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HOW TO GET RID OF THE INVISIBLE TOXINS IN YOUR HOME?

September 2, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home MaintenanceDIY projects, health, home maintenanceLeave a comment

Did you know that air in your home can be 5 times more polluted than the air outside? Perhaps, this sounds unbelievable, but our important tips will make you avoid all the risks that may impair your health, and you will instantly breathe easier!

Although you try to keep your home clean and safe on regular basis, there is a big threat to your well-being that isn’t visible to the naked eye. Pollution in your home can sometimes be 2-5 times higher than outdoors since the air in the house can be saturated with pollen, mold, pet dander, and pollutants from household cleaning products. During winter, the situation doesn’t get any better – weatherproofing combined with heated, dry air can boost indoor pollution levels even higher with airborne toxins, lowering levels of humidity. The combination of the two can cause severe allergies, asthma, respiratory difficulties and even heart attacks.

Since we spend 60% of our time in our homes, it’s time to clear the air and breathe freely!

Crack the window

Every time you think of the opened window when it’s cold outside, it makes your skin crawl! But you should know that sealing a house too tightly doesn’t allow the entry of fresh oxygen or the escape of carbon dioxide that you inhale. As a result, your body doesn’t get the amount of oxygen it needs and it’s no wonder if you feel constantly tired or lethargic.

Since oxygen levels can be especially low in a sealed bedroom after a night sleep, make sure that your bedroom windows be opened in the morning (at least 5-10 minutes), and again before you go to bed at night. This time will be enough to let the sufficient amount of oxygen in and carbon dioxide out and not to chill the rest of the house.

Turn off ventilation fans

Running powerful fans for an extended period of time can redirect exhaust gasses that may include carbon monoxide fumes back into the house, instead of up and out of flue.

Turn exhaust fans off when they’ve done their job or consider setting a manual switch with a timer to limit unnecessary use.

Change filters

Mold from damp basements and lingering spores in air-conditioning systems can become airborne, if the windows are closed. Mold can irritate your eyes, cause allergies and respiratory problems.

Replace filthy heating system filters regularly, recommend air quality experts from Ottawa, since filters lock pollutants that feed mold (human skin cells, pollen, pet dander…). Have your heating system checked annually, and if there are any problems, fix them before you need the heat.

Clean the basement / attic

All different stuff that you stack in the basement stirs up dust triggering allergy symptoms such as: sensitive eyes, wheezing or congestion.

Take the boxes outside to wipe the dust off them. Wash all the blankets, linen or clothes before you use them. It would be a good thing to put on a respiratory mask before you enter the attic or basement to protect yourself from airborne particles that cause irritations and allergies.

Forget about romantic candles

Scented candles that many people enjoy give off more than fragrance – studies show that they can inflame respiratory tract and aggravate asthma, especially if you don’t do the regular dusting. Dust simply loves to ride on particulates that candles give off and enter deep into the lungs to obstruct breathing.

Candles in large jars really look stunning, but it’s time to say good bye to them, since they tend to send even more particulates into the air than the regular ones. If you can’t imagine your home without the soft, candle light glow, choose unscented, taper candles and place them far from vents and other air sources.

Why Do You Need a Proper Heating and Cooling System for Your Home?

September 1, 2016adminEnergy Efficiency, Green Living, Home Improvement Tipsenergy efficient, green living, home improvement, home trendsLeave a comment

If you want to save power and the environment, then you can go for the green heating and cooling technology. This green heating and cooling technology can provide the coolest atmosphere during summer, and it can also provide warm temperature during the winter. For this technology you do not need to install any air conditioner and furnace in your rooms, and you can also prevent greenhouse gas emission with this technology. Most of these technologies have come up with active and positive modes of application, and the positive applications suggest you to make your roof top cooler with light shades, and you can place some green elements such as plants in your room or on the window or in the balcony area. On the other part active modes of applications can suggest you to install geothermal or solar technology in your home.

It is true that, through these systems you can save your bill, and you can decorate your home also. But for the extreme temperature, you cannot stay without any air conditioner. You can apply this green technology to save the environment and get some fresh air, and it can also save your electricity bill. But to stay in a relaxed atmosphere you need to search for a perfect heating and cooling system for your home.

