5 steps to interior design

We don’t need to go that many years back in time to find things being completely different than they are now in most of the industrialized world. There was a time where interior design in the form of trying to stand out in the crowd was only for the people of royal heritage or people belonging to the upper class of society.

The most people did not decorate their homes to make it looks pretty or special but merely to have the most practical home possible. Especially the poorer part of society was practical in their decoration because they didn’t prioritize to spend money on “looks”. Looks didn’t put food on the table and looks didn’t finish the work in the field.

Today things have changed significantly and we are seeing more and more people spending loads and loads of money on interior design. I’ve gathered a small list of 5 steps that you can take if you want to either start decorating you home or if you feel that you need some refinement.

5 steps to take – #1
The easy way, but also the most costly way is to hire a interior designer to do the work for you. If you do a simple search on Google you will find thousands and thousands of designers that are willing to help you for money. If you want to go don’t that route I encourage you to take some references before entering into a costly deal. See some of the homes that they have already designed to make sure that you like their style.

5 steps to take - #2
If you don’t want to pay someone for helping you out then there is an option available that might be worth a try. Around the nation there are many design schools with people graduating every year. Common for them is the fact that they end up doing a design project to finish their education. Put up notes on the boards of the design school saying “need a home to design for your final project? Contact ……” or something like that. This method is not for you if you are in a hurry.

5 steps to take - #3
Family! Luckily most people have family and in most family you will find (primarily mothers) people that would love to give their input as to how you should design your home. Now even though this method is free you need to be careful. Depending on the person you engage in the project you might end up in some hefty arguments 

5 steps to take - #4
If you want to do it on your own there is plenty of inspiration to find in both magazines and newspapers. Most newspapers today have whole sections on interior design so you won’t have to search for long to find inspiration. If you are looking for a special style then magazines is the way to go. Most times they have themes and you will just have to find the edition that covers the theme that you’re searching for.

5 steps to take - #5
Now the final step is the one that will be the most “you”. This is where you use your imagination and go shop for furniture and different kinds of decoration and then try to put everything together. The result can easily vary and if you are not that good at it you might find yourself spending many hours trying to get it right. However, if you are like many interior decorators then that won’t bother you because that is what you enjoy the most.

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About the Author: The Author specializes in area rugs and the website contains articles on anything from tropical print area rugs to oval shag area rugs.

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Direct Vent Fireplace - How Can They Keep You Warm?

Direct vent fireplaces can be the perfect addition for homeowners who either don't have a working chimney or has one that is in bad shape. There are other advantages to vented fireplaces as well that you may want to know about.

With a direct vent fireplace there is no need for a chimney to vent in to. Instead, the vent can go right out a side wall in the home. That is a huge advantage in many cases when it would be quite costly or nearly impossible to go up through a chimney.

This also gives you options in being able to vent the fireplace in virtually any location you need to.

A direct vent fireplace will burn either natural gas or propane, which makes this type of fireplace very efficient.

It also lowers heating bills and creates little carbon dioxide. This is an important safety consideration for anyone.

Prices for a direct vent fireplace can range from a $1,000 and up. It all depends on your budget and the model you decide on.

Installation of any direct vent fireplace is much easier and less expensive than your typical gas fireplace. That's another point to consider.

The selection and choice of these fireplaces are immense. You can choose options ranging from glowing life-like embers to the crackling sounds of a real fire.

They also come in traditional and new age designs as well. The bottom line; direct vent fireplaces have come a long way over the years and give any homeowner a great option for heating their home.

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About the Author: By the way, you can learn more about a Direct Vent Fireplace as well as much more information on all types of fireplaces at http://www.FireplacesA-z.com

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London builders: Interior Psychology. Part One.

Architecture is sometimes poetically called stiff music. And it is true: the impact of the building's exterior and its interior especially on the human mind can be compared to the impact of a melody. Very often even a little detail can cause melancholy or vice-versa, bring the feeling of cheerfulness, burst of power and joy.

Fortunately, there has sunk into oblivion the time when interior was arranged only with pragmatic considerations of practicability and utility. Striving for full observing these often doubtful criteria of fashion and prestige is no longer the most important thing, but here comes in the forefront the personal and psychological aspect in housing design. A flat or a private house is gradually becoming not only the space for living but a certain expression of its master's inner world. The house style is oriented on first of all the creation of a comfortable and harmonious climate, and when choosing carefully all decoration components it can be some sort of a passive psychiatrist.

Psychological approach to interior design includes two basic functions. The most widely spread and common is a harmonizing function when the décor of a room or the whole house reflects its master's temperament, his habits, his world outlook and mind. The task of such a décor is to create the atmosphere of harmony and calm. Bold and nontrivial solutions can hardly be appropriate. Such an approach actually assumes interior inactivity towards its master. Owing to optimal combination of shades and structures of decoration materials as well as décor and accessories elements, the interior is adapted to an individual and continues his inner ego.

