Rol.vn

Make your house a positive place for the New Year

2/15/2010 5:39:20 PM

Make your house a positive place for the New Year by doing following things.

De-clutter

No matter how much you look after your home, it’s easy to get into a rut and let things slip. As the New Year beckons, resolve to make 2009 the year that you do something positive to change your home into a better, fresher place to live.

We accumulate junk at every stage of our lives yet very rarely get rid of anything due to our hoarding instincts. Donating old clothes to charity shops, emptying the attic for a boot sale or selling junk via ebay will free up valuable space and earn useful extra cash.

Feng shui your home

Feng Shui is the study of the interaction between people, buildings and the environment and the flow of energy affecting quality of life.

For centuries, the Chinese have believed in the principles of Feng Shui in the home, from the positioning of a TV to the layout of furniture, beds and mirrors. Feng Shui’s main aim is to create harmony and balance as well as boosting luck and fortune.

Improve storage

From clothing tossed in cupboards to tools left strewn in the garage, it is easy for a home to get messy very quickly.

By implementing effective storage solutions on a room by room basis, either using shelves, purpose built containers, racks or boxes, you can create an efficient environment which makes looking for things a pleasure instead of one of life’s great stresses.

Transform your kitchen

The kitchen is the hub of the home. If you have champagne taste but a lemonade budget, you can still freshen up a jaded kitchen by changing doors, cupboard fronts and handles.

For an added touch of luxury, replace old, worn worktops with something luxurious such as Rubberwood, an eco-friendly by-product of the rubber tree.

Do those DIY tasks

Wires hanging out the ceiling where a light fitting should be, that missing tile which you always meant to fix but didn’t are the hallmarks of an untidy home. If you let odd DIY jobs build up, they can soon get on top of you.

Resolve to fix your DIY dilemmas by buying the necessary tools and setting aside a date when you will get all those annoying little half-finished jobs done.

Beautify your exterior

How our homes look from the outside says a lot about how we live. Create a fresh and positive impression by doing the following chores: keeping lawns trim, pressure cleaning dirty driveways, polishing door furniture and the finishing touch, adding two dramatic planted tubs to frame the porch and doorway.

Sensory scents

The use of mood-altering scents in the home can have a really positive effect on how we live. Try burning essential oils and aromatherapy candles to enhance the mood of each room. For instance, bergamot is an uplifting citrus scent which is meant to increase positivity and relieve stress.

Sex up the bedroom

Boring floral printed wallpaper, mahogany MFI wardrobes and mustard shag pile carpet in a bedroom is a real turn off. Transform your boudoir into a love den by installing dimmer switches on lights, painting walls in contrasting, seductive colours such as purple, rose and fuschia, and introduce an element of music into the room.

Revamp your living room

So often, the room which gets the most use gets the least attention. Liven up tired sitting room sofas with colourful throws, add a few tasteful scatter cushions and adorn your worn out flooring with a new rug which will hide a multitude of sins. If the room is small, accentuate space by using mirrors to capture and reflect light.

Floralize

Research shows that plants in the home boost both mind and spirit whilst scientists claim that plants can help reduce stress levels and prevent some minor ailments. In hospitals, the use of plants is beneficial in helping patients recover faster by reducing blood pressure.

What better way of creating an oasis of calm in your home than placing plants around it. See your local garden centre indoor plant section.

Bathroom makeover

Bathrooms can look all too conventional but with a little imagination, are easy to lift from the ordinary to new style heights. Transform boring white tiles with stick-on transfers which come in a range of brilliant colours and designs.

Basic taps and handles can be changed for smart-looking chrome or brass style ones. Bathroom flooring can also be switched to something far more luxurious such as an Amtico design.

Making a feature display of some quality soaps and oils will add a finishing touch of luxury making the bathroom a place of sheer indulgence and relaxation.

Give your home a deep clean

Even with careful vacuuming and regular cleaning, a home can easily start to smell stale. Set aside a whole weekend to give the home a thorough deep clean to make it feel fresh and new again. For carpets, hire a deep steam cleaner and do it yourself. If you want it done professionally, Molly Maid is a mobile domestic home cleaning service operating nationally.

Rol.vn - Source: Virginmedia

Sink and Faucet ideas for kitchens

1/25/2010 7:34:45 PM

Integral aspects of setting the tone in any kitchen, faucets and sinks come in more varieties than you can imagine.

Prep Sink

A counter with a prep sink, positioned away from the main sink, allows ample room for the cook's helpers. Choose a raised faucet to facilitate jobs like filling vases and tall pots or rinsing large items.

Versatile Sink

This long porcelain sink has a lot going for it: first and foremost, its size makes it versatile; its side countertop is also porcelain, making it easy to clean and drain; and its form and color make it an attractive focal point in the kitchen.

Extremely Useful Faucet

A faucet should be both beautiful and extremely useful. One with a high arch allows for cleaning tall and bulky pots. A pull-out spray wand can be used for watering plants or washing a small dog.

Meeting of Styles

Colonial can meet contemporary as shown in this beautiful kitchen.

Bridge Faucet

Deep and large, this sink has an elegant raised bridge faucet so that any work that needs to be done in it is easily managed.

Converted Cabinet

Convert an old cabinet or chest of drawers into a sink basin for a unique alternative to traditional matching cabinets or a freestanding unit.

Updated Faucet

A great way to dress up an old sink is with a new faucet. Many choices are available. This one is practical yet stylish, with an extended spout that makes washing big items easy.

Sink as a Focal Point

To give a kitchen some individuality, be open to finding alternatives to the traditional sink and tile backsplash. This porcelain sink provides lots of usable work space and is a focal point for the kitchen.

Faucet Fixture

A simple thing like a faucet fixture can make a big difference. With such an enormous selection of styles, finishes, and features to choose from, think carefully about what kind of tone you want it to set.

Industrial Theme

Choose a restaurant-style brushed-chrome sink to establish an industrial theme along one wall of your kitchen.

Rol.vn - Source: CountryLiving

Spring decor trends brighten the home

1/4/2010 9:09:25 PM

As the weather continues to warm and nature starts to awake from its winter slumber, the world around us embraces spring. This time of renewal is also the perfect time to update home decor with the fresh feeling associated with the change in season.

