MyFurnitureOK.com

DIY driftwood takes time, but it will save you tons of money. Some small pieces cost well over $20. Also, the soak method (minus salt) will work for store bought driftwood. Store bought driftwood is cleaned and has not been soaked. This may lead to tannin’s being leaked into your tank

What you’ll need:
Driftwood, which can be found anywhere. It doesn’t necessarily have to come from the water. You could find it in the woods, as long as it is weathered down and looks unique. Also make sure the wood is not rotting.

BIG soaking container, I use a 15 gal rubber maid container.

Aquarium Salt, I use Doc Wellfish brand. This is used as a natural way of killing bacteria and parasites.

First step, clean off your wood! Make sure all debris and bark are removed from the wood (or it’ll fall off in your tank!). Once complete, boil the water in the BIG pot and add aquarium salt. I use about a tablespoon per gallon. Boil the entire piece for about 2-4 hours depending on your size. If you can only fit half the wood in the pot then you will need to boil the other half.

Once the boil is complete you can transfer your wood into the rubber maid container. Add water until the whole piece of wood is under water (you can also add salt if you want). If the wood does not sink place something on top of it until it does. It’ll sink after a week or two. You’ll notice the water turn into tea-ish color. It is the result of the tannins that are released into the water. If you didn’t soak the wood, the water in your tank would be this color. Tannins are natural and some fishes actually like it because it’ll make them feel more at home. It’ll also affect your PH, I’m not sure about GH or KH. You’ll need to do water changes every other day to clean the water. This may take weeks or months.

When the color of the soak water suffices, you will need to soak your wood for another week without any salt. This will make sure that the wood does not hold any salt that may leak into your tank.

Once soaking is complete wash the wood well and transfers the wood into your tank. Do not keep the wood out of water for a long time or it will float.

For more information and pictures about this project, please visit www.CarolinaFishTalk.com and check the DIY section.

Article written by krayzievanh@yahoo.com, member of CFT Community
Proof read by Brandan Njagu b.njagu@gmail.com

Site owner of http://www.CarolinaFishTalk.com.

[tags]Driftwood, aquarium, fish, tank, pets, pet[/tags]

Do you like what you have but dont like your room? Heres the solution: pull your rooms together so they look finished and professionally decorated by following these techniques to add the wow to your rooms! (Ive used them in hundreds of homes!).

1. Paint the walls and ceiling a rich, warm neutral color or one of the colors in your rooms fabrics. Your furnishings will immediately look more at home. I call it marrying your architecture to your furnishings.

2. Next, move your seating away from the walls and group it around a fireplace, a view window or any logical focal point.

3. Now, add a generous area rug to accent and unify your entire seating area.

4. Fill any empty looking corners with large plants and soft up-lights. Add a decorative, folding screen for a fuller look.

5. Place your lamps to evenly and softly light your seating area. Use additional lighting to accent your artwork, collections and accessories.

6. Create a focal point on the coffee table by elevating one of your favorite accessories on a stack of several books (sans covers). This will give your treasure more presence. Then add a low, full green plant or a blooming orchid and a couple of large, glowing candles. If you like a fuller look, use a decorative tray or runner underneath.

7. Lastly, be sure to decorate the top half of your room (from the furniture up), with tall plants, window treatments, artwork and that wall color. The room will feel considerably larger, more interesting and most importantly finished!

These few changes will make all the difference so you can start enjoying living in a beautiful home!

Mary L. Brown of One Day Design is an interior re-designer who specializes in quickly transforming rooms using the furniture, accessories, and artwork people already have to give them a professionally decorated look! She’s been featured on FOXTV, NBC and HGTV. Download Marys FREE Top 10 Decorating Mistakes (and How to Avoid or Fix Them!) and sign up for her FREE decorating eNewsletter at http://www/OneDayDesign.com

More articles at articles database

Price : N/A

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-07-25
I bought this desk two weeks ago and have been very happy with it. It’s extremely strong and I expect it to be durable. The pieces are very heavy, I had to open the box on the patio and bring them in one by one to put the desk together. It was super easy to assemble, and it will be just as easy to move when necessary. I also bought the peninsula, and now have a very spacious desk top. I chose the wheat finish, and the veneer is beautiful and not reflected well in the photograph. I appreciate the eco-friendly principles behind the furniture construction, which you can learn more about on their website.