The second and more interesting function can be called stimulating. Such an approach assumes some feedback between the premises design and a human mind. Nowadays design plays an active part: it favourably emphasizes certain features of character and temper of its master or vice versa it smoothes and levels unfavourable features. For example, such an interior can balance an impetuous choleric or encourage a melancholic inclined to depression. It is not a secret that feng-shui popularity today owes a lot to the variety of methods for arranging stimulating space offered by this ancient study. But feng-shui successors look more deeply, claiming that favourable arrangement of space can magically influence not only the minds of house dwellers, but also the events of their lives, their personal success and success in business.

It goes without saying that ideal can be such a design which combines both stimulating and harmonizing functions. But not every person can get a professional consultancy in interior psychology or house planning from a master of feng-shui. But still one can master and use in practice the basics of personal approach to house arrangement on its own.

Interior design starts with house planning, creating a certain inner space structure. In terms of psychology such structuring is of primary importance. It sets the rhythm of life in a house and often dictates specific models of house dwellers' relationships and those between the house dwellers and their guests. Though there are lots of versions of space planning they can be reduced to the two basic types: close and open interior. A close interior assumes clear fixed division of the whole one into several isolated rooms with each having a certain function.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.builderstown.co.uk

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About the Author: Arthur Prudent is a developer of Builders London: bathroom, kitchen installation - web site offering all aspects of builders services. London builders: Interior Psychology. Part One.

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London builders: Interior Psychology. Part Two.

For example, a living room cannot be altogether a dining room, a bedroom cannot serve a function of a study at the same time. In terms of psychology, the most important here is privacy and even intimacy of lives of house dwellers. On the contrary, an open interior is a designer's realization of conception of an available society showing off its life, active, dynamic and communicative style of behaviour and, probably, the priority of social and business interests over the personal ones. Nowadays this type of house structuring is realized by way of flexible house planning, organizing a space which can be clearly seen from any place, which is divided not into rooms but into functional areas. Two centuries ago architects reached this type by creating an enfilade of adjacent rooms.

The problem of what type of planning to choose when creating harmonising interior can be solved very easily. Those who prefer loneliness, who avoid noisy parties and social contacts, will be satisfied with a close interior. And people who got used to be in the centre of attention, who strive for widening the circle of acquaintances, often associate such a choice with a psychological solitary confinement. Developing the design of a stimulating interior requires much more responsible and creative approach. It goes without saying that the shock therapy tactics is inappropriate here. Compensatory psychotherapeutic idea of stimulating design is realized by way of efficient use of two basic techniques: combination of close or open interior and some intermediate variant - half-open housing space. Let's try to see everything in practice.

Suppose the task is in creating a stimulating interior for a person who experiences some difficulties due to his being unsociable, uncommunicative, being plunged into himself all the time. The first method is to create a single open space instead of a number of separate common rooms (for example, a living room, a kitchen and a study) with one isolated room serving a harmonizing element. The second method is in partial limiting the degree of isolation of each of the rooms when massive walls are replaced by light transforming partition walls, curtain walls or glass panels. An approach to planning the stimulating interior for a person with impetuous, choleric temperament will be quite opposite by its goals but will have much in common with the previous variant by its practical realization. Dominating here will be the tendency of enforcing and dividing single space areas by mobile partitions which visually reduce the volume of a separate room but do not make an impression of a completely isolated room.

Also very important is to think over a colour palette of decoration, general style of the premises as well as furniture and separate objects. With a psychological approach to interior designing this is the most important stage. There is no universal formula here. It is possible to give general recommendations, but only proceeding from a conventional division of temperaments into cholerics, sanguines, melancholics and phlegmatics and their psychoemotional characteristics. As an alternative modern psychology suggests similar gradation into extraverts and introverts of active and passive types. It is clear that each type is very rare in its pure form - temperaments of most personalities can be referred to the mixed type.
© Copyright 2006-2007 www.builderstown.co.uk

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About the Author: Arthur Prudent is a developer of Builders London: bathroom, kitchen installation - web site offering all aspects of builders services. London builders: Interior Psychology. Part Two.

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London builders: Interior Psychology. Part Three.

Sanguines and cholerics are people who cannot imagine themselves out of active, feverish life, without constant being in the in the thick of things. A choleric person is more sensitive than a sanguine one. His activity and dynamism often turn into impulsiveness which causes difficulties in systematic, goal-oriented activity. Sanguines and cholerics cannot be retrogrades and conservatives, that is why the interior design for them welcomes most bold stylistic solutions - from urbanism and hi-tech to avant-garde eclecticism. Harmonizing type of interior for a sanguine person assumes maximum flexible planning and vast open space. The optimal variant in decoration colour palette are warm and light colours, for example, soft shades of orange and yellow. As a rule, sanguines and cholerics prefer compact modular furniture of strict but at the same time elegant design. Stimulating interior can shift rather steady sanguine temperament either to the choleric type or vice versa to the more quiet and slow-moving phlegmatic one. In the former case the main emphasis in the colour palette of room decoration is on the play of contrasts, for example, terracotta colour which is harmonizing for a sanguine person matches with saturated red or black.

