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Okay, you’ve put custom blinds up all over the house and now you want to put them up in the kitchen. First off you have to realize that the kitchen is a totally different situation than the rest of the house. You generally want a lot of light in the kitchen so you will want to use custom blinds that do not keep the light out and help you make use of natural sunlight by allowing it in. You may also want to consider going with wide blinds as opposed to narrow ones.

Another way the kitchen differs from the rest of the house is traffic. The kitchen is probably the most heavily used area in your home and therefore needs almost constant cleaning. When thinking of custom blinds for your kitchen you should bear this in mind and choose custom blinds that are easily cleaned. Custom blinds with a wood look to them are a choice for many people, particularly those who have a country theme in their kitchen.

You also want to be sure that the window is set high so that the possibility of food splatter on the blinds is lessened. If this is not possible and for example, you have a window near your range, then make sure that you get a very durable set of blinds that can be easily cleaned and are not subject to melting or warping from heat.

Custom blinds look good anywhere in the home but they look especially good in the kitchen where as I said earlier you want to make use of all the natural light possible. If you decide to go with wooden blinds they can be stained to virtually and color you desire and really make for a rich look in any kitchen. They are also extremely durable and long lasting.

Using custom blinds in the kitchen is not only safer than drapes and curtains but will also give it a cleaner and classier look. The prices for these types of blinds are not outrageous and you can get the look you are after without having to mortgage the home.

Some final things that you need to consider before ordering your blinds pertain to safety mainly. If you have pets and small children in the home you want to be concerned with the length of the strings that are left hanging down. They could get wrapped up in them and choke. Be sure to have a plan of action for keeping them out of reach. If you want to go with a little higher quality custom blind you can choose blinds with a remote control that will eliminate the need for the strings at all.

Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find more about vertical blinds and wood blinds at http://www.windowblindsandshadesonline.com.

[tags]blinds, vertical blinds, home improvement, kitchen[/tags]

All those busy realizing their dream of “home sweet home,” are well aware that wrought iron is a key fundamental for their home d

You would like to give your kitchen a new look but you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money. A great option for you is to install a ceramic tile backsplash. Since there are such a large variety of tiles, you can find the pattern that best suits the updated style of your kitchen.

Choose your tiles. Before you can install your ceramic tile backsplash, you need to choose your tiles. Pick a pattern or a color that goes with your existing d

Everyone has their own notion of fun holiday activities but among the top crowd pleasers are Halloween crafts. It’s generally considered a sort of minor holiday but one that creates lots of happy childhood memories.

Projects that are easy enough to create both fun decorations and useful party items that are entirely created by the child with adult supervision are best. The bonding experiences that a little construction paper and crayons provide are the finest available.

Children always enjoy the opportunity to use Halloween crafts to stretch their imaginations. A paper lunch bag filled with newsprint and decorated with snips of construction paper is an instant owl. A paper grocery bag with a little orange cut out Jack-O-Lantern is the perfect trick-or-treat container.

It doesn’t take very much effort to set up an afternoon session of Halloween crafts. A good craft table set up on the linoleum or other wipe clean surface and some child and adult sized folding chairs are needed. Unless you’re lucky enough to have already created a craft room care must be taken to insure easy clean up.

Use boxes or plastic carriers to organize supplies. Try to find disposable containers for paints, glitter or beads. Purchased containers or re-used potato chip containers with lids will be especially useful. That way it is easier to take a break and seal glue or paint for later use. If Styrofoam plates are used it is possible to cover them with plastic wrap.

Halloween crafts aren’t rocket science. It takes only time and patience on the part of a supervising parent to create treasures that will be unique. Scare crows are good projects that will be useful outdoor decorations. This Halloween craft can be part of a group effort. All family members can contribute something to the yard display.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Halloween Party Games (Halloween-Party-Fun.com), party planning tips, decorations, costume ideas, recipes, printable activities and free coloring pages.

