you are having maintenance problems and cleaning is a big hassle or replacement parts are hard to find or are non-existent, you should probably invest in new ones. ( more about this topic here)
Posted 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 24, 2006
Review of Bali blinds and shades
Bali is a company that produces and sells one of the most beautiful collections in window blinds and window shades. There are 6 basic categories that you can shop from.
Bali fabric shades - three basic styles: that you can buy for allowing just a little more light into a room but still require the privacy.
Pleated shades offer fashion flexibility for your window treatments with many fabrics, colors, and textures to choose from.
Roman shades are a beautiful blend of today's popular window treatment decorating styles, colors and textures.
Energy efficient cellular shades come in a wide array of soft, colorful window treatment fabrics to complement any home décor
Bali vinyl vertical blind window treatments give drama and dimension to patio doors and large windows.
Soft vertical blinds are beautiful window treatments that combine the traditional look of sheer panels with the functionality of vertical blinds. They are also easy blinds to operate.
Bali natural shades of Rattans and straws, sisal and grass cloths, reeds and bamboos create relaxed atmospheres of casual elegance or simple sophistication. Bali Natural Shades are the natural decision for cultural decorating influences—tropical, southwestern, oriental, and African themes.
They feature an extensive offering of options—including valances, decorative trims and finishes, fabric edge bandings, privacy liner and Bottom Up/Top Down—making them naturally versatile.
Bali wood blinds are crafted of fine quality North American hardwood as the natural insulating qualities of wood blinds that keep rooms warmer in winter, cooler in summer.
Faux wood blinds combine the look of real wood with the features and benefits of vinyl window treatments. But are still affordably practical. Bali horizontal blinds are durable, versatile, easy to operate window treatments – Bali aluminum mini blinds add color to your life. Bali vinyl mini blinds are a perfect choice for your window treatment decorating needs.
Bali Blinds and Shades Buy Bali window blinds here and review other manufactures to compare prices
Lowest Price Guarantee -Free Ground shipping
April 22, 2006
Deciding on which type of area rug to use
If you have decorated your home in the modern or even traditional themes there are beautiful and sophisticated rugs in the Kathy Ireland Home Collection have that unique comfortable, family feeling. Created by Shaw Rugs with designer KATHY IRELAND, the relaxed elegance of each area rug makes decorating easy in both traditional and transitional interiors.
These rugs are wilton-woven of synthetic fiber for lasting beauty, easy care and remarkable value. Other online area rug products can be found at the guide to buying shaw rugs
Other designs from people like Tracy Porter, Susan Welch and Jane Keltner have created a lines of area rugs and carpets that really liven up ones home. Beautiful hand hooked English and French designs for formal dining or living areas. Wool and silk tufted area rugs from china.
One of the best designers of these types of floor coverings and in out opinion the most colorful are from Ottavio Missoni. A man whose entire creative life has been inspired by the possibilities of color. For him color is a means of self-expression as legitimate as any of the great works of art that are on display in the museums and galleries of the world. And this is not just his opinion; far from it. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Dallas and the Costumes Museum of Bath in England all house Missoni pieces. The difference between a Missoni rugs and the more traditional works of contemporary mediums is that the Missoni pieces are textural woven pieces and not painted. This is an excellent choice when looking for a woven area rug full of rich texture.
Posted 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 21, 2006
Replacement Window Styles
Windows come in many shapes and sizes today, allowing you to make distinctive statements and complement many styles of shapes and designs.
What style of window you choose will define how much daylight you want to bring into your home.
Casement windows, which are more contemporary in style and offer a larger view, are more common in newer homes and are typical in the western part of the U.S./
Awning windows are pretty much the same in design to casement windows, but are wider than they are tall. Awning type windows are mostly used for ventilation when placed above or below a window or door. They provide more light and are often used in homes with traditional, double-hung windows.
Double-hung windows project a more traditional appearance than casement windows. They are common in older homes like victorian or English Tudor styles in the eastern part of the U.S. and are a great choice if you want to maximize the amount of wood on the interior of a home. Double-hung windows come in larger widths up to 45 inches and may help save you money by allowing you to put one larger double-hung window in place of more smaller ones.
