Interior Designing

Wood Kitchen Table - A Great Way to Make a Decorative Statement

2007-09-10T04:14:00.001-07:00

When it comes to your kitchen or dining room, you want it to have a fantastic appearance. For that reason, you go to great lengths to nicely decorate the space with matching themes and motifs. But, if you really want it to stand out, then it needs a good focal point and a wood kitchen table is an ideal selection to do just that.

There are many different wood kitchen table options to choose from, most of which have a stunning appearance that would really add to the overall look of your kitchen or dining room area. The reason why there are so many options to choose from is that they are made from different types of wood that can be finished in a wide variety of ways, featuring ones that have different styles and designs. For example, you can get one made from pine that has a very modern feel to it with bold, symmetrical lines and an espresso finish. Or, there are options available at the other end of the spectrum as well. Like, one that has a very antique feel to it made from oak that features a pedestal design and a soft, lighter finish with a few scrollwork accents.

Really, there are a lot of choices when it comes to a wood kitchen table and those just mentioned are just a few that are available. Some of the other materials that they can be crafted from include maple, ash, and walnut along with all sorts of finishes like cherry, rubbed white, and even dark merlot and black. One great way to see them all is by logging onto the internet and doing a little comparison shopping through all the online stores. It is a great way to browse and you can see a lot more products then you would if you went to an everyday furniture store.

Plus, not only is a wood kitchen table a stunning selection that would be a great starting point for designing your entire space around it, but it is a practical one as well. Why? It is a durable home furnishing that will stand the test of time in your kitchen and dining room. Whether you are eating dinner on it, doing the bills, working on a school project with your kids, playing cards with your friends, or just sitting and reading a book, it is a sturdy surface that can handle the abuses of everyday living. That is great for you because then you will not have to worry about having to replace it sooner rather than later.

If you take great pride in the appearance of your kitchen or dining room area, then you probably went to great lengths with how you decorated it. If you like your space, but really want to have it stand out, turn to a beautiful wood kitchen table. One would be a fantastic focal point to your space, plus, it is a durable furnishing, making it a selection that will be sure to please.

As an owner of many indoor and outdoor home furnishing and design sites, Jennifer Akre, discusses valuable product information and comments on kitchen tables and wood kitchen table. Learn how to decorate your home with style and elegance. Click today - Shop: kitchen table and chairs.

Decorating With Handmade Furniture

2007-09-10T04:13:00.000-07:00

Whether selecting a complete set of handmade furniture for a new home, or updating existing decor with a new addition, today the Internet offers an increasingly broad selection of styles, options, and prices to fit just about every budget.

Practicality, comfort, and esthetics should play equal roles in your decision making process. When working on a limited budget, first outline the most essential furniture elements to your particular lifestyle -- and how many you will need of each -- remembering to include beds, night stands, dressers, couches, tables, storage trunks, and chairs.

Next, consider your stylistic preferences. Have you already completed an interior design plan for your home? Are you adding to existing themes and furniture designs, in which case new additions must harmonize with older choices?

If starting from scratch, think about what one style or several complementary styles resonate most with you. If you do not yet have a clear preference in mind, the decor sections of your local library or bookstore offer a plethora of concepts and styles to consider.

Browse through enough well-photographed books to determine what styles most attract your visual interest, and then consider whether or not your needs will also be met in terms of comfort and practicality.

Once you have determined a favorite stylistic direction, you can then begin to select appropriate decor within those guidelines, including furniture.

Some designers place their stylistic emphasis on the furnishings, rather than the furniture, allowing window treatments, area rugs, table runners, and general decor items to set the style tone, while granting furniture elements a background role, to harmonize, warm, and soften, rather than stand out.

Other interior designer experts create decor themes based on the furniture itself, which then is often strongly stylistic, ornate, or colorful in nature.

Within the World Style realm, simple, rustic, hand-carved woods and even wrought iron can help gently enhance dramatic style elements, really helping bring a room together.

After selecting your essential elements and themes, the next step is to begin comparison shopping -- a fast, easy, and efficient process today, online. Most major brands, as well as mom-and-pop retailers, now boast a presence on the web, saving customers considerable time and expense, and providing virtually unlimited options.

Novica's online furniture gallery is a great place to gather an overview of World Style themes, featuring an extensive selection of handmade furniture -- with considerable cultural information included -- from such nations as Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Thailand, Bali, Java, India, and Ghana, West Africa.

Many other great purveyors are likewise available online today. Be sure to select from reputable retailers, but do keep an open mind. Above all, select furniture that most appeals to your sense of esthetics, comfort, and function, and you will surely be pleased with the results!

Catherine Gallegos serves as editor-in-chief of Novica.com (part of the National Geographic family), a retail site featuring the handmade creations of artisans worldwide, including handmade furniture.

How To Increase Your Home's Space

2007-09-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

If you are one of those people who feels closed in at home, you may want to consider looking at some home design tips that can change the way your home looks and feels. This can be accomplished by making some cosmetic changes that will give the home an unrecognizable appearance to those who live there.

Changing the Look of Your Home

Light, style of the furniture, arrangement, paint, and minor accessories affect the way your home interiors look more than most people realize. These are factors that keep interior decorators in business.

The Effect of Clutter and Disorganization

One of the simplest things you can learn from a professional decorator regarding home interiors and gardens is that you don't need to spend a great deal of money in order to make changes that are beneficial. In fact, the most important piece of advice regarding home interiors design is to keep your home organized. Clutter reduces the amount of space in your home, so when you re feeling cramped, close your eyes and try to visualize how a bed looks when you take the time to make it and how nice your home looks when everything is in a proper place. When our space lacks order, it is never going to feel comfortable no matter how appealing it may be to the lazy part of our personalities that is within each of us. Instead of your countertop, choose a drawer and begin storing unwanted items where they are out of sight.

Besides every day clutter, books can be a big problem because of their tendency to scatter throughout the house. Good interior design for booklovers must include a bookshelf. It's quite common to find home interiors with plenty of storage space or other accessories that are not being used. This is especially true of those who tend to be packrats and become so confused when they must make a decision about what to keep and what to discard, so they do nothing. The best way to make that decision is to follow the one-year-mantra, which says if you haven't used it, worn it, read it, or needed it in the past year, you will not likely be needing it in the future, so get rid of it. For other items, storage products of various types such as minimal list interiors should take care of the problem.

The Effect of Light and Furniture on Interior Design

Light is an essential part of home interiors design. Just like plant life in your garden requires light, the room interiors tend to feel more breathable if they are brightly lit. Darkness tends to be closely connected to claustrophobia, so avoid dark shades and lighting fixtures with low wattage. When purchasing furniture for rooms that are lacking in space, choose pieces that are high rather than wide, placing pieces in a conversational placement.

Andrew Caxton is the journalist of consumer websites, who has written more articles on furniture for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com For additional information on home decor minimalist interiors subjects have a look at his web.

Interior Wall Painting Techniques - Project Prep to How to and Do it Yourself

2007-09-10T04:05:00.001-07:00

PROFESSIONAL NOTE: To achieve the best results from your interior paint project, apply the primer and base coat with good quality paint, brushes, rollers and application tools. You will be surprised how your interior paint project will be effortless in helping you to apply a thicker, more uniform coat of paint for a better-looking, longer-lasting paint job.

Gather Materials and Supplies:
Ladder
Plastic water bucket
Gloves
Rags
TSP (optional for cleaning oil and Grime)
liquid soap
Screwdriver
Drop cloths (plastic and cloth) or sheets
Blue painter's tape (with and without paper attached)
Old paintbrushes or china bristle brushes for dusting
Spackling compound
5-in-1 tool or wide blade
Latex caulk
220-grit sandpaper

Latex primer
Latex paint, eggshell or satin sheen
Plastic 2 gallon Paint Bucket
Paint tray, paint roller and 3/8" roller cover
2” – 3” Quality nylon/polyester brush

Paint Basics

Acrylic Paint?
Latex paints are not all the same. Now the term "latex" includes all water-based paints. High-performance interior paints are 100% acrylic; they have better color retention, better adhesion and, in the case of faux finishing the better choice for an undercoat than vinyl-acrylics.

Not to mention, manufacturers consider 100% acrylics to be their best products.

Which Paint for this room? How will the room be used?

In functional, high traffic rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, you want durability and easy maintenance first. In more decorative and romantic rooms, such as living rooms, master bedrooms and dining rooms, appearance is often the key factor. In a child's room, safety is critical."

Here is Final advice on paint quality.
When you buy paint, go for the reputable brands. Suit your choices to the project, but at the same time, “don't waste your time” or your money on low-quality paint. There are significant differences between cheap and quality paints, particularly in characteristics such as hiding and wash ability. Obviously, one-coat hiding is a major labor saver and well worth paying a premium to get the results.

Be sure not to forget to check the warrantee on the label—this gives you a fair measure of the differences between quality levels of various paints. Last but not least, you are also likely to find a wider variety in color choices with your quality paint lines.

Estimating PAINT COVERAGE

How do you determine the amount of paint you will need for a particular room? The first step is to add the width of all walls in the room together. Multiply this sum by the height of one wall from floor to ceiling (or, the circumference of the room times the ceiling height). If you have a number of windows and doors, subtract the square footage of those openings. This final number will give you the exact area of wall space you will paint.