Surrounding objects and furniture made of glass and nickel-clad steel will increase the effect. The latter case assumes shifting the main colour palette to the cold part of the spectrum and shifting the whole premises stylistics to the ever-young classics. And for a choleric the harmonizing interior in its pure form designed to support his bursting temperament will hardly be justified. Stimulating interior with its main task of balancing the too much excitable choleric's psyche, is formed according to the same principles that the softening interior for a sanguine person, with the only difference that the colour influence here is more expressive.

Phlegmatics and melancholics are completely opposite to sanguines and cholerics. Their life credo is calm, stability, ptotectability against the outer world and total lack of radical changes. By its nature a phlegmatic is a desperate conservative who has a soft spot for generally recognized standards while a melancholic is focused on his inner world or psychologically speaking he is a complete introvert. If to allow representatives of each psychological type to arrange their houses in the way they like, the phlegmatic's house will look like an antique shop, the melancholic's house will resemble an artist's studio. Taking this into consideration, one can determine the basic trends of developing harmonizing and stimulating interior for them. The colour palette is characterized by prevalence of dimmed pale and dark shades, and the melancholic's interior will suit decoration with original texture or ornament. One can reach a stimulating effect by dissolving the main palette with warmer and more alive colours as well as by introducing into the room a little eclecticism.

And finally when arranging a psychologically oriented interior for a person of a mixed type of temperament, one should define from the very beginning which features of a man's emotional sphere need activating and which of them need reducing. Very often to do this there is no need to start large-scale flat replanning. Sometimes it is enough to select a stimulating area in any part of the premises, for example, in the working place. A harmonizing corner should be placed for rest and recreation - in the bedroom or the living room.

© Copyright 2006-2007 www.builderstown.co.uk

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About the Author: Arthur Prudent is a developer of Builders London: bathroom, kitchen installation - web site offering all aspects of builders services. London builders: Interior Psychology. Part Three.

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London bathroom fitters: repairs in a bathroom.

A bathroom - what does it mean for each of us? The place, where we usually brush our teeth and take a shower, or something more than that? A lot of designers assure that judging by one's bathroom it is possible to find out practically everything about a man and his/her tastes. The times when it was regarded from the point of view of its direct use are far behind. Nowadays, bathrooms sometimes occupy a whole room with a window allowing us to enjoy sunshine and look at the stars during exhilarating and relaxing water procedures.

Aesthetics and functionality.
It is good when a detached house is designed taking into account the tastes of its master. In this case it is possible to locate a bathroom anywhere. In multifamily houses, unfortunately, one has to orient to what is offered by a developer, and it is not recommended to introduce global changes, besides, for that it is necessary to collect a great deal of documents. Therefore, being involved in design of a bathroom one can come across both ungainly forms and abstract sizes. And this can really become a big problem - for all the necessary elements should be placed in such a way that they not only fit the given room and function normally, as well as look aesthetically.

Retro-materials in a new perspective.
Unfortunately, only few recollect a saying that everything old is new again. A shower partition with high lighting and a small ship floating between the glasses made of glass blocks - why not a new life for an old material?
The same can be said about tiles of a medium size. Earlier its choice was so scarce that the design of all bathrooms looked similar. Now with a large variety of choice a lot of people keep away from an ordinary tile format. But in fact the problem is not because of the size but the way it was presented on the walls. At present with the help of wonderful decors, borders, panels, as well as in combination with other materials and original author's idea it is possible to achieve an interesting result.

Selecting a bathtub, You can recollect retro-objects. If the style of the bathroom allows on the whole, then a galvanised bathtub from the last century can become not only functional as well as a very stylish supplement of the interior.

Though, of course, if a bathroom is in the Empire style or the style of Turkish baths, it will be too much of liberty. Here a real "hamam" is needed. Well, if the worst comes to the worst, an ideally white bathtub in the classic style will do.

And a few more words about retro. Walls in the bathroom were decorated with mosaic already by Tsar Herod. Nowadays this tendency is also quite topical. A mosaic floor and walls with a sense of proportion and an appropriate taste of masters, will help to create an unhacked and bright interior.

New ideas.
If you are still not content with old standards and traditional materials - improvise on any topics. Oriental style and traditional English one, luxurious imperial and Japanese minimalism, ocean coast and a countryside landscape - choose any fantasy for your bathroom.

But one shouldn't forget that a bathroom is the place where we start and finish our day. And the way we started it in the morning influences our mood, our working rhythm. In the evening in a spacious bathroom it is pleasant to wash away tiredness and feel happy in a cozy home. As regards a boiler, and a washing machine as well as other accessories, it is always possible to find another more convenient place for them.
© Copyright 2006-2007 www.builderstown.co.uk

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About the Author: Arthur Prudent is a developer of Builders London: bathroom, kitchen installation - web site offering all aspects of builders services. London bathroom fitters: repairs in a bathroom.