Here are some popular decorating ideas and trends that reflect the longer days and new growth of the spring season:

Cottage charm

Just like a relaxing day at a quaint bed and breakfast, decor can delight the senses with contentment and nostalgia. Interior designers and crafters alike are using intricate flower patterns to create unique household decorations. A soft blanket and pillow to adorn a favorite chair and black and white photos project the joys of yesteryear. Hand-painted buckets and antique watering cans bring the entire look together with a delightful country feel.

Zen infusion

Soft lines, warm scents and positive energy are all aspects of Zen-inspired designs. Think of enjoying a cup of green tea under a tree blooming with cherry blossoms and you’ll see where designers get their motivation. In the home, you can easily set the mood for romance or relaxation with a Zen-inspired display of hand-painted hurricane candle lamps. Choose colors from nature that match your home decor and fill with fragrant candles.

Inspiring hues

Soft colors are keys for spring decorating and you can find inspiration right outside your door. Blossoming flowers present shades of lavender, pink and tangerine. Sky blue coordinates well with the green shades of fresh grass and budding leaves. Warm yellows and browns are inspired by the sun and add a sense of peacefulness.

Springtime gatherings

Having a party for friends or family? A home filled with lively colors and floral motifs will greet guests with warmth and homespun hospitality. Sit down to a family brunch or dinner with a wonderful table setting featuring coordinating plates, mugs and serving dishes. Showcase delectable desserts and savory snacks on matching serving platters.

Fabulous flowers

A fresh bouquet or a potted plant brightens any room, but if you don’t have a green thumb, don’t worry. Today, the quality of artificial flowers rivals their fresh counterparts. Visit your local craft store to find a variety that will match your home’s color scheme. Tulips, calla lilies and apple blossoms are all popular during spring, but choose the ones you like best and mix in a festive vase or watering can. For a fun twist, paint dots and designs on the petals to make them stand out.

Integrating new colors and small decor changes into the home will update the entire house with the welcome feeling of spring. Most of these changes are very affordable and easily achieved with some crafting tools and a small amount of time.

Rol.vn - Source: ARAcontent
Photo: Internet

Warming and wonderful ideas

12/14/2009 8:11:08 PM

An open fire loses up to 80 per cent of the heat up the chimney, but a woodburning stove releases most of the heat into the room yet still has the wonderful smell and crackling flames. And with a clean heat system, you can even burn logs and solid fuel in smoke controlled areas.

Add candlelight

Supplement overhead lighting and tabletop lamps with soft, flickering candlelight to create a relaxed, soothing atmosphere. Group candles and hurricane lamps together on a mantelpiece or side table and choose richly coloured glass containers to add an even warmer glow.

Use rich colour

Deep aubergine on the walls turns a 'cold' bedroom into a warm and welcoming place. Good lighting is essential with a rich palette. Try a mixture of lamps and overhead lighting to alter the mood easily. Other good shades for warming up a bedroom include Ashes of Roses and Heat, both by The Little Greene Paint Company.

Release soothing scents

Create a warm welcome with orange and geranium scented candles. Burning the candle for just half an hour will fill your room with a wonderful fragrance, while the flickering light makes a room feel snug. Try cinnamon and cedar too, for warming winter scents.

Lay feel-good flooring

A quality carpet can transform a living room from cold and drab to wonderfully light and also snug. Pale carpet is great if you want to make a room feel bigger and will tone with almost any colour scheme. Choose a design that is Scotchgarded so it stays looking good for longer.

Warm up your kitchen

Adding a bold splash of colour to a kitchen is the easiest way to make it beautiful rather than just functional. A run of richly coloured handmade tiles behind the work surface creates a stunning and practical feature. Aubergine looks great with a wood or cream Shaker style kitchen, but if you have white units you could try a rich red or orange for a more contemporary look.

Buy colourful upholstery

Neutral schemes can feel cold in winter so add an injection of hot colour. A brightly coloured upholstered armchair makes a great focal point or simply add a few new cushions in fiery shades.

Keep out the draughts

Thermal lined or interlined curtains will keep out cold winter air as well as helping to retain heat inside. The Natural Curtain Company can add either a thermal lining or thick interlining to its made-to-measure curtains. Choose from sumptuous velvets and thick linens.

Add natural warmth

Keep a basket of cosy wool throws close to hand to snuggle up under on chillier evenings. It's much more economical than turning up the central heating.

Snuggle up in bed

Transform your bedroom with a luxurious buttoned headboard covered in a plush velvet. Add new bedlinen in a butter soft Jacquard design to complete the look, and you'll never want to get out of bed again.

Rol.vn - Source: Allaboutyou

Tidy up garage

11/30/2009 3:08:31 PM

The garage is one of the most flexible spaces in a home. It’s able to house anything from cars to gardening supplies to school memories. Thus, it's also a breeding ground for chaos, which becomes quite apparent once you start looking for a road map, spade or high school yearbook. You can tame the clutter, though, with some steps to make the most of your garage space.

1. Sort your stuff

The first step is figuring out what you own. Start by sorting everything into categories. Separate the gardening tools from the car maintenance supplies and sporting equipment. The "like with like" principle is a basic, yet powerful, organizing technique.

2. Toss the trash

Keep a few heavy-duty garbage bags handy as you sort so you can easily toss things away. Be ruthless; throw all the broken equipment, rusted tools, and toys that are missing pieces.

3. Share your stuff

Once you have separated items into groups, and tossed the trash, you may be surprised to see how much good stuff you own. Keep the best and give away the rest.

4. Measure the space

To see exactly how much room you have for storage, park your car in the garage and open the doors and trunk. Use chalk to outline the floor space. Measure the gap from the top of the open trunk to the ceiling; you can then hang things above your car.

5. Plan the space

The items you decide to keep need a home, and the floor is not an option. Plan out the space, designating certain areas for specific items. Look at your categories and pick an area of the garage for each one, keeping accessibility in mind.

6. Store it where you use it

Keep the items you use most in the easiest to reach locations. For example, store your bulk paper goods near the house so you're not walking through the garage for a roll of paper towels. Stow infrequently used items - like outdoor holiday decorations - in the hardest to reach places, like the rafters.

Store it where you use it

7. Add storage options

Now is the time to add shelving and cabinets, tubs and bins. Old kitchen cabinets and versatile pegboards add valuable storage along the walls. Use all the space from floor to ceiling, making sure you can open all doors without banging or scratching something. Be creative: use the backs of doors including the ones on cabinets.