[tags]Halloween,crafts,paper,cup,idea,tips,checklist,food,event,fun,guests,invitations,supplies,decorate[/tags]

Building a deck may seem a daunting task, but is not impossible if you have a few basic skills such as using a shovel, level, tape measure, hammer, saw and drill. These tools are straight forward in their use and are skills that are easily mastered. Don’t let them scare you away from this easy task. I will give you the step by step procedures for building a simple deck in your back yard that you can enjoy for years to come. This project can be completed in a hard weekend.

The first thing you need to decide is where you want your deck and how large you want it. For first time builders, don’t start to large or complicated. As your skill improves, you can add to your deck and add features that will give your deck more interest.

An eight foot by ten foot deck is large enough for a small group of people to enjoy without falling over each other. Check the local building codes for requirements (if any) in your area such as footing and material requirements, etc. If you want to attach the deck to your house, and are a first time builder, you will need a contractor to help you do this correctly and in accordance with local requirements to prevent any problems in the future. I will cover only an 8 foot by 10 foot free standing deck at this time.

Some common terms:

Rim Joists: the heavier support lumber around the outside of the deck
Joists: the large boards inside the rim joists to support decking. These are normally the same size as the rim joists.
A number with ‘ behind means feet.

A number with ” behind it means inches. So 7′0″ means 7 feet and 0 inches.

Crowning: Sighting down the narrow edges of a board (very few are perfectly straight) and marking the area that is high in the center of the board.

The first step is to pick up the materials from your local builders supply. They will be able to give you a material list based on the size of deck you are building. The material list should include two 8′ and five 10′ boards to be used as joists. Deck piers will work in most applications and are easy to work with. Once you have your piers, lumber, nails or screws (recommended) you can get ready to get your hands dirty and have some fun. Screws are a little harder to install than a nail but they will not loosen up over time causing the deck to wobble. Piers are a concrete pillar 8 to 10 inches tall and larger on the bottom with cutouts in the top to accept your joists in two directions, 90 degrees from each other. You can get by with as few as 6 of these, but they determine how solid your deck is when you walk on it. My suggestion is to use 12 of these inexpensive items and you will not regret the additional cost. Set four piers at the corners of your deck in a rough square. If you want it is aligned with your house you can measure from the wall of your house to two pillars and adjust them until they are parallel with your house. Cut two joists 10 feet long and two 7 foot 10 inches long. These are called the rim joists. They should be at least a treated 2 x 6.

Remember to crown all the joists. Place them in the top of your corner piers making sure the 10 foot boards are on the inside of the 7′10″ joists. Screw through the 7′10″ boards into the 10 foot boards making sure to use at least three screws that are at least 3 inches long. These corners you just made should set in the piers securely. Next, using your level, starting at the lowest corner and working around the perimeter, adjust the piers by removing soil from beneath them until all sides are level. Keep checking and rechecking during this process. After you have leveled the entire perimeter, you must check the square of your frame. To do this, measure between opposite corners in an ‘X’ pattern. These measurements need to be equal. If one leg of the ‘X’ is longer, slide it toward the short side in small increments until both measurements are equal. Remember to check for level as you do this step.

When both cross measurements are equal, the frame is square. Now place 2 pillars underneath the long sides spaced evenly between the corners and place 1 pillar underneath the center of the short side. If needed, adjust the soil underneath the new pillars to insure the sides remain level and are resting firmly on all piers. This brings the total piers to 10. The remaining two piers will be placed inside the center in line with the short and long sides. The center joist will rest on these piers.

To lay out the spacing for the cross joists, start from one corner on the short side, using the following measurements, mark both long sides. 22

“Art Deco Style” as a popular term, really came into regular usage during the 1960’s, during the revival of interest in the style it represented and remains in use today.

For me, it was what contributed to a way of life in my home from the late 1920’s until the early 40’s. Being a middle class “depression family” we were able to avail ourselves of the abundant mass-produced, machine made products. These were dubbed “kitsch” - a German word meaning “trash.” Today, kitsch is often spelled with a capital “K,” and one can pay more today for a Chase Chrome item accentuated with Bakelite than my mother did for an Art Nouveau vase then. The key word here is “stylish.” It was cheap in price then but it had style. As I clearly recall, the kitchen was the heart of family life - as it still is in many homes today.

