Glamorous Bathrooms by Kelly Hoppen to Copy | See more @ roomdecorideas.eu...
Bathroom storage is my favourite because most of the things you need to store in a bathroom can look beautiful and stylish, just like these shelves here.Scandinavian Bathroom: Ideas and Inspiration for Every Room. Read the full post here: nyde.co.uk/...
Being involved in DIY workshops I am often asked about the difference between whether to varnish or seal a finished project. Both are excellent finishing techniques – when applied in the right circumstances.
Did you know that the internal structure of wood contains thousands of microscopic cells or tubes that run up and down the grain of the timber. These tubes carry nutrients that are essential for tree growth and, once cut and dried, they continue to expand and contract under conditions of high moisture and humidity.
Even after a synthetic finish has been applied to the surface of wood, the wood continues to expand and contract depending upon the external ambient conditions in which it is placed. It is not a process that you are going to notice but there are some obvious indicators that this is happening. In very wet weather you may find that a exterior door, garage door, or even a timber gate, will swell and stick, or you may struggle to open a timber window. This is due to the fact that the wood has swollen (expanded) as a result of excess moisture being absorbed into the wood. The swollen wood will eventually dry out and revert back to its original shape, although sometimes a bit of sanding down may be required.
Taking the above into consideration, when deciding what finish to apply to your wood projects it helps to know a few facts beforehand.
What is varnish?
Varnish is a blend of resins and oils that are applied to the surface of wood to provide a protective layer against damage. Varnish is available in various formulations from gloss and semi-gloss to a matt finish. The most common varnish used today is polyurethane varnish.
Varnish does not penetrate into the wood, rather the first coat of varnish blocks the surface of wood to offer protection from ambient moisture. However, due to the constant expansion and contraction of timber, over time the varnish layer may crack and perish allowing moisture to gain access to the wood and further exacerbating the problem.
What is sealer?
Sealer is combination of resins and oils, but with a lower viscosity than varnish, which means that sealer actually penetrates into the wood itself to nourish and protect from within – rather than on top. It is essential to apply three coats of sealer to wood surfaces, as the first coat penetrates into the wood, the second coat bonds with the first layer to form a seal, and the third and final coat provides a surface that is heat, scratch and water resistant.
Sealer can be applied to almost any timber surface – interior or exterior – and there are various types of varnish specifically designed for interior or exterior conditions. UV stabilisers are added to exterior sealers to protect against sunlight and some even contain mould and fungus inhibitors. Before applying any sealer to your exterior timber be sure to check the label that the sealer meets with all your local climate conditions.
Now we know the difference between varnish and sealer it makes a little bit more sense as to the finish we should apply to a particular project. Sealers are perfect for any surface whilst varnish is better for indoor surfaces where there is little chance of high humidity or moisture. For example in a bathroom, laundry or kitchen.
Here are some tips for when using varnish or sealer:
And there you have it. If you follow the guidelines above you will have a perfectly finished project that can take pride of place in your home.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KC5WLUDubai is a city-state in the United Arab Emirates and is considered one of the top tourist and business locations around the world. Dubai offers all the elements that make for an extra and electrifying lifestyle: sun, sand, endless coastlines, luxury shopping destinations and exciting activities. The business climate in Dubai is just as dynamic as well; the emirate has one of the strongest and most stable economies in the world and is that the chosen home of many companies that operate on a global level.
Whether you're a tourist visiting this city for its many remarkable attractions or an entrepreneur aiming to launch a new company, Dubai offers many different types of accommodation options that can deliver the best in luxury and comfort such as serviced apartments, fashion residences and other luxury investment properties.
There are numerous reasons why a visitor to Dubai should consider staying in one of these high-end accommodations. One of the foremost benefits of a serviced apartment hotel is that it offers more space. Unlike a regular hotel room which consist of only a bedroom and a bath, an apartment hotel may also have a separate area for the living and dining room, as well as a fully-furnished kitchen. In some cases, this apartment may also have a separate utility room that houses a washer, dryer, and other appliances that you may need. Because of this configuration, a serviced apartment hotel feels more like a home away from home, rather than just a place where you can stay temporarily.
The large space is perfect for families and larger groups on vacation. Business owners can also make use of the space to entertain fellow tycoons. Apartment hotels may be conveniently located near restaurants and conference centers, thus giving entrepreneurs more choices for business meetings.
In addition to having more space, the amenities provided in an apartment hotel offer more convenience. For instance, having your own kitchen means that you can dine out less and eat a home-cooked meal if you so prefer. This is especially important for individuals with special dietary requirements. Utility rooms also make it possible to attend to laundry conveniently.
A top-of-the-line Dubai property investment offers the same features that make hotel living attractive. These include housekeeping, room service and a concierge. Residents are given access to pools, gyms, restaurants, conference rooms and other amenities found in hotels. In some upscale locations, the hotel may also offer the exclusive services of a chef, babysitter, butler, and even a personal shopper. All in all, staying in a serviced apartment hotel in Dubai is similar to having an incredibly stylish and comfortable home – but with all the perks of living in hotel.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2NdDtNTNovels and story books take you out of reality and let you dream with your eyes wide open. There is something so calming yet exhilarating when one reads an engrossing novel. Each novel has a memory attached to it, but also takes space in your bedroom or living room. So how do you keep your favourite novels intact and yet make space for more?
