When investing in furniture for your kids, there are a few things to keep in mind: durability, adaptability and fun. Kids' interests change quickly and they grow just about as fast, so it's important to shop smart. Most kids only need a bed, dresser and a desk with a chair.
When shopping for kids' furniture, durability is very important. Kids play rough, and it's best to buy sturdy furniture, even if you have girls. You want something that's going to last. Even if your children don't share a room, a bunk bed is nice, because it gives them a place for friends when they spend the night. It can also make a great place to store things. Bunk beds are usually built better, as they are meant to hold up to years of climbing in and out of them.
Adaptability is also a good thing to keep in mind when buying furniture. Will it grow with your child? There are many convertible cribs that can be made into toddler beds, day beds and a twin bed, with a couple support braces and a mattress. This is something your child could use for years.
Dressers are pretty basic, but to add fun to the room, buy a used dresser at a yard sale, strip it, and paint it solid color. Then you can get stencils, decals or stickers and let your child decorate it to fit their taste. It can be a fun project. When their taste changes, strip it again, and start over. It can even be stained when they are older, and prefer a more grown-up style.
Fun is important to kids. There are many imaginative furniture styles, such as beds shaped like cars or other things. The problem with these is that the child outgrows them quickly. There are other ways to incorporate fun, by getting bright bedding and other accessories that are less expensive and easily changed.
Borrow an idea from college students that is also a space saver: build a loft. This gives more room for a play area and a desk, which can be built into one end of the bed. Shelves can also be added easily, using brackets and boards, creating more storage space.
April 29, 2009
Kids Furniture Ideas
Another Bedroom Makeover
When I hear people say that bedroom décor doesn’t matter because you only sleep there, I have to wonder what whose people do. I must go into my bedroom about 40 times a day.
It’s also the place that you dress, and for most people if they feel comfortable in their surroundings they will take time and care in themselves.
For all you would be designers out there, I have a word of advice for you.
When watching all those makeover programmes, don’t get the idea that it is easy.
Designing your room to show your own unique personality and also be functional can take a lot of time and hard work.
Firstly you need to decide on colour, if everyone liked Magnolia what a dull world this would be.
The bigger the room the deeper colour you can apply. But mixing colours on different walls works well in either large or small spaces. Pastels generally work better in the bedroom, pale blue, light green or even sand colours.
Also take care not to fill every available space with clutter, light and airy are essential
for a good nights sleep.
When choosing furniture buy what you like but be practical, I’m sure an 8 foot bed would be wonderful, but not if your room space is only 9 foot square.
Take care not to obstruct doors and if possible give enough room to walk around the bed, this is a safety aspect as well as practical one.
Storage is one of the biggest mistakes people make when designing there bedrooms, without exception there is never enough for even the most minimalistic person.
Overhead storage or built-in cupboards are ideal, but they must be of good quality and in keeping with the room.
I as anyone who knows me will tell you am not a morning person, so for me when I open my eyes I don’t want to see the daylight till I have had my first cup of tea.
That is the beauty of blinds. The choice is endless, in styles and colours, from blackout to net blinds from Vertical to Venetian of Roman. When choosing window dressing think about where you live, you wouldn’t want the neighbours getting a free show every night.
We all know that lighting can change the whole ambiance of a room, so don’t cut corners. Down lighters or spotlights are fabulous for bathrooms or dressing rooms but be a little more subtle in the bedroom, sidelights or up lighters are ideal, and for all of us over thirty a lot more flattering.
The most dominate feature of any bedroom is usually the bed. You can be as extravagant as you like here, it is all about comfort, and what is more comfortable than really good Quality bedding.
A luxury Percale or Egyptian cotton would be my choice, anything with a thread count of 180 or above, it’s a natural fibre, soft, durable and crisp to the touch, it is the ultimate in bedroom style,
Its false economy to scrimp on bed linen, if you want sheer comfort that will last for years, longer than the poly/cotton sheets which bobble after one wash. I think that new bedding is a luxury that everyone should experience at least three times a year.
With Divan beds you will need a Valance, be it Base Valance or Valance sheet it just adds that finishing touch and can be matched with your curtains or blinds.
Valances come in Three styles, box pleat is the most practical, and looks the most expensive, and with a base Valance it doesn’t need to be changed every week, so less washing for us.
There is also frilled or inverted Pleat Valances; both will do the job of hiding the base of the bed.
You may have noticed that Beds come in a variety of sizes these days. Consider when you buy your new bed, that bed linen doesn’t come with the package, But in order for you to get the best from your bed you need to use bedding that fits perfectly, spend a bit of time getting great fitted sheets, I promise you will not regret it.
Throws and cushions are also a great addition for giving your room that finishing touch.
If you are lucky enough to have either an En-Suite or dressing room then keep it simple, extend the colour scheme through out and put in lots of storage for towels and toiletries.
I hope I have given you food for thought if you are starting out on revamping your bedroom or designing your room from scratch.
Remember only you know what makes you happy, so put as much of you as possible into that special place, and wake up every morning feeling a sense of pride.
Why To Install Swamp Air Coolers?
This article explains the benefits of swamp coolers and why everyone should be using them. Ultimate answers as to why we need to install evaporative air coolers
Lower Your Energy Costs, Increase Humidity Levels And Breathe In Fresh Air When You Install An Evaporative Air Cooler!
An evaporative air cooler works on different mechanisms as compared to air conditioners. Unlike air conditioners, which refrigerate air, an evaporative air cooler pulls in air, cools the air through evaporation and circulates the cool air all over the area.Evaporative air coolers are not as popular as air conditioners as many people are still not aware of the great benefits they offer. The following section explores reasons for getting an evaporative cooler at your home or in a factory.
With Less Energy Used, Evaporative Air Coolers Help To Lower Your Household Energy Costs
Evaporative coolers possess low energy capacities. Thus, at only half the price of an air conditioner, an evaporative cooler uses 75 % less than an air conditioner, but has the capability to cool the same area space. In fact, most evaporative air coolers are able to cool up to 350 square feet.
According to a survey conducted in Australia, it takes only $0.04 an hour to operate an evaporative air cooler in a room, while an air conditioner will cost about $0.30 for the same duration.
Apart from that, installation fees for evaporative air coolers are also relatively cheaper. As they can be installed in an existing air duct system in your house, only a short duct is required to lead the cool air into your house. This means that it is not necessary for you to spend a lot of money to create a new air circulation system.
