Archive for April, 2009

101 Feng shui Tips for the Home

· Harmonious interrelationships geared towards the comfort of people will always be a paramount consideration in any Feng shui design everything else places secondary. To get a grasp of this principle here are tips for the home.

· The bagua map must guide the distribution of objects and furniture around the house. This is done to determine the areas where they belong. These should be has also to be done in harmonic quantities because in Feng shui objects represents a symbol of an element. Over distribution of one item could upset a balance that Feng shui desires to achieve.

· Couches, beds, chairs should be placed in such a way that those who are sitting or lying on it should have an unobstructed view of the door. The beds head board and the chairs especially those where the head of the family usually use must always be placed against solid wall.

· Shapes evoke different feelings in us. The choice of accessories should elicit pleasant and cheery feelings.

· Colors have to be chosen with care. Even in conventional interior decorating, colors represent a particular mood. This is also very true with Feng shui. The difference may lie mainly not on what is the current trend and looks pretty and modern. Rather, the choice of color has to be done to achieve a balance with the temperament of the occupants.

· The unobstructed flow of chi is very important. There should be no obstructions on pathways, doors and entry points like gates. Avoid structures in front of entranceways, rocks, gardens and shrubbery that will distract your line of vision. In fact avoid living in a house with a tall building in front of it or trees where the branches points towards your direction.

· There should also be no exposed beams and dark corners and areas in the house, as these will disturb the flow of the chi.

· Mirrors are to be placed in areas where you would want particular views in the house to be reflected. Mirrors though should not be placed directly at the foot of the bed.

· Avoid clutter. Clutter disturbs the flow of energy inside the house. Clean screens and everything else where the house gets its ventilation. Avoid also leaving sleepers and shoes at the doorsteps.

· The house should be very well ventilated and the air coming into it must always be fresh and clean. For this reason, open the doors especially the bedroom doors for as long as possible. You wouldn’t want stale air from circulating inside it. The dust that you are avoiding will never be enough justification for the rewards of good ventilation.

· Fu dogs are symbols of safeguarding the home. Place Fu dogs at both sides of your front door.

· Watch out for poison arrows. These could be represented by sharp or pointed objects that that are directed either towards the house (if the objects are coming for the outside) or of protrusions, sharp turns and corners in the house.

· Whenever possible, do not allow a path in your house or in the garden that are straight. This in Feng shui is the path of the demon.

· To achieve a harmonious kitchen, do not place the stove; refrigerator and kitchen sink too close to each other.

· Green also represents harmony. Placing a green carpet or rug will enhance harmonious relationship. In fact bring plants inside the house and give it good care. It will prevent unnecessary clashes and conflicts.

Dry Foam Carpet Cleaning

The dry foam procedure is mostly rather than dry as
the name infers, although the content of moisture
is so low that it can actually be referred to as dry
foam (90% air – 10% liquid). The dry foam machine
is equipped with a pressure tank, which you will
pour a solution of water and shampoo into.

A compressor will work to convert the solution into
foam which is then dispensed all over the carpet
using a revolving cylindrical brush. The brush will
work to comb the foam through the piles of the
carpet so that each individual fiber of the carpet
is cleaned.

To achieve success, you must make sure that the
bubbles being produced are of uniformed size so the
foam can complete the cleaning process before it
is dispersed. Once it has dried, the carpet is
then thoroughly vacuumed to remove the dried crystals
of dirt that have been left behind.

Below, are the steps to the dry foam procedure:
1. First of all, vacuum the carpet and
remove all the stains that you possibly can.
2. Mix the dry foam solution according to
the directions of the manufacturer.
3. Shampoo the carpet then once it has dried,
vacuum the carpet.
4. Depending on the type of carpet you
have, groom the pile to speed the drying process.
5. Complete the work by using a furniture
leg pad or block to eliminate furniture stains
or rust.

Advantages
The process of dry foam cleaning is capable of
covering a lot of area in a very short amount of
time. There isn’t really any danger involved in
saturating the carpet simply because the moisture
content is low. This will also help you to
minimize the problems that are commonly associated
with over wetting.

Disadvantages
The dry foam method is capable of removing average
levels of soil. There is however a possibility of
excessive residue and soil build up if the machine
you are using has inadequate extraction capabilities.