In this week’s article, we will give you some simple home library organisation tips and tricks that will appeal to your aesthetic as well as emotional senses all at one go.
So before you pick on a strategy to organise your library, one must get down to the nitty-gritty of the task.
Follow this simple checklist:
a) How many books there are that need to be organized?
b) How much shelf space there is for all of the books?
c) How often will you make a purchase of new books?
Once these answers get clear in your head, you can go forward with the planning of your library.
The reason behind doing this exercise is that, you will get a sense of how to organise, whether you need an extra shelf to be built and so on. More so when you’re half way done, you will start making changes.
So now on to the different methods of storing your books.
Go ABCD route
The first thing we learn in school is the ABCD i.e. the English alphabets. This strategy is commonly employed by many across the globe. It is an easy and efficient way to organize your books so you don’t need to waste time looking for it. But one must decide which way to organise; either auhor’s name or in terms of the book name. Putting books in alphabetical order based on the last letter of an author’s name in a title helps make a shelf look more oddly arranged. Now if you do use this method, you must have a good memory you can rely on. Imagine having placed books where the author’s name starts with a T or a P and is silent. Instant hara-kiri. This method of book organisation is very reliable and as simple as A for apple.
Title is important
When we say title, we do not mean British Royalty like “Sir”, “Madame” et al, in fact we show respect to the author’s title. Yes, many readers remember the book titles easier than their author’s name. Go do a quick survey and you won’t be disappointed. Approach your bookshelves as if they are a table you are arranging for a large gathering – you would be a bad host indeed if you purposely placed foes next to each other and ex-lovers right across the table from one another. Books are also paired like a good wine and a little bit of cheese.
Colour me silly
Sometimes a book/novel can be boring and story just redundant; but one buys the book because of the cover page. Colour in psychology terms plays a vital role when reading a book. In fact many a times, if a reader wants to read something soothing, she will pick a blue coloured novel, just to release the stress. This type of book organisation, appeals to the aesthetic side of your brain. It will look pleasing to the eye, even though the books are placed in a chaos. One will find a romantic novel beside a murder mystery, (hey wouldn’t that be an excellent movie). You can create your very own man made rainbow in the living room.
The other sub method in this type is to group them by weight or size, where one keeps the heavier books at the foot of the bookshelf and lighter and easily accessible books at arm’s length.
There are other several ways one can make a library look neat and welcoming. We would love to hear your ideas as well. Post in the comment section below.
So what’s keeping you here, go create your very own novel library.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KzJYsJRecently I watched Avatar on a friends 50″ TV with several thousand dollars of surround sound technology.
I was very blown away and started asking how much he had spent and what had been involved in setting it all up.
When I picked myself up of the floor (It had cost him nearly 5000$ and involved pulling off the skirting boards to run the cabling) I decided to do some research on what other options might be available to improve the sound of my TV system without the massive cost. The following quick guide shows some of what I discovered!
Flat screen televisions and advances with LCD and high def have given us breathtaking picture quality. Unfortunately a flat screen TV just can’t generate the sort of sounds to really match the screen.
One option is to setup an amplifier and surround sound speakers. This will definitely give you great sound, but its normally expensive and will involve rearranging your living room, pulling up carpets (or skirting boards!) to lay cables and dealing with the clutter of five or six speakers and an amplifier.
If that sounds like far too much hassle then a soundbar may be just what you have been looking for!
A soundbar looks like a wide shallow speaker, normally chosen to approximately match the width of your TV. It can either sit on your TV stand just below your screen or be wall mounted.
Dependent on how much money you want to spend you can get up to 5.1 surround sound in a single enclosure!
A soundbar is easy to setup, typically needing a mains plug, and sound in/outputs from whatever gadgets you need to connect.
Many soundbars even come with an automated setup program that uses an onboard microphone to tune the system for your environment.
To get the right soundbar for your home make sure it has enough inputs and that they match your equipment (Maybe you need an HDMI input for your xbox for example).
Also some systems (such as BlueRay) will almost always require HDMI.
Check also that the unit you fancy will fit on your TV stand!
Most of the ‘big names’ in audio produce one or more models of soundbar so shop around and find one that fits your requirements and budget. If you want a recommendation we can tell you that typically we find that Yamaha soundbars receive glowing reviews!
Copyright © 2011 Richard Kennard
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KmbuxWDouble glazed windows can be a great addition to any home. Unlike regular windows, which have only a single glass pane, while the former windows have two panes that are separated by a thin layer of air. These layers are then sealed with an air-tight seal.