Use kitchen island ideas to better understand how to create a more functional and comfortable kitchen. Using custom kitchen islands means having the most appropriate island for your home and kitchen area based on your kitchen space and your needs. Kitchen island ideas take us back to the farmhouse kitchen, even back to medieval times when a large worktable was used to do most of the preparation work.

Besides meal preparation, the kitchen can become a gathering area for family and friends if there is enough space. Since so much happens in the kitchen on a regular basis, getting the layout right is important. The kitchen island can serve as an additional eating area, and food preparation can easily be done there. In a large kitchen, the kitchen island can shorten the distances within the working triangle (sink, refrigerator and range or cooktop) and make it more efficient.

Here are kitchen island ideas to consider when planning your kitchen:

1. Kitchen islands work best in larger L, U or G-shape kitchens. If the kitchen is too small, the kitchen island will become an obstruction and hinder easy movement. The best custom kitchen islands for small to midsize kitchens are a portable butcher block or kitchen cart for food prep or extra storage.

2. Include a ventilation hood overhead to eliminate smoke, steam and cooking odors if your kitchen island is going to have a cooktop. The range hood should extend beyond the cooking area by 3 inches or more on the sides for proper ventilation. Using the correct fan size will ensure that removal happens as intended. Have a fan capacity of about 50 cubic feet per minute (cfm) for each square foot of cooktop area.

3. A second kitchen sink can be included on the kitchen island. Use a sink that is deep enough for washing large pots and pans, and consider equipping the kitchen island with a trash compactor, garbage disposal, recycle bin and even a dishwasher. Cleanup will be much easier when these appliances are close by the sink.

4. Allow adequate countertop space on both sides (left and right) of the kitchen island if a sink or cooktop will be used. Include at least 15 inches of countertop space on each side, and if your kitchen is large enough, allow even more space. You can never have too much countertop space in a kitchen. Also, rounded countertop corners help protect everyone from bad bruises — this is true about all kitchen countertop corners.

5. Additional kitchen island ideas are to consider using shelf space on the sides of your kitchen island for cookbooks, collectibles or storage. A built-in TV works here, especially if it faces the family room. Or a microwave may work well for heating up after-school snacks and cooking foods quickly.

6. Countertop material for the island doesn’t have to match the rest of your kitchen countertops as long as it is harmonious with the room’s overall design. You may want to splurge on solid surfacing here, for example, and use laminate on the other countertops. A butcher-block countertop is ideal for chopping, while granite or marble works well for baking purposes and for rolling pastry dough.

7. Maximize natural light by having windows and skylights, and keep kitchen wall surfaces light in color to reflect daylight. Custom kitchen islands work great by using pendant or recessed fixtures to direct light onto the kitchen island and other work areas. Electrical codes will likely require that electrical outlets be located on the sides of fixed kitchen islands, not on the top, to prevent electrical shock.

Use custom kitchen islands ideas to help you know how to create an attractive area that will perform a variety of useful functions. Designed correctly, kitchen islands will make your work area more functional and efficient and will be enjoyed by everyone for many years. Read as many kitchen island ideas as you can on using an island to improve the functionality and comfort in your kitchen — after all, your kitchen is most likely the most popular room in the house.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Learn more about kitchen design online and creating the very best kitchen for your home. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - visit the website and find informative articles for a variety of home improvement topics on kitchen design, bathrooms, fireplaces, home storage and more.

[tags]kitchen islands ideas,kitchen island ideas,custom kitchen islands,kitchen island,kitchen islands,[/tags]

If you are planning on decorating your childs bedroom, to avoid fights, hassles and headaches, let them be involved in the planning stage. As parents, we tend to put our likes and dislikes on our children. However, children have minds of their own; they have their own likes and dislikes. We learned this when they were two, and the terrible twos commenced. You dont want to do a Princess theme room for your daughter whos a tomboy, and would rather play baseball than dolls, or a sports theme room for your son, who would rather play chess than catch.