A great way to capture a beautiful view is through the use bay or bow windows. Bay windows are typically three windows joined together. The center window is often fixed with operating double-hung or casement windows on the sides.
Bow windows consist of four or more casement windows joined together to form a graceful curve. Options in bow windows include fixed windows that can't be opened, vented windows that can be opened or a combination of the two.
Fixed windows are those that cannot be opened. They are available in a range of sizes, in rectangular and custom shapes, and in a variety of standard, and custom exterior cladding colors. They can be used by themselves or with other window types. Fixed frame windows are available in sizes up to 48 square feet.
These semi-circular windows are designed to fit over other windows and doors to add a decorative touch. Or use them as lovely accents on their own.
What comes first - window treatments or wallcoverings
One would normally think that you want to change your wall coverings first and then redecorate your window coverings. Most decorators would probably say do the paint and wallpaper first. Not me because I am that husband that has to shop for the next 3 months for just the right fabric color or color of blinds because my wife's choice in paint and wallpaper doesn't quite go with the choice of window decor. That is why I am a big believer in choosing the wall coverings last.
Because you can color match any type of paint these days as long as you have a sample and the choices in wall paper are just as big. I have been doing it this way for a lot of years and it works for me and may work for you.
Before you decide on the design or style of wall coverings have a general look at your home inside and out. Take note of the colors you have used and your furnishings. Write down what you like and what you don't like. Include colors that you have used in the past, even if they are outdated. Then go buy a few home decorating magazines and see what tickles your fancy.
Note::
about outdated paint and wallpaper designs and colors that you have used as a wall covering before
if magazines say this or that color is outdated and show you say a new kitchen with new colors in paint and wallpaper - yes it probably looks modern and really nice. But how many of us can go out and buy new updated appliances, countertops and dining areas to make the wall treatments stand out. Your choices in colors and designs are not outdated if they match your furnishings and home decor
April 17, 2006
Activity rugs for kids bedrooms
For fun you can buy different play rugs in themes of animal print rugs, sports themes, interactive and cartoon and comics. Children of all ages love these area rugs. With the large collection it’s easy to find a floor covering that matches the décor of the room. They are small enough to place them in any room that you are, den, kitchen, family room or bedroom. You don’t need to leave your child alone in any room to entertain themselves.
Prices range from $35 dollars to $500 dollars. Some are made in the USA while others come from china, India and Belgium. Most are machine made of 100 percent nylon for easy clean up, while others are more elaborate and are hand hooked like the wool area rugs. Sizes range from 3X5 to 9X12 and everything in between. If you want to carpet the entire floor in your child's room the selections are just as good as the smaller play rugs. Just keep in mind that the larger the rug the price goes up also.
More about selections at decormotif.com kids rugs.
There are many different styles, sizes, shapes, types of play rugs to choose from. For example, an educational play time rug, math, numbers and letters, shapes and animals, maps, interactive, and more. Within each of these categories, you will find more specific ones. It is fun to shop for the perfect one. These are for a slightly younger child, but there are types that will suit a bit older one as well. There are area rug themes for sports, flowers, shapes of cars and much more.
Kids rugs incorporate all aspects of everyday life with a rural to urban transition. Agricultural, suburban, and city areas are represented as well as a busy airport and train station for commuters, and of course, roads and parking lots for travel around town. Other types of childrens play rugs are soccer balls, animal prints, nascar racing, and more.
Posted 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 16, 2006
Most Unique Rugs On The Market Today
Couristan's power-loomed area rugs offer beautiful, distinctive designs at a very reasonable price. These power-loomed rugs come in a vibrant and diverse selection of colors, designs and patterns made from natural fibers like NewZealand Wool, as well as synthetic blends of fibers.
Style selections range from traditional to contemporary, from novelty to natural textures. Handmade area rugs are like works of art. Couristan's handmade rugs have extraordinary detail and elegance in unique motifs including antique-washed looks, traditional, deeply contoured Orientals and fashionable open field area rugs with intricate borders in brilliant hues.
