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Articles from Home Design 365

How to Light a Bathroom 2008-01-30 10:32:57 Ample lighting is essential for safety and convenience in the bathroom. Some tips follow. Step One Place wall fixtures on each side of a small- to medium-size mirror (about 36 inches or narrower) over the sink to illuminate your face as needed for shaving or applying makeup. Ideally, these fixtures should be 28 or more inches apart and about 60 inches off the floor. Step Two Hang a row of lights with halogen bulbs above a large, wide mirror. Step Three Provide lateral lighting on a large mirror by drilling through the mirror to install light fixtures. Step Four Consider theatrical lights, which feature exposed incandescent bulbs, around the perimeter of the mirror if your layout permits it. Step Five Use color-corrected fluorescent bulbs (so they won't tinge objects with blue) if heat buildup from incandescent bulbs poses a problem. Step Six Install recessed downlights, designed for use in wet areas, in the shower and above the tub. Step Seven Plan a central ceiling fixtu ...

How to Install Wood Laminate Products 2008-01-30 10:30:38 Tired of the same ol' dull-looking linoleum? Do you want to jazz up a room with a great-looking, low-maintenance hardwood floor? The products of your dreams has arrived. We'll show you how to handle this weekend project with ease. Things You'll Need Laminated Flooring Saws (power Or Manual) Measuring Tapes Rags Levels Pry Bars String Line Hammers Step One Decide on the exact product you will use - Norske Skog, Pergo and Wilsonart are just a few examples. Step Two Take measurements to obtain total area of floor space to be covered. Take these with you to your local dealer. Step Three Purchase all the material and glue you will need for the project. (Some manufactures provide spacers for the perimeter and wedging; with others you have to supply your own. Some also offer a foam insulation/vapor barrier/sound deadening pad to be put down under the flooring.) Step Four Allow the laminate flooring to acclimatize for at least 48 hours inside the structure before beginning ...

Caring for Your Hardwood Floors This Winter 2008-01-28 09:23:24 Homeowners with hardwood floors are often concerned about damaging their floors during the winter season. Without proper care, winter's harsh elements -- slush, snow and salt -- can dull the varnish of hardwood floors and even cause warping and gapping. It's almost impossible to avoid winter elements. After all, what would the season be without building a snowman or sledding until you're soaked? Rather than missing out on winter fun, here are a couple of simple steps you can take to protect your floors this winter. Install Floor MatsCatching slush and snow at the door is the best way to avoid damage. It is important to keep these mats as clean and dry as possible. You may even consider investing in an additional mat that you can use while drying the other. If your kids enjoy playing outside, encourage them to remove their wet snow apparel as soon as they come back inside to avoid trekking snow all over the house.Get Creative with Everyday Household Materials Placing a dish-drainer ...

Movable Walls: Change Your Floor Plan in Minutes 2008-01-28 09:14:15 While the walls of your home still can't talk, they can move -- thanks to advances in track technology and new thinking about how living spaces can be defined. The result is rooms that can serve multiple purposes and be virtually redesigned by simply sliding a wall panel."American families' lifestyles often change, whether it's a life change such as a teen going off to college or just a day-to-day change like wanting an open kitchen for a special party," says Steve Johnson, vice president of L.E. Johnson Products, Inc. "Demand is growing for homes that are more flexible and easier to adapt to changing space needs." Sliding and pocket doors have long been the architectural solution of choice for small spaces where a swinging door would be in the way. Now, homeowners and designers are applying that concept of convenience to more expansive spaces, using the latest hardware technology -- capable of moving multiple 300-pound panels -- to increase floor plan flexibility."Sliding panels o ...

Custom Showers: A Daily Dose of Luxury 2008-01-28 09:07:54 The shower was once the bathroom's most unassuming area, solely offering functionality while the jetted tub had all the fun. Times have changed however, and this once modest necessity has emerged as one of today's hottest bathroom luxuries with new options offering the same sense of relaxation and awe that was previously reserved for the bathtub.For frazzled homeowners seeking an escape from the stresses of the outside world, the master bath provides an ideal place to soothe away the day's chaos. Unfortunately, time constraints can make self-pampering a rare indulgence. Given that, luxury showers have grown in popularity, offering homeowners a daily sense of relaxation that can be enjoyed in a time-efficient manner."The tranquil streams, invigorating pulses and calming massages offered by customized showering systems have transformed the once lackluster shower into a sensory journey," says Jeff Pratt, vice president of sales for Danze, a manufacturer of decorative plumbing products. ...

