Building an Inexpensive and Unique Headboard

Does your bed look bare and empty? And you’ve been wondering, what’s missing. Here’s a thought, maybe you need a headboard. Or, say if you already have one, maybe you need a new one just to shake it up a bit. Then, you go to the store and find out that buying a new headboard is just too expensive. Don’t get discourage, how about building one. It isn’t so hard and better still, you might end up with a unique and cool custom made headboard. Here are some ideas that you could take into consideration. Who knows, after reading this, it might trigger your creative sense and come up with your own idea.

You can create a headboard by placing a section of picket fence at the top of the bed. This will be bringing a garden theme effect to your room. You can use a distressed, found piece of fence that you have cleaned up, or purchase a brand new plastic length of fence from the hardware store. Have it cut to the width of the bed or have it cover the entire wall so you can put both the bed and side tables in front of it.

Use a wedding or garden gazebo as a canopy headboard. The piece will arch over the top part of the bed and you can hang fabric from it to form the headboard and canopy drape. Adorn it with flowers and place a picket fence bench at the foot of the bed to complete the look.

A hockey goal is the perfect size and shape to use in the place of a headboard in a boys room. Just place it as-is at the top of the bed. With it facing inward, it will gently curve around the top of the bed. With it facing the wall, it will give you a somewhat sturdy headboard on which you can lean your pillows. You can add buttons with hockey sayings onto the netting to finish the look, or your child can borrow it to take outside and play and then put back in place when finished. Using hockey sticks for curtain rods would complete the look.

Bi-fold doors and standing screens also make excellent headboards. You can upholster them with fabric and batting or if they are see-through, you can staple (or glue of the item is metal) fabric to the backside. You can attach it to the wall with a couple of screws at the top.

A cork wall would double as a great place to hang posters and notes as well as a neat headboard for a teen’s room. Just purchase cork squares or rolls and install according to the manufacturers instructions. You can then paint, stamp, or leave the cork wall in its natural state. Add special decorative pushpins in floral or sports shapes to finish off the look. You can also cut the corkboard into shapes before installing on the wall.

Shutters are also a great substitute for a headboard. You can transform it with a distressed paint finish and mount them on the wall. You will need two shutters for a twin bed, and four for a king sized bed.

A fireplace mantel either found in the attic or purchased new, also makes a great headboard. Just attach fabric-covered plywood to the opening and place behind the head of the bed.

For a quick headboard for a king sized bed, turn a door on its side and mount on the wall. Alternatively, you can choose to build a frame for it with legs so you can stand it on the floor. The door can be plain, painted, carved, or upholstered.

There, wasn’t that hard isn’t it? All you have to do is scour around the house and find what piece of junk that you have laying around that you could use. With a little paint or a little scrub, it’ll be ready to transform your bed into something new. Try it!

Let's Talk about Swimming Pool Accessories

The thing is, personally, I think although shopping for swimming pool could be fun, it could also be a stressful task. Having a swimming pool at home would be cool but to maintain it to be always clean and safe, that could make you lose some sleep… Ok, that’s just a figure of speech. Anyway, you may wonder what should you buy for your swimming pool, so let me just share you my thoughts.

One of the most crucial swimming pool accessories is the pool cover. You need the plastic cover to seal the pool during the winter season and to protect the pool from the harsh elements such as wind, ice and debris. Covering your pool will also keep your children or pets from jumping the pool unplanned, which could be extremely dangerous. Remember, part of owning a pool, you will need to be extra cautious with safety issues especially if you own a small child. By the way, the pool cover usually needs something heavy to keep it in place, such as sandbags or plain fabric straps.

Another popular swimming pool accessory is a skimmer to collect dead leaves, branches, insects and other debris from the water surface. A skimmer looks like a huge badminton racket that collects the floating objects. A sturdy solid skimmer will save you money on the pool maintenance. Ideally you should clean dead leaves daily, because too many leaves in the pool can damage your water filters and make you use more harmful chlorine to keep water clean.

If left untreated, a concrete pool surface can be quite hard on skin and not too appealing. Many people opt for cheerful pool paints to keep the pool tidy and fun. Pool paints are usually water- or rubber based, or epoxy. When used regularly, pool paints will greatly prolong the life of the swimming pool protecting its surfaces from sun, harsh elements and chemically enhanced pool water.

Antifreeze is an essential pool accessory for those who live in colder climates. When sealing the pool for the winter, you should drain the water out of the swimming pool plumbing and pour the antifreeze into the pump and pipes. Now you are ready to seal the pool for the winter.

Ok, this is my favorite part: shopping for pool furniture. Nothing fancy or expensive, just basic stuff. Though no one says basic can’t be stylish, right? What we always need is a couple of lounge chair and a table to place our drinks. The design of the furniture is totally up to your own taste. However, no matter what style you choose, remember to pick the pieces that have rubber no-mark coating on the legs so not to disrupt the pool paint. The ideal pool furniture should be able to withstand the winter under a plastic cover and still please your eye in the spring. Also, do not over furnish your pool. You wouldn’t want you pool to be crowded that will make it hard for you to move around.

However, there’s something that you can’t really save on: pool chemicals. Choosing discount chemicals may often mean choosing outdated or otherwise low-quality and deteriorating supplies which in the long run could cause pool problems that could cost you more.

I understand that some of you may think, my, that’s a whole load to buy. But then, hey, that’s the cost of owning a swimming pool, right? Think about it though, it may be a hassle, but during summer when everyone else are cramming their way for a swim at the public pool, you can just simply go to that backyard of yours and jump into your own private pool. Plus, pool party isn’t such a bad idea at all!

Useful Tips on How to Buy New Furniture

Just like those clothes you wear, your home furniture represents who you are and your style. Whether you’re the modern contemporary kind of girl, or the English country folk…Your furniture is like your fashion statement. It tells your guests about your preferences.

Like buying an outfit, you do not want to end up buying a piece of furniture that you don’t need or doesn’t suit your room. It will become a waste if not something that will look rather awkward in that home of yours. Therefore, here I would like to share with you some useful tips on how to buy furniture.

First of all you’re going to take note of how big the space that you’ll be furnishing. All the details such as how many windows, how high the ceiling is and the wall are among the important factors that could help you choosing the right furniture. You can either purchase a piece of software that will help you design a cozy room or grab a pencil and paper and start sketching. If you have any original pieces you are keeping, then make sure to work them into your room plan.

Once you’ve decided what kind of piece you would want, and how large of furniture you can purchase, you could start to set your budget. Figure out how much you’re willing to spend for your furniture.

By knowing how much you’re willing to spend you’ll be able to decide on the type of furniture. For instance, are you buying furniture for a family room or a living room? If you’re buying for a family room you’re going to want to look for furniture that is tougher and built for heavy use, something that could hold up a lot of stuff and convenient. If you’re buying furniture for your living room, and it’s more of a show room then you could opt for something less functional but fancy to look at.

When deciding on the type of furniture, you may also take your lifestyle into consideration; do you own any pets that are going to claw or chew? How about small children? Is your home air conditioned? Leather is a cool piece of furniture, but can be downright uncomfortable in the hot weather, unless your house is air-conditioned. Besides, you might feel like you want to kill somebody when your pet started to scratch or on your leather couch.

After narrowing down what you’re in the market for, make a list itemizing each piece you’re looking for including the sizes that will be suitable for your chosen room, what color do you prefer, and all other fine details. This way you won’t get side track and miss anything once you walk into the furniture shop. It’s easy to get distracted because of all the choices. But with list in hand you’ll be prepared.

Choose a furniture that will last for years. Try not to choose trendy furniture that you’ll be tired of in six months. Furniture is a big investment, so keep your taste in check and choose furniture that will look and feel good for years to come. You can add some trendy small ticket items such as vases or wall décor. Keep your furniture colors easy to work with. That way it will be easier for you if one day you decided to do a room face lift without having to change the entire look.

If a piece of furniture caught your eyes, don’t forget to check the construction of it, watch out for low quality assembly. If you’re buying a couch or bed, sit on it, move around on it, and see if it fits your body well. Check to see if you can feel springs, if the buttons are attached well, if the seams are finished properly. Don’t take any piece of furniture just by looking at it, get underneath and check the piece inside out.