8. Give everything a home

Don't mix categories and store similar items together. Consider a sports rack for balls, gloves, cleats and hula-hoops. Leave room to grow - moderately. Use smaller containers that you can easily move once they're full. Protect treasured items in waterproof containers, and do not store photographs or other temperature - and moisture - sensitive items in the garage.

Give everything a home

9. Label, label, label

Label each bin, shelf, container and cabinet door. This makes it much easier to maintain order, so even when you're in a hurry, you'll be able to quickly put things away. Label the lid and all sides so you can read the contents from any direction.

10. Maintain the new system

To keep your garage looking great you'll need to break the old habits that caused the clutter in the first place. Adopt a household rule that you'll put away the item when you're done with it.

Rol.vn - Source: Ivillage

Decorating an apartment

11/13/2009 4:04:48 PM

The interior is scarce, the terrace overlooking the sea, it has few closets, tiny kitchen, two small bedrooms and your friends are delighted you invite them over.

It is the small vacation apartment, in which we will be immensely happy because being there signifies the freedom from the alarm clock, changing the umbrella for sunglasses and putting aside your diet.

The first rule to follow when we have to decorate a summer apartment, is that everything must be small, fold away, and should be hidden, as to not overwhelm the small space.

Surely the bedrooms are small, and you should furnish them keeping in mind that you must include closets and beds for the inhabitants and their friends. In this case, the solution to include additional beds without overwhelming the space is the placement of bunk beds. These can also be folding, which will clear the room once they are put away, allowing for more space for other activities.

Surely you will also not have much space in the living room or on the terrace to place a large dining room table, but the typical summer paellas tend to bring together friends and strangers around it. Book, fold-away and expendable tables will enable us to bring together all our friends, and in turn, we could put them away in a corner to clear the environment when not in use.

The kitchen is usually an annex to the living room, united or separated by a serving bar or mixed counter top.

We will not have much space, but as we already know guests will appear out of thin air, so appliances must be the same as in a home of daily use. For this reason, there are many appliances in the market that are small in size, which will enable us to take a small sample of all of them, facilitating the work in the kitchen.

The living room can become a makeshift guest room if we have the foresight to place a sofa bed in it. Far from the torture of sleeping in a sofa many years ago, today there are certain models that can be used as a daily bed. In which the kind of mattress is up to the consumer, and their opening is done effortlessly.

The bathroom is usually not very big, however, there are many tasks performed there. One way to get more space for each one, is to eliminate the shower plate, in exchange for a working shower. This way the bathroom floor will be a huge shower when we are using it, but at other times, it will form part of the floor, allowing us better mobility of the space.

Fortunately, the summer apartments, count with the added space of the terrace, an extension of the interior, which sometimes can function as a second living room, or as an dditional dining room where almost all the good times of summer are spent. Must be why we don’t complain about the tight sleeping arrangements.

Rol.vn - Source: Made in Deco

Decorating small spaces (II)

11/2/2009 10:20:02 AM

Trying to store all our belongings in our homes becomes a problem as time goes on. Furniture design plays a key role in organizing the order of each item. Clothing for different seasons, books, travel souvenirs, gifts..they all need a place of their own.

Closets

In small spaces, built-in closets are a great option. They have the same capacity as any other closet, but because they are housed between walls, they take up a lot less visual space in the decoration. Moreover, in comparison to a stand alone closet, the built-in closets are custom made, so that the loss of inches on the sides or on top are completely avoidable.

Beds

Whether its the master bedroom or a child’s room, the space left under the bed is perfect for storing large objects that we do not use on a regular basis. In several stores you can find lift or store beds in which you could place the mattress on top and have space underneath to place suitcases, blankets….In a bedroom with a child’s decoration, drawers can be used, but there are also several designs that allow us to store a bicycle, old junk, you don’t know where to place, which usually takes up space in the entryway or the hallways, obstructing the space.

Sofas

The same applies to sofas, besides turning into beds if we so desire, the models that have a chaise longe module, not only have an attractive aesthetics and are comfortable but can also turn in to storage.

Versatile furniture

When space is limited, it is common to have to temporally move the furniture to open a sofa- bed or to reach a closet. Furniture with wheels allow us fast, comfortable mobility with little effort.

Suspended ceilings

The entry way or hallways are spaces that allow a reduced height. We can create a wood suspended ceiling. Placing a sliding door that gives access to the interior, this will be the perfect hideout for our “secrets”.

Auxiliary furniture

The center table or the foot of the bed can be replaced by trunks or chests. In the event that we also use them as seats, we just have to place a comfortable cushion to make them more comfortable.

There is a new air in furniture design, we are traveling towards versatility, functionality, comfort…Today, furniture comes to our homes to make our lives easier, without forgetting that the aesthetics will also make us feel better.

Rol.vn - Source: Made in Deco

Clever ways to create an in-home library

10/15/2009 4:46:25 PM

You have a lot of books, and you would like to arrange them in oder. Why don't you organize your favorite volumes with these clever ideas?

All for One

Creating a home library can be as simple as arranging bookcases. Here, three stand-alone bookcases are pushed together to form a wall of books at the end of a staircase.

Build Out

Rather than constructing traditional floor-to-ceiling bookcase units, pair wall-mount ledges and storage cubes for a modern take on a book display.

Wide-Open Spaces

Break up a large open space by creating a cozy corner library. Use a tall free-standing bookcase as a partition to separate the main room from the library. Add low shelves under the window for extra storage.

Floor to Ceiling

If you have the luxury of devoting an entire room to books, do it. Floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves provide storage and display space. Dark shelving allows the leather-bound collection to become the room's focal point

Tip: Use wood blinds to protect books from harsh sunlight, which can cause fading and eventually deterioration.

Dose of Character

Use the walls to create multifunctional spaces. Fill one wall with floor-to-ceiling shelves. If the room has angles, such as in an attic, irregularly shaped shelves will call attention to the room's architecture.

Instant Built-In

Create the look of custom cabinetry without the cost by covering an entire wall. Use basic, ready-to-assemble bookcases and finish with crown molding trim.

Hidden Treasures

Line the walls of one room with bookshelves. Now you'll have space for your books and space to move around. The bookshelves can also serve double duty by disguising other features in the room. The door to the powder room is lined with bookshelves to help it blend into the room.