Rid Your Home Of Dry Air And Increase Humidity Levels
Evaporative air cooler works by moisturizing the air, as wet pads are used to cool the air. With this, you will be glad to know that your furniture and fabrics will be kept well moisturized too. This will definitely help maintain the durability and lifespan of your furniture.
Bring In Fresh Air Into Your Home, Keeping Your Home Smelling New And Clean
In addition to cooling the air, evaporative air coolers also help in channeling fresh air into your home. With an evaporative air cooler, air circulation occurs every 2 to 3 minutes. Hot air from the house is being pushed out by cool air through evaporation. When this happens, bad odor, dust and smoke will be eliminated along with the hot air. The frequent air circulation ensures that there is a continuous supply of fresh air. The risk of bacteria being trapped air can be reduced significantly. The moisture pad, which is an integral part of the evaporative air cooler, also functions as a filter, which helps to trapped dust from entering your houses.
Refrigerant Free, Evaporative Coolers Are Truly Environmental Friendly
Love the environment as much as you love yourself. This is one good reason why it is essential to install an evaporative air cooler. Air coolers do not require refrigerants like Freon, which are detrimental to the ozone layer. Air coolers also have the potential to curb noise pollution. Most evaporative air coolers are designed to use a blower instead of an axial fan and this helps to keep the unit quiet.
Easy Maintenance Through Refillable Water Tanks Or Even A Garden Hose Connection
Easy maintenance is one of the best reasons for getting an evaporative air cooler. All coolers come with refillable water tanks which are strategically positioned for easy access. Each refill will last you up to 10 hours. However, if you require a longer operational period, get an air cooler with a hose connection which continuously supplies fresh water to the cooler. All filters can be removed and rinsed to ensure that you continue to breathe fresh clean air.
Home Remodelling Loan And Checklist Before Picking A Home Remodelling Loan
On one weekend, a Saturday in particular, I decided to attend a seminar on home remodelling. I Usually prefer to call it home renovation. It was basically for the elderly people.
Am not in the elderly bracket but I decided to attend anyway because I was feeling a bit lonely and wanted to be occupied. On looking around the room, I saw that most people were in my age group.
Think it is because they have to meet most of the cost for refinancing the renovation of the home of their old ones.
This seminar turned out to be good to me and at the end I was convinced it was a good take.
In this seminar, it was revealed that research so far shows this:
It will probably cost anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 to do a good renovation of a house for the elderly. This seems a staggering amount, until you consider that it would cost them from $3,000 to $5,000 per month if they were to rent a unit in a retirement facility in a location where they might not be as happy. Looking at it from that point of view, in four years or less, they would have spent the money anyway, and at least making home improvements allows them to continue to live in the same location and keep their asset.
The biggest challenge many older adults face when renovating their homes is how to pay for them. Many are on fixed incomes with few resources. Their property may have increased in value, but they are cash-poor.
During this seminar, a flyer was distributed that provided a telephone number for the city and county Elderly Affairs Division Rehabilitation Loan Program. Many cities have similar funds available as a means to assist individuals to stay in their own homes, rather than move to more costly facilities.
I learnt that the loan program was available to a person or family requiring home modifications, based on a health or safety need. The home loan program required that an application be submitted with information about the number of persons living in the household and their combined annual income. This information was then used to determine the interest rate for the loan. For example, for combined incomes of less than $41,000 or so, the interest rate was 2 percent; for less than $52,000, 4 percent; and so on.
Another thing I learnt is that you can also have an option, which is that of a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets a homeowner convert a portion of the equity in his or her own home into cash. The equity built up over years of home mortgage payments can be paid to the owner, but unlike traditional home equity loans or second mortgages, no repayment is required until the borrower no longer uses the home as the principal residence.
Reverse mortgages are available through different lenders, as well as HUD. There are some property restrictions, but single-family homes, two-to-four-unit properties, condominium units, townhouses, and some manufactured homes are eligible. Generally, the greater the value of the home, the older the owners, the lower the interest rates, and the more one can borrow. This is good news right now, with interest rates so low, and it is an opportunity for your patients who have a higher annual income that disqualifies them from other programs. And if they live in an area of the country where land or home values are traditionally higher, such as Hawaii or New York, it may be the best option available for refinancing.
Given the sheer amount you have to invest or borrow, here is a checklist before you decide on any renovation project.
Consider the following before you decide how to finance your home improvement project:
-Talk to lenders about your options.
- Know that lenders are concerned about income, debts, credit history and property value.
-Consider a secured loan when you want to borrow more money, get a lower interest rate or reduce taxes.
-Refinance an existing loan if you have enough equity and if the rates are two points lower now than when you initially borrowed the money.
-Use a home equity line of credit that is secured by your home so you’re your interest is tax deductible.
-Take out a home equity loan to get fixed rates and payments.
-Consider a homeowner loan that is secured by your property. Use a value added loan when the improvement you make will have a substantial impact on the market value of your home.
-Do your research before using contractor financing.
Good Luck
April 22, 2009
Stylish Living Room Ideas From Our Home To Yours
Decorating our home has become a labor of love for us. By far, our favorite room to decorate has been our living room. This space has become the centerpiece of our home, in addition to being the room we spend the most time in. We've used color, a mix of traditional and contemporary furniture, wall art, and eye-catching accessories to create a stylish living room design that is still functional and comfortable. We hope by giving you some ideas from our own living room we'll spur your creativity and point you in the right direction to making your living room your favorite room.
Paint
When we moved into our house, the walls were off-white. Not bad, definitely versatile, but not for us, and definitely not for our furniture and accents. We used our favorite wall color, Sherwin Williams Latte , and...WOW!!!! The room just popped! When your paint colors complement your furniture and accents, and your furniture and accents complement your paint colors...you win. Your style starts working for you.
Maybe you live by the water and nautical fits your style. In that case, blues, whites, greens and yellows may work for you. If you live in a downtown loft, you may want an industrial look with white and silver elements. If you're in search of the perfect country look - try some softer, blues, reds, browns, and maybe some yellows.
We choose a neutral color scheme for our living room. Brown is Jen's favorite color and I love all the tones and colors you can mix into a neutral scheme - like red, gold, bronze, maize, and orange. Next we're going to mix in a bit more black.
After the color was set, we had to think about what to put on these walls...
Wall Decor
Just so happens that in one of our previous homes, the walls were about the same color. It was time to sell and there was this empty space above the mantle. What would be just right there? Wrought iron? Something black and white? Some professional wall art?
