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Naturally, it reflects the personality of the occupant.

LAYOUT: A master bedroom ideally should have a cozy bed, walk-in or conventional wardrobe, a dresser, a recliner, a chair or two and a coffee table, at times also a stuby table. Understandably not all the bedroom sizes allow everything to be included. The childrens bedroom usually gets cluttered with two study tables. Guest bedrooms can do with smaller wardrobes. The colours used should be preferably warm. One of the walls can either be textured or covered by a wardrobe.

LIGHTING: There should be three kinds of lights, ambient lights, reading or working lights and highlights. The ambient lights are indirect wall washers that fall along the wall of the pelmet above an up lighter. Down lighters should not be used as they fall on the eyes while sleeping. Highlighters, highlighting sculptures or pictures should not be too bright and should be sufficient for its purpose. At different times one can change the effect in the room by switching on different lights. Warm coloured light filters can also be used to increase the coziness.

FLOORING: Flooring can be done by natural stone, laminated wood or natural wood. However, vitrified tiles score over most of the materials due to its non-absorbing quality and ease of cleaning. Carpets are not easy to maintain in Indian conditions. Vitrified tiles also give a design effect without the hassle of maintenance.

BED :The bed must be cosy and inviting. The headboard of the bed must be designed in a way so that one can rest on it. Headboards should be padded or have a pile of cushions of soft fabric, as desired. Storage inside the bed is very common in smaller bedrooms. Having trolleys or a top lid can incorporate storage. The bed should never have sharp corners. There is an increasing trend towards contemporary furniture that is simple, elegant and affordable.

WARDROBE: A wardrobe tends to cover a large area of the wall. The surface of the wardrobe in such a case should be of light texture with low contrasting veneers, laminated cloth, plain etch glass or even modern paints like ‘Oikos’ or ‘Jotun’ offering wide varieties and low maintenance paints. The internal division of wardrobe is a matter of personal preference. However, in addition to hangers, drawers and special drawers for jewelry, individual glass fronted trays for each garment, not more than two inches in height could give each ironed garment the proper care. Usually garments kept in a pile on an open shelf get crushed whereas in this case they are kept neatly. It also protects the garments from moisture, dust etc. A shoe rack at the bottom of the wardrobe can be incorporated for keeping shoes.

Storage for the smaller articles like watches, accessories, and ties must be designed separately. It is a good idea to have a small light inside, which switches on as you open the door of the wardrobe. The dressing table is another important piece of furniture. It must have a full-length mirror and ample storage. If the space is short then a slim cabinet behind the mirror can be incorporated to accommodate various cosmetics, perfumes, etc. The lights of dressing table must not fall on the mirror but on the face of a person, in front. This makes reflection in the mirror flattering. Dresser light must be yellow coloured, which improves the skin tone when you see in the mirror.

CURTAINS: Curtains must be double layered, i.e regular and sheer curtain. The regular curtain can have blackout lining behind. The blackout lining virtually cuts off the external lights. This is essential for afternoon naps. One should think of extra artifacts only in a large bedroom as it reduces the moving space. However, smaller artifacts on shelves of bedside table can be included. Large plants should be avoided in the bedroom. Each bedroom has its own emphasis. For example, a bedroom with a grand view must do justice to the view. Some of the occupants can also reflect their personality. A musician can create a corner by placing a piano or sitar etc in a suitable manner.

CHILDREN’S BEDROOM: Your child’s room is an extra special place, so make it both welcoming and safe For child toilet should be neutral with the colour scheme of the room. Some theme elements can go on the mirror; shower glass partition or shower curtains as they are easy to change when you need a change, but redoing the whole toilet for the growing child would prove costly and inconvenient. The child always like to write or draw lines, pictures. They do it on walls so it is better to have a soft board and writing board, at the skirting level, as children in lower age groups would find it easy to sit on the floor and write. Not necessarily the writing boards should be black but it can match the colour scheme of the room by using laminates.

