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Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

Rustic cottage furniture is commonly made with pine and perhaps painted with hand-painted designs such as flowers, birds, animals, country scenery or leaves. Use ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, benches, wicker furniture and Windsor chairs. A large rectangular table made of pine is a good option for your kitchen or dining room table. To give your furniture a rustic look, brush a coat of paint on the furniture piece, then rub most of the paint off. After it dries, apply wood stain unevenly for an older weathered appearance. It will be perfect and rustic looking!

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron — cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Whether in a seaside setting, an urban environment, a countryside location or a wooded mountain retreat, cottage style homes are cozy and unassuming, combining the past with the present. Read all you can find and learn what creating the rustic country cottage means to you no matter where it’s located. Enjoy expressing your personality and showing what the definition of home means to you.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - visit the website and learn more about rustic country home decor and design, rustic kitchens and bathrooms, log cabins, fireplaces and firewood and much more.

[tags]rustic country decor,cottage style homes,how to decorate cottage style homes,rustic decor,country,[/tags]

Antique plates can add whimsy and interest to your d

Many of today’s kitchen designs are showcased in larger over-sized kitchens, which make great ideas for those who have large kitchens but just not practical for some of us who don’t. What about designs for small kitchen areas? Since we all want a space that provides efficiency and optimum storage for the kitchen here are a few ways to maximize designs for small kitchen spaces.

With any kitchen space you shouldn’t have to give up your amenities, just use sensible designs for small kitchen spaces. In most cases it is better to remove anything big and bulky and use small accent pieces to bring out your style. I have also found that in just about any room you can position mirrors or even add an imitation mirror window to the wall and it will automatically make the room seem larger.

Simple enlarging designs for small kitchen areas will start with eliminating anything that is not used in the room at all. Clear all your counter space; remove junk in drawers, or anything else that is not used in the kitchen. When choosing color for your new kitchen designs stay away from dark colors and large prints on towels, curtains, walls, anything that will be showcased.

Designs for Small Kitchen

To maximize kitchen space, create lots of open shelving. Adding shelving on the walls makes use of otherwise wasted storage space. Add some storage bars, hooks, and pot racks. This will make cooking material more convenient and free up cabinet spaces for other items.

As you review designs for small kitchen spaces, keep in mind there are three main areas of the kitchen that need to be spaced to provide maximum use and allow multiple people to be in the area without cramping each other. These three areas are 1) the stove, 2) the refrigerator, and 3) the sink. By choosing a design that allows movement around these areas you’ll have a much more functional kitchen.

Designs for small kitchen areas should also carefully place lighting. Light is a very important part of making a space feel open. In many cases, just adding some extra light to a room can make a big difference. There are a couple of different ways you can achieve more lighting. One way is to add a window, a skylight, or just hiring an electrician to install more light fixtures in the room. If you are using a low watt bulb, maybe bump it up a notch.

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of http://www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.

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What would inspire me to write about septic systems? Maybe it’s part in parcel with my fascination with composting and recycling? Maybe I’m just a garbage hound at heart! No - seriously, it’s more that my travels as a home inspector have led me to focus on these delightful systems. I don’t think I’ll ever opt for a career in septic inspection, but I have gained a basic understanding of what constitutes a normal, functioning sewage disposal system.

Installing a private septic for a rural home includes soil tests, site inspections and considerable excavation work. Because of the design considerations and the amount of digging required, you probably wouldn’t want to build your own; but to maintain it properly, you should know how it operates. Waste is piped out of the house into one side of a cement box called a septic tank, where bacteria break it down into solids (sludge), liquid (effluent), and scum. The sludge sinks to the bottom, the scum floats to the top, and the effluent flows into the other side, and then out through perforated pipes (drainage tile) buried in a leaching bed of loose gravel (also known as the septic field).

“Sewage and The Law!”

Government regulations specifically prohibit any renovations or additions to a home which are likely to affect the operation or effectiveness of a sewage system. If you’re on a septic, adding a bedroom to your house (even without adding a bathroom) might mean having to increase the size of your tank and field. The regulations further state that any construction or alteration of a septic requires a Certificate of Approval issued by the Ministry or department responsible.

If you have questions about the care and operation of your septic system, call your Municipal Office, Health Department, Environment Canada, or any licensed sewage contractor listed in the Yellow Pages.