Dry foam is the ideal method of choice if you have
older carpet if you want to get your carpet as clean
as possible. You can rent a machine at your local
department or carpet store if you don’t think you’ll
use it enough to buy it. They don’t cost that
much to rent, which is great for those who just
want to give it a shot and see what happens.

Dry foam carpet cleaning isn’t that hard to do,
as you’ll be fine even if you have no experience
with these types of machines. The above information
will help you greatly, and if you follow it, you
shouldn’t have any problems. Dry foam can make a
carpet look spectacular, as long as you follow
the manufacturers directions on mixing the dry
foam solution. Once you’ve finished cleaning your
carpet with dry foam, you’ll probably find yourself
falling in love with the results.

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Care And Maintenance Of Your Antique Dining Room Chair

Owning a great piece of antique furniture brings a certain kind of glow to your living room. Not only will it inject a certain air of history into your surroundings, but it also affords you a sense of affluence, because, well, antique furniture cost a fortune. However, how your antique furniture performs aesthetically and maintains its durability depends on how you care for it.

How do you take care of your antique dining room chair, then? This article contains a few guidelines which you can follow.

1) Never EVER use furniture spray cleaning products to make your antique dining room chair shine. Simply wiping it with a soft dry cloth will do the trick. It could take a while to get that shine you want, as opposed to simply spraying it with Pledge, but you’re sure to better preserve your antique arm chair’s quality this way. Also, if your arm chair was not really meant to by shiny, don’t force it, or you’ll just ruin its intrinsic beauty.

2) Do not scrimp on the wax. Antique furniture is expensive, so you should only complement it with top quality products, otherwise, you’ll be defeating the purpose. There are high quality beeswax that may be imported from England. However, if you don’t have enough money to import good wax, just wipe the arm chair with a cotton cloth.

3) Do not use coarse items to clean your furniture. This means feather dusters are out of the picture. The broken feathers could nick your antique arm chair and cause unwanted marks. While these marks can make your furniture look more antique than ever, it could open up pockets in the woodwork that can cause decay.

4) Antique furnitures have to be placed in certain temperatures only to preserve their value. If your house is dry during the winter, you should get a humidifier. Conversely, if its too humid in the summer, you should get an air conditioner.

5) Handle your antique arm chair gently. Because it’s an antique, chances are, no replacement parts are available. If an inlay gets loose, keep it in a safe place until somebody, an expert on fixing antique furniture, comes. Do not attempt to do the reworking yourself if you have no idea how. With antique furniture, ‘winging it’ will not cut it.

Because antique furniture is costly, they should be treated and cared for in the same way we do for ourselves. YOu got yourself an antique arm chair, so you should be prepared for the consequences. The experience does not end after you buy it. They require continuous care so you should be ready.

Reasons To Buy Berber Carpet

Everyone hears about Berber carpet, and just how great
it can be. The carpet was named after a hand made
bulky wool that was textured and used by a tribe in
North Africa, the Berber tribe. The Berber carpet
that is used even today follows the same tradition
of the tribe by using flecked bulky yarns to create
a beautiful carpet.

Below, you’ll find several reasons why you should
choice Berber carpet over all others.

The carpet is unique
The flecked looped yarns that are used to make Berber
carpets provide a very unique yet stylish carpet
that makes Berber easily to identify.

Choice in loop sizes
There are several loop sizes with Berber carpets,
so there is always going to be a size for any room
or decoration, from the large knobby loops to the
small and tight loops. There are several choices
as well, that include cut and loop designs, multiple
level loops, and even level loops.

Hypo allergenic
Berber is the ideal choice for anyone who has
allergis or younger children. The carpet is made
from wool so it’s non toxic and non allergenic, and
it will stop bacterial growth on the spot.

Very comfortable
The manufacturing process that created the loops
of wool have millions of air pockets in them so
the carpet has a nice and cushioned feel when you
walk across it. It also offers an insulation factor
due to the weaving which helps to regulate the
temperature of the room as well.

Durability
Berber carpet is one of the most durable types and
also one of the easiest to clean. The stains are
easily lifted from the carpet and it takes a lot
of miles on the carpet before it will even begin to
show any signs of wear.

Berber is also well known for longevity, as it
always seems to look like it was installed yesterday.
It rarely ever shows footprints, and it doesn’t
even show the lines from vacuuming. The only
thing you have to watch out for is snagging, as
you don’t want to snag the loops and damage the
carpet.