The central heating and cooling system for the home:

It has been noticed that during summer, the southern and western part of the house remains cool compared to the other parts of the house, because these portions remain under the shade during scorching summer. If you have a two story building then you may find the first floor has become hot because of the roof, and in this regards you need a perfect air conditioner system for your entire home. Now you can install the central heating and cooling system and save the energy bill accordingly.

Central heating and cooling systems can provide you cool and hot temperature from the same machine, and according to the seasons, you need to change the application for the same.

This heating and cooling system can save the energy bills because it cannot generate the equal cool air or heat throughout your house. It can automatically detect the different room temperature and provide the air flow accordingly.

During the hottest summer, the humidity level of the home becomes big trouble for all, because you need to decrease this level along with the temperature. When you install the central heating and cooling system in your house, it can dehumidify your house properly and you can also control this feature with a remote control system.

How to choose the heating and cooling system?

First, you need to decide that you are looking for the heating and cooling system for the home or commercial places. The room size is an important factor to decide about the power consumption and energy requirement of these systems. Then you can choose the proper heating and cooling system according to your needs and budget only.

It is suggested to choose the copper cooling and heating system for the home because it can provide much air flow at low electric consumption level.

You have to incorporate with a power stabilizer for the central heating and cooling system because recurrent power fluctuation can damage this technology.

For this system, you do not need to install any additional air conditioner or room heater and it can produce the accurate room temperature according to your needs.

So, now install proper heating and cooling system and stay in a relaxed atmosphere. For more details, you can also search from online portals and choose the designs from different websites.

Author bio:

Evan Javier an expert writer, blogger with strong passion in writing for various topics such as Business, Health/Fitness, Lifestyle, Home décor, Travel, Automotive and lot more. Follow him at Google+.

Enhancing the Appeal of Your Home with LED Light Strips

August 31, 2016adminHome Decor, Home Improvement Tips, Interior DesignDIY projects, home decor, home trends, interior designLeave a comment

We’ve all seen the glimpse of Tron and similar futuristic films that feature these cool, colourful light strips. The LEDs have advanced quite a bit over the years, and they now stand out even more from the competition with the traits like flexibility and thin body.

They can be inserted at a variety of spots you’ve never considered before (beds, shelves, etc.). Their purpose is not purely decorative, as they also discreetly illuminate the small area around them. Here’s a selection of tried-out spots where LED strips can be placed to get you inspired for your own project.

Glam effect

Fixing bathroom mirrors and vanities with starlets or powerful make-up-room bulbs is nothing new, but it may be too harsh for a hallway mirror. If you’re seeking to accomplish a subtle, more delicate effect and not cover a large portion of the mirror frame, LED strips are just the perfect solution.

Another way to add glam into your interior décor is to set up some LEDs to your open riser staircase, if you have these in your home. This will not only allow you to make an impressive entrance every time you go down the stairs, but they will make the nightly trips safer and more economic (you won’t have to turn on the overhead lights). Also, they can be programmed to turn automatically as you tread on them.

Lounge area

You can change the atmosphere in your living or bedroom area by adding a faint strip of light underneath the couches, sofas or beds. Some hip furniture stores even sell pieces with LEDs already installed, but these could strain the budget quite a bit. Instead, create a special ambience with LED lights of your choice, and you’ll stop losing stuff under your bed.

If you have a piano in your living area, you can make the lights sync with the notes you’re playing, and you can select the colour of your liking for this project, say the experts at Industralight.

Storage

How many times have we wished we had a flashlight when trying to find something on the shelf or in our drawers? Installing old-fashioned lights can pose as a fire hazard as it gets heated up easily, so LEDs seem like the obvious alternative. They don’t give off much heat and their light is soft but effective.

Open shelving with colour coded LED strips can cut down the time you spend searching for a certain item, and even plain whites can make the display undoubtedly beautiful. Our junk drawers and other miscellaneous storage nooks would be less of a frustration if we inserted a line of LEDs that can help us find what we want much faster.

Kitchen zone

Food can sometimes get mouldy or spoilt because it got lost and forgotten at the back of the fridge’s main compartment or in the ice box. Some old models may not have proper or functional illumination, but you don’t have to replace it with a high-end device right away. This issue can be easily prevented by enhancing the existing light with extra strips and a handy motion sensor system.

Similarly, you can instill a practical and awesome element to your new bar island and incorporate some LED strips to your cabinets and under-the-counter area. You can even opt for a colour-changing mode that’s bound to make your house parties unforgettable.