We had the color scheme...our favorite latte, a little red, a bit of of gold...we knew the size...then we saw it in the framed art and wall decor section at Kirkland's. The frame was the perfect thickness...the colors were just right and the size looked like it would fit pefectly above the mantle. Sometimes you just have to go for it.
With all the online resources these days, it's really easy to find pieces that go with your colors, before you even leave the house.
Lighting
When it came to add lamps to our decor, we had to figure out the answers to some pretty important questions.
Where was our primary light source? For us it was recessed lighting over the mantle. In other words, not alot!
Did we want to separate a TV watching area and a reading area? Not really, because there just wasn't enough room.
What kind of lighting did we want to use? Add a light to the ceiling fan - table lamps - floor lamps? Eventually we combined table and floor lamps with a style somewhere between mission and contemporary. Believe me, these two styles go together better than you might think.
Furniture
Our living room has two focal points, the fireplace and our TV armoire. Unfortunately, the armoire ended up next to the fireplace, simply because of the cable jack. It does work there quite well, but ideally we would have liked to move it around to some different places to get a feel for where it worked best. Just goes to show you that sometimes you have play the hand you're dealt.
As for the rest of the room, our favorite piece is our sofa table. It's not behind the sofa, though. We use it as an anchor piece against one of our walls. There are lamps on both ends and it's filled with photos of both our families. It's always a great conversation starter.
I hope what you've gotten out of this article is that style is not confined to a single term; like contemporary, traditional or country. Style is your state of mind and what appeals to you.
My wife and I aren't professionals. We just know what we like. When we run into a problem, we face it, break it down, and decide what looks best. With good information and a little bit of time to spend, you can make your living room "the" room that everyone talks about when they come to visit.
Home Decorating Using eBay
You almost have to be from another planet these days to not be familiar with the term 'eBay". The growth of online auction houses and eBay in particular has been phenomenal. At last count eBay has almost 150,000 registered users, 50,000 categories and over 400 million listings.
If you are considering redecorating or just starting to decorate your home, it could be almost impossible not to find whatever it is you are looking for. In fact, you may find many new ideas and items of interest you never even thought about. This may send you off in an entirely new direction you hadn't ever considered.
Shopping for home decorating items on eBay should be an experience you should have at least once. It is as if a world wide bazaar was spread out at your feet. If you had access to Aladdin's lamp, you would not get a wider array of goods available to you. If you are new to eBay, start with small, inexpensive and easily shipped items.
There are two keys to an enjoyable eBay shopping experience:
Question, question, question
Research the vendor
Question until you are satisfied
The descriptions and pictures are often very detailed and accurate. However, you still may have unanswered questions. Don't hesitate to contact the vendor and ask questions until you feel you have all the information you need to make a bid or purchase.
As you look at other various similar items, notice the information given in the description. This will give you an idea what type of information should be included in the description. If there is some information in a similar description that is not included in the description of the item you are considering, don't hesitate to ask for that information.
Believe me, the vendors only want to satisfy buyers. They do not want the hassle of returned merchandise. You may be surprised to learn you can get more product information from an eBay vendor than you can obtain in a nearby retail store.
Research the Vendor
The second most important key is to research the vendor. To find a member, click on the "Advanced Search" button. From there click on "Find a Member" button in the left column and enter the seller's eBay user ID/name. You will be brought to the seller's "About Me" page. From here there are all types of information available for your research.
You can also click on the item you are interested in.
This will bring you to the description page. In the right hand column is the info about the seller. The name, number of comments (listed next to the star), and feedback info is there. The most important information you will be looking for is customer feedback. A feedback rating in the high 90's will assure you will have excellent customer service and be satisfied that your purchase is exactly as it was pictured and described.
When you make a decision to jump in and get your feet wet at eBay, these are the two most important points to remember in order to enjoy the experience and have maximum satisfaction with your purchase.
Once you receive your purchase, look it over carefully to be sure it was presented accurately and you are satisfied with your purchase. Most vendors will bend over backward to keep their buyers happy and returning with more business. The high rating they have worked hard to achieve is important to them. They certainly don't want any negative feedback bringing that rating down.
Follow these guidelines and you can confidently purchase any item you could possibly want for your home decorating project. So go ahead, take the plunge into the world of online auction bidding and buying. Redecorate with style and amaze your family and friends with your one of a kind decorating items and rare finds.
You may find you are having such a great time that you may never shop for your home decorating items in a retail store ever again!
7 Tips to Keep Your Hardwood Floor Looking Its Best
Many people choose hardwood flooring because it is easy to maintain and keep looking great. True, you will not have to worry about hardwood staining if you spill grape juice on it, as you do with carpet. However, there are a few things that you need to remember when you are dealing with hardwood. Once you have spent a great deal of time and money on your beautiful hardwood floor, you will want to keep it looking fantastic. Many people choose hardwood flooring because it is easy to maintain and keep looking great. True, you will not have to worry about hardwood staining if you spill grape juice on it, as you do with carpet. However, there are a few things that you need to remember when you are dealing with hardwood.
1) The most important cleaning tip for hardwood is preventative maintenance. By cleaning your floors regularly and sweeping or vacuuming dirt and debris, you will save yourself a lot of time and expense in the long run.
2) Wipe up any spills as soon as they occur. Although you will not have an instant stain when you spill on hardwood floor as you do with carpet, you may expose your hardwood to staining if you do not wipe up spills in a timely fashion. Once stains have a chance to set into the hardwood you may have to refinish the floor in order to get the stain out.
3) Sweep your floor everyday or as needed. It is important to sweep up any dirt or debris off of your floor as necessary so that the dirt doesn’t scratch the wood. This will vary from house to house of course. If you have a high traffic home, you may need to sweep a few times a day. Although, you may only need to sweep every few days.
4) Use a hardwood cleaner once a week to keep your floor looking its best. Hardwood floor cleaners are available at any home improvement center or at a flooring center. They are quite easy to use, and with a little preventative maintenance, you will thank yourself in the future. Simply spray the cleaner on and use a cloth or hardwood broom to buff the floor gently.
5) Never use water and soap when cleaning your hardwood. Hardwood is not like linoleum or even laminate flooring and you cannot use a bucket of sudsy, soapy water to clean it. In fact, you can damage your floor if you try to mop it in a traditional style. Because wood is susceptible to water damage, you want to minimize the contact that your floor has with water. Water will seep into the cracks of the boards and can cause swelling, discoloration and deformation of the boards.