Our table was set with colorful tablecloths, some of which were “State” themes, if the family went on vacation and they would bring home a souvenir tablecloth - such as Florida or California. Mom would wear aprons that also had themes, but always cheerful and colorful designs. Tea towels were used - sometimes they were converted into caf

Garden sheds, as their name suggests, are buildings constructed in gardens to stow various gardening tools and to do simple gardening jobs. Garden sheds need to look good themselves, or they will take away from the appearance of the garden in which they are built.

There are two kinds of gardening sheds. Apex-roof garden sheds have the traditional V-shape pointed roof, while pent-roof garden sheds have an inverted U-shape roof that slopes towards the sides. Apex-roof garden sheds have their doors at one of the ends, while pent-roof garden sheds usually have their doors at one of the side walls. Garden sheds made of metal have flat roofs.

Garden sheds are primarily used to store gardening equipment. Fertilizer packets, seeds, gardening hoes, and trimming scissors are the things that one may find in a garden shed. Garden sheds conceal material that is not eye-appeasing but is needed for garden work. Also, the garden shed can be used to do messy gardening jobs like removing rot of plants and grafting and trimming shrubs by uprooting the plant and transferring it into the shed for its treatment. However dirty the garden shed may inside, it is important that it looks pleasant on the outside since it is a part of the garden.

Wood is the most favored material for building garden sheds. Softwood is cheaper, but it is more prone to rotting when exposed to water. Cedar wood is more expensive and is more resistant to rotting. Wood can be painted in colors that may blend it with the garden. If wood is to be used, it must be recurrently treated with preservatives to protect it from pests and insects.

Poly vinyl garden sheds are a good option since they do not have any of the limitations wood has, but they are not that good in the aesthetic sense. Poly vinyl is a durable and cheap material that is easy to build. Do-it-yourself kits sell mostly sheds made of poly vinyl carbonate.

Garden sheds are also available in metals like steel and aluminum. It is important that these metals be treated for corrosion during manufacture.

Sheds provides detailed information about sheds, how to build a shed, metal sheds and more. Sheds is affiliated with Modular Home Plans.

[tags]sheds, how to build a shed, metal sheds[/tags]

Furniture is something that every home needs to give it style and comfort. Patio furniture, bedroom furniture and dining room furniture all help to add character and elegance to your home.

One of the first things that guests notice when coming to your home is the style and quality of your furniture.

Does it look nice?

Is your furniture comfortable and relaxing?

When choosing furniture for your home, remember to consider the decorating theme your using throughout your entire house. You’ll find that your own personality will shine through as you choose the best furniture, tables, lamps and rugs for your home.

Beds, bunk beds, bedspreads and other bedroom furniture make any home comfortable and relaxing. Whether it’s bunk beds for the little kids, bedspreads or trundle beds, it’s best to choose beds that fit in with the style and d

A hot tub cover is as important as the hot tub itself. This article tries to impart knowledge regarding the importance, selection and maintenance of hot tub covers.

So, why is a hot tub cover important? Here are the basic facts about hot tub covers and why they are important:

- They protect the hot tub from impurities

This is the most obvious function of a hot tub cover. Just like any other type of cover for any type of container, the hot tub cover protects the tub from impurities such as leaves, trash, insects and the like. A hot tub cover is mostly important if the hot tub is located outdoors.

- Hot tub covers protect children and pets from the hot tub

How many times have you heard that a child drowned inside a hot tub? This is a risk that parents have to take when they acquire a hot tub, and this is a risk that hot tub covers address. Hot tub covers make the tub more secure for unattended children and pets since they are usually very heavy. The heaviness of the tub covers is actually a good thing because small children will not be able to lift it up without the help of adults, keeping them away from the tubs when they are alone.