Outdoor options

For starters, your deck or a patio could use an additional layer or ambiance light for the dusky and night-time occasions. You don’t even have to outfit the entire deck, but only focus on the table area, for instance.

By adding a properly positioned line of LED strips to your outdoor pool, you will feel as if you’re staying in one of the most expensive hotels while chilling in your backyard. Since you’ll need to install electrical wires near water, make sure to call the professionals for this project.

You can give your home an undeniable touch of class by introducing some carefully selected LED strips. These were just some ideas for the storage and lounge areas you can easily install on your own.

5 Questions About Home Renovations You Always Wanted Answered

August 30, 2016adminHome Improvement Tips, home remodeling, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, home remodeling, kitchen remodeling, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

You’re thinking about doing a home renovation, but something is holding you back. A reno is a big job that requires a lot of time and money. You want to get it right. A mistake could be costly.

Maybe you’re hesitating because you feel uninformed. Want some help? Here are answers to common renovation questions that’ll help you make the right decision.

Which home renovations pay back the investment?

If you decide to sell your house, you hope that you’ll get a decent return on investment — ROI — for your home improvements. However, not all renovations are created equal. Some are more attractive to homebuyers, so sellers recoup more of those expenses. This isn’t the only reason to do a renovation, but it’s good information to have. Check out the 2016 renovation jobs that have the highest ROI, based on the national average:

Insulating the attic with fiberglass: almost 117 percent return
Replacing the bottom third of siding with manufactured stone veneer: almost 93 percent
Doing a minor kitchen remodel: about 83 percent
Replacing siding: 77 percent
Adding a wood deck: 75 percent

Prepare yourself. Some popular renovations don’t earn back as much on your investment:

Adding a bathroom: about 56 percent
Adding a master suite: just over 64 percent
Completing a major kitchen remodel: almost 65 percent
Doing a bathroom remodel: almost 66 percent
Adding a family room: almost 68 percent

If I have limited funds for a kitchen renovation, where can I cut back?

You imagine your dream kitchen… but it’s way out of your price range. Don’t be discouraged. You can cut costs and still create a functioning, beautiful kitchen. Just don’t go all-out on certain areas:

Kitchen cabinets: These are a major expense because they take up so much wall space. Custom-made cabinets cost tens of thousands of dollars. Sure, they’re beautiful, but standard cabinets are very attractive and much, much, much less expensive.

You also don’t need cabinets with fancy accessories. Purchase inserts, pullouts and organizers separately and install them. Skip the soft-close drawers and cabinets. If you’re looking to trim costs, the coolness factor doesn’t justify the outlay.

Sink: A standard stainless steel sink basin is all you really need… but get the faucet you really want. Its usefulness and appearance do make a difference.

Appliances: Most kitchens don’t require the best-of-the-best. Unless cooking is your profession — or passion — a mid-range refrigerator, stove and dishwasher will meet your needs.

Floor: Engineered cork and real linoleum tile are both reasonably priced and environmentally friendly. They’re also easy on the feet if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

What’s the best material for water pipes?

The most common residential pipe materials are steel, copper, PVC and PEX. If you’re doing renovations that require replacement, your best choices are:

PVC: This is suitable for drainpipes and toilets. It doesn’t rust, and it lasts 25 to 40 years. You can’t use PVC for sinks and tubs, though, because it can’t handle high temperatures.

PEX: This material is durable and heat-tolerant, which makes it a great option for incoming water lines. And bonus! It’s often color-coordinated: cold water pipes are blue, and hot are red.

If you weren’t planning on replacing piping but are taking out drywall, check on pipes anyway. You may discover something needs fixing. Repairs will be cheaper while the walls are already open.

Do I need a permit for my renovation?

The answer is an unqualified “maybe.” It all depends upon your local building codes, which are designed to ensure that work has been done safely. Professional contractors typically take care of the permit process, which involves filing paperwork, paying fees and allowing inspections. Check your contract to be sure permits are covered.

If you’re doing structural work yourself, contact the permit office of your municipality. Even if it’s a relatively small job, such as putting in a window or replacing a shower, you’ll need a permit. If you don’t get one, you might discover later that substandard work caused problems. When you try to sell the home, a prospective buyer probably won’t be able to get a loan. If you do manage to sell but problems crop up, you could be hit with a lawsuit.