I have clients, a married couple with two young daughters no older than ten years of age. The couple prefer Contemporary decor in their home. They allowed their daughters some new things for their rooms, such as comforters, window treatments and pictures. While the youngest picked something they felt was appropriate, and in keeping with their style, they were totally shocked that their oldest liked the Shabby Chic style. To their credit, they allowed her to decorate her bedroom in her choice of dcor.

We have to remember that although its our house, its their room. Children spend a lot of time in their rooms and it should reflect their style, not ours. What a great gift you are giving them to allow the use of their creativity as an outlet to decorating their own space. This is probably one of the first things they can do that will allow them to be an individual. You still need to guide them, as these decisions are made, to watch budget, safety and growth potential. (By growth potential I mean that if your child decides on a style of window treatment and fabric, make sure that the window treatment being picked at age 8, will grow with them to age 16. So maybe the style of the window treatment is okay, but the fabric needs to be more age neutral.)

Think about storage kids have a lot of stuff, from the time they are babies up through the teen years. Storage and organization should be a number one priority when decorating your childs room. Luckily, there are so many versatile and stylish storage solutions available now that you and your child should be able to find something that not only fits their room dcor, but also is something that they will actually use to keep their room neat.

Include their hobbies and interests in the dcor of their room, but dont make a theme out of it. Less is more, and those little touches will stand out. Keep awards and trophies limited to current ones, and keep them in one area of the room rather than spread out all over. Make sure they have a desk to do homework, or write in their journals, with a sturdy desk chair that allows them to reach the surface of the desk comfortably. Finish off with an upholstered chair for reading and adequate lighting for all tasks.

Letting your children be a part of the decorating process of their bedrooms, will not only be adding to the beauty of your home, but you and your children will be happier for it.

Kathy Passarette is a Certified Interior Decorator and Affiliate member of the Interior Design Society. She is the owner of Creative Home Expressions located on Long Island, New York. You can contact Kathy through her website at http://www.creativehomeexpressions.com.

More articles at database for articles

Price : $22.49

Features

• Polyester/cotton drapes; 2 panels and tie backs
• Part of Dora the Explorer bedding collection
• Features Dora, Boots and smiling stars
• Machine wash

Product Description

What kind of adventures willDora and Boots encounter next? The sky’s the limit when it comes to this popular kids’ TV show star and her loyal sidekick. Bring Dora to life in your child’s room when you decorate it with Dora the Explorer Star Catcher Drapes. The drapes feature Dora, Boots and smiling stars on a bright pink background with bi-lingual versions of the word star like in the TV show. Made of polyester/cotton, drape coordinates with other items in the Dora the Explorer bedding collection (each sold separately). Includes 2 drapes and tie backs. Additional drapes sold separately. Machine wash. Imported. 82Lx63W.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-06-23
Not a bad product but it was mislabled. The description stated that it was 82L x 63W which was not the case. The window in my daughters room is large so I need curtains atleast 82L. This curtain was only 63L so needless to say I couldn’t use and had to return it.

Review date : 2007-04-06
Is lovely the look it gives into a little girls room, is my dream on my daughter eyes
Dora the Explorer Star Catcher Drape

Dora the Explorer Star Catcher Drape

When we think of Botanical Gardens, we usually don’t think of winter. But in reality, Christmas is one of the better times of year to visit Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. From the end of November through the beginning of January, Longwood Gardens hosts a series of events that fill the conservatory with Christmas Organ Concerts, Organ Sing-alongs, Carillon Concerts, Chorals and Handbells, Strolling Performers and visits from Santa. And if you can brave the winter chill, you will see a delightful colored Fountain Display with holiday music every half hour. At dark, Longwood turns on their beautiful outdoor light display; shimmering stars seem to hover high above the ground, and trees glisten with over 400,000 colored lights that turn the gardens into a wonderland.

