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Even a small greenhouse opens up new gardening horizons - from early vegetables to orchids. With equipment in ready supply it’s possible to create a complete controlled growing environment which will run on auto pilot.

One of the biggest advantages of a greenhouse is that it frees a gardener from dependence on the weather. Inside the hothouse, under cover of glass (or plastic) you can grow plants which would suffer badly from the rain, wind and cold if grown outside.

Greenhouses can be heated or unheated. An unheated greenhouse offers no protection against frost, but it will provide your plants with more warmth during the growing season. The extra heat trapped by the greenhouse speeds up the ripening period and produces better flowers from decorative plants. Unheated greenhouses also offer protection against the elements - wind and rain - and shield your crops from attack by birds, pests and animals.

A major advantage of greenhouses is that they extend the growing season. Plants can start growing early in spring, and either be kept in the greenhouse or later transferred to the garden. In the greenhouse they will continue growing well into fall.

This lengthened growing season is achieved by the heat of the sun being trapped by the glass or plastic covering during spring, and, in the fall, warmth accumulated in the soil and brickwork during the hot season is released back into the greenhouse.

A typical use of unheated greenhouses is to grow tomatoes during spring and summer, and, in fall, when the tomatoes have been discarded, late flowering chrysanthemums can be cultivated to brighten the approach of winter. It’s also quite common nowadays for gardeners to grow grapes and melons in unheated greenhouses.

Unheated greenhouses are also suitable for a wide range of half-hardy shrubs, lilies, gladioli, annuals, and other bulbs which will produce the finest blooms.

Lettuces, radishes, French beans, carrots, potatoes, and all out-of-season vegetables which are normally grown in cloches or frames are equally suited to growing in unheated greenhouses.

Matthew Martins is a regular hobby greenhouse contributor at Greenhousesblog.com. Drop by greenhousesblog.com to check out the information and resources on all aspects of greenhouse gardening.

[tags]greenhouse gardening[/tags]

The bedroom is the site of relaxation, romance, and rest. Designed well, the bedroom can inspire couples to feel more romantic and stir their passions. If not, relationships can dwindle down to a friendly, not so romantic, handshake. If bedrooms are a place of activity, such as exercise, work, hobbies, or other interests, then they will not be the restful space they were intended to be. There is a fine line between creating the bedroom that inspires you and the bedroom that depletes you.

One of the first areas this shows up in is the artwork. Feng shui has stringent rules regarding bedrooms - and correspondingly - the art that goes into them. Time after time, I see bedrooms during feng shui consultations whose artwork appears to be whatever was leftover from the rest of the house. Or, the symbolism of the art in relationship to the room it is displayed in is not taken into account, such as winter scenes in a marriage bedroom. This can fill the bedroom with all the wrong messages. Bbbbrrrrr.

Bedrooms should display the messages that inspire the person (or persons) who occupy the room. Artwork should reflect their tastes, interests, and desires while still following feng shui guidelines. This will help to ensure that negative messages or inappropriate messages don’t distract from the principal goals of the bedroom: rest, romance, and relaxation.

Look at all the bedrooms in the house. Determine if they are inspiring and if they are making the appropriate statements for the room. For example, a scary Spiderman poster that looks like Spiderman is going to jump off the wall may create a frightening bedroom for a young boy.

Or, pictures of the kids in a marriage bedroom create too much “kid energy” and can be uncomfortable for romance, causing marital passion to wither. Next, take into account feng shui guidelines, such as eliminating mirrors, pictures of dragons, deities. or vicious animals.

Sleeping is a time when we must be the most protected and cared-for. This is why it makes sense to make sure that your bedrooms support you, your family, and your relationships.

Art in Children’s Bedrooms

* Avoid vicious animals and scary figures.

* Place happy, bright images in the children’s bedrooms

* Display images of skill and learning, such as pictures of globes and books or any kind of learning experience

* DON’T hang pictures of water, lakes, or oceans

* Avoid pictures of religious themes, such as crosses or religious figures

* Select pictures of animals that are positive, such as horses (good for sons) that look happy and strong, not frightened. Turtles are also beneficial. Avoid frogs and toads which can appear to “eat” whatever is in the room.

* DO have pictures of parents in children’s bedroom to inspire better behavior and greater respect

* Clouds are very popular for children’s bedrooms. Be certain that if you have clouds on the ceiling, that the child’s head is not covered by a cloud as this will create “a cloud over his/her head” and this can lead to a number of difficulties. (The same is true for adult bedrooms.)