There’s no hard and fast rule for pumping intervals, but an inspection and pump-out every third year are recommended. Don’t allow meat by-products or harsh chemicals to enter your septic, and avoid the use of commercial tank cleaners or treatments. Don’t plant trees on the field, and never drive over it!

By the way, greener grass over the septic is NOT usually a good sign!

Visit the RotoRooter website for more info about plumbing, sewage, and septic systems.

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]septic system,diy septic system,home septic,home septic system,septic repair,drain field,diy septic[/tags]

It may seem that all you need to be a good interior designer is a sense of aesthetics and a flair for design. That is a good start, yes, but it gets you about five feet forward in terms of your career. The first thing to do is to turn a latent, in-born talent into an effective tool. Just because you can figure out what looks nice and what doesn’t does not make you a good designer or decorator. You may know how to use light and colour, how to synthesize architectural elements with design details and how to integrate space and design, but that is about five percent of the work. Most of the real work begins when you come to the execution.

Some formal education in the basic concepts of interior design is absolutely essential. There are many schools, which will give you a basic background course, and most of them are diplomas, but they are all very elementary in terms of the knowledge and the skills they provide you with. You could either pursue a full-fledged course at a reputed institute, preferably one with accreditation; or you could learn by working with someone who is a storehouse of talent. Work with the best, work for free if you have to, because it will be worth it. But regardless of where you get the education and for how long, the one thing an interior designer must always remember is that one is a lifelong student. Every day gives you an opportunity to learn something new about the trade and explore another aspect of its limitless potential.

If you have an eye for design, make sure that is turned into an artful skill, by practicing at every opportunity. Read everything you can, observe design aspects wherever you gomake mental notes and if possible keep a journal with points you pick up along the way. There is no substitute for hands on experience so get into it as early as possible. If you aren’t paid for it, don’t worrylearn all you can and explore every opportunity to test your know-how. Because it will tell you all you don’t-know-how-to. Use your home and any space that is offered to you as a guinea pig. Work out your concepts and present your vision. Explore the dimensions of your own creativity before you ask others to entrust their money ,time and space to you.

Create a portfolio of your work. Try to do as many varied projects as possible. It will teach you all you need to know first-hand and also work as a showcase for your talent. Interior design or decor is about space planning, conceptual genius and a lot of hard work. While design is a major aspect, if you don’t have fundamental business skills, you will never be able to succeed independently. When you strip it of the design and glamour accoutrements, what you have left is a lot of planning and time-management skills, labour management, client handling, costing analyses and execution abilities. If you cannot transform what is in your head into something that is concrete, you are perhaps better suited to the drawing board.

Research every aspect of your trade. Find suppliers, understand products and build relationships. These people will be your backbone. The stronger they are, the more upright your standing will be professionally. They can get you better deals, which means you can offer clients a better deal, and that is one way a new kid on the block gets business. Once you are familiar with different styles, concepts in flooring, wall coverings, soft furnishings, accessories and art you must find the suppliers who will actually deliver the goods.

While you are meeting clients, learn to do one thing. It will determine your success as an interior designer. It is not your ability to design. It is your ability to LISTEN. Understand your client. Find out what their lifestyle is. Discover what their likes and dislikes are. Find out what they need and desire. You will find that it may not necessarily coincide with what you would instinctively recommend. Which leaves you with two choices. If you can find a point of convergence, try to assimilate their wants into your presentation as much as possible. If you find no meeting ground, you are better off recommending someone who can deliver the goods rather than work on a project where you will derive no satisfaction, and the client will offer no appreciation. At the end of the day your designing style and their requirements have to meet halfway. For it to be a worthwhile enterprise.

A smart thing to do while you train to become an interior designer is to specialize. You could always diversify later, but initially it is a good idea to find a niche for yourself. If you would like to do residential interiors focus on that for a few years. If commercial spaces are your cup of tea, gain experience in such contracts. If you think you want to be left only to design and stay away from the rest of the madness, then stick to just designing. If organizational skills are your forte, turn to project management. Find out what your skills are and then start honing them. Until you reach a stage when you can start honing another skill.

A good interior designer should be able to work well with anyone from the architect to the civil contractor. If you just want to do your own thing regardless of their suggestions or requirements, the simplest project will turn into a nightmare. At the end of the day, if you, along with all the others involved in the project, including your client, cannot be a cohesive team, the whole thing will fall apart.