The primary reason most homeowners have double glazing done for windows is to save money on their heating and cooling bills. Because these windows are more air-tight than traditional windows, your heated or cooled air cannot escape through any small gaps. Additionally, it is more difficult for the cold winter air to enter your home. This means that you are not constantly running your heat during the winter, trying to warm the air that gets in through your leaky windows. Over time, double glazed windows can pay for themselves because you will save a significant amount of money on your heating bills each year. Using less energy to heat your home is not only good for your wallet, but it is also good for the environment as well. Installing energy efficient windows lets your family live a greener and more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
These windows are also good for home owners who live near busy roads or in noisy neighborhoods. They help keep heat inside homes and they keep noise out as well. If you are troubled by the noise of traffic coming into your living room while you are trying to relax, consider installing windows that have been double glazed. You will be able to feel more relaxed in your home because of the reduction in noise. Additionally, these windows can help you sell your home faster if you live on a busy street. Potential home buyers are often leery of buying a house located on a major road. However, if they visit your house with their Realtor and notice how quiet it is, they will be more likely to purchase your home.
As a homeowner, you might qualify for a tax credit if you install energy efficient windows. This tax credit will reimburse you up to one-third of the cost of purchasing and installing new windows. If you believe that you are eligible for this tax credit, talk with your tax preparer.They can be a great investment, and you will have another reason to install them if you can get money back from the government.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KvODMsMy father has had chronic back pain for years. Finally at the age of 74 he had a back surgery to scrape off some of the calcification he had in the L3 to L5 regions. I traveled to be with him for a week as he recuperated. The recuperation period went fairly well and we hoped for the best.
The next year things did not improve so he was going back into the hospital for a fusion operation of his lower back. I again traveled to be with him. Instead of operating on his lower back they found a problem in his lower neck area so they did that surgery instead. I was there for 3 weeks this time as he recuperated.
Six months after that operation we went in for the main lower back fusion. I traveled once again to be with him for 4 weeks. He was in a rehab facility when I left. He got out of rehab two months later. I went back to take him and the occupational therapist to his apartment. We made some changes to his surroundings to better accommodate his needs and to try to make maneuvering around easier. It did not last long. He would up falling and going back into rehab for another 2 months.
My father has always been independent. He handled his own finances, insurance, medical, drve himself to appointments etc. A few years before his surgeries he decided to sell his house and move into an independent living facility. Every thing was great there. He loved being a social bug and was a huge help to many of the residents there. The facility was only for independent living though.
After he started having surgeries though his balance and speech started to deteriorate. He started to fall. I would start to receive calls that my father was in the hospital. I would then travel to help. This started to wear on me. I was working full time and had to get time off in order to take care of him. I could see he was getting worse and was falling more often. I tried to talk to him about living someplace where he could get some care like an assisted living facility but he would have nothing of it. "I can live by myself" he would say to me.
The last time he fell the doctor at the emergency room in the hospital told him he could no longer live by himself. He had to have 6 stitches in his head but he had not broken any bones. The doctor also wanted him to get a wheel chair because of his balance problems. That was the first thing I did when I arrived at the hospital.
Now I had to find a place for him. We decided move him closer to us. I knew we could not put him in our house because we had stairs in front and back plus the extra bedroom was in the basement. Together that both my wife and I were working full time. I am a computer nerd though so I did not think that I would have a hard time finding a place.
Boy was I wrong! I did not know anything about the facilities. I found Adult Family Home, Assisted Living Facilities, Boarding Homes, Nursing Homes and In Home Care companies. There was a ton of information on the internet but I needed help and guidance! I tried a couple of "placement" agencies I found on the internet but nobody had a phone number for me to call. I had to fill out an email template and wait for a response.
Other information I found told me that I had to do a tour, what questions to ask etc. How could I possibly do that? I was not even in town! I started to feel stuck. I started to truly panic! I needed to find some help. Who could I call? Who did I know?
My Blog https://ift.tt/2Kx5YHRHouse cleaning is not the bane of my existence. It is my existence. Quite simply, it’s what I do. I have difficulty understanding how some moms have spotless houses and still maintain employment outside the home. I assume it’s because there is no one in the house all day to mess it up. But at this house, I am home, Hubbie works from home, the little man is certainly always at home, and the girls are here when not in lessons or school. That’s five– with no daycare, no nanny, no maid.
My house is constantly being cleaned, yet it is never clean. I will finish one room, walk into another, work in there, return to the first room and think, “Woah, didn’t I just do this?” I have an aunt who once said, “Why bother?”
Well, I bother because it’s my job– The job I chose and the job I like to do. I just wish that when it was done, it would stay done. For a day, at least.
My girls have to clean their room every Saturday. Every single Saturday, unless there are plans, in which case they do it on Sunday. This is, and has been, the rule… since ever, like always.
Every Saturday, they are surprised. You want us to do what? Really??? But Moooooom, do we have to? This leads to:
“It’s her mess, not mine,” and “I want my own room.”
Still, despite the procrastination, the arguments, the accusations, the frustration, and the surprise, they manage to get it done. They earn an allowance for the few chores they are assigned, and most weeks it goes into the bank. So, by Saturday afternoon the girl’s room is clean.
By Sunday afternoon, the girl’s room is messy.
At the party last week, one little friend; one whom I adore, not only because she is sweet, but because she is a bit outspoken like me and definitely not-afraid to put-it-out-there; this one little girl says, “I never wanted to say it at your house, because I didn’t want to embarrass you, but their room is messy.”