Art in Adult Bedrooms

* For couples, DO place pictures of pairs (geese, ducks, chairs, vases, etc.) to foster togetherness

* Avoid pictures of heavenly images deities, religious figures, etc.

* Avoid pictures of singular items that suggest being alone

* Avoid pictures of flowers and plants, unless someone is ill. Plants and pictures of plants or flowers will cause couples to argue.

* DO have pictures of love, such as couples in an embrace, tasteful nudes, or affection

* DON’T have pictures of children in the bedroom. You have enough “kid time” already. Have one place in the house that is devoted solely to you and your mate.

* If single, make sure you have pictures in the bedroom that represent the energy you are trying to attract, i.e., a single woman seeking a man should hang pictures that show men or have men strongly in the scene.

* To create opportunities for yourself, place a picture of an open field on the wall opposite the bed. This suggests the way of your life is open and obstacles are removed.

Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Red Lotus Letter feng shui e-zine and is dedicated to helping her readers develop successful, prosperous, and supportive environments with feng shui. To subscribe, logon to www.redlotusletter.com and receive this special report Fr*ee “16 Feng Shui Secrets for Greater Prosperity.”

kweber@redlotusconsulting.com

[tags]feng shui, interior decorating, interior design, home improvement[/tags]

If you are considering making home improvements to address your energy use and utility bill, you may be in for a surprise. The biggest energy change is not what most people think.

There are a couple reasons for improving the energy efficiency in your home. You may realize we are impacting our environment and want to do your part to stop this. On the other hand, you may be tired of paying ever increasing utility bills. Regardless, you are ready to do something, but need to take a quick break before jumping in.

Most people automatically think the biggest cost associated with energy use in their home is heating it in winter and cooling it in summer. This would certainly seem to make sense from a logical perspective. In the case of energy, however, logical fails the test.

The biggest use of energy in your home is heating your water. This may be surprising at first, but think it through. How many times a day is the shower or bath cranked on? How many times a week is the dishwasher cranked on? Do you have a pool? How about a Jacuzzi? Each of these energy requirements adds up very quickly, particularly hot water for showers and dishwashers. The good news is you can make relatively painless home improvements to address these issues.

There is no denying we all need to take showers each dayat least I hope! To improve your shower energy use, there are a couple of basic steps you can take. First, get a low flow shower head. They cost a few bucks, but restrict the volume of water coming out. The less hot water used, the less your water heater has to crank up. Don’t worry, you will not notice a difference. Second, consider going with a solar water heater or a tankless system. Solar works best because there are no energy requirements from your utility, but a tankless water heater has advantages as well because it does not waste energy by firing up over and over during the day when you are not home. Regardless, just make the change.

As to dishwashers, there are two solutions. Again, solar water heaters overcome the problem by heating the water without tapping your utility lines. If you aren’t ready for that, get an energy efficient dishwasher. You are looking for a product that has an Energy Star rating. The rating signifies the dishwasher is designed to minimize energy use with a savings of at least 25 percent compared to traditional machines.

Going green is not nearly as painful as most people think. Making small changes, such as how you heat your water, can make a major difference to both the environment and your utility bill.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies.

[tags]home improvement, water, heat, heater, heating, energy star, solar, shower, bath, dishwasher[/tags]

When you conserve energy in your home, you can maintain or
actually improve the quality of your life. To conserve
energy doesn’t always mean to ‘cut-back.’ Conservation can
simply be a result of increased awareness. A small example
would be to turn off the lights when you leave a room.

By noticing how you use power, you can also find where
you’re wasting power, and change that by taking some
painless and positive steps.

A seemingly endless supply of electricity streams into our
homes without any effort on our part. The only time most
people think about it is when there’s a black-out or power
outage due to weather, and when it’s time to pay the
monthly bill.

The first benefit of conservation is that your electric
bill is less - giving you more money to spend on other
things.

I don’t have an electric bill. My home is off-grid. That
is, all the energy used in my house is created with my own
systems: solar panels, a small hydro-electric generator,
and a wind generator. Because my system creates all the
energy we use, my family has a heightened awareness of the
ways to avoid wasting electricity, and we still have a very
high living standard.

Forget the image of a rustic cabin with two light bulbs
and a wood stove. The truth is that our house is just very
energy efficient by design, with state of the art
appliances: dishwasher, washer and dryer, three computers,
a sound system, TV and DVD, and definitely more than two
light bulbs.

