Have You Considered These Space-Saving Bed Designs To Maximize Your Interior Decorating Space?
August 26, 2006
Vertical and functional space planning are two of the most overlooked areas in most households interior design layout. In this article we’ll discuss how to double the functional space in the bedrooms of your house.
Think Vertical
Effective space planning and interior design requires that you plan in three dimensions - so start thinking about the space above your head and higher up on the walls. There are great functional bedding and storage solutions you can use to easily double your floor space in a bedroom and its functional storage space.
Futons for the guest rooms
Why waste the functionality and floor space of a designated guest room when it can normally operate as your den or library? When guests are expected, simply fold down the futon and make it into your guest bedroom.
Loft beds for older children
Loft beds are excellent functional solutions for older children that also want to use their bedroom as a social hangout or study room. A loft bed allows you to place a sofa or study desk underneath the bed. This also creates a great atmosphere under the bed that is private and quiet.
Bunk beds for the youngsters
How To Artify Your Home
August 26, 2006
Would you like to make your house feel more like a home? Is it comfortable enough, but not really special? If so, I have some easy ‘arty’ tips to make your environment that bit more special.
Before you start making any alterations, or adding anything, you need to clean and declutter. This helps you to see rooms more clearly and what space you have to utilise. When this is done you can start to improve your surroundings.
Use enticing aromas. How much nicer it is to enter a room with a lovely aroma than one with the usual household smells such as pet odour, cooking smells or stale smoke. Certain scents have the power to promote clarity of mind and positive thoughts. Start using scented candles, incense or aromatherapy oils or sprays regularly.
Hang beautiful artwork. Make your home completely unique by having original artwork on your walls. You don’t have to pay thousands for gorgeous contemporary artworks. Many websites, including mine, have beautiful paintings for sale at really reasonable prices. What a talking point your original artwork will make when you have guests.
Planning a Water Garden…
August 26, 2006
A water garden is the area of your landscape that will provide you with relaxing sounds of the water, while adding to the overall details of your landscape. The water garden is a project that you must ‘plan’ for continued success. If you are lucky enough to have the room in your lawn for a water garden, you are already one step ahead of many gardeners! Let’s talk a little about how to plan for your water garden. A few important factors about placement of a water garden that often are forgotten are:
Do you have children in the neighborhood? If you have or live near children, you will want to keep your water garden in an area that will be close to your home. You will want to be able to see what is ‘going on’ by the water. Children are curious and they love water! Being able to see your water garden will save you worry later after the creation of your water garden even if the children are in the yard.
Preventing Foreclosure Proceedings and Understanding Your Options
August 26, 2006
Every year over 8 million homeowners are seeking help preventing foreclosure proceedings. This is a stunning 30 year high. Experts project that by 2006, 12 million homeowners will be teetering on the brink of foreclosure. Many homeowners are not aware that they can prevent foreclosure and save their house. Did you know that you can stop the proceedings up to an hour before the auction takes place?
As a homeowner facing foreclosure there are various options available. We will briefly examine some of the most popular options.
Reinstate the loan ? Ideally you would like to be able to pay the loan payments that you are behind on and bring the loan current. These costs would include whatever owed on the missed payments, and any additional late charges or attorney fees. This is the most efficient way when preventing foreclosure proceedings.
Get forbearance ? When a lender forecloses on a property it is expensive for them. They would rather work out some sort of arrangement than proceed with the foreclosure. Talk to your lender and see if they are willing to work out a plan that outlines a way to get current on your mortgage. This agreement will vary depending on the situation and the lender. Some things they may be able to help with are a temporary reduction or suspension of your payments. If you have a FHA VA or other government loans you may qualify for even more options.
A Few Simple Facts About Gas And Electric Heating Systems
August 25, 2006
To make your home more energy efficient, you need to understand the energy efficiency of different types of heating and cooling systems. Many times people are confused by inaccurate information they receive from manufacturers and sellers of heating and cooling equipment. But all you need to know in order to make wise decisions when purchasing this equipment are a few simple facts.
First of all, the proper sizing of equipment is of utmost importance for comfort and low utility bills. Once the proper size is known, then you must decide what type of system best suits your needs. Let’s look at three ways houses are heated.
Natural gas furnace,
Air-to-air electric heat pump,
Geothermal heat pump (electricity).
Now, let’s consider how efficient they are. And when I talk about heating efficiency, I’m talking about how efficiently the system converts either natural gas or electricity to heat for you home.
