Tag-Archive for » Bedroom «

What is your Garden Costing You?

21 Mar 2012 by admin

It can be a scary exercise to sit down and work out exactly what is spent every year, on the average home gardens and lawns.

Try adding up the costs of plants, weedicides, pesticides, fungicides, fertilisers, petrol, mower and trimmer maintenance, weed eater cord, garden mulch and even water costs. Even the time and effort we go to in order to maintain a good-looking environment for our families and ourselves can amount to a substantial price.

So it is no wonder that many people are looking at ways to save money for more important causes.

One of the first things that you can do to save money, is to make use of as much of that organic matter that many people throw in the bin or wash down the sink.

For instance do you throw out your lawn clippings? Do you dutifully wrap up and throw out those old veggie scraps?

Are you one of those people who regularly get the trailer out and make trips down to the landfill with a pile of branch prunings?

What about those pile of leaves you threw in the bin last autumn?

Do you realise that all of those things can be turned into a wonderful form of plant food, as well as being used as a barrier to prevent the soil from loosing moisture and therefore increasing the amount of time between watering your garden. An organic mulch will also improve the soil structure, increase the good animals like worms while assisting in decreasing the nasty pests living in the soil.

By keeping these sorts of things within your own garden you are also assisting in reducing the effects that city living is having on the environment in landfill problems and costs.

There are a number of different ways that you can recycle these piles of organic matter within your own yard. One is to apply the bulk organic matter directly to your garden beds, ensuring that you don’t pile the material directly up against the trunks or main stems of the plants. A second idea to get a worm farm and recycle your kitchen waste that way; the worms provide you with a very strong and nutritious fertilising liquid for the garden as a bonus. This liquid is so strong it has to be diluted 10-1.

Don’t, by the way, put meat products, citrus peels or onion and garlic in with the worms. A third way is to purchase or construct your own compost pile/bin/tumbler and recycle the material that way.

So just by composting your old leaves, soft cuttings, veggie and fruit scraps, chipped branches, lawn clippings etc., you can do a lot to reduce your costs that you would have spent on such things as garden mulch and fertilisers as well as assisting your plants to last much longer between watering periods. So as you can see there are a number of reasons for not throwing away all that organic material.

Category: Gardening  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment

Moroccan Home Decorating Ideas

21 Mar 2012 by admin

Tired of looking at the same bedroom, same dining room and same living room again and again? Then it’s time for a change. This time to not just change the furniture or the color of your home, rather go for a completely different look. Decorating your home in Moroccan style is the latest trend these days. Morocco is like a melting pot of different cultures and styles and so the Moroccan style décor will have some of the features of every culture and style. One can even see hints of Arabic style in it.

Moroccan home décor can be classified into two types – urban Moroccan decor and rural Moroccan decor. The urban décor involves the use of ceramics, metal, wood and leather. On the other hand, the rural décor has more of the Middle Eastern influence, with an emphasis on the use of rugs, fabrics and embroideries. The best feature of having a Moroccan style decoration is that the objects used in it are usually those that have use in practical life too. Given below are some tips that will help you in decorating your home in the Moroccan style.

Moroccan Style Decorating Ideas

Use of Bright Colors

When decorating your home Moroccan style, make sure to use bright natural colors. The colors like green and blue, found in the sea of the area, and the ones like gold and yellow, found in the surrounding desert, should be used as much as possible. You can combine other colors like vibrant red, orange or purple with blue or gold to create an effervescent ambience. Feel free to use of vibrant colors such as pink fuchsia, lavender, and orange while keeping the aesthetics in mind.

Bring Nature Home

For creating the tropical atmosphere seen in Morocco, you can make extensive use of plants. The more exotic the plants, the better look they will bring to your house. At the same time, they will also provide you with some greenery in the ‘concrete-jungle’ world of today. If it is feasible, you can also get textured walls.