A flat surface usually requires one gallon for every 400 square feet (the product label will show the coverage). Take into account the number of coats you will need to do the job right and this depends on the color and the quality of the paint. Remember, it's always a good idea to have a little leftover paint for future touch-ups. Once you've properly prepped your walls, the actual painting is easy.

Follow these steps in order, and don't skip any of them. Wait until the first coat dries before deciding whether you need a second one.

Steps To professionally Painted Walls:

CLEAR THE ROOM

STEP ONE: When transforming the walls in your home, start by removing any furniture or obstructions from the room. Cover the floors and any remaining furnishings in the middle of the room, cover with drop cloths or plastic sheets. Next remove outlet covers, nails, and screws. Tape the screws to the outlet cover and store in separately marked plastic bags, for easy re-installation. Then tape over the outlets and light switches to prevent paint from getting on electric outlets and switches.

FIX THE WALL IMPERFECTIONS

STEP TWO: Scrape off flaking paint, repair holes and cracks with spackle with a wide blade or five-in-one tool. Feather back rough paint edges by sanding. Always fill the imperfection flush with the surface even if it means having to refill 2-3 times due to shrinkage. It is much easier to refill than to sand back too much spackling. After the spackle dries, finish by lightly sanding with a medium (220 grit sandpaper), dust off surface and then prime each repaired area with small roller. Re-caulk any spaces you find where countertops, baseboards and moldings meet the wall.

NOTE: Use protective face mask while sanding.

NOTE: If you are repainting a glossy surface, be sure to sand it so that the new paint will adhere better.
CLEAN THE ROOM

STEP THREE: Use an old paintbrush or china bristle brush to dust baseboards, trim and crown molding before taping them off (use painter's tape to protect the baseboards and moldings). Remove all dust from surfaces using a soft cloth or use a soft bristle broom to brush down new plasterboard. Paint doesn't stick to dirty walls so clean them with soap and water (or TSP and water), then rinse with clean water, changing water regularly.

NOTE: Wear rubber gloves, protective clothing and protective eye-wear.

TAPING

STEP FOUR: Use low adhesive blue painters to tape trim around ceiling, baseboards, windows and door frames. (If you do not have ceiling trim or crown molding, you must use safe release tape on bare ceiling). Tape over phone jacks, thermostats, and moldings. Remove tape immediately after painting, before the wall dries, so you don't peel off any paint with it.

PRIMING THE WALLS

STEP FIVE: If your walls are bare sheetrock or previously wallpapered surface, then you should use the recommended primer for that type of surface. Existing semi-gloss or gloss paints should be lightly sanded to a duller finish, and then proper primer for that surface. If the walls have not been painted in five years or longer a primer sealer should also be applied.

NOTE: Always work in areas from the top to bottom. Paint Ceiling first, then walls, then the trim or moldings. Always brush the edges (cutting in) first prior to rolling. When cutting in make sure you feather out the edges.
NOTE: When you begin start from a corner left to right, or right to left, according to the most comfortable starting point for you. With a pole attached to the end of the Roller, start from the center of the surface and roll the paint from the center towards the top and bottom of the wall. Roll the wall much like you would vacuum carpet, this will give you the smoothest wall. To avoid a patchy wall finish, make sure you finish the complete coat before walking away to avoid a patchy finish.

BASE COAT THE WALLS

CUTTING IN TECHNIQUE

STEP SIX: Thoroughly stir your paint with a stir stick. Then, pour the paint into a larger 2-gallon bucket for easier handling. Make sure you pour no higher than 1/3 full in your new paint container. With a 2" wide (or angle) brush, load by dipping 1/3 of the bristle length into the paint. You can remove excess paint from the brush by tapping the bristles against the inside of the bucket. Starting from the top corner of the wall, cut in approximately 3 inches around the top of the wall where the wall meets the ceiling and cut in the bottom of the wall where the wall meets the baseboard. Cut in the corners of the wall and around all window and door trim while always working from the non- paint area to the previously painted areas, smooth out the cut in by lightly brushing the tip of the bristles (tipping off) over the newly painted area, creating a feathered edge. Repeat steps until the perimeter of the walls are complete.

ROLLING THE WALL:

STEP SEVEN: You have the choice of pouring the paint into a paint tray or a 5-gallon bucket. Place an appropriate nap roller onto a roller frame. Attach an extension pole onto the roller frame. Dip roller cover completely into paint covering the entire nap area. When using a 5-gallon bucket, pour no higher than 1/3 full and use a bucket grid to offload the excess paint and to evenly distribute the paint onto the roller. When using a paint tray, offload the excess paint by rolling onto the ribbed section of the paint tray Starting at the top corner of the wall, place the evenly loaded roller approximately 3-4" away from the cut in area. Working in a 3' x 3' area, roll a "W" onto the wall.

Continue rolling from the top edge of the wall to the bottom cut in area. Back roll through the completed area prior to reloading the roller, creating a smooth uniform finish. Reload the roller as necessary. Continue applying the paint, each time starting with the "W" technique 3-4" away from the last section completed. Working from the top section of the wall and working down the wall. Always, back roll the width of the roller being used into the last section completed. Continue until your wall is completely covered.

NOTE: Paint the trim last. When the walls are completely dry, paint or touch up the moldings, the door and window frames with a two-inch angled brush.

FINISHED DEAR? CLEAN UP AFTER PAINTING

1. Carefully remove all tape from hinges, doorknobs, light switches, and trim.

2. Remove drop cloth coverings from floors, furniture and light fixtures.

NOTE: It is best to score taped areas where the tape meets the painted surface with a utility knife, to help prevent peeling when the tape is removed.

NOTE: Cloth Drop cloths should be taken outside to remove dust and debris, then folded and stored for future use. Place all disposable coverings and loose debris into the appropriate trash can.

3. Re-attach all switch plates, and outlet covers.

4. Vacuum, mop or clean the floor where coverings were removed.

5. Re-hang items to the wall such as pictures and mirrors.

6. Move furniture and rug back to its original position.

7. Replace all valuables that were removed from tabletops and cabinets.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAINT SHEEN

The difference between paint sheens. What’s in a name?

Once you choose color for your paint project, you have one more decision to make: the paint sheen! The names are: flat, eggshell, pearl, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. What does this all mean? The paint sheen refers to the gloss level or the degree of light reflected from the surface once the paint has dried. Each company has slight variations.

It is obvious to tell the difference between a flat and a high-gloss, but it's the levels in between, when and how we use each sheen that can get confusing to all of us. So, here we have listed the key factors in choosing a paint finish.

The glossier a finish, the more durable and washable it tends to be. Flat paint is great at hiding irregularities and surface imperfections. Pearl and eggshell paints are a compromise; they partially hide imperfections and are more washable than flat paints.

For painting interiors, the best choices are often flat paint for ceilings, eggshell and satin for walls and semi-gloss or gloss on doors and trim. The most popular paint sheen is satin, a good choice because it's not too shiny but cleans easier than flat and a perfect base for popular faux finishing techniques.

FLAT

Durability of Flat Paint: If you have children or pets, this paint sheen isn't the best choice for walls as it tends to show dirt and scuff marks easily. This sheen is not an easy paint to keep clean.

Where to Use Flat Paint: are great choice for areas with dents, dings and rough surface texture. This sheen is perfect for surfaces that do not have a lot of contact with human hands, such as ceilings.

Comments on Flat Paint: Although this sheen hides surface imperfections, stain removal is difficult. Use this sheen for a uniform, non-reflecting appearance.

EGGSHELL

Durability of Eggshell Paint: More durable and washable than most flat paints, but not as durable as Satin or Semi-gloss. Where to Use Eggshell Paint: are great choice for wall surfaces in foyers, hallways, and Dining rooms. You can clean this paint sheen. Eggshell paints reflect more light than flat, but only slightly. The best way to describe paint is the reflective qualities of this sheen are similar to that of a real eggshell.

Comments on Eggshell Paint: This sheen resists stains better than flat paint and gives a more lustrous appearance offering a soft glow that warms up any room

SATIN

Durability of Satin Paint: are durable enough to stand up to most dirt, cleaning and are great for high traffic or food preparation areas.

Where to Use Satin Paint: are typically used for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, kids' rooms and even some woodwork and trim.

Comments on Satin Paint: are not truly "shiny," but more like actual satin, in having subtle reflective qualities. This sheen adds just enough light to the walls to be called a slight "glow". Satin or semi-gloss finishes are easy to clean and are good for highlighting architectural details.

SEMI – GLOSS

Durability Of Semi-Gloss Paint: tend to be much more durable as they can be easily cleaned with most cleaning products and resist dirt and stains.

Where to Use Semi-Gloss Paint: are typically used for doors, cabinets, woodwork and trim. Many people find Semi-Gloss to be too shiny for walls though it works quite well on surfaces that are prone to get a lot of handprints

Comments on Semi-Gloss Paint: A semi-gloss reflects between 35 to 50 percent of the light that hits it. Which means it will have a much shinier appearance.

HIGH - GLOSS

Durability of High-Gloss Paint: While the high sheen allows for an easy surface to clean, any dents or dings in the paint will be very visible.

