Copper-glass planters can transform a lackluster exterior into an exquisite wonderland. Turning a patio, terrace or even a deck into a tranquil paradise is made simple. It’s a matter of pooling the appropriate components. Use these tips to modify a drab exterior space to fab.
Colors
Starting with color coordination, choose three basic shades to plan the design of your outdoor decor. For an Asian theme, spruce up patio furniture with bamboo printed cushions. Innovate a whimsical environment by mixing and matching cushions in vibrant, solid tones of red, pale yellow, orange and green. To achieve a more refined scheme, select calming hues of greens and tans. Also, bright flowers such as pansies make a stunning impression when planted in a floral winter box.
Plants, Flora and Foliage
Prior to shopping around for new planters, determine which plants are conducive your space. Remember to consider sunlight when making your plant selection. Tall cascading foliage, such as palm, fichus and hibiscus trees make for natural, intimate space dividers.
Other plant, flora and foliage ideas include the sago palm or even a hearty corn plant (Dracaena), which comes in a wide range of colors and has the ability to grow sizably.
Handcrafted Copper Glass Planters
To add an edge to the exterior space, use planters ranging in different geometric shapes and dimensions. The copper glass planter is the perfect environs for plants. An elegant facade of metal married to the lightweight durability of fiberglass, the copper glass planter is versatile enough for year round use – both indoors and outdoors. During harsh climates, the blend of fiberglass prevents the copper frost resistant. Although, the planter is comprised of real copper, its pliable materials can be drilled to accommodate drainage.
Overtime, copper-glass planters oxidize or age very similar to copper. The end result reveals an authentic appearance of copper shrouded with stunning patinas. At CapeCodWeathervane.com, copper-glass planters are one-of-a kind. All planters are handcrafted, unique in color gradation and hand finished with a layer of real copper to create an exquisite look of solid metal without the excessive weight.
Antique Copper Planter
For an elegant alternative and to create a vintage motif, shop for antique copper planters with authentically aged patina. For unique, handcrafted ideas on decorating with copper, glass planters visit the capecodweathervanecompany.com/ CapeCodWeathervaneCompany.com
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I want to talk about my favorite of all wallpaper borders. Basically, it is my favorite because it has a simple design and easy to coordinate look that goes with almost any decor. Basically, all you have is a house on a field that stands alone. There are different kinds of this border which differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Still, they all have the same basic theme.
If you are planning on using red house wallpaper borders for your walls, I suggest you have a room that is very American. Use a lot of reds, whites, and blues. It might seem a little strange but for the most part, you will be getting a red house that stands on grass. You will want some kind of matching to occur between your room and that border. I recommend you try and blend that border with the rest of the room by placing a few paintings of landscapes on the walls as well.
To purchase this wall paper, you can trust many different internet companies. One of the best I have found doesn’t even have its own site. A small family owned company operating off of E-bay sells the red house border for only $8.00. I think you can really trust that they will send you everything you need relatively quickly.
So, if you are looking for something to compliment your western style room, look no further than the simple, eye pleasing, red house wallpaper border. I told you what kind of room you could use it in, what decor you should have, where to buy it, and for how much. Now it’s all up to you to make the decision.
George Christodoulou
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Jean wanted to vacuum the living room last Saturday. One reason was because Rick, her handyman husband, had just bought her a brand spanking new Hoover vacuum cleaner. Jean was extremely happy about that because her mother had taught her how to clean the house and vacuum the carpet with her Hoover vacuum cleaner way back in the sixties.
Jean’s mother had also learned from her mom, Jean’s grandmother, way-way back in the forties. So you might say that the Barkerstone family was a Hoover vacuum clan.
However, that particular Saturday Jean was not making much progress with the rugs and carpet. She started vacuuming the way she had learned from her mom, but nothing was happening. She would go over and over little pieces of trash, but her new Hoover vacuum just would not pick up anything.
Imagine her surprise when she discovered that Rick, needing something to put some new sweet potatoes in for Jean’s brother, had borrowed her vacuum bag. Of course, he was going to put it back later, but had somehow forgot.
The moral of this story is this. Don’t plan to vacuum your house on Saturday with your new Hoover vacuum when your husband is working in the garden with your brother. Huh?