6) Protect your floor from furniture scratches and gouges. It is a very good idea to place felt on the bottom of all of your furniture in order to protect it from scratches. This is particularly important for furniture pieces that move a great deal such as your kitchen chairs. But it is a good idea to protect all pieces equally. You can purchase felt at the local hardware store, and cut it to size to fit the bottom of every piece of furniture that you have.
7) Polish your floor regularly. If you have a hardwood floor with a wax finish, you may want to wax it on a regular basis to keep it looking shiny and new. The waxing process will also will also help buff any scratches out of your floor as well. Every wax product is different so it is important to read the directions carefully and also consult the manufactures guidelines of your flooring before applying any wax product.
With a little bit of preventative maintenance and some common sense, you will be able to keep your hardwood floor looking fabulous for many years. There are only a few simple steps and rules to follow when dealing with hardwood flooring because it is actually one of the easiest flooring types to care for.
April 18, 2009
The Beauty of Landscaping
In architecture, landscaping refers to the science and art of modifying land areas by organizing natural, cultivated, or constructed elements according to a comprehensive, aesthetic plan.
This landscaping involves the elements of topographical features like hills, valleys, rivers, and ponds or growing things like trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers as well as constructions like buildings, terraces, and fountains.
Today, landscaping is quite popular for homeowners who would want to improve their homes. The goal should be the house and the landscaping must complement with each other.
A GUIDE TO D-I-Y LANDSCAPING
Any house with landscape should complement each other. In order to achieve this harmony, you really need to consider and reconsider your options and the extent of landscaping you would want to have.
There are actually so many aspects in do-it-yourself landscaping like budget, skills, the climate of your region or place, personal design tastes, and the available resources. If you really want to beautify your home through landscaping, here are some do-it-yourself landscaping tips that can help you get by.
1.) Make sure that you provide your landscaping with a year-round theme. The surefire tip in landscaping is to provide it something related to four seasons so you’ll never be outdated. A combination of a plant-selection with flowering trees or shrubs throughout, and fall foliage would do.
2.) Try to layer the garden’s flower beds when planting. By layering the planting beds in rows of three that include a back row filled with tall plants, a middle row planted with the next tallest plants, and a front row containing the shortest plants. The repetition of each flower bedding will give your garden a unified look.
3.) Consider the use pf evergreens for continuity. When it comes to DIY landscaping usually focuses more on trees and shrubs but this doesn’t mean that you cannot include evergreens because this will give the space more structure and the view of variety and continuity.
4.) Experiment on using annuals to supplement perennial hues and colors. Perennial flowers are ideal for flower beds because they last for a long period of time. But since they bloom only in a specific period, it is best if you try incorporating annual plants with perennial ones so you can fill up the colorless spots in the flower beds when perennial flowers are not yet in bloom.
If you are quite particular about color coordination of the two kinds of blooms, try using a picture gallery so you’ll get ideas what is the right color scheme for your garden.
5.) Don’t forget to assimilate hardscape into your initial and final landscape design. Aside from paying much attention to plants when landscaping, don’t forget to include hardscape features such as fences and other garden decorations.
If you want to be more specific, try including patios and decks to your garden because these will provide great transition from your indoors to your outdoors.
6.) Don’t be daunted in installing water features. One of the best focal points of any excellent landscape designs is the water feature. Aside from being one of the hottest trends in landscaping today, installing a water feature will not only make your garden more visually appealing but it can only create soothing sounds great for relaxation. The most basic water feature you can install is ponds.
When you think you’re ready to do something bigger and better, consider conceptualizing a simple waterfall through the use of cheap fountains, flexible tubing, pre-formed rigid plastic liners, and durable pumps.
7.) Always keep foliages and drought-tolerant plants in mind. When thinking of landscaping your house or garden, never forget to include the characteristics of a plant’s foliage. The varying foliage textures and colors are needed to help you liven up your yard while the presence of drought-tolerant plants so your garden will have a staple decoration.
8.) Lastly, make sure that you can maintain your yard without so much hassle. Sure, you can do landscaping in your yard based on your taste and aesthetic sense, but never forget to keep it low-maintenance so you can enjoy the beauty of your work even if you don’t spend much time and money keeping it.
7 Do’s and Don’ts for Positioning Deck and Garden Gazebos
One of best ways to extend your outdoor living space is by adding a gazebo. These pretty outdoor structures were originally used in Victorian times to shade fashionably pale ladies from the sun. Now they’re being turned into everything from cozy eating areas to kid’s playhouses, and getaway spaces to meditate.
But why is it that some gazebos blend so naturally into the backyard like they’ve been there forever, while others look stiff, awkward and stick out like a sore thumb?
The secret is in the placement! Positioned correctly, your gazebo will add dimension to your landscape. Positioned incorrectly, your gazebo will make your backyard look disjointed and junky.
Here are some do’s and don’t to help you get it right!
1.) Do Place Gazebos at the End of a Path
Gazebos look wonderful and mysterious as a termination point at the end of a garden path. Visitors get the wonderful feeling that they are being drawn into the backyard and that makes it feel inviting and cozy.
2.) Do Choose a Spot Close to Water
If your home is on a lake or pond, take advantage of it. Position your outdoor gazebo on the point that overlooks the water.
You could also try placing your gazebo near a backyard waterfall or a trickling fountain and enjoy watching the birds splash about. Or how about by your pool?
One family I know built a patio gazebo at the deep end of their rock waterfall swimming pool. It was designed so that you could easily remove the railing on the pool side and dive right off the gazebo into the water.
3.) Don’t place a garden gazebo in the middle of your Yard unless you have a very large backyard.
A gazebo in the middle of a tiny yard will look like it’s been dropped from outer space and will overpower the yard, but as the centrepiece of a grand estate, it can anchor and unite the space quite beautifully. It’s all a matter of balance.
4.) Do Take Advantage of a Raised Area
To enjoy picture postcard vistas like a beautiful sunset or bird’s eye garden view, take advantage of any raised area in your yard.
One couple I know built an outdoor gazebo high on a terrace overlooking their jungle-like backyard and used it, not only for dining, but for dancing in the moonlight.
5.) Do Place Gazebos on Decks
If you are looking for a little shelter, then a patio gazebo nestled in one corner of your deck can complement it beautifully. It can also help to break up what can be a long, boring space.
One backyard I toured had a gazebo on the deck that was used for dining. The ceiling of the gazebo was decorated with dozens of miniature white Christmas tree lights for a starry sky effect at night.