We are able to have all these conveniences on our stand-
alone power system because of our practices of
conservation. We run our entire house on about 3 kilo-
watts a day - less than the daily usage of most
refrigerators.

The reason this is possible begins with our heating and
cooling system. This is the biggest energy user in most
houses. If you’re starting from scratch and building a new
house, simply design an energy efficient building from the
beginning - properly situated houses can use passive solar
for heating, and ventilation with overhangs for cooling.

Existing buildings can be remodeled, or fitted for gas.
To use electricity for heating is utterly wasteful. Heat
is a by-product of electricity. Gas is an alternative that
is much better.

The second reason we can run a modern house using so
little energy has to do with appliances. As the ones you
currently have come due for replacement, make their
efficiency your top concern in choosing new appliances.

Our refrigerator, for example, is so well designed for
energy efficiency that in a 24 hour period it draws less
power than a 100 watt incandescent light bulb would in 5
hours. The fridge was more expensive initially, but over
time the reduced electric bill (or in our case the fewer
solar panels necessary) makes it worth it.

Take heart. You can be conservative about power without
remodeling or buying expensive new appliances. A very easy
and cost-effective place to begin is by using compact
fluorescent light bulbs. They give excellent light for 23
watts, compared to a regular 100 watt bulb.

The compact bulbs come in every style and size so you can
use them for everything from lamps to overhead fixtures.
They last much longer than incandescent bulbs, and the best
part is that they are affordable now. When they first came
on the market they could cost as much as $19 apiece. Now
you can get them for $2 or $3 if you watch for sales.

When you conserve, you save money, and have more
disposable income. That adds to the quality of your life.
But what’s even better is that a consciousness about how
your electricity is being used is actually a source of
satisfaction.

It takes Earth resources to create most of our
electricity: rivers are dammed, coal is mined, etc. If
everyone does a little bit to conserve, that much less
drain on Earth occurs.

Roy Macklin has been a journeyman electrician for 12 years,
and is passionate about renewable energy. Visit FB Home , FMP Tools , and Full Storage for
articles by Roy Macklin.

[tags]energy,conservation,home improvement,tools,appliance,electricity,solar,heating,lighting,efficiency[/tags]

When you are looking for furniture it can be frustrating trying to find the right items for your home. You can be confused and easily distracted by pushy sells people and high priced items that are not worth half of what they are asking. When you want to have the best in furniture, you should try looking for Ashley furniture.

Ashley furniture is one of the best brands today that you can buy. There are many stores around most areas that sell this great and quality brand items. You will find that you can have the best and not have to pay a high cost or sacrifice quality. There is no doubt that you will be happy with all the items that you get when you purchase from the Ashley Company.

Finding great furniture can also be found online. There are many places that you can get quality name brand items and not have to worry about loosing the quality that you expect. You can search many stores to make sure that they supply the Ashley furniture that you want for your home.

Getting Ashley furniture online is also an option. You can find many sites online that offer great furniture for a great price. You will be completely satisfied with the items that you get and not have to worry about paying a high price for them. Many of the online stores will sell this furniture and then have it shipped to your home of office. You will not have to worry about a thing when it comes to getting the items that you want.

You can furnish any room in your home with Ashley furniture. You will not have to go anywhere else for quality name brand items that you want. All of the Ashley furniture that you get will be the best style and fit your personality. You will not have to sacrifice any of your tastes when it comes to this brand of furniture.

Ashley furniture can be found in many styles. There are many different fabrics and patterns to choose from. You will find colors to match your room of any color. You will not be disappointed with the different collections that are found from any Ashley furniture store. Many times you can bring along a sample of color or paint and get a furniture piece to match perfectly. You will never have to worry about mismatching any of your rooms. You will have the piece of mind knowing that you are in style and you will defiantly impress your friends and family as well.

Buying Ashley furniture is one of the best things that you can do when it comes to making a special purchase for any room in your home.

Kari Eriksson is an infopreneur and of course a daily user of furniture. He takes great liking in Ashley furniture and has put up information on Ashley furniture where you can find articles, links and useful resources.

[tags]ashley furniture,furniture[/tags]

It’s true with any remodeling project, of course, but a well-designed, detailed plan is especially important when it comes to remodeling your kitchen. Regardless of whether you’re planning to do it yourself or will be using the help of a professional, your first step will be working out a plan that will address three main kitchen criteria: food preparation, storage, and clean-up.