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Dining room Furniture: Things to Consider Before Purchase

When you are looking to buy a new set of dining room furniture, you need to do some preliminary planning. Several steps taken at the onset will ensure that you buy quality dining room furniture that will last for years, and add beauty to your mealtime oasis.

Practicalities come first. Look at your dining room, and measure its dimensions. Do not forget to measure the height and width of the dining room door and the front door to be sure that your furnishings will be able to get into your room. The last thing that you want is for your new breakfast table to be hopelessly stuck in the hall because you forgot to see if it would fit through there.

Next, task an honest assessment of your available finances you have alloted to spend on dining room furniture. Most stores offer payment plans, but you should make sure that you will be able to make the monthly installments on time; otherwise, your new breakfast nook will end up being a mar on your credit score that leads to loss of appetite instead of a morning fuel and fellowship stop for your family. Your best option here is to shop around for the lowest price. Internet furniture stores usually offer the lowest prices, as they lack the overhead of brick and mortar stores. Some online furniture retailers also offer a low price guarantee that will beat the lowest price that you can find anywhere by 10%. Do not forget to factor in the cost of delivery and setup when you are comparing prices. Some retailers require you to pick up your dining room furniture from their store and set it up on your own if you want to get the best price. While others will deliver at no extra charge. Look for an online furniture store that has an available live chat option, that allows you to talk to a furnishing expert in real time while you browse their website. That way, any questions that you have can be immediately addressed, and you will not have to deal with high pressure, commissioned sales people.

Ask yourself what your style is. Do you prefer traditional décor or more contemporary designs. Some people like to mix and match for an eclectic atmosphere that is pleasantly quirky. Who will be using this dining room furniture? Will it be just you, or do you eat with family or a significant other? The furnishings that you chose will largely be based upon your own personal tastes. As your dining room is a considerable investment, it is best to chose stylings that will last through the years. Hopefully, this will prevent future avocado green and harvest gold fiascoes that resulted from the color fads of the 1970's and 1980's and can still be found in older apartment buildings.

Lastly, you need to ask your retailer about furniture protection plans. These will act as insurance policies for your dining room furniture. If you get scratches on your table or cigarette burns on your chairs, these policies will cover the cost of repair and or replacement of the damage. Read the fine print on the policy before agreeing to it, as the policies often differ by retailer. In the long run, a furniture protection plan will save you money and time. It ensures that you will not have to waste your time and money scrounging around for a private company to come an repair damage to your dining room furniture. And there is no guarantee that the private cleaning company will be able to fix the problem, leaving you with the cost of replacement.

With these things in mind, buying a new set of dining room furniture can be a painless, enjoyable task.

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About the Author: Coleman Furniture

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Sleigh Bedroom Furniture: Things to Consider Before Purchase

When you are looking to buy a new suite of sleigh bedroom furniture, you need to do some preliminary planning. Several steps taken at the onset will ensure that you buy quality sleigh bedroom furniture that will last for years, and add beauty to your nighttime oasis.

Practicalities come first. Look at your sleigh bedroom, and measure its dimensions. Do not forget to measure the height and width of the sleigh bedroom door and the front door to be sure that your furnishings will be able to get into your room. The last thing that you want is for your new sleigh bed to be hopelessly stuck in the upstairs hall because you forgot to see if it would fit through there.

Next, task an honest assessment of your available finances you have alloted to spend on sleigh bedroom furniture. Most stores offer payment plans, but you should make sure that you will be able to make the monthly installments on time; otherwise, your new mattress will end up being a mar on your credit score that keeps you awake at night instead of a vessel of sweet dreams. Your best option here is to shop around for the lowest price. Internet sleigh bedroom furniture stores usually offer the lowest prices, as they lack the overhead of brick and mortar stores. Some online furniture retailers also offer a low price guarantee that will beat the lowest price that you can find anywhere by 10%. Do not forget to factor in the cost of delivery and setup when you are comparing prices. Some retailers require you to pick up your sleigh bedroom furniture from their store and set it up on your own if you want to get the best price. While others will deliver at no extra charge.

You also need to ask your retailer about furniture protection plans. These will act as insurance policies for your sleigh bedroom furniture. If you get scratches on your bed or cigarette burns on your mattress, these policies will cover the cost of repair and or replacement of the damage. Read the fine print on the policy before agreeing to it, as the policies often differ by retailer. In the long run, a furniture protection plan will save you money and time. It ensures that you will not have to waste your time and money scrounging around for a private company to come an repair damage to your sleigh bedroom furniture. And there is no guarantee that the private cleaning company will be able to fix the problem, leaving you with the cost of replacement.