Longwood Gardens is the creation of Pierre du Pont, industrialist, philanthropist, and conservationist, who purchased the property in 1906. The site was already known for its fine collection of trees, and du Pont had every intention of preserving the trees and creating a beautiful garden for his family and posterity. Longwood Gardens expands its commitment to the public with extensive ongoing renovation projects and a continuing education curriculum in Gardening, Botany, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Floral Design, and much more.

The garden’s four acres of heated greenhouses contain 20 indoor gardens that manage to integrate holiday cheer with settings most of us wouldn’t necessarily associate with Christmas. Imagine a tropical rainforest that hosts a miniature choo-choo train running on elevated timber tracks and carrying tiny clay pots and holiday decorations. In the Silver Garden full of cacti and aloe and sand, you’ll find a huge living wreath composed of succulent plants. On the way out of the room, you’ll pass a fantasy tree called “Shimmering Elegance” adorned with peacock feathers and clusters of clear glass ornaments that look like bubbles.

The narrow Arcadia passage running alongside the Silver Garden is hung with giant “Kissing Balls” made out of boxwood, lilies and salal leaves. They look like big orbs of mistletoe. You’ll see holiday wreaths made of orchids, begonias, poinsettia, and bromeliads. In the chilly Grapery, with its dormant grape vines, the ceiling is hung with a huge wreath made out of preserved taxus (yews) and clusters of grape lights.

The huge exhibition hall features a revolving 22-foot tall Douglas fir standing inside a circle of 200 water jets. The tree is decorated with red ornaments and silver icicles that create a lovely complement to the red begonia topiary trees that surround it. Other decorated trees crop up throughout the conservatory, decorated by local floral designers. Twenty-two little fir trees line the greenhouses that shelter the starter plants, each one decorated by a local elementary school.

As you leave the humid comfort of the conservatory, you will pass beautiful light displays on the way to the Pierce-du Pont House. The 5-acre Main Fountain Garden is hung with thousands of tiny brilliant blue LED lights, including a tall blue spruce sporting glittering snowflake ornaments. You’ll pass through a row of lights shaped like a lilac garden, cheerful green-and-yellow Witch Hazel and Daffodil displays and alongside graceful alleys of trees. The hanging stars and icicles tower over your head before you are greeted with a beautiful Wildlife Tree decorated with edible icicles made of raisins and red millet strands, suet bags and citrus cups filled with bird-seed, dried flowers and Indian corn for wildlife winter treats.

Inside or out, the many holiday delights at Longwood Gardens make it a special trip for children of all ages. They are open every day of the year from 9 am. They can be reached by phone at 610-388-1000 or on the web at www.longwoodgardens.org.

Mercedes Hayes is a Realtor licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I specialize in Log Homes and Residential Real Estate. Visit my web site http://www.MercedesHayes.com for more information about the Delaware Valley.

[tags]Christmas, Longwood Gardens, Holiday Destinations, Botanical Gardens[/tags]

Price : N/A

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-07-04
This is a beautiful duvet cover!!! I purchased both the black (even though I thought the color might be too harsh) and the indigo, both in king size to fit a queensize bed. This covers as a bedspread, extending over the sides, which I wanted, and have a bedskirt showing through at the foot. The texture/pattern gives an interesting look; the weight of the duvet is that of two heavy sheets. Both sides of the duvet are the same. It provides the variety in look that I wanted and got using the Royal Sateen duvet covers that Marshall Fields carried years ago. I have not washed, so do not know if there is dye bled-through, but when I do wash, will wash the two together only just to be safe.

Also purchased the king sham in both colors. Although not interfaced, there is the 2-inch hem all-around which I like, and the middle-fold in to enclose the pillow which I am use to.

Priced at $~40 each (duvet), $~9 each (king sham) — all was a good buy!!! The items arrived within a week of ordering. I orderded because of the prices — I like and kept because of the quality. Look for the sales, they do occur.