Lighting is an another important aspect of the room. Yellow lighting is good for all the rooms. But for the study room white lighting is perfect. Flooring of the child’s room should be easy to maintain. See to avoid marble as it gets stained quite easily. Laminated wooden floor as it adds warmth to the room and is also good for the crawling ones. Wooden flooring does not get cold as marble does in low temperatures. The floor can also be covered with multi-coloured rugs and cushions in a variety of shape and sizes for extra comfort and warmth. As a child owns lots of toys and books, enough space should be provided for these things, which can go above the study table.

Check the website http://www.mumbaiproperties.info for more reference on this.

[tags]layout, lighting, flooring, bedroom, kitchen, living room[/tags]

We all have seen paintings being used in our home interiors.
They play a major role when it comes to decorating an interior
space.

There are basically two types of frames, first are the photographs
captured using a camera and others are hand drawn sketches or
paintings. There are two major aspects to a picture frame, the
frame itself and the subject of the picture.

When it comes to the subject of the picture a vast majority
and almost infinite subjects are available to choose from. Photos
or hand drawn pictures of birds, animals, natural beauty, people,
portraits, birds, scenery, architecture, cityscapes, mountains,
oceans and sea, geometric shapes, non-geometric shapes, abstract
shapes, strokes, flowers, interiors, vehicles, and a whole lot
more…can be “framed” to form a beautiful picture frame.

When it comes to choosing the exact subject of the picture frame,
one must recognize the surroundings of the interior space, location
where the picture frame is going to appear, the quality and
dimensions of the wall surface where the picture frame will
appear. It is always not true that the picture will be put on
the wall. Sometimes small frames standing on the table can greatly
add the liveliness of a room.

It is important to consider that we are going to use the painting as a
“filler” on the wall. The space on the wall, which is empty, gets
filled up with interesting array of colors present in the picture.
Colors attract the attention of the visitor and creates moods in his/her
mind.

Let’s see an example of how a picture frame creates moods in our mind.
Here I use 4 photographs of kittens and frame them to for picture
frames to use on an empty wall in my bedroom. I locate these
frames such that I see them prominently when I enter the bedroom.
The real life photos of kittens instantly create a soothing and
compassionate feelings in me which are in tune with how I feel in my
bedroom sleeping on my bed.

On the other hand if I use a photo of the “Ford Mustang” , my
feelings would be more of a alert nature because of the various
memories attached to it previously. On the other hand if I use
the Ford Mustang photo in my study room, that would greatly help
to warm up the atmosphere.

That’s why subjects that create a soothing mindset such as natural
beauty, photos/portraits of children, etc.. can be used where the
human activity is of low nature such as bedrooms, bathrooms, etc..

There is one more element that can affect the choice of a picture
frame in an interior space. The “design theme” of a space must
be given importance while selecting the picture. If the interior
design theme is of oriental nature, then picture with more use
of colors will look good. This is because in an oriental design
style more emphasis is given on “decorative elements” such as
drapes, cornices, tiny plaster treatments, window and door frames,
decorations in brass, etc..

To enhance the continuity of this theme on the empty wall surface
a painting with more detailed subject should be used. Picture of
natural scenery is best suited for this, because “nature” is full
of variety of colors and their shades, that can greatly enhance the
beauty of the space.

A little creative thinking can add some more interest to the
picture. For example what if I totally remove the frame which holds the
picture intact and “press” the picture between two glass plates.
Only metallic clamps at the four corners can be used to hold the
glass plates together. Artificial light used in the room will then
cast a shadow of the picture on the wall behind and can add “depth”
to the picture surface.

Picture frames with the ability to replace the picture is a good
starting point. This give s to control to test what’s good and
impressive in your room. This article was just a starting point
to ignite the imagination in your mind. I hope it has helped you
and you have enjoyed the text.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Shrinivas Vaidya is the webmaster of Bedroom-Design-And-Decorating-Ideas.com. Visit today to find some great concept level design tips for bedroom sets.