What if you have a question while shopping for sleigh bedroom furniture? Technology, just like the kind that brings you the Internet furniture store, allows you to have all your questions answered in real time by live home furnishing experts and not just by sending an email into cyberspace to be seen days later. No, today, you have the choice of a live Internet chat option with the experts or your could go the more traditional route and use the telephone. Either way, your questions will be answered by people who want to help you, not persuade you into buying the most expensive foam mattress.

With these things in mind, buying a new set of sleigh bedroom furniture can be a painless, enjoyable task.

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About the Author: Sleigh bedroom furniture

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Patio Furniture - Picking the Style for Your Home

Patio furniture is one of the best investments that a homeowner can make to enhance their leisure time. Whether you put it in the backyard, on the front porch, or even on a deck overlooking scenery, good high quality outdoor furniture can contribute as much to your relaxation as it dose for your comfort.

There are so many different styles of patio furniture that are out on the market, that cover all the price ranges, and use a wide variety of materials. One of the most typical material combinations being used for outdoor spaces is the wood-iron furniture, but before you decide on the right style of garden or deck furniture for you, should evaluate some of the more popular styles along with their characteristics.

Outdoor wood furniture is extremely durable, especially if it is made from teak or cedar. This style of furniture can have its natural wood color, or it can be stained or painted to match any type of backyard landscaping or external home design. You can find tables, chairs, loungers, rockers, umbrella stands, serving carts, that are all made from wood.

Teak and cedar furniture don't need to be covered during the winter months, but furniture that is made from other types of wood do require protection during the winter. Ideally, patio furniture should be stored in the garage, but if that is not possible then it should be covered with plastic or another protective material that is securely fastened to it, and then stored in a sheltered area away from direct winter weather.

Wrought iron patio furniture is especially sturdy, due to its metal construction. It is generally painted black, but it can also be found in other colors such as; brown, cocoa, beige, and even white. This type of furniture uses cushions and pads to help add bright colors and make the pieces more comfortable for relaxing and lounging.

Caring for wrought iron patio furniture is very simple. Wash the pieces with a soap intended for automotive use, taking care to rinse well after washing. About twice a year, you should apply an automotive wax to the wrought iron to help protect, and preserve it. Washing, and waxing can be combined into a single step if you select an all-in-one product that contains both cleansing and waxing agents.

Before you begin waxing, you should inspect your wrought iron furniture for nicks, scratches, and abrasions to the finish. Use a can of matching spray paint to touch up these spots, then proceed with the protective wax application.

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About the Author: Are you planning a furniture renovation? Learn more about patio furniture and home decor at http://www.timbertrip.com/

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Bathroom Refinished, Relaxation Redefined

It’s a well-known fact that for something that we use for cleaning, the bathroom has to be one of the dirtiest places inside your house. Why not right? Its where you go to cleanse away the dirt and grit of the entire day. Imagine thousands of germs and bacteria running through the pipes. And if you think that’s bad. Imagine them sticking to your bathroom tiles.

Over the years dirt such as these accumulate on your bathroom walls, sink and especially your tub. These microorganisms are not just the causes of deterioration of your fixtures but also the build up of mold and mildew that could result in an unhygienic environment for something as common and necessary as a bathroom. Forget about renovating. Why spend hundreds of dollars and man-hours for something you can get at a reasonable price and done at a considerate amount of time.

After years of use, refinishing bathtubs and bathroom tiles have become a more convenient way to fix bathroom fixtures than replacing them. Instead of having your tiles, your sink, and your tub removed and replaced, simply have them refinished, reglazed and resurfaced. Have your tiles repainted and look good as new. Bring back that clean shine on your bathroom tub with bathtub refinishing services. Having your tub reglazed only takes a couple of hours to complete as compared to remodeling your entire bathroom which could take weeks, or worse, months.

Lest we forget the great deal of money you’ll be able to save. Bathtub reglazing would only cost you a portion of the expense of having your tub removed and replaced. In a matter of hours and for only a fraction of the price, you can have a brand new bathroom without inconvenience on your time and your wallet.

Comfort within your own home is something you deserve after a long day at work. Its about time you pamper yourself the right way and enjoy not just the ambiance of something peaceful but sanitary as well.

For more information, check this site on bathtub reglazing.

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About the Author: Czarina Adams is a web copywriter associated with a bathtub refinishing company.

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How to Lower the Cost of Running Your In-Ground Swimming Pool

When installing a swimming pool, most people don't realize that its initial cost is only a small part of the money they have to invest in it. No-one would dispute that owning a swimming pool is great, but running it can be quite costly. Discover how to make your pool more energy efficient, so you can enjoy it and not worry about the cost too much.

1 Invest into energy efficient pumps and motors

Choosing the right pump for your swimming pool is very important. You will probably be surprised to know that in the first year of operation a swimming pool pump and motor can consume more energy than their initial cost. Bear in mind that you expect your pump to work for several years and it becomes obvious that buying a cheaper model that is not energy efficient will cost you much more in the long term.