Now that you’ve found your dream furniture, all you need to do next is to pay and wait for delivery. If you have old furniture in the room, it is better to get rid if it first before the new furniture arrives. Prep the room, so that when the delivery guys arrive they can place the furniture where it belongs.

There, wasn’t so hard getting a new furniture, isn’t it? All you need is a proper and detail planning. Who knows, perhaps you might be able to find a piece that will last for generations!

A Few Tips on How to Care For Your Furniture

Through experience and bunch of research… well, not really research, but more to enquiries from experts, I have gathered bunch of useful tips to share with all on how to care for your furniture, in this case the ones that got fabric on it. The thing is, we all buy new furniture and then for the first few months if not all the time we live in fear, worry that we might damage or dirty the fabric. But worry not, because if you follow these tips I’m about to share, your furniture will be safe and last longer.


Upholstered Furniture

• Since this kind has a wide variety of fabrics and fiber combinations, there is no guarantee that these methods will work totally. Therefore I suggest for you to contact professional upholstery cleaner in some cases. However, these simple solutions will keep your new upholstery crisp and clean for years!


• Vacuum at least once a week in order to get rid of the grit that can cause abrasion. Also, don’t forget to dust vacuum the top surfaces as often as possible. Professional cleaning is the best way to make a slightly soiled sofa look new again, but weekly vacuuming could help you from having to retain their services too often. Keep in mind to never brush any fabric with a stiff fiber or metal brush, since they’re destructive to the fibers. Instead, use your vacuum attachments like the upholstery brush or the attachment for dusting draperies and furniture. The latter brush has longer bristles and is less abrasive to your upholstery fabric. It may be your best option if your fabric deserves a softer brushing.


• Reverse the cushions each week after vacuuming. Rearrange the furniture occasionally to ensure even wear of the cushions and other areas.


• Cushions and pillows filled with down or similar cushioning material should be hand-fluffed and reversed regularly to retain their original softness and resiliency.


• Sun is not really your fabric’s best friend. You should not place your fabric in direct sunlight because the ultraviolet light will cause the fibers to degenerate and colors to fade. Occasionally dyes can fade from impurities in the air as well, though protection from the sun is a good way to prevent premature loss of color.


• If you own any pets, keep them away from the furniture. Pet urine and pet body oil can be a pain to remove.


• Use proper care with structural weave fabrics (where the design is created by the weave) to protect against snags. These fabrics may be cleaned by sprinkling dry powder cleaner over the fabric, spreading it uniformly and letting it stand for the recommended period before vacuuming with gentle suction. (However, I do recommend professional cleaning with stains on a woven fabric.)


• Caution those wearing clothing with transferable dyes, such as blue jeans, that the dye could transfer onto light-colored furniture.
  

Fabric Cleaning Guide

Today’s new fabric treatments improve the chances of your fabric’s survival. Fabric protection products are usually applied by the retail store for an additional cost. Most of the various brands work the same way by causing spills and soil to sit on the surface of the fiber instead of migrating to the fiber’s interior.

Fiber protection products are free of ozone damaging chemicals now a day, and most are hypoallergenic and invisible to the eye. Some even provide additional UV protection from color fading caused by intense light. One of the greatest benefits of fabric protection products is that they come with specific written warranties that provide peace of mind.

Whether your new upholstery has been fabric protected or not, you should follow the same basic guidelines in cleaning liquid spills or surface soil that can’t be brushed off (such as newspaper ink).

Fabric Cleaning Codes

Hold it! Do not try to just wing it and try to clean your furniture without identifying identifying the fabric and the correct cleaning method recommended by the manufacturer. This information is represented by a cleaning code (W, S, WS, or X) often found under a cushion, on the bottom of the furniture or on the manufacturer’s tag. If you cannot find this information, contact your salesperson at the furniture store where the item was purchased.

W – Spot clean only with water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner.

S – Spot clean only with water-free cleaning solvent. Do not overwet. DO NOT USE WATER.

WS – Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or a mild dry cleaning solvent. Do not overwet.

X – Clean only by vacuuming or light brushing with a non-metallic brush. DO NOT USE WATER OR DRY CLEANING SOLVENTS. Do not use a foam or liquid cleaner of any type.

Never apply cleaning solutions to visible areas of your upholstery fabric without first testing on areas that are not visible. It is important to pretest for color loss and fabric compatibility.

Cleaning Instructions

As a general rule, when a spill occurs, it is important to clean the fabric immediately. The longer a spot remains, the harder it is to remove. It may even become permanent.

Always blot, never rub. If the spill is new, simply use a clean, dry and very absorbent 100% cotton cloth. If paper towels are the only material available at the moment, make sure the paper towel or the cloth for that matter is white, as colors in the towel may, when applied to a wet surface, fade onto the upholstery. Color from one fabric can rub off onto another fabric, even when the fabric is dry, which is a process known in the industry as “crocking”.

If blotting with a dry cloth doesn’t quite finish the job and you have cleaning directions from the furniture manufacturer, follow those. If none are available, use the instructions provided here.

There. Isn’t so hard, isn’t it? It may take a little work but hey, it’s way better than living in fear from damaging your own furniture, right? What good will it be if you can’t even enjoy your own beautiful piece of furniture in your own home? Have a nice day!

Making Your Very Own Roman Shade

Roman shades are a simple and elegant window treatment to block the sun or prying neighbors. Nicer than plain plastic shades, but less expensive than ornate window shades, Roman shades provide the perfect start to a beginning home decorator.

Roman shades can be purchased from home improvement or department stores, or they can be custom made by in interior designer. The cheapest way to decorate your home with Roman shades is to make them yourself. Get ready to refresh your math skills!

To make Roman shades, first measure the window you’d like to put them in. Measure the height and width of the window from inside its frame. Or, if you want the shade to cover more than the window, measure the height and width of the surface the shade will cover. Your shade will probably need to be between 45 and 54 inches wide.

Before you shop for your fabric, you’ll need to calculate the number of dowels and the amount of fabric you’ll need. To figure out how many dowels you will need, divide the window height by six to nine inches, which will be the space between each dowel fold. You’ll need to find a number that goes evenly into your window height. For example, if your window height is 64 inches, divide by six. You’ll then need eight dowels for eight pleats. Each dowel needs 1.5 inches, so multiplied by eight, you’ll need an extra 12 inches of fabric. You’ll also need an extra six inches of fabric to mount the shade, meaning you’ll need 18 extra inches for this example. Add this to your window height to get your final height. Add two inches of fabric to your window width. Now you have the size of the fabric you need. Whew!

The next part is my favorite part: selecting the fabric of your shade. Shades without busy patterns are the easiest to work with because you won’t need to make sure the pattern blends seamlessly with each fold. If your window gets southern light, consider picking a near-shear fabric. This will produce a warm, soothing light in your room. Take a picture or your room, fabric swatches of your furniture, and a paint sample of your room when you shop. You don’t want to finish making your Roman shade to discover it clashes with the rest of your room!

While you are out buying your fabric, buy the rest of your supplies:

• Drapery-lining fabric. You’ll need an extra 0.25 inches to cover the mounting board.
• Blind cord
• Window cleat
• Quarter-inch diameter window dowels, 0.25 inches smaller than the window width
• A wooden mounting board, 0.25 inches smaller than the window width that’s 1x2 inches.
• Half-inch diameter shade rings
• Screw eyes
• Staple gun
• Chalk or air-soluble marker
• Yardstick

The easiest way to make a shade uses lots of pictures and few words. Find instructions at a home improvement store or for free online to make your own Roman shade. Find patterns that make the type of Roman shade you want, whether it is flat, pleated, or with a sunburst. You’ll probably need a sewing machine to make the Roman shade quickly, especially to attach the lining to the fabric. With patience you can make your own Roman shade.

My Favourite Kind of Carpet: Carpet Tiles

Carpet doesn’t last forever especially if the quality isn’t very good to begin with. Cleaning it may help to keep it clean and last a little longer, but sooner or later, you will have no choice but to buy a new one. It’s for your own good because carpets tend to collect dirt and dust no matter how many times you cleaned it. You might be surprise with what you may find underneath it! It’s like another world down there especially if your carpet has been around for ages.