If your creative genius can be coupled with practical ability, you are well on your way to becoming a successful interior designer.

Learn the ABC of being a good designer

–Integrate concepts and styles to give a unified d

Are you in search of Christmas decorations that look stylish in addition to being seasonal? Wrought iron Christmas d

Roses are one of the most popular domesticated plants around the world today. Protected and treasured, they hold universal appeal; whether around the cottage doorway or the grandest palace grounds. Today there is a rose for every place and purpose, from the formal garden, arbors, trellises and fences to hedges, accent plants and decorative features on patios or terraces. One of the most versatile plants, the rose is an exciting plant for any one interested in gardening.

There are several factors in successfully growing roses of fine quality in your home garden. They include: location, fertile soil, drainage, correct planting, pruning, fertilizing, mulching, winter protection and the control of pests.

Location

In order to produce a good bloom, roses need a minimum of six hour of sun light a day. While not necessary, roses should get a good dose of light shade in the afternoon as this will help their blooms retain color longer. They should be planted away from trees, shrubs or hedges which are heavy surface feeders as this will deprive the roses of much needed nutrients and water. Roses also need good air circulation and don’t like confined spaces.

Soil

The most important requirements for the soil in which you will grow your roses are drainage and fertility. Roses can thrive in fairly heavy clay or sandy loam soils if these two requirements are met. The Ideal soil for growing roses is a good garden loam with lots of organic matter. Roses also prefer a slightly acid soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5

Drainage

While roses need large quantities of water for their best growth, it is absolutely essential that they have good drainage as they will be seriously injured in standing water. To fix areas with high water tables or poor drainage, laying tiles or crushed stone under the planting will assist the water draining away.

Planting

Roses may be planted in the autumn after the bushes have stopped active growth and are dormant but before the ground freezes. They can also be planted in the early spring while the plants are still dormant or they can be planted as potted roses after growth has started. Spring planting should be done as early in the spring as the ground can be successfully worked. Care must be taken when planting potted roses to not break the ball of earth it was planted in.

Growing distances will depend on the type and variety of the roses you will be planting. However, because of their very vigorous growing habits most roses should be planted about 2 feet apart in general.

The roots of the rose should never be exposed to the sun or wind before planting, but should be kept wrapped in wet paper or moss and left in a dark place like a plastic bag or the garden shed.

In a hole of ample size, place the rose so that the roots are in a natural position and the point of union between the stock and the scion is between 1 and 2 inches below the surface. Planting to high will cause the rose to not have enough support and planting to deep will starve the rose of oxygen. After back filling and packing in the soil firmly, thorough watering will be needed.

Pruning

The purpose of pruning is to remove dead or weak wood and to maintain height and form. Pruning is dependant on the type of rose you have planted and the part of the world you are in. However there are several fundamentals which apply to all varieties and locals.

1. All dead cane should be removed at the base.

2. Winter damaged canes should be cut back to sound wood.

3. Canes interfering with the height or shape of the plant, or canes that are rubbing other canes should be cut back or removed.

4. Sharp pruning should always be used. Dull shears will damage the plant making fungal and bacterial growth easier.

5. Cuts should be made just above the bud, slanting in the same direction of the bud and as close to the bud a s possible without causing damage to it.

Mulching and winter protection

Roses benefit from mulching in the summer. Mulch roses with your desired material making sure not to exceed 1 inch in depth.

Winter protection is dependant on local, climate, exposure and hardiness. Make sure that the ground is well supplied with water. Soil should be brought up around the roses to a height of 10 to 15 inches. After the ground has frozen, mulch with hay or a similar material.

There are few flowers which bring the touches of warmth and graciousness, of the color and beauty to the surroundings of the modest home like the rose.

Author Info: Mike Mathews writes for the popular web sites, Small Dog Breeds, Garden Basics and Funny Dog Videos

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Today’s treatment of kitchens had made many to consider these rooms as guest accommodating next to living rooms. While in the past they are more inclined for efficiency, over the years kitchens are becoming as much aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as it is efficient as the margin that separates the two becomes less and less plain.

