Monday, August 31, 2009

Makeover Your Small Bathroom Within a Budget

There are several ways to live your dull and tired bathrooms without spending huge money. As several things are available in the market for bathrooms makeover within your budget, so you can renovate your bathroom easily. Every day we use our bathroom, so it's a nice thing to give your bathroom a spacious and artistic look that will relax and invigorate your self in preparation for a day ahead. Let's have a discussion how we can make our bathroom more loving and caring.

Let's start the bathroom makeover with a theme so that it can be visualized easily with a proper direction. In bathrooms design trend the nautical and aquatic themes are most popular and you can use these themes. In case if you are having trouble in getting a better theme then you can use themes from other rooms in your house. Theme such as contemporary, rustic, period and country are few of the great ideas to start your bathroom makeover.

Now this is the time for improving the flooring of the bathroom. If your carpet is old enough and looking awkward then you should replace with inexpensive vinyl. If you already have a Vinyl flooring and you want it to have a make over then use a primer and paint it with a new color best match to theme of your bathroom. You also can cover the vinyl flooring with cheap vinyl tiles.

Paints and colors are the key vehicle in the journey bathroom s design and decoration. Paint on the walls and ceilings can make a big difference in your bathroom's look and feel. Few colors can work fine in the bathrooms such as Aquamarine, refreshing blue-greens, soothing blues and purples. These are the popular colors refresh and revitalize you bathrooms

Use fabrics such as shower curtains, bath mats and towels best match to the theme of your bathroom to add some extra feels to your bathrooms. Also don't forget to use some beautiful and decorative accessories such as: beautiful wall hanging pictures, candles, pot plants and many more according to the theme of your bathroom.

If you have a small bathroom, then you have to be very careful to wards the space of the bathroom. Storage space is is the major drawback of the small bathrooms. So before go for a small bathroom decoration just think what looks you want to give your bathroom whether it is modern looks or traditional looks. So this is is your first responsibility to think of the theme you would like to give your bathroom. If you are not able to think of a better theme or design of your bathroom, you should take the help of a professional bathroom designer or decorator.

If you don't want to take the help of professionals, try bathrooms design guide, laife style gallery and interior decoration magazine. These decorating sources will provide you a lot of information about the furniture to be used, excellent color schemes and accessories for your bathrooms according to the theme.

Bathroom Storage space:

Space saving furniture is the best way of creating a clutter free bathroom, especially if you have a small bathroom where it becomes mandatory for maximum use of the space. A space saving bathroom furniture is slim which can set in your bathroom easily and no need to compromise with design of the bathroom. Due to it's slim and reduce in depth size it can be fitted easily to a small bathroom. In your bathroom furniture you can store medicines, cosmetics, towels, cleaning products and many more.

This article was written by Mr. Rudradatta Rath provided courtesy of Pure Bathrooms, which is an online bathroom shop dealing with all range and brands of products for bathrooms. Purebathrooms.net sells bathrooms, taps, showers, whirlpool baths, radiators, bathroom accessories and furniture online throughout uk.

Kitchen Appliances - Appliances For Making Life Wonderful

The world is changing rapidly with technology. Life is very fast and people have no time for any extra work. We spend our precious time at home. Home is a very special place and kitchen makes home perfect. In present life it is very tough to survive without the useful electronic kitchen appliances. These household appliances provide the helping hand and the appliances have minimized the span of time drastically. These appliances are making life wonderful.

The kitchen appliances are available in many forms as a helping hand. These devices help the person in the kitchen fantastically so that more work can be done within a short span of time. The devices are available in the form of refrigerator,Toast maker, Dishwasher, microwave oven, sandwich maker, juice extractor and mixer etc. These advanced device are used in cooking, baking, grilling and washing the dishes. The modern day commodities meant for kitchen, increases the efficiency in the kitchen. There are certain factors that play a key role at the time of purchasing these electronic devices, like applications, durability, multi-functionality, fashion, stylish devices, quality and performance.

These appliances can change the functioning style of market structure as well as the market players. Technological innovations are taking place on daily basis. Every day, new technology with advanced features are changing the model of the kitchen appliances. Some big players in this regard have entered into the market, like samsung, Phillips, Electrlux, Jaipan, videocon and many more. We know that these electronic device reduces the unnecessary timing in kitchen. Dishwasher is a modern day device that is helpful in cleaning the dishes. It eats all dirt from utensils. This saves the time and protects people from skin and other diseases. Microwave oven is used in cooking and heating foods so that it may look like fresh food. Other useable appliances are also available such as Blender, coffee maker etc. Coffee makers are helpful in brewing the coffee without boiling the water in a separate pot. Many portable blenders are available in the market from the different brand home.

In the morning, every body looks quite in a hurry because of the office schedule. So, people needs quick ready-made breakfast. Everyone needs healthy and hygienic diets. For this purpose toastmaker, tea-maker, juice maker are available. One can get his favorite breakfast with the aid of these appliances. Toast maker is used for making toasts, whereas juice extractor makes juice by liquidising, whipping and grinding both dry and wet fruits with much comfort. Tea-maker is helpful in preparing the tea in a few seconds.

In this fast moving life, Kitchen appliances are playing a very good role in saving the precious and most valuable time. These electronic instruments play a very good job with much comfort and specialty. The information about all these devices is available with more viable features.

Alden Jerry is an author of Xpert4u a Price comparison site that provides the relevant information on various Games, electronics and mobile phones products. Cheap Electronics

Are Bathroom in Basement Remodels For You?

Are you thinking about expanding your home, but out of space on your main floors? If that's the case, it might be time to do something about your unfinished basement area. A small office, a guest room, a personal gym, or even an entertainment room might do the trick, but if you want to spend time down there, there's something else you'll need. A basement bathroom will keep you from having to run up and down stairs all the time, and it'll also add value to your home. End lines at the bathroom door by performing a bathroom in basement remodel.

There are a few things to keep in mind before you get that renovation started, however. You'll need a project plan with your intended schedule, budget, cost estimates, and work you want done. Keep this updated throughout the process of building your basement bathroom in order to get the best and most predictable results. Start by looking for ideas on your basement bathroom remodel. Home improvement stores, online articles and sites, and magazines are all a good place to start when you decide what you want your finished basement to look like. Think about color, lighting, space set up, and more. The better your plan is, the more likely you are to end up with a bathroom you love.

You'll also need to think about ceiling height, available space, moisture in the basement, basement temperature, and stability of the basement itself. Windows and lighting will be important if you don't want your bathroom in basement remodel to end up like a cave. You'll also have to consider ventilation to keep air moving in the house. An enclosed bathroom with no air movement could end up seeming musty and unpleasant. Remember to decide early on if you want a full or a half bath.

If you're thinking about doing the work yourself, you'll need to know a few things. Most people need basic carpentry and wiring skills to put up walls and get light fixtures working. You'll also have to have a good amount of plumbing experience if you plan on installing the toilet, sink, and tub or shower on your own. However, you don't have to do everything on your own. Calling a professional in for part or all of the work on your bathroom in basement remodel is a smart idea if you're not one yourself.

It may be a good idea to call a professional plumber for the piping, if you don't have the experience and knowledge to do it yourself. In some cases, you may also need to have a pro oversee or sign off on work that you've done yourself. That way, you'll be legal and up to local code. If you know how to frame, wire, and hang drywall (choose moisture resistant board for basements), but aren't sure about plumbing, calling a pro might be the best method you can use. It'll certainly save you some frustration and effort in the long run. Your bathroom in basement remodel can be a real success. All you have to do is have a good plan.

Thomas Johnsen is the Author and Leading Expert on Bathrooms in Basements and the creator of the publication Bathroom in Basement 101. Visit the site now to find the easy-to-understand step-by-step guides on basement bathroom construction available online today.

Right Door Closers For Your Doors

At our present time, our world has developed technologies to make us live comfortably and easier. We have been innovative and creative to keep up with the fast pace of our world. Everything we do demands us to be time efficient. And doors are not an exemption to that innovation.

If you are tired of opening and closing up your doors and you feel like wasting a few of your time just because of opening and closing it. Now there are close doors, we can just open our doors and it can automatically close. Through that, we do not have to be anxious if ever we have left our door open because it is the function of the door closers to mechanically close it.

It comes in various styles that will perfectly fit to your doors. Take also into consideration the amount of traffic that the door closers will control in that certain area for there are specific type door closer that can manage the amount of traffic of your door. So, before putting it up you must first calculate the quantity of traffic that the door closer will manage so that you can install the right door closer for your door.

There are those that are designed to tolerate a severe traffic jam; it is well-matched for main entrances of business offices, hotels, firms and the like. It has the competence to be used 300-400 times daily. There are also these types of closers that are for average traffic that can be used for 50-100 times daily. Make sure to use the well-suited door closers for your door for you to handily open and close the door. For outside doors, a backheck is considered necessary it is a third valve or control that is added to it so that the opening and closing of the door is not too quick.