Affordable
This is actually a mystery, as Berber is pure wool
and still cheaper than nylon, olefin, or any other
type of man made carpet, even though it outlasts
the rest and maintains a newer look over a longer
period of time. Berber is one of the most
affordable choices you can make and it still looks
richer than any other available choices.

Choices of colors
The color choices with Berber carpet are varied and
include earthen or neutral colors, dark colors,
and pastel colors as well. There are plenty of
colors to choose from as well as patterns. Berber
carpet offers more choices than any other carpet
type.

Hiding the sub floor
Because the density of Berber carpet is so thick,
you can easily hide anything wrong in the sub
floor without having to spend a lot of money having
the sub floor repaired of replaced. This helps
to make Berber carpet very cost efficient in
older homes that need to have the carpet redone.

Grade variety
Just like with other carpets, you can choose from
a variety of grades that will determine just how
plush the carpet is. Berber is available in
several different grades, even a product grade
that is designed to go on over top of concrete.

Besides the fact that Berber is one of the most
economical carpets to buy, it is also one of the
most economical to install. The carpet is easy
to lay, which will save you time and effort, making
it a truly excellent choice when it comes to
carpet for your home.

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Your Home Design Project Can Be Successful And Fun

Most of us have been there…we see a beautifully designed and furnished room in a magazine or model home and say, “I want that look for my home!”. Unfortunately it is easier said than done, but there are some things you can do to create the design look you love in a way that suits the style of your home and your budget.

We’re going to focus primarily on the decision regarding your budget for the project. It’s not the most exciting topic to elaborate on, but if you don’t determine in advance what you can afford to put into your home design project, there is a good possibility that you’ll be frustrated and may end up with a partially completed space. There are a number of other design decisions that you will make in addition to the budget, but this is where it all starts. Depending on your home design project, there are many simple design and decor tips that can be implemented to create a beautiful space.

First, decide how much you can afford to spend, or want to spend, on this home design project. Don’t do anything else, don’t go shopping, don’t make any decisions until you determine ‘The Number’. Then, write The Number down in a notebook, or something that you can easily carry with you when you’re shopping for your project. Be honest and realistic with your budget. It may mean that you don’t go out and purchase all new pieces for your space, but that may be the reality. And that’s okay – you just need to make the decision now so you can plan accordingly. If you are looking for inexpensive home decorating, set the budget to match your checkbook!

After you have thoughtfully determined your budget for this project and written it down, the next decision you will make is what you want to accomplish. You probably want to do something more fun at this point, like go shopping and buy things. But if you neglect the planning portion of your design project you could end up with the same frustration and incomplete space. So, no shopping just yet!

One of the keys to success with your home design project is to be able to take what you have seen in another home or magazine and incorporate that look into your own. You may already have some furnishings and/or accessories for this space that you are going to continue to utilize. So your next step is to carefully evaluate what you currently are using in this space and determine what you will add or take away to create the overall look you want.

You may decide that you don’t need to actually purchase big ticket items. Implementing inexpensive home decorating can help meet your design goals.. Sometimes moving furnishings around to a different place in your space, painting the walls, adding some accessories that are specific to the style you want to emulate, can all help to get the look you are striving to create.

By taking the time to determine how large or small your budget will be (and sticking with your decision!), and by carefully deciding what you will purchase for this project BEFORE you spend any time or money, you will be much more likely to be satisfied with the results of your home design project.

About the Author:
—————————————————————–
Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant,
owner of Simply Designed…Decorating to Fit Your Budget &
author of ‘Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!’

For more information please visit:
http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Strike The Perfect Balance With Your Bathroom Design

Irrespective of what a lot of people think, renovating or remodeling a bathroom and designing a bathroom floor plan is quite an undertaking. Not only is there the actual work involved but you also need to design a floor plan that works for your bathroom space and is also in your budget. It is not so simple after all and there is still the actual work that is involved.

Of course it goes without saying that redesigning or renovating your bathroom means more than merely the design or the decorations you like. It is important that you have a bathroom floor plan made before you start any changes. Basically, bathroom design plans are the start point in any remodeling or redesigning in your bathroom. You need to know exactly where and how everything will fit together, because your floor plan has to include all the fittings, features and fixtures. This information will be required by your plumber and going back later, once everything is done, to make changes will cost a fortune and be very time consuming.