For those who take a more eclectic approach to decorating, the Metropolis Collection offers a refreshing assortment of abstract area rugs, vibrantly designed in aggressive hues of Blue, Red, Green, Yellow and earth tones. These fashion forward area rugs are the perfect choice for economical sophistication.
About Carpet Patterns
Tufted carpet in what the majority of carpeting sold. Other pattern types include woven which is made on a loom and needle punch. The two types are called cut and looped.
Saxony is a dense tightly twisted fiber. It is soft to the touch and hides tracks well. The other type is the plush which is lightly twisted and less dense. It will show vacuum cleaner marks and foot prints.
Level Loop has tightly packed loops all made from the same height of fiber. Unlike berber which is also a level loop rug but made with thicker yarn. This type of flooring will snag and has the best feel to it when used over top of carpet padding.
If you are looking for an area country French rug, try out the online resources. You are sure to be very pleased with the selection or sizes, shapes, colors, designs and more for the area country French rug variety you will find on the Internet. The other great thing about shopping online is that you save yourself much time and effort as well as often you can save money too.
You will see that there is plenty of options for any décor ideas you may have. There will be the more classic styling, or traditional, contemporary, area country French rug and much more. You will find shapes like the rounds, runner, oval, square and rectangle. The materials are often made of 100% wool, but you can also find others blends or materials as well.
There are so many colors to choose from, it may be a good idea to have some ideas in mind before you begin shopping. Or possibly you will just know the perfect area country French rug when you see it and you can work the room around the rug. Have fun shopping right from your home.
Posted 09:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 15, 2006
Framed Art Project
A very cool idea I came across from www.womansday.com was to make your own glass picture framed nature scene using grass and leaves.
You could use just flowers or anything your imagination can come up with. Today it's leaves, grass and flowers.
Materials needed:
Picutre frame of any size.
2 panes of glass the same size as the inside of the frame.
Collage materials - leaves, grass and pressed flowers.
Paint or stain for the frame.
Thumb tacks or other picture frame screws to hold back covering.
Screw eyes and or nails.
Hanging wire or fishing line.
2 heavy books.
Finally a couple of paint brushes if you need to paint the frame.
To see how this crafty art project is put together go here to home accents wall art the picutre is a view through two panes of glass propped up against a window so you can still see outside and allow light to come in.
You can do this framed art in an afternoon. It stands alone as a piece of wall art and is a neat craft idea to get your children involved.
Posted 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 14, 2006
Essential Bathroom Lighting
When it comes to bathroom lighting, special consideration should be taken when selecting the proper fixture. Consider what tasks will be performed, how much light is required, and pay attention to any reflective surfaces, like mirrors that can cause unwanted glare.
Bathroom lighting fixtures come in a wide range of styles, colors, and materials and there are many styles to choose from, including modern, craftsman, tiffany, classic, and many others that have clear or frosted shades or finishes made from aluminum, brass or wood. Regardless of what lighting style you choose, be sure that it will be able to adequately light the bathroom. Also be sure to choose fixtures that will be easy to clean, so bathroom maintenance won’t be too much of a chore. If your bathroom seems dim, dark, or uninviting, it might be time to redecorate with new bathroom lights in the room.
It is important to place adequate light where it is needed for showers, shaving, or putting on makeup. While other normal light sources might enhance the overall effect of the bathroom, specific adjustments made with certain highlighting effects in mind can change the way the bathroom appears. Lighting is one of the key elements in creating a safe and comfortable environment, but a sensible lighting scheme not only gives the functional and design requirements of the bathroom but through some simple techniques, lights can create effects that may visually alter the space in positive ways such as making a room feel bigger and brighter or deeper and dramatic. Dimmer switches and bulb types can help save on energy use and a variety of effects can be created with these options. Fixtures can be placed beside the mirror, above it, on it, or in the ceiling.