Good carpet adds warmth and comfort to a room. But, perhaps the carpet in the living room has had food spills, animal stains, and dirt tracked in. Carpet cleaning, whether through professional carpet cleaners or not, may help to some degree. Do keep in mind though, the sooner you get those stain remove, the better. Wouldn’t want it to stick. But, perhaps the carpet is done for, no longer able to be cleaned, but just needs to be replaced.

If you’re in the market for replacing your carpet, consider all options and designs out there. From time to time, there’ll be gorgeous new designs available. One of my favorite though I’m not really sure if it’s new or not is the carpet tile. Carpet tiles is carpeting that is in the form of squares similar to tiling. You may use different colors in order to create a unique pattern and add a level of style to your room. It’s simple and personally I think it makes a room look larger.

Carpet tiles are easy to remove, clean and replace individually. If a carpet tile wears out or sustains a stain that cannot be cleaned, the individual tile can be removed and replaced without having to replace the entire carpeted surface.

Carpet tiles are also easier to maneuver than traditional rolls of carpet. Carpet tile squares are packaged in boxes requiring less floor space for storage and standard containers for transport. Additionally, carpet tiles can be moved and loaded into elevators or even carried up stairwells without special height or accessibility requirements.

All and all, I would say that whoever invented the carpet tiles is a genius. I love it not only because it's convenient, also because I could experiment and go crazy if I want with bunch of colors and crate my own carpet creation!

What are Roman Shades?

Roman shades are a simple and practical window treatment to accent a room or to provide privacy from bright sun or noisy neighbors. A Roman shade is a piece of fabric that is mounted at the top of a window. The fabric is pleated such that when the Roman shade’s string is pulled, the fabric folds up in regular intervals. Not only does it look better than a boring plastic shade, it uses less fabric than other window treatments making it a cheaper alternative to ornate window treatments.

Classic Roman shades have overlapping folds when the shade is lowered, but more different treatments do exist. Flat Roman shades have no folds when the shade is lowered. These shades, when made with sheer or light fabric, can soften bright southern lighting into a subtle, soothing light. A more elaborate sunburst Roman shade has extra fabric at the bottom, which is folded into a half-sunburst. These cheerful shades are perfect for breakfast nooks, in the kitchen, or in a young girl’s room.

Roman shades can be made at home or purchased. Making your own Roman shade will be an exercise in mathematical patience. The fabric must be fitted to the window, and the hooks to draw the Roman shade up must be placed at regular intervals. Patterned fabrics are more challenging because the patterns should not clash when the Roman shade is raised. Roman shades for sale only need to be installed and come in varieties an amateur may find to difficult to make. For example, some stores like JC Penney, sell cordless Roman shades perfect for houses with small children. Roman shades for sale come in hundreds of fabrics or even made of wood. The least expensive Roman shades usually start at around $30. Interior designers can also make Roman shades just for you, but these will be more expensive than store-bought or homemade Roman shades.

Personalizing Your Environment Through Your Interior Design

Interior Design today is all about customizing your built environment with conceptual planning, aesthetic sense and technical solutions applied to achieve the desired result. It goes beyond just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space, it seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the built environment will be put. Between you and me, this jargon simply means dressing up your closed spaces to make them look their best. And just as you would dress for the occasion, your interiors need to be "dressed up" for a specific intended purpose or use. And that is where technical expertise really helps.

Interior Designs should reflect your needs.

Each space is unique with its own dimensions, construction, design potential and, of course, - limitations. Are you going to use that space for work or leisure, entertainment or learning, worship or healing? Can you create the ambience that you wish to convey – be it power, authority, wisdom, and achievement, a sense of security, playfulness or serenity, as required by that space?

Consider the practical aspects. Is access easy, lighting adequate, acoustics soothing, and seating comfortable? And have you worked out strategies for wise storage space without forgetting special needs – especially health and safety? Sounds a wee-bit difficult, isn’t it? Despair not! You as user are the only one who can come up with all the right answers. Look for interior design ideas – they are available aplenty. It’s just this small matter of putting things together judiciously. Who knows? There could well be a Le Corbusier hiding somewhere in your persona!

Getting your Interior Designing Right

Interior design is the design of the inside of a building or structure. We could be referring to a home or a business. In any case, for those that need to design a living or working environment, it is important to make sure that you do so while being well within your budget. And, you will need to take and keep exact measurements. Is there a way of getting your interior design project done within your budget and, dare we say, easily? There sure is. In fact, interior design software is becoming a hot new commodity!

People like to change. Let’s face it. We don’t like to see the same old thing, day in and day out. Instead, we want options and color and sometimes, we just have to change things to stay sane! For all of those that need to use some interior design skills, this can be the perfect way of doing so. Interior design is a skill, often learned through college courses. Does that mean that you, the laymen can not do it? Of course not! But, get some help buy checking out interior design software.

These software programs can help you design a home from start to scratch. They can help with color schemes and even suggest art work for the walls. What these programs do is create an image of the space that is to be designed within the walls of the computer. Then, you can design it how ever you like without fear that making a mistake will cost you. Instead, you get to choose from anything that makes you happy and see how it works.

There are hundreds of programs on interior design and by all means this is no where near the limit that these programs have. To find out what they offer you, individually, check out your options. Look for software choices that will work in your unique situation and will provide you with the opportunities that you have been longing for. It’s easy to find these interior design programs, of course, when you know to look online for them.

Getting Your Pet a Bed to Sleep In

As we love to have a comfortable place to sleep so do the animals. So there are various types of beds for the pets to give them a comfortable sleep. Most of us have the dog as a pet. For the pets we specially have these beds designed for their fullest comfort. This type of beds mainly includes the outdoors beds, luxury beds, and puppy beds. For the various types of dogs there are various types of beds like the large dog beds and the small dog beds. Whereas when we look out for a bed for a cat then there are various types of beds depending upon the breed and the size of the cat.

Comfort and luxury:
The beds not only provide comfort but also look great due to the material used. Some of the pet beds are made up of the micro velvet nylon. The specialty of this is that it is washable. Due to the flexibility of the pet bed it can be used in traveling. The other advantages of these beds are that the machine can wash it and the covers are also removable and replaceable. Pet beds are available in various colors.

Material used for the pet beds:
The material used is not just for comfort but for style also. There are various types and sizes of these pet beds. Some of the pet beds are rectangular in shape. The material used for the pet bed is polyfiber, which is washable and removable. There are various sizes of the beds right from small to extra large. Some pet beds are round in shape for the protection of the animal. These beds are used specially when the animal is small in size or by age. The thick inner cushion provides with the fullest comfort to the animal.

Other varieties of pet beds:
The other varieties of pet beds mainly include the ones with the shape of a doughnut while others are reversible. The reversible beds have an advantage that both sides can use them. The inner cushion is removable and it can be washed easily. Some of these pet beds have an additional advantage of a crate pad.

Bed for cats:
The beds for cats are mainly required so that they are shielded from the winter and protected from the floor, which is cold. Most of the cat beds are made specially considering the window or the porch. To make the cats more comfortable the beds have a system of heating. This controls the temperature of the bed and the cats are protected from cold.

Other advantages of the Pet beds:
The pet beds give the animals their own space and the house has a more organized look. These beds can be bought online also.

How About Getting a Gas Fireplace to Warm up your Home

Adding a gas fireplace to your home is adding value to your home. Gas fireplaces are not only there to keep you a little extra toasty in the winter months, but they can significantly reduce heating costs as well. More so, they are cleaner then wood burning fireplaces as well. Adding a gas fireplace requires safety requirements being met and probably should be done by a professional. But, finding a nice gas fireplace is not that difficult.

A gas fireplace is an added value to your home. Often it will increase your home’s value monetarily. But, also it adds a great deal to the quality of your home as well. Gas fireplaces offer the family a space to sit and talk while they watch the flames burn. Think of the cold winter night warmed by spending the evening with a good book in front of the fireplace.