Where to Use High Gloss Paint: take extra precautions in choosing where you use this sheen. High Gloss should be limited to areas such as kitchen cabinets, banisters and railings, trim, furniture, door jambs, window sills and specialty uses. You wouldn't typically paint a wall with high-gloss paint because the reflective qualities create too much glare.

Comments on High Gloss Paint: High-Gloss reflects approximately 75%-80% of the light that hits it.

Stephanie Tyree
Unique Designs and Decorative Finishes
12034 Madison Drive
Atlanta, GA 30346
http://www.designershistoricalstencils.com

Choose A Decorating Style

2007-09-10T04:04:00.002-07:00

Quite often when you think about needing a change, decorating comes into your mind. That creates the problem then of attempting to decide what styles is bested suited to your home-contemporary or rustic theme decorating. In that case, you need some great tips on interior decorating that will guide you through the process, thus turning your home into the home you always wanted. The top home decorating tip of 2007 involves fantasizing, being original, and returning to nature.

An Important Decorating Tip

When you make plans to redecorate your house, a tip to remember is to use a theme. Whether you decide on a more modern look, or to stay with the rustic theme decorating, your home needs its own personality, something it can gain if you choose a theme for the rooms that will share the decorating style. You want to take advantage of a trip from a professional decorator when it comes to choosing a decorating theme such as a Mickey Mouse theme for the nursery or something of a more traditional nature for the dining room. It is extremely important to use the decorating tip you obtain to create a theme that is both tasteful and creative.

This new decorating tip strategy is not limited to the inside of the house by any means. You don't want a newly decorated house on the inside that looks like it's ready to fall apart on the outside. You can find many excellent ideas from which to choose, and a list of the interior decorating tip that ranges from decorating your entrance door using a colorful doormat to using your personality to take a stand about the use of color are at your fingertips. Another interior decorating tip you may find helpful is to paint your house in contemporary tones or if you're going with the rustic theme, the nature colors such as yellow, soft greens and dark browns.

Should You Choose Rustic or Contemporary?

Choosing the contemporary style gives you freedom to innovate frequently, while the rustic look will bring the nature feel and tranquility. Another top tip of decorating your interior is to make sure your home harmonizes with your lifestyle. For example, if you're active and enjoy partying and entertaining friends, you should most likely choose the contemporary style due to its airiness and additional space. The rustic style will suit you if you are the kind of person who enjoys sitting on the sofa with a good book. This is especially true if you are a lover of plants, plain wood, and the mahogany style furniture.

Is There a Right Decorating Tip?

As you can see, decorating tips do not fall into the category of "one size fits all," however, you do have several from which to choose. It's important to let your house speak out about you and that both the interior and exterior walls are in harmony. If you follow the interior decorating tip strategy that is outlined, it won't be long before you will be able to develop your own decorating possibilities. It takes only courage, time, and a good tip about interior decorating.

Andrew Caxton publishes articles for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com You can find more information and resources on rustic theme decorating at his website.

The Monogram Theme Wedding

2007-09-10T04:04:00.000-07:00

Monograms are a huge trend in weddings, to the point where they feature strongly in some, and in others, provide the actual theme. And what’s not to like about monograms? They’re elegant, understated, versatile, and a dramatic visual reminder of your new life together.

Ideas for including monograms

You’ll find them popping up in more and more places throughout the reception, and sometimes even prior to it. Here are some ways that brides include monograms:

- embossed, stamped or printed bridal stationary
- custom postage stamps (see www.funstamps.com)
- stationary seals or stickers
- painted aisle runners
- printed bridal bouquet ribbons
- bridal underwear or garter - bridal handkerchief
- accent to bridal train, veil or gown
- ring bearer’s pillow
- stamped or printed out-of-town bags
- bridesmaids’ totes
- guestbook
- engraved guestbook pen
- tablecloths
- chair covers
- place cards and menus
- cocktail napkins
- coasters
- centerpieces
- engraved cake server set
- cake embellishment
- wood, wire, metal, chocolate or acrylic monogram cake topper - monogram wreaths of silk or real flowers
- fabric wall or door banners
- champagne flutes
- bottled water labels
- “tears of joy” packs
- monogrammed wedding favors: cookies, ornaments, shot glasses, votive candles,

chocolates, petit fours, notepads, favor boxes
- dance floor “gobo” projections

How do I get a monogram?
You make it! Many brides find they can “roll their own” using a readily-available software program such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. If you’re a graphic designer or have access to high-end tools, you’d probably prefer Adobe Illustrator, but Word or PowerPoint are also fine. If you’ve played around but don’t like the results, call on an arty friend.

To design your monogram in Microsoft Word:
Choose Insert -> Textbox. Type and format the letter the way you like it. Do this three times. Now click on all textboxes and choose Format->Textbox. Choose Color: No Fill (so you can overlap letters) and Line: No Line. Select all letters, right click, and choose Group to lock in the arrangement. You can now copy your image into Microsoft Paint and save in several formats, such as JPEG.

To design your monogram in PowerPoint:
You’ll want to use “Word Art” to create your letters. Click on the blue tilted “A” on the bottom toolbar for each letter. Format them to your liking. When you’re done designing, select all the letters, right-click, and choose Grouping->Group. Now you can click on your image and right-click for Save as Image. PowerPoint lets you save directly in formats like JPEG, PNG and TIFF.

Some more design tips: The bride’s initial goes first in a monogram. When the bride takes the groom’s last name, the order is: bride’s first initial, shared last initial (usually larger), groom’s first initial.

If the bride keeps her own last name, one option is four-initial monogram (bride’s first, bride’s last, groom’s last, groom’s first). Or just join the couple’s first names with an ampersand (Jenny & Mike).

Some etiquette tips: It’s somewhat frowned upon to use your couples monogram before you’re actually married. So, your reception’s clearly a green light, but you might want to skip using it on your invites. The ceremony itself is sort of a Ms. Manners gray area. Some brides uphold the spirit (if not the letter) of the “law” by including the monogram in a not-so-public ceremonial spot, such as a garter, or inside the dress.

Of course, these being modern times, some brides just include the monogram wherever and whenever they want.

Great places to get the fancy fonts brides crave, for free:

www.dafont.com/en/
www.chank.com/freefonts.php
www.abstractfonts.com/fonts/
instant.coffeecup.com/content/fonts/
www.1001freefonts.com

DIY monogrammed aisle runner
It’s not hard to create your own monogrammed aisle runner, and it makes a big splash. If you have a sewing machine, you can buy and hem the fabric for next to nothing. Now you just need some fabric paint in black or your wedding colors, a pencil, an exacto knife and some cardstock. You also need to decide where you want to place the monogram. Some aisle runners feature a monogram at the bottom, where the procession begins; the top, where the couple stands; and in the middle.

Print out your monogram and blow it up to your desired size on a copying machine. (If your aisle fabric is on the sheer side, you can now trace your monogram directly onto the fabric with pencil. Fill in with fabric paint, and you’re done.) Otherwise, tape the enlarged monogram onto the cardstock and cut out the shape with an exacto knife. Trace inside your new template lightly with pencil. Fill in with fabric paint. Follow the same procedure to make your own monogrammed table runners or even chair covers.

The dance floor monogram
A dramatic and memorable way to include your monogram is to project it onto the dance floor during the reception. As fun as this is, though, it’s not cheap and sometimes not easy. To project a monogram, you need to buy a custom metal plate, called a “gobo.” Custom gobo manufacturers are easily found online. The gobo itself usually costs over $100, but once made, you then need specific lights equipped with a pattern holder to use the gobo. It’s possible that your venue, or your DJ, will be able to provide these lights or help you locate a place from which to rent them.

A final tip
Now that you have some ideas for incorporating monograms in your wedding, remember the essence of elegance is restraint. It’s easy to overdo monograms, so mix them up contrasting touches, such as soft and romantic floral arrangements, to warm up the monogram’s cool and classic feel.

Blake Kritzberg is editor of FavorIdeas. Stop by for fresh fall wedding ideas and a completely indulgent collection of fall wedding favors.

How To Decorate Your Guest Room In A Rustic Theme

2007-09-10T03:42:00.001-07:00

Many people choose the rustic home decor, even those who have an urban lifestyle. There is no need for you to live in the country or a log cabin in order to take advantage of some of the unique accents that you can purchase in the rustic home decor style. For those who love nature, camping, and hiking, the deep woods decor is an interesting and functional way to display the things you enjoy so much.

Using a rustic decorating theme doesn't mean that your house has to look like a cabin in the woods. In fact, you don't even have to put it in every room in your house, you can try it in just one room or an area of the house and see how you like it. The bathroom and guest room are perfect places to utilize a deep woods theme because you do not see these rooms as frequently as others, so there is less of a chance that you will tire of them.

Guest Room

With this theme, you can choose to paint the interior walls forest green or burgundy to coordinate with the theme colors—or you can choose to paint only one of the walls. Purchasing a quilt with a tree or bear design to use as a bedspread will also enhance the rustic theme. If it's within your budget, purchase or customize a bed frame from wooden logs in order to give your room the feeling of being in a cabin even while you're in a Penthouse on Park Avenue.