6.) Don’t Place your Outdoor Gazebo too far to one side of the House
If your beautiful garden gazebo is not even part of your view, then why bother to spend all that money to build it? Also, too far to one side can make the yard look lopsided if you don’t balance the rest of the yard with some landscaping or other structures.
Off to one side will work o.k. if your gazebo is still partly in sight and there is a good reason for it to be there. For example, if the gazebo is placed nearby a tennis or bocce ball court, it can be a place to sit and watch the game. It can also hide something unattractive that you really don’t want to look at like
7.) Do make it the Jewel in Your Garden
Another great place for your outdoor gazebo is smack dab in the middle of your garden where you can turn it into a quaint tea room or cozy reading spot. Not only will you able to enjoy looking out at all your magnificent flowers, but you’ll be able to enjoy their beautiful aroma too.
So remember: For perfect deck and garden gazebo placement, plan ahead. Know the reason for placing your gazebo where you want to put it. When things make sense your garden design will flow beautifully.
Deborah Boland All Rights Reserved
For A Southwest Style Bedroom Use Rawhide Lamp Shades
Rawhide lamp shades are what can turn your bedroom into a designed showplace of southwest style. By accessorizing your bedroom with rawhide shades you are infusing the key elements of the decorating process. It is the natural character of rawhide that captures the essence of southwestern design and adds the rustic beauty to your room. With just a few changes to your lamps and lampshades you too will find the warm inviting feel of a southwestern bedroom.
You might be surprised to find how many different types or styles work with southwest design. For example, you might find that you already have all the lamps you need and the addition of rawhide lamp shades makes them work perfectly. By displaying them differently with rustic shades, many lamps can be transformed from traditional to rustic style. It’s not so much the lamp as it is the shade that displays the rustic texture you want. Get creative with an old lamp by adding rawhide shades and watch the room come to life.
It is best to match your rawhide lamp shades in your bedroom by color. For southwest style bedroom lighting, a light bleached rawhide shade is the color of choice. Draw your bedroom together with rawhide floor lamp shades that match the shades on your bedside lamps and any table lampshades that you might have in the room. Different heights and diameters of rawhide shades are also very attractive and add an interesting sense of drama to the room.
Lighting is a key element in the bedroom. You will want to bee able to change the mood of the room. For romantic times you may want to use subtle lighting, but you will also want bright lighting for dressing. Most bedrooms are under lighted, or poorly lighted by using one overhead light. This causes a lot of glare and doesn’t have the mood creating properties of individual lamps. By using several different lamps in your bedroom, you can create focal points in different areas of the room for different moods, and use higher and lower wattage bulbs to set the right intensity of light. Natural rawhide lamp shades create an ambiance that will coordinate the southwest theme that you want to create.
Weather you use your existing lamps or purchase new rustic lamps for your bedroom, the key to having the correct look in the bedroom is to layer the lighting. In other words, create lighting zones that give you the ability to create areas of light that are suited to a specific function. One great trick to enhance your new or newly created rustic lamps is to use a dimmer switch. Because rawhide lamp shades are a natural product, different lighting moods can be set by allowing more or less light to filter through the rawhide. Another nice idea is to use remote controls, timers and automatic switches to turn light on or off in certain areas.
Bedroom lighting is important and rawhide lamp shades will add a quality of life through a beautiful warm atmosphere that you will enjoy day after day. And along with that also comes the function that allows lighting to serve you better. Lighting affects us on many levels and natural rawhide lamp shades will help you create the harmonious and peaceful bedroom that you need.
You can use lamps with rawhide shades in many locations around your bedroom, beside the bed, on a desk, as floor lamps and indirect lighting. Remember to use separate controls for reading lamps and to place the lamps so the light is projected from behind the reader to eliminate glare and shadowing.
Rawhide lamp shades will work miracles on your rustic bedroom makeover. We have been discussing southwest style, but rawhide shades are also available in dark western hide for ranch or lodge décor and in unique colors for country décor. Each type of rawhide has its own special lighting characteristics. So weather you want to lighten your bedroom, darken it, or add rustic color, you will find inspiration in hand crafted rawhide lamp shades.
Soundproofing A Shooting Or Firing Range
Many cities and municipalities are looking for state of the art soundproofing products and procedures for soundproofing a public, private, or and even home shooting ranges. The soundproofing materials used must be impervious to smoke and gunpowder residue and must be resilient (able to take a round without disintegrating) and easy to clean. Some folks feel that convoluted foam mat (bedding or egg crate foam) will work in such applications. This is a completely wrong assumption because convoluted foam is an open celled foam and has no soundproofing qualities whatsoever.
So how do you get both absorption and sound blocking from one product, that is impervious to moisture and will stand up the rigors of a live firing range? Many large cities have contacted me desperately looking for just such a material and believe it or not we have exactly what they are looking for. It's the closed cell vinyl nitrile America mat and it has been used in many different ranges throughout the country. It is extremely flame retardant and only absorbs water into the first 6% to 8% of the mat. We have found through real life experience that this absorbed moisture dissipates rapidly and never causes mold, mildew, or deterioration. America mat is both a blocker and absorber that is extremely resilient and versatile in the shooting environment. The mat comes in thick nesses of ¼" all the way up to 2" thick, but we have found that in most instances the ½" America mat does the job. This foam mat would be adhered directly to the walls and ceiling of the range tunnel and in some cases it would even be adhered to the floor. This will provide complete coverage thus forcing the sound to be absorbed into the mat and with no way out it dissipates rapidly. Major shooting ranges have used this foam mat even on outdoor ranges where the material is exposed to the elements. Now we really don't recommend direct exposure of this material to the elements (especially in the snow), but the feedback we have received in such applications has been favorable indeed. This material has been used in the cities of Boston, New York, Oceanside California, and Kansas City and all the feedback was positive. The thicker the foam, the better the results, but for a basic handgun range, the ½" America mat should be sufficient. There are many other applications for America mat, but one of the most popular is for shooting ranges. It is a phenomenal product.
There is now a new product that is also used extensively in firing ranges and police training facilities. This new product is called Silent panel. I will talk more about Silent panels in my next article. Thanks for reading and learning about soundproofing a firing range. For more information about this and other soundproofing project go to my blog at: http://massloadedvinyl.blogspot.com
April 8, 2009
Soundproofing Your Wall
When soundproofing a wall, a lot depends on what sort of noise your were trying to block or absorb. For example, if you were trying to stop a neighbor’s loud television noise from coming through the wall into your unit then you would use a barrier material to block the TV noise. Now if you were concerned about your loud music bothering a next-door neighbor, then both a barrier and a damping material would be in order. There are many different methods for soundproofing a wall from neighbors or just from common out-door sound such as aircraft or traffic noise.