Thank you, dear child, for not embarrassing me at my house– saying it in front of twenty other people is certainly the kinder, gentler way to let me know that I have trouble keeping up with my kid’s messes.
But I am not embarrassed. The great thing about being a mom is that:
There is always someone to blame
Late? I’m so sorry, I couldn’t get out on time because of the kids.
Forgot to do something? I apologize, there is so much going on with the kids.
Not return a phone call? Really, I meant to, but the kids had homework.
Dirty Dishes? It’s the kids.
Floors need sweeping when someone stops in? Don’t mind the mess… it’s the kids you know… and the dogs.
It’s not me. I know that it’s not me.
I gripe to Steve that while I love my job, and I live 100% of everyday to take care of my family, there is a fine line between taking care of them and being the servant. I don’t mind cleaning– I do mind picking up 10 pair of shoes out of eight rooms, none of which are in a closet where they belong. I don’t mind doing dishes, but I do mind picking them up out of the toy room (see my post here: my magic sink). I don’t mind cleaning up toys, but I want to clean them up from the toy room floor, not the living room couch. And, don’t get me started on where they deposit laundry (on the floor, any floor).
But Steve puts it in perspective. He reminds me that I leave coffee cups everywhere. It’s true, I set them down nearby wherever I am in the house, move away from them, forget where they are; and pour another cup. This is why I have about 30 mugs in my cupboard– well, 2 mugs in the cupboard, 20 in the dishwasher and at least 6 around the house.
But it is my only fault. Other than this one idiosyncrasy, I am very organized. If you ask me where something is, I can tell you in seconds flat.
Which brings me to:
There is a place for everything and everything in it’s place
I think this is what drives me up the wall the most. Not the messes, I can manage that okay. It’s the not-putting-it-back-where-it-came-from phenomenon that pervades my daily life.
When I want my black sharpie, I go to my pen cup. When I want the tweezers, I open the bathroom closet and look on the back of the shelf in their little holder. When I want the butter, I look in the drawer with all the dairy foods. That’s where I left it, that’s where it belongs, that is it’s place.
But these things are never there.
Why?
Because some little someone used it/took it/ borrowed it/lost it and now because
There is always someone to blame
It is usually impossible to find the culprit… I need all my time to find the item. And that brings me back to this:
“It’s her mess, not mine,” and “I want my own room.”
I want my own room too. Heck, I’d settle for one tiny space– maybe just having my desk hands-off to all comers. I tried labeling things. I wrote, “Mom’s” on my biggest, best, new scissors.
Tonight, Hubbie borrowed the scissors. He, unlike the children, did not abscond with them leaving me to wonder where or who took them. He’s too smart, too funny, and he knows me too well. No, he took the scissors, said,
“I’m taking these scissors.”
“Okay, but put them back.”
“I don’t know, I think I’m going to cross out ‘Mom’s’ and write ‘Dad’s’.”
That was hours ago– and the scissors are not back. I know because I had to cut open a package and I had to do it with kids blunt craft scissors. What package you ask?
A new thermometer. I had to check Alex’s temp and found the baby ear thermometer in the girl’s room- not working. Of course, its home is in the bathroom closet; but that’s the whole point of this post.
“Which of you took the thermometer?”
“Madeline”
“No, Sophia!”
Maybe sometimes there isn’t anyone else to blame. Maybe sometimes it is what it is, a scrambled family with too much going on and too much stuff to keep track of. Either way, I think I need to buy new scissors.
I like things organized. I don’t get to have that right now. Maybe when my kids are grown and out of the house, I will find a way to have it my way. Meanwhile, I struggle along the best I can. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I will be one of those moms who rewrites the family history. When my kids say the house got messy, I’ll just live in denial. “What? Our house messy? No. I always kept it clean.”
It’s the cleaning I’ll remember, not the clean. Irma Bombeck once said, “Cleaning your house while kids still live in it is like shoveling the walk while it’s still snowing.”
Well, it’s snowing here everyday and try as I might, I can’t find the darned shovel. It’s not where I left it, and I forgot to label it “Mom’s”.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2IBz1FbBack when some of our mothers were teenagers they dreamed of having a hope chest. This was generally a cedar chest that would hold all of the things they needed for married life. In this chest was the young girl’s valuables and it was often part of their dowry. This was something that was given as a special gift.
The hope chest was also made out of cedar because it contained the linens, quilts and sometimes a bridal gown that was passed to the daughter and cedar keep away bugs and fungus; it also added a pleasant smell to the items put into it.
Today hope chests are usually not given as a prize before marriage but they will keep similar things. As an example, many woman and young girls use them for keepsakes from childhood. Some will use them in their first apartment as a decoration.
The other way that these have changed is that they are not only for girls today. Boys and men also use them as ways to keep special things from childhood, keep special clothing in or to keep important papers. The point is that these are great pieces of furniture that have a variety of uses.
Also, hope chests still come in cedar, but you also have the choice of wicker and wood. Some have a cushion on top for sitting and can come with casters. This is a very important part of being able to move them around.