More about proper lighting in the bathroom here
One of the different types of bathroom light fixtures is the bar light. Bar lights are a series of small torchieres mounted on a metal bar that attaches to the wall above your sink and counter top. Sconces are another type of bathroom light that includes fixtures that hold only one shade and one light bulb. Recessed lighting is a popular choice for ceiling illumination and these are simple, circular lamps that lay flush with the ceiling, so they don’t have any hanging parts to collect condensation and dust. The different types of bathroom light fixtures are designed to give you focused task lighting at a mirror, diffuse lighting above a shower or bathtub, or overhead lighting for the entire room. They come in several distinct designs, with an almost endless number of variations on finish, color, glass, and size.
April 13, 2006
Best Coffee Maker
One appliance in the kitchen that most people can not live without is a coffee maker. In todays fast paste world we usually select a drip style coffee maker like a Braun or phillips coffee machine. These are the ones that have the most options like timers so your coffee is ready when you wake up in the morning. They also need to be cleaned more often.
If you love coffee and the smell of fresh coffee in the morning, you should go back to the perculated coffee maker. The newer models are coming out with more options and nicer looks, but one thing has stayed the same, they make the best coffee of all.
Cuisinart coffeemaker features an easy flip back water reservoir, that holds a charcoal filter to eliminate chlorine, calcium and other odors from tap water. It has an lcd clock, easy function knob for programming ( I liked this there are no settings to fiddle with just a simple turn of the knob to what you want). It also has a convenient 1 to 4 cup setting for small amounts. For more about the best drip coffee makers here.
The smell of perked coffee is one of the nicest smells to wake up to in the morning, it seems to fill the whole kichen. They do take a little getting used to, beause you have to decide when to stop it for the best flavor. The most important part of making coffee is how fine you grind the beans, Drip coffee makers use much finer ground coffee that sometimes makes it bitter. Perculated coffee should be ground much coarser which will give you a bolder rich flavor of coffee. Everybody used to have an old pyrex coffee pot that you put on the stove and then made your coffee. These made the best coffee flavor ever, but because of the electronic age you can't buy them anymore. Electric coffee pots are the next best thing, try it and bring back the nice smell of fresh coffee in the morning.
April 11, 2006
Home Lighting Styles
Contemporary lighting has got to be the most unique type of lighting that offers sleek, fun with urban looks to compliment your contemporary home. There is a full range of colors and styles that make it very easy to match up your décor. Some contemporary lighting is hand crafted and designed with beautiful bases to create a soft relaxing mood. Others are accented with bold colors and metallic bases that have a very creative look to them. Contemporary lighting adds an instant visual interest to any room in your home.
Lamps Plus has many fixtures available for the interior or exterior of your home. There are modern ceiling fans with an array of lights attached to them, unique torchiere lights that are twisted with wrought iron or recessed and track contemporary lighting that will wash a wall and show off your special picture or artwork. Design your bathroom with a nickel bath bar that adds a stylish, eye-catching glow to bath and vanity areas.
More information about home lighting here.
There are looks for every room in your home made from polished steel, brushed brass, aluminum, plastic and metallic looks that are very appealing to the eye. Contemporary lighting comes in exterior solar lights and very energy efficient fixtures that will compliment the outside of your home and save you money also.
April 10, 2006
Hallway and Stair Lighting
When considering hallway and stair lighting for your home, wall fixtures are a good choice. While traditional wall fixtures with arms remain the most popular form of wall-mounted lighting, more contemporary sconces are gaining popularity, especially for hallway or accent lighting.
Wall lighting can offer needed illumination levels to prevent accidents on stairs, especially when an overhead ceiling fixture is not feasible.
It is important for the stairs to be well lit to avoid casting shadows on the treads. This is best achieved by lighting the stairs in several places, wall washers are ideal for this controlled by switches at the top and bottom of the stairs for extra safety.
Hallway lighting should be bright enough to light stairs, corners, and any other potential hazards. The light should be bright enough to distinguish a blue coat from black, but not bright enough to read by. Hanging fixtures can provide an excellent source of general lighting, as well as create a stylish focal point for the entire area.
Scones are a good choice here and to provide adequate lighting for your hall, they should be placed every 8-10 feet at a height of 66-72 inches above the floor. If you select a sconce that uses a lower wattage bulb, you may want to supplement it with some recessed down lights and/or lights in the hall closet if the lighting here is not bright enough to cover the closet area.