If you are working with newly constructed walls that are only framed out and not yet dry walled, you would want to install a layer of sound batt insulation between the stud cavities. This insulation would be a mineral wool, a rock wool or cotton batt insulation and not common fiberglass batts. Once you have filled the cavities with the sound batt insulation you have a choice of products that will be the soundproofing horsepower, so to speak, for the wall. One of the best barrier materials on the market today is a product called American mass loaded vinylÔ. American mass loaded vinylÔ is a loaded vinyl mat that is impregnated with barium salts and silica to give it mass and allow it to emulate lead sheeting. The Mass loaded vinyl; MLV for short would be stapled or nailed directly to the studs. You’ll caulk all of the seams as well as the entire perimeter with acoustical caulk. Acoustical caulk remains pliant throughout the life of the caulk and it also maintains the STC (sound transmission class) of the MLV at all of the seams as well as around the perimeter of the MLV. Once you have caulked the seams and the perimeter, you will then tape over the caulked seams with a seam sealer tape. This will insure a tight seal of the MLV membrane on the wall. After the MLV is completely sealed, you will then drywall over top of the vinyl membrane with a layer of 5/8” drywall. This system is very effective at soundproofing a common wall between condo or apartment units.
There is another method for soundproofing a common between two units where the drywall is already installed and the owner does not want to remove the existing drywall.
This method would require the use of a damping product called “Green GlueÔ” Green GlueÔ I a visco elastic damping compound that is applied between 2 layers of drywall or gypsum. You would apply the Green GlueÔ using a large quart size caulk gun. The minimum recommended amount is 2 of the 29 oz tubes per 4’ X 8’ sheet of drywall. You would lay out the drywall onto sawhorses and then apply the Green GlueÔ to the back side of the new drywall. Once the glue is applied, you would then screw the new drywall right over top of the existing wallboard whatever it may be. Two tubes per sheet of drywall is the minimum, but 3 tubes per sheet is much better. I suggest using 3 tubes of Green GlueÔ per sheet of drywall for all wall and ceiling applications. These soundproofing techniques will work for home and commercial studios as well as home theaters and music practice areas.
I truly hope this has helped you to understand the science behind soundproofing a wall in a apartment or condo setting.
Pharm Organic Deer Repellent Safe and Effective
Always Green Nursery’s Deer Pharm Organic Repellant solves one of the most lingering issues for serious gardeners in all areas of the country. How does one get rid of those annoying ruminants eating everything green that appears in the garden without destroying the plants which make up the food crop, rendering the food unfit for human consumption due to the smell or taste of the repellent, or spending all one’s gardening time applying the repellent?
Deer are a year-round problem in rural area gardens. In the spring, they love to visit the new shoots of the vegetable garden or the tips of ornamental shrubbery and strip away the leaves. The hoof prints in the planted but unsprouted areas of the garden can undo in one evening what has taken hours of planting to accomplish. During the summer, the produce from the vegetable garden is mature and they have been known to mow down a row of spinach, chard or lettuce during one evening’s feeding frenzy.
Fall brings new problems. As melons and vines ripen, so does the audacity of the nighttime visits. The animals are rarely content with picking and eating only one item. They have been known to move down a row of ripe melons taking a bite of one here, stepping on another there, and gnawing through a vine in yet another area. One or two animals in a garden can literally destroy a whole season’s produce in a single night.
And then there is the winter season. One would think that the dear would stay away because the garden is down to dead stalks, but no—they love dried corn stalks and may even move into lawn or shrubbery in order to forage for food. They can do serious damage to the trunks of fruit trees as they rub antlers against the wood.
Deer Pharm Organic Repellant is 100 percent safe for your children, animals and pets. Applied correctly, it’s undetectable to human olfactory organs after 10-12 hours, yet the deer hate it. During the early season, you can apply Deer Pharm frequently, and space out the applications as the season progresses. The product is 100% natural and contains 100% pure organic ingredients.
Planting Fall Perennials for Spring Color
Many gardeners think of fall as the time for limited blooming and the time when the excitement of new blooms each day with varied colors textures and shapes appearing from the flowing plants has lessened. At the same time, flower colors tend to move toward the yellow, orange, red end of the spectrum
In order to have fall blooming plants in your gardens, choose flowers which appeal to your sense of color and design, will work well in your planting zone, and require a longer period before blooming. One other factor is important to remember for these autumn season perennials. These plants put the energy into stems, leaves and root systems during the time when other colorful flowers are blooming. Without the cushion of earlier blooming flowers in front of and around the fall-bloomers, the latter can become overly tall and rangy. They may require pruning if they become too unsightly.
Pruning, deadheading, staking, dividing and pest control are all practices which must be practiced religiously in order to have best appearance of your perennial flower beds. Perennial flowers cannot be ‘set and forget’ any more than annuals. A favorite fall blooming flower for many is the aster frikartii. Its clusters of 2 ½ inch single blooms come in lavender darkening to violet blue with yellow centers.
Another way to get color and drama into your fall garden is to look at planting decorative grasses. Some varieties are elegantly quiet during spring and summer months, but blaze into glory when the colder nights of autumn arrive. Examples of grasses to look at are the favorite Pampas Grass. This grass can grow up to ten feet in the air, with late summer or fall blooms of white or pinkish plumes. Eulalia grass (Miscanthus sinensis) grows 5 to 6 feet tall. Its tan seed heads provide the sound of rustling in the air movement.
The best time for gardens is the fall season according to some garden enthusiasts, If you are too busy in the spring and gone or involved in other activities in the summer, it’s only during the autumn season that you can enjoy your garden to its fullest.
Always Green Nursery is a premium supplier of perennials, seeds, and growing supplies to retail and wholesale customers. They can be reached online at http://www.alwaysgreenursery.com/buy-perennials
April 2, 2009
Purifier FAQ: Answers To Basic Questions About Air Purifiers
* What is an air purifier?
Air inside your home can be considerably dirtier than the air outside your home. An air purifier can free the air from pollutants and allergens indoors. These particles can be as small as 0.3 microns. Air purifiers can serve a double purpose as most air purifiers are also effective at removing odors from a room. Some purifiers use a method of ionization to capture and remove allergen particles in the air. Ionization forces airborne particles to stick to exterior surfaces. Then, air purifier sucks them up later on.