In the 1950s, and up until a relatively sort time ago, kitchens were designed in a triangular pattern, with the three points of the triangle being the stove, refrigerator, and sink. It was considered the most efficient set up at a time when most women stayed home during the day and worked by themselves, making the family’s meals from scratch.

Of course, that’s no longer the case, so kitchens have evolved to match people’s cooking habits, since most women now work outside of the home, share cooking duties with their husbands or significant others, prepare only a few meals from scratch. To reflect those changes, modern kitchens are designed with multiple work areas, including islands, to allow more than one person to work in the kitchen at one time. Many kitchens even include two sinks, in the island and on the traditional countertops, to further facilitate the division of labor.

Since nearly twice as much storage room is required in modern kitchens, cabinets become a major issue when planning a remodel. You’ll want to decide on the types of surfaces, colors, materials, and styles that match both your preference and budget.

The same is true with countertops. They should be durable and attractive, yet well within your price range. One thing to consider is that expensive surfaces such as granite or marble may be extremely durable, but they are very difficult for the average do-it-yourselfer to work with.

When it comes to flooring, modern kitchens are now generally done in vinyl, as opposed to the linoleum that was most commonly found in 50s kitchens. Whether you use sheets or tiles, you’ll have a wide variety of styles and textures to choose from. Wood floors have also been making a comeback in both high end and moderately priced kitchens.

Kitchen sinks can be found in cast iron, stainless steel and plastic, and come in many styles and colors, as do the faucets to fill them. Whether you choose a single or double sink, with one handle or two on your faucet will again be limited only by your taste and budget.

A similar variety of will be available in stoves, microwaves, range hoods, refrigerators, and freezers. It’s up to you to decide what works best for you, without breaking your budget, but regardless of what you choose, it all begins with sitting down and working out a detailed plan of what you want in your new kitchen.

Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Want the designer’s touch in your kitchen? Have you ever wondered how to achieve that interior designer’s high-end look without charging up your credit cards? Kitchen Remodeling Design Jeanette Fisher teaches five ways to makeover your home for happiness. Author of interior design and real estate books, Jeanette Fisher has researched the effects of environment on emotions for over 15 years. She teaches interior design college courses and seminars. Free interior design reports: http://interiordesignpsychology.com

[tags]kitchen remodeling,kitchen sinks,kitchen remodeling plan,Jeanette Joy Fisher[/tags]

In addition to granny, a granny flat can contain some dire pitfalls for a new owner and anyone involved in the sale of such a unit. It’s one more thing for real estate professionals to be concerned about, because the consequences of having an apartment declared illegal or closed down can be disastrous to the purchaser, who may seek compensation from Realtors, home inspectors or anyone who didn’t issue all the appropriate warnings.

Any separate unit with its own cooking, eating, sleeping, and sanitary facilities in a detached or semi-detached house or a rowhouse is classified as an “accessory dwelling unit.” It doesn’t matter whether it’s a basement apartment for rent or a unit to accommodate a family member or a nanny.

In Ontario it’s been a roller-coaster ride for home owners in recent years. In 1994 the New Democratic government changed the law so that municipalities could no longer ban basement apartments. In May of 2001 the Conservative government reversed the rules and it’s expected that many cities will once again use zoning controls to block new accessory dwellings in the years ahead.

Strict fire regulations are now in effect, and any existing apartments that were occupied in November of 1995 are permitted - as long as they meet the new fire code. There’s also a new registry system, so officials can monitor compliance - and new penalties that are stiff enough to take seriously (fines of $25,000 or a year in the slammer!)

Before closing deals involving basement apartments or duplex, triplex or any other multiple dwellings, agents should ensure that their purchasers have obtained written confirmation of whether or not apartments are registered, and have been inspected and found to conform to the fire code.

Realtors can be faced with angry, disappointed purchasers because under the new rules an illegal or non-conforming apartment is easy to detect and easy to shut down - and may be costly for the new owner to renovate, to keep it operating.

To get a granny flat certified in Ontario requires inspections by the local Fire Department and by the Electrical Safety Authority and possibly another by a local Ontario Building Code Official. In most cases, at least some renovations or repairs are required. Even if no renovations are needed to meet the fire code, fees alone can be a few hundred dollars.