It is in two styles, overhead and jambed mounted. These overhead door closers can be hidden or surface mounted while the jambed mounted style will fit between the door and doorframe and are completely unseen when the door is closed.

Because today people are so dependent with the internet, you can search for door closers online for you to easily purchase it at your own computer in your convenient time. The prices are within your means with the guarantee that it is made only of robust materials that can allow you to make of use it for many more years. It is useful these days for everything today should be speedy and time efficient. This is convenient not just at homes but as well as to business firms and companies because this can surely grant expediency to their clients and costumers.

Matthew Stanton writes an article about Door Closers which provides incoming and outgoing visitors of a particular building to close doors for them automatically. Simply visit this website at http://www.wholesalelocks.com/door-closers.html

Scalding Water From the Tap? Thermostatic Mixing Valve Can Help

It has happened to all of us, you turn on the hot water tap just to get a scalding flow of very hot water from the tap. The pain and sensitive skin that follows is the lowest level of injuries that are caused every year in the UK from overheated water, which in extreme cases leads to fatal injuries.

Last autumn the Health and Safety Executive issued new guidelines to care homes instructing them to install temper proof thermostatic mixing valves (TMV). This new set of guidelines came in the wake of another tragic fatal injury from scalding water.

Scottish Building Standards already include a requirement to install thermostatic mixing valves on all new property developments and major retrofit projects. The rest of the UK is not currently requiring this, but the Building Regulations body is reviewing this issue at the moment.

Regulations in the UK require storing hot water (such as inside your hot water cylinder) at between 60c and 65c to reduce the risk of Legionella. It is believed that the virus that causes the disease does not survive at these temperatures. However, water coming out at that temperature may cause scalding and must be mixed before coming in contact with the user.

Public buildings and communal hot water systems are predominantly in need of a TMV. This is due to the requirement of keeping the hot water at extremely high temperature all the way to the point of delivery to reduce the risk of Legionella.

Young children and old people are the most at risk from scalding water injuries. Hundreds of young children are admitted every year to hospitals in the UK with severe burns from hot baths. Their extra sensitive skin gets burned easily and they may be left with permanent scars. Similarly, older people may not feel the heat of the water fast enough or react fast enough to turn off the hot water tap, leading to severe burns. The same is true for mentally or physically impaired people that have slow response time and slow reactions to pain.

There are broadly two types of thermostatic mixing valves that are suitable for installation and certified:

TMV2 are thermostatic mixing valves that are designed for domestic premises but are suitable for most other circumstances. A risk assessment must be undertaken to confirm whether the premises are used by disabled or vulnerable people.

TMV3 valves are designed for higher performance to offer the maximum safety levels. TMV3 valves are required for all healthcare premises, or premises with disabled or vulnerable people (such as mentally or physically handicapped people).

According to manufacturers of thermostatic mixing valves, qualified plumbers are the only ones that should be allowed to install their kits. A professional plumber can easily install the kit between the cold and hot pipes to create the mixing action of the valve. The kits are normally fully assembled to provide all necessary components including tailpieces with isolation, a strainer and test points. When the installation is within a location with limited space, there are kits with a flexible connector and isolating filter valve.

Tal Potishman is editor of Heating Central. He publishes articles on condensing and combi boilers, St Albans plumbers, central heating, underfloor heating and solar systems systems. He specializes in helping save money by advising on efficient heating and renewable heating solutions.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

How to Use Stones in Building Your Home and Getting Acquainted to Its Various Effects

You can use various materials in building your home, at the same time making sure that they look beautiful at all times. The outside of your home is just as important as the interiors. Building a home, is not about making sure that only one part is a beauty. If it is your home, you will definitely ensure that every room, every side or every angle can be functional at the same time appeals to your eye.

The way you mix and match materials in your home is one of the main factors in making your home look great at all times. From traditional home designs to modern architecture, it has always been a practice that the proper calculations of the sizes and the effect of the materials are considered. One of the famous materials used in homes are stones.

Stone creates a natural look in your homes. It is usually used as part of the walls. It can have a smooth finish or it can be slightly textured to emphasize its nature. Nowadays, its color also varies to add a modern touch on its final effect. Buildings, hotels and other establishments, use them to give a professional look. Therefore, this means, using this kind of material is not longer primitive. In fact, it is already innovative.

One of the greatest uses of stones is a pool finish. Yes, it has an important role in creating effects on the waves of the water or even its colors. Definitely, they are always even and smooth. You do not want to have a rough surface to step on right. Definitely, this finish has an effect in bringing the all elements together to make your backyard look lovely. Whether day or night, with a combination of lighting, these materials create a lovely effect that can surely give a WOW effect to your homes. For whatever kind of occasion you are planning to celebrate in your homes, your pool can be the centerpiece of your party themes.

Stones are also famous for creating great walkways. They create a good contrast to your plants and flowers. It is gives you this country effect and just being surrounded with anything-natural gives a breathtaking scene for your homes. Cobblestones are one of the common designs that we see everywhere. On top of that, do you know that walking on cobblestones can be healthy? If you have read an article published by USA Today last July 2005, a survey was conducted and it showed that people who walked on these paths have lowered their blood pressure. This additional thought can help you push on going for this material in making those walkways. The added functionality can be a great health benefit for your family.

You see those things that you just see with the dirt, have great effects for walls, pool finishes and even walkways. Stones can be tweaked according to what is popular nowadays. It can bring nature inside your homes or even enhance what is outside. Smooth finish, textured, all natural, you name it; it is possible.

Chris Turley is a consultant for Wet Edge Technologies, supplying a wide variety of pool finishes with industry leading technology to support them.

Different Types of Scale

Most of the sales are done based on weight. Bench scales, pocket scales, jewelry scales, industrial scales, laboratory scales, bathroom scales, and baby scales are some of the common types of scales. Lab balances are used in the measurement of small weights ranging from micrograms to a few kilograms. Laboratory balances are mostly used in food research laboratories, chemical research laboratories, manufacturing research laboratories, pharmaceutical research laboratories and other research laboratories.

The different types of balances namely ultra micro analytical and micro analytical can weigh objects upto 3 grams. Semi micro analytical has a maximum capacity of 30 grams. Macro analytical has a maximum capacity of 160 grams, but precision can weigh objects between 160g-60 kg. These can measure tiny objects such as dust and lint. Floor scales can be used for both industrial and household purposes. Big industries use floor scale to measure the weight of their metals and other heavy objects. Bathroom weighing scale is mostly used at homes.

Bathroom scales can also be used in fitness centers and health clubs. Bathroom scales are used to measure the body fat. Large floor scales have capacities from 2500 lb to more than 30,000 lb. Drum scales can weigh from 500 lb to 800 lb. Bench scales have certain features like battery operator, adaptor, auto shutoff, battery indicator etc. some of the bench scales are quad spring, A & D model FG series, A& D model HV-G-HW-G series, titan stainless steel series, and GSE model 4400. Bench scales can weigh upto 100 lb. Truck scale weighing scale is used to measure the weight when the object is loaded in the truck. Once the scale is installed, it is difficult to move around. In United Kingdom they are called as weighbridges. Truck scales are mostly used in mines or quarries, recycling and bulk liquid and powder movement. Truck scales can be used by selling or charging by weight over the bridge and check weighing both axle weights and gross vehicle weights.

Economic digital scale is used to calculate small amounts in the kitchen. Make sure that the economic digital scale will give you accurate measurement. For smaller recipes if there is smaller difference between 1 gram and 15 grams of cinnamon will make a huge difference in the final product. Pocket scales can be carried in pockets. These are mostly used in military, hunting, and building construction applications. These can weigh items upto 500 grams. Industrial scales are mostly used in automotive and trucking, food service, processing, retail, hospitality, agriculture, railroad, engineering and construction. Jewelry scales are used to weigh pearl, silver, semi precious and precious stones, diamond, and gold. Spring scales are used in many industries. Those with high load capacities are frequently suspended from crane hooks and are known as crane scales. Small scales are household purpose are called as fish scales. Steel Coil scales have capacities from 20,000 lbs to 80,000 lbs. Heavy capacity scale has capacities from 10,000 lbs to 100,000 lbs. Scales are used for both household and industrial purpose.

Jacob Christopher is a seo copywriter for Floor Scales and Platform Scales. He has written many articles in various topics like Counting Scales, Used Floor Scale, Truck Scales, Portable Scales. For more information contact him at jacob123seo@gmail.com

Enlightening Findings About Home Inspections

Let's face it: For most people, the subject of home inspections is anything but a fun subject. However, it is an important subject. Increasingly, new home-buyers are required to make sure that their homes are up to a certain standard. Furthermore, it's in your own health interests to make sure that the new house comes up to those standards. So while it might not be terribly exciting, you would be well-advised to learn about this subject.

Back in 2001, a study was conducted by the Market Enhancement Group (or MEG) about home inspections. While that was seven years ago, it's the most exhaustive examination of the subject that has been conducted, before or since. The results of the study were enlightening.