Tip: The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation suggests placing shelves along inside walls of your home because outside walls can form pockets of book-damaging cool, damp air.

Window Frames

Frame a window seat with built-in bookshelves. Now books are just an arm's length away when homeowners want to curl up on the window seat.

Wall Space

Instead of a traditional railing, bookshelves line the stairs leading down into the basement. The items are pushed back so people can hold onto the various shelf bottoms as they walk down the stairs.

Air Effects

If you only want to display a few books, build shallow shelves into the wall. Now there's enough room to mix thin books with collectibles and other special objects. Painting the shelves the same color as the rest of the room gives the objects the illusion of floating on air.

Table Talk

Turn a nightstand into a mini library. Stack books between the legs, and slide out of the side when ready to read. The top of the table is great for holding essentials, such as reading glasses and bookmarks.

All Wrapped Up

Stack thick books and use them as a bedside table. Consider making book wraps with paper and marking with labels for a unified, clean finish.

Pullout Basket

Repurpose wire and wicker kitchen storage pieces -- such as these pullout vegetable baskets -- to organize clusters of paperbacks in an unconventional manner.

Rolled-Out Reading

If you're an avid cook, keep your favorite cookbooks out and easily accessible. Store them on a rolling cart that you can effortlessly wheel around your kitchen.

In Crates

Mix and match milk and fruit crates, fill with books, and stack three or four units high for a shabby chic bookcase.

On a Roll

Stack oversize books on a plant dolly to create a mini library you can move beside your reading chair or into the center of the room as an impromptu table.

Rol.vn - Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Porcelain floor tiles

9/29/2009 12:52:23 PM

Porcelain tiles have seen a meteoric rise in the tile industry and also when it comes to home interiors. Decorative porcelain floor tiles go a long way in spicing up home interiors.

Most types of tiles that are available today are generally made from clay. These can also comprise other materials. Later, they are kiln-fired. Tiles are generally classified into two groups, which are the porcelain tiles and the non-porcelain tiles (Ceramic tiles).

Porcelain floor tiles

These are further divided into three categories-natural porcelain tile, polished porcelain tile and glazed porcelain tile. Porcelain tiles are generally made by with the dust pressed method from porcelain clay. This gives us a fine grained, smooth and dense tile. These tiles have an absorption rate of .5% or even less. This is what makes them frost resistant. Porcelain tiles are also available in an unglazed, matte or a very highly polished finish.

Natural porcelain tile

This is a kind of tile that is unglazed and unpolished. Comprising of only natural porcelain, they have an absorption rate of less than 1%. The absorption rate has no connection with the surface of the tile. These are also known as ‘through body’ porcelain. They are sometimes treated with soluble salts or they can even comprise of a different face or a different body. This is known as being double loaded. This means that the top half of the tile in terms of design and texture varies from the bottom half of the tile.

Glazed porcelain tile

These can be partially or completely glazed. This can be altered in the manufacturing process. Most of the glazed porcelain tiles have an absorption rate of .5%. But the absorption can be under .1% if the clay body of the tile is used on the face of the tile. The interesting factor about porcelain tiles is that, it can even be polished.

Polished porcelain tile

In this case, when you mention a polished porcelain tile, it means that it comes close to the granite finish. The surface of the tile is not actually glaze. These actually comprise of natural porcelain that have a polished exterior. One has to employ certain methods to increase the resistance of such tiles. The process of polishing tends to open the pores of the tile. Therefore, whilst grouting of the tile, one must ensure that a certain sealer is applied to the polished tile. This would increase its resistance against staining.

Benefits of porcelain tiles

Porcelain tiles can have certain advantages when it is used in home improvements, such as:

Porcelain tiles are very much resistant to tremendous wear and tear. This is because it has a hard, durable surface and the durability of the porcelain tile can be seen in most malls and places that have a high traffic of shoppers at all times.

• Porcelain tiles are ideal for the kitchen, which needs a lot of cleaning at all times. These can resist strong chemicals and acids and therefore are easier to clean.

• Natural porcelain tiles are chip resistant. Besides, if the situation does arise that the tile does chip, you need not be worried. The chipped portion can never be seen too easily as it is of the same color of the tile.

Rol.vn - Source: Buzzle

Balcony

9/21/2009 12:45:53 PM

Balconies have become part & parcel of building architecture, a place to breath fresh air, a place to have your morning coffee or just a place to admire the view.

It is a platform attached to the house, but is not typically supported from the ground. Balconies may be built on the joists that extend from the floor joist system of the house, or they may be extensions of the interior floor joists that are cantilevered over the exterior foundation wall.

Balconies are usually built in multi-story buildings, to provide a small outdoor living area for units or apartments which are above ground level.

It is important that a complete evaluation of the balconies be conducted, to ensure that they are structurally safe. Balconies can fail if their support, joists or fasteners deteriorate because of weather and lack of maintenance.

The flooring of the balcony area is vulnerable to deterioration, especially if it has been used to support plants that are frequently watered and seldom moved, or are located on the north side of the structure. As with the decks and landings, the balcony area should be properly secured with hand rails and guard rail sections. Evaluate the point where the cantilevered joist or flooring supports rest upon the foundation walls. Check for cracking of the foundation structure, as well as for sag, deterioration and other signs of failure in the structural supporting members of the balcony.

Rol.vn - Source: US Inspect

Finishes in ceiling fan

9/14/2009 10:45:46 AM

The current trend that is prevalent in the home appliance industry is to manufacture products that are not only useful but also very attractive. Homeowners not only prefer to purchase products that are essential and satisfy the basic necessities but also enhance the look of the house.

The ceiling fans are one of the basic home appliances and are now being produced with a range of styles, patterns and designs. The fans also have different finishes that contribute significantly in making the ceiling fan looks very beautiful.

Finishing touch

The finish of the ceiling fan gives a unique feel to the fan and lends it a definite identity. In fact, the finish of the fan influences the entire room. It is important that the ceiling fan gets a good and polished finish so that it gets a shining and rich appeal. There are various types of finished that are used for ceiling fans. Some of the most popular types of finishes are as follows:

1) Antique brass:

As the name suggests, the antique brass feel provides a traditional touch to the ceiling fan. The brass lends a royal effect to the ceiling fan and makes the entire room look like a majestic court. These fans especially suit large and luxuriant homes and provide a rich feel to the entire house.