Natural gas fireplaces are convenient and safe. First of all the ease of their use is convenient. All you do is flip a switch and have a nice warm fire blazing in front of you within minutes. These gas fireplaces are safe because there is no burning wood to fall out and cause a fire. Gas fireplaces are easy to use as well.

Lastly, to find a gas fireplace to add to your home you simply need to find a home improvement store. Many versions and styles will be there for your choosing. If not, many more can be ordered so that you get the right model for your home. So, it’s not difficult to use a gas fireplace and its not hard to find them. If you don’t want to add them to your home, you can even consider an outdoor gas fireplace! There is so many to choose from and so much to think about, but a gas fireplace is a great investment in your home.

A Little Bit About Bathroom Interior Design

Any advice or guide on the interior design of a bathroom should be based around one simple concept: keep it simple. Rooms inside of a home should have functional aspects, and if one room is designed for very specific functions, it is the bathroom. There have always been many jokes about the "throne" of a home, but the honest fact is that creating a visibly appealing and comfortable bathroom will inspire positive feelings to its users.

Hardware choices should be the primary concern when designing a bathroom. Faucets and spigots, as well as tubs and toilets, produced in a variety of shapes and materials can centerpiece a design. Open showers are currently popular with the younger upwardly-mobile crowd, and claw-foot bathtubs are almost always considered to be classic and attractive. Evaluate privacy issues first; don't put the toilet and tub too close together.

Is it a possibility to center your bathroom around a favorite theme? The answer is most certainly "yes." Keeping in mind that "less is more" while choosing a decoration pattern that will coordinate with the rest of the home will open many design possibilities. Finding a color or pattern inspiration from simple or small artwork may be the first step toward creating a bathroom masterpiece.

When designing a bathroom's tiling, take the time to shop around through different hardware, decoration and craft stores. The more expensive of the different types of tiles should have durability, aesthetic value, and a non-porous surface. It should be easily cleaned and sanitized, and it needs to install easily without any expensive or caustic glues or cements. Get creative also; all tile in bathrooms need not be made of porcelain.

After the design and production of a space-conscious and attractive bathroom have been completed, focus on decoration accessories to bring out personality and individualism. The bathroom is the most sacred room of any interior, and placing prized possessions on the walls or shelves is an interesting way to bless this special room. Use courageous ideas and do not be afraid to take chances, but above all: keep it simple.

How to Maintain Marble Floors

For honed marble used as traffic surfaces, care should be taken to prevent accumulations of liquids or other materials that result in safety hazards and staining. Regular daily mopping should be performed. Floor marble is any honed finish that is used as a traffic surface. These surfaces should be mopped and scrubbed in a manner that will not leave a hazardous slippery film.

Again, wet with hot, clean water and then lightly sprinkle an abrasive cleaner (i.e, chlorine bleaching type household scouring cleanser) over the wet stone, or put 1-2 handfuls into a pail of 2-3 gallons of hot clean water.

Using a scrubbing motion, mop the marble surfaces with this solution (or with hot clean water if you are sprinkling the cleaner directly on the stone). Rinse with clean hot water and dry with mop or cloths. Power scrubbers can also be used for the procedure.

Often it is also desirable to protect special interior areas and to enhance the coloration of Honed marble in areas where a polished finish is not practical. In such cases sealers may be applied after the marble has been cleaned. This minimizes maintenance and prevents staining - especially around toilets and urinals in restrooms or in food preparation areas and busy building entrances.

Sealers should only be applied to clean interior marble. Always follow the manufacturer's directions for proper application. Terrazzo sealers are excellent for this purpose. So are silicone based stone sealers.

In all cases sealers should be made of a clear, hard finish type suitable for traffic surfaces and definitely non-yellowing. Do not use soft finish waxes, paste wax or resins. These coatings can collect dirt and grit. Some acrylic-base liquid floor waxes can be used in place of permanent sealers, but may give limited life.

An Island in Your Kitchen!

Kitchen islands are among the most popular additional choice in kitchen remodeling projects. They offer versatility in style and function. People often add them as part of an overall refacing project. You can choose to blend the island with your countertops and cabinetry or choose a granite island with wood or laminate surfaces.

Kitchen islands are available in a variety of colors, sizes and materials to suit any home décor. Choose contemporary, country homestyle or summer kitchen styles. Look through catalogs and home decorating magazines to see the options and unique designs available. Make notes of what you like and features you need in your island.

Adding Kitchen Islands

You can add an island easily, if you have enough room. Look at several islands and get the exact dimensions of the ones you like best. Measure your kitchen; you will need to leave between forty two and forty eight inches of space around the entire island. You want to make sure you can open your refrigerator, oven and dishwasher easily.

To get the feel for how much space an island will take up, try a little experiment. Find a piece of furniture in your home that is about the size and dimensions of your island. Move this furniture into the kitchen and place it where want the island to be located. Keep it there for about a week or so to help you decide if you can live with it. If it's too large, look for a model with smaller dimensions. Experiment with a few different sizes to find the one that feels right.

There are no rules governing the height. It's a matter of preference and function. You need to decide what the area will be used for to determine how high to make the counter. If you will be cooking, preparing food or using a built in sink, make the height even with your other kitchen cabinets. Choose a lower height for seating with tables, or a higher counter for stool type seating.

Utilizing kitchen islands the clever way

Consider how you will use the island. Do you need more storage space? Think about your lifestyle and what you will You have several choices for cooking, preparing food, clean up and storage.

• For storage space, islands can be made to match existing kitchen cabinets and counter tops. Cabinets, drawers or a combination of both can be used to maximize storage space.


• Adding bookshelves to the end creates a great place to display your cookbook collection. Add a few collectibles to the shelves for a more personalized look.


• Wine lovers sometimes choose to add a wine rack in place of shelves.


• Cooking space can be built into the top of an island, saving space above the oven. This is a great option for kitchens with a double oven.


• Consider how you will use the top when choosing counters. A built in butcher block or cutting surface is great if you spend a lot of time preparing food. This helps you avoid cuts and nicks on the surface of your counter.


• If you like to bake, consider marble. You can prepare and roll out your dough right on the surface without sticking.


• An island can be used for seating area. Adjust the height lower for table type seating or raise it higher for barstools. Allow about two feet of space per person for comfort.


• Sinks and appliances, such as dishwashers and trash compactors can be added to an island in place of cabinets.


• Have an electrical outlet added to one side. This is great for cooking with small appliances like electric mixers or blenders.

Portable Islands

A portable island gives you additional countertop area when you need it. These are a great alternative for smaller kitchens. You can purchase one unassembled and put it together yourself easily. Portables usually are on wheels, allowing you to move it out of the way when you need extra space.

You can purchase a moving island with a cabinet for storage space, or get one that looks like a taller table. A built in cutting board surface gives you additional space for cutting vegetables and preparing food. The most common materials used for the top are steel, tile and wood.

A Pergola Will Make Your Garden Look More Dramatic

For anyone looking to add space, style and elegance to their garden, these versatile wooden structures are practical projects that can be built in a single weekend.

Fall is an ideal time to consider outdoor architectural upgrades. While it may be your last major project of the season, your appreciation for the effort will grow when spring 2004 arrives. The structure is already in place, ready to enjoy as plants grow and flowers bloom around it.

A popular building material for a wooden pergola is Western red cedar. It’s stable, resilient, and durable without the dangers of chemical treatment.

“Safety is important for people making building material choices,” says Peter Lang, general manager for the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association. “Cedar looks beautiful and is among the most durable woods. For hundreds of years, cedar has been highly prized for its natural compounds that resist rot and mildew.”

While western red cedar’s natural qualities have always been recognized, these are taking on new, heightened value among builders, from professionals to do-it-yourself. Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a recommendation to avoid chemically treated wood, specifically wood treated with a form of arsenic. Recent studies have linked the arsenic in treated wood to cancer.

Above-ground structures like pergolas, which might once have been built with treated wood, can be safely built with real cedar, known as the “Tree of Life” to the Indians of the Northwest Pacific coast.

You may have seen pergolas on houses and called them trellises or arbors. Like a trellis or an arbor, a pergola can support vines or climbing roses. And like a free-standing arbor, a pergola can filter light with its lattice-like canopy. Pergolas are often used as covered or open-roofed gateways to homes, paths, and gardens.