One of the nice things about a hope chest is it has a sturdy design. There are a variety of finishes you can choose and they can contain scroll work or other decorative designs.
Uses for Hope Chests– besides the uses we have already described here are some other uses for hope chests:
As a place to store blankets –many people use them in the bedroom or living room as a place to store extra blankets.
Give to your daughter — even though it seems old fashioned you can give your daughter a hope chest in the traditional way. A couple of ideas for what to put into it would be baby pictures or albums or homemade keepsakes.
Give one to your son — if your son is going away to college or getting his first apartment this is a good sturdy chest to give him for special things from home.
As a decorative piece — many hope chests make beautiful decorative pieces in hallways or other small rooms.
Types of Hope Chests
In the past you had one or two styles of hope chests to choose from and they were generally in yellow because this was the color of cedar. Today, there are a variety of styles and colors. The type you choose will be a matter of choice.
Shopping for a hope chest is easy because there are hundreds of websites online. You can find many in some of the more contemporary furniture stores and you may even find some of the older ones at garage or estate sales.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2Kx5XDNA used computer desk can be a very handy and convenient item to the person who does not have very much extra cash to spare on this particular type of office furniture. The best part is the fact that a large number of individuals will often end up spending a lot less money and they can still end up with a product that is made of the highest quality of materials, with a lot more use to offer.
There are a wide variety of different choices that can be made in pre-owned desks and numerous other types of office furniture as well. You just might be amazed at the elegant styles and the unique designs that can be found in several different places that are known for selling pre-owned items. Many of the local newspapers in almost every city feature a classified section where individuals and companies alike have the ability to list items they are selling such as a used computer desk or any other product they may have. Whether you are simply looking for a plain and simple design, a style that you can sit in the corner of your office, or a choice that offers you a look that shows a tremendous amount of elegance, if you will simply take the extra amount of time to explore all of your options you will soon find numerous choices available to you. There are many styles that are offered today that are made from the classic look found in a variety of beautiful and durable woods, glass and brass, metal, and other high quality and appealing materials that are used in their construction.
Other choices where you can easily find a used computer desk that is priced to fit almost any size budget would be thrift stores in your local area. This is an advantage that gives you the item that you need at a much lower price than what you would be able to find one at new prices. One place that is one of the most preferred methods to use among numerous price conscious shoppers would be in using the Internet. There are tons of reliable and well-known websites that can easily be found online, and they feature several different styles in a huge selection of used computer desk choices that are made from some of the most trusted name brand manufacturers. Take your time, browse at your leisure, and enjoy some fantastic money saving prices.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KvOEjuThe City of Venice, Italy
Venetian architecture comes from Venice, a city in northeastern Italy which is made up of 118 small islands separated by canals and all linked by a series of bridges. Venice was named for the ancient Veneti people who inhabited this region in the 10th century BC. The city itself was founded between the 5th and 6th century by wealthy inhabitants from the mainland who were fleeing the barbarian invasions.
History of Venetian Design
Venice was the birthplace of unique architectural styles due to the necessity of building homes above the many canals. The buildings were set on closely spaced wooden piles made from the trunks of alder trees. Venetian architecture was influenced by the Gothic style along with Byzantine and Ottoman influences. Some of the more famous Venetian architects were Baldassarre Longhena, who designed many churches in the Baroque style during the 17th century and Carlo Scarpa, a 20th century architect who created many designs of landscapes, gardens and buildings not only in Italy but throughout the world.
Venetian Architecture
Venetian architecture is lighter in structure and more graceful than the heavier buildings in other European cities. Every inch of land was considered valuable so architects never added any more weight or size than was necessary to support the building. The most famous design element of Venetian design is the Gothic lancet arch, where the top of the arch is tall and pointed, like a lance. Another design used in the 14th and 15th centuries is a central hall, called a portego, which is a long passageway usually opened with a loggia with Gothic arches.
Colors That Support the Style
Venetian colors were mostly rich colors like dark reds, muted yellows and bright blues. Many colors were muted in tone and during the Renaissance, they were gradually softened to duplicate natural colors. Of course, you cannot talk about Venetian style without mentioning Venetian plaster. The plaster was mixed with marble dust and applied in thin, multiple layers, then polished to a smooth surface. This gives the illusion of depth and texture. Venetian plaster can also be left unpolished which leaves a matte finish that is rough and stone-like.
Venetian Design Elements
The Venetian style was also used to create beautiful interior designs. In fact, some of the best examples of rich, extravagant Rococo designs were found in Venice. Draperies and curtains were made from materials like damask, velvet and silk. Other elements found in Venetian homes were girandole mirrors, colorful chandeliers using Murano glass and precious stones, polished terrazzo flooring, arches with broken pediments over windows and doorways, porcelain figurines and oriental rugs.
Examples of Venetian Architecture
In order to explore the world of Venetian architecture, we will look at some historical examples.
Doge’s Palace – This structure was originally built in 810 in the Venetian Gothic style, was rebuilt and partially reconstructed a number of times. It is now a museum and is a landmark of Venice.