Bali blinds come in a wide array of colors in both vinyl and aluminum window blinds. You can choose vertical or mini blinds depending on the look you want to achieve in each room of your home. For a special coordinated look, contrast Bali vertical blinds with horizontal Bali blinds in the same room. The type of blind you choose will, of course, depend on the size and shape of your window, but you can get Bali blinds custom made to suit irregularly shaped windows as well.
If you choose vinyl vertical blinds in the Bali style, the slats are 1 inch wide. For horizontal aluminum Bali blinds the slats are larger – 2 inches wide. One inch vinyl Bali vertical blinds or mini blinds are perfect for the bathroom or kitchen window or another room of the home where they may be high levels of humidity on times. These Bali window blinds come with a light-blocking head rail, but it doesn’t have a valance. It is designed so that you can install it between the window facings. If you wish you can have a cloth valance over the top of the Bali blind.
For a more contemporary look, try the sleek ½ inch micro aluminum Bali blinds. Both these and the 1 inch aluminum Bali window blinds come in an amazing array of colors. The aluminum blinds by Bali contain an advanced finishing technology so that they will resist dust and dirt and are easy to clean. They are also hard to dent or scratch, so that if you want to peep out the window without raising the blind, you can pull the slats apart a tiny bit.
To care for and clean your Bali blinds, regular vacuuming will do the trick. If you notice a stain on one or more of the slats, you can easily wash them off with lukewarm water and a mild cleaner. If you have Bali vertical blinds, you can take out the vanes individually and let them soak in water or lay them flat to wash them off. You may be surprised to learn that if you leave a thin film of detergent on the vanes, it will help eliminate static electricity. Therefore, there is no need to rinse your Bali window blinds completely.
Bali blinds are very durable and will provide you with the window coverings you want for many years. Along with giving you the privacy you need, you can choose to completely block out the light or allow some light to filter through the window blinds. Browse the catalog of Bali blinds to see all the different kinds available and to read about the features of each one.
Windows are the eyes of a home. From inside, you see the outside world through them. It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. For a home, you can gain a sense of its character by examining its windows.
Windows are the primary source of natural light for a room, but they are so much more. They give a home beauty and personality. The decision to replace them is an important one. Replacements can affect the feel of the home for inhabitants and provide the opportunity for significant energy savings. They can dramatically change the value of the property when it comes time to sell the home.
Types of replacement windows
There are many types of replacement windows to fit the varied styles of home architecture. Some of the more popular styles include the following.
Casements have one or two panes. They are hinged on one side and open by rotating a crank. Casement windows generally open only 15 – 30 degrees, enough to let in light, but little else.
Sliders are generally two offset sashes, one which will slide behind the other, much like a sliding glass door.
Double hung have two sashes which move vertically, allowing ventilation through a space at the top and/or at the bottom.
Bay windows are three-sided arrangements that project from the exterior wall of the house, usually in living rooms or formal sitting rooms. They give the room a larger feel while offering additional space for a seat or arrangements of potted plants.
Bow windows are set in a series with each sash set at an angle. Bows are similar to bays in that they protrude from the exterior face of the house. They are different in that each sash or in the series is set at a slight angle so that the entire series forms a graceful curve or bow, rather than the sharp three-sided appearance of bay windows. There can be any number of sashes in the bow window series.
Garden windows are frequently installed in kitchens, often replacing the sash behind the kitchen sink. These also extend beyond the exterior wall of the house. They are much smaller than bay or bow styles and are often used for holding potted plants, creating an interior garden, while giving an improved view of the outside lawn or garden.
Skylights are installed into the roof of the house to provide direct lighting. These are generally not designed to be opened in order to provide the best weather seal.
Robert Carlton contributes many articles to replacement-windows-tips.com replacement-windows-tips.com. Within his publication he is working on topics such as replacement-windows-tips.com/hurricane-windows.html hurricane windows and replacement-windows-tips.com/hurricane-window-protection.html protection.
A lot of attention has been focused on gel candle safety in recent years. Irresponsible (usually foreign) candlemakers have flooded the shelves of dollar stores and discount retailers with poor quality and at times unsafe container gel candles. As a result, gel candles have gotten a “bum rap” as being hazardous works of the devil, rather than being viewed as an alternative decorating option for candle lovers. Following the guidelines here will help you in choosing safe gel candles for your home or gift giving needs.
Most gel candles are container based, meaning decorative materials (called embeds) and a wick are placed inside a container (generally glass) and the container is then filled with molten gel. The gel is mostly mineral oil, blended with a stabilizing polymer, which helps the candle retain fragrance load. The thicker (more dense) a gel is, the more fragrance load it can carry. Remember, too that the thicker the gel, the higher the melt point, which means a generally hotter and longer burning candle.
And there’s the rub! Careless manufacturers assume that gel candles can be made in the same manner as traditional paraffin candles. Not so! Because the candle “wax” is hotter, there are more safety precautions that need to be taken into account.
First, gel candles should not contain flammable materials as embeds. The wick can float in a gel candle and set any of those embeds on fire. The added heat can cause a container to crack or even worse, explode, sending flaming gel around the room. Embeds should be made of glass or other non-flammable materials and should be secured away from the path of the wick. The wick should be secured with a wick clip (also called a sustainer base). The wick clip should have at least a 3mm neck. This helps control the burn path of the wick by holding the wick upright as it burns. Many gel candles have no sustainer base of any kind, which results in wick “float” as it burns.
Second, it is important to inspect all your container candles before lighting – this includes paraffin candles. Often a chip or crack goes unnoticed until the glass breaks under heat stress – a very dangerous situation. Many times a gel candle is otherwise not a threat to life and limb, until the integrity of the glass is compromised. Make sure that glassware used to house your candle is designed to withstand the heat of the candle inside it. Ask your candle maker. Candle glassware comes in many shapes and sizes and not all are suited to gel.
Finally, it is important to supervise a burning candle. safetycenter.navy.mil/media/ashore/issues/fall03/agony.htm The Navy Safety Center tells a story of how lighting a gel candle led to a horrible explosion and severe burns on the hand of one Michelle Shebloski Weyer. While the glassware may or may not have been unsuitable for gel candle use, the author glosses the fact that the candle was left unattended and when she heard it fall to the floor, she noticed it was broken and picked it up anyway – while it was still burning. The end result was days in a burn unit and plastic surgery to repair her severely damaged hand. Careless consumers can cause just as much damage as careless manufacturers. Never leave a burning candle unattended – and never touch a burning candle!
Another type of container candle is called a “double glassed” gel candle. In this instance, a smaller container with the actual gel candle is placed inside an outer container where the design using gel and embeds has been made. This is a safer design concept that allows you to burn the candle without losing the original look of the scene designed within the candle. It segregates the burning wick from the potentially flammable embeds The candle also becomes refillable – which is a great way to try different scents.
In the last five years a new type of clear candle has emerged – freestanding gel-type candles. Again using a base of mineral oil, candle uses a patented resin as the stabilizer, creating a candle that outshines both traditional paraffin and gel candles. It requires no container like gel candles, burns longer than paraffin and holds more fragrance than either. The flame burns down through the inside of the candle as light radiates through the candle’s side wall. Without the potential of an exploding glass container, there are fewer safety concerns with this type of candle. Resin-based candles can be made in traditional paraffin pillar shapes, lending them more decorative appeal than gel candles and more durability than paraffin.
Whatever your candle choice, know what your burning. Read and follow the directions that come with each candle. Understand how candles create heat and light. Take the time to learn about candles and be an informed consumer. That can literally make the difference between life and death.
Lisa Robbin is the Director of Product Development for thegivingcandle.com” title=”Candles and candle accessories form the giving candle the giving candle, the maker of Heavenly Gems resin-based clear candles. Lisa writes articles on all things candle related in an effort to educate consumers about making the most out of their candle purchases. You can email her directly at mailto:lisa@thegivingcandle.com lisa@thegivingcandle.com
Color affects every facet of our lives. The way we react to colors is a combination of physiological, biological, psychological, social and cultural reasons. Color has the ability to soothe and also to stimulate us.
Approximately seven million different colors can be perceived by the human eye, so deciding what you want when decorating, and narrowing your choice down to one color family, still leaves you with millions of variations to choose from. So it’s important to understand the effects of the temperature of color, color components, color terminology, how light affects color and the tricks color can play on color.
A color is described as cool or warm depending on its position in the color spectrum and the hues of its nearest neighboring color.
Warm colors project the hot hues of sunlight and promote a feeling of warmth in a room. They advance space and are used to make walls appear closer. Cool colors reflect the fresh violets and blues of moonlight. They enhance the space in a room by making the walls appear further away.
Red, orange and yellow are warm colors, while violet and blue are cool colors. Green is said to be the most neutral color.
Colors are further categorized into primary, secondary and tertiary colors.
Primary colors are blue, red and yellow. These are pure colors that have no component other than themselves. Secondary colors are orange, green and purple. These are composed of the primary colors on either side of it on the color wheel. i.e. Orange = red yellow, Green = blue yellow, Purple = blue red.
Tertiary colors are orange-red, orange-yellow, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple, and red-purple. Tertiary colors assume more of one color than the other.
Knowing the definition of words used to describe color will help you to indicate your color preference more easily, so some important terminology or jargon to keep in mind when describing color is hue, value and chroma.
Hue refers to, and is another name for, color. For example a blue-patterned carpet has a blue hue.
Value describes the darkness or lightness of a color. A color light in value has been diluted with white. For example, pink is a tint of red that has a light value, because of the white added to it. A dark value color is closer to black on the scale, because it’s had black added to it. For example burgundy is a shade of red with dark value.
Chroma refers to the intensity of a color, how bright or dull it is. Scarlet and brick red are similar in value, but their intensity differs. Brick red is duller as it has a lower chroma than scarlet. Scarlet has a higher chroma so is more brilliant. Colors with low chroma have more of other colors added to them; those with high chroma are more pure.
Color complements are those colors that work well together. They are diagonally opposite each other on the color wheel. Each complement is made up of the two primary colors either side of it which balances the complement. Each warm color has a cool color as its complement.
Light affects color because in seeing color it’s actually light waves that our eyes perceive. Something has color because of the light it reflects. We all see color slightly differently depending on the perception of the light and color-sensitive receptors in our eyes. So the ability to see color is a sensation, just like smelling or tasting.
Color can play tricks on color. Just as warm colors can make a room appear smaller and cosier, cool colors have the effect of making a space seem larger, more airy.
One corner of a room painted red for example, may appear a different shade from the rest of the room. This is because colors reflect color and light, which slightly changes its appearance and the way our eyes perceive the color. Contrasting color painted on walls that meet in a corner can sometimes be changed so much that they are no longer in harmony with each other. It’s advisable to paint a test patch 12” wide on each side of the corner to view what affect your chosen colors have on each other, before painting the entire room.
Most colors are associated with certain emotions, and this differs somewhat from culture to culture. However I’ve listed some of the most popular color associations.
Take some time to consider the effects of color on the individuals who will be frequenting the environment you create when decorating. When choosing color take into account whether you are trying to soothe or stimulate, and be aware of the effects of color on the well-being of the inhabitants you are decorating for.
Nell Frances is author of the Step-by-Step Guide to Baby Room Projects Ebook and brings over 20 years decorating experience to her articles. She’s helped families decorate using miniscule budgets and zany ideas, to create baby rooms and child spaces that echo with squeals of delight! For all your Baby Room Decorating information and advice visit baby-room-projects.com baby-room-projects.com
Installing laminate flooring is a job that any keen DIY enthusiast can complete to a satisfactory standard, as long as a few simple guide lines are followed. Installing it yourself can be a very satisfying and rewarding experience, when standing back and viewing the completed floor. Laying the main laminate flooring planks is the obvious part of the job which everyone can immediately see, but it is all the smaller detailed items that turn a good floor into a great floor.
Find a room that has been installed with laminate flooring and cast your eye around the floor. For a professional looking job you need to see attention to detail :
Are the trims around the edges neatly installed, and are the joints nice and tight ?Is there a correct transition bar in the doorway ?Is the laminate flooring neatly cut around any pipes to radiators, leaving the correct expansion gap, and then covered with a pipe collar ?
Installing laminate flooring correctly is of the utmost importance if you wish to have a long lasting floor, and a warranty that is valid. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the laminate flooring that you have brought as failure to do so could invalidate any warranty.
One of the most important things when laying laminate flooring is to have the correct tools for the job. Trying to complete a job that will be seen by countless people without the correct tools will just lead to disaster.
The tools required for installing laminate flooring are :
HammerCraft knife or “Stanley” knifeTape measureT-SquarePencilHandsaw or fine toothed jigsaw / power sawDrill and selection of drill bits for cutting around heating pipes, etc.Manufacturer’s installation kit, including: hammer block, spacers, and pull barMitre block for cutting trims etc.Sealant gun for applying adhesive’s or sealant to trims, etc.Screwdrivers, masonry drill bits, for fixing down transition bars.
Much like most area’s of work, preparation is the key, and laying laminate flooring is no exception. All laminate flooring needs to acclimatize in the area where it is going to be installed for at least 48 hours, otherwise it will expand or contract after installation and the floor will end up looking a mess. Place the unopened packs of laminate flooring into the middle of the room and leave for a minimum of 2 days.
The base floor must be clean and flat before installing the laminate on it. Remove any previous floor coverings and make good any dips or bumps in a way that is applicable to the type of base floor that you have. If you intend to install laminate flooring over a concrete floor then it is extremely important that the concrete is sufficiently dry, as any moisture that dries out once the laminate flooring is laid, will cause the flooring to twist and buckle.
By taking your time and being methodical in your preparations, you should be able to install a laminate floor that has that professional look.
Take a step back and admire your workmanship.
Richard Keech is an expert author with 20 years experience in the construction industry, who writes for the Laminate Flooring Guide.
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If you are building a house, you probably need an HVAC contractor or an expert in heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems and products. A certified and experienced HVAC contractor will help you decide what kind of HVAC equipment you need and determine the practical and resource-efficient systems.
When choosing the right HVAC contractor, consider the company profile. First, you need your contractor to be very efficient at what they do. Otherwise, you will have problems that are difficult and expensive to fix later on. Second, you must choose with insurance coverage. They must be able to pay you in case they break something while installing your HVAC. Remember that your HVAC equipment and the system that support them are among the most important features of your home or office. And they are also the most difficult to change. So be very careful with your choices. When in doubt, always consult a construction expert. You may also canvass for contractors online. Most sites offer complete information about their HVAC contractors and staff.
Old houses that need renovation need to be seen and inspected first by a licensed and certified HVAC contractor. This may be the perfect time to take down the old system and introduce a more modern but cost-effective alternative.
And if houses need HVAC contractors, then commercial and residential buildings and facilities also need these kinds of professional experts. While the electrical engineer, the civil engineer, the architect, and designer may already have talked about the blueprint, they will need to consult with an HVAC expert. Because of his knowledge and skill, the HVAC contractor has a lot more to contribute to the design and implementation of the plan. On your end, you can be assured that nothing will go wrong with your HVAC system. It is also important for you to befriend the organizers, as they will most likely be the ones responsible for the maintenance of your equipment and system.
HVAC-Web.com HVAC provides detailed information on HVAC, HVAC Training, HVAC Jobs, HVAC Contractors and more. HVAC is affiliated with i-Insulation.com Home Insulations.
Within your living room the sofa is the piece of furniture which is used the most. Allowing you to relax with a nice cup of cocoa watching television, or allowing you to engross yourself in a good book, the sofa is something which is essential in every single home. However it can easily become damaged and so it is a good idea to protect it with a slipcover.
Choosing a Slipcover to Suit Your Needs
When it comes to choosing a slip cover for your sofa you really do need to give it a lot of thought. Keep in mind that it is something that you will always see and your guests will notice it when they come to stay. So because you are spending a lot of time sitting on the sofa and seeing the cover all of the time, it is much better to purchase something that goes with the room.
Generally you need to look at:
• The material
• Who lives in your home
• The color
• The pattern
Once you have looked at all of the above pointers, it is only then that you can really find something to suit your needs. The material will matter and you will find that there is a large range to choose from. Whilst it might sound like a good idea at first to have an expensive material, you really have to consider whether it would be practical in your home.
For example, do you have any pets or children? If you do then the chances of an expensive slipcover not getting ruined are extremely slim. Also if you eat on the sofa that needs to be taken into account too as you could easily spill something onto it and potentially ruin the cover. If it is an expensive material it could end up being dry clean only and that would be a hassle if you did have pets and if there were constant spillages.
After you have thought about who lives in the home and what you do on the sofa, the color then needs to be chosen. Now it should ideally match the color scheme of the room and it should be a sensible color. For example, if you do have pets and the sofa is likely to get dirty quite frequently then white may not be the best option. Instead try a warm red or a chocolate brown color which will hide a lot more imperfections.
Finally the pattern of the slipcover should be taken into account. You can purchase plain slipcovers and that may be your best option as it has less chance of clashing with anything else in the room. If you do insist on a pattern however then do not forget to do your research and know what goes with the color scheme of your living room.
Overall by thinking about it properly there is no reason why you cannot easily find a slipcover to suit your needs.
Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like sofas for home-decorating-reviews.com home-decorating-reviews.com . A website with tips on home-decorating-reviews.com/SlipcoverFurniture.html slipcover furniture.