So while kitchens may be among the easiest to plan, design or remodel, today’s assorted requirement for kitchens might make any designer more often scratching his head. Don’t chew that pencil tip just yet. Checking various tips from different room designers should crank your designing gears in just a minute.

Scrapping Conventional Modeling

It seems that congregating on a tightly knit society, everyone will eventually share similar traits and tastes. European and Western ideas for kitchen are getting old and it’s a good thing that people are starting to scrap that old western kitchen design. The new (and better) concept in modern kitchen design comes from the eastern way. Yes, it seems that eastern designs are more space conscious than expansive flavors of western design. And since eastern leading countries have long ago develop a taste of modern urban living, most of these designs come as well thought, space conscious and hygienic looking kitchens.

Kitchen designs should not be also confined to worn concepts. Design practices in the past makes the kitchen much less obvious to visitors. But as hospitality and courtesy to visitors gets more encompassing, more households have begun receiving guests from the kitchens. The old English habit of non-guest kitchens is apparently absolved.

Kitchen Remodeling Floor Plans

At getdecorating.com, you’ll get a healthy dose of ideas for kitchen remodeling floor plans. From a complex U-bend to a more simple L-Shaped kitchen remodeling floor plans, after checking out this site its almost guaranteed that you’ll have several ideas of your own. Too bad, though, as most designs that here aren’t particular to those having to cope up with a shoestring budget. Nevertheless, kitchen designs here are really fantastic.

Like this one:
http://www.getdecorating.com/kitchens.cfm?master=24641&page=1

Did we just say that kitchen is becoming more of a reception area these days? Then design such as this should be handy for those households. Immediately next to the living room is the noticeable kitchen, while also serving as an entry hall towards the inner dining room. This idea is good for the housewife who has to juggle baking with receiving those early coming guest. Now there’s no reason to trash those burnt turkeys.

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]

Kitchen cabinets tend to bear the major brunt of cooking activities. The heat, grease, water, and food residue all take their toll and it is only a matter of time before you need to revitalize your kitchen. Buying new kitchen cabinets can prove to be an expensive option. Alternatively, you can think of refacing them as an ideal solution to give your kitchen a fresh new look.

The entire enterprise of refacing can prove to be constructive experience if you decide to let loose your creative urges and give the cabinets that unique distinctive touch that will define your kitchen. On the practical side, it will help to cut down the costs you would otherwise have to set aside for a professional contractor.

Refacing kitchen cabinets means replacing old doors with new ones as also sprucing up their framework. Doors are the most visible parts of the cabinets and choosing the ideal ones will require you to study the styles in the market. The three popular design options include reused panel, recessed panel, and slab door types. While wood is the obvious choice for doors, you can also consider style options such as glass front, bead board, or raised panel doors.

Instead of replacing doors, you can also think in terms of adding a veneer to them. Veneers come in many styles and finishes, and you can choose the one that blends beautifully with the tiles and the color of the walls of your kitchen.

If you feel up to the job, repainting can prove to be an interesting experience. After removing the doors, you’ll need to strip off the old paint and do a thorough cleaning of the surface. Here, you must remember cleaning before repainting is different from routine cleaning. If any grease or dust is left, you will not be able to apply the paint properly. Once this is done, you can begin painting. A spray paint is strongly recommended as it gives the best possible uniform coverage.

Kitchen Cabinets provides detailed information about kitchen cabinets, discount kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinet doors and more. Kitchen Cabinets is affiliated with Wallpaper And Borders.

[tags]kitchen cabinets, discount kitchen cabinets, kitchen cabinet doors[/tags]

For some, the sleek clean lines associated with the contemporary style are perfect for the bedroom but many homeowners are at a loss as to how to achieve this style of decor.

No matter how bad your decorating skills are, you can decorate your bedroom with a contemporary flair by making a few alterations such as painting and coordinating your bedding and pillows to enhance your room with a modern design.

In order to have a sleek contemporary look, you don’t necessarily need coordinating bed, bureaus, and tables but the bedroom should have lots of furniture with simple, clean lines. Try to find furnishing with chrome or metal details. A dark stain or light stain wood will work as will black lacquer style furniture.

A contemporary theme is light on accessories, but the few pieces you do have are key to the success of the design. Be sure to include a few simple pieces that are simple in line and form. A simple square vase with 1 flower or a metal sculpture, perhaps. Additional items such as vintage art d