First let's discuss the methodology of the study. It was done through MEG's omnibus poll. This poll consisted of 1,000 phone interviews which were divided equally among four regions of the United States, with 250 persons in each of these regions: the Northeast, the Midwest, the South, and the West. Those who responded to the survey were all U.S. consumers who had bought a house within the 18 months prior to the survey. There was a margin of error in the study of plus or minus 3.4 percent.

Now let's look at who the study found obtained an inspection. According to the study, 77 percent of recent house buyers had gotten a house inspection before they bought their homes. Seventy-nine percent had attended this inspection and participated in it. An astounding 97 percent said they felt the inspection was worth what they paid for it.

Only a tiny fraction -- 23 percent -- of home-buyers said they'd bought a new house without getting an inspection. Of those who did buy one, most selected their inspectors after receiving a recommendation for him or her from their real estate agent (69 percent).

Of those who hired an inspector, 43 percent did so only after their real estate agent suggested they do so; however, the majority, 57 percent, did so of their own volition.

Now let's consider the differences that the survey found according to geographical location. Those buying a new home in the Western region had the highest incidence of hiring a home inspector, at 81 percent. The South follows closely at 80 percent, with the Midwest next at 77 percent and he Northeast Region at 70 percent.

Just at those in the West had the highest incidence of hiring inspector, they also had te highest rate of selecting a home inspector after a real estate agent recommended the person.

However, home-buyers in the South

For home buyers getting a home inspection, the percentage of inspections conducted at their personal request was highest in the South Region (65%) and the West Region (60%), followed by the Midwest Region (53%) and the Northeast Region (47%).

For home buyers getting a home inspection, the percentage of inspections conducted at the real estate agent's request was highest in the Northwest Region (53%).
What this study shows us is that there are a whole lot of people who choose not to have their houses inspected--and of those who do hire an inspector, many do so only after a real estate agent suggests one. This means that many home-buyers are not yet independently convinced of the need for such an inspection. But here are some reasons--and areas of your house--that call for an inspection.

1) A home needs the exterior inspected. If a roof is just now starting to age, then the subtle defects and damages are probably not going to be readily apparent to you, a novice on the subject. They can be found by a qualified inspector, though. Keep in mind that you'll spend several thousand dollars resurfacing a roof if you wait too long. The same holds true for the siding. Finding problems while they're still minor can save you big bucks.

2) A home just as urgently needs the interior inspected. For instance, you don't want to wait until after you've moved in all your furniture to discover that your basement floods easily. It's important to have an inspector check the basement for any clues of possible water intrusion, like a damp odor, mildew, water stains, etc.

Also on the interior, the house should be checked for proper ventilation and insulation. What many people don't understand is that inferior ventilation, particularly in the attic, can actually accelerate the deterioration of your roof deck. This can cost a lot of money to fix, if you wait too long.

The interior inspection would also include a check of the paint surface, to make sure it does not contain lead paint.

3) And finally, a house needs to have its electrical work and plumbing inspected. You need a qualified inspector to check for problems such as over fused circuits, burned wiring, poor wiring connections, amateur-installed wiring, openings in the wall where a young one could put his or her fingers, and dead-ended / exposed wiring.

As for plumbing, you need an inspector who can look for old lead pipes or galvanized steel ones. Replacing bad ones could be costly. Naturally, he'll also look for leaks and, using a moisture meter, he'll evaluate plaster or wall board suspected of having damage caused by leaks. Many plumbing issues are not clearly visible to the average house-owner, which is why it's so essential to have a professional--one who knows where to look and what to look for -- do it for you.

There are many other responsibilities for a professional inspector. However, these are some of the crucial issues, and they are ones that any knowledgeable expert will be able to investigate. Most importantly, they are issues that, if left to an amateur, could result in expensive repairs in the not-too-distant future. Sure, hiring an inspector will cost money--but it's quite likely that it will save you more than it costs.

Olympian Civil Home and Building Inspections (866) 476-2056
Copyright 2008 Olympian Civil Home and Building Inspectors,
2008 All Rights Reserved

Please visit my inspection mega-site for more information about my full service home inspection and environmental testing company. We service Brooklyn, Queens, New York, Manhattan, Staten Island, Nassau County, Yonkers and the Bronx. You may also wish to visit my learning library which is packed with great tips and advice for buyers, sellers and homeowners alike. Lastly, you can also take advantage of my VIP referrals for vendors in over 50 home related trades, where your satisfaction is assured and the inspection of vendors completed workmanship or products is conducted on your behalf for free; visit my site for more details or call toll free 866-476-2056.

http://www.olympiancares.com/inspection-library-new-york-brooklyn-staten-island-queens-nassau-county-long-island-bronx-manhattan-yonkers-westchester.htm

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Bathroom Contractor Safety - Remodeling Contractors

This article isn't about contractors using the bathrooms safely, it's about contractors working on someone's house, remodeling a bathroom. When working on any part of the home, a contractor and his workers should think and work safely on any project, but working in a bathroom with more than one person can become a contractors safety nightmare.

I was working in a kitchen one time, with 11 workers. I finally couldn't take it anymore and left the job. This did not make the general contractor very happy but it saved me from getting into a fight with one of the other workers. Whenever you're working in a confined area like a kitchen, bathroom, crawlspace or attic, safety is going to be a priority and should not be overlooked, because someone else wants to get the job done two days sooner.

Most accidents happen working in confined areas because of poor time management or someone else is in a hurry. Whenever you start to speed the destruction or assembling of any part in the house, you're increasing the risk of an accident. Most accidents happen from people in a hurry or poor planning.

As a bathroom remodeling contractor, you should plan properly and only use the minimum amount of people necessary to work in confined areas. If you are tiling the bath tub surround, one to two people is more than enough. If you're tearing the bathroom apart, during the demolition process, a maximum of three people should be used. During the demolition process, make sure your workers are thinking safely and clearly. Ripping a large piece of plaster off of the wall, that has wall anchors in it could grab a hold of something like an electrical wire or plumbing pipe. This of course could cause damage to the home, as well as a risk of electrocution.

Use your head when working in the bathroom and you will greatly reduce the possibility of any accidents. Accidents can easily be prevented my working cautiously on anything.

Bathroom Remodeling Contractor

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors

If you're really interested in learning more about remodeling, new home construction, home maintenance, home repairs and really want to get the nuts and bolts of home improvement. Visit our web site and select from the best-selling home building books on the Internet

Time - Saving Bathroom Cleaning Tips

Cleaning a bathroom can be a time consuming effort, especially if grime builds up between cleaning sessions. Instead of slaving over your bathroom for hours every weekend, use these simple bathroom cleaning tips to keep your bathroom shiny and clean while cutting your work in half.

Simplify Your Cleaning Products

First, simplify your cleaning products. Reduce the number of cleaning products you use. You really only need to use a few basic products, and it's up to you to decide whether to go green, and which products are your favorites. A few of my favorites are Method Shower Spray, Squeegee tool for the shower, Clorox Clean Up (good for tubs, showers, sinks, and fixtures), glass or window cleaner, toilet cleaner, and disinfecting wipes (again, I use Clorox). Save time by keeping these products where you'll be doing the work - in the bathroom. Make sure to keep them in a locked cabinet if you have little kids. If you don't have young kids, you can even use a portable caddy.

Clean Often

Clean every day or whenever things get dirty. This might seem counterintuitive - after all, won't you end up spending more time if you clean daily? Well, not really. It only takes a moment to wipe down a counter top during the course of your day. Let that same spill sit on the counter top all week and it will take you several minutes of scrubbing to get rid of it. Also, if you let things build up too long, the task of cleaning can seem overwhelming. Take care of it now, and it's over. When you do a more thorough cleaning, you won't be dealing with gross buildups of dirt, grime, and hard water.

Stick to a routine. Do what works for you, but here is my routine:

  • Spray and wipe mirror two times per week (30 seconds or less)
  • Clean the toilet bowl once a week (a minute or two)
  • Wipe fixtures, sink, toilet, door knobs, and light switches daily with disinfecting wipes (a minute or two)
  • Squeegee and spray down the shower after your daily shower (less than a minute)

Use every spare minute in the bathroom to do a simple bathroom cleaning task. Are the kids brushing their teeth? Grab a disinfecting wipe and wipe the toilet and surrounding floor. Before jumping in the shower, spray it down with cleaner. Then lightly scrub (if necessary) and rinse while you shower! Spray or wipe down fixtures before brushing teeth or washing hands. Stealing moments for bathroom cleaning ensures that your bathroom stays fresh and germ-free, and means less work for you later on.

By using these simple but effective bathroom cleaning tips, you can have a sparkly clean bathroom, and you won't even remember the time you spent on it!