Energy-Saving Tips for the Home Heating Season 2008-01-28 08:54:22 From compact fluorescent light bulbs to ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, consumers are interested in the latest and greatest "green," energy-efficient products. While these products help homeowners make an impact, many consumers may overlook basic steps they can take to conserve energy in their home and lower energy costs, especially during winter months. In fact, the Department of Energy reports that the typical American family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utility bills. And heating can account for almost half of the average family's winter energy bill. Experts recommend that consumers use basic winterizing practices and evaluate the latest heating systems to prepare their homes for colder weather. Home maintenance and preparation should include: * Sealing leaks around doors and windows.* Adding weather-stripping or replacing worn stripping around doors and windows.* Inspecting and cleaning chimneys.* Caulking gaps where needed.* Checking insulation. Focus on crawl spaces, bas ...

Garden Superstars for Spring 2008 2008-01-28 08:35:48 New Plants and Garden Accessories Take a Starring Role in Outdoor Rooms this Spring From earth-friendly fertilizers to show-stopping roses, Spring 2008 promises to be an exciting year for garden lovers. "Gardening this year will be easier than ever before, and a lot more fun, thanks to exciting new plants and smart new garden products scheduled for release this spring," says Susan McCoy, owner of the Garden Media Group, a lawn and garden public relations agency. With just a few months until the weather breaks, McCoy reveals a few of her favorite garden superstars for spring 2008. New Stars in the Garden are no Divas Looking for a great low-maintenance flowering shrub for your garden? Try the new Drift series of landscape groundcover roses for year round color with little to no effort. A cross between full-size groundcover roses and miniature roses, Drift Roses have a low, spreading habit that makes them perfect for container gardening, hanging baskets and small gardens. Highly diseas ...

Turn Your Great Big Room Into A Really Great Room 2008-01-25 09:06:13 When you first bought your home, that super large open area commonly called the "Great Room" probably seemed to be brimming with possibilities. Chances are, you didn't know for sure how you would arrange your furniture in it, but with such potential, surely you'd figure it out! After all, they don't call them a "great" room for nothing, right? Still perplexed? You are not alone. Large, undefined spaces are tricky to make work. But not impossible. Here are some practical guidelines to help you make your Great Room great! Plan List all activities that will take place in that room (homework, play, entertaining, dining, TV viewing, computer work, etc) and prioritize. Measure everything, and create a layout of your room (include windows, doors, outlets) on graph paper, including your furniture. Identify which pieces you absolutely want to keep in the room (furniture, rugs, art, etc). Don't be shy about bringing in pieces with other rooms. Take your style and color cues from ...

Home Theater Accessories To Accentuate Your Style 2008-01-25 09:04:24 Decorating your home theater can be an enjoyable adventure. There are many home theater accessories to enhance your room and make your home theater seem like you're at the big screen while making it personalized to suit you. Lights, Camera, Action! Let's start the show! Don't Forget The Candy, Popcorn, and Drinks Concession stands or candy cases create a fun atmosphere. They come in a variety of styles and sizes. And who doesn't enjoy the smell of buttery popcorn as it is freshly popped? Popcorn makers range in price and offer a sense of nostalgia to your theater. There are economy, classic, and even antique popcorn makers that can come with or without a cart. Most of these popcorn makers can hold 4-6 oz. of kernels at a time. For only $80 you can get a mini popcorn maker that still adds the perfect touch to your home theater while being convenient in size. If you are concerned about keeping beverages chilled, you could get a refrigerator, large or small depending on space, to keep ...

How To Selecting Dining Sets:Perfect Room Furniture 2008-01-23 10:00:59 If you are a person or a family, who likes to have guests come over and dine then you will need to choose one of the dining sets available to make your house more comfortable for dining. Of course, first of all, you will need a spare room so that you can turn that room into a dining room for your guests. Dining is an important occasion where one's family and friends can get together for a talk and for a joyful atmosphere. So the dining sets should also reflect that joyful atmosphere and allow such a congenial environment to take place with their design. First of all, the dining sets should be able to fit into your dining room. On the other hand, if you have a large living room then the dining set that you have picked should be able to fit comfortably in one corner of the room without overcrowding the whole living room. There should always be a breathing space, so that the dining event can take place comfortably. Once you have ascertained the size of the dining set that your dining roo ...