Review date : 2008-07-04
I am very happy with my duvet cover. It is attractive, and it launders well. No complaints. I only paid $42 for the King Size Duvet and felt it was GREAT VALUE. My satisfaction is also dependent on the value and quality of this product. At $149 price, I don’t think I would pay that much for it. But that is a personal opinion on value. It is pretty though.

Review date : 2008-01-26
I love this duvet. It’s absolutely beautiful. Even my boyfriend likes it. I will admit it was expensive, but I was pleased with my purchase and felt it worth the cost.

Review date : 2008-01-07
This is a decent looking duvet but poor quality for the relatively expensive cost. The thread count is low and the duvet isn’t very comfortable.

Do you like what you have but dont like your room? Heres the solution: pull your rooms together so they look finished and professionally decorated by following these techniques to add the wow to your rooms! (Ive used them in hundreds of homes!).

1. Paint the walls and ceiling a rich, warm neutral color or one of the colors in your rooms fabrics. Your furnishings will immediately look more at home. I call it marrying your architecture to your furnishings.

2. Next, move your seating away from the walls and group it around a fireplace, a view window or any logical focal point.

3. Now, add a generous area rug to accent and unify your entire seating area.

4. Fill any empty looking corners with large plants and soft up-lights. Add a decorative, folding screen for a fuller look.

5. Place your lamps to evenly and softly light your seating area. Use additional lighting to accent your artwork, collections and accessories.

6. Create a focal point on the coffee table by elevating one of your favorite accessories on a stack of several books (sans covers). This will give your treasure more presence. Then add a low, full green plant or a blooming orchid and a couple of large, glowing candles. If you like a fuller look, use a decorative tray or runner underneath.

7. Lastly, be sure to decorate the top half of your room (from the furniture up), with tall plants, window treatments, artwork and that wall color. The room will feel considerably larger, more interesting and most importantly finished!

These few changes will make all the difference so you can start enjoying living in a beautiful home!

Mary L. Brown of One Day Design is an interior re-designer who specializes in quickly transforming rooms using the furniture, accessories, and artwork people already have to give them a professionally decorated look! She’s been featured on FOXTV, NBC and HGTV. Download Marys FREE Top 10 Decorating Mistakes (and How to Avoid or Fix Them!) and sign up for her FREE decorating eNewsletter at http://www/OneDayDesign.com

More articles at articles database

BATHROOM FURNITURE:

There are three main types of bathroom furniture. Stand alone, modular and fitted.

Stand alone furniture as the name suggests is designed to stand on its own and is not normally attached to the piece next to it. In fact most free standing furniture does not have a clean edge so it is normally impossible to attach another piece to the side without leaving a small gap between the two pieces. The most common type of freestanding furniture is the vanity unit.

This allows for storage under the basin but takes up the minimum amount of space. This is ideal for storage in small bathrooms.

Modular furniture is similar to stand alone furniture but have flat sides so that pieces can be added together to make a line (or run) of furniture. This allows for a lot more units to be fitted within the bathroom. Normally this type of furniture incorporates a back to wall toilet and cistern housing.

These types of units are best fitted with a gap at either end, as they do not come with filler panels or extra worktop to fill in odd spaces.

Fitted furniture is similar to modular but has a range of units and additional items to ensure that it can be fitted wall to wall without any gaps. This type of furniture also has the largest number of unit sizes and styles available. Fitted furniture in small bathrooms can have the effect of making the room appear smaller.

Wooden Bathroom Products:

All wooden bathroom products must be treated with the utmost of care within the bathroom. Whilst wooden products are coated with a specially finished lacquer which is specifically designed to withstand splashes and condensation, it is important to ensure that water is not in prolonged contact with these surfaces as this will over time lead to surface damage.

Written by Neal Baker on behalf of http://www.bathroomsensuite.com and
http://www.bathroom-furnitureuk.co.uk,
online retailers of bathroom furniture, bathroom suites and bathroom accessories in the UK.

[tags]bathroom furniture,fitted bathroom furniture,italian bathroom furniture,Vanity unit,Bathroom suits[/tags]