Lighting

Lighting plays a very important role in adding that perfect Moroccan flavor look to your home décor. Moroccan light fixtures are totally different from those used in the other parts of the world. Moroccan light fixtures include Moroccan sconces, Moroccan chandeliers, Moroccan lanterns, Moroccan hanging pendants, and Moroccan lamps. A great source for quality handmade Moroccan light fixtures as well as Moorish lighting is a California company called Saint Tropez Boutique that design and handcrafts Moroccan light fixtures in Casablanca, Morocco and exclusively distributes them in the U.S.A. The reason why I like Saint Tropez Boutique because they are unique Moroccan light fixtures designs, plus they handcrafted from top quality Moroccan solid brass that has been carved into refined and intricate patterns. Addition to that Saint Tropez Boutique is the exclusive dealer in the U.S.A that has Moroccan light fixtures pre-wired for the UL-Standard (pre-wired for the U.S Standard wiring). To learn more about Moroccan lighting by Saint Tropez Boutique, please visit them online at: http://www.sainttropezboutique.us

Extensive Use of Textures

Moroccans love extensive use of textures in their home. So, if you want to have a Moroccan style look, rule out too much use of smooth and sleek materials. In fact, the fusion of multiple textures and shapes will be best. You can have darkened wood plank floors, which can be covered with natural fiber rugs of sand-ish color. This will not only add texture to the room, but also provide you with some comfort under the feet. You can also try draping fabric from the ceiling.

Some Other Tips

To learn more about Moroccan home decorating, please contact  :

Saint Tropez Boutique

25 Evelyn way, San Francisco

California 94127

Phone: (415) 513-5920

Email: sales@sainttropezboutique.us

Web: http://www.sainttropezboutique.us

Category: Decorating & Remodelling  Tags: , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment

Modern Bathroom Design For Dummies

21 Mar 2012 by admin

For many of us, the bathroom is the one room in the house where the style hasn’t changed in 15 years. Rather than spending money on renovating the bathroom, we put the money towards remodeling the kitchen, buying new furniture and carpeting for the living room, or renovating the master bedroom. The bathroom is almost always the last room in the house to get a face lift. Nevertheless, the time will come (or quite possibly has come) for the bathroom to shed its 1970s wallpaper and linoleum, and be reborn in a more modern décor.
However, remodeling the bathroom takes more than changing the paint, paper, and flooring. If you want to do it right, you need to get rid of that outdated vanity, sink, and faucet, (yes, even the faucet) and replace them with some modern bathroom fixtures.
Your Contemporary Bathroom Options
If you haven’t kept up with the latest modern bathroom design, you might not realize the number of different styles and designs available to you (believe it or not, avocado green and yellow isn’t “in” anymore). Recently modern bathroom design has become quite cutting edge and, more importantly, affordable. Because of the Internet and online bathroom renovation retailers, many of today’s fashion-forward and “hip” designs are more available and affordable to the public.
However, as affordable and available as these designs may be, many people still don’t know what styles are available to them and how to choose the right bathroom fixtures.
Selecting Your Modern Bathroom Vanity
Vanities today are both functional and fashionable. They come in many different sizes, shapes, heights, depths, colors, materials, etc. The key to choosing a vanity out of the hundreds of contemporary vanities available on the market today is to select one that: 1) fits your bathroom space, and 2) matches the new color of your bathroom. It’s easy to get carried away and purchase a highly stylized modern vanity even though you know it’s going to take up 75% of the space in your bathroom. If you want your vanity to work perfectly with your new décor, measure the space you have available and take a color swash of the new bathroom paint color with you when shopping for a vanity. It will help you purchase a contemporary bathroom vanity that goes perfectly with your new décor.
Selecting Your Modern Bathroom Sink
Believe it or not, sinks come in many different colors and shapes. Today, you can find bathroom sinks in any color with just about any design imprinted on it. There is no limit when it comes to sink design, but there is a limit when it comes to purchasing one for your new bathroom redesign. You should never purchase a sink without considering everything else that’s going into your new bathroom. In many cases, the sink is the focal point of the bathroom and ties the entire room together. If you select a modern sink that doesn’t work with all components in your bathroom, the look and feel of your renovated bathroom can be completely thrown off. When selecting a contemporary sink, find one that matches and fits your new (or existing) vanity. Your sink and vanity should appear and function as one solid unit. Don’t choose a sink just because it’s “cool” or has an awesome design. Make sure the sink you select will fit perfectly with your vanity and the new décor of your bathroom.
Selecting your Modern Bathroom Faucet
If you truly want to transform your bathroom into a work of modern art, you need to select your bathroom faucet carefully. Modern bathroom faucets come in different shapes and sizes, giving you many options to choose from. The sink and vanity you select will dictate the height, depth, and shape of the bathroom faucet you need to get. Don’t purchase a faucet that will make your sink and vanity look awkward (it’s easier to do than you think). Find one that’s the perfect height, depth, and shape for your sink/vanity combo.
For more information, visit http://www.modernbathroom.com