[tags]interior design, bedroom design, home improvement, interior decoration[/tags]

Children’s Bedroom Furniture should be bought while keeping in mind the needs of the children. The furniture should be done in sprightly colors to keep the spirits of the children bright. The Bedroom Furniture should have storage space to hold the toys and belongings of the kids. The ideal furniture for children should be such that it’s fun to have around and designed to be sturdy enough to last.

You can get an entire bedroom set that is replete with beds, drawers and a mirror, all done in hues to enliven and energize the child each time he or she enters the room. There are some highly creative designs available for these young ones, such as drawers designed in the form of castles. Get bunk beds for the two of your little ones, done in the style of castles or a space shuttle or a tractor. Add another layer of creativity to the room by sprucing up the room with bedcovers, curtains and posters done in vibrant hues. You can also think of buying thematic furniture that certain companies offer. There could be themes such as sports, butterflies, sea kingdom, stars and skies, with this motif running through all the furniture. You can also consider a bed with trundles for the kids, as they lend that playroom feel to the room.

Since the child studies in the room, having a study table is a must. Do your daughter’s room in the characteristic tradition of a dollhouse in shades of pink or yellow, with a 5- or 7-piece furniture set. This would usually include a single bed, set of drawers, headboard that could also be used as a bookcase, mirror and a side table. You can also get furniture that helps give your child a creative outlet. Get a chalkboard table where your child can write what he or she wants to. Get a bench for the room, where your child could have a good time with his or her friends. Having furniture of this sort ensures that the bedroom is the favorite haunt of your child and his friends.

Bedroom Furniture provides detailed information about bedroom furniture, antique bedroom furniture, bedroom furniture sets, cheap bedroom furniture and more. Bedroom Furniture is the sister site of Air Beds.

[tags]bedroom furniture, antique bedroom furniture, bedroom furniture sets, cheap bedroom furniture[/tags]

Container vegetable gardening is so simple even your kids will love it. Vegetable gardening in versatile garden planters is easy and enjoyable for everyone.

It’s your perfect answer!

In only weeks you could be enjoying the first quality harvests from your container vegetable garden. Stop buying expensive and bland produce at the grocery store (think tomatoes). You can grow your own natural and tasty food.

Your family will be delighted with fresh salad greens everyday. Imagine ripe tomatoes, colorful vegetables, and fragrant herbs, sweet, red strawberries and even a cheerful flower bouquet for your kitchen table is always just out your door.

You’ll be delighted with the quality garden planters, unique flowerpots and windowboxes that are available. Your container vegetable garden can be bountiful and a joy to look at.

So, why is container vegetable gardening the hottest new gardening trend? Let me show you…

* Growing vegetables, plants, herbs, and flowers in containers, offers all the benefits of a “traditional” garden but without all the exhausting outdoor work (weeding and more weeding).

* A big plus is how easy it is have an organic container vegetable garden. Organic gardening is healthy for you, your family, and your plants and is good for the environment.

* Container vegetable gardening is ideal for balconies, terraces, patios, porches, decks and other small spaces.

* It is easy to choose stylish containers for your plants that complement your outdoor furniture, decor and landscape design. Some garden planters even have attached trellises to instantly create your own private courtyard.

* It’s a great choice for everyone. Even if you have a large yard available, you will enjoy the ease of container gardening throughout the seasons.

* The innovative new features of gardening products and accessories like self-watering planters are a great solution for gardeners with busy lifestyles.

* Container vegetable gardening is the perfect choice for the lazy gardener (my hand is up!). It’s less work, so there is a lot more time to spend outdoors in the hammock; with a cold glass of lemonade watching your plants grow.

* Everything is so simple to manage and requires only a few tools to start. Best of all, your garden is only steps away.

The Simple Solution!

Are you ready? OK, put on your gardening gloves and let’s get started. In no time at all you will have a productive vegetable garden grown entirely in your beautiful outdoor garden planters.