Consider attaching the pergola to your home, using it to shelter a path between the main house and a garage or other outbuilding. Because the overhead spans are supported by uprights, they can be made any size. Remember, one of the great appeals of the pergola is that it's a piece of architecture.

In its simplest form, a freestanding pergola in the garden provides a unique focal point. It can also serve as an effective soft screen from neighbors, additional shelter for a walkway, or the frame for a view of another feature within the garden.

A pergola gives a deck character and provides new options for decoration and design. Pergolas and arbors are great for vines, other climbing plants such as roses, and hanging baskets. If you don't have a green thumb, adorn the pergola with lights or decoration for special occasions. With slight changes of the supporting columns and overhead lattice, a pergola can fit almost any house style.

The basics of pergola construction are readily available online or from your trusted home improvement store. Before you tackle the project on your own or with professional help, here are few handy reminders:

• Ensure that the posts can handle the weight of the overhead beams. For optimum performance, posts should be attached to ready-made concrete footings purchased from your building supply dealer. This will help keep moisture away from the base of the posts.

• Take special care when deciding the proportions of posts and crossbeams. A set of 4-by-4 inch posts would be ideal with 2-by-6 inch boards nailed vertically for main-beams and crossbeams.


• Make sure the structure’s angles are precise to fit the dimensions you want.


• Make sure the posts are vertically straight and even in height. Ensure the main beams are level and evenly spaced in parallel to each other. Use a carpenter’s level for precision.


• Finally, add decorative flair to the crossbeams with a simple cutting, such as a quarter circle from the underside ends of each crossbeam.

A pergola can make a dramatic change in the yard and garden. It can enhance a style or be the final detail. Better yet, you can do it in a single weekend.

Some Things to Think About Ceiling Fan

I love the decorative look of a ceiling fan as much as the next person, but there are things to consider when you put one in your house; especially the bedroom. Ceiling fans make wonderful decorating and utilitarian statements in a room. You can look at the fan and see how beautiful it matches the décor of the room, and then turn it on and realize how comfortable you can feel in the winter or summer. Ceiling fans will circulate the air anywhere at different speeds and look beautiful at the same time. Some fans have light kits that come with them, or you can install them another time. Other fans don’t have lights; they are just there to look great and circulate the air.

Ceiling fans come in every decorative style imaginable. You can even make your own to match the room you want to install it in. The one place I choose not to have a ceiling fan is the bedroom. All ceiling fans all have one thing in common and that is they have “blades”. When you hang a fan above something, metaphorically you are hanging spinning blades above that object; such as a table, bed, couch etc. It is usually a little disconcerting if you are sitting beneath blades spinning above your head, don’t you think? Have you ever tried to sleep under a moving ceiling fan? It could be the quietest fan in the world; but the spinning blades will always keep me awake. I don’t like to sit under one either. Logically, I’m sure ceiling fans are installed with great care and they won’t come crashing down, but they symbolize just the opposite. In Feng Shui, we look at things such as this and analyze how they make you “feel” energetically. I don’t mind ceiling fans if they are hung high from a cathedral ceiling. They are well out of the way and not right above the head. I do like the way they move the air, just as long as I don’t have to sleep under it.

In Feng Shui, we always look at things and how they represent other things. Metaphorically what are you trying to tell the Universe? There may be alternative ways to keep cool in the summer that don’t involve spinning blades above your head. Why not place portable air conditioners in the house? They are ideal when window air conditioners won’t fit, or you don’t have central air. You might just want to put a portable rotating fan a distance away from the bed. The positioning of items in rooms with Feng Shui (the Chinese art of placement) will determine if you have a good flow of energy in the room. Sit quietly in your bedroom and see how it “feels”. If your master bedroom is large enough that you don’t have to place the bed directly under the ceiling fan; then you are ok with the aesthetics of having it in the room. You can use it to feel cooler to your hearts content.

10 Important Feng Shui Design Tips

If you wish to learn how to manage interior design according to feng shui design guidelines, there are some major tips you must know. We wish to help you achieve a balanced and harmonic feng shui design for any environment you wish it to be. Read the next paragraphs and learn the feng shui design most important tips.

1. Feng shui design should always be done having the people who will be in it in mind. People's comfort must be a priority, and all you do must be done thinking of that.


2. You should be guided by the bagua map and the areas it indicates within that space in order to distribute objects and furniture in it.


3. Make use of the main feng shui elements. An interior design uses furniture and objects which may contain the different elements. These elements should always be in harmonic quantities and according to the bagua map indications.


4. You should choose colors according to what they symbolize and represent. Different colors represent different elements and have different symbolisms.


5. Good feng shui design does not allow dark spots in it since that doesn't allow chi flowing properly.


6. You should choose carefully the shapes of the objects and furniture; different shapes provide different feelings as well as tend to balance in different ways.


7. Couches and chairs should always be placed in a way that allows those who sit on them to easily look at the door.


8. According to feng shui design guidelines beds should not be right across the door and ideally should have a wall at one side as protection.


9. Mirrors should be placed strategically, thought according to the light amount wished as well as which objects you wish it to reflect.


10. Correct feng shui design would allow people to feel good and comfortable in that interior without really noticing it has been carefully thought of. It should be natural and balanced, providing comfort to those occupying it.

How to Choose a Spice Rack for Your Kitchen

Today you have almost as many choices of spice racks as you do of the spices they contain. Spice racks are wonderful kitchen home organization gadgets. And a spice rack is a wonderful gift too for a cook. In our household, my husband is the chef. But I'm the shopper. And we own three functional and handsome spice racks that are in use every day. Before you buy your next spice rack for yourself or as a gift consider these factors:

1) WHERE WILL YOU PUT IT? Naturally, you want your spice rack in the kitchen so it's handy for cooking. The only caution here is that some people advice not putting your spices too close to the stove or oven for fear that the heat will be harmful to some of the spices' potency. So other than that spot, consider all the available spaces in your kitchen. There are probably more available spaces than you think. Here are some styles of spice racks that should give you more ideas about available kitchen space:

• No counter space? Buy spice racks that are "wall mountable". These spice racks usually have single or multiple vertical shelves.
• Hard to reach counter space? Put a "carousel" spice rack in the corner. Think of a carousel spice rack as one that spins on a circular-shaped Lazy Susan. You can make use of that hard-to-reach corner countertop space with such a revolving spice rack.
• Like to view your spices in one glance? By a "slanted" spice rack. Or buy a "three-tier expand-a-shelf" (like a staircase or stadium seating) that fits conveniently inside a kitchen cabinet. You'll triple that cabinet space with this type rack too.
• Got a free drawer? Some stores are now selling a "spice rack drawer liner". It lays flat in your drawer much like the flatware drawer liner that holds your forks and spoons. You lay the spice jars or containers on their sides in slots (lay with labels upward for quick reading).
• Not utilizing the bottom of your kitchen cabinets? Buy an "under-cabinet spice rack", also called "undercounter spice rack" or "pull-down spice rack". Much like electric can-opener gadgets that attach to the underside of kitchen cabinets, so does this under-cabinet spice rack. It swings down for easy viewing and picking. Otherwise, keep it folded upward underneath the cabinet for its space saving attribute.
• Is the inside of your pantry door empty? Use a "door-mounted spice rack". Just a few screws and you can hang a multi-shelf vertical spice rack here. Also, some stores are selling racks that have slots that individually adjust to the jar size. The rack adheres to the inside of the door with double-sided tape.
• Lots of kitchen counter space or open shelf space? Get a "free-standing spice rack". You can buy a countertop spice rack that spins or one planted firmly on a solid base. Some of these come in tapering shapes so that they're narrower at the base but flare out at the top.

Also consider....

2) HOW MANY SPICES DO YOU USE? If you use a lot of different spices, would you like one large single-level or multi-tiered shelf spice rack that holds all of them? Or like me, would you like a few different spice racks clustered in one area of the kitchen? If you only keep a few spice jars, then perhaps a spice rack that holds six to eight spice containers is sufficient (especially if your space is limited to a small area of the kitchen). And if it's a gift for someone else, visualize the available space they have in their kitchen. You don't want to give someone a gorgeous spice rack that they have to stuff in a closet for lack of a place to put it.