Windows Decorations

You can use the same fabric as the rest of your theme to decorate your windows. Wall hangings and pictures that match your rustic home décor is also a good choice for use in the room. Another possibility for the walls is photographs of you and your family as you enjoyed an exciting or funny camping trip. A search online for rustic theme items will yield results such as towel hangers, clocks, and a great deal more including those with beer, deer, and tree themes. There is no limit to what you can do with this theme, including that of painting the ceiling so that it is likened to the sky at night, thus giving the impression of sleeping underneath the stars.

Advantage of Using Rustic Home Décor

Unlike many other themed decors, the rustic theme is not one that is trendy and subject to becoming outdated. It is a style that will remain popular, so you don't have to concern yourself with changing the décor of the room any time soon. Depending on your budget and creativity, you may include many more options than are listed here to become closer to nature while in an urban or suburban setting.

Andrew Caxton is the author of many articles on subjects like living rooms and published at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com For additional information on interiors deep woods decor subjects have a look at his web.

Pick Your Price

2007-09-10T03:37:00.001-07:00

While the cost of promotional conference bags can be offset by conference sponsors who pay to include their products and literature, providing bags for all of your attendees can be a pricey proposition. Whether your budget is tight or limited only by the sky, you’ll find promotional conference bags in a wide range of prices to suit any budget you need to fit.

Keep in mind, though, that the promotional value of the conference bags that you choose is high. If you’re the organizer, the quality of the bag you choose directly affects how your event is viewed, not only by the attendees but by the sponsors who have paid for exposure and image. It’s important that the quality of the promotional conference bags and other items that you choose reflect the value of your sponsors’ contributions to your event. A sponsor who contributes £20,000 to your event coffers might be understandably miffed to find his or her name plastered on a shoddy plastic bag that reflects badly on his or her firm.

Your best option is always to choose the highest quality promotional conference bags that you can afford. If your budget is limited, look for the lowest range from a high quality manufacturer rather than the highest range in a lower quality product. You can save by choosing well-made bags in a less expensive material, or with fewer pockets rather than buying poorly made promotional conference bags that offer lots and lots of little gimmicks.

What You Should Expect to Pay

Expect to pay anywhere from £2-£20 per bag depending on the choices that you make. At the low end, you’ll find quality City style bags made of polyester. The best choices travel well, are made with reinforced seams and have both a carry handle and a detachable shoulder strap. Most have at least one or two interior pockets, and many feature a zippered front pocket for easy access to important items.

At the higher range, you’ll find conference bags by such well-known names as Slazenger and Mercury made of 600D polyester with a wealth of options. Stylish and modern, they include zippered pouches, Velcro pockets and loops for holding your iPod, mobile phone and other important business musts. Padded and adjustable shoulder straps are only one of the features that make the highest range of promotional conference bags an excellent choice for those who are looking to impress clients and attendees.

Price Considerations

In addition to the cost of the bag itself, there are other considerations that will add to the price of your promotional conference bags. Most suppliers include the cost of a single print area in one color in their quoted price. Generally, you can expect to pay an extra £.20 or so per piece for each additional color, in addition to an extra setup fee for your entire order. In some cases, your choice of bag may preclude additional colors in your printed logo. If you intend to print more than one logo or on more than one surface of the bag, you can also expect to pay more for your order. Finally, if you’ve left things till the last minute, you can expect to pay a premium for an express or rush order.

To get the best price for your promotional conference bags on a budget:

Select a low-priced range of conference bags.
Confine your printing to the standard print area.
Limit your printing to one color.
Order the largest quantity you can afford to get the price discount.
Give plenty of lead time to avoid express or rush order fees.

If you require additional information on conference bags or business promotional items, promotional gifts and promotional products then check out the leading expert suppliers online where you can make massive savings.

Tina Rinaudo is one of the leading lights in the UK promotional conference bags industry. Tina is a key member of YesGifts, the UK's fastest growing online promotional items resource specialising in promotional pens, mugs, mouse mats, umbrellas, conference items and much more. For more information please visit http://www.yesgifts.co.uk

Room Decor That Grows With Your Child

2007-03-03T00:02:00.001-08:00

How often have you asked yourself this question...how should I decorate my child’s room so that I don’t have to repaint every few years as they grow older? You’re not alone. Many parents ask themselves this every single day. They want their child’s room to have a unique decor without having to revamp the entire room all the time. The biggest transitions are always going from baby to toddler to teen. All 3 stages normally require a drastic room decor change.

Well to help you out a little bit we have gathered some helpful ideas for decorating:

1. Choose a semi-neutral paint color. It doesn’t have to be plain white or beige but possibly a dusty blue for a boys room instead of a bright primary blue. Or for girls, choose a soft yellow shade instead of flamingo pink. A softer more neutral shade allows for easy redecorating later on.

2. Buy some nice pictures frames that coordinate with the trim work in your child’s room and use them to display their own art work or awards certificates. As baby’s you choose to display pictures or special items. For toddlers you could put some finger painting projects in the frames. For teens, either pictures of their friends or special awards.

3. Change the duvet cover or bedspread. From toddler to teen, buying an inexpensive bedding set can dramatically change the look of the entire room. Simply just stick to coordinating colors that compliment your original paint color.

4. Paint or stain the furniture. This takes a little bit of time but is usually quite inexpensive. Typically you find white or wooden furniture in a baby nursery. Often that remains the same through the toddler and young child stages. But when your child turns into a teen, have them help you paint that white furniture with a darker, complimentary colored paint. Navy Blue and Chocolate Browns are always bold colors which look very rich.

5. Avoid character themes. Although your child seems to be very interested in a specific cartoon or character, it shall pass. They will grow older and favor something else. It always happens! Rather than invest a lot of money into a complete character bedding set, wallpaper, etc. try adding a toss cushion or area rug that displays their current favorite theme.

6. Stick to stripes, solids, and other geometric patterns. These never go out of style and your child can grow with them. Remember to mix and match. Everything doesn’t all have to be the same.

The above are just a few simple suggestions. Always remember, our beautiful children grow up! Rather than investing a ton of money into constantly redecorating their rooms, make small simple changes. Use the money you save on sharing experiences and making memories.

Heidi Neufeld is the owner of a successful online retail store, American Kids Bedding, specializing in baby nursery bedding, boys bedding sets, and bedding for girls.

Gallica Roses

2007-03-02T23:25:00.001-08:00

Very soon stocks of new season's roses will be arriving in the garden centres, if they're not already there. Indeed, to be sure of getting the most sought after varieties it may have been necessary to put an order in some time ago. However, in their rush for the new, those who are slaves to fashion often overlook gems, leaving some of the best tried and true plants for those prepared to simply wait and see what is available.

Gallica roses are a case in point. While the popularity of Old Roses waxes and wanes as each new generation discovers them and then seeks something new, the best of them carry on regardless.

Rosa gallica, also known as the French Rose or Provins Rose, is a species that grows wild from southern and central Europe to the Caucasus. Because it readily produces sports, has a tendency towards double flowers, and may have hybridised naturally with other species, it is likely that the earliest European garden roses were forms of Rosa gallica.

The earliest recognisable Gallica still grown is 'Officinalis', the Apothecary's Rose. It is a deep pink semi-double thought to have been introduced into France from the Middle East by returning 13th century crusaders. It has even been suggested that 'Officinalis' was the first cultivated rose, though that is impossible to prove. A similar rose was used medicinally and in perfume manufacture in Charlemagne's time, but it can't be traced back beyond around 1200 with any certainty. Nevertheless, 'Officinalis' can be seen in many medieval manuscripts, paintings, and stained glass windows, and while deep pink rather than red, it earned fame in the War of the Roses as the Red Rose of Lancaster. (The White Rose of York was Rosa × alba.)

'Rosa Mundi' (syn. 'Versicolor'), which probably dates from the late 16th century, is a very popular sport of 'Officinalis'. It has striped and sectored bicolor white and deep pink flowers, and is thought to have been named after Rosamund, a mistress of Henry II. It may date back to the 13th century or even earlier but can't be traced beyond 1580 with certainty.

Gallicas were at the height of their popularity from the 18th to the mid-19th centuries, and it is from that period that most of today's plants date. Early nurseries kept few records but it is likely that by the early 19th century there were well over 1000 varieties of gallica in cultivation, possibly up to 3000. It is therefore not surprising that several other recognised groups, such as the Damask Roses, have Rosa gallica in their parentage.

Their flowers, which are abundant and often heavily scented, tend toward the pink, red and purple shades. White gallicas are also available and many of the darker flowered types are flecked or otherwise marked with white or pale pink. The flowers appear only in spring and early summer, with perhaps the occasional late bloom, though vivid hips often follow the flowers, providing colour well into autumn.
The fleeting beauty of the flowers and the historical connections is certainly why Gallicas tend to be regarded as the most 'romantic' of all the roses. It's not hard to see why. Their beautiful, rather formal shapes with an air of elegance, their textures and colours, so often reminiscent of faded purple velvet, and their fragrance combine to create roses of which memories are made.

The very name Apothecary's Rose conjures up images of alchemy, love potions and the like. Associations with the French aristocracy also enhance the gallica's romantic appeal. Marie-Antoinette had made in 1770 a bed of 'Officinalis' petals and the Empress Josephine so adored Gallicas that her rose gardens at Malmaison were a virtual shrine to the type.

Many nurseries, especially rose specialists, stock a good range of gallicas and as you might expect, those that have survived long enough to still be in production in the 21st century tend to be sturdy, easily grown plants.