Some areas of the Ontario Fire Code Retrofit Section 9.8 can be difficult to address, especially if the apartment was added as an afterthought in a typical home. For example, ceiling tiles and wood paneling in a basement apartment may be combustible and not meet with current requirements. These items may have to be removed or covered and owners are sometimes ordered to install a sprinkler system.

A professional home inspection cannot certify a self-contained apartment, but a knowledgeable inspector can identify the magnitude of renovations necessary to meet the new regulations. He can also be used to alert the prospective purchaser that the unit entails additional responsibility and additional liability.

As for what steps a Realtor should take if the home includes a granny flat, notifying the prospective purchaser that it may be subject to regulation is definitely at the top of the list. In Ontario that would seem absolutely necessary to avoid a charge of non-disclosure. In other jurisdictions it might just be prudent to do so, but better to err on the side of providing more information than less.

Fines and other legal consequences of not meeting the law are just the most obvious problems facing an owner of a unit that is not certified. Having to toss the tenant out is also obvious. But consider that insurance coverage or insurance claims may be denied, mortgages may be denied or nullified, and a tenant that is injured may have grounds for a civil suit.

Not all jurisdictions are as tough as Ontario… yet. But a Realtor can meet his or her professional obligations and avoid getting tangled up in a lawsuit just by issuing a caution. And it’s worth doing so, whether your client is the vendor or the purchaser.

A self-contained apartment can add real value to a home, especially if the purchaser wants to have a family member near, but not too near, or if the purchaser requires rental income to offset mortgage payments. Indeed, it’s the very reason some people buy such a property.

Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights reserved.

Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home inspections.

“The Home Reference Book”
You can probably find a home inspection for a little less than what we ask, but you probably won’t find the Home Reference Book. A $60 value, this solutions-oriented reference tool comes free with every inspection we perform.
It’s the first tool you should have around the house!

[tags]granny flat,granny flat code,realtor tips,ontario realtor,retrofit section 9.8,retrofit section,diy[/tags]

If you have lived all your life in a city, like I have, then your need to be able to view and touch plants is something that has probably haunted you for years. At least in my case, the idea of developing my own garden came naturally one day during a discussion with some friends on my roof. As they saw it, my apartment building had a lot of unused space on the roof, which no one from the rest of the tenants had ever thought of using. Creating my own paradise in the premises of my own house evolved from a simple idea to a challenge that I wished to take.

Most people consider the creation of a roof garden as a wonderful idea, but it takes great motivation and patience if you wish to begin constructing a roof garden on your own. For me, things were rather simple. During the owners and tenants next board meeting, I introduced my ideas on paper and with the help of a visual aid computer program I gave them a first pick on how the roof garden of our building would look like. The reaction was not exactly what I expected to receive. Instead of happy faces and words of encouragement or even declarations from volunteers that they would help, people looked at me as if I had just landed from Mars and begun questioning my intentions. The first question I had to answer had to do with the cost of my roof garden idea. The second with the time period it would take for everything to finish, while the third, fourth and so on, addresses issues like noise, extra building costs, paperwork, licenses and watering. One person even mentioned that he has heard of a building collapsing because of the excess plantation weight on its roof, which I have never heard of!

While some of the questions had some validity, others annoyed me since people seemed to raise them deliberately, so as to put me on the spot for proposing something that everyone would enjoy, but only I would receive the credit for initiating. A few minutes after I began answering everyone’s questions, I too began questioning my determination and if I was ready to overcome various problems and address all of their concerns for something I only-apparently-thought as a wonderful, necessary idea. But fortunately enough, I did not surrender without a “fight.” After researching on every single concern I heard that evening and coming up with a budget and a time plan, I contacted all those who had initially been opposing my idea. Then I paid courteous visits to each of those people’s residences and obtained their signatures on a piece of paper that a lawyer friend put together for my sake. Since everyone was now in agreement, my roof garden project began and I kept myself busy for ten consecutive weekends. Some volunteers did show up and by the time we were about to finish, everyone in the building was excited that they would soon have a place to relax and dine with friends just above their heads at a brand new roof garden!

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Tips for Gardening, Home Improvement, and Home Life

[tags]garden, gardening, yardwork[/tags]

Windows provide us with a view of the outside world while bringing the beauty of sunshine into our home. Windows, however, are much more than just a view. In fact, they help to shield us from the harsh weather that mother nature often sees fit to serve up, including rain, sleet, snow, hail and harsh temperatures during winter and summer. Because they work so very hard for us, we have to take the time to recognize the signs of a needed DIY window replacement. If we protect our windows they, in turn, will continue to protect us.