Samantha Buck is a Professional Organizer and Editor of http://www.LifeOrganizeIt.com, where you can find solutions to life's organizing dilemmas. Subscribe to the free organizing magazine "Organize It Mom!" at http://www.lifeorganizeit.com/free-e-zine.html for super easy tips and techniques to get yourself organized. Not just for moms, this free organizing magazine will help anyone get organized!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Tuscan Architecture

Tuscan architecture combines modern and classic elements that make up pure Old World Europe. The beauty of architecture Tuscan style comes from the typical custom crafted natural stone. This includes limestone, travertine and marble. Terracotta floor and roof tiles are often used to give the antique feel. In Tuscan architecture, wooden beams are often refurbished from Tuscan farmhouses.

Tuscany architecture involves fine Italian building materials that create beautiful marble fireplaces, wrought iron gates and amazing fountains.

Integrating Tuscan elements brings a sense of Old-World charm and mystique to indoor and outdoor aspects of your home.

Exterior architecture typically include:

Tile roof Wrought iron front door entrance Walls covered with vines Crumbling stone walls that outline patios and walkways Beautiful travertine cobblestone driveways Brick or stone set garden paving Tuscan Landscape : Lavender, rosemary and sage can be found surrounding a Tuscan style home. Old lemon pots and antique jars give the feel of a Tuscany garden .

Interior architecture typically include:

Walls: Plaster walls with hand painted wall treatments. Usage of warm colors that represent the rolling hills of Tuscany bring the feel of basking under the Tuscan sun! Mediterranean decor involves subtle earth tones. These are standard in French Country decorating.

Ceilings: Textured richly. Stenciled borders can be found along the ceilings. Paneled or vaulted ceilings are a typical choice in decor as it creates pure Tuscany architectural framework. Wooden or chestnut beams provide a rustic feel to the Old World style home.

Floor: Glass, stone and tile are often used to create amazing mosaic art for flooring, which works well with table tops. Terracotta tiles, marble and ceramic flooring marks true Tuscany home decor . Selection of marbles that blend nicely with your Tuscan color palette.

Tuscany architecture uses pale travertine in home flooring. Marble Chips, stucco and crushed stone are polished nicely creating terrazo floors.

Your home can be so beautiful when choosing architecture Tuscan style!

Patrice D. Walker is an Architect student who specializes in Tuscan Decorating. Visit: http://www.Tuscan-Home-101.com/tuscan_decor.html for more Tuscan interior design tips and information.

Bathroom Lighting Fixtures - How to Choose For Your Remodeling Project

When thinking about a bathroom remodeling project, there are many things to consider. One of the most important items you will need is light fixtures. Keep in mind there will be differences in your project depending on if you are working with an existing home or a brand new home. If you are remodeling an existing home, your lighting requirements for bathroom light fixtures may be different than if you are building a new home. For instance, in an existing home, there will likely be elements in place that dictate the basic style of bathroom vanity you need to choose. Or there could be a decorating style across the rest of your home that you want to continue into the bathroom.

Start by searching the internet to view vast array of light fixture styles available through the many different lighting retail websites. Your choice is important because the way you choose to decorate will need to last for many years and should reflect your personal style. Now is also the time to formulate your budget. Be mindful of costs while shopping and keep your budget updated so you know where you sit. This will assure that you are able to do all of the things you want to in creating a comfortable bathroom.

The size of your bathroom will determine a large amount of your project. It will dictate the style of the bathroom vanity that you choose and the amount of lighting you will need. If the room is small, choose a single sink vanity. If you have a larger space to work with, consider a double sink vanity. The double sink provides additional surface and storage space, and also creates personal space for the people that use the room.

If you are working with a small bathroom, you can create the appearance of a larger space by using light colored paints, selecting a narrow vanity with under-sink storage, and by using mirrors to help create the feeling of more space. Do this by selecting a large mirror that adds dimension.

If you are working with two bathrooms, consider decorating one with a feminine style and the other one with masculine dcor. For a feminine look, use soft light colors for the bathroom vanity and walls, and for the masculine bathroom use strong, dark colors and wood finishes.

The bathroom light fixtures are extremely important to the overall mood in the room. Be sure to work out the electrical wiring for your light fixtures. If you have experience in household wiring you can tackle this project yourself. If you do not have the skills for this, call a professional electrician or select a lighting retailer that can offer you assistance. If you hire out, get at least three quotes so that you can compare the prices. You can find these electricians by going to your computer and searching the internet.

The primary use of a good vanity light fixture is to provide correct lighting for your grooming activities. These lights are placed above and or on the sides of the vanity for good lighting. Often times, the vanity lighting needs to light the entire bathroom, so be sure to choose a fixture or fixtures that you are sure will accomplish this task. Soften the lighting affect in your room with frosted or beige colored light bulbs or by selecting frosted shades for the bulbs. Many lighting retailers have a large selection of shades from which to choose.

When you tackle a project like a bathroom you must do so by sitting down and planning first. The most critical part of your bathroom remodeling project is selecting the light fixtures and the vanity. Everything else will complement these main elements. The floor covering, the walls, the shower and tub colors, and small decorative items you choose will make your bathroom much more appealing and comfortable if you spend the time in the beginning to think through your entire bathroom remodel plan.

Julia Ritzenthaler is Owner of boutique multiple online furniture stores, For more information about unique bathroom vanity ideas, visit us online or email us with your questions at uniquevanities@msn.com.

Walk in Bathtubs - Remodel the Bathroom With Resale Value in Mind

Our family was involved in the supply of siding and window materials in Denver for years. We saw some ethical contractors and some who charged people for materials and work in an unethical manner. Seniors and their children have to do a lot of work to find reputable walk in tub contractors. Like any purchase be sure to study the actual material specifications of several models. This is not rocket science.

It is a bathtub. It has to be provided by someone who understands - plumbing, electrical and remodeling construction of course. You also need someone who understands the special needs of those whose condition includes nursing care. Just take your time in researching and you will find the honest and reputable ones. Local contractors can always provide you with the back up service you need. Be sure you get a good material and installation warranty.

Be careful of those who might try and be playing with your emotions. Barbara Moore was a hospital chaplain and is trained in clinical pastoral education. This deals with how to help people make decisions when health becomes compromised. Find someone who really cares about your family. We provide one solution in metro Denver for families. Call if you would like to talk about your needs for a walk in tub. My parents are 86 and getting more unsteady in their steps. The walk in helps with that issue and also the massage can really decrease pain of getting older. This can be for those in baby boomer age as well. It is a great soak and jetted tub for anyone.

Are Resistance Piers Right For Your Home?

The resistance pier belongs to a family of foundation repair products that are sometimes referred to as micro piles, push piers, or steel piers. These foundation repair products are driven hydraulically into the soil using the structural weight of the building as a reaction force.

A friction reduction collar is attached to the lead section of pier pipe. The purpose of the collar is to create an opening in the soil that has a larger diameter than the pier pipe. This dramatically reduces the skin friction on the pier pipe as it is driven into the soil and allows the installer to load test and verify that the pier encountered firm bearing stratum or rock that is suitable to support the design load.

Resistance piers like other steel piers are an end-bearing pier that does not rely upon nor requires skin friction to produce support. Each pier is field load tested after it is installed. The piers are able to develop a factor of safety because the piers are installed and load tested individually using the maximum weight of the structure as the reaction force. The ability of the system to develop significant factors of safety comes from the different methods used between pier installation and load transfer during restoration.

The piers are driven individually and the entire structure works as the reaction; but during load transfer hydraulic cylinders are placed at multiple locations thus reducing the load on each pier to only the design working load. A building with substantial construction and rigidity can develop greater pier factors of safety than a weaker structure. A quality resistance pier system, incorporating a synchronized lifting system, is the first step towards fixing your structures failing foundation.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site

Get Rich Designing Bathrooms For a Little More Relaxation

Just think about it; the bathroom is often the one room in the house where everyone can relax by themselves. For some people, it is the only place where they can get away from it all. Because of the current state of our economy, it would be no coincidence if people were spending even more time in their bathrooms than usual. As a result, anyone who can come in and design a great bathroom stands to make a great deal of money.

There are many people who would just think about the bathroom as a room with a tub, a toilet, and a sink. While you could still make some money from people like this, you are really after the people who view their bathroom as a sanctuary and will do anything to make it even more so. Believe me, those people are out there and they are plentiful. You may choose to go through design school or a design program, but it really isn't necessary. The only thing you will really be judged on is how great of a room that you can create. So if you can create a great bathroom concept and make it into a reality, then there will be no problem at all. People will pay thousands of dollars for you to turn their bathroom into their own private sanctuary.

You can also make this money in a short amount of time as well. In just a few weeks you can have a finished bathroom; from the design stages to the finishing touches. Also, there is no reason that you cannot be designing more than one bathroom at a time for even more money!

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

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Quick Tips on Home Remodeling

The major areas which you need to consider when you are selling your home are as follows: the curb appeal and kitchen. But there is no hard and fast rule that you need to remodel these areas once you are intending to sell your house. It is one of the most important criteria that you need to consider once you have decided to give one of the best looks to your house. This article will help you to provide some of the best tips that will help you to realize the best value for your house. There are 2 main areas which you need to look in driving the best efforts.