Consider Your Requirements

Before you begin remodeling or renovating take another look at your current floor plan again. You might find that you do not want to make any changes to it after all.It might be worthwhile to consider leaving the original floor plan in place. Unless you are intending to make major changes there may be no need to design a whole new floor plan. Perhaps a few adjustments is all that you need to make.

Even with an upper limit budget, you should still make compromises on your finished bathroom floor plans. The important thing is that you do not compromise on the practicality of the bathroom, which means you will have to compromise on style and design. So first make sure of the space you have and then go and purchase the extras.

Planning Your Bathroom

Be sure to use good scale paper that will clearly reflect the precise measurements of your new bathroom. It also needs to include any and all fittings and features that might have an effect on the overall layout of the bathroom. Such as the windows and door.

You must also keep in mind if you plan to move the existing plumbing system, this will be very costly. Moving around a toilet may be easily done in drawing but for real, this will be a major job, so try to keep those things in their current location.

Make certain that your bathroom will be the right size for your house.When preparing bathroom remodeling plans, you can achieve full effect if it can be spacious enough to be comfortable yet not too big to be cozy. Think of the positioning of your furnishing as well. For sure, you wouldn’t want them placed so close together that they’d seem crowded nor spaced so far apart that your bathroom will appear nearly empty.

The Perfect Balance

By considering the size, the amount of furnishings you have in mind as well as the thought of making your bathroom a “comfort-zone” while you make the bathroom floor plan designs, you’ll get that perfect balance as well as the look that your bathroom is specially made for its custom fit.

Once you’ve made decisions on your bathroom floor plans, it would be up to you to conclude whether you wish to have a professional do the actual work or if you can do it on your own.

Tools You May Need for Your Next Kitchen Remodeling Project

Are you a homeowner who has recently decided that a remodeled kitchen is just what you need? If so, there is a good chance that you may want to do that remodeling yourself. If that is the case, there are a number of tools, likely a large number of tools, which you will need. While there is a good chance that you may already have the majority of the tools needed for your next kitchen remodeling project, there is also a chance that you might not. Rest assure though because the majority of the tools needed can be found right at one of your local home improvement stores.

When it comes to determining the tools that you will need, when starting your remodeling, it is important to determine which type of remodeling you will be doing. For instance, if you are installing a new set of kitchen cabinets, you will find that the tools needed may vary a little bit from the tools that would be used to replace your kitchen floor. That is why it is advised that you determine exactly what in your kitchen you would like remodeled, as well as what types of tools will be needed. Despite the fact that you may need different tools for different projects, there are a number of common tools; common tools that you may need no matter what kitchen remodeling project you are working one.

Perhaps, the most important tools to have is a hammer. Hammers are used on a wide variety of different kitchen remodeling projects, particularly ones that require nails. Hammers can also be used to help position a tile or countertop piece into a tight space. Since hammers are used all around the house, sometimes on a daily basis, there is a good chance that you already own a hammer. In fact, there is a good chance that you own more than one!

Aside from a hammer, it is also a good idea to have a collection of screwdrivers on hand. Although there is a good chance that you already own a couple of screwdrivers, you may want a multi-function screwdriver. A multi-function screwdriver is one that easily allows you to change the screwdriver heads, in no time at all. In fact, if you are really looking to save time, you may want to purchase an electric screw gun.

A putty knife is another tool that you may need to use, when remodeling your kitchen. Putty knifes are ideal when replacing a kitchen countertops or when retiling your kitchen floor. They are great for removing unwanted or unneeded caulk or spreading around the glue that is needed to hold your kitchen tiles down. Putty knifes are common tools, but they are not as common as hammers or screwdrivers; therefore, you may need to purchase yourself one.

It may also be a good idea to have box cutters or handsaws on hand. If you are replacing the flooring in your kitchen or if you are installing a new laminate kitchen countertop, there is a good chance that you need to cut materials down to size. In some cases, a box cutter could do, but in other cases, you may need a handsaw. That is why it is best to have them both on hand.

In addition to the above mentioned tools, you may need to have a wrench, a measuring tape, a glue gun, a pair of pliers, and a ladder. Of course, it is also advised that you think along the lines of safety. In addition to the above mentioned tools, it may be a good idea to have a pair of safety goggles, a face mask, work gloves, and even a hard topped construction hat, just in case.

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