2) Vintage pearl:

The vintage pearl effect is one of the most popular types of finishes used for ceiling fans. This effect provides a smooth and shining glow to the ceiling fans and enlightens the entire ceiling and makes the entire room.

3) Grecian bronze:

Grecian bronze with dark bamboo blades

This is yet another finish given to the ceiling fans that is immensely popular among several households. The Grecian bronze gives the much-desired rustic effect to the ceiling fan, which makes the room look simple yet chic.

4) Galvanized finish:

The galvanized finish makes the ceiling fan look very contemporary and stylish and makes it look very sleek. Those house owners who like to make their home look very stylish and modern can have ceiling fans that have the galvanized finish.

5) Polished brass:

Those homeowners who would like to give the ceiling fan a shining effect can give the polished brass effect to the ceiling fans. Apart from these, there are several other types of finishes that can be used for the ceiling fans according to the preferences of the homeowners.

Rol.vn - Source: Ceilingfan101

How to build a hidden door bookshelf

9/3/2009 11:46:02 AM

Do you have a door to a storage area or, perhaps, a secret room? What better way to hide it than to build a bookshelf that holds your books and decorations by day, but swings open to provide access to your little hideaway by night? It not only indulges your inner mystery-lover, but it also makes extra use of an otherwise unusable and perhaps not aesthetically pleasing space.

What follows is the general process for building a hidden door bookshelf that, if you have basic welding and carpentry skills, you can customize to your specifications.

1. Calculate dimensions.

Figure out how big and where a bookshelf would need to pivot in order to clear walls and neighboring shelves with minimum gaps. Make a scale drawing of shelves and cut out the rotating shelf shape. With a pin try different pivot ideas, validating measurements. Make sure to calculate the area between you and the bookshelf when it swings open. You don't want to be hit.

2. Build a steel frame.

Don't hinge the wood shelves directly. A steel frame will allow the door to swing easily and support 500-1000lbs (a full bookshelf) without a problem.

• Calculate the size for the frame allowing minimum clearance from the floor for trim and base board and enough clearance from the ceiling for the metal frame barely below crown. Set the width to just cover the access door and be centered.

• Use 3/4 bolts to act as the pivot pins. Weld a piece of scrap quarter inch plate to pivot points, then weld 3/4 inch bolts to the plate for extra strength. Cut the bolts to ~ 2 inches long. The steel frame should pivot on a upper and lower anchor point, mounted to ceiling and floor, respectively; so you will need two bolts welded to the frame.

3. Install the steel frame.

• Size the ceiling anchor to span 3 joists. Add a short arm out to avoid rocking (scrap steel). The short arm has to align with a joist, as well, or it will rock and break out the ceiling. Make the pivot point with a 3/4 inch brass flange bearing inserted into a 1 inch hole in the 2x2 box.

Ceiling anchor

• Make a floor anchor in the same way. It can be much smaller than the ceiling anchor if it will be bolted to a concrete floor.

Floor anchor

• Position and place the top anchor, base anchor, and frame. Attach the top anchor loosely letting it rock, slip in the frame and bottom anchor on pin (with 2 washers on pin above bearing), then slide the whole set into place. Hang a plumb bob along the edge of the frame to tell if it is vertical in both directions.

• When true, secure bolts on both ends. At the pivot point, split a tiny piece - about 3/8 inch - of nylon tubing and slip it on the exposed bolt. This keeps the bearing from slipping down.

4. Add the wood.

• Wooden backing for shelves built into steel frame Build the first shelf box into the installed frame and verify clearance. You can make the swinging shelf 2 inches shallower than the other shelves to allow clearance behind it for the arc when it swung.

Wooden backing for shelves built into
steel frame

• Build the two side shelves and install trim all around. Use a credit card for gaps between trim and crown to allow clearance. The trim on the right side of the shelf-door should be fixed to the fixed shelf, while the left side moves with the door. Bevel notches in the trim on the right if the horizontal trim dives under it as the door opens. If necessary, slightly round the horizontal pieces to slip underneath smoothly.

Side shelves installed with trim

5. Install a wooden door stop.

This should serve two functions: Hit the steel to keep the door from closing too far, and hold the door so that it doesn't float open. The door can be held closed by a magnet.

Rol.vn - Source: WikiHow

Kitchen cabinet installation

8/28/2009 8:39:52 AM

With the modular kitchen cabinets now available for purchase from many sources, "Do-It-Yourself" installation is easier than ever. This can be a big job, and to do it and get it right, you may want to get help from a friend. Take a bit of care to line things up correctly, and you can proceed with confidence.

1. Make your decision to replace the entire cabinets. If your existing cabinets fit your space well enough and you just want to freshen up the look of your kitchen, don't rule out refinishing or refacing. Both of these options are likely to be less costly than replacing the entire cabinets.

* Refinishing is replacing just the finish, by sanding off or stripping the old, worn paint or varnish if necessary and applying a clean, new coat.

* Refacing is replacing just the fronts of your cabinets, the doors and, if necessary, the fascias just behind them. The cabinet itself stays where it is.

* You can also replace the cabinet hardware, (the hinges, handles, and drawer pulls) to give them a fresh look without tearing out the entire cabinets.

* Many new, modular cabinet systems have particle board for their interior. If your old cabinets are solid wood and in good condition, consider keeping at least the interiors.

2. Carefully measure and plan your space. If you are replacing existing cabinets, you may want to use them as a pattern, or you may prefer to create a new layout to better suit your purposes.

* Get brochures from the cabinet company you think you will use. It will tell you what standard sizes are available, as well as listing finishes, styles, materials, and hardware options. In many cases, it is possible to get a custom size to match your needs, but it is usually much less costly to use their standard sizes.

* Draw a layout of your cabinet plans. It doesn't need to look like something an architect would draw, but it should be enough to give you an idea of how everything will line up and fit together.

* Check the cabinet heights, especially for upper cabinets. If you are especially tall or short, check how far up you can comfortably reach. Many upper cabinets are designed to have an empty space between the tops and a standard height ceiling; others will extend all the way to the ceiling.

* If one of your cabinets will go over your sink or stove, make sure to allow space underneath it for working, and to attach lighting or a stove hood.