Curb Appeal

As the saying goes that the first impression is the best impression, so in case any prospective buyer who is intending to purchase your house can decide whether he wants to purchase your house or not as an attractive curb area will make him to think to purchase the house or not by just driving inside the house. However if he does not like the curb area then he will immediately make up the mind that he will not be a victim for the house however good the house looks from inside. So ensure that your home gives a rejoicing feel to the visitors. When you see your curb area ensure that your curb area is providing you a welcoming look. Even ensure that the place gives you such a feel that you should tend walk in to the place.

Some of the aspects that you need to consider in your curb area are as follows: Ensure that the siding is not out of date or not in a position that it is quite visible that it needs a repair. Even ensure that the roof is in good shape. Check if in case that the walk away or the driveway are not cracked or look very weary. Is the landscape in search a position that it reveals the date of your house? Be careful as to what feeling does the front door provide you with. In case you are in a position that you have the capacity to replace only one thing at a time then ensure that you replace your door. This will also save you from the aspect of saving the money from resizing the opening, and it will also provide you with a good look for the house.

Kitchen

The next aspect which you need to take into account is the kitchen as it is the first thing that the prospective homeowners look at just for the simple reason that the kitchen is considered to be the life of the home. Kitchen is often a place that serves as a place where the people gather, it also caters for some people as the dining area. Catering to so many important functions the kitchen should thereby be the most welcoming place in the home. Consider some of the facts like are your working appliances up to date and in good working condition. Will a fresh coat of paint help you in reviving the glory of the place? All these factors will surely help you to provide the look you are looking for.

Sarah Jose is a Copywriter of Whomestudio furniture stores in Kelowna. For more information visit quality area rugs

Friday, August 28, 2009

Where Can I Design a Bathroom Online - Dos and Don'ts

Where can I design a bathroom online, quizzed a friend of mine, keen to revamp the stolid environs of his personal space. Thankfully, for scores of homeowners that belong to this bandwidth, there is a virtual slugfest among websites.

You can experience sheer ecstasy at bathroom-design-guide.com. There are many that swear by designbuzz.com. The bathroom edition of 3D spacer allows you to design the bathroom of your dreams with consummate ease. With dazzling and delightful elements of style making waves at kohler.com, getting inspired is cakewalk.

But grizzled veterans will tell you that it's not where but how to design a bathroom online that needs to be considered earnestly. Remember, you are attempting to create a bathroom that is the fusion of form and function, and so every minute detail requires through planning and execution.

Not As Cerebral As It Seems

Those taking tentative steps in this direction are sure to be suffused by a sense of deflation at the thought of this seemingly arduous task. But contrary to popular belief, it is not as cerebral a task as it is made out to be. Here are a few tips that are sure to come in handy:

  • Lighting: Both artificial and natural light can be used to illuminate the space and highlight its spectacular features. Windows and skylights allow abundant sunshine to bathe the interiors of the space in a surreal glow. Overhead lights and wall sconces send the style factor soaring.
  • Tiles: An arrangement of tiles in different colors but in the same size on the bathroom floor and walls will be anything but clichd. Similarly, ceramic tiles in solid colors complimented by an interesting border are sure to cause an animated chatter.
  • Ventilation: Investing in a power ventilator commensurate to the size of the bathroom will cause a reversal of fortunes for spaces floundering for breath.
  • Storage: From corner shelves to medicine cabinets with mirrors, your storage options are truly infinite.
  • Wall dcor: If the walls exude a soft, subtle aura, make sure the accessories compliment it with their bright, glossy exteriors. Mix and match is the mantra to be followed.

Isn't it time to login to a world of endless opportunities and sign out in style?

Here's exactly how you can generate 100's or even 1000's of positively brilliant Bathroom Remodeling Ideas ... FAST ! And you could easily increase your home's value by several $1000s fast with these 25 street-smart tips for Dirt Cheap Home Improvement

Stair Building Books and Ideas

Where do we go to buy stair building books? Do we go to the major retailers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble? I have found over the years the information in most of these books I have purchased from these stores has a lot of fluff with very little common sense stair building application.

I bought one stair building book that had information on handrails. The front cover looked great and I thought this was going to be a great book reading the reviews from Amazon. When I finally got the book in the mail, I would say about one third of it was math tables for building elaborate wooden hand railing's. These tables were not easy to understand along with the rest of the book.

Back when I bought the book on building stair handrails it dawned on me that most of the construction workers I have met during my 30 years of working in the field were not very good outside of basic math. Now I knew a lot of carpenters that could read a measuring tape and use a framing square pretty good. But when it came to advanced geometrical construction projects like a stair hand railing system this was out of our league.

Reading this book or should I say parts of it gave me an idea to write a book of my own, starting with basic stair building I took all the fluff or the hard to understand advanced stair building applications out of my book, How to Build a Straight Set of Stairs.

I put a lot of time into creating an illustration for every possible part of building a simple set of stairs. I have probably built over 2000 sets of stairs during my lifetime and have explained and taught basic and advanced stair building to other carpenters. Understanding what parts of the stair construction process they understood, I was able to improve my skills as a stair building teacher.

Most people do not need advanced stair building skills to construct a simple straight set of stairs. If you are building a straight set of stairs and would like a stair building book with lots of easy to understand illustrations along with simplified directions you have found it.

We're building more stair building books to help contractors, carpenters, handymen and homeowners understand the stair building process.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He is currently working on more building stairs books and adding useful content to help solve problems created by the lack of construction knowledge in the building industry.

It's Time to Remodel Your Bathroom! Do You Know What to Do?

How can you tell when the time is right to do a makeover on your bathroom? It's probably a job you've been putting off while, telling yourself that it really doesn't look all that bad. After all, the toilet works most of the time, and only a little of the grout is gone from between the tiles, and there's just a little rust that you can't get out of the bathtub, and... Wait a minute! I'd say it's time for a makeover. What do you think? Take a good look around and see what other little things you can find that are signaling you that now's the time:

Start by looking at all the little details you might have been ignoring. Are your porcelain fixtures looking a bit yellow? Maybe there's a ceiling tile missing from the renovation of 1974. If you have wallpaper, is it starting to curl up a bit on the edges? None of these problems in itself is a world-stopper, but they are still the clues you need to motivate you to get busy remodeling.

If your bathroom still looks like something out of the '70s, that's another clue. Look for the 1" wall tiles, stained vinyl flooring, and the colors that will date your room on their own: harvest gold, avocado green, and bright oranges. If this is what you're seeing, it's definitely time you did something about it.

A good time to remodel is when you've decided to sell your house. A nice bathroom is a real selling point for most people and can even raise the value of your home. You know for yourself, from being in some yucky public restrooms that no one likes a crummy bathroom, so spruce yours up a bit, and you'll have a hit on your hands.

It may be that you don't want to completely remodel everything in the bathroom. Maybe you're only interested in making it look better without the effort and expense of an extensive makeover. One way to do this is by changing the accessories in the room. If your bathroom is too far gone, this won't work, but if the room is just looking tired and dreary, new accessories can make a world of difference. You might get new fixtures, some fluffy towels, soft cozy rugs, or bright shower and window curtains. By adding these new things, you'll probably be amazed at how much nicer your old bathroom looks.

For the major overhauls, you might want to hire a bathroom contractor. I know they cost money, but unless you're a better plumber than I am, you will find it money well spent. You don't have to hire a contractor to do the whole room, but it would be good for any plumbing and fixture installation you want to do. Have you ever lifted a porcelain bathtub? Believe me, a contractor comes in mighty handy for that kind of work. Find someone who comes with a lot of experience. He'll have been in hundreds of bathrooms and will be able to give you design tips that he's seen elsewhere. He'll also be able to help you maximize your available space.

Hopefully you've now realized some of the benefits that will be yours if you do decide on a bathroom remodel. It doesn't matter what type of makeover you decide to do, you'll love the improvements you can make. You can completely change the look of your bathroom with a little effort and a few new accessories. How about getting started right away?

Find answers to questions like how to install a bathtub, where can I find bathroom accessory ideas? Visit us today!

Pebble Tile Shower Floor

A Pebble Tile Shower Floor enables you to redecorate your home by using the same techniques and style used by the Greeks and the Romans. If you look for a quick way to redecorate any surface at home, you should try these natural stone panels. If you are interested about Easy do-it-yourself tiling techniques - read the following article.

Short overview

A Pebble Tile Shower Floor is about gathering the same small flat stones that are manually and carefully attached onto a mesh backing of 12" by 12" size. The seashores of S. East Asia are rich with these flat pebbles, and indeed most of these tiles are originated from that part of the world. It seems like no other tiling technique enables you to redecorate practically anywhere inside and outside your house: Bathroom flooring and wall coating (including showers), kitchen surfaces such as countertops & backsplashes, patios, pools and even fireplaces.

Main advantages

Using this simple tiling solution definitely brings various redecoration advantages:

* Durable to most common home detergents.