A typical gas furnace will be rated at about 80 percent efficiency when it is new and if it is installed properly. That percentage will lessen with each year’s use. An 80-percent efficiency rating means that 80 percent of the gas used will provide heat and the other 20 percent goes up the flue. For example, look at your neighbor’s gas flue on a cold winter morning and see the steam coming out.
Geothermal Heat Pumps 101
August 25, 2006
It seems like about three million of you have asked me to explain how a geothermal system works. Well, maybe not three million, but it’s a bunch of you and I’m honored that I have the opportunity to do it. Now you’ve probably already figured out that I’m not smart enough to be real technical, but I do have some common sense. So I will use a common-sense approach to explain how the most efficient heating and cooling system available today can help you.
Actually you could get the Oct. 25, 1948, issue of Life magazine and get a great explanation. That’s correct, 1948. Geothermal units are not new, but it has only been in recent years that they’ve gained in popularity. It just takes awhile for adults to embrace new ideas, especially if they cost more money. Notice that I said adults. When I show high school students how you can spend $50 more per month on installing a geothermal unit and save $75 per month on your utility bill, they simply say "cool." No discussion or argument. They would take it in a minute.
7 Tips To Avoid Costly Surprises When Travelling Abroad
August 25, 2006
==> Try to buy your vacation travel package from a business you know.
If possible, deal with businesses that belong to professional associations such as the American Society of Travel Agents, the National Tour Association or the United States Tour Operators Association. If you’re not familiar with a company, get its complete name, address and local telephone number.
==> Be cautious if the names of the seller and travel provider differ.
You may be dealing with a telemarketer who has no responsibility to you after the sale. And be wary of ads in the newspaper, on the Internet or that you receive by unsolicited fax that offer deeply discounted vacations. These “deals” often contain hidden costs or don’t tell you that you may have to attend a sales presentation to qualify for the discount or the travel. Avoid buying from a firm that wants to send a courier for your payment or asks you to send your payment by overnight delivery. The business may be trying to avoid detection and charges of mail or wire fraud.
==> Verify arrangements with your travel agent before you pay.
Decorative Wall Painting Techniques
August 25, 2006
Do your walls seem dull and uninviting? Do you long for a cozy, welcoming room? Consider decorative wall painting techniques, such as sponging, ragging, stenciling or stamping. Even if you have no experience, you can brighten even the dullest room quickly and cheaply with one of these easy decorative wall painting techniques.
Before painting your room, pick out a color scheme for your walls. When you chose your paint, remember that many painting techniques use two shades of one color. If you are using one of the techniques that does use two shades of color, you can pick a darker color than you normally would chose for your base color, since the lighter top color will make the final result much lighter.
To sponge or rag a wall, paint on your base color and let it dry thoroughly. Then, dip your sponge or rag into the lighter paint color and sponge or drag the lighter color over the base coat until you are satisfied with the effect. If you are unhappy with your final result, you can repaint any areas that you don’t like with the base coat. Once the repainted area is dry, repeat the faux painting technique.
How to Attract Butterfly Activity…
August 24, 2006
The flittering of the butterfly through your garden is no accident if you planned your garden carefully. The adult butterfly flitters from flower to flower - sipping nectar from many flowers in your gardens, while other adult butterflies search for areas to lay their larvae. It is good to take note that the butterfly garden is going to differ from other areas of your garden. Your natural instincts will be to kill off pests, larvae and creatures in the garden, but in the butterfly garden your best results are noticed when you use organic gardening: Which means no chemicals at all.
In you want to include the use of butterflies in your landscape you will need to create a safety zone for your butterflies to feel safe. Butterflies frequent habitual zones, where they feel safe and where areas of the landscape meet with the tree lines. Creating your butterfly gardens near or around trees will help in attracting even more of these graceful creatures to your gardens.
Why Is Your House Cold?
August 24, 2006
How many of you have experienced this situation? As the wind blows outside and the temperature drops, you get chilled even while you are standing in the middle of your home.
How does this happen?
The three biggest problems with the comfort of your home are,
1) air infiltration
2) air infiltration
3) air infiltration
The total air infiltration in an average house is the equivalent of having a door or window open every day of your life. Now, you’ve probably heard it said that a house needs to breathe. In all my years in this work, I’ve never had anyone really explain why a house needs to breathe or even what that statement really means. Another word for house breathing is, simply put, leaks.
Just think with me for a moment. If you can keep the cold air from getting in, it won’t take as much to heat your house. Not to mention the fact that you would be a lot more comfortable in your home. So where does the air come in?
Think of it this way. Anywhere an ant can get in, air can get in. Here are a few major problem areas:
