As a follow-up to the first article entitled, “A Touch of Red Interior Decorating”, I want to provide an update on the interior decorating idea in our great room and also give suggestions for using “a touch of red” in various decorating styles.

The window coverings are finally installed on the series of three windows in the dining area. They consist of four vertical drapery panels made out of wool tapestry-looking fabric. The background is medium tan with subtle red, green and blue flowers. The panels are outlined in a navy/small beige polka-dot fabric. A 6-inch cornice board covered with the same navy fabric completes the look. This window treatment may sound quite “busy” but is very pleasing to the eye.

To complete the “touch of red” look in the dining area and because the wool fabric is somewhat bulky, red tassel tie backs were added to the panels. In addition to the tassel tie backs, red is incorporated in the large picture on the dining room wall, in the table centerpiece and in a red chair cover. Another decorating project completed!

Why use the color, red? Red is the warmest of all colors and symbolizes vitality, energy, action and confidence. It makes a bold statement and is, incidentally, the color most chosen by extroverts.

In feng shui decorating, red is associated with power, love, inspiration and pleasure. Accent colors, such as red, which are more dramatic, are used in moderation, such as a single piece of art work or furniture. The reason is: the more intense the color, the less of it is needed for it to be effective. Thus, use lighter colors for larger areas with accents in more vibrant, dramatic colors.

How can you use red décor and red accents in your interior decorating ideas? Here are a few suggestions:

*Rustic Decorating Style – Red, green and black plaid work very well as accents.

*Modern Decorating Style – A splash of bright red works well with basic and cool colors.

*Oriental Decorating Style – Think of using those luscious silk prints.

*Shabby Chic Decorating Style – Use red as an accent to contrast with the white shabby chic.

*Art Deco Decorating Style – Red is a vibrant and energetic color for this style.

*French Country Decorating Style – Use red to build on the rooster collections of this style.

*Cottage Decorating Style – Red is a great accent in cotton fabrics for cottage decorating.

*Mediterranean Decorating Style – Make use of red accessorized with blue and gold.

Be creative and have fun decorating with “a touch of red!” Your home will be the envy of the neighborhood.

You will find a variety of best price home décor including red-accented décor at lynnshomedecor.com. lynnshomedecor.com. Additional home interior decorating ideas can be found at decorating-info.com. decorating-info.com.

If your sliding glass doors at home are already old and rusty, you will notice that the slides are very hard to open. This dilemma is very common especially on dual pane doors made from aluminum. The main reason is that, the doors are heavy and many instances, the rollers gets weak and rusty due to moisture.

So, to replace the rollers, you need to take out the sliding glass panel from the opening. In some cases, the fixed panel should be taken out first for the sliding glass panel to show up.

Here are the procedures on how to remove the fixed panel:

1. First, you need to take out the screen door. The screen door usually has two rollers underneath.

2. Second, lift or raise the sliding glass door frame with your hand and at the same time with a flat screwdriver to raise the roller off. Do the same on the other side, then remove the screen panel and put it aside.

3. Third, get the metal piece that is located on the base, runs from the bottom corner, across the bottom of the side jamb, and has the door lock. Once you have it removed, you can meddle it up from the track. You can now look inside where the fixed panel is beside the wall jam. In case that metal piece is missing, you can just look for the exact size on the hardware store near you.

4. Fourth, look for the screws clutching the frame to the wall. In most cases, they have one holding the bottom and top corners and one in the center. Take these screws of and put aside.

5. Fifth, now slowly pull the fixed panel out of the wall. In case, it gets stuck, try to pull it out again. Do this several times. Once the fixed panel is out already, grab the side rail and let another person get the other rail.

6. Finally, raise the fixed panel from the top track and put it beside the screen door.

7. After that, you can now lift the slider and screw the bottom to release the old rollers. You will need the help of another person in lifting the sliding glass doors. To do this, you should first the panel on the other side, turn over the panel, and then take out the screw on the bottom.

8. Once you get access to the old rollers, have a closer look at how they were inserted to the frame. It would be better if you just take out one roller that will serve as your match in buying new rollers.

9. You can simply get rollers on the hardware stores. You can simply bring the rollers to the shop, and order. Just make sure that you get the same size as with your old rollers. In case you were not able to get the new set of rollers, don’t panic. You can always leave the corners of your sliding glass doors screwed out. You can also leave the old roller that you removed. Be sure that all the screws are placed in a safe area.

10. When your new rollers for your sliding glass doors arrived, take everything out and set up the new ones. Adjust the rollers, before setting back the door. In that way, the new rollers will not obstruct while lifting the door back it in its place. Just modify the rollers, until you see an equal gap at the base and top of the sliding glass doors.

You can also think of hiring a pro, to do the job for you.

For tips on choosing

After searching decorating books, using trial and error decorating, and growing up a little bit, you have finally found the style of decorating that you really love. Your style could be Arts & Crafts, French Country, Asian, or Metro Hip. If you are still searching for your style or want a second opinion on what your general home style really is, try taking the fun style quiz on www.thehomestylist.com.

Now that you have identified a décor style, the challenging part may now be to implement that style and make it substantial enough so others will notice.
There are seven simple elements that will really help you emphasize this great look.

1. Choose a focal point that will reflect your décor style.

This signature piece is usually the most dominate item you see and sets the tone of the room. If this piece is not your specific style, the room will not look its best. An example could be a beautiful Queen Anne armoire for a Classic Traditional style or a large rustic log mantel for the Mountain Lodge look.

2. Use colors that are common to that specific style.

Different décor styles are usually shown with a collection of colors that are prominent for that palette. Make sure your room has those colors. For example, French Country is well known for its pretty yellows and blues. Americana Style would not be the same without red, white and blue.

3. Collect in a theme that emphasizes that style.

Every ones needs a conversation piece or collection that demonstrates the owner’s personality and interests. A collection also doesn’t need to be large just 3 to 5 objects. Ginger jars for the Asian Décor or cute porcelain teapots to emphasize an English Garden style.

4. Frame an authentic object that is original to the country or era.

This simple task does not have to be expensive. Old Postcards from Italy for your Tuscany Villa Style or wine labels from France for a European Look will add authenticity and personal touch to the décor.

5. Purchase a large coffee table book to demonstrate that décor.

Large beautiful books can subtly emphasis the style you enjoy. The book does need to be a decor books but rather a topic that is related to the style. For example, a Vintage Advertisements for the Shabby Chic look, or Andy Warhol book for the Metro-Modern look.

6. Use plants or flowers that coordinate with the décor.

The greenery can be real or artificial as long as they look healthy. Nothing spoils a designer-look like a dying plant. Use cactus for the Southwestern look or a great palm tree for the Tropical style.

7. Review all you accents and accessories to make sure they blend with your new found style.

By reviewing each element individually to see if it blends (not necessary perfectly matches), you can make sure you have a well-coordinated look. Look for a geometric patterned pillow for a Modern look; search for fringed lampshades for an Old World style.

Remember decorating is a process. Searching for those perfect accessories to emphasize your style is part of the fun. These tips will help you add the style you want to the home you love.

Julie Dana is a professional Interior Redesigner and Accredited Staging Professional with thehomestylist.com thehomestylist.com.

The basement is one of the most important but often overlooked parts of a house. Usually relegated to a storage area and nothing more, the basement can actually be used for quite a number of things, and any other uses you may plan on putting your basement through will be an important factor in deciding what type of flooring you should use for it. Here are some of the most common and popular types of basement flooring used, and their purposes, and pros and cons.

Concrete – plain old concrete flooring is the most common thing you’ll see in people’s basements. This is for households that regard the basement as just a place to store stuff. Concrete flooring is best for basements that see a lot of traffic, with people hauling stuff to and from it. It is especially suitable for people who decided to set up a home workshop and plunked it in the basement, as the man of the house will often haul stuff to and from the basement to happily tinker, saw, hammer, and drill away. The punishement that raw concrete can take is best suited for this. The bad thing about plain old concrete is, of course, it’s aesthetic value – or lack thereof.

Ceramic Tile – this is a good alternative to concrete, though ceramic tile isn’t an option for basements that see a lot of hard, heavy stuff hauled to and from it on a regular basis. On the other hand, it’s perfect for basements that housewives have gone and converted into a room for placing the washer and dryer machines. Moisture is a natural occurence in most basements due to the humidity of the air running beneath a house, so ceramic tile protects the floor from water damage.

Hardwood Laminate – this is the ideal flooring for basements that have been converted into another floor of the house. More often than not, this means that instead of a storage space, the basement has been turned into a game room, function room, library, music room, or whatever. Hardwood laminate is a warm and attractive flooring for these converted basements, but remember if you go with this option that these rooms need a good ventilation system because of the air moisture buildup that basements usually suffer from. If the basement remains closed off, the humidity will eventually damage the wood.

Thick Carpeting – this is the simplest way to dress up a basement. As mentioned earlier, concrete is the floor of choice for most people. Thick carpeting is not a good idea if the basement usually sees people hauling and dragging heavy objects across it’s surface all the time. However, if the basement is often used for storing relatively small objects that don’t need to be dragged along, carpeting is an option to soften the look of the basement. An air dehumidifier is needed for carpeted basements, however, because otherwise the basement’s air moisture will cause mold build-ups in the carpet.

Rubber/Foam Mats – this is basically a cross between the ideas of using carpeting and ceramic tile. Unlike carpets, rubber mats have the twin advantages of being waterproof and won’t really have any problems with mold build-up. It’s biggest advantage however is it’s noise insulating capability. This is often a good choice for busy basements which see a lot of activity and noise, as the mats will also act to dampen sounds coming from the basement. In tandem with this, the basement walls and ceiling can also be lined with acoustic insulating material to make sure that even working with power tools in the basement during the dead of the night won’t wake up the rest of the household.

Radiant Heating – lastly, radiant heating panels are the ideal choice for houses in cold environments. These panels are sturdy, waterproof, and actually trap and hold heat, keeping houses warm even in the dead of winter. The biggest drawback to this type of flooring is it’s inapplicability for houses in hotter environments, since basements are naturally hot and the trapped heat in basements is what causes the air humidity in them. This type of flooring would only amplify the problem in a house situated in, say, the tropics.

For more tips on home improvement visit perfecthomedecor.com perfecthomedecor.com – a site that offers interior decorating tips for every room in the house as well as more tips on perfecthomedecor.com/basement/basementdecorating.html basement decorating.

Do you like going to the movies? Do you like sitting at home in your easy chair and watching your favorite old John Wayne films on DVD? Well, there is a way you can have the best of both worlds. It is called a home theater system. If you are considering a home theater system, make sure you get one that suits your needs and desires.

These days, there are so many home theater systems on the market that you cannot just run out and buy one because you have important choices to make before that major purchase. If you are not familiar with home theaters, the options and choices may be overwhelming to you. There are numerous choices in functions, options, sizes, shapes, etc, and along with those choices, there come the differences in price.

Below are a few common mistakes that people make when purchasing a new home theater system.

Most of the home theater systems are referred to as state-of-the-art and up to date, but you never really know until you get into the meat of that system just how up to date it really is. If at all possible, try out as much of the system as possible in the store. Most electronic stores will have the system out on display for the customers to try out. If the salesman wants to make the sale, he will permit you to try all the bells and whistles that unit has to offer. Not unlike a car, you will want to test drive this model and that before you commit to anything. While it may sound a little absurd, some gamers will take their own game system to the store and try it out on the system. I would only recommend doing that with special permission from the store clerk, but as I stated before, if he wants to make the sale, he will be more likely to allow you to try it out.

Now that you have found the system that you feel is right for you, don’t just grab one and take it home. Write down the price at that store and shop around. You may find that the store down the street is running a 25% off sale or something similar that could save you possibly hundreds of dollars. In that case, you would surely be kicking yourself when you got home and noticed the sales ad in the Sunday paper. Also, check on the availability of warranties and professional installation. Some companies will offer the extended warranty at no extra charge, and some will charge you up to 10% of the cost of the item or beyond. Professional installation usually comes with a hefty price tag, but installation is something that is worth checking into, especially if you are purchasing a high ticket item.

Before you swipe that card at the local store, check the rates on the internet. Sure, you may have to pay shipping costs, but check into the sale cost of several places on the internet. The internet is a great place to find bargains, whether through sale sites or auction sites. Keep in mind that internet purchases don’t always come with warranties and normally do have access to local professional installers.

Selecting a home theater system should not be a difficult decision. If you do your homework, you too can have the right system for your needs.

YourHomeTheaterSystem.com YourHomeTheaterSystem.com brings you real information on how to easily and affordably setup your very own home theater system just like the rich and famous. There’s nothing to buy, just real information for real people. Be sure to check out our YourHomeTheaterSystem.com home theater projector pages.

If you need to find an inexpensive way to improve the look of a room paneling may be the way to go. It may not be the most desirable solution, but if you have some damaged areas of your walls, it is a good option to hid them. All you need is the right tools and materials, and of course, a plan in mind.

The options other than paneling are usually dry walling, which is messy and time consuming, or tiling, which does not work in every room, or wall paper, which is not very easy to do properly unless you use self stick.

Paneling is a nice inexpensive option, but it may not be ideal fro every situation, and it also depends upon the kind of paneling you get. You may have to do just as much preparation work to install paneling, such as removing stains, mildew, paint and caulk, as you would have to for the other methods.

If you are just trying to repair lumps or holes in your walls, with the proper tools such as a scraper, plaster, a knife, spackle, clothe sandpaper and paint, you can probably fix the problem if it is on drywall, tiles or vinyl. If you know how to do it and you have the Roth materials, you can fix dents, cracks and holes in walls. You may have to take these steps even if you decide to panel your walls.

There are those who choose paneling to avoid all of this work and are content to put the paneling over all of the cracks, holes, etc. If getting the job done quickly and cheaply is your only consideration, you can do it this way, but just remember that the problems will still be behind the paneling.

It is for this reason that paneling lowers the resale value of a home. Purchasers will not be confident about the materials used in the home. IN addition, lenders base mortgage and equity loans on the value, so your buyer may not get enough mortgage money, or you may not have enough equity to borrow on your home if you decide to.

Some rooms simply cannot do well with paneling, and others look just fine with it. Bathroom walls, for example, should be covered with tiles or paint. If you are recover int the walls in a bath, the best choice is tile, it is the best choice for both the walls and floors in baths since it is so durable. Tiles are one of the most long lasting materials outside of vinyl.

If you already have walls that are paneled, and there are some areas that have cracks or holes, you can consider just repairing instead of replacing the whole wall. You can repair paneled walls with little time, effort or cost.

There are so many different options when it comes to improving your home. Therefore, if you are improving your walls, you have to take many things into consideration such as the cost, the amount of work involved and the impact on the value of your home.

Leroy Calstard routinely edits papers on topics associated to panel sanders and miter saws. His observations on

There are several general types of bakers racks:

The Oak Bakers Rack- Wood top bakers racks, usually using Oak provides a very traditional design and makes a handsome piece of furniture. It is not designed to be used as a true bakers rack, meaning to cool items on it. Usually the Oak Bakers racks are used for more countertop type activities because of how easy they are to clean, however don’t cut or use items that will scuff or scratch the surface.

The Wrought Iron Bakers Racks – This is a arguable the most popular form of bakers rack. Wrought Iron Bakers Racks are is versatile yet traditional. It allow to be used as a tradition rack, where as is got the wire shelves, making it ideal to cool baked goods on if you choose. Often these are used as a book shelf, but because of the large gaps in the shelves it makes it hard for to use as a knickknack shelf. Many who have this type rack will put some type item down to make the rack more function if they choose to use it for smaller items. These racks usually appear in the kitchen or in entry foyers.

Bakers Rack Hutch – If your looking for a bakers rack to add to your home and also give you needed storage a Backers Rack with Hutch type top does give you a place to store your Sunday dishes, glasses or cups. It’s a way to expand your cabinets and create more storage room. Frequently you see this type bakers racks in a dining room, where they are generally bigger than the kitchen type all wrought iron bakers rack. This is a perfect way to organize and add style to your home.

Wooden Bakers Racks

Wooden Bakers racks are often fashioned after their antique predecessor. They usually come in a shaker type design and they have an old country kitchen type style to them. Most are in a finished in white or black in the old farmhouse type styles.

Wine Rack Bakers Rack Combos – As wine racks have grown in popularity so have these bakers racks with the wine rack included. Many also not only have the storage for the wine bottles but often come with glass racks to store the stemware. Many of these racks also can double as a decorative bar unit and come with a marble top to make clean up and use easy.

Beth Guide is the webmaster for

Do you want to add to or change the look of your apartment or home? Are you
decorating on a budget? Do you have pictures sitting in boxes and want to
creatively display them? Do you love the appearance of wood and want to
implement wood working in your home decor? Have you shopped retail
stores but cannot afford retail prices?

Below are decorating tips that can be used with wood products that will add
character and style to your living space.

1. Picture frames: Wood frames can be enhanced by placing a ribbon from
both sides of the top and then hanging it on a brass knob. You can easily
change the ribbon to different colors to match various color schemes.
Floating picture frames are a unique way to display pictures. They are hung
with ribbon in an uneven format, from an expandable iron rod.

2. Block letters: These can be used in decorating for different holidays or
remain stationary year round using colors that match the room’s color
scheme. A range of colors and sizes make the lettering more interesting
and fun. Custom lock letters are great in decorating kids rooms in particular.
Displaying a child’s name in wood letters reinforces the child’s feelings of
importance and self worth.

3. Wood signs: Vinyl lettering is popular. Quotes, special phrases or names
can be transferred onto wood crafts . Wood signs can be prominently
displayed for living room decorating, bedroom decorating or bathroom
decorating.

4. Shelves: There is no limit to what you can do with a wood shelf. They
are a basic feature in many homes. Shelves are an easy way to alter the
look of a room–just replacing the items displayed on the shelf periodically.
You can creatively and inexpensively decorate for each holiday with your
cherished shelf.

5. Shadow boxes: Like wood shelves, shadow boxes are an easy and
inexpensive way to change the look of a wall. They are a hollow and deep
wood frame that is cut in various shapes and sizes. Dried flowers in pots,
greenery, small figurines, picture frames, boxed letters and much more look
exquisite in shadow boxes.

6. Wood carvings: Turn of the century wood designs were famous for their
beautiful and detailed wood working. The wood designer spent countless
hours carving intricate designs in their wood pieces. They took pride in
their craftsmanship. Today, we can achieve the desired look of detailed
designs by purchasing pieces of elaborate wood. When refinishing cabinets
or shelves, you can glue the wood designs on your item and then paint or
stain over it. This gives your wood a more expensive, fresh new look.

7. Knobs: Replacing old knobs with stylish new rod iron knobs, will update
your wood furniture or cabinetry. Often adding a rod iron knob onto a plain
surface will add character to your wood piece. Adding a iron knob to a wood
plaque, for example, will quickly turn a simple object into a sensible tool
for hanging items on.

8. Wood Mirrors: Strategically placing mirrors in a smaller room, can
create an illusion that the space is larger than it actually is. It adds
depth and dimension to the room.

Wood products will always be a decorating basic. There are innumerable and
diverse wood accents available for the consumer. Redecorating a room, or
decorating a room for the first time, can be an entertaining and enjoyable
experience when you have some basic ideas to work with. You do not have to
spend hundreds of dollars to transform a room into a pleasant and relaxing
environment for your family. Most wood accent pieces can be purchased at a
very reasonable cost. For more ideas on how to decorate your home visit:
terrisbluegooseboutique.com

Bio: Terri Grace, nineteen years of experience in boutique sales and marketing.
Successful business owner of a boutique for the past 5 years. Owner and entrepreneur of an online boutique. For more information on boutiques go to:
terrisbluegooseboutique.com terrisbluegooseboutique.com

After I fainted from sticker shock at the pricing of the official Sanyo PLV-Z3 projector ceiling mount ($200), I found a much cheaper solution. For $36.95 I could buy a Metalcraft all metal adjustable ceiling mount off ebay.

Mounting a projector to my ceiling was easier than I thought. Here’s how I did it.

Tools you’ll need:

* Philips Hand Screw Driver

* Circular Level

* EZ Anchor Stud Solvers

* Tape Measure

* Step Ladder

Size up the mounting hardware: The Metalcraft mount’s ceiling plate is large measuring five by five inches square with six pre-drilled holes for ceiling screws. A post descends to the projector mount plate.