* Check how your range hood will fit with any upper cabinets above the stove.

* Most systems have special cabinets to go under the sink, in corners, and in other special locations. Learn how these work and incorporate them into your layout.

* Check that upper cabinets line up appropriately with lower cabinets, and allow for windows and other features in the wall.

* Consider how you use your kitchen (or other workspace). Does your layout make sense for you?

3. Obtain all your materials and supplies for the project. Make a list. Don't forget screws to screw the cabinets to the walls and shims with which to level the cabinets.

Materials and supplies.

4. Remove the old cabinets, if there were any. At the back of the cabinets, you will generally find screws or nails holding them into the walls.

* Empty the cabinets completely first. It is much easier to work inside them and remove them without loose stuff rattling around inside.

* Remove the doors and shelves before unscrewing the cabinets from the walls. Most shelves simply lift off of pegs; some may need to be unscrewed or pried off their supports. In either case, it will help to have them out of your way.

* Make certain that you support the upper cabinets somehow as you remove the screws that support them. If the upper cabinets are a one-piece unit, you may have to seperate them to avoid damaging adjacent walls, since there will be no room to turn them as you bring them down.

5. Paint the room and replace the flooring, if you are going to. It is not necessary to run the flooring under cabinets, but for some flooring materials, it is easiest to do the whole floor, while the cabinets are out. Do not replace base boards until after the cabinets are installed. If you will install wood or tile floors, consider the thickness of the floor material when you decide whether it should go under the cabinets.

Easier with the cabinets gone.

6. Assemble the cabinets, but do not put the doors on yet. Most modular cabinets come with instructions and go together just like kit bookcases. Take the time to make sure that the cabinets are assembled as securely, squarely and evenly as you can.

Assemble the cabinets.

7. Install upper cabinets first if possible, so that you will not need to work over the lower cabinets to do so.

8. Use a stud finder to locate and mark the locations of the studs in your walls. Plumb down from the ceiling and use a measuring tape to mark the height of the cabinet brace or rail you will fasten through. Since the new cabinets will conceal the wall after they are installed, you can simply tap a small nail through it to locate the studs. When you have found one, measure either 16 or 24 inches to find other studs in your wall, since these are typical stud spacings.

Locate studs and use a level to plumb a line down
at their locations.

9. Start on one end or in a corner, install the upper cabinets. There are two methods you can use. Either way, get help lifting and supporting them until they are screwed in.

Upper cabinets first.

* The first method, called the French Cleat[1] method, consists of screwing a support, or cleat, to the wall at an appropriate height such that you can hang the cabinets on the cleat. See the Sources and Citations section below for a link giving the details of this method.

* The second method will require a partner. Create a support jack by screwing a short length of a 2x4 or other sturdy scrap wood across the end of another 2x4. If you like, cover the end with a rag or old towel to use as a cushion. Have your helper use this T of wood with the bottom end against the floor and the top against the bottom of the cabinets to support the cabinets while you level them and screw them to the wall.

A T-shaped support for installing upper cabinets.
There is a laser level on a tripod in the foreground.

* Calculate the distance from the edge of a wall cabinet to the stud(s) behind it. Mark these spots on the back of the cabinet, and drill pilot holes from the back of the cabinet. Be sure to allow for the "ears" on the front of the cabinet. When you place the cabinet to the wall, you'll know where the stud is.

* Always secure the cabinets firmly to studs before loading them with their contents. Secure cabinets to each other as well as the wall. Drill pilot holes in the cabinet frame and screw together with good wood screws.

10. Mark the locations of your studs for the lower cabinets, then bring in the cabinets and set them into place. Check which cabinet sits highest, perhaps due to a high spot in the floor. It is easier to shim the others up to this height than to shorten the tall one.

11. Do a test fit and, if the cabinets are backed, make any cutouts necessary for electrical outlets, plumbing hookups, and the like.

Cutouts for plumbing hookups.

12. Level the top of the cabinets by shimming under and behind them. Remember that you will install a counter top on the cabinets, so you want this reasonably level and all the joints flush. Also look at the appearance of the cabinet fronts and make sure those are even.

13. Screw the lower cabinets to the wall. You can often screw right through the shims.

Lower cabinets in place.

14. Test fit the counter top. Cut it to length if required, and cut out the sink opening and the opening for the stove (hob) if it will be built in. You may need to cut the countertop short so that it will set in if it is between two walls. If you allow 1/4 inch on the overall length, you can caulk the ends after it is installed.

15. Place the counter top on top of the lower cabinets. Screw it in from underneath, making sure that the screws you use are not so long that they will break through the material to the top.

16. Apply caulk around the sink cutout and lower the sink into place. Check the fit and location, then secure it into place with the brackets underneath. Apply caulk around the rim of the sink.

17. Apply caulk around the edges of the counter top and between the backsplash and the wall.

18. Install the stove in a similar fashion, if it is a range top model.

19. Install the cabinet doors and hardware, and adjust the hinges so that the doors hang properly.

Install the cabinet doors and hardware.

20. Bring in and reinstall any other appliances you removed during your remodelling project.

21. Replace the baseboards, if you removed them.

Source: Wikihow

7 ways with Pink

8/12/2009 1:43:12 PM

It's decidedly cheerful, and never boring. Can't we all use a little more pink in our lives? Here's how to successfully incorporate the color into your home.

Give Pink a Chance

With diverse hues from blushing to shocking, the color pink is not just for little girls. We've gathered our favorite ideas to show you the diversity of this cheerful color.

Host a Girls' Night In

Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday for a deliciously girly gathering. Indulge in sweet chocolate confections while dishing the latest gossip over a pink cocktail.

Grow Gorgeous Peonies

These no-fuss, reliable perennials are perfect for time-challenged gardeners who want to make a big statement. P. Allen Smith offers tips for effortlessly growing this garden showstopper.

Spice Up a Neutral Color

Washington, D.C., designer Alessandra Branca paired a shocking hot pink with brown to liven up a traditional Georgetown townhouse. The result is a warm, inviting space that's sure to inspire a smile.

Serve a Festive Cocktail

Transform a stand-by drink recipe into a sweet, seasonal stand-out.

Paint Your Dining Room

Pale pink certainly seems like an odd choice for a modern dining room, but in this cool California cottage, it just works.