When the inevitable time comes that your windows need replacing, the first thing to do is to decide whether to purchase a wood or vinyl DIY window replacement. Typically, window replacements can be matched to fit the current look of your home and, best of all, many current products are expected to last for up to 20 years and often are accompanied by a warranty.

When it comes to DIY window replacement installation, it is pertinent that special attention be paid to any small cracks around the window that may be present. If they are there, energy costs may be higher as a result. The reason is because the outside air will be able to enter the home through these cracks, which will cause the heating or air conditioning unit to work harder in order to maintain the home’s temperature. In order to prevent this from occurring, homeowners must carefully inspect each DIY window replacement carefully. The best way to remedy a crack is through the use of caulking and weather stripping, which will help to eliminate the problem.

The best place to find all of your weather protective products is through the local home improvement store at which you purchased the window replacement. If you are not comfortable undertaking a DIY window replacement project, there are contractors in every area that are experienced in everyday installation and can often help your project get completed with minimal inconvenience to you. At the very least, you can hire a contractor or window installation professional who can help to supervise your work. Their fee may be considerably less if they are simply onsite and supervising someone else’s work, but this is something that each individual DIY window replacement scenario will determine.

When selecting a professional, whether it be for installation or supervision, make sure that they are experienced in window replacement and have completed similar projects with success. In addition, try to hire someone who has been in business for several years and has a positive reputation with the local Better Business Bureau. Even with a DIY window replacement project, it never hurts to have professional supervision.

Find all types of home improvement contractors who specialize at installing carpet, doors, siding, roofing and much more. If you are a home improvement contractor or an author of home improvement articles, add your site or articles today.

[tags]DIY Window Replacement, Window Replacement, Window Replacement Tips[/tags]

Notice, I said great and not expensive. The right choice of
flooring will make your home more comfortable and functional to your
lifestyle.

Hardwood and laminate hardwood is best way to get more out of your
investment at resale time. It requires little maintenance other than an
occasional sweeping. The life expectance of hardwood is easily 20
years. Then you just refinish it (comparatively cheap) and your floor
looks fantastic for another 15 or so years. The misconception about
flooring is the initial expense. Yes the majority of the cost is the initial
investment is sometimes scary. The overall value is a no brainer.
Homebuyers today love hardwood, there are no two ways about it.
Being a recent homebuyer myself the addition of hardwood was a big
selling point for me. Our home purchase had quite a bit of carpet, with
the plans to replace most hardwood. We were able to use that as a
bargaining point, and it worked quite well. Once I installed the hardwood
the difference was amazing. Selfishly, the “ooh’s and aah’s” of visitors to
our home was in itself worth the investment. Then when they found out
that I did it myself, the complements go to the next level.

While carpeting is nice to the touch and ads a warmth and comfort that
hardwood cannot, it requires much more maintenance and care to keep
it looking its best. The problem is at resale time the investment of carpet
(even the good stuff) usually causes a negative impact to prospective
homebuyers. Consider carefully the use and placement of carpet in your
home. I say this purely for the resale value and quality of use.

While it is easiest to do this step while the home is empty. I suggest that
you live in your new home, and look at how you live your home before
you take this step. If you use a room as a playroom, for example, it might
be better with carpet. A dining room that sees little use and has a better
chance for messy messes, hardwood is a better choice. So I say all this
to say look at how you use the rooms to better make your choice of
flooring. Although hardwood throughout your home is the best for the
investment of your home, there are rooms that you will find more
comfortable with carpeting. A misconception with hardwood is that it is
cold and hard. I installed hardwood (instead of carpet) in our master
suite and absolutely love it. Wood is an organic material that takes on
the temperature characteristics of the surrounding environment. When I
climb out of bed in the morning I have never had an adverse opinion.
We chose carpet for the kid’s rooms, because while they are young they
play with their toys on the floor on their knees. I thought that it would be
more comfortable for them to play.

Mr. Lesslie is the president of http://www.greathomeimprovements.com and a consultant for Department of Energy’s Building America Division for the last 6 years. He is responsible for all the content and marketing for http://www.greathomeimprovements.com - Great Home Improvements Start
Here!

[tags]Home Improvements, home improvement, hardwood, hardwood flooring, flooring, laminate, carpet[/tags]