It really true — even if you’re a beginner, you can create your own beautiful and abundant vegetable garden that is grown entirely in containers.

Donna Hill is the owner of http://www.ContainerVeggieGarden.com, a site for beginners. Check out our free step-by-step container veggie gardening guide at http://www.containerveggiegarden.com/container-gardening-guide.html and get started on your container veggie garden today!

[tags]container vegetable gardening,container gardening,garden,containers,pots,vegetable gardening,kids[/tags]

Visiting with friends and loved ones is one of our most pleasurable pastimes. The first item on a good host’s agenda is to enhance their stay by making them feel at home. Prepare ahead of time by having adequate sleeping accommodations on hand such as a good, high-quality air mattress, preferably a queen-sized aerobed.

The new breed of aerobeds are setting new standards in luxury, providing your guests with unprecedented support and comfort at night while still remaining compact enough when deflated to fit in a duffel bag and store in a closet during the day. When you require extra bedding without the extra bedroom, they’re the perfect solution. Some raised aerobeds are as much as two feet in height when fully inflated, which can prove to be quite handy for your not-so-limber houseguests.

Set-up is quick, easy and automatic with the built-in pump and accompanying full-length extension cord. No longer is it necessary to contend with the flimsy air bag dinosaurs of yesteryear which required the lung capacity of the entire extended family to get them inflated. No longer must overnight guests spend restless nights tossing and turning as the air gradually seeps out of unseen pinholes, only to awaken sore, achy and tangled up in a pool of plastic on the floor. Today’s new and improved aerobeds are sturdy enough to keep their shape the whole night through, leaving your visitors to wake up in the morning feeling restored, refreshed and ready to greet the day.

Maintenance requires a simple swipe of a damp sponge, let dry and pack away until the next time. They come in twin, double or queen sizes, allowing your existing sheets to fit over the corners snugly and securely. Another excellent feature is the fabric top that keeps the sheets in place and prevents moisture build up.

Many of the more luxurious designs have incorporated air pockets, memory foam or other tempur materials into their designs, taking the place of inner springs or coils and providing added stability. By using the built-in pump, the firmness of the air cushion can either be increased or decreased depending on the preference of the user.

Keep in mind that aerobeds are not indestructible, that roughhousing and child’s play can cause damage to the rubber or plastic lining, resulting in air leaks, and that they should be placed on top of mats, carpets or blankets for added protection from accidental punctures or gashes. When used properly, aerobeds are many times preferred over traditional mattresses due to their cushiony softness and the majestic sensation of sleeping on air.

There are plenty of styles, features and options available when shopping for aerobeds online. Visit http://thecozyloft.com TheCozyLoft.com for a wide range of bedroom furniture including aerobeds.

[tags]aerobed,aerobeds,furniture,bedroom furniture,bedding,interior,home,beds,[/tags]

In this modern age and time, most families have made their kitchens the focal point or room of their activities. It’s brought about by the changes and developments of the world today. Both parents work, kids prefer to eat rush meals, everything’s within reach, etc. in the house kitchen; that oftentimes, kitchen has become a mini-house in the house, where laptops work on countertops, TVs and music equipments blast on the corner, books lie on the island, telephones hang on the wall, and family members and friends sit and stand while talking and eating in the kitchen. Probably, most people consider this as the busiest part or room of the house.

How then can you make it worth the stay in these kitchens? Have you planned of renovating your kitchen to make it more suitable and fit to you and your family? Do you have several kitchen remodeling ideas waiting to come out of your brains? Are you willing to start working on it? Well, it’s probably a worry and concern of most homeowners — having to plan, and think, and work, and spend, etc., but you don’t want to waste your time on this. You better start writing down your kitchen remodeling ideas now, and scan kitchen magazines and websites for more updated and “in” kitchen remodeling ideas, so that once you have these at hand, you can just start mixing and matching these, and voila! you can start improving your kitchen.