Ca’ d’Ora (golden house) – Also known as Palazzo Santa Sofia, it got its original name from the gilt and polychrome decorations on the outside walls. The architects were a father and son team – Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon, who also, by the way, worked on the Doge’s Palace.
From My Heart
My dream is to travel and learn about culture, history and design. I hope some day to visit the romantic city of Venice, Italy; to see the things I write about, experience the culture and the warmth of its people. I would love to travel through the tiny canals in a gondola while viewing its beauty, architecture and arts.
If you would like to learn more and see photos of Venetian architecture and design, please visit my blog.
Copyright 2012 Katy Hahn Designs
This article may be reprinted with the following conditions: Must be reprinted in full with no changes, author information in the article must be included and any embedded links must be active.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KoJ8mQA mysterious phenomenon seems to be plaguing homeowners-their vinyl siding is warping and buckling, or as some describe it, “melting.” The Vinyl Siding Institute as well as the National Association of Home Builders both insist that the problem is not widespread. However, the complaints have attracted enough media attention lately to cause some concern-and Low-E energy-efficient windows have been taking the heat.
The charge goes something like this: because double-paned, energy-efficient windows “bow inward,” the concave shape focuses the sun’s rays like a magnifying glass. Temperatures, consequently, can reach over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. When sunlight bounces off these windows, they say, vinyl siding can literally melt.
But are double-paned, energy-efficient windows really the culprit? There are other explanations for such warping. Even homebuilders are reluctant to blame the neighbor’s windows, and point to a variety of factors that could affect the intensity of the reflected sunlight. In fact, they recommend that each case be investigated on an individual basis. To quote the National Association of Home Builders, “The use of double paned low-e windows will not necessarily result in any damaging reflected sunlight incident. A combination of contributing factors must be present before the effect occurs….”
I’ve also discussed this with a local home inspector, who agrees-there are other contributing factors that can cause vinyl siding to warp, buckle and melt. He’s observed it mostly in newer neighborhoods, where the construction of homes is congested and concentrated, so homes are really close to one another. Plus, reflected and radiant heat can come from a number of sources, not just windows:
And just maybe it’s the siding.
According to current manufacturing standards, normal grade vinyl siding begins to distort at 160 – 165 degrees. That’s pretty low! Especially when you factor in atmospheric conditions such as wind speed, air temperature and seasonal sun angles. Now add to that the proximity of your neighbor’s windows…
Second, what lies under the affected siding might be contributing to the problem. What was installed underneath it? For example, if an interior vapor barrier was installed behind the drywall, heat will build up inside. Add reflected heat to the equation, and well, you see the problem…
But have you heard the saying, “Cheap is the most expensive price to pay?” What is happening here just may be more indicative of cheap siding, and to some extent, cheap thermal pane windows. Inferior products just can’t be trusted to hold up under extreme conditions.
True, if the glass on a window is sucked in, it can form a veritable parabolic dish, which condenses and concentrates the heat waves, much like a solar stove. But if the siding is thin enough (and close enough), after prolonged periods of sun exposure at the right angle, it can droop.
One solution is to choose better siding (one that is under warrantee for more than a year!) Look for heat-resistant vinyl siding that can withstand heat ranges of 185 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose your product carefully and discuss how the siding will be installed with your contractor or homebuilder. How thick is this siding? What will be under the siding? Is there another, more durable product that I can buy? What’s new on the market? What’s covered in the warranty? And remember-cheaper can end up costing you more!
Local building codes all over the country now require energy-efficient windows to be installed, and for very good reasons. Low-E glass technology and energy-efficient construction make good sense for your home and for the environment. So energy efficient, double-paned windows are not going away anytime soon. All new building products manufactured these days need to be of the highest quality and durability and designed to be compatible with one another to ultimately protect you-the consumer.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KzBkdGWhich floor pillows you choose is going to depend on your home, the size of your family and how many people visit you on a regular basis. They are an excellent way to supplement seating in your home with out taking up a lot of room. The size of the room you are decorating will determine what kind you use as well. If the room is small then having large pillows can be a falling hazard as people try to move around the room. You need to choose the right size to go along with the flow of the room. Regardless if they are small floor pillows or extra large floor pillows, you do not want to have too many that will crowd the room with them.
The ages of those who will be using the pillows needs to be taken into consideration as well. If you have small children or small children frequent your house than a few extra large pillows can work well. Also there are child pillows that are small floor pillows that can be picked special for each child. Either way they are the perfect solution for active children in your home. It is a better idea to have children jumping around on cheap floor pillows than your furniture.
Novelty pillows are enjoyed by children of all ages. These cheap items make any room more fun for children to be in. They can be matched to any room’s color scheme. Large pillows can stay on the floor while small ones can be stored on beds or other furniture. It is a great way to entice your child to hang out at home with their friends lounging on floor pillows instead of going elsewhere.
Cheap pillows are fast and easy way to decorate any apartment or home. There are so many cheap ones out their to choose from that you can completely change the look and character of you home quickly with just a few set about. They can add a bright burst of color to a room. If your room is monotone in color, you can add bright floor pillows to give it more pizazz. You can buy several different colors of cheap floor pillows to add even more colors to your current color scheme.