In addition to 'Rosa Mundi' and 'Officinalis' look out for 'Charles de Mills' (double, velvety crimson) 'Cardinal de Richelieu' (double, clustered dark purple red flowers), 'Hippolyte' (double, purple, many small flowers), 'Belle de Crécy', 'Tuscany Superb' (double, dark purple-red, very fragrant), 'Duchesse de Buccleugh' (double, deep pink, late), 'Duchesse de Montebello' (double, soft pink), 'Complicata' (single, bright mid-pink, fragrant), 'Nannette' (double, purple-red), 'Anaïs Ségales' (double, purple-pink, very fragrant), 'Ipsilanté' (double, mauve-pink) and 'Gloire de France' (double, purple-pink fading to pale pink edges).

Sure, you could wait until next year and check out the local botanic gardens before making a selection, but take my word for it, gallicas are beautiful. Why not start your own private Malmaison now?

Cultivation tips

Gallicas are very frost hardy and tend to be fairly small bushes with light or bright green that is usually quite lush. They can be bought budded or may be grown on their own roots. Own root plants will produce suckers that help to thicken up the bush and will sometimes even allow them to be grown as a hedge. Removing rooted suckers is an easy way to start new plants, which is probably why Gallicas were such a suitable subject for medieval plant propagators. Summer softwood cuttings under mist are reliable and winter hardwood cuttings outdoors strike quite well.

Their compact habit is easily maintained by light overall trimming and thinning, which can be done in winter or, if keeping the hips is not important, as soon as flowering is finished. You can even trim and shape in summer and winter if necessary. Very old bushes on their own roots may be cut back almost to ground level to encourage vigorous new growth. Gallicas are bristly rather than really thorny, which makes pruning a fairly pain-free experience.

Naturally, you need to keep an eye open for all the traditional pests and diseases of roses, though you needn't expect more trouble with Gallicas than any other roses. Just don't believe those comments you may read that suggest that they are particularly pest- or disease-resistant.

Did you know?

The Greeks and Romans cultivated Rosa gallica, though apart for the odd sport it is unlikely that they grew anything greatly different from the wild form. So should you feel the need to have rose petals strewn in your path in the manner of a Roman emperor, they should be those of Rosa gallica.

I am a garden book author and horticultural photographer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. I run a stock photo library called Country, Farm and Garden (http://www.cfgphoto.com). This article may be re-published provided this information is published with it and is clearly visible.

Outdoor Furniture - Why Teak May Be Your Best Choice

2007-03-02T23:14:00.001-08:00

It is no surprise that among patio furniture pieces, teak items are among the most popular choices. The natural look of teak adds elegance to any space. No matter your personal tastes, teak offers style, function and durability not found in man-made materials.

First of all, teak furniture is always in fashion. With its clean lines and simple designs, it works with any style, from classic to contemporary. It is easy to mix and match various teak pieces to create your perfect patio set. But it is not just for patios. A teak bench makes a warm addition to any garden. A teak lounger looks great poolside. You’ll even find teak indoors, as a striking accent to any décor.

In teak, form meets function in a fashionable way. Not only is the furniture gorgeous, but it is practical. You will find chairs, loveseats, recliners, patio tables and side tables, all in easy-care teak. Whether you are outfitting a large area, or searching for the perfect look for an intimate corner, you will find teak pieces to suit your needs. You can dress teak up or down. It looks classically beautiful bare, but you can also create a comfortable, inviting retreat through the addition of colorful cushions.

Solid teak wears extremely well. The seasons are no match for it. If it is untreated and left outdoors, over time, it weathers to an attractive silver-gray patina. If it is finished, it maintains its golden color. Teak is low-maintenance, and rarely needs more than an occasional wash with soapy water. The natural oils in the wood help it resist rotting and decay. It is an ideal choice for any climate.

With all its benefits, teak makes a perfect choice for patio furniture. Its versatile style easily coordinates with any indoor or outdoor look. The wide variety of pieces available meshes well together. It is durable and long-lasting to bring you comfort and enjoyment, year after year.

Gordon Kaye specializes in matching pieces of teak patio furniture to any backyard. Visit him online http://www.myperfectpatio.com and see todays latest styles of outdoor living furniture.

How To Sponge Paint Your Floors

2007-03-02T22:43:00.001-08:00

There's no reason to limit faux painting in your home to walls only. Have you considered that the same paint finish would look equally well on your floor? This is especially true if you have a concrete floor - you should definitely consider painting this. If for no other reason than it offering a cost effective solution to covering your floor; the painting process can also be a lot of fun.

Sponge painting your floors is a great way to start if you don't have a particular design in mind. It's also one of the easiest ways to end up with a design on your floor that makes it look like it's what you'd planned for it to look like all along... nobody will ever know any different. After all, most of the other types of faux floor painting involve trying to match a particular design type. Sponge painting, on the other hand, is just a way for you to make a pattern on the floor.

In order to sponge paint your floor, you are going to need to prepare the floor the same way that you might prep it for any other type of painting in your home. First things first you... should wash the floor with a strong cleaning solution. This is so that you clean up any dirt that might have been ground into it in the past. This is also a good way to get rid of any marks that might have been left on the floor from furniture with rubber feet.

If there are any rough spots still on the floor then you'll need to sand them down. You don't need to have a floor that is 1000% flat but having a clean, level surface to paint on will make your life a lot easier during the actual sponge painting phase itself. Don't cause yourself any unncessary hardship when doing this type of work.

Sponge painting will require two different colors of paint. Most people go for complementary colors, or for two different shades of the same color. For instance, if you are looking for a blue floor, you might put a lighter shade of blue with darker blue on top of it.

After you have allowed the base coat to dry for an entire day, you should add the second coat of paint. Essentially, sponge painting on your floor will work the same way that it does on your walls. Just make sure that you use the sponge to lift off the second coat of paint in some areas, instead of using it to apply that coat of paint - otherwise you could ruin the effect you're trying to achieve.

Do you want to sponge paint your home? How about creating a faux painting your floor? You can also find plenty of interior painting tips at PaintSplashes.

Top Tips And Great Guide To Selecting Bathroom Tiles

2007-03-02T22:42:00.001-08:00

The bathroom is one room where you can truly relax and unwind in complete seclusion. For this reason alone, it is important to really make sure this room is adequately planned for. The tiling will have a great impact on the design of your bathroom so here’re some top tips and great guide on selecting bathroom tiles.

Firstly, not all tiles are suitable for the high moisture atmosphere of the bathroom. Natural stone such as marble is extremely sensitive to moisture. The porous nature traps moisture from the air and tends to crack from the humidity. Logic also dictates that laminate flooring is not really suitable for the bathroom floor. Wet laminate surfaces tend to be extremely slippery and can cause accidents at home.

The more popular tiling materials include porcelain, ceramics and natural stone. But before you decide on a particular material, you need to understand their characteristics. For example, porcelain tiles are fairly limited in design as compared to ceramics. Natural stones such as marble should only be considered if owners are not worried about the high moisture affecting the tiles.

Choosing the correct tile size is also important, especially the shower area. Although bigger tiles are more visually appealing, it won’t work as well on the shower floor. The contractor will also have a much harder task ensuring efficient drainage. As a result, water will pool on the bathroom floor. Thus, the ideal size of the tiles should be about 12 inches by 12 inches (300 mm by 300 mm). Of late, rectangular tiles are the rage for fashionable bathroom walls and floors. This shape also makes the bathroom look larger and more spacious.

Patterned tiles have also made a comeback and are seen in contemporary bathroom themes that range from retro to maximalism to minimalism. Besides the daunting range of patterns available, most of these tiles will immediately and dramatically affect the look of your bathroom. Thus strong and bold patterned tiles need only cover the feature wall in the bathroom. This wall would create a focal point that draws the eyes of guests and helps to anchor the overall look of the bathroom. A strip of brightly colored tiles placed in the midst of bare walls can create a striking appeal that accentuates the structure of the room.

Future bathroom tiles look set to astound homeowners and the growing range of prints, patterns and materials for bathroom tiles gives them ideas to create unlimited bathroom designs.

Lester Fong

http://www.unique-home-decor-ideas.com

Daybeds With Trundle Units - The Best Way To Arrange The Room

2007-03-02T22:41:00.001-08:00

One of the best reasons for buying daybeds with trundle units is that you can have more sleeping space without needing so much floorspace. Whether you're working with a small room or trying to create a dual-purpose room, there are a few things to keep in mind so that you are able to make good use of the trundle unit when you need it. And since you may not have a lot of say-so in where your daybed goes, keep these things in mind when arranging the room.