Regardless of how clean you keep your home or workplace, your air most likely contains some or all of the following pollutants or allergens:
Particles: dust, dust mites, allergens, smoke particles, pet dander, pollen
Microbes: mold spores, viruses, bacteria, and germs
Gas and Chemical Fumes: tobacco smoke, formaldehyde, benzene, nail treatment products
Odors: cooking, litter boxes, body, cigarette smoke, and pets
* How does an air purifier work?
The air purifier acts as a filter that inhibits tiny particles such as soot, dust, pollen, molds, animal dander and other pollution. An air purifier helps the air become clean and free from microorganisms.
An air purifer can be very effective at trapping allergens. The air enters the purifier and passes trough a chamber. When the air get inside the chamber the harmful residues are removed. The harmful residues are trapped inside the chamber, and the air that comes out of the purifier is safe and clean.
* Why do I need an air purifier?
An air purifier is important if you want to have clean air in your home. An air purifier can help reduce the amount of pollutants in the air that can be harmful to your health.
It also helps remove allergens like mold, bacteria, animal dander, dust, mites, excessive fumes, and a lot more. The pores in the filter membrane prevent contamination by some types of harmful particulates.
* Do air purifiers really help asthma patients?
One of the purposes of an air purifier is to have cleaner air. So far, there are studies that show that air purifiers do not have the capacity to prevent allergies and thus prevent asthma attacks. Even experts have mixed opinions about these conclusions.
It is widely accepted that air purifiers help in cleaning the air, but unfortunately there is little evidence of their effectiveness in the case of asthma sufferers.
* Are there different kinds of air filters?
Yes, there are five basic types of air filters:
1. Mechanical filters
These filters force air through a special mesh that traps pollutants and allergens.
2. Electronic filters
These air filters use electrical charges to attract and deposit pollutants and allergens. The most efficient filter of this type is the electrostatic filter. If the air purifier contains collecting plates, the particles are captured within the purifier. Otherwise, they stick to surfaces in the room and need to be cleaned.
3. Hybrid filters
These air filters contain the elements of both the mechanical and electrostatic filters.
4. Gas phase filters
These remove odors and gases such as cooking gas, gasses given off by paint or building materials, and perfumes. They cannot, however, remove particles.
5. Ozone generators
Although ozone cleans air, the EPA and the American Lung Association do not recommend these because ozone is harmful to the lungs, especially to asthma patients. This can be counter-productive to the purpose of using an air purifier.
A Fire Safety Escape Plan Tells Everyone What To Do If Your Home Catches On Fire.
In 2004, the 410 thousand residential fires in America caused more than 14 thousand injuries and 3 thousand deaths, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). You can prevent fire-related deaths and injuries, and even most residential fires by being knowledgeable about fire safety. Ensure your and your family's safety by creating an escape plan, teaching children fire safety and fire-proofing your home.
Fire Safety Escape Plan
A fire safety escape plan tells everyone what to do if your home catches on fire. Your family needs to discuss fire safety issues, and design an escape plan for your home. The escape plan needs to inform everyone in your family of the two safest routes out of each room in your house and where to meet once outside.
When discussing fire safety issues with your family, it is also a good idea to talk about each person's responsibilities in the case of a fire, such as who helps whom out of the house. Be sure to explain to each family member to crawl to a safe exit; don't stop to save anything, and, if possible, to alert others by yelling "FIRE!" or beating on doors as they crawl by.
Fire Safety and Kids
Fire safety and education begins with children. Tragically, children cause over thousands of residential fires each year, the majority stemming from children playing with matches. You need to teach your children to obey the following fire safety rules: Never play with matches or lighters, always have an adult help you when cooking, never touch gasoline or any other flammable liquids.
Always STOP, DROP, AND ROLL! If you or your clothes catch on fire. Never place anything into an electrical outlet and always get help from an adult if something catches on fire.
Your children are the most important people in your life, so educate them about fire safety and prevention.
Fire Safety and Your Home
Electrical fires are the most common type of residential fires in America. The following fire safety tips lower the probability of residential electrical fires: Don't overload outlets or piggy-back extension cords, Keep all combustible items, such as hairspray and household cleaners, away from all heaters, Check all electrical tools and appliances for frayed or cracked cords, Purchase electrical appliances that meet the Underwriter's Laboratory's (UL) safety requirements and Keep children away from electrical appliances, such as heaters and irons.
Electric stoves, ovens, stereos, heaters, and clothes dryers are responsible for the majority residential electrical fires. Follow all manufacturers' instructions, and use all appliances carefully and responsibly. Sometimes, no matter the precautionary fire safety steps you take, an electrical fire can still occur. If this happens, knowing the proper fire safety procedure is invaluable in keeping your home safe. Shut off burning appliances by unplugging the cord, Put out small fires with your home fire extinguisher, Do not put water on electrical fires, Get everyone out of the house and Do not try to handle large fires by yourself; call 911, report the fire, and tell them it is an electrical fire.
Educating yourself and your family on fire safety helps to lower your chances of a residential fire and gives you the knowledge of what to do in the case of a fire.
Your Soundproofing Solution
Soundproofing a wall or a ceiling is one of the most challenging construction applications in the world today. To help you with these applications, Acoustical Solutions introduces Green Glue. Green Glue is a liquid sound damping compound used between layers of drywall or other building materials.
Moving to a new home, installing a home theater, having a new baby, getting new neighbors, or just growing weary of the everyday noise are all reasons that cause people to want to consider soundproofing. Another common soundproofing complaint is footstep noise from rooms above. “I can hear my neighbors walking and sliding their chairs.” In a world where hard surfaced floors are increasingly popular, this problem is becoming increasingly important, and quality strategies and solutions are needed.
Acoustical Solutions, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia, who has been offering sound barriers, sound absorption and sound isolation products for twenty years, is now proud to introduce Green Glue. Green Glue is a liquid, waterborne, sound damping compound, which represents the highest performance product of its type. It is used in between sheets of drywall, subflooring or other building materials. It is significantly lower in applied cost than competitive products, with an excellent cost/performance ratio. It is also remarkably tolerant to real-world application conditions and carries almost none of the burden of precision required by many soundproofing systems.
The best application for green glue is between sheets of drywall, OSB or Plywood over the main part of a wall, floor or other structure. Green Glue will not be effective as a paint or coating. Green Glue is non-toxic with no mixing required. For walls, floors and ceilings, this product drastically reduces impact and airborne noise. It can also be used in commercial environments, new construction or remodeling of an existing space as well as home theaters, and recording studios.