- Covers protect the tubs from direct exposure to sunlight

Direct sun exposure may harm the hot tub. A good hot tub cover should be able to protect the tub against the harmful effects of the sun. The thickness of and the material used for the cover are two of the most important factors to consider in purchasing a cover. Remember that outdoor hot tub covers will wear out more quickly than those that are indoors because of the torture it gets from sunlight exposure.

-Covers help retain heat

Maintaining hot tubs can be very expensive, especially if we factor in the electricity costs of maintaining the heat inside the tub. The covers of the tubs should be able to help retain the heat inside. Hot tub covers are usually insulated by a material called “expanded polystyrene.” Actually, the thickness of the cover is the main determinant of its heat retaining capacity.

Most hot tub kits usually come with covers. However there maybe times that purchasing a new one is unavoidable. Here are some important things to remember when purchasing a hot tub cover:

-Size

This is a crucial factor that is sometimes forgotten by those who purchase new hot tub covers. Even though there are written specifications regarding the size of the hot tubs, it would not hurt to double check with the manufacturer and the hot tub cover dealers.

-Material

The outer covering of the hot tube cover are made from different kinds of materials, as opposed to the insulating foam, which is basically the same in all types of hot tub covers. Make sure that the material is mildew resistant.

-Children

If there are children in the house, it would be better to purchase a cover which is heavier. Again, weight serves as a safety feature for hot tub covers. If there are no children, perhaps an easier-access model is more suitable.

-R-value

Hot tub covers’ insulating capabilities are assessed using what we call “R-value.” The general rule is that the higher the R-value of a hot tub cover, the better.

-Warranties

Hot tub cover warranties are very important. One should read and be cautious about the warranty of the cover that he is going to buy.

Maintenance

Hot tub covers, just like the hot tubs, should also be maintained and cleaned. A good rule to remember is that a hot tub cover should be cleaned every month. Set a date every month to apply cleaning materials to your hot tub cover.

Another rule that should be remembered is that the hot tub cover should be unzipped every 2 months. The foam inside should be left out in the open for at least one day for it to be able to “breathe.”

Hot tub covers are an essential part of the whole hot tub system. The covers are important for protecting the tub and the family members who use it. Remember the different tips that were mentioned in this article and enjoy your stay in your tub.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://hottubs.home-webzone.com where you can learn all about caring for and using your hot tub.

[tags]hot tubs, patio, pool, home improvement, outdoor living[/tags]

If you have a young adult entering college, a loft bed may be an affordable and practical solution to cramped living quarters such as dormitories or off-campus studio apartments and other shared living arrangements. Since loft beds are simply raised platform beds with an area underneath for desks, entertainment centers, or to use as play areas, they are also ideal to maximize living areas for younger children who share rooms. However, it’s important to familiarize yourself with federal regulations and keep the following safety standards in mind when purchasing loft beds or bunk beds for small children:

• Child’s Age and Height: Your child should be at least two years old and at least three feet tall.
• Child’s Preference: If your child expresses a fear of high places, perhaps bunk beds might be a wiser choice where one child can sleep comfortably on the bottom bunk while another occupies the top.
• Quality: To avoid injuries look for well-constructed, durable frames constructed of solid pine or hardwoods.
• Placement: Loft and bunk beds should not be placed against windows. Attach to the wall for added safety.
• Mattress: Use the correct size mattress. If it’s too small it can cause the child to fall between the mattress and frame and if it’s too large it can overlap or cause damage to the guard rails.
• Guard Rails: Even though one side of the bed is against the wall, both guard rails should be utilized to ensure the child’s safety. Many injuries occur when the child falls between the bed and the wall.
• Ladders: Firmly attach ladders to the bed and be sure they are sturdy and dependable. Improper installation and poor quality leads to injury.
• Rules and Guidelines: Children should be instructed to adhere to safety precautions at all times, especially when ascending and descending ladders.

Of the many attractive styles and designs of bedroom furniture to choose from, loft beds featuring built-in desks and drawers are the most popular with children and college students alike. They define the child’s personal living area and add functionality to the d