* Considered inexpensive compared to other tiling solutions.

* Installation process is quick and takes only a few hours.

Useful tips!

* Upon completion, it is important to wait the adhesive's recommended drying time before you begin on grouting.

* Use a tile saw in order to cut stones to fit edges or corners.

* Make sure the surface you are about to tile is flat, clean, dry and free of contaminants.

Conclusion

Pebble Tile Shower Floor remodeling is highly effective for any home-maker as it requires minimal effort, knowledge, and resources. We could easily find many other benefits provided by this fun & easy remodeling option, simply because any average and unprofessional home-maker can do it easily by him/herself. If you wish to succeed with your first installation it is recommended to use the following tips & advices just as you decide on using these natural panels.

Get creative! - Learn more about how you can easily decorate your bathroom with Pebble Tile Shower Floor.

Safety Tips and Home Remodeling

At every stage of planning, design and construction, it is important to think about safety in your remodel or home addition. There are, in fact, two aspects of safety to consider when you add on to your home or remodel: safety during the project and safety in your remodeled home. Your contractor or designer/architect will probably help you think about the safety of your family and others who are on your property or in your house, but there are some important considerations it is easy to overlook when remodeling.

Begin by thinking about who is living in your home and about who is likely to be living in the home in the next five to ten years. Are there young children in the home? What is your age? Will anyone with a disability be in the home? Will your parents/grandparents be moving in with you? Planning the safety features of your home starts with the special needs and unique challenges faced by individuals in your family and by the design of the home itself.

One of the most obvious potential dangers in any home is a staircase. How steep are the risers? Are the stairs covered with a material that makes it likely or unlikely that someone could slip and fall? Are their railings or banisters on both sides? Have you installed adequate lighting at the top and bottom, as well as over any landings? Are the rails or banisters at the correct height? Could someone fall between the vertical supports?

If there are young children in the home, you will need to plan for locks on some cabinets or drawers in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and the garage. Make sure you plan for enough locked storage to secure all medicines, cleaning chemicals, and gardening chemicals and supplies. If you store insecticides or lawn care items in your basement, you should also plan for a secure storage space for these items as well. If you are selecting new appliances for the kitchen, you might want to choose items that have the controls on the surface instead of the front. You might also want to place your furnace and water heater in an enclosed area. Don't plan for use of space heaters.

Install good smoke alarms and replace all smoke alarms that are more than ten years old. Install a smoke alarm in each child's bedroom or each bedroom used by an elderly or disabled person. If your home has a divided bedroom plan (with the master bedroom on the other end of the house or on a different level of the house) or if you have converted attic or basement space to bedrooms, you might want to opt for a interconnected smoke alarm system. This way, if an alarm goes off, the others in the house will also go off to alert everyone.

Be sure you plan for adequate space for people to get around in each room and turn a wheelchair (if necessary) or use a walker. This is especially important in bathrooms. Choose faucets and shower heads with anti-scald devices to prevent burns. Plan to use devices like doorknob covers to keep children out of bathrooms when not accompanied by adults. Plan to install non-slip surfaces in and around tubs and showers. Install grab bars in bath tubs and showers.

Choose sturdy or built-in bookcases that cannot be pulled over by children. Ensure that all office equipment in the home is out of the reach of children, especially paper cutters, shredders and sharp objects.

These basic home safety steps will help you protect your family. Your contractor will help you with other things you need to consider in light of the particular needs of your family.

Aaron O'Hanlon has been helping contractors increase profits through exclusive website marketing and search engine optimization at Footbridge Media. See his companies latest creation: Remodeling Contractors or contact him directly at Contractor Marketing.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Redecorating Your Bathroom on a Budget

Bland tiling patterns, out-dated fixtures, lack of storage area.. if any of these scenarios describe your current bathroom, fear not! Remodeling your bathroom does not need to be that expensive, time-consuming vision that you might have conjured up in your mind. In fact, redoing your bathroom can be done in an extremely affordable manner with a minimal price. Of course, as with everything, you'll only get out of it what you put into it.

While redecorating any area of the house seems to have become quite a popular hobby these days, it does not need to be an activity that breaks the bank. Many of us are living on a strict budget due to current financial strains; however, the present economic state need not dictate the way we choose to live our lives or spend our dollars. Some people may consider beginning with the bathroom as starting small. This couldn't be further from the truth. Enhancing a bathroom with unique accessories can deliver a powerful impact and make an immediate bold statement within your home.

Start with a shower curtain. Sure, many of today's updated homes are built with sliding glass doors, but for those of us without that luxury, we'll always have the trusty water stopper to look toward. Simply choose a shower curtain with a color scheme or pattern that ties in existing hues or designs within your bathroom. Adding such a simple yet unique accessory can easily add new character and flair to your bathroom.

From the shower curtain, consider moving onto a bath set. Bath sets typically include a contour rug for around the base of the toilet, an accent rug to place outside of your shower or bathtub, and a matching toilet seat cover. Because these are often sold in sets, you may also be lucky enough to find a matching shower curtain to pair with the set. Choosing bath rugs that are soft to the touch are a good option - especially if you live in a colder climate. Stepping onto a warm surface upon exiting the shower is one of those little things that can start your day on the right foot, literally and figuratively.

Once you've selected your shower curtain and bath set, you might want to look into finding some uniquely designed bath accessories to fill out the theme in your bathroom. Bathroom accessory sets are also a popular item nowadays. Accessory sets often include a lotion dispenser, soap dish, tumbler, toothbrush holder, and tissue box among several other bath items. These bath accessories can often be found with unique themes as well as in simple elegant and modern finishes. Ensuring that these bath accessories complement your shower curtain and bath set will easily give you decorating direction with your bathroom.

As you can see, remodeling a bathroom does not need to mean re-gutting and resurfacing your existing structure. So long as you follow your budget, you'll be able to economically redecorate your bathroom. Changing your shower curtain, and updating your bath sets and bathroom accessory sets every so often will help add a fresh new look to your bathroom at an extremely affordable price.

The Popular Home Collections team has been providing home decor solutions and interior design & decorating tips to its valued customers since 1995. Led by Bobby Missry, the team hopes to encourage the development of an interior design community among all passionate, home decorating enthusiasts.

http://www.popularhomecollections.com

Showers For Your New Bathroom

From time immemorial, people always attach personal hygiene to taking showers or baths. From taking baths in ponds, lakes, rivers and in the open, the place of having a shower has shifted to bathrooms with high-tech gadgets fitted. Showering cleans up the body and refreshes the mind.

Showers can be fitted in anywhere of your existing bathrooms. They can even be fitted in a bedroom corner, if proper care is given to its designing and precautions like installing a shower screen or curtain are taken against running water flooding the floor.

There are many types showers sold in the market and internet stores. Most homes sport a simple integrated shower and mixer tap shower inside the existing bath. Electric showers, some with water heater, pump and thermostat, both in an open bath or separate cubicle are also becoming common. Some showers have a separate mixer valve, supplied with hot and cold water at the same time and are available with either a manual or thermostatic temperature control. This kind of shower can also be installed over a bath or in a separate shower cubicle and a separate pump to provide a high water pressure is also available at a price.

The shower faucet heads must be placed in such a manner so that they never come into contact with the water in the bath below.

Before installing a shower, the positions of the shower head, their controls and pipe work involved have to be planned properly so as to avoid future inconvenience. The drainage system to remove the waste water also needs to be designed well. Positions of the electric wire route and shower switches will have to be pre-planned if an instantaneous or electric shower is being installed.

If you want to know more about Showers then feel free to visit Bella Bathrooms.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Great Luxury Bathrooms On A Budget

If bathing is one of the great pleasures in your life, then you deserve a sumptuous space in which to relax and let the day's troubles slip away. Luxury bathrooms no longer have to come with a hefty price tag. If you know which elements can create a soothing environment, then you can design a room that's worthy of an expensive spa right in your own home. In this article, we'll tell you how to remodel a bathroom that's humdrum into a space that you'll love.

In order to remodel your bathroom and make it a place you can really relax, you first need to choose a color that makes you feel calm. Chromatherapy is the use of color to improve your health. Chromatherapy designs are more common in modern bathrooms, so it is possible to combine different elements for maximum effect. The soak bath with chromatherapy allows an individual to be immersed in a warm bath and, with the touch of a button, develop the bathing environment into a liquid rainbow with a full spectrum of striking color. Each color displays for around 8 seconds, and washes over the bather with a faded effect, then turns solid, and then returns to a faded effect before moving to the next color. This will make a relaxing atmosphere that is sure to be a great experience.

People have bathed in steam for centuries because of its healing and relaxing properties. Luxurious steam showers are great for relieving muscle tension and joint fatigue. It's also great for sweating impurities out of your skin. Many steam showers are the same size as traditional shower enclosures and also feature rotating showers heads that massage your body and timers for the steam function so that you can enjoy a combination bath and sauna effect. For fans of high tech gadgets, some steam showers come fully loaded with a radio, telephone, remote control and connections for your CD player.