Ambient lighting should be the main source providing a soft warm and cosy feel with an even balance throughout the hallway. A central fixture with a glass diffuser will be ideal for this and accent lighting will give focus when walking down the hallway. Lighting fixtures in this area of the home are usually left on for longer periods of time, so it is important to replace ordinary bulbs with energy saving bulbs that will eventually save you money.
Hallway and stair lighting fixtures are available in many styles, colors and finishes so choosing the perfect one to match your interior’s décor is easy to do. They also come in a full range of prices according to your budget, along with great guarantees and warranties.
Posted 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 09, 2006
Interior Home Lighting
Interior lighting is all about a person’s individual preference when decorating and lighting their home. They must first consider what type of interior lighting is needed for each room. This all depends on what the room is used for, who is using the room and what time of day it is generally occupied.
Ambient lighting gives a dark room overall brightness and has a huge affect on our mood and everyday tasks and is a very important feature of our homes.
The right lighting scheme can quickly turn a bland room into an exciting space. The colors of fixtures can determine the mood of a room also. For instance, red gives a feeling of warmth whereas blue or green gives off a feeling of coolness. The level of brightness also is important so that there is no eye- strain or glare when doing tasks.
For bathrooms the best light to see yourself in comes from side mirror lights and not from a light bar on the top. If you cannot fit side lights then go with no less than a 150 watts of total power.
Posted 11:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 08, 2006
Home Office Furniture
Home office furniture over the past several years has undergone great changes since the introduction of the computer in our lives. Employees working from their homes and small home businesses are becoming common to us all. Office furniture is a key part in this new era. To be able to operate properly we need to be equipped with a smooth flowing workspace.
Home office furnishings must meet the same needs as furniture in the office place and still be attractive as it may be visible as part of our home furnishings. Functional is key ingredient to buying this type of home furnishings. If hte work space is in a corner of the living room, try to choose something that will fit into your common decor so it won't look out of place. An armoir or hideaway computer station works well. Corner units can be made to fit most computer screens, with the main computer on the floor hidden away.
Many home offices are incorporated into living space used for other purposes as well. Wood wall clocks, folding book shelves, lights, desks and build your own furniture. Steel storage cabinets, safes, file carts, studio tables, desks and more.
Wind Chime Hooks
Hang your wind chime anywhere with these decorative hooks for wind chimes. Wind chime hooks add new color and style to your patio areas and front decks. These windchime hangers are also able to hold some pretty heavy objects not just your chimes.
The nature themed wind chime hooks come in French Bronze, Verdigris and Pewter Silver finishes and will also accommodate a large hanging basket filled with colorful flowers. Bring a colorful accent to your deck or patio area.
The stained glass wind chime hook is made out of steel to hold up to 50 lbs. It can be used to hang plants, bird feeders, wind chimes and more. This beautiful hook is rust and weatherproof. The vibrant color you see when you open up the box will last forever it comes in pink, purple and sky blue. It will not fade even in the hottest sunlight and can be left outside and not get damaged. The hook itself has a copper finish on the front and back that will not tarnish or discolor. This hook will make the perfect addition to your hanging decorations around the home.
April 07, 2006
About Lamp Shades
I found out there are really only five styles. Bell or empire, Drum, oval, rectangular and square. All of these look a little different but they all still measure the same. The most important feature being how the lamp shade attaches to the lamp.
You can usually find that the bell, oval and square lamp shades come in all three attachments spider, harp and uno. The drum and rectangular shades attach mostly by the clip on and spider wire attachments.
There are only 3 basic styles of lamp shades found for all common lamps whether they are desk, table or floor lamps.
1. Spider with Harp - This is the most common type of fitting for table and floor lamps.
2. Uno - normally found on smaller table lamps. No harp is needed as the wire fitting is permanently attached to the shade.