Set a Stunning Table

Known for creating fireworks for the tabletop, floral designer Isabelle Bosquet has mastered a natural approach that is refined, but not overworked. Here, a cluster of peonies echoes the china pattern.

Rol.vn - Source: My Home Ideas

Anatomy of a healthy office

8/7/2009 9:06:09 AM

See how a few simple updates can create a workspace you'll feel good about.

A Back-Friendly Seat

Proper Seating

Look for a chair with lower-back support and adjustable height and arm rests so you can sit up straight with your knees level. And lean back now and then: New research says it’s good for you.

A Well-Placed Monitor

Easy On the Eyes

Your neck and eyes will thank you if the top of your screen is at eye level and about 18 to 28 inches away from you. To avoid fatigue-inducing glare, don’t park your computer in front of a window.

Calming Color

A Pretty Palette

To lower your stress level, work cooler hues, such as aqua or lavender, into your office, says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of Color Messages and Meanings.

Typing Tricks

Rest Your Wrists

Prevent carpal tunnel syndrome with a cushioned wrist support (wrists should be in a straight, not bent, position).

Soothing Sounds

Fill the Void

Minimize irritating background racket (which can actually make you eat more!) by getting a fan, a sound machine, an iPod, or earplugs to help block it out.

Hot office? Cold outside? Or vice versa? Keep a wrap handy so you can stay comfortable.

Green Power

Use Plants

The right plant can add oxygen and humidity to dry office air. Or, go with flowers to enhance creativity.

Sunny-Side Up

Let In Light

Natural sunlight can increase the brain’s levels of the calming chemical serotonin and also help suppress the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.

Channel the Chi

Go With the Flow

A minifountain on your shelf or desk taps into the Chinese practice of feng shui balance; moving water is a symbol of wealth and empowerment.

Soothing Smells

Breathe Deep

Get the calming effects of aromatherapy at work with a bowl of potpourri, a bouquet of sweet-smelling flowers, a jasmine plant, or a scent diffuser for your office.

The Right Light

Task Lighting

Overhead lighting can cause glare and make you look like you pulled an all-nighter. Turn off the overheads and use task lighting.

A Neck-Saving Phone

Speaker Phone

Invest in a headset to avoid neck and shoulder pain from cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear.

A Feel-Good Moment

Have a Heart

A special photo of an important person, place, or pet can help make even a bad day tolerable.

Rol.vn - Source: My Home Ideas

Basement Ideas

8/1/2009 9:48:37 AM

Home improvement ideas for basement design.

Bar Storage

In small basement bars, molding ledges, a built-in wine rack, and storage cabinets can protect and organize barware and tools. For a small space, this storage system leaves countertops free for workspace and entertainment. Recessed lighting is a good choice for basements, which tend to have low ceilings.

Open Staircase

These basement stairs help keep the two rooms from feeling cramped. In tighter areas, a staircase with a switchback would work just as well.

Stone Fireplace

Wood and stone combine to create a distinct architectural look for a space that previously had none. The stone is actually a veneer, providing plenty of character but at less cost and weight than solid stone. The stone fireplace is a great way to complete the illusion. Cove lighting is a good way to add mood lighting when you have low ceilings.

Basement Lighting

Most basements have limited natural light so it's important to make the most of what you have. Here, three-quarter walls allow natural light from an adjoining space to reach the TV room. The line is brought around the corner to the fireplace wall to create basement shelving.

Wooden Staircase

Here is a clever way to add function to what is often unused space in a small basement. Built-ins provide basement storage and a handrail for the wooden staircase and continue on to be a wet bar. The open stairwell adds additional visual space in the room.

Gas Fireplaces

Basement beams and pillars help divide this large basement by function and keep the room from feeling cavernous. Note how the chimney picks up the shape of the columns. Gas fireplaces are a great choice for basements as they are easy to vent.

Seamless Transition

A bar, icemaker, wine refrigerator, and entertainment center are built into the same wall for easy access and easy plumbing. The built-in cabinetry and cabinet-depth appliances create a seamless transition between the two spaces.

Entertainment Center

A built-in entertainment center provides space for games, computers, the TV, and other equipment, keeping otherwise cluttering items confined to one space. It also saves the homeowners to bundle all the electronic wiring in one place.

Home Theater

For long and narrow spaces, terraced seating is perfect for home movie viewing and helps create a real home theater experience. Sometimes a negative can be a plus. Because this basement has no windows, it's perfect for a home theater. Plus, starting with raw space meant the electronics and wiring could be hidden. Sound control is also easier in a basement.

Rol.vn - Source: RemodelingCenter

How to decorate your living room for summer

7/28/2009 5:20:20 PM

With summer comes a lot of light and color. So, it is no wonder why so many like to rearrange and decorate their homes to fit this playful season. Here you will find some easy ideas you can use to bring that summertime feel into your living room.

Take down those drab heavy curtains that were being used to keep out the chill (or pull them off to the side) and replace them with some summer colored sheers instead. What better way to decorate for summer than to let in the sun!

Decorate with Light

Bring is some of those beautiful summer blooms you have in your garden to brighten up your living room. Place vases of summer flowers around the living room: coffee table, end tables, window sills or even on the mantle above the fireplace.

Decorate with Summertime Blossoms

Replace those springtime knickknacks on your shelves with clear vases filled with white sand and embellish with seashells of all sizes (starfish, sand dollars, etc).

Sprinkle some smaller seashells into the sand and place an assortment of different sized shells around the remaining vases to help give your home more of a summer feel.

You can also arrange your shells in front of standing picture frames and around candles and lamps to carry the theme throughout the rest of the living room.

Decorate with Summery Seashells

Replace your current hanging artwork with pictures that have a more summery feel, such as those featuring: sailboats, sandy beaches, water scenes and or bright summer blooms.

Summer is a great time to bring in the crisp watery and medium toned blues, bright reds and rosy hues, and creamy and sunny yellows so feel free to simply replace those drab pictures with ones featuring more summer-like colors!

Summertime Scenery

Pick up a couple summer colored throws and fold them widthwise (so they stay long) and lay them over the back of the couch and chairs. Choose colors to compliment your summertime pictures and decorations you used to decorate the rest of the living room.

Use Throws to Decorate

Rol.vn - Source: Ehow

Bamboo decoration in the city

7/24/2009 9:59:59 AM

Where urban blessing betong, glass, iron, steel ... So, you want to do in the interior space to create feelings of comfort, but no less luxurious. It's easy if you combine with bamboo furniture - a representative of the skin, gentleness.