Any luxurious bathroom must have a towel warmer, since wrapping your relaxed and revitalized body in a warm towel is essential for a complete spa experience. Lower-end towel warmers often come with a very light chroming or low quality material that will wear off in time. The amount of heat the unit gives off cannot be controlled, making the low price of $100 initially attractive but in the long run not a great choice. However, it is possible to buy elegantly designed towel warmers ranging in price from $1,500 to $5,000. It may sound costly, but your heavenly oasis is priceless. Most luxury towel warmers are constructed of solid brass and have 5-year warranties.

Before you start designing your space, define what luxury means to you. Do you have to have the jacuzzi tub or would some new paint and fancy towels satisfy the need to upgrade your master bath and pamper yourself? Luxury bathrooms don't have to cost a fortune. Many pricey items for decorating bathrooms have cheaper alternatives, so shop around and treat yourself to things that you'll enjoy for years.

Rocky Spurrell is a property manager and successful real estate investor and knows the value of a luxury bathroom both for himself or for resale. When searching for property in the Durango CO home market, he recommends Kristen Westlund as a knowledgeable Durango real estate agent for commercial real estate, land, or even homes in the Durango mountain resort.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Low Maintenance Showering

These are the days of inventions and innovations. Vast changes are visible in the way people design their bathrooms - the indispensable part of every home. Nowadays the bathroom is divided into many parts depending on their functions. The shower enclosure is an important part of the bathroom, which prevents other parts of the bathroom getting wet by spilling water from the shower area.

Mainly three parts are there for a shower cubicle - the shower cabinet including its attached faucet and spray, the enclosure along with the door and the water tray beneath to collect and dispose off the waste water. If somebody prefers to install this enclosure in the corner of a bedroom, he can do so since there is no spill over. However, ordinary shower screens installed alongside baths cannot fully meet this purpose. Shower cubicles are available in manifold colors and have captured the attention of both rich and middle class alike. The appearance of the bathroom undergoes a sea change with the fittings like shower cubicles apart from its utility. People prefer to tuck them away at a corner of the room or a recess specially made for the purpose even though they can be conveniently installed anywhere in the bath room. But if it is installed at the corner of a room or a recess, space and installation costs can be saved. It can be fitted along a flat wall also. In this case it will be easier for the owner to shift the shower cubicle to another part of the room. For the same purpose 'D' shaped and 'U' shaped cubicles are available and are sold in plenty. Water proof and easy to clean materials is used for making he walls of the cubicle. Shower doors are also equally important. Customers have the option of choosing from Framed and Frameless forms of Shower doors. It is very easy to install shower cubicles. Also they are easy to maintain. Inbuilt sauna facility is an added advantage of some cubicles. Shower cubicles are more expensive than conventional mode of bathing. Then also they are worth installing considering the impact they make in bathrooms and the low maintenance cost they offer.

Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms Ltd who supply Luxury Shower Enclosures across the UK.

Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Cheap Hotels in Milan to Serve People on a Budget

Milan is the place in Italy, which should be visited and not to be missed, while on the trip to Italy. The most beautiful and dazzling city leave the ever lasting imprints on the screen of a mind. Its architectural beauty, shopping malls, sleek skyscrapers, vibrant nightlife, historic monuments and parks have all collectively made it a top tourists' destination. Apart form it, several amusements parks, gardens and tourists' attractions have added their charismatic influence to the city. Milan hotels are also not lagging behind in catering to their accommodation needs.

The extensive network of hotels, ranging from star luxury hotels to cheap hotels in Milan, caters to the taste and need of every traveler. From the bedding to the recreation and cuisines, their service is superb. Milan is known all over the world for the perfection, it stretches in all fields. Here, the cuisines contain the distinct flavor. The most popular dish, Risotto, a popular dish, is made of rich meat stocks, which is prominent with all the menus. Beside, it there are many of Milan dishes that are popular among people on budget. Some of the cheap hotels Milan can be easily found in proximity to these tourists attractions:-

Duomo cathedral- one of the most fantastic and imposing structures in the world. This incredible structure has become the symbol of Milan. The golden statue inside it, known as La Madonnina, is one of the main attractions for the visitors to the city.
Castello Sforzesco- it is the main site for the historians and for those interested in knowing the history of the city. Situated in the Parco Sempione, the central tower of the building, it offers magnificent views over the city. It not only give it a beautiful picturesque to Milan but also give it a grand appearance.
Arco Della Pace- it lies opposite to the central tower, mentioned above. It is made up of granite, brought from the Lake Maggiore area. It remains as an impressive feature.
Teatro alla Scala- it is a large opera house built on the central site of the old church, Santa Maria della Scala. It includes the theater museum, a home to fine collection of painting, ceramics and sculpture. Generally the traditional opening night of the opera season takes place on the feast day of the patron saint of Milan.

Beside these, there are many tourists' attractions, to be explored by the tourists, which add fun and excitement to the trip of its visitors. Have a memorable trip to Mailn, Italy!

Nancy Eben is an associate editor of http://www.a1milanhotels.com/ The website offers exclusive information of Milan and Milan hotels. We also provide online hotel reservation of cheap hotels Milan. We appreciate your feedback and queries at megharyan@gmail.com

Cardboard Box Stain In Closet
Structural Stucco Crack

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

More Choices of Bathroom Mirrors

If you are looking for the kind of fixture that you can use to make your bathroom more desirable, then you should choose to have a bathroom mirror. What is good about today's market is that there are already many kinds that are available today. Thus, you have more choices and this can make your task of finding the right kind easier. You can select among the various kinds in the market, check their design and quality and choose which one is suitable for you.

Added to this, since you have various designs that you can choose from you can be sure that your choices is even better. You can always select the kind of bathroom mirror that is suitable to your needs and budget.

If you are in a search for a bathroom mirror, you should select the kind that looks properly in line with the other things in your bathroom. When it comes to the design, color and patterns, you should be able to make it fit. Although keeping contrast is good for some areas of the house, there are times that keeping on the common and traditional side of design would suit your bathroom more. Thus, when you use a certain kind of color in your bathroom, you should also use that color for the frames of the mirror. This would make your bathroom mirror look more suitable in your room and it would also look as if it really belongs to the room. Small pieces in the bathroom can still look unbearable when it does not suit the other fixtures. Keeping a theme is helpful if you want to make your mirror to look desirable. You should not try to deviate especially when you are not yet an expert in the designs.

When you are interested to keep a modern look in your bathroom, then you should consider a bathroom mirror that has a touch of black. When you think of the pieces that are modern, you can be sure that it has black on it. This is one of the most common qualities of modern fixtures and you can also use this when you are searching for the right kind of mirror in your modern bathroom. Thus, you should check the frame of the mirror and it should have a touch of black in it. This is a way of keeping the elegance of your bathroom. Although there are other colors that can be available it would be safer if you choose black if your aim is to have a modernized theme.

There are many kinds of bathroom mirrors that are available today. Thus, with the options that you now have, you can easily choose the kind that is suitable to your needs. This can is possible and you just have to allot enough time for your search.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

Delaminating Roof Plywood
Stucco Damage At Sidewalk

Friday, August 14, 2009

What to Know About Exterior Stucco Contractors - Carlsbad Contractors

Making the decision to do any large amount of work to your home is a little nerve wracking to say the least. You have to decide what you feel is the main priority and who is going to be best suited to do the work. As any do it yourselfer who has ended up with a less than well done home improvement project can tell you, you are often better off to let the professionals handle it. Take the exterior stucco contractors for example. If you have never dealt with finding and hiring such a well trained, specific contractor before, the task can seem overwhelming. With a little bit of knowledge about stucco and contractors in general, you won't have any trouble deciding on the right professional for your project.

As with any kind of home improvement help, with exterior stucco contractors, the first thing you want to do is get together a list of names. You can find this list from the phone book, online resources, or better yet, from someone you know personally who has worked with the contractors before. Try to find at least 3 different stucco contractors to talk to. They should be willing to come to your home, look the house over, and offer a free estimate. While you have the exterior stucco contractor's undivided attention, be sure to ask him or her any pressing questions that might be on your mind.

As any of the exterior stucco contractors can doubtless tell you, applying stucco is much like painting a picture. Every contractor has his or her own way of doing it. One contractor's texture and finish is nothing like the next ones. You can be sure you will be happy with the results by asking to see samples of every exterior stucco contractor's work you interview. Prices aren't likely to vary much, but your reference for their work certainly will. Once you have chosen your contractor, you can look forward to a brand new look for your home.

For more information on exterior stucco contractors

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.

Extended Garage Door Header

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Iron Gates - As Good As It Gates

Gates are pretty simple they must allow anything that is worthy of passing through and must block anything that is not. And it can't get any simpler. That is why, today, we design gates that do just that or probably a bit more. Just the thing that must be kept in mind is - that they must be sturdy. So sturdy that a gate is a guard, all by itself, all the time.