Don’t worry if it will take time for you to create and sketch out your plan or model, great and perfect kitchen remodeling ideas have to be developed, because it has to be perfect and valuable to you and your family. Would you want a remodeled or new kitchen yet you aren’t really comfortable using the fixtures and appliances in it? Just make sure that your priorities, needs, and requirements must be served and fulfilled with the kitchen plan that you have. You just don’t have to think of the beauty and design, more importantly is the functionality, convenience, comfort, and usefulness of your kitchen. Think of the things and activities you do in the kitchen, and the people and friends coming in and out of the kitchen, because these will help you better come up with good and practical kitchen remodeling ideas.

Also ensure that your kitchen remodeling ideas are not that far-out or far-fetched, align it in your family’s lifestyle and daily activities; this would give you a brighter plan on your kitchen design and style. As long as you start working on the basic and essential things and areas, then your kitchen remodeling ideas will come to life, and who knows — the next moment you visit your kitchen, you’re already living your kitchen dream, wouldn’t that be fascinating?

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Remodeling and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Home Remodeling web site. For more articles and resources on Home Remodeling related topics, Remodeling Contractors, Home Remodeling Loans, Remodeling Ideas and much more visit his site at:

=>http://remodeling.need-to-know.net/

[tags]home remodeling, contractor remodeling, kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, remodeling[/tags]

For many people the end of a year is a time of increased stress. Instead of relaxing and unwinding from a busy year, the pressures of buying gifts, travelling or spending time with long lost relatives makes it a difficult time.

In our household for example, my 4 year-old daughter’s excitement levels have been taken to new highs by performing in front of 800 people as a ‘teddy bear’ in her first ever ballet concert.

Loaded on top of this was her Kindergarten show, this time performing the role of an ‘angel’ in a Nativity Play, and counting down the days to our four-week trip to Tasmania.

Just yesterday, she woke at 5.15 am and started packing her bags to go. I smiled when she told me she had packed 8 videos for the trip!

Now I’m really looking forward to our holiday and spending time at Freycinet Lodge on the Island’s east-coast, feeling the crunch of pristine white sand under my feet at Wineglass Bay, watching the sun set over the pink granite outcrops of ‘The Hazards’ and tasting the fresh salty tang of locally grown pacific oysters.

But it won’t be easy getting ready, packing and then travelling for 12 hours with full luggage and 2 children under 5 years old.

Add to this the fact we’re staying with relatives. So what is the solution?

Here are my Top 5 Ways to make End of Year Holidays a relaxing and stress
free time.

1. CLARIFY AND SHARE EXPECTATIONS.

Be aware of the extra pressure on families at this time of the year. Clarify with family members what each individual wants from the break. For me, it may be reading all those business books I didn’t get time for during the year. I know for my wife, it is getting extra help looking after the children and spending time together as a family. How can both these needs be met? Use these three questions to clarify the needs and wants of others at this busy time. What do you want? What do you dread? What will put a smile on your face?

2. PLAN, MONITOR AND BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR BUDGET.

Money issues can be a big source of conflict at the end of the year. It is meant to be a time for gift giving and sharing but it can get out of hand. Set a budget for gifts, entertainment and food. Stick to the budget and monitor it regularly so you don’t overspend.

3. DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITY AND SHARE TASKS.

You can’t do everything all of the time. Many people strive for perfection at the end of the year because of the many positive and festive images portrayed by the media. Be realistic and work out what you can and can’t achieve. Ask for and get help. Be prepared to give up some control to share the load.

4. COMMUNICATE YOUR FEELINGS.

The end of the year, and in Western cultures Christmas, is an emotional time. Share your feelings of joy with others. If you’re feeling stressed, let others know how you feel and ask for support.