Keep any heavy furniture around the edges of the room. If you have a dresser, a keepsake chest, a sewing table, a bookcase or maybe a rocking chair, be sure these are not in the way of opening up the daybed trundle. If heavy furniture is blocking the way, then you will be frustrated every time you need to use the bed and this attitude will tend to be picked up by the guest who will be using the bed.
Leave enough floorspace in front of the daybed so that you can pull the trundle bed out at any time. One way to attractively do this is to place a large decorative rug beside the bed. Whether you have hardwood floors or carpeting, select a rug that matches the overall color scheme of the room and that will enhance the daybed ensemble you have chosen.
If your room is so small or because of its dual-usage you know the beds will not be able to stay side by side, be sure that there is room to set up the trundle bed in a different position. Several options would be to set the beds up as a "T" where the trundle unit is perpendicular to the daybed. Or if maybe the room is long but not wide, or there are pieces of furniture or a door in the way, the beds can still be set up horizontally but with space between them which will then allow for easy access to each bed.
Buy sheets according to the space you have. (Sounds weird, I know, but keep reading.) If your room is large enough to keep the trundle bed next to the daybed, you can have a king-size bed to sleep a couple or several small children on. You might want to get the doubling system which will fill in where the two mattresses meet, thus allowing for more comfortable sleeping. If, however, your room is not large enough to put the two beds side by side but will require them to be free-standing, then twin sheets are what you will need. Twin sheets would also work if the beds are together; it just won't be quite as comfortable for the sleepers.

Daybeds are a terrific way to create extra sleeping arrangements which only requires the space temporarily. To get the best use of your small or crowded room, be sure to select one of the many daybeds with trundle units, getting two beds for the space of one.

For more information about daybeds with trundle units, visit http://www.all-about-daybeds.com where you will find all sorts of information and resources you "need to know" before buying your daybed or daybed ensembles

Painting A Room With The Right Color - 4 Tips

2007-03-02T22:36:00.001-08:00

Painting a room involves careful planning and for the inexperienced painter, it can be a tough job. This is where painting tips become handy. If you want to get tips on painting a room, just continue reading because you will soon find what you're looking for.

Before painting your room, you have to choose the paint color and the paint's type. The latter can really make a difference so do make sure that you select the correct paint type. Here are the tips on painting a room:

1. Examine your window treatments, existing furniture, and the other accessories found inside the room. If you're trying to paint a new room, then you will not bother yourself of these details because you can go ahead in deciding the color scheme that you like. But if you have an existing room, choose the colors that you like from the items found in your room. Your paint dealer can help you in coordinating the different colors by providing you with color chips. Examine how light affects these chips during the day and night.

2. Some rooms have trim work on the wall. It's all up to you whether you paint them with the same color as the wall or perhaps you can paint the trim with a darker or lighter color to give emphasis to it, bold color flashes, and to add delicate hints. By painting the trim work with the same color, you will be able to achieve a monochromatic look.

3. If your room has a large surface area, any color that you paint will appear darker, so when choosing the paint's color, get a color that is lighter than what you intend to paint with in the first place. Bright and clean colors will appear darker or lighter depending on your room's light and other surrounding color.

4. The color can also affect the size of the room. Warm and strong colors such as oranges, reds, and yellows can make your room appear smaller. If you want to make it appear larger, use colors such as blue, violet, and green.

These are just four tips on painting a room. Happy painting.

To learn more room painting tips and home painting tips, visit http://www.homepaintingdiy.com

The Champion Sunroom: 50+ Years of Quality

2007-03-02T22:33:00.002-08:00

Since 1953, Champion has been setting the standard for high quality sunroom construction. The company has always maintained a focus on customer service and that is why it has maintained a major lead in the sunroom industry for over 50 years. It should be noted that Champion is one of the founding members of the National Sunroom Association. The company has showrooms in the cities of Cincinnati and Denver and ships their quality products to sunroom contractor companies across the nation. The main product in Champion sunrooms is a patio room/porch enclosure. In the beginning, they only offered patio rooms that were meant for 3 seasons. Now they a have the All Season Vinyl Patio Room! A lovely structure that allows you to enjoy an outdoor environment while remaining cozily indoors! Champion also offers awnings, porch enclosures and sunroom furniture to help make your sunroom everything you want it to be!

Champion’s All Season Vinyl Patio Room

Champion’s All Season Vinyl Patio Rooms are designed as an entire system. You can choose any option you need to make sure the system meets the needs and requirements or your home and the carefully crafted components will to work together flawlessly. This means little maintenance is required on your behalf (which increases the value in the long run) and the patio sunroom -or conservatory sunroom- stays as beautiful as the day it was finished.

Vinyl offers a homeowner a good level of quality and value for their investment. This is why Champion, a company that revolves around the concept of quality, has chosen to use vinyl in their products. This energy efficient 6 inch aluminum encased in vinyl structurally sound and withstands not only hurricane-like weather but also the weight of rain or snow on the roof of the structure. Vinyl is well known for holding its shape and not decaying like other materials. It is also more fade resistant, Champion has engineered its doors and windows to work perfectly with the All Season Vinyl Patio Room. This makes it a completely strong and durable product that could only come from the likes of Champion.

As buying a sunroom can be a bit confusing. Champion offers a guide that offers easy to understand advice for potential sunroom buyers. When you want to invest in something that will raise the resale value of your home, you want to go with a trusted resource. You want to go with Champion.

Andrew Caxton is the author of many articles on different web publications, with subjects like sunroom kits published online for http://www.allsunrooms.com . Find more publications about Champion sunrooms at his website.

How To Add A Unique Look To Your Home On A Budget

2007-03-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

Everyone wants a beautifully decorated home but having a home with a designer look costs a lot of money. However, if you are creative and a smart shopper you can have a great decorative look in your home and still stick to your budget.

The first thing you need to do, is to decide on the look that you want. It's probably best to do this one room at a time so you don't become overwhelmed. So pick a room whether it be the bedroom, the living room or the kitchen and decide what you want it to look like. The more specific you are the easier it will be for you to achieve the look you want without spending a lot. One way to do this is to get a bunch of design magazines or books and leaf through them to find a look that you think would be great in your room.

Once you've decided on the look, you need to do the basics which is paint the walls and change the floor. Since you're decorating on a budget, you might not have the money for a new floor and in this case you can try to use area rugs to give the room the look and feel that you're going for. Painting the walls of any room will make a huge difference but be sure to pick a paint that is very close to that in the picture of the room that you have because painting at the wrong color could be a disaster.

Now comes the furniture and accessories. List out everything you have in the photo, or the picture in your mind of what you want in the room. Every little knickknack, wall paintings, lamps and chandeliers as well as pieces of furniture should be written down on your shopping list including the general size, color and style of the pieces.

Now for the fun part! You get to go shopping and buy the things on your list. Of course, shopping isn't very much fun if you don't have any money unless you know where to shop. When shopping for decorative furniture and lighting, one of your best bets is to find a consignment store that sells good quality used furnishings. You can often get pieces that are nearly brand-new at a fraction of the price. However, you'll have to make it a habit to check in every day because the really good stuff gets snapped up pretty quick. Other places to check include yard sales, flea markets and the for sale section in your local paper. If you have computer, you might even try Craig's list and eBay.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping for your budget decorative items is that you want to get the scale right. For example, if you're looking for end tables you want to be sure that they are sized appropriately in proportion to the sofa and lamps in the room just like in the picture that you are going from. The same goes for artwork, decorative items like pieces, lamps and chandeliers.

Finally, you want to add some interesting touches to your room and one place where you can get really unique things is at an antique mall. Now you might think that antiques are very expensive and won't fit in to your budget, however if you go to a mall that has a lot of general dealers you be able to find some really interesting older items that don't cost a lot. You may even be able to find a huge bargain on an item that is really worth a lot more than it is priced at. Either way, you're sure to get some unique budget accessories for your room.

Budget decorating can be fun and easy, but you have to have a little bit of patience and be willing to do the legwork to shop around to get the items that will make your room perfect at the price that fit your wallet. If you do, though, you be rewarded with a unique and interesting room that will have a little bit of your personality and be the envy of your friends and family.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.home-improvement-solution.com where you can get more home improvement and decorating ideas

Add Functional Decor To Your Family Room With A Bar And Bar Stools

2007-03-02T22:32:00.001-08:00

A family room is a place for your family to gather, lounge around and have a good time so decorating it appropriately with functional elements is key. One thing you might think about adding to your family room that will look neat and is also functional is a bar along with some comfortable barstools. Now typically when you think of a bar you think of place to serve drinks, but this doesn't have to be a bar stocked with liquor this could simply be a bar that you use to have sodas, sandwiches and snacks at, although you can use it as a drink bar to if that suits your needs!

Take a good look at your family room, is a large with some empty space? Then it's perfect for adding a bar. You can buy bars and matching stools in many different designs that will match the decor in your family room and blend in seamlessly. You can get bars that go against a flat wall, or in the corner, bars that are large or bars that are small. No matter what style you choose, a bar is sure to add an interesting gathering place and will keep the crumbs off the sofa as well as provide extra seating.

Of course, one of the most important parts of the bar is the barstools. You want to be sure to choose ones that are comfortable as well as practical. One thing you might think about is matching the upholstery on the seats of the stools to the fabrics you are a having a family room. The other thing you must think about is making sure that you buy the right size schools for your bar, otherwise they will not become too sit in.

Before you buy your set of stools, measure your counter or table. Bar stools can be bought in different heights so for you to get a good fit you need to know how tall your bar will be. Make sure you purchase stools that will give you ten to thirteen inches between the top of their seat and the bottom of the bar.

While purchasing your bar stools, don't forget to think about how many you should have. The basic rule of thumb is that you ought to have 25 to 30" from the center of the stool to the center of the stool next to it. To figure this out, divide the length of the bar by 28 inches and you'll conveniently see how many stools should buy.