3) CAN YOU CONVENIENTLY ACCESS THE SPICES? For instance, if you hang a vertical double-shelf spice rack on a wall underneath a kitchen cabinet, you need enough room between the spice containers on the top shelf and the underside of the kitchen cabinet to be able to easily remove and replace the spice containers. You don't want to keep scraping your knuckles against the wood on the underside of the cabinet. Wherever you plan to put the spice rack, it's probably a good idea to measure the intended space for it and then compare that to the dimensions of the product listed on its sales box before you purchase it.

4) ARE YOU BUYING A SPICE RACK WITH OR WITHOUT SPICES? Some spice racks come complete with full containers of spices and others come without jars or containers of spices. Some spice racks don't even use typical container or jars; instead you fill them and then turn a dial for the measured spice amount to filter through a dispenser, which is removable from the spice rack.

Remember that you're trying to save space when buying home organization gadgets. So if you buy a spice rack complete with new spices, you'll just have to store the new or existing set of spice jars in the pantry until the spice jars in use need a refill.

And if you buy a spice rack with containers, make sure they're what you want. Some are glass jars; others aren't. Some have corks as lids; others have screw tops. Some come with snap on sifters or shaker ports. Also check to see if the jars come pre-labeled or with an extra set of blank labels.

5) WHAT MATERIAL COMPRISES THE SPICE RACK? You can find spice racks or spice shelving in many types of material: wood, acrylic, metal/stainless steel/wire, plastic or chrome. What matches the style of or colors of your kitchen? Or if the spice rack isn't going to be clearly on view, maybe you're just interested in a durable material or one that wipes clean easily.

6) DO YOU LOVE IT? Spice racks are very durable products. You'll be seeing your spice rack choice in your kitchen for a long time.

Turning Your Bedroom Into a Romantic Space

Want to spice up your bedroom to let some romance in?

Decorating your bedroom for romance doesn't even have to be difficult or expensive. You can really let your creativity run wild here.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want to soothe all of the senses to both take away other distractions and relax completely. This should be your oasis, your refuge to reconnect and enjoy your partner's company.

A great place to start is lighting. Get rid of the glare, and you're well on the way to more romance!

Candles, candles and more candles can bring a lot of romance into the bedroom for a pretty small investment. Candles, both large and small, tapered, pillar or votives all generate a warm, inviting, flickering light to the room. Group them together in several areas of the room for the best effect.

Adding a dimmer switch to lighting can also be quite effective in designing bedrooms for romance- and cost very little as long as you can install it yourself. It isn't as difficult as you might think!

Placing mirrors to reflect your softened light will add more depth to your bedroom.

Window dressings that are plush and appealing should darken the room and prevent lights from traffic or other external noise from interrupting the romantic mood you are creating. The window treatment can match or contrast the bedding and often can be found as an accessory to the bedding set you select. Draperies that billow and flow can add a touch of romance to the bedroom as well.

The bed, of course, is the focal point of the bedroom in most cases, and the bedding you select for romance can set just the perfect mood.

Many people think of silk and satin when thinking of romantic bedding. Both silk and satin can be costly and a bit slippery on the bed. The good news is that the same luxurious effect and feel can be created with 100% cotton sateen sheets if you don't want the added expense of genuine satin or silk linens.

Choose bedding for your romantic bedroom that centers on relaxing, romantic colors. Avoid using too much grey, yellow or pink. Red, black, white, blue and green is very popular. Newer colors like pearl, bronze and even gold can really create the feeling of luxury and are quite romantic.

Remember that all of your senses should be involved for the perfect touch of romance- so adding interesting texture for bedding can be another opportunity to bring out romance. Velvet, faux fur and velour are rich, soft to the touch fabrics that can be used for comforters, blankets and throw pillows.

Peacock Alley is one of the most well-known luxury bedding maker.

They offer an especially warm, romantic bed linen set called the Marrakech Ebony. It features shades of green, gold and ebony in prints reminiscent of the African plains and looks especially romantic when highlighted by candlelight. 55% linen and 45% rayon create luxurious sheets which are easy to care for.

The Vienna Ensemble from Peacock Alley is 100% Egyptian cotton in white on white featuring eyelet lace. Euro sham, coverlet, boudoir pillows add wonderful interesting detail to the bedding which brings back the romantic 1800s.

And if you'd prefer to keep your expenses down a bit, then you could go for the shabby chic approach, which means focusing on your own sense of style, mixing just about any romantic touches into the bedroom- as long as the overall result is soothing and relaxing. You don't have to follow anyone else's idea of romance. Just be creative!

If you really want to go all out, you could add a canopy to your bed. You can easily create the same effect of a canopy bed with about 10 yards of material like linen, silk or satin and four hooks placed in the ceiling. Simply drape the cloth so that it billows and flows to just above the bed linens. This touch will enhance any spacious bedroom and can provide a bedroom with low ceilings a more spacious feel.

Finish your new romantic bedroom with a bit of soft music, maybe some potpourri and some fine chocolates and champagne, and there you have it!

You can live in a bedroom that surrounds you with romance every night if you wish. Simply bring together your own creation of romantic touches and enjoy.

A Bit About Bathroom Cabinets

So, you have decided to remodel your bathroom and you have also decided to replace those old, worn out cabinets which have seen better days. Bathroom cabinets play a major role in maintaining an organized bathroom. Besides being of maximum utility, they are one of the most eye catching fixtures of the bathroom. They also consume most amount of the bathroom remodeling budget.

Since cabinets take a huge chunk from your budget, decide how much you want to spend on cabinets, in advance. You can do this by first deciding where you want your cabinets. Then take measurements of the area. Decide whether you want stock cabinets, semi-custom or custom cabinets. Stock cabinets are the most inexpensive ones followed by semi-custom and then custom cabinets. When you meet the expert with these rough ideas and figures in mind, he can give you a more accurate picture.

As mentioned earlier, there are three types of cabinets available in the market. You have to choose from them according to your budget and your specific requirements. They are Stock, Semi-custom and Custom cabinets.

Stock cabinets are inexpensive and most popular. They are mass produced and built in standard sizes and shapes. The choice of color, design and style is limited.

Semi-custom cabinets are basically stock cabinets which can be changed in some ways to meet individual requirements. They offer more choice of color, finish, design and size. They are more expensive than stock cabinets.

Custom cabinets are the most expensive cabinets. They are made to order cabinets. They are made to suit your specific, individual requirements. They offer the widest range of color, design, style and size.

According to the method of assembling, there are Framed and Frameless cabinets. Framed cabinets are American cabinets and frameless cabinets are European style.

In framed cabinet, a frame is placed around the front of the cabinet opening. It is also called face frame. It is used to secure the door to the cabinet. Framed cabinets are more expensive than frameless cabinets because they use more material.

In frameless cabinets, there is no face frame and door is hung directly on the cabinet box. Frameless cabinets occupy lesser space than framed ones.

While selecting cabinets for your bathroom, keep in mind that your cabinets should match the rest of your bathroom.

Doors and drawers of the cabinets should operate smoothly.

Don't just go by the looks of the doors of the cabinets because it's the quality and construction of the whole boxes that counts.

Choosing a Kitchen Sink

In any household, a kitchen sink is one of the central fixtures and always sees plenty of action. It is used both for preparing food and for cleaning up after every meal. It can add to or take away from the overall effect of your kitchen’s design. Durability and attractiveness are both important qualities in kitchen sinks.

More than simply functional necessities, sinks now offer more design appeal, softer lines, and a variety of finishes. Every homemaker faces the challenge of choosing the right sink for the kitchen, and the kitchen sink provides the finishing touch to any new kitchen project.
Modern sinks are not just made of a simple faucet and bowl. They come in multiple bowls of various sizes and shapes and are designed with integral drainers, cutting boards, soap dispensers, instant hot water dispensers, purified water taps, sprayers and more.
Sinks are also made of stainless steel, enameled metal, solid surfacing materials and quartz composites, and of course the traditional porcelain.