Category: Bathroom  Tags: , , , , ,  Leave a Comment

Giving Your Kitchen A Complete Makeover…And On A Very Low Budget—Demolition

20 Mar 2012 by admin

GIVING YOUR KITCHEN A COMPLETE MAKE OVER…AND DOING IT ON A LOW BUDGET AT THAT— DEMOLITION: PHASE ONE Um Um good, good old home made banana pudding and chocolate cake. I can almost smell it now, the aroma slowly filling the air with delicious foods and tasty treats that makes your mouth watery just to think about it. And what about all the main entrees that go along with the tasty deserts? It’s no wonder that in our house the kitchen is our favorite place for food and good conversation and I suspect that is true for most American families…and probably for families around the world as well. What better place for friends and love ones to gather than in the kitchen for good things to eat and good things to drink. With mom in the kitchen mixing a whole lot of love with everything she prepares, how can it get any better than that? Practically every home, condominium, townhouse and apartment has a kitchen in it, however sometimes after years of much use and abuse, kitchens can become worn, outdated; no longer functional and in some cases down right depressing. Ceilings that have collected smoke, soot, dirt and even insect bile no longer make looking up a pleasant experience; not to mention drywall (sheetrock) that looks like it might fall down any given day. Walls that have accumulated layers of thick almost immovable grease and cooking oil that looks gross. And the floor looks like it has been a long, long time ago since it was new and attractive looking. You see, kitchens take more abuse and have to endure some of the most extreme conditions, unlike any other room in your home, therefore, it is only natural that over time it will need a complete upgrade and that is what this article is all about. We did a kitchen total makeover for one of our clients and we are going to tell you just how we did it…and on a very meager budget as well. Perhaps, this can be some sought of informative guide that can help you with your kitchen make over—at least we hope it does. So sit back and take a ride with us as we offer pointers and tips on how you can transform your kitchen into a beautiful new and exciting place for a much lower cost than if you hired a contractor to do it. Let’s get started.
DEMOLITION: OUT WITH THE OLD
Before you can begin implementing new and exciting changes to your kitchen you must first take the time and get rid of the old. When it comes to demolition I like to begin at the top and work my with down, in other words, I like to start with the ceiling and work my way down to the floor. Your approach may be just the opposite and if that is what you’re comfortable doing than so be it. But before you begin make sure you have on all your safety gear and safety goggles. The operative word is safety and working safely is paramount to everything else. If you need to file a permit with your local officials by all means do so. And if you feel uncomfortable doing this type of work hire a contractor. This type of work is dirty and nasty and it can be very, very dangerous; so be careful and avoid any and all accidents. We do this for a living and we abide by these same rules and safety measures that I’m giving you, so practice safety every step of the way.
Before I begin to tear out the old drywall in the ceiling, I remove the lighting fixture in the ceiling and then I cover the expose electrical wires with electrical tape or electrical twist caps. If need be, go to your breaker box and turn off the electricity that leads to the kitchen. Again, if you’re uncomfortable doing this, then be sure to contact a reputable contractor and leave all the cares and responsibilities for him to deal with. This type of work is not for everybody and everybody is not comfortable doing it. But for those who are and those who want to do it than let’s continue on. Generally speaking, when it comes to tearing out old drywall you can use any number of tools to get the job done, but I prefer to use a hammer and sometimes even a shovel. Ceilings are usually eight feet high and higher, so I use a tool that allows me to stand on the floor and reach up and tear the drywall out. If your ceilings are higher you may need the use of a stepladder or even scaffolding, it just depends on what is more comfortable for you. Most of the tools used for demolition can be rented from your local rental center, or you can buy tools and equipment from your neighborhood home improvement center—the options are open.
Once the drywall has been removed from your ceiling you will need to go on and remove the nails/screws that held the drywall in place. Simply remove the nails with a hammer and the screws with a screw gun/cordless drill. You must remove all nails and screws from the ceiling joists in order to install the new drywall.By now all the appliances, cookware, dishes and counter top items should have been removed from the room, if not, you should do it now. If you can’t remove your stove and refrigerator make sure it is covered well. It would be ideal to have everything removed from the room, however, sometimes that is not an option; so all that you cannot remove from the room just make sure it is completely covered to protect it from dirt, dust and flying debris. If your ceiling is a plaster ceiling and it is in need of repair, you might want to call a plaster contractor to take a look at it, but if it is in relatively good condition with the exception being a few hair line cracks then you should be able to do that yourself. And if you have a ceiling that is wood then by all means check to see if the wood is warped: bowed; broken; splintered or just plain old ugly; if so, it should be repaired or removed. In order to give your ceiling a fresh new attractive look you must do away with the old and start anew.
DEMOLITION: PHASE TWO