Simply through the brightly colored anywhere on the floor for people to sit on. They will not only bring more color into your décor but also add comfort for your family and company. They allow your rooms to be relaxed and spread out. All kinds can be found online and in local stores. They can decorate any room. Simply add a few in various sizes to a room.
Cheap pillows are very versatile and durable. The slips they have on them can be made from any number of great fabrics. These slips are easily removed to be placed in a washing machine and come out looking brand new. This really comes in handy for those families that have pets. Pets love to curl up on floor pillows and will happily snooze there all day. This make floor pillows that have removable slips a great idea because they will need to be washed often.
The Japanese have been using Them for as long as they have been in history. Japanese pillows are usually made from the hulls of buckwheat have been used for centuries. Modern Japanese pillows are now made of polyester material and filled with feathers but many still will only use the ones made of buckwheat. The hulls of buckwheat is a natural material and can give pillow wonderful support for the entire body.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2Kto1PpThe more classic style of décor is still very popular in homes. While stainless steel kitchens, white benchtops and singular bold colour window coverings look good, they don’t give off the warm, homely feeling that timber can. When you are choosing your window coverings, you take a few things into consideration. How well they provide privacy, how good the lighting control is and of course, how good they will look in your home. These are all good reasons to consider and choose to add timber blinds to your home because they cover all of these bases and more.
What is so good about timber blinds?
As with anything you add to your home, you want your blinds to be beautiful. The wonderful thing about timber blinds is they are just that. Beautiful; stunning and stylish. If you want a window covering that adds character to your rooms, then your blinds should be timber. With the obvious aesthetic appeal of timber blinds aside, there are the functional benefits to consider. Blinds are added to windows predominantly for privacy and protection of valuable belongings. Knowing that prying eyes cannot view inside your home is a comforting thought, timber venetian blinds can be moved to allow light in but still offer this piece of mind. They also offer sound absorption so you can minimize any noise from outside that you may wish to block out. While you have your blinds adjusted in such a way to allow in light, you can also be assured you will get good ventilation throughout the room. But the really great thing about having blinds made from timber is that timber is a fantastic natural insulator. Because of this, there will be less chance of excessive charges on your heating or cooling bills.
Three kinds to choose from.
Western Red Cedar blinds are suited to those with more give in their budget. These blinds are assured of an enduring lifespan that create less of an environmental impact. If your budget falls in the median range then you are in luck as Woodwind blinds are resistant to warping damage, fading and cracking making them a fantastic blind to last. If your budget is not as big as you would like, don’t lose heart. Thanks to the New York blinds, style can still be yours. Made from polystyrene, they will still make your room look fantastic and offer privacy.
Timber blinds are among some of the most beautiful additions you can add to your home. When choosing your window coverings avoid disappointment and choose timber blinds.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2KCHdXSIn today’s modern and sophisticated days, the idea of interior designing is not restricted to furnitures and accessories. Simply stuffing your house with furniture would make the rooms appear bulky and untidy. The modern home decorations are defined by the use of unique art and architectural items to further furnish the furniture and present them with a stylish and uncluttered look. The home decor stores are overflowing with many unique decorating accessories. The trick lies in using these items in an appropriate way to give that lavish look to your home. You can use these items in your own way to adorn your house with your own unique ideas.
The modern home decor designs give an aesthetic touch to your house. They are great and easy ways of adding style to your home. You can design your house by using decorative accessories like area rugs, sheepskins, photo frames and mirrors. You can even use simple items like candles and holders to furnish the interiors of your home. The modern area rugs are one of the items which can be used to adore the floors of the house. They can be found in plenty of patterns and with stylish intricate prints. These rugs are mainly placed at the entrance of the rooms. The area rugs complement the floors of the house and make them appear lively.
The sheepskins are another unique home decor accessories. The sheepskins are available in a range of colors, sizes, textures and designs and they add comfort, quality and style to your home. They have multiple uses and can be used as throws on beds, benches, chairs, sofas and on floors. When you wish to splash your house with rich colors then walls are the best places to do so. Splash the walls of your house with colorful wall decor products like wall hangings, wall stickers and wall murals and keep them in colorful style.
The use of art is the trend of modern home designs. The best way to add and show artistry is to patch up your home with art pieces like beautiful photo frames and mirrors. Display the enlightenment in your decorations with the use of colorful candles and candle holders. Put some red candles on your sparkling white table and instantly change the atmosphere of your home. Keep experimenting with the unique home decorative accessories and you are sure to come up with some great ideas that would add sparkles to your house. Use these modern home décor designs and add style to your home.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2Lw1JJwWhat an impact console games have had on our lives. A small TV in the corner with a games console connected to it is not enough. The ultimate games room is what us gamers dream about. 50″ TV, surround sound system, latest PlayStation or Xbox. Even an expensive sofa to lounge on.
Then there are the games. A wide range of games are now available to suit everybody. Graphics and sound are astounding. The games just get better and better.