There is a great amount to consider when choosing a kitchen sink. Size, in width and depth, is of course the biggest choice you will make when choosing a sink to fit your kitchen. You also have a choice of materials used in making the sink - stainless steel, granite or copper.

Stainless steel sinks are made in many sizes and several thicknesses. Enamel on cast iron or steel sinks are made in an assortment of colors. Quartz composite sinks also come in a variety of colors and patterns.

Many people prefer stainless steel sinks because they are believed to be easier to care for. Some solid-surface countertop materials may be formed to include rimless, seamless sinks that are a perfect match.

Your sink choice is restricted by the size of your cabinet and counter top. All kitchen sinks require a minimum cabinet size. You can find out the size of your cabinet by measuring under the existing sink or where the new sink will go.

A Guide to Buy a Waterbed Mattress

If you need a new waterbed mattress, there are a variety of things you should know. For starters, waterbed mattresses come in different levels of firmness. Since even the firmest waterbed is less firm than a traditional bed, most experts recommend buying the firmest waterbed mattress that you can afford.

Let’s take a look at the different types of waterbed mattresses:

Free Flow: as its name suggests, a free flow mattress allows the water to flow freely. This makes the bed feel as though it is always gently rocking. Sleeping on a free flow waterbed mattress is much like sleeping on a boat. This type of mattress is not recommended for someone who desires support. Some people have trouble sleeping on a bed that moves freely with every toss and every turn. In addition, the free flow mattress doesn’t have any mechanism to balance it. This means that if one partner is larger or heavier than the other, the mattress will be lopsided.

Hydraulic: a hydraulic waterbed mattress is filled with tiny round vinyl coils. These coils fill with water and float just beneath the top of the mattress. This helps to regulate the movement of the water. The more coils a mattress has, the firmer it will be. In addition, the coils help to balance out the bed. This means that even if one partner is heavier than the other, they will stay on the same level.

Fiber Fill: in fiber filled waterbed mattresses, the manufacturer fills the mattress with fiber. This helps to reduce the movement of the water and to increase the firmness of the mattress. The more fiber the mattress has, the firmer it will be.

Waterbed mattresses are available at many online stores, including My Waterbed Shop, All Waterbeds, Bedroom Discounters, and Simmons.

For additional waterbed mattress resources, do an Internet search for “waterbed mattress.” Also check your local bedding, mattress, and furniture stores.

The Luxury Comforter that We All Would Love to Have

For those striving to create a bedroom retreat, a haven from the rest of the world, luxury is a necessity. Along with good color choices and fine furniture, a lavishly dressed bed is top priority. One of the most important ingredients for an extravagant bed is a luxury down comforter, and price is no object.

Down comforters are made from a variety of materials. They can be made from the down of ducks or geese. The most luxurious, though, are those made from goose down. Goose down is heavier and produces warmer, fluffier, and more luxurious down comforters.

Different geese produce different qualities of down. Eiderdown comes from the Eider duck of Iceland. As you can imagine in such a cold climate, the Eider duck has a very full and luxurious down, resulting in a warm and fine comforter. Eiderdown has to be hand harvested from Eider duck nests, making it difficult to acquire. At around $7000, its price reflects that quality and rarity.

Siberian goose down is considered the best, and is available for around $1000. Siberian goose down is known to have superior warming power, and is fluffier than all other varieties.

In shopping for luxury down comforters, one of the most important things to consider is the fill power rating. Fill power refers to the comforter’s fluffiness, the higher the rating, the better. While any fill rating over 550 is considered good, the more luxurious down comforters often have ratings of over 800.

Thread count is another important consideration. The thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch. Again, the higher the number, the better the quality of the comforter. A high thread count means the comforter will be softer, lighter, and less likely to leak filling.

The comforter cover material is less important because the comforter itself should be covered with a duvet. However, some truly luxurious cover materials exist. Some comforters are covered in silk or Egyptian cotton for optimum softness.

4 Simple Steps to Help You Keep Your Bathroom Clean

One of everyone's least favorite chores is cleaning the bathroom. You put it off ... and put it off... until it takes nothing short of an atomic bomb to get it clean. It doesn't have to be that way.

4 steps, about 2-3 minutes a day- and you will never have to deal with soap scum build up or scrubbing the bathroom ever again.

The tools you will need-

• a shower squeegee
• paper towels
• glass cleaner
• Scrub Free

These should be kept in the bathroom. Splurge on the extra bottle of glass cleaner and an extra roll of paper towels to keep in the bathroom.

Here are the 4 steps-

1. When you get out of the shower, after you have dried off and put on your lotion and such... do a once over on the shower walls with the squeegee.

2. Take 2 pieces of paper towel and clean in this order- mirror, counters, quick wipe over towel bars, chrome in shower, and toilet lip. Throw paper towel away.

3. Do one of these chores each day or two-

• Spray tub with scrub free and do a quick wipe down with wet rag or sponge, or
• Clean the toilet, or
• Do a quick wipe up of the floor, or
• Do a quick cleaning on your shower doors, if you have them, or if you have shower curtains- spray any spots with Clorox Cleanup.

Each of these only take seconds if you don't let it get bad in the first place.

4. Watch for any mold, or discoloring of the grout. Spray with Clorox Cleanup and just let it work.

That's it. Your bathroom will always look terrific, and it'll be a lot healthier too.

Don't let build up happen in the first place. Keeping it clean in the first place is so much easier than trying to clean it later.

Make Full Use of Your Attic

Do you have an attic in your house? Lucky You! You can decorate your attic however you like and create your own favorite corner in the house, or even an extra place for your children or your guests. Depending on your attics’ space and on your own personal taste, you can finally have an attic that fulfils your needs.

Need an extra bedroom? The attic can turn into a beautiful private bedroom for a friend that stays the night, a visiting couple, or a relative from out of town. Use light shades and soft fabric materials; you don’t want your guest to get tired and dizzy from the lively colors. Instead, create a pleasant, romantic atmosphere. You will need a single or, if there is enough space, a double bed, a small closet with drawers and one or two small bedside tables. A big, elegantly shaped mirror will add several points and will make the room seem spacious. If the room is already spacious enough, you can place a bedroom chair facing the window. Add a dreamcatcher or a wind chime and enjoy the results!

How about a playroom for your children? They would love to have their own, “No Moms Allowed!” space for their toys, their games and their imagination. You will need a soft, warm carpet to keep the room cozy during wintertime. Don’t carpet the corners though, as you will need some room to swap out for a lighter, cooler carpet for the summer days. You will also need large pillows or soft inflatable chairs. When opting for a playroom, use lively colors that will keep the children excited and happy. This room could have a small TV and DVD play set, videogames, board games, many toys, and puzzles, whatever a kid needs! Don’t place sporting material such as bouncers, trampolines and swings because the roof is too low in attics and the children might get hurt while playing.

Are you an artist? Even if the answer is no, an attic can make you one! Make your own inspirational studio. Don’t use a carpet this time. Color and material chips will stain it. If you are a painter, equip your studio with painting knives, palettes, art pencils, drawing sticks, charcoal, paints, brushes and canvas, paper blocks and rolls. If you are a craftsman you can create a wood art studio. Equip it with a large working table, hole cutting templates, curving tools. Place furniture with shelves in the corner to place and admire your artwork.

An attic can be your gym! You’ll need adequate ventilation in there, or a large window. Dress the room with a soft carpet and buy your gym equipment. Don’t buy large fitness equipment. Prefer many smaller ones, or a few multi training machines. You can also have light exercise tools like fitness balls, tummy trimmers, weight sets, yoga mats. A small refrigerator filled with bottled water or energy drinks is necessary for the attic gym room so that you won’t need to run downstairs every time you get thirsty. A mini stereo will enhance your exercise with power music.

There is no limit to your imagination about the potential use of your attic space. Sure, it comes in handy as a storage place, but what moments of joy can you invest in a storage place? With creativity and a little money, the attic can be your favorite room.