So if your pumps are several years old, replace them with new, more energy efficient ones. And if you only start building your pool, invest in a good pump from the beginning.

2 Use pool covers

When we think of pool covers, most people assume that their main function is to prevent fallen leaves and debris from getting into the pool. Covers do that, of course. But what is more important, they prevent your pool from loosing its temperature.

If you use a pool heater in colder months, most of your energy loss will be because water evaporates from your pool taking the heat away. Just cover your pool when it's not in use and that alone will save you up to 50 percent of heating costs.

3 Don't let the wind steal your heat

Pool covers are great when the pool is not in use, but how do you prevent water evaporation when you are actually swimming? One way is to reduce wind around the pool. You can plant shrubs or build a fence to block wind. One thing to consider when installing windbreakers is that they have to be close enough to your pool to keep the wind out, but they shouldn't block the sunlight.

4 Set the right water temperature

If you use a gas pool heater, it consumes considerably more energy when you make your water warmer. Add about 10 percent of energy cost for each degree. So by keeping your temperature low, you can save significantly. Of course, if you don't fancy swimming in cold water, you can install an energy efficient heater.

5 Consider installing a solar swimming pool heater

The best thing about a solar heater is that apart from the initial cost of buying and installing one, it costs nothing to operate, the energy source is free. Solar heaters are ideal for heating swimming pools, especially if your pool is not very large.

There are two general types - glazed and unglazed solar collectors for heating outdoor pools. Unglazed solar heaters are actually inexpensive and work quite well in most cases. These units are simple, made from black plastic or rubber. There is no need for a water tank - water runs directly through the collector. Glazed collectors are more sophisticated and include a heat exchanger. They provide better faster heating, but they also cost more to install.

You can also use a combination of solar and gas heaters. Use a gas heater to heat up your pool quickly, but then you can switch it off and let the solar unit keep the water temperature pleasantly warm.

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About the Author: Tanya Turner is a publisher of Swimming Pool Supply and Accessories where you can find information about all types of pools, and price comparisons of swimming pool supply and accessories

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Make the First Impression Count

Today’s real estate inventory in the greater Albuquerque area is the highest it’s been in the past ten years. Sellers are experiencing the inconvenience of having their perfectly-good homes on the market for longer than anticipated. Builders are offering various deep-pocket incentives to buyers. Speculative investments have curbed below previous years’ levels.

If you are selling or are planning to sell your residence, there is no time like the present to sharpen your competitive edge. Today’s type of marketplace is an excellent time for buyers to buy! Just as you would, these buyers are navigating right past the overpriced homes and then choosing to make an offer on the one that is presented best.

Have you ever visited a model home and thought about just how tempting it is to live in that floor plan? If so, this is certainly no coincidence. The home has been professionally staged and presented to encourage this outcome. Nest to correct pricing, the best thing you can do to sell your home is presentation.

People buy homes every month in all price ranges. Even when it is a buyer’s market, your home could be classified as a seller’s market home and even receive multiple offers if it is priced and presented properly. Consider the following factors when preparing your home for sale:

• Sharp Curb Appeal: Whether a prospective buyer finds your home online or bumps into the “For Sale” sign when driving down your street, the exterior front of the home will leave a lasting impression. A well-manicured exterior is usually a sign of a well-manicured interior. A home with overgrown weeds, non-edged flower beds or lawns, chipping paint, a dented garage door, or tired-looking stucco is likely an indicator that the inside is maintained in a similar fashion. Additionally, the main photo you or your real estate professional uses to market your home online and on flyers is usually the exterior front photo. Make somebody want to come inside!

• Delight the senses: The five senses include seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling, and tasting. Buyers will see your home upon touring it. Visually enhance it with tasteful décor, updated features, clean (i.e. little to no clutter) and sanitary surfaces, and no signs of deferred maintenance. Leaving easy-listening music on a very low volume inside will likely soften the atmosphere thus encouraging your prospective buyers to relax and really absorb the atmosphere your home offers. Pleasant aromas are welcoming, unpleasant aromas are offensive. Both will leave an impression and increase memory – make sure you leave a pleasant one! The sense of feeling mainly targets the home’s temperature. Keep it not too cold, not too hot so that a buyer will want to stay to look around. Taste should only be used in the form of cold waters or light hors d’oeuvres and is most important for events such as open houses. Once all of these are tweaked to perfection, the goal result is for the buyer to feel an emotional connection or sixth sense that your home is the best one for them.

If you make a conscious and successful effort to present your home well, you will rise above the competing properties and reach your objective! Contact a local real estate professional for a customized consultation regarding what you can do to make your home most marketable.

