What Are Light Fixtures Used For?
January 15, 2008
Light fixtures are something not many of us think about. But, the way we light a room can cause us to feel a certain way or enhance what we want to accomplish in that room. There are many types of light fixtures for all areas of the home and even outdoor lighting fixtures for landscaping designs.
Planning to remodel a room? Consider light fixtures as one element to change. For instance, bathroom lighting fixtures can be changed from a bulb in a ceiling light fixture to lights sockets over the vanity and recess lighting throughout the room. The effect can be stunning. And all from just changing the bathroom light fixtures. You may wish to change the lighting in your home from dull, standard light to contemporary lighting fixtures thus changing the theme and style of the room instantly.
To find styles and ideas about your lighting fixtures, try checking into them at your local home improvement store. They often have many, many options and can special order things that they do not regularly carry. Or, you may wish to check out the online retailers that offer even more options for all lighting needs. You will find them by doing a simple web search for lighting fixtures using your favorite search engine on the internet. You’ll find many, many different websites to look into.
Why Not Add a Shower To Your Bathroom?
January 14, 2008
If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom and redoing or adding showers to them, consider all of your choices. The age we live in has allowed us many choices in what we want in our homes. We can choose from high end, high quality items to comfortable old favorites. When looking to redo or install a shower in your bathroom, you have many things to consider.
Start by knowing the size of the area you wish to install the shower. Or, if you have a previous shower already installed, removing the old will tell you whether any of the existing elements there will need to be repaired or replaced. Consider where the drains are located and how stable the flooring is. Once this information is obtained, you can move onto the design stages.
Taking a trip to the nearest home improvement store will give you many ideas. Don’t want to leave the house? Check online stores and even specialty stores that can give you many, many choices. Bathroom showers come in many shapes and sizes and are made from different qualities of materials. Consider whether you want to have an open area surrounded by walls or more of a bathroom shower stall which is more enclosed with a door. Some very nice ones can be made out of stone and ceramics. Others, more commonly used, are made from steal or plastics. Finding what suits you needs and tastes is important. Remember to keep in mind the costs and the installation fees if you will not be installing it yourself.
Creative Decorating Ideas Using Old Windows
January 13, 2008
A Room With A View
Have you ever wished you had a great view right outside your bedroom window but all you see when you wake up in the morning is the wall of the next-door neighbor’s house? Well then follow these easy steps to create your own window with a great view.
What You Will Need for This Decorating Project:
1. An old window preferably with the glass still intact. You can find these at flea markets or salvage yards.
2. Poster or picture with a pretty view large enough to put behind the window.
3. 2 mug hooks
4. 1 nail
5. Wire
6. 10 thumbtacks
7. Hammer
If you want to paint the window, do this before moving on to the first step. You should consider though that sometimes the weathered, antique look adds a lot of charm.
How to Get This Look:
- Put the window on the floor and put the poster or picture on it so that the front is facing down.
- Use the thumbtacks to attach the picture or poster to the window.
- Make sure the picture is right side up.
Tiles are the Foundation Stone for Your Stylish Bathroom!
January 12, 2008
Tiles can increase the value of any home. Ceramic tiles, mosaic tile, floor tile all add an extra quality to your home. Tile can be found throughout a home from the kitchen, bathrooms, and even the flooring. Tiles are widely available in most home improvement stores and also in specialty stores throughout the company. Finding the right tile for a home with the right color, design, and even pattern can seem overwhelming. But, the results of this project can be beneficial for years to come.
Ceramic tile is one of the strongest that can be purchased. It comes in many colors and textures as well as designs and patterns. Mosaic tiles, or tiles that form a pattern once laid properly are an elegant element that can be added to a home. Mosaic tiles also offer a wide range of selection.
Bathroom tiles add quality as well as extra security. They can protect drywall and paint from water damage if properly installed. Floor tiles provide the same level of protection. These tiles are usually easy to clean and maintain. While normal mopping and washing can be effective, often an extra measure to keep them up to standard is to scrub the grout and edges with a brush. Elbow grease being the best cleaning product. While this does not have to be done each time the tile is cleaned, doing it regularly will improve the look of the tile overall.
Rising Damp
January 11, 2008
It doesn’t sound like a particularly interesting topic, however a quick search on the worlds favourite internet search engine will show that in some circles rising damp is a very hot topic indeed. The trouble is that it appears that it could indeed be some type of religion or god; does it exist, or doesn’t it? The truth of the matter is that rising damp does indeed exist in one form or another, but it is often misdiagnosed, or you can often pay for expensive treatment that really isn’t necessary.
Rising damp in buildings may be defined as the vertical flow of water up through a permeable wall structure, the water being derived from ground water. The water rises through the pores (capillaries) in the masonary by a process loosely termed “capillarity.” In other words the masonry acts like a wick The common causes are deterioration due to age and bridging of a damp course with internal concrete floors, renders or external paths and earth levels (a damp course is specifically designed to avoid the possibility of rising damp- it is built of a matter of course in all new buildings).
Bathroom Remodel - The Plan
January 10, 2008
Planning a bathroom remodel? Each home project of this nature can be broken down into 5 distinct steps. Following through each step will help this often confusing process make more sense and produce a better outcome.