Making Your House Smells Good

The home fragrance market is booming. From perfume, toiletries, and cosmetics to pre packaged foods. It is currently a multi billion dollar industry that continues to show strong growth. The strongest growth has taken place in the last 5 years and is expected to continue through 2007 and beyond. Western Europe, Japan, and the US continue to lead with 65 percent of demand and over three-quarters of world wide production of home fragrance products. Rapid growth of home fragrance sales has also been registered in Asia/Pacific, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Market researchers attribute the growing trend of home fragrance popularity in the US to the fact that we are spending more time at home. We are using home fragrances to UN-stress ourselves and make our indoor environment a healthier and more pleasing place to be. And we like it, it makes us feel good. Consumer research is quite convincing. People feel better about themselves and are more comfortable at home when a home fragrance delivery system in use.

Market researchers also point out that consumers are eagerly embracing home fragrance products that neutralize odors and bacteria in our indoor air, not just cover them up. A stylish home fragrance delivery system which can be displayed as decor in the home or work place. Consumers desire an attractive as well as efficient home fragrance delivery system.

There are many home fragrance delivery systems available to us today. From the plug-ins, solids, and sprays, to name a few, which temporarily mask or cover up odors and are readily available in the local supermarket. To the stylish and very much in vogue Fragrance Lamps which you won't find in the local supermarket. Fragrance Lamps can be found in specialty gift and decor shops, and on line. One such Fragrance Lamp is the La Tee Da collection of fragrance lamps. http://www.coronetgiftsolutions.com/la-tee-da_effusion_lamps.asp La Tee Da is leading the way in home fragrance effusion lamp technology. La Tee Da's exclusive scalloped burner design enhances the home fragrance experience. La Tee Da fragrance lamps or effusion lamps as they are sometimes called are made of hand blown art glass. These fragrance lamps come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. La Tee Da fragrance lamps befit any decor, home or work place.

Sonia Perez of Coronet Gift Solutions http://www.coronetgiftsolutions.com in Florida says her retail customers are becoming creative in their approach to home fragrance. "They like to have different fragrances for each room of their houses. Say, Verbena in the bedroom and Sandalwood Mahogany in the living room or den." Some of her customers fragrance 3 or 4 rooms, each with a different fragrance. Sonia recommends fragrance lamps because of their style and their ability to sanitize the air while they fragrance it. "Fragrance lamps are great! And collectable too." She also supplies interior designers who love using fragrance lamps as a decor embellishment. "The La Tee Da lamps work well as an attractive accent piece to the design scheme and at the same time fragrance and sanitize the room or entire house, and their clients adore them" .Pure indoor air has become a priority with consumers says Sonia. "Women want more than just pretty air; they want clean air at home and at the office."

The La Tee Da fragrance lamp catalytic conversion process is the same as that used by the old time European catalytic burner (effusion lamp) of Justus Von Liebig. Using this catalytic conversion La Tee Da fragrance lamps are highly efficient at sanitizing indoor air, not masking it. These fragrance lamps kill bacteria, including odor causing bacteria, and the unpleasant smells from dirty laundry, pets, mold, musty closets, and bathrooms. Frying fish tonight? No problem. La Tee Da to the rescue! Cooking odors neutralized, fast. Not just temporarily masked. Automobile manufacturers utilize the same catalytic conversion process on the cars we drive to reduce or eliminate noxious fumes, smoke, and odors from automobile exhaust.

In Europe, before the days of modern electronic indoor air purification, the catalytic burner (effusion lamp) was used extensively in institutions such as hospitals, medical clinics and other facilities that required a high degree of indoor air purity. German holistic chemist Justus Von Liebig discovered that through the oxidation of primary alcohols the effusion lamp was efficient in neutralizing bacteria, allergens, and other impurities in the air including smoke and foul odors.

Aware of the health benefits of the effusion lamp, the French began to add liquid fragrance to their effusion lamps. Leave it to the French to transform the effusion lamp into the home fragrance delivery system we today call fragrance lamps. http://www.coronetgiftsolutions.com/la-tee-da_fragrance_lampes.asp Fragrance lamps have for many years been a fixture in homes across the European Continent and are rapidly gaining popularity in North America. Why? Because fragrance lamps sanitize as well as fragrance your indoor oxygen. Neurologist Alan Hirsh director of the Smell and Taste Treatment Center of Chicago has studied fragrance and the positive relation it can have as an aid in learning, reducing or increasing the desire to eat, and in arousal.

Retailers and restaurateurs are taking notice of the power of fragrance. Case studies of restaurants and retail shops using fragrance delivery systems to create ambiance and a perceived pleasurable shopping experience are quite satisfied with the results of fragrance. Customer surveys consistently prove that fragrance ranks high among reasons for customer loyalty to a particular store or eatery. Also customer word of mouth advertising regarding the fragrant environment brings in new customers. Retailers are exploring the power of fragrance, or scent to stimulate favorable emotional and behavioral responses of consumers. Hirsh also points out that the Nobel Prize in medicine was last year granted to researchers who discovered how olfactory receptor cells enable humans to recognize and store in memory 10.000 different odors. Hirsh states, "I think we are going to be seeing interior decorating with smells in the future, the same way we do with color." Sounds good to me. Decorate my bedroom in Verbena, my bathroom in Lavender, and my kitchen in Cinnamon Apple. Fragrance me with Bayberry in the den and Fresh Cut Clover in the laundry room. Sound good to you too? You bet it does!

Why Should You Install a Heater in Your Garage

Why do you need a heater for your remodeled garage? The answer for this question is pretty obvious: one of the major disadvantages of using your garage as a workshop or a home office is that it wasn’t meant for that. The garage is the special place reserved for your car, the garage is the room where you keep your lawn and garden accessories.

If you start using this space for other projects that you have, you need to deal with one of the major inconveniences, that is warmth. During the summer you don’t have to worry too much about this but during cold seasons you might find some difficulties in continuing your project because of the very low temperature.

You can find many ways to warm up your workshop-garage. You can try one of the porcelain heaters; they work great and can warm up a good area but they are not meant to warm a large space for a long time.

Another solution for you would be to use a kerosene heater. These heaters are easy to turn on, most of them have an electric starter. It should have a thermostat to be able to regulate the temperature also they have a specific scent, they do function on kerosene! So if you think you cannot handle this smell, a kerosene heater wouldn’t be a good choice for you. They are quite dangerous for your children, if they have access to the garage and you would definitely want to ventilate very well the garage!

A very good and popular choice nowadays is a gas heater. Of course you have to hire a professional to install it. You can find a gas heater suited to your budget for remodeling the garage. There are many models and almost all of them are fairly inexpensive. The main advantage of a gas heater is that it gives you a consistently warm environment. They are available in both manual and thermostatic control types. You would probably prefer a model that has a thermostat, even though its price is a little higher than the price of a manual temperature control model. The only thing that you have to do is to set it on a desired temperature and leave it to do its job.

There are two types of gas heaters: vented and vent less. The vent less unit uses air from the room and the vented model has a system that vents directly out of the garage. The disadvantage of the vent less model is that you have to keep the room vented at all times because the unit uses the air from the room where it has been installed. The main advantage for the both types of gas heaters is that they have a pretty low running cost compared to the kerosene and electric heaters.

Remember that if you choose to install a more advanced heating system like a gas heater, you must ask for a professional’s help.

Your Garden Could Use a Bridge

Just because you dont have huge, elaborate gardens does not mean you cant accentuate what you do have with l garden bridges. Garden bridges could be just what you need to turn those mediocre garden areas into something quite splendid.

Garden bridges can add a touch of country or formal design to a garden. Small garden bridges are easy to find. There are many garden bridges that you can find in garden centers or home improvement centers. One of the best places to find small garden bridges may be online. There are lots of sites that have many ideas for small garden bridges.

If you are good with a hammer and nails you may even be able to make your own garden bridge. Plans are available at building stores and at online sites. You will find many choices for garden bridges at these online sites and you can also see photos of many different bridge styles.

A garden bridge can be a big benefit for your garden space. A small garden bridge will look attractive in a smaller garden and draw attention to a specific area.

You can choose the right small garden bridge if you do a little planning ahead of time. If you have a smaller garden you will want a smaller garden bridge. Look at the space you have and decide where a bridge would fit in. Consider more than one area and then choose your favorite.

There are some lovely gardens that are small in size but large in beauty because garden bridges have been added in just the right places.