When the matter comes to sturdiness, there is, probably, no element to match the goodwill of iron. Iron gates have been in use since ages. And they will be, until a better element is discovered. Iron gates are made, pretty obviously, of iron. The choice of iron is made because of its sturdiness, ability to resist weathers of any season, and its visual beauty. Iron gates stand all extreme conditions and come out as winners all the time.

Cast iron is obtained by melting pig iron, along with considerable amounts of scrap steel and scrap iron. Various steps are then taken to remove any unwanted contaminants like phosphorus and sulfur. Later on, other elements are mixed into the melt before finally obtaining a form that is a produce of casting. This process, as is obvious, provides iron of a very superior quality. Such superior quality reinforces the trust needed to build iron gates. Due to its low melting point, excellent match inability ,cast ability and good fluidity, cast irons are famous with a wide range of applications, that include gates pipes, car and machine parts. Nowadays, cast iron gates are a common sight everywhere.

Wrought iron is commercially pure iron, with a tiny amount of carbon , but it generally contains some amount of slag. Wrought iron gates can be easily welded together and are very tough, malleable, and ductile. This however comes with a price. Wrought iron is quite soft, and hence, wrought iron gates are not a common sight today. Wrought iron is so called as it is wrought from a mixture of porous iron contaminated with slag. Wrought iron is not as strong as compared to its counterpart and is, hence, less used than cast iron. Although there may not be a visible difference between the two different types of irons, their differences in sustaining various conditions are obvious. Hence care must be taken in deciding upon the type of iron to be used for the iron gates. Generally, wrought iron scores a couple of brownie points over cast iron in terms of endurance.

Gate fences too are similar in nature they compliment the iron gates. Gate fences provide added security and more power to the iron gates. Generally gate fences are made out of iron, although whether to use cast iron or wrought iron solely depends upon the owner. Both cast iron and wrought iron gate fences are a common sight. These Iron Gate fences are generally barb-wire fences that are put around the iron gates to provide extra level of security.

Rob Hargreaves - An American Locksmith, living and working in New York City, for NYC Locksmith company - Mr-Locks Inc. To learn more about iron gates and other types of security gates - please visit: http://www.mr-locks.com and browse through our catalogue of iron work, call or email for additional inquiries about Iron Gates.

Hip Rafter And Ridge Connection

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

"Windows, Insulation and Doors, Oh My!" - Materials and Practices in High Performance Homes

In my last article I defined High Performance Homes; A High Performance Homes is one that uses sustainable materials, is energy efficient, and uses value added green building practices that causes it to be friendlier to the environment. In the next few articles we will look at some of the materials and practices used to produce the High Performance Home.

The single biggest heat sink or energy robber in a home is the windows. There are several things to consider here. First and foremost is the total square footage of windows. Ive never had someone come to me and say Ronnie build me a home thats dark and doesnt have many windows. Always it goes like this,I want a home that is light and airy. Then of course the buyer covers all of the windows with blinds, shades, shutters, drapes, curtains, or heaven forbid foil and seldom opens them due to excessive heat, cold or allergens in the air.

What should you do when designing or selecting a new home? Be realistic. The more windows, the bigger the windows, the bigger the utility bills. If you can, keep your windows down to 15% or so of the exterior wall square footage. Strategically place them to maximize views and limit the direct exposure to the sun. Keep the windows from facing the East or West this will help tremendously. If the windows can be located under a porch or patio so that it has a large overhang protecting them they will perform much better. Also, a larger Cornish overhang will help protect windows as well as shade the exterior walls.

There is an organization that evaluates windows and scores them as to how you can expect them to perform; giving the consumer a chance to be sure they are getting the best product for their money. It is The National Fenestration Rating Council. They subject windows to testing and prescribe how they must be built to obtain a certain score. The scoring speaks to the ability of the windows to block the transmission of heat and ultraviolet rays.

Look for windows that have a low U-Factor score. This score indicates the windows ability to block heat. A lower score is better. Many builders are using good windows with scores in the .50 range. I like those that are .35 or lower. The next score to look at is Solar Heat Gain. Again many windows are being installed with a score around .50. We install those with a score of .32 or lower. Lower is better here as well. Then, the window coverings mentioned before will add additional protection from heat and ultraviolet penetration.

Let me briefly mention doors. Most doors today are made of steel, fiberglass, wood or glass. Nothing insulates like insulation. Hollow doors like steel or fiberglass can be filled with insulation. Wood is not a particularly good insulator and glass is worse. Generally I prefer steel with fiberglass a close second. These doors dont rot or warp and provide the most security and energy efficiency.

Try to avoid sliding glass doors, after all, what are they but large windows and therefore a big heat sink. And double French doors are hard to keep from leaking heat in or out of your home. If you need that look think of placing a window close to a door or 2 separately cased doors close to each other.

In my next article we will continue to explore best building materials and practices and talk specifically about insulation.

Copyright 2007

Ronnie Godfrey, Certified Graduate Builder
For more information about this article and other energy saving tips, visit our website http://www.RGodfreyHomes.com

Plumbers Share Tips on Repairing Drains

It may seem like your kitchen and bathroom drains get clogged on a regular basis. Professional plumbing companies offer a complete variety of services and will repair your clogged drains at your home or office, but many recommend some green ways to keep your drains open, without using powerful industrial chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. These products may contain lye or acid, and can be dangerous to the wastewater system, your PVC pipes, as well as your health.

You may want to use a more natural approach to keep your drains from getting clogged. Some health food stores carry bacteria based enzyme cleaners. Pouring a cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by about 3 cups of boiling water may also work, as long as water has not yet backed up in your drain. The chemical composition of the baking soda is changed by the boiling water, making it more alkaline.

If the water is not draining from your sink or bathtub, pour a cup of washing soda down the drain and let it set there for awhile to work its way down to where the clog is. Washing soda is more alkaline than baking soda, so be careful using it if you have already used a commercial drain cleaner, which will tend to be very acidic. This will result in the two chemicals reacting with each other and causing an even bigger problem. Also, washing soda can damage the plastic in your PVC pipes if you use it too often. This is another reason it may be best to call your plumbers in the first place.

Combining baking soda and vinegar, along with boiling water, will cause bubbles and fizzing that can help to unclog your drains. This method works particularly well when it is hair that is clogging the drain. Again, use caution with any of these methods.

If your kitchen drains are clogged, natural living enzyme culture drain cleaners will work well. These enzymes break down any organic matter that is clogging up your drains. This method also keeps your garbage disposal from emitting a strong odor in your kitchen.

Enzymes do not work well on drains that are clogged by hair, so your shower, bath, and bathroom sink drains will not be cleared with this method. These types of clogs are better treated with washing soda and water.

As you can probably see, calling in a professional plumbing company as soon as you have a problem with your drains clogging up is the best way to make sure you are protecting your home and caring for your plumbing system.

And now I invite you to learn more by visiting http://www.LosAngelesPlumbingAndSewer.com to find out how to care for your residential and commercial property plumbing systems

Painted Wood Windows

Monday, August 10, 2009

Creating A Formal Living Room

Majority of households - especially those who are executives and those who don't have small kids at home - prefer formal living rooms because this exudes sophistication and class. Before, a formal living room - which was known as the parlor or drawing room where meetings usually take place - is considered as the main highlight of the house because this is where the finest and most expensive possessions of the homeowners are showcased and displayed.

If you want to create a formal living room in your own abode, make sure that you familiarize yourself with the basics of designing one. Make sure that you know what are the pieces of furniture to be used and the kind of fabric that will match these furniture pieces. And since they are all about symmetry of design, make sure that you know the proper placing of decors and other decorations to complete the space. The following distinguishing factors may help you to achieve the living room that will match your taste, style, and preference.

1. Formal yet friendly. Make sure that it contains elements of the traditional formal living that comes with more comfortable furniture pieces. To make the living room friendlier, try to use color combinations that are bright. Vivid colors such as blue, red, and khaki may do this.

2. Highlighting the positive. Make sure that the decors and furniture pieces are highlighted carefully. For example, a fireplace should be that main accent of the wall. This should be complemented with furnishings or draperies that come in rich and heavy trimmed fabrics.

3. Complementing colors. Color is very important. They should come in vivid colors to accentuate major furniture pieces. To make it more interesting and unique, try to intersect the colors to achieve an eye-catching effect.

Here's a step-by-step procedure to create a simple formal living room.

1. Place the sofa where the fireplace and television are both viewed.

2. Near the fireplace, place a pair of chairs flanks that come in shades of green.

3. Place an antique grandfather clock on one corner and a tall plant in one corner to balance it.

4. Put a stepstool beside one of the chairs that will serves as a side table.

5. Place a floor lamp beside the other chair to balance the stepstool.

6. On the mantel, place at least two model ships to exude an intense statement.

7. Use vibrant window treatments and make sure that these colors are above an average person's eye level.

For more living room design ideas, visit http://www.livingroomdesign101.com