Sound damping is a very straightforward concept. Simply put, sound damping is the rate at which something dissipates energy. In a constrained layer damping system, sometimes referred to as CLD, a damping material is sandwiched between two other (usually stiff/rigid) materials. For example, Green Glue sandwiched between two layers of drywall. Sound damping occurs when the viscoelastic center of the "sandwich" is sheared. The shearing pulls and stretches on the sound damping material. Under these conditions, the unique polymeric construction of Green Glue very efficiently converts this mechanical energy to heat. The vibration energy is not isolated; it's dissipated and removed.
Green Glue comes in 29 oz. tubes. You can use any quart size caulk gun, available at most hardware and building material stores. It is very fast and easy to apply. No special skills whatsoever are required. Recommended application is two tubes of Green Glue per 4' x 8' area or two tubes per standard sheet of drywall. If you are not on a budget, utilizing three tubes per sheet will improve performance. Each case of Green Glue covers about 192 square feet, or 128 square feet if used at the three tubes coverage rate. Do not use more than three tubes per 4' x 8' sheet, as performance will actually decline above three tubes per sheet.
For more information or to place an order for this new soundproofing material, please call Acoustical Solutions, Inc. at 1-800-782-5742 or visit us at http://www.acousticalsolutions.com
Choosing The Perfect Window Evaporative Coolers
Window evaporative coolers are cost-effective coolers that should be placed near the doors and windows. This will ensure proper flow of fresh air through the window. The stale air that will be released by the air cooler can also move out of the window easily. This will ensure proper flow of fresh and clean air in the surrounding all the time.
With its sophisticated look and classic working system, window evaporative coolers is a class apart from the typical other air coolers. Installed in a window or through-the-wall mounted with powerful double blowers, the evaporative coolers can cool the rooms up to 350-500 square feet. Ranging from small mobile units that can cool one room at a time to large units that can cool an entire home, window evaporative coolers are simply awesome.
Outstanding Features Of Window Evaporative Coolers
Whether it’s the alpha-sat technology that ensures highest cooling by simply increasing the saturation level, or wide angle blowers that aid in expansion of air throw or aerodynamic front grill fins, each of the features are designed for minimizing enhanced noise level. All of these outstanding features also ensure a high comfort level to all. Following are the other outstanding features of window evaporative coolers:
Cooling pads – these air coolers use natural aspen pads that provide cooling effects to a huge space.
Slide-in-pad frames – helps in easy access
Motor – helps in easy functioning of the coolers
Open grille design – aids in greater air flow
Bleed-off kit – ensures consistent performance by minimizing scale build-up
Louvers – individually adjusted horizontal and vertical structures for precise air control
The trim profile of the evaporative coolers embraces the entire home, making them the perfect choice wherever space is limited – for your home and garage.
Advantages Of Window Evaporative Coolers
The window evaporative coolers are the low-cost alternatives to the otherwise expensive refrigerated air conditioning system. They are basically based on the natural process of evaporation for its working system. There are optional evaporative coolers that come in package with optional filters that help in driving out dust, pollen and other dirt from the entire home. These air coolers work efficiently by sucking the air from the exterior of your home through the window and pull the air across pads saturated in water. As the cooled air enters the home, sinking and pushing the rising hot air out of the home and spreading cool air throughout the space.
Other Unique Details Of Window Evaporative Coolers
The contemporary design and superlative performance of the evaporative coolers can make it the world’s largest selling models. The capacity of an evaporative air cooler is measured in CFM [cubic feet per minute]. The key to efficient evaporative cooling system lies with the design of the cooler pads and relative humidity of the ambient air. You can use synthetic fiber materials in these cooler pads because they cost much less and last much longer. The pads are also effective because they are biodegradable and help in cooling of the room much better than natural pads. The evaporative air coolers are truly energy-efficient and are easily serviceable by any of the homeowners who have minimum knowledge of screwdrivers and mechanics. To make your evaporative air cooler work properly you should take the help of the professional service technicians.
Hurricane Shutters Have A Very Intersting History
It’s a win/win situation that plantation shutters are useful and beautiful.
These shutters offer both to today’s homeowner. The Ancient Greeks are responsible for the credit of these hot window treatments. They used them for both their security and also for privacy. The shutters that are now used for Hurricane use were used in the interior to close windows.
These shutters are a staple of Classic Greek Architecture. This structure in building design later inspired architecture throughout our Western world.
The basic historical uses of these shutters were much the same as windows are to you and I today. They keep out intruders, uncomfortable weather, and sunlight.
Elements of Greek architecture have influenced the style of many buildings and homes from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century in the U.S. It was hugely common in banks, offices, and many public government buildings.
The plantation mansions from the South back in the day, were inspired heavily on the architecture of the Greeks. Mansions of the immense plantations from South Carolina all the way to the western edges of today’s Mississippi were also inspired from the architectural fundamentals of the Greeks.
A lot of these have been restored in certain areas of Mississippi.
Plantation owners followed the Greeks and used shutters for both their attractiveness and their functional aspect. These homeowners needed a level of protection to their homes.
In the time leading up to the Civil War, the widespread areas of the south were lightly populated, as well, the plantations were isolated – therefore leaving the plantation owner vulnerable to attacks from bands of robbers and/or revolting slaves.
You’re likely not in the market for Plantation shutters for any of the reason stated above, however they have caught on as a viable and beautiful addition to many homes.
There are some things to consider about choosing hurricane shutters, what they’re also known as. Here’s how to choose your plantation shutters:
· These shutters are heavier than your normal shutter, and some extra home repair may be needed. For instance, additional framing may be required if the window casings that are presently on the frame will not support the hinges of the heavier shutters.
· Be mindful of the louvers width. An extra wide louver will let more light and air in than you may be hoping for.
· You’ll have to decide whether you want vinyl or wood shutters. Vinyl shutters are much more efficient being that they are easier to clean and don’t warp. However, if you’re going for vanity, the wooden shutters will give your home a much warmer feeling overall.
· Your choice between fixed or movable louvers should be an easy one actually. If you like the freedom to open and shut easily your shutters, and let the light and ventilation come through, then the adjustable is the way to go for you.
· It’s always best to ask around before making any purchase, and your shutters are no different. Search around and read reviews online, and magazine articles to help you make the best decision.
· Always find a reputable company with a trustworthy warranty against defects in both materials and workmanship.
Though you’ll be using the Plantation Shutters primarily for home improvement, it’s always nice to know the history of interesting pieces of your home.