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About the Author: Sean Remington, CRS, ABR is a licensed Realtor(r) with Keller Williams Realty and can be reached at 505-271-8200 or on the internet at www.NMHomesOnline.com

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How to Choose a Stock House Plan

Shopping for a house plan is not as simple as it may seem. When confronted by tens of thousands of different house plans available, it is easy to get overwhelmed. It is important to narrow your choices down as much as possible before you begin your search. Get specific on details such as the number of bedrooms and baths, the square footage you are looking for, the house style you desire, how many floors the house should have. Most decent house plan websites will have plenty of options with the criteria that you have specified. You can start your search on www.houseplancentral.com.

After the initial search, be systematic about tracking the house plans that you like. If you have definitely decided to build your own house, you should also set a date for when you will have selected a plan by. Local architects may customize a plan for you that you could have found for thousands less online if you had been diligent about the search process. Make sure to store your plans if the website you are using offers that feature. Make lists of pros and cons about each house plan. Ask for feedback from friends and family.

When you have found your dream plan, don’t hesitate to call the house plan website you found it on if you have any questions or you want to verify their credentials. I don’t want to scare you, but remember that taking someone else’s plan to a local architect to have them customize it is theft. Usually the same online designer will customize that plan for a fraction of the cost of taking the plan to a local designer.

By Kevin Carden

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About the Author: Kevin Carden is a publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources, the most famous being www.houseplancentral.com. House Plan Central has a large collection of home plans and unique house plans in many different architectural styles, from the nation's top house designers and architects.

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Do It Yourself ( DIY ) Home Security - Simple for The Beginner

There are many DIY home security systems as well as individual products available on the open market today that can be installed by the individual homeowner with relative ease and can be purchased through various retail outlets; from basic systems to complex ones that have video surveillance, the particular system you end up buying will depend on your expertise, budget and the perceived threat of intrusion.

Installing window and door contacts is a relatively simple job, which requires some rudimentary knowledge of how low-voltage wiring works, knowing how to handle a few basic hand tools, and an electric drill. DIY home security can have monitors and closed-circuit television cameras that can also be hooked into a digital recorder or a videocassette recorder to record any activity.

As a general word of caution, cameras should never be positioned in areas where your family members or visiting guests have an expectation of privacy. Bedrooms and bathrooms are areas in which the location of cameras should never be setup. DIY home security video surveillance and commonly used areas of your home as well as outdoors is basically excepted, however videotaping in certain areas may cause legal actions which are based on the violation of privacy, even in your own house.

If You Can Afford It, Go Wireless

Numerous devices, which are available as part of a DIY home security system, can be bought in wireless format. This does away with having to install expensive wiring running through your home which makes the DIY faster and easier for you to install. Even the use of cameras are available in a format that is wireless, which gives you the ability to make your installation outdoors without the need to put holes in your outer walls.

If you want to attach your system to a videocassette recorder, you will benefit greatly if you have a time lapse VCR, which has the capability of saving up to 24 hours of recorded video onto a single T-160 tape. The result of this is that the tape only has to be switched once a day. It is a smart choice to also keep at least one weeks amount of video.

While many people who hook up a DIY home security system have said that 24 hours is enough, if there are no disturbances or unlikely occurrences happening then just tape over it, others have the contention that it could be a day or so before it is possibly discovered.

Digital recording devices are the most beneficial in either a DIY home security system or a professional system and if you can equip it with a 600 Mb hard drive, you have the ability to record 24 cameras with the video being available for about 30 days before it begins to record over any previous images. An additional advantage is that the video can be played back through your home computer system and the still images can be outputted through your printer.

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About the Author: Listen to Korbin Newlyn as he shares his insights as an expert author and an avid writer in the field of home security. If you would like to learn more go to Home Security Surveillance and at Home Wireless Network Security

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What to do if you have Fire and/or Water Damage

All the physical matter in this world is perishable. Thus the things made up of this matter are also perishable. But life without the things made up of this natural matter is impossible. One has to use the man made things made up of the natural matter else life will be very difficult, like we cannot expect a comfortable sleep without a bed. This bed is made up of natural matter that is wood or iron. There are many factors which are the cause why the things get destroyed. Like wood is badly affected by fire and water. The wood turns to ashes if subjected to intense fire. Also it is badly affected by water. The wood starts to loose its shape and finish when bought in contact with water. The cells of the wood start absorbing water thus causing swelling of the piece of wood. Thus one has to take proper care of the matter else everything gets destroyed.

Some times fire accidents happen. Lots of loss is caused to the people and the infrastructure. One can always take help of the fire brigades. But the action of fire is so fast that till the time the fire is controlled it has already caused lots of damage to the things of the buildings. Sometime the flames of fire are not the reason of the destruction but the cause is smoke. A black smoky layer is deposited on all the things which get in touch with smoke. Also the foul smell is accompanied with the smoky layer. Thus one has to invest lots of time and money for the restoration of the things. There are many professional companies which provide this help. The people from the agencies come and clean every part of the house. Treat the carpets, furniture, kitchen items, and all the house hold items with the cleaners and disinfectants. They spray deodorizers to remove the foul smell from the house. All the electronic equipments in the house also need to be restored. Sometimes the fire occurs due to the short circuiting of wires of the house. In that case all the electronics equipments plugged in at the time of accident are destroyed. All these equipments need to be replaced if under the warranty period.