Strong bamboo, bamboo walls, simple ... but give the space a new life. With rustic shape, sometimes that khiu house but you are very close to nature.

A wall of the bamboo set them next to the plug to the buttonhole flower lotus pink, looks soft oily combination of lotus designs but straight pieces of bamboo tomorrow suddenly created a actually Vietnamese space.

You can use the entire body bamboo with a raw look to grow its first home, or the children themselves through castigate part, all seems to extend as narrow space of the city, creating comfortable feelings.

You may encounter bamboo images anywhere in the house, from living room, bedroom, dining room, under stairs, well heaven ... but not where to do your leg, by the images they offering a safe healthy, as life, is resting at his home really relaxed.

Gold bamboo, green bamboo, bamboo tough or said some wires ... are offering you pictures in nature, bring the breath to the city. Just a little time, you can make your house comfortable and luxurious.

Rol.vn - Source: TrinhGia Architect Blog

Decorate an open floor plan

7/21/2009 9:49:11 AM

Create multiple rooms in one open space with these easy tips from Traci Kearns, interior designer of the 2008 Southern Living Davidson Gap Idea House in North Carolina.

Distinguish the area

Even though you want room to breathe in an open floor plan, it's important to have pieces of furniture or architectural elements to identify each "room." Here, the fireplace and open shelving serve as a focal point and let you know you've arrived in the family room.

Use dividers

With no walls to divide a space, find other pieces to take their place. Folding screens or a set of chairs with a table in between can do the trick. Or try Definitions Panels from Armstrong (shown here in the master bath) for a sleek, contemporary look.

Use color for flow

Choose a color palette to use throughout the floor plan, and stick to it. In this home, inspiration comes from the outdoors. Neutral greens, browns, and blues give the space continuity, while pops of color in accents and artwork add personal appeal.

Make statements with lighting

Another way to set a space apart from the other "rooms" in an open floor plan is to install a distinct light fixture. Instead of a chandelier, a large rectangular pendant dressed in a linen lampshade defines the dining area.

Open up to the outdoors

Extend your open floor plan even further by incorporating an outdoor room. A covered porch or patio is extremely versatile - add a table and chairs for dining, a hammock for relaxing, or even a set of appliances for cooking and grilling. The space will increase your square footage and give you more room for entertaining.

Rol.vn - Source: Myhomeideas

15 simple ideas for kitchen cabinets

7/16/2009 10:35:08 AM

If you can not take a long time or resources to repair the kitchen, or simply want to change the interior without much effort, we offer some ideas in this regard. With a few simple but effective transformation of kitchen cabinets, will achieve a completely different appearance of the entire room - quickly and cheaply.

1. Less is more

If you remove the doors of some of the kitchen cupboard, so as to remove the display content in their space in the kitchen will be expanded visually. Not to disfigure the view room with large razhvarlyani vessels and accessories, display the smaller objects in large plaited basket to put on raftovete. So Racks will look more organized and their contents - uniform. To achieve even more dramatic effect, paint the inside of the Racks in a contrasting color of their surface, such as chocolate or ebony.

2. Solar side

Open raftove (without back) allow to see more of the wall, painted in sunny tone. This provides enough space for kitchen items, while at the same time Maximize feeling of open space in this otherwise small L-shaped kitchen.

3. Doric style

Svezhozelenata battle will refreshed old cabinets and they breathed new life for at least several more years. If you do want more effective transformation, remove loopholes in the bottom and place on raftovete beautiful plaited basket - they will act as a pull-outs in which you can place containers or hand towels, so be ready for use.

4. Romance in the kitchen

A few drops of red, mixed with gentle pink color and egg shell turn this kitchen into a real oasis of romance. All this is coupled with reshetesti panels and shiny nickel handles. To hide the mess behind the windows of Racks are placed in neat zaveski red box.

5. Vegetable decoration

Clip creative inspiration in the kitchen, which is transformed by using pleasant to the eye colors and decorations. Racks is based on the gentle yellow on which images are beautiful decorative elements (images of favorite vegetables for example).

6. Chinese porcelain

Racks of glass doors give the room classical elegance, particularly if they are painted white. To create a contrast back of the interior can be painted in Indian blue. Thus obtained decoration is particularly suitable for arrangement of beautiful service of Chinese porcelain in the classic combination of blue and white. See a similar project here.

7. Wood tones

Wood kitchen cabinets can be refreshed by using color wood (such as semitransparent stain) in several shades. So Racks will acquire an interesting appearance without creating a vivid contrast. There may be added elegant metal elements - such as stainless steel handles.

8. Green space

Previously dark cabinets are cream in redecorate that ugolemyava visual space in the room. Kitchen island on the other hand is painted in rich green tint, to stand out against a backdrop of the holy colors on Racks on the wall.

9. Citrus sparkle

Two shades of green color of lime to invigorate that old kitchen of 20-years of last century.

10. Inspiration in red

Two layers of red paint transform the old wooden cupboard in the kitchen at posh accent of the room. Depending on the brightness of color can achieve different effects - intensive or decanting.

11. Transformation in black

Spent cabinets of wood orehova acquire radically different appearance when dye in black or graphite gray. In addition old handles are replaced with new ones made of shiny nickel. Additive effect creating architectural elements above and below the upper cabinets decided in contrasting white.

12. In Scandinavian style

These kitchen cabinets are resolved stylized "Swedish" style - repetitive patterns template white background in contrast to blue-purple. In order not to draw away attention from Racks, the walls are pale resolved.

13. Cocktail

This extremely fresh cuisine has collected almost all the colors of the rainbow. Based on the color palette is orange in its various shades. Several of the cupboard doors were removed to be able to be arranged raftovete beautiful kitchen accessories in bright colors.

14. With color juicy fruit

Two layers of oil-flavin instantly transforms the entire room, making kitchen cabinets in focus. In addition island kitchen is paneled in white panels, which makes it a wonderful focal point.

15. Template elegance

Catering oak cabinets of wood are transformed quickly and easily with a small paint and template. They have turned into a work of art, while it has not lost the natural beauty of wood as it is only colored inner part.

Rol.vn - Source: Kitchen Decoration Ideas