Decorate Your House with a Floor Mirror 2008-01-23 09:58:59 Decorating your house can be one of the most important, but at the same time most difficult tasks to do. It is not easy or cheap to decorate a house so you will need to know some tips and tricks before starting out on the task of decorating unless you can afford and interior decorator.One of the most useful objects while decorating you home is a floor mirror. A floor mirror is basically a tall mirror that starts from the floor and goes upwards. A floor mirror can be based on wood or metal depending upon its type.One of the main advantages of a floor mirror is the fact that when used properly it will definitely make your room look larger than it actually is. For example, if you have a room or a hall that you want to appear longer; then all you have to do would be to place a mirror on the end of the hall to make it seem like longer. Or if you have space that is to narrow like a staircase or a narrow hallway, then you can place floor mirrors on both sides of the corridor to make it seem w ...

The Surprising Thing About Insulation 2008-01-23 09:55:49 Save money and make the most on your insulation. Most people in the building industry don't know the ins and outs of insulation. You may find this surprising, and before you get the answer to maximising your insulation look at these two other surprising facts: 1. When asked recently about rebates for water tanks a representative from The Clarence City Council from the Sunny Eastern Shore of Hobart said council had no plan to introduce a rebate to encourage residents to install water tanks as they didn't see it an issue. Hobart is the second driest capital city in Australia, and many of the residents in the municipality of Clarence get less than an average 0f 590mm of rain per year compared to Sydney that has an average of over 1100mm per year. 2. In a very recent document by a leading economist from a major building industry body the economist talked about the 'abundance of water' that Tasmania had. The state is in a drought, dam levels are low and rainfall continues to be below re ...

How To Clean Your Home Air Filter 2008-01-22 09:38:39 Many people are unaware that the air we breathe in our homes is almost six times more hazardous than the air we breathe outside our homes. Airborne particles become trapped inside and the dirt and stale air have no outlet. Today, there are different kinds of home air purifiers. The most common ones are carbon, HEPA, UV light air purifiers, ZEOLITE, to mention a few. Each kind of purifier mentioned gathers contaminants; some of these air purifiers have a steel rod while others, have a filter. It is essential to have a clean air filtering system inside your home. The main function of furnace filters is to keep the heat exchanges and coils on the air conditioning and heating system free of all the dirt. Since home air filters are made of highly efficient anti-microbial filters and motors that ensure pure, clean air at home, it is wise to keep the system functioning effectively. Learn more about home air filters and furnace filters by visiting http://www.webproducts.com. A furnace filter o ...

Climate: A Design Imperative 2008-01-22 09:35:43 Climatic variations across regions alter architectural demands for shelter, warmth, cooling and the relationship of indoor and outdoor living spaces. In designing any structure it is imperative that its context be embraced and that both current climatic conditions and those which may be experienced during the life span of the structure are factored into the design. A structure which ignores its climatic context risks undermining functionality and sustainability. Michael Sandberg of Sandberg Schoffel Architects comments that environmental considerations and sustainability issues are 'tremendously important' for both local and international architects and landscape designers.Mr Sandberg adds that, in architectural design, 'climate has always been a major factor' however it is only now, given the recent drought and associated climate extremes experienced in Australia, that it is becoming a much more public discussion. Architect James Russell agrees that it has always been important to ... Design

Landscape Drainage:How To Prevent Drainage Problems On Your Property 2008-01-22 09:33:50 A landscape design should include plans for landscape drainage. But how do you go about addressing this seemingly complicated part of a design? Not only does water end up on your property from rain, but also from runoff from the roof of your house. The roof water runs into the gutters which are connected to the leader drains which are the vertical pipes on the outside of your house. Occasionally, a house is designed so that the water rolls right off the roof onto the foundation stone. Perforated pipe is laid beneath this stone and pitched to lead the water away from the house. Basically, the idea is to lead the water away from you house and also keep the water from collecting, or pooling, in an area. So how do you go about doing this properly? There are a few different ways landscape drainage can be handled. 1. Pitch all water away from the house at a minimum of 2%, or 1/4 inch per foot. 2. In areas where more intricate grading is necessary, create swales. A swale is basically a draina ...