With the ceiling completely removed and the ceiling joists cleaned of old nails/screws we can proceed to remove the walls. This can be difficult to do if some of your large appliances are still in place. Getting behind the refrigerator and stove will be hard to do with them still in place, but if you are doing a complete make over to your kitchen then nothing should be left in place. You really have to find a place to store your large appliances as well as the smaller ones. If you are going to replace them then you should be able to get the company that’s delivering your new appliances to carry them off for you, if not, then you might have to arrange to have an independent trash hauler pick them up for you at an additional charge, I’m just not sure how that works in your area. But if you plan to reuse them as part of your new kitchen decor then make sure they are well covered and protected. Plastic covering should suffice, but be sure to use multiple layers of plastic for added protection. Make sure the dishwasher has been disconnected and moved out of the room and remember to turn off the water supply line so that you will not flood your home and possibly your neighbors as well. This part can get really serious so you might need to consult with a plumber to assist you and removing faucets and so forth. Remember, if you’re unfamiliar with this aspect of demolition don’t hesitate to call in a professional plumber that is reputable in your area. You could be in for a very large lawsuit(s) if you make a mistake in this area, so tread these waters with the utmost of care.
TEARING OUT THE CABINETS AND WALLS
Somehow old kitchen cabinets really get a bad rap, although for years when they were in their prime they were the darling of the kitchen, they were loved and adored, but now that many moons have come and gone and they have lost their luster and charm, they have become the scorn of many a housewife. So now is the time to say good riddance to them—both top and bottom set. They are no longer needed or wanted and the time has come for their demise. Say goodbye to your old friends and let the demolition commence. And now that they have been completely removed somehow your kitchen look miraculously larger…and much more roomier. This can only start your imagination to begin running non stop at all the possibilities for your new kitchen makeover, but wait a minute there, we have more work to do…much more work to do.
Before you begin taking out the old walls in your kitchen, first check to see if there are any baseboards, trim or even shoe moulding that needs to be removed before you proceed. If indeed it is then by all means remove it before you attempt to tear out the walls; it will make it much more easier to do then to leave the trim and baseboards in place. This is also a good time to remove all doors and doorcasing too. You really don’t want any hindrance when it comes to tearing out your walls. Again, a good hammer will suffice when it comes to tearing out your walls, but you may prefer a sledge hammer or a short handle shovel, or a crow bar; whatever feel comfortable and workable for you—use that. Make sure the electricity is still off because you don’t won’t to be electrocuted due to negligence on your part, so be ever watchful and stay alert. Like the ceiling, you must remove all the old drywall that’s covering your studs in order to facilitate a complete kitchen makeover. So get rid of all that old drywall and start fresh. If there are some pieces and panels of drywal that looks good, then by all means allow it to remain, but in my opinion it would just be best to remove the remaining pieces/panels and go with all new drywall.
REMOVING THE FLOORING
With everything practically cleaned out of the kitchen there should be only one thing left—the floor. Whatever it is; vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, natural stone, or whatever, it must be removed in order to make way for the new flooring. If you choose to keep it; that might be a viable option if it is stable and in good condition, that is, if it is in good enough condition to apply a new floor on top of it without causing a problem or premature floor failure. I personally like to remove all existing flooring to avoid any possible problems down the road and not only that but I am just as concern with the subflooring that lies underneath the finish floor. And my concerns don’t stop there because the foundation is the key to a successful flooring project. It doesn’t matter what type of flooring you choose to install, one thing is for sure, if your foundation is bad your flooring project will subsequently end in failure…and that’s a written guarantee you can bank on. Make sure your foundation is solid and level and ready to receive a finish floor on top of it. If you need to call out a foundation contractor don’t neglect to do it.Assuming that you have chosen to remove your old finish flooring, make sure you have done it thoroughly.
DEMOLITION:CONCLUSION
In your quest to remodel/renovate your kitchen it is imperative that you remove the old in order to make room for the new. Personally, I really do enjoy doing demolition work. Although it is hot and sweaty work (doesn’t matter what season of the year), I truly enjoy removing the old and making way for the new. But in caution just let me say this: demolition is not a time for indiscrimanate destruction, instead, it is a time for careful planning and even more carefulness when it comes to executing your plans. Demolition can be a real opportunity for irreversible destruction cause by a careless worker that’s working in a mindless way. Instead of using this as an opportunity to get familiar with the anatomy of your kitchen, a foolish person will use this as an opportunity to vent rage or worst to have fun. Both attitudes or inappropriate for this type of work and both attitudes are responsible for countless injuries and many deaths that have occurred while doing demolition work. So be smart and stay safe.
Disclaimer: This author assumes no responsibility for any injuries or deaths that might occur base on the content of this article. This article is written for the sole purpose of informing and entertaining. Please be advise to call a reputable contractor in your area. Thank you.