5. KEEP UP YOUR REGULAR ROUTINE.

Keep doing the things you have enjoyed doing during the year, like exercise and eating well. Take time out for yourself and your family.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.
You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom’s blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com

[tags]relaxation, self improvement, stress management, stress, holidays, annual leave, family[/tags]

Every now and then a product comes along that doesn’t just deliver on its promise, it over delivers. This is true of microfiber cleaning cloths, which are the best thing since soap and water. Really. Years ago, I kept hearing murmurs about microfiber coming out of Sweden and thought I’d give it a try because if anything needs to be made easier, it’s housecleaning. Now that I’ve changed to microfiber to clean my house, I won’t be going back. Once you try them, you’ll understand why, too.

Microfiber is a workhorse
One of the drawbacks of housecleaning is that it is just so darn hard to do — and it takes so many cleaners. But microfiber has changed all that. These cloths actually attract dirt and trap it in the fibers. At only 1/16th the size of a human hair, the fibers don’t just trap dirt, they trap bacteria, too.

The cloths are made of a polyester and polymide blend that retains a static charge. This makes them actually attract dust, dirt, and pet hair. The cloths are also so efficient at trapping dirt that they don’t demand gallons of cleaners, so you can even clean with water alone - important if anyone in your home is chemically-sensitive, has breathing problems, or has asthma.

According to one study, microfiber cloths pick up 96% of bacteria using only water. With houses becoming more and more air tight, cleaning with water makes sense because if you’re able to clean with fewer chemicals, then those chemicals won’t be trapped in the house with you. A university in Canada performed a study that tested the cloths’ cleaning ability in restrooms and found that microfiber with water cleaned as well as a rag with disinfectant.

Special surfaces need microfiber
Microfiber cloths also beautifully polish chrome, fixtures, windows, wood floors, and granite. That’s right, granite; beautiful to look at and awful to maintain. If anyone had told me how hard keeping that shiny surface would be, I doubt I would have installed it in my own house. But then I use microfiber and it helps me maintain my love affair with my granite.

I’ll never forget the look on my builder’s face when he asked me if I thought granite was a chore to maintain. I then proceeded to show a side by side comparison of the cleaning ability of a sponge and a microfiber cloth. I enjoyed his amazement at the incredible cleaning ability, and I think I sold another set of towels that day.

The same is true for those glass cooktops that require the special “cooktop cleaner.” Fortunately, microfiber is there. With a damp cloth, you can make your ceran or glass cooktop sparkle without all the special cleaner and paper towels every single time you want to clean it. It does a great job on stainless, too.

Wood floors and windows are another cleaning challenge. With wood, it’s not a good idea to damp mop because over time water damages wood, but yet wood floors need an occasional mopping. Lightly sprayed with water, special microfiber mops pick up the tiniest bits of dirt and wipe smears and stains away without using excessive amounts of water.

And who wants to clean windows? I do because I hate looking out dirty windows and the microfiber makes cleaning them so easy. For windows, I use two microfiber cloths. One is wet with a weak solution of water and window cleaner and the other dry. I wipe the windows first with the wet one to get the dirt off and then wipe to a perfect shine with the dry one. Unlike with paper towels where you need to wipe until your arm wants to fall off to make your windows shine, it only takes seconds to clean windows with microfiber.

Treat your microfiber right
When you buy microfiber towels, be sure to wash them in hot water first to plump up the fibers. Add a little dish soap to a dishpan and wash the cloths in with the hottest water possible. Rinse, wring them out, and they’re ready for use. After use, wash the same way or throw them in the washer. Make sure you don’t add fabric softener or put them in the dryer. You can get literally hundreds of washes from one cloth.

Where to buy microfiber
Buy microfiber cloths in the automotive sections at your supercenter for about $5 for five or six. Consider buying three sets, one for general cleaning, one for windows and glass, and a third for bathrooms. Find microfiber mops online at places such as eriecotton.com. Their microfiber mops are reasonable (about $15!! for a mop and pad — a special price just for readers of this page!).

Give microfiber towels a try. You’ll be amazed, too. It’s my personal promise.

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, home improvement, interior design, home decorating, house cleaning, microfiber[/tags]