How I measured my room for optimum mount placement: Bisecting the width of the room, considering the airduct, and measuring eleven and a half feet from the front projector screen’s surface plus the half the length of the mounting plate, I placed the plate on the ceiling and marked each screw hole.

Anchored to ceiling: Wear safety goggles to avoid getting ceiling board dust in your eyes. I removed the plate and drove the metal EZ Anchor Stud Solver anchors until they were flush with the ceiling. The EZ Anchors are great because you never have to drill a pilot hole for the self-tapping anchors. I replaced the plate over the anchors and drove each #8 screw into its anchor. You may need an extra hand to hold the plate in place while you tighten the first two to four screws.

Attach the projector plate before attaching to ceiling plate: Since the mount assembly breaks into two parts, one attaching to the ceiling with a post that screws into the adjustment plate for the projector, you can screw and tighten the hex screws and plastic bushings to the projector body.

Secure the projector plate to the ceiling mount: The Metalcraft ceiling mount’s post accepts a adjustable knob screw. You will need someone to help you get the screw started while they lift up the projector. With the screw tight you can rotate the projector from left to right on the ceiling post.

Fine-tuning: The Metalcraft mount allows yaw, pitch and rotation. With the hand tightening of knobs on the projector mount plate you can canter your projector perfectly on your projection screen. With the aid of a circular bubble level you can level the projector from front to back and left to right using the corresponding thumb knobs. With projector level you can then adjust your lense up and down and to the side for a perfect screen fill with no keystone distortion correction.

Caveat: The Metalcraft mount is wobbly because of the thinness of the metal used on the metal band that holds the projector mount to the ceiling mount post. When you need to change interconnects or adjust manual focus and zoom the projector rocks slightly as the metal gives. This does not cause the projector to fall out of register, though. Hey—$36.95—what do you expect?

The Metalcraft Mounting System for the Sanyo PLV-Z3 LCD projector (and many other projector brands and models) is a great bargain and very reliable. Highly recommended.

Father, Husband and Geek. My geeky interests have not changed since I was a kid. I still love comic books, anime, role-playing games, console video games, indie rock, imported toys and mecha models, bad American and great British sitcoms, and all the tech that let’s me experience these hobbies to their fullest. Now that I’m married with children, I’ve had to strike a balance between supporting and pleasing my family and feeding my geekery hunger. Lucky for me, my wife is very accomodating and even geeks out with me on occasion (the ladies love Joss Whedon’s “Firefly”). My two year old likes anything that moves on the front projection screen and makes noise, so far she is easy to please. geekwithfamily.com Geekwithfamily.com exists to enrich the lives of fellow geeks and the friends and family who put up with them.

The Dyson vacuum cleaner brand was known to few people up until several years ago. The brand has since become one of the most popular vacuum cleaners available, competing with top brands such as Eureka, Hoover, Miele, and Orek.

There are a few traits of the Dyson vacuum cleaners that distinguish them from others. While traditional vacuum cleaners may get clogged with dirt and debris, which causes the vacuum to loose suction, the Dyson does not. This is due to their vacuum technology which they have named the root cyclone.

The root cyclone uses centrifugal force to spin the air, much like a tornado, at a very high velocity. When this occurs the dirt and debris separates from the air. The Dyson cleaner has a three stage process to accomplish this. The air travels into the canister and larger dirt and debris drop into the canister due to their weight. The air thin passes through a sieve, which is like a strainer that captures pet hair, and carpet fluff. The third stage removes the small dust particles from the air.

A secondary benefit resulting from the root cyclone technology is that it releases air that is cleaner than the air that was originally picked up. Once all of the dirt and debris is separated from the air, the air passes through a lifetime filter, which is washable and never needs to be replaced. This is especially helpful for allergy sufferers.

Because the Dyson never gets clogged, it can work on almost any type of surface. It is able to clean hard floors such as tile, wood, and vinyl and can immediately go to being used on carpet. Due to its design it works just as effectively on hardwoods as it does Berber or plush carpets.

While Dyson vacuum cleaners carry an expensive price tag, they are designed to be practically maintenance free. There are no bags, belts, or filters that ever need to be replaced. Most of them also come with a five year warranty to further provide trouble free ownership.

For more information on