About the Author

Donald Thomas is owner and CEO of AMERICAN PAINTING AND PRESSURE CLEANING,INC.He has been in the home improvement business since 1984. Please feel free to visit our website for more full length feature articles and a whole lot of neat tools and equipment. http://www.americanpaintingandpressurecleaninginc.com

Category: Kitchen  Tags: , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment

The New Look Of Contemporary Bathroom Faucets

20 Mar 2012 by admin

When you think of a bathroom faucet, you think of one thing – function. Your bathroom faucet is there to bring water to your sink so you can wash your hands, brush your teeth, etc. But today, bathroom faucet manufacturers are focusing on form as well as function.
Contemporary bathroom faucets have evolved from plain, design-less fixtures into sleek, streamlined works of art. These new faucet designs are in direct response to the latest wave of cutting-edge contemporary bathroom design. As modern bathroom design advances, so does the look of bathroom faucets. A modern, state-of-the-art bathroom sink and vanity, for example, needs a more updated and contemporary bathroom faucet. As a result, bathroom remodelers now have a variety of faucet options to choose from.
Choosing Your New Contemporary Bathroom Faucet
If you’re going through a bathroom renovation and want the latest modern bathroom fixtures, you need to make sure everything matches, especially the faucet. As basic as a bathroom faucet may be, in many cases, it’s the faucet that ties your bathroom together. When selecting a contemporary bathroom faucet, you want to find one that is the right height and length for your new or existing sink. Contemporary bathroom faucets come in different shapes and sizes, giving you many options to choose from. The sink and vanity you select or currently have will dictate the height, depth, and shape of the bathroom faucet you need to get. Whenever you purchase a bathroom faucet, you must consider all components of the vanity set up (vanity/cabinet, sink, and faucet). Each element needs to work together in function and style if you want your vanity to have a cohesive look and feel. When shopping for your new contemporary faucet, always keep your vanity, sink, and new bathroom design in mind.
How to Pay Less for Your New Contemporary Bathroom Faucet
It’s true, the newer, more stylized contemporary bathroom faucets can cost a bit more than a run-of-the-mill faucet, but there are ways to save. Online bathroom furnishings wholesalers, such as http://www.modernbathroom.com, offer discount contemporary bathroom fixtures at prices that are significantly lower than most high-end bed-and-bath retail stores. These online wholesalers partner with manufacturers to get bargain-basement deals on everything from modern bathroom vanities to contemporary bathroom mirrors. Then, they pass the savings onto you, the consumer. If you purchase a faucet at the first place you look, you’re going to end up paying too much. If you want to save on your bathroom remodel, you need to shop around and definitely check out the online bathroom wholesalers.
Bathroom faucets no long look like they used to. Today, they’re highly stylized, sleek, and made of the highest quality materials. However, this new influx of contemporary bathroom faucets means higher prices for bathroom fixtures. That’s why if you want to save a few bucks on your bathroom remodel or faucet swap out, you need to find a retailer that offers discount bathroom faucets.

Category: Bathroom  Tags: , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Page 32 of 2,636« First...10203031323334405060...Last »