Bathroom Design
Ask yourself the question - “What will I have when I’m finished”. Similar to planning a road-trip, a successful build project begins with an effective vision of what you want. This step is vital even if you intend to hire a professional to complete the job.
Choosing hardware and materials
Every bathroom remodel varies in the level of work and expense involved. To save a bit of cash you may want to consider refinishing a tub instead of replacing it. Often times a refinishing a bathroom tub will cost less than half price of replacing it. Old bathroom vanities and sinks are often the spark that ignites the bathroom remodeling process to begin with. Spend time at the hardware store to get some quick ideas on vanities, tubs and showers.
When choosing a vanity, consider:
Furniture Slipcovers ? The Cheap and Easy Way to Give Your Furniture a Makeover
January 10, 2008
Are you tired of the look of your furniture? Do you fancy changing the appearance of your room, but don’t want the cost and hassle of buying a whole new suite? Well, the good news is that giving your home a makeover can be as simple as adding some furniture slipcovers. If you have some pieces of furniture with mismatching upholstery or you simply want a change, then some new slipcovers could work wonders.
So, what exactly are furniture slipcovers? They are a cheaper alternative to re-upholstering your furniture. Re-upholstery can be an expensive option depending on the amount of work needed to make your furniture look as good as new. It can involve replacing the existing fabric, replacing worn out cushions and in some cases fixing the frame and springs. It depends on the value of the furniture as to whether it is worth the effort and expense. Furniture slip covers on the other hand are basically fabric covers that can easily be fitted over existing upholstery.
How to Modify Your Landscaping to Protect Your House from Burglars
January 9, 2008
Believe it or not, landscaping can be an important part of a good home security plan. A burglar who is “casing the joint” from the street will choose the house with tall shrubs and trees that provide hiding places. Homes with little or no outdoor lighting are preferred targets as well.
So, how can you landscape to protect against burglars while still creating an aesthetically pleasing yard? Here are a few tips:
You don’t need to eliminate trees, but keep them trimmed back from your house; tree branches can be used as a ladder if they are next to a window or skylight.
Mow your lawn regularly; an unkempt lawn can suggest to a thief that the owners are away on a trip.
Store ladders, lawn chairs, and picnic tables out of sight lest they be used as a means to reach high windows.
Trim back shrubs growing near doors and walkways, keeping them 3 feet or shorter in height. Also, don’t allow shrubs to block any of your windows.
Adding gravel under windows makes for noisy footing for would-be thieves.
Consider planting thorny bushes (of the low growing variety) around windows. Some examples are: Hawthorne, Rose Shrub, and Barberry.
10 Quick Ways to Change Your Fire-less Fireplace from a Black Hole to a Worthy Focal Point
January 8, 2008
Everyone loves a fireplace aglow with a roaring fire or flickering embers. But your fireplace need not be a gaping empty hole–like a picture frame without a picture–those times you choose not to have a fire.
As you look over these ideas, you’ll recognize any that will need to be adapted if you have young children or pets with access to the fireplace.
- Ivy Basket: A lovely basket filled with a thriving ivy plant adds a touch of nature to your room. Let the ivy trail onto the hearth to keep the look informal.
- Autumn Vegetables: In the fall, create an arrangement of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and silk leaves in autumn colors. Set some of your vegetables on upturned wooden bowls to vary their heights.
- Pine Cones: An arrangement of pinecones of varying sizes, displayed in a large basket, wooden bowl, firewood basket, or even an old washtub works well for a causal country décor. Scatter some of the pinecones around the container, too.
- Pottery Jug & Dried Plants: For another country autumn look, display a large pottery jug in your fireplace, and around it make a loose arrangement of intertwined, dried grapevine. Mingle some other clusters of dried plants into the grapevine. Dried baby’s breath, for example, keeps the look open and airy.
- Poinsettias: Blooming poinsettias, especially ones so large they practically fill the fireplace, look stunning during the winter. Depending on your room, the white ones may be even more dramatic than the red ones. Put smaller potted poinsettias on the hearth.
- Tropical Vignette: Let your fireplace provide the frame for a tropical retreat vignette when summer rolls around. With a piece of driftwood, display large seashells and colorful glass fishing balls-some perched on the driftwood or on white candle holders to give them height.
The truly venturesome might set these goodies on a base of rippling white sand.
Making Space for Sacred Space
January 7, 2008
When you read a great inspirational book, prayer, or article, don’t you think to yourself, “What a great idea! I should do more daily rituals, prayer, meditation.”? It always seems like a great idea, right? We know that sacred practices and sacred space bring peace, harmony, joy, and ease into our lives. Sounds like a great idea!
The problem is that the impulse to add more sacred activity into our lives only lasts for a few moments-then life intrudes and we forget all about it until the next time we read something inspiring. So how can we really make space for sacred space in our lives? Luckily it’s not as hard as you think. Check out these simple ways you can expand the sacred in your life:
1) Be Simple and Consistent: Consistency in creating sacred space is much more important than quantity. Choose one sacred practice you will do every day, and do it every day. Even if you just sit and breathe for 3 minutes in silence, you’ll feel the benefit of those 3 minutes throughout your day.