If the fire accident has occurred in a house then all the important documents need to be treated chemically so that they can be restored. One cannot do all the restoration process by himself. We should take help of the agencies else we will loose our important documents and house hold things.

In a similar way the water restoration services are also provided by various agencies. In case of damage caused by flood or by any other means one can always go for the good agencies for the restorative measures.

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About the Author: Abagail Odalis is a home restoration specialist who currently works in the New York Carpet Cleaning Industry. Her 20 years of home restoration experience has taught her how to clean, fix and repair everthing from carpets, area rugs to wood floors and diaster clean up.

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Garage Doors that Pose Dangers

One functional part in your house is the garage. Some prefer an older style tilt-up garage door, while most homeowners today prefer a roll-up garage door. In the garage you place your car, your child’s bicycles, and your repair tools. Around the house, a lot of accidents may happen. It is possible to burn your hand while cooking in the stove, break your leg while falling down the stairs, or accidentally knock your head under the dining table while reaching for that fork you dropped. There is danger everywhere, and your garage is not an exception. Do you have an automatic garage door? If its garage door opener is non-reversing, your family may be in trouble.

Hundreds of years ago, garage doors were made of wood. Then from the old barn door-style, garage doors developed into steel doors and doors made of synthetic materials for better insulation and durability. Basically, a garage door may weigh hundreds of pounds. True, it isn’t a good idea if your child, or even you, get trapped under a garage door. So certain precautions are needed in order to ensure your family’s safety.

If you have an automatic garage door that does not automatically reverse, you should replace it with a new opener that can do reverse. Reports received by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that approximately 60 children between the ages of 2 and 14 have been trapped and killed under automatic garage doors since 1982. Other reports show that other children had severe injuries when the closing of garage doors almost crushed them. That is why non-reversing garage door openers should be replaced at once. Or, you may opt for a new residential garage door installation if you want a new door with a reverse garage door opener. Don’t be satisfied with garage doors that only stop whenever it hits an object under it. You should be pining for the reversing one.

Check your garage door for signs of malfunction and failure. Replace parts that needed to be replaced. To do that, you have to make sure that your door is balanced. It should stay in place when stopped in any partially opened position. If your garage door is unbalanced, it may just crash whenever somebody is under it or not. Never allow your child to be near the area of the garage when a door check-up is going on. In many reported instances, even professional garage door technicians have suffered serious injuries like broken bones in the process of replacing garage door springs. The tension spring and torsion springs are hard to replace because of the great force imposed by the weight of the garage door. That is why it is very important not to do it on your own or by a family member who is not also qualified to change or replace garage door parts. So never ever think that you can do garage door repair by yourself.

You have to maintain your garage door more often than maintaining your car. If your garage door fails to function it may crash to floor then probably hurt someone under it, which is more likely to be your spouse or your child. Therefore, it is a wise precaution to have regular maintenance and repair for your garage doors.

For more information about garage doors, visit this site on garage door repair services.

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About the Author: Amika Jade is a web copywriter for US Website Builder, that is associated with A Plus Garage Door Co..

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The Tricky Thing about Novelty Lighting

Novelty lighting is one of the best ways to add personality into any individual room or home without compromising on the actual purpose of the lamp, which is to illuminate your home. But what’s funny is that not too many people consider purchasing a novelty light for fear that it may clash with their current décor or may even come off as tacky. This doesn’t always have to be the case; as long as you’re just as choosy in picking your novelty lighting as you are about your furniture, house, car, you know, your life basically, then you should be okay.

The first and most common mistake that people make with novelty lighting is that they use it as the sole source of lighting for a room. Even though there are exceptions such as billiards lighting or unique island lighting, relying on your novelty light as the main source should be avoided when possible, which is usually always. Novelty lighting can be considered as accent pieces to your décor, adding a bit of fun personality that won’t take away from the overall theme of your room or home.

With that said, you should also always consider what your current décor looks like. If for example you have a traditional, Victorian theme going on in your home, you should probably stray away from marine animal-themed flush mounts and stick with a subtle floral themed table lamp or wall sconce. If you happen to have a retro styled home, large patterns that evoke a Pop Art theme on lamp shades, diffusers and even on the base of lamps and pendant lights work best.

Keep in mind that novelty lighting really should just be used as a decorative, accent piece for your home. Unless you have the matching décor to go with certain lights, novelty pieces such as the infamous Leg Table Lamp from the classic family film A Christmas Story should probably either stay in the attic or in the film itself! Think carefully before making your first novelty lighting purchase; who knows, it may actually give your home some extra personality!

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