A bar and bar stools adds a unique area to your family room that can transform it from simply a place to watch TV to a family gathering room that will host a variety of activities.

Lee Dobbins writes for Bar Stool Decor where you can learn more about different types of bar stools and how to decorate with them.

Sinks and Bath Tubs: Selecting What's Best For Your Bathroom

2007-03-02T22:27:00.001-08:00

The bathroom should be a place where it should be hygienic and clean. However, it doesn’t mean that you should be stuck in a plain old looking bathroom. With today's different lavatory designs, you can also give a little personality or a little spice in your bathroom. For example, with the different bath tubs and sink designs and accessories, you will truly enjoy visiting your bathroom often and will also have one that is unique from other homes.

Many people think that converting an old fashioned bathroom into a modern looking one that screams style, fashion, and sophistication can be expensive. However, with the right paint, and the right accessories, you will have a great looking bathroom that looks modern but one that will not put a hole in your pocket.

Before you replace your bath tub and your bathroom sink, you first need to consider what kind of design you should choose for your bathroom. Bathrooms should be bright and bright paints, such as white can be great. Always remember that when you are decorating a bathroom, you should go with simple yet elegant. Bathroom fixtures don't have to be white. You can go for the Ying Yang concept or the opposites. So, if you have white tiles and white paint, you can consider getting a black bath tub and black bathroom sink. This will stand out and will definitely look elegant.

In black bathroom fixtures, you should get a gold plated or chrome plated faucets. You will see that it can look great in your bathroom. The mirrors should also be considered in a bathroom. Since you need a bright bathroom, the mirrors will reflect the light and will brighten the bathroom more.

Dimmers are also great if you want to enjoy soaking in the bath tub. For this, you should install a dimmer switch. This can also be a very romantic concept where you and your significant other can soak in the bath tub for hours.

It is important to remember that when you are installing a bathroom sink and a bath tub, it should be in the same color. The commode or the toilet should also have the same color as your bath tub and your bathroom sink. For example, if you choose a white sink and you choose a red bath tub, the bath tub will look out of place and will be like a sore thumb with four good fingers.

You can add more elegance to your bathroom by using marble, gold, crystal, or brass. This may cost a bit more expensive than regular bathroom tiles but it will definitely add more elegance to your bathroom and will also complement your bathroom sink and bath tub. Besides, spending a little more extra will not hurt you financially and you will also benefit from improving your bathroom this way.

So, if you want more elegance to your bathroom, go for the contemporary modern look and get rid of your old bathroom fixtures. Or, you can even consider repainting your bath tub and sink and replace the faucets with more elegant look. You will see that installation is quite easy and will take only a little of your time.

If you don’t know anything about installing a bathroom sink and bath tub, you can hire a professional to do it for you. They will be able to replace your bath tub and bathroom sink or if you want to save money, you can get it painted by a professional.

You'll find out many options for your bathroom including walk in bath tub, bath tub refinishing and bath tub liner at BathtubTherapy

Home Decorating Design Trends For 2007: Stylish Ways To Decorate Your Home

2007-03-02T22:21:00.003-08:00

Predicting the latest home interiors design trends is a complex and ever changing task. Often inspiration can be taken from the fashion catwalks - currently this avenue provides designs and colours to suit most tastes and styles.

Anyone who has been following the glossy magazines can tell you that that there is plenty of pattern, colour and texture in fashion, plus all sorts of exciting possibilities created with new materials and technology.

Despite reaching the high-tech realms of the 21st Century, today's interior collections still reflect home styles of the past. Fashion design influenced by retro styles of the the sixties and seventies hit the spring/summer 2007 catwalks, and this colourful retro look has filtered into the home. Prints are one of the biggest interior stories this year and the bolder the better. Wallpaper, which is back with a vengeance and fabrics, have been brought alive with velvets and flocks.

Eye-catching pattern is showing its staying power. Bolder in our choices and using homes to reflect our bold and challenging lifestyles: no more playing it safe. Layer strong differing patterns to build up a cornucopia of fabrics and wallpapers.

Whether you go all-out or keep it more subtle, patterned paper, accessories or bedding can transform a lifeless room into a haven of colour. Create a focal point by wall-papering one wall or add interest to a bedroom with bold bedlinen. But avoid mixing too many patterns and colours. For those lacking in confidence, introduce patterns via accessories like window dressings, cushions, lampshades and ornaments.

But if florals, flocks and bright colours are not your thing there is still much to chose from which reflects the latest trends. Black and white needn't be confined to ultra-modern properties. More traditional-style Damask patterns, which look great in period homes, are everywhere and grace everything from wall-coverings to teapots. Black has to be glossy and polished to keep it looking rich and opulent. Use bold and sensuous shapes to add glamour.

Pretty pastel shades and soft feminine fabrics are also in vogue and provide a sharp contrast to the more dramatic interior themes of 2007. Pale pinks, greys, metallics, shimmering sequins and glass all feature heavily in this year's collections.

You can also bring an air of spring into your home with colour palettes of soft greens, palest pinks and gentle aquas.

Mix and match with existing colours to update your look. Glamorous grey is the new neutral. It began on the catwalk and is now a hit in the home. From inky charcoal through to palest dove, grey will complement any hue.

With the environment and all things green hot on the agenda, homeware inspired by nature is also a predominant interior theme this year. Earthy tones of green, brown and khaki create a restful environment, while natural materials like wood and twine take you right back to nature.

The challenge of changing design trends is the difficulty of creating your perfect environment at a lightening pace. The best home interiors evolve over a period of time using a rug or a wallpaper as the central theme and then building from there. Don’t be in too much of a hurry, unless commercially motivated, otherwise the finished look will resemble a hotel bedroom, rather than a stylish home.

Emma Vans Agnew is the principal of http://www.fabricsandpapers.com the online decorating store.

Mastering the Art of Spring Cleaning

2007-03-02T22:21:00.001-08:00

You're feeling creative, but there are no craft supplies in the house; or so you think! Lurking in the depths of your closets, attic and basement are a wealth of fabrics and other materials that not only make great craft supplies, but using them helps give you a head start on spring cleaning.

Here are some things to look out for as you’re filling garbage bags:

Fabric, fabric, fabric! Ok, so you know you will never wear that loud flower-patterned skirt again. Looking at it today, you believe you must have been possessed by some fashion demon when you bought it. But, with each passing clothing trend comes an emerging home décor trend.

Floral patterns and stripes are in when you’re talking pillows. Not so much when you’re talking pants. Large clothing items, like dresses and skirts often provide enough fabric to make a pillow case or seat cushion. Flip through a new home décor magazine and look through your own junk pile for a few fabric treasures!

Dishes and glasses: Give your tableware a second life. Colorful dishes make fantastic wall art, and if they aren’t colorful you can make them colorful with glass paint available at your local craft store (okay, so maybe you won’t be able to completely stock your craft bin from your closets, but they are a good start!)

Glasses make great vases, pen holders, and bathroom accessories for cotton balls or toothbrushes. Jazz them up with a ribbon and your hot glue gun and you can banish the plastic cotton ball bag for good! They also will make great hostess and birthday gifts!

Picture frames: What do you think spray paint was invented for? So your old frames don’t match your new living room theme – visit your local hardware store for a can of spray paint and transform your dinged-up or irregular frames into perfect accents. Be sure to remove the glass before you paint. If you can’t remove the glass, use newspaper and tape to cover it before you spray. Let them dry thoroughly before you hang them! Add a picture of the kids and grandma will be thrilled!

Old shoes: Believe it or not, shoes make great flower pots. Be selective, though. If you hate the way the shoes look as shoes, you’ll hate them as flower pots, too. Fabric shoes are best for this.

Old greeting cards: How long should you keep a Christmas card from someone you know at work? Well, let’s not get into that – but what we can explore is the beauty of recycling. The fronts of Christmas cards (that are blank on the back) will make fantastic gift tags for next year. Or, you can attach a tiny bow and make a whole new card out of it. Send it in a handmade envelope for a special touch.

Leftover wall paper: If you still love it, use left over wall paper to cover matte frames, creating instant wall art. Use a staple gun to secure the paper to the matte. Don’t hang them on the same wall as the wall paper covered! You can hang them within a reasonable distance of the wall papered room to connect rooms visually. Leftover wall paper makes great wrapping paper, too.

Boxes: Depending on what they were used for, boxes offer a lot of crafting potential. Shoe boxes can be covered in fabric and used as a desk organizer for bills, or a pretty storage box for photos.

Before you rent a dumpster to haul away all the “junk” that has over-wintered in your home, take some time to go through your closets and other areas destined for cleaning for opportunities to reinvent, recreate, and recycle. Almost everything can have a second purpose, and when you’re feeling creative, there is no limit to what you can do with “trash.”

Sandy Sandler is creator of the Bowdabra® bow-making tool. Her products are designed to help the “creatively-challenged” create beautiful crafts, accessories, and home décor. For craft ideas, visit http://www.Bowdabra.com. Or email bowdabra@aol.com.

Enticing Butterflies To Your Garden

2007-03-02T22:14:00.001-08:00

Enticing butterflies to your garden is fun and simple too. Butterflies are easy to attract to your garden if you plant a garden where the caterpillar (pupa step) has plants to eat and then the butterfly has flowers from which to sip nectar. Butterfly gardens are simple to plant and will provide you and your friends and family a chance to peek butterflies in their natural environment.