Street Fighter IV is no exception, it brings the legendary fighting series back to its roots by taking the beloved fighting moves and techniques of the original Street Fighter II, and infusing them with Capcom’s latest advancements in next generation technology to create a truly extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honored art of virtual martial arts. Everything that made the legendary Street Fighter II a hit in the arcades, living rooms and dormitories across the globe has been brought back in Street Fighter IV. This game really is the business.
Also a well known favourite is Grand theft Auto. Beginning with the 1997 release of the original Grand Theft Auto, the GTA series has been one of the most prolific, controversial and down right entertaining franchises in video games history. Historically GTA games have focused heavily on mission-based play, requiring successful completion of fixed tasks in order for players to progress through the game, but this has changed to a great extent in GTA IV. Players will experience an entirely new and exciting emphasis centred on the blending of on-mission and off-mission play, resulting not only in an increased sense of realism, but more interesting and unrestricted gameplay.
More importantly, just enjoy your games.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2xTgAMrWhen you are looking for a rental company that you can hire office furniture from, it is always a wise idea to look for one that has a good reputation of supplying quality furniture that will live up to your requirements as well as expectations. However, there are of course a few ways by which you can figure out whether a rental company is actually good or not.
For instance, a reliable and renowned rental company will have branded furniture of many different kinds giving you the opportunity to select from some of the best. Such a company, that you can rely on should also have enough ways for you to browse through the different furniture as well as the styles, there should of course be some physical store locations that you can visit and see for yourself, but an additional online catalogue can also be of great convenience to you. This way you will be able to select at ease the perfect office furniture for your workplace.
Usually, good rental companies will also be able to provide you with the help of a rental consultant. This person will be your guide for renting the office furniture, according to your requirements as well as the office space that is available there. Apart from that, such a consultant will be able to help you with all other queries and requests that you might have. Therefore, a rental company that appoints you a rental consultant to assist you is surely one of the better companies and a part of those that you can trust with your needs.
So, when you begin searching for the perfect rental company for your office furniture, keep these above points in mind all the time, so that you can find the best and useful furniture for your office space.
My Blog https://ift.tt/2HeJCVSYou've made the decision to completely revamp your home and you've decided you'd like it to be in Retro style but just how do you go about incorporating that into your home. First of all it might help to have an understanding of what a Retro design style actually is.
What is Retro?
The post war fifties and psychedelic sixties saw a move towards more brighter and bolder colors most likely as a backlash to doom and gloom of the war torn forties. Basically, Retro style of interior design can be described as taking a little bit of the past few decades into the present in order to create a new style of interior design that is both modern and fun. As there is so much material to choose from, what you decide to include will absolutely be your own interpretation of the past, so entirely unique.
During each of the past three decades there have been different materials, shapes, colors, artefacts, and gadgets that have left a lasting impression on all of us. These days, anything from the 50's, 60's or even the 70's is fashionable again. However, because there are so many different ways to go about incorporating a Retro style into your home, it can be difficult to know where to start. There is not a standard look that can be described as Retro and yet everyone is able to recognize it when they see it.
Where to start
The first step would be to browse through magazines and search on the Internet, visit show rooms and exhibitions for the color schemes, furniture, layouts etc. that appeal to you. Ask yourself what artefacts have been used, how the furniture is laid out, what it is made of, look at the lighting and any effect it creates, take note of the color schemes, the ornamental touches and do not forget the wall and floor coverings. From there you can literally mix and match elements that appeal to your own taste to produce a retro style that reflects your own identity with the past.
Getting the look
After the war new materials were being produced that led to a dramatic change in styles during the fifties and sixties, for example, Formica, plastic, fiberglass and plywood were introduced. The mood of the people was buoyant, and the future looked bright, supposedly so were the color schemes. For example:
* Turquoise
* Jade
* Mint green
* Pink
* Sunshine yellow
* Cherry red
* Blue
* Black and White
Highly polished chrome was very popular and used for furniture or for ornamental purposes. The furniture was often abstract in style with weird and wonderful shapes. Think of low lying round or oval or kidney shaped coffee tables, or anything in a curvy boomerang type shape. Teak and Pine were popular materials. Blow up furniture was introduced along with disposable materials like cardboard so no longer did furniture have to last for years; it was possible to change the look of your home as often as you felt the urge.
Who could possibly forget GPlan furniture that was all the rage and that revolutionized home interiors? For the first time, people could develop a coordinated look to their home over a period of time and mix and match pieces to create their own style.
Imagine black and white chequered linoleum offset against chrome furniture and black vinyl coverings. What about the wet look wall paper and bold floral patterns? Or even the bright and bold red and black contrasting color schemes.
Geometric patterns and shapes were ever popular and as the space age was well and truly upon us during the fifties and sixties wall hangings, shapes, pictures, lamps, ornaments or anything that was reminiscent of space was well and truly in. For example, rockets, the planets, satellites, and space ships were very trendy and atomic wall clocks were a feature in the most fashionable of homes.
Finally
Visit antique shops or search on eBay to pick up vintage ornaments and objects in order to complete the vintage Retro look. There are not any hard and fast rules about what you should or should not include and that is what makes the Retro style so exciting differently. Do not be afraid to be bold with your design ideas, as long as it looks good to you and feels right then you can not really go wrong.
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