3. Clip On - found on smaller accent lamps and chandeliers.
Hanging Pendant Lighting
Ceiling lights are generally divided into three types - flush-mount or recessed and semi-flush and pendant lighting. The flush-mount fixture fits closer to the ceiling; pendants, single lights suspended by tubing or chain; and chandeliers, fixtures with multiple lights suspended by chain or tubing and these fixtures provide general room lighting for the rooms in your house. They are available in incandescent, fluorescent and energy efficient compact models. The more specialized and ornate ceiling light designs include chandeliers, mini-pendants and ceiling fans with built-in light kits.
Pendant lights used as a decorative fixture can give you direct or diffused light depending on the style you buy. The best way to use this lighting styles is to add a dimmer switch to control the amount of light you need at certain times of the day or night.
Size is the most important factor when installing these lights. A pendant used over a dining table needs to be at least 12 inches narrower than the table itself or you will bump into it when moving around. This consideration is mostly for chandelier pendants.
Posted 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 05, 2006
Make your own Wall Mirrors
Oversized mirrors are one of the most popular home accessories found in homes today. They make interesting focal points in hallways and can make a small room space look much larger. The only drawback is that large wall mirrors that are least 5 feet high are very expensive. Be creative with your molding and buy 2 different sizes with the widest being on the outside so that it looks good resting on the floor. This is another way to reduce the hanging weight.
If you own a saw or know someone who does it is fairly easy to make a very decorative wall accent yourself. All you need is four pieces of baseboard molding, which you can purchase at any building supply store. Buy a mirror of the size you would like from a glass store, ( normally any auto glass outlet would have this). Next rough cut your moldings to at least 6 inches longer than you need. Before you put everything together double check your wall to see where you are going to hang it. Have someone mitre the ends like a door frame normally 45 degrees and then attach the moldings like a frame with square corners. You can use the mirror for this. There are different methods you can use to attach the mirror to the moldings - it is best to explain to the building supply store member what you are doing and they can tell you the best way to attach the mirror.
Read this befor buying a custom cut mirror
Large wall mirrors are very heavy so you will want to hang them on wall studs. Most homes are built with studs being 16", 18" and 24 inches. The reason you need to check this is to make sure your mirror frame will be positioned evenly across at least two studs. It just makes it easier at the end.
This idea was brought to you by www.decormotif.com
April 04, 2006
Bathroom Flooring
A bathroom addition is more complex than a bathroom remodeling. You'll probably have to add plumbing and make some structural changes to create the necessary space even for a small powder room. To keep the remodeling cost down, you usually can do the rough-in and finish carpenter work with standard hand tools.
Your floors must be structurally sound to support the weight of bathroom fixtures. Although most homes are constructed to handle the extra load, be extra cautious if you're planning a second-story bathroom addition. The area you are considering using might not be supported by a partition wall below, or have joists that are strong enough to hold the weight without reinforcement.
Since most bathrooms are relatively small in space as compared to other rooms in your home, the key to remodeling them successfully is to preplan the design. Measurements are critical more so than in any other room in your home. For example, you can't put a six-foot bathtub in 5 1/2 feet of space unless you change a wall or rearrange the structural members in the room.
Remember, too, that bathrooms are damp. You must choose materials that are moisture-resistant. There are plenty on the market, so this shouldn't be a problem for you.
Read more about bathroom flooring
Posted 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)April 01, 2006
Contemporary Area Rugs
Contemporary area rugs are not only for saving expensive wood flooring and carpets from heavy traffic but are the new home decorating ideas. Classic and modern styles will also change the entire look of a room in minutes without painting or wall papering. The choices in contemporary and traditional rug designs will enable you to match any color scheme you have in the home.
In the bedroom a round rug really is a nice touch when the floors are cold. These styles also come as a play rug in many colors with roads and games on them so your children will have hours of fun playing on them.
When Buying a contemporary rug think of the different texture and feel that they have. A contemporary styled area rug or floor mat is a very inexpensive floor covering that comes in a variety of sizes. These carpet runners will also add a unique decorating theme to any home. It only takes a minute to place these carpet rugs and if you are concerned about it slipping you can also place a inexpensive rug pad underneath to soften it or hold it in place.
Posted 07:39 AM | Permalink