The basics are an open space with tons of sunshine and a location that is not windy. Choose a spot with lots of sunlight with a few rocks or stones that can warm up on which the butterflies will bask in the afternoon sun. Strive to locate your garden close to hedges or shrubs that will aid in shielding them from the hardy winds. If it is too windy, the butterflies won’t stay around for any length of time. The hedge or shrub needs to develop food for the caterpillar. You can find out what the caterpillar likes best from your Nursery Garden Center.

Butterflies relish mud puddles where they can drink the water and soak up minerals. A patch of moist soil will make them joyful. Most urgent of all is that the garden be pesticide free. Some gardeners like to utilize pesticides to chase away unwanted pests, unfortunately it will keep the butterflies from visiting your garden too. Plant your butterfly garden in a cranny where it will be free of chemical pesticides. Worthier still, ask your Garden Headquarters about organic gardening.

Flowers with nectar are a need for a butterfly garden. When planting these nectar sources try to put in plants that will provide nectar throughout the growing season since these are the origin of subsistence for the butterflies. Don’t discount shrubs and wildflowers. Roses, geraniums and lilies have no nectar so plant them somewhere else. Have your garden assorted to allure a the greater quantity of butterflies. Another ingredient for the butterfly garden is a source for larva food. The caterpillar needs food to develop into a butterfly. If there is no food present they will die. Plant some herbs for both of you. They love parsley, dill, and fennel for their meal. What herbs they don’t eat you can collect for home cooking with fresh herbs.

A butterfly garden can also be planted in containers. Purchase some elegant pots and plant them with flowers that retain a magnificent bouquet as well as vivid pretty colors (available at your Garden Center). Petunias, daylilies or sweet alyssum will do the trick. Of course the butterfly bushes are a given, or plant some hanging baskets with Impatients (shade will be necessary).

Some gardeners like to fashion there own feeder and solution. And it is easy to do. Put 4 parts water to 1 part sugar in a pot, bring it to a boil and cook it until the sugar dissolves. Bring it to room tempetature. Use a container that is somewhat shallow, drench a paper towel with the solution and position it in the garden receptacle. Deposit a stone in the garden container so the butterflies have a seat to rest on while they are feeding.

This would be a great project for the kids. Have them maintain a diary of each of the various species that stop by your butterfly garden. Let them look up the butterflies on the computer to understand all about each special butterfly and it becomes not only enjoyable, but a learning experience besides.

Because there are so many growing zones in the United States you will want to speak with your Nursery Headquarters for suggestions of what plants to utilize for attracting butterflies in your individual zone.

There is an ancient American Indian Fable about butterflies: “To have a dream come true you must seize a butterfly. Whisper to the butterfly what your request is and then set it free. This tiny messenger will carry your wish to the Great Spirit in the sky and it will become true. ” What a great folktale.

Happy Gardening!

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at Container Gardening and Herb Gardening
You can read more of her articles at Article Bazaar

Bathroom Sink Vanities - Add Elegance & Style To Your Bathroom

2007-03-02T03:42:00.001-08:00

If your bathroom's looking drab and its dull appearance simply doesn't inspire you with enthusiasm, it's time to take action. One of the changes you can make that can dramatically improve the ambiance of your bathroom is to install a smart new vanity unit. As they are used by every bathroom visitor, bathroom sink vanities tend to be focal points in any bathroom design, and as such an unfashionable or tatty vanity can have a negative impact on the look and feel of the whole room.

As it will take prime position in your bathroom, it's important to take the time to shop around and to select a vanity that fits in with the character of your home and does justice to your bathroom's new image. For instance, a contemporary vanity with minimalist straight lines and featuring a glass vessel sink, could be a suitable addition to a modern bathroom. In contrast, a wooden furniture style vanity cabinet with decorative features such as bun feet could be the icing on the cake in a period home.

Installing a new vanity cabinet is a great opportunity for you to think about how functional your bathroom's design and layout is and make appropriate improvements. For example, if you share your bathroom with your partner or children, a double sink vanity could help make life easier. Or, if your countertop is always cluttered up with numerous bottles of toiletries and beauty accessories, remember this when choosing a new vanity and look for one that has ample storage space for all your items.

Think also about the color and finish of your sink vanity and go for something that will blend in with your other bathroom furniture - the last thing you want is for your posh new vanity to clash with your favorite medicine cabinet. Be aware that in general lighter colors, such as light woods like pine and white laminates, are good in smaller bathrooms as they help create a feeling of openness. Darker colors can add a touch of grandeur to larger bathrooms.

With some research and comparison shopping, you should be able to find that perfect vanity unit that looks stunning, fulfills your practical needs and is within your budget. It should give your bathroom a much needed lift and keep it looking its best for many years to come.

Caroline Smith is a contributor to Showers-Bathrooms.com, which has loads of bathroom decorating ideas, including advice on bathroom sink vanities, bathroom medicine cabinets, glass shower doors and more.

How To Repair Your Garage Door

2007-03-02T03:39:00.001-08:00

Overhead garage doors are of two types. They can roll up in sections, or they may swing up as one piece. Both of these two types operate on spring tension. Metal tracks present on the garage walls are the paths along which the door moves. The power is provided by hefty springs. Repairs of the door when it fails to move smoothly can be done quite easily.

First, check the metal tracks and the mounting brackets that fasten the tracks with the garage walls. If the screws at the brackets are loose, tighten them. Close the garage door and move inside the garage. Then examine the tracks for the presence of dents or creases. In case there exits a damaged spot, use a rubber mallet or a hammer and some scrap wood to strike those out. However, if the tracks are damaged at several places, you would do better to replace them altogether.

The second task would be to check whether the tracks are properly aligned. This can be ascertained with a level. Horizontal tracks are supposed to slightly slope back towards the inside of the garage. The vertical sections of the tracks of roll-up doors should be accurately perpendicular. The tracks should reach the same height on the garage wall. You may try to realign the tracks yourself by slackening the bolts or the screws that support the mounting bracket, but without removing them, and carefully beating the tracks back into their correct position. After the work is done, you should confirm if the tracks have been returned to the proper location, and after that tighten the screws or the bolts.

The tracks in roll-up garage door are somewhat more complex because these bend from vertical to horizontal. You must ensure that both the parts are aligned accurately.

The third step in routine maintenance of garage doors is to cleanse the tracks and remove hardened grease and accumulated dirt. This can be done using any household cleaner. The rollers must be cleaned scrupulously. After all the parts are cleaned, these should be wiped with a dry cloth so that these are not left damp.

Garage door lubricants are available in spray forms that can be applied on the tracks and the rollers as well to lubricate these parts. Otherwise, lubrication of the track can be done using graphite powder, and the rollers can be greased using silicone sprays, or even household oil. Pulleys, if present, need to be lubricated using the same material that is to be used for the rollers.

All loose hardware must be tightened. Proper maintenance of garage doors is imperative to prevent undue wear and tear and for ensuring longer lifespan of the garage door.

Want to learn more about Garage Doors?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.about-garages.info/Articles/Garage_Door.php

Kitchen 101: Remodeling Your Kitchen

2007-03-02T02:34:00.000-08:00

If you are getting bored on the appearance of your kitchen or you have realized that your kitchen is no longer appropriate for your growing family and your cooking lifestyle, it must be time for a kitchen makeover. Remodeling your kitchen may be quite challenging but if certain changes will give you a much better and a more functional place, it must be worth trying. These basic and useful tips can help you get started.

Come up with a workable and detailed plan. One of the most important things to consider in remodeling your kitchen is to come up with a good plan. You should have a workable and detailed plan of your project regardless if you are designing your kitchen yourself or you have hired a professional kitchen designer. This way, you will not only be able to point out what particular changes you want to take place in your kitchen, you will also be able to keep track of remodeling developments when you have already started with your project.

Look for kitchen remodeling ideas. This will help you get an inspiration how you want your kitchen decorated and arranged. Scouting for remodeling ideas will also keep you up to date on the latest trends in kitchen designs. You can glean ideas and information from Home magazines or you may search for them in the internet.

Search about kitchen products and accessories before buying them. This will help you know which among the products that are available in the market are best to use in your kitchen. You will also have an idea how much these products cost which will help you know if a particular kitchen design fits your budget. You will also be able to get the best buys and bargains by comparing which stores and products sell more affordable and better items.

Visit home stores. Many home depots and home improvement stores showcase real kitchen set-ups and products. By visiting these stores, you will not only see how a particular kitchen product looks like, you can also ask the sales personnel about its durability and functions. This will help you get an idea how certain kitchen appliances and furniture are used, which may help you know which products will be best for your kitchen. A visit to a home store is also a great way to look for trendy kitchen designs and set-ups.

Your kitchen is one of the most useful and most important areas of your house. Remodeling it to make it your cooking and social paradise may be quite taxing but this should not hinder you from making your kitchen much better looking and more functional. Try these kitchen remodeling tips and you will discover that a kitchen make-over project simply takes some handy tips and ingenuity.

Jeff Dodd is an accomplished writer with extensive knowledge in home improvements. For more information on kitchen remodeling, just visit us at http://www.kitchenchanging.com