What’s the first thing I should do after I’ve decided to do a renovation?

Ok, you’ve committed to remodeling the basement, redoing the kitchen, adding a bathroom… whatever. The first step: determine exactly what you want to accomplish with the project. Don’t contact a contractor while you’re still vague about the details. Check websites, go to showrooms, talk to friends, read remodeling magazines… gather a lot of information.

You probably already have a rough budget and timeline, or you wouldn’t be moving forward with the project. Decide what ideas you like best for your space. You can even make lists for changes that are “must-haves” and those that would just be really nice. This step also helps you refine your budget, so you’ll have a sense of what you can afford.

Renovations come with lots of questions. You might be asking them of contractors, workers, suppliers and loan officers. These five got you started. Now add to the list.

Author Bio:

Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for “The Drifter Collective.” Throughout her life, she has found excitement in the world around her. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations, cultures, and styles, while communicating these endeavors through her passion for writing and expression. Her love for the world around her is portrayed through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

The Drifter Collective: An eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us.

https://twitter.com/kacey_mya

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5 Bathroom DIY Ideas for People Who Are Always on the Go

August 29, 2016adminBathroom Remodeling, DIY Projects, Home Improvement Tipsbathroom remodeling, DIY projects, home trendsLeave a comment

Upgrading your bathroom doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t even have to take too much time. In fact, with the right ideas and the right materials, you can quickly come up with your very own DIY projects for your bathroom.

If you’re a very busy person and can’t spend an entire day crafting things, you can still get creative with your bathroom makeover with these 5 easy DIY ideas.

1. Magnetic Makeup

In case you have a lot of cosmetics in your vanity and you’re struggling to fit them inside your drawers, creating a magnetic cosmetics board is your best solution. It doesn’t require a lot of time or even materials. You only need a shallow stainless steel metal pan, a fabric and a couple of magnets. This board can’t only help you save some space; it can also make it easier for you to grab your favorite makeup before heading out for work.

2. Cake Stand

Keeping your most used items in a cake stand is a good way of making sure you don’t knock all of the products in your vanity area when you’re in a rush. Aside from your skin and hair products, you can also use a cake stand to hold your pieces of jewelry and other small accessories. It’s also a good place to keep your scented candles.

You can repaint or add a few embellishments to the stand to match it with your bathroom’s theme. In case you don’t have a spare cake stand at home, you can easily make one by using two plates and a candlestick.

3. Get a shower upgrade

Low water pressure isn’t only a problem when you’re running late. It can also cause some serious damage in your plumbing, particularly if it comes with episodes of very high water pressure. As a solution, you can invest in a good electric shower. There’s actually a wide range of choices and if you can only take the time to read the best electric shower reviews, you can easily find one that’s fit for your bathroom. Electric showers are economical and can save you both time and energy when it comes to heating water.

4. Sink Skirt

If you have a pedestal sink in your bathroom, then you probably have a good idea of how unsightly it can be. Although it can fit small bathrooms, this type of sink often reveals too much, especially the plumbing and the small cleaning items you tuck underneath it.

Instead of doing a major bathroom renovation to solve these issues, you can sew a sink skirt. This DIY idea is relatively easy and quick to do. You just need a good fabric and some basic sewing skills. In choosing your fabric, make sure that it matches the tone of your bathroom. It’s also a good idea to use a fabric that doesn’t get wet easily. Aside from concealing your exposed plumbing and clutter, a sink skirt can also give your bathroom an added style and design.

5. Magazine Rack

Repurposing a magazine rack for your hair tools can save you some serious space in your bathroom. It’s also helpful in making sure you don’t burn yourself. Aside from your hair tools, you can also use your spare magazine racks to hold your towels and tissue paper rolls. You can hang them on your wall or line them down on the floor. Another good idea is to attach them to the side of your vanity cabinet. This way, you can quickly pull out the tools you need.

Author’s Bio:

Simon Barker knows a lot when it comes to easy and affordable home renovation ideas. Aside from his passion for sharing his best remodeling tips and tricks, he also wrote an electric shower guide which is a definite must-read.

A Few New Tools All Real Estate Investors Should Know About

August 25, 2016adminReal Estate Tipsreal estate, technologyLeave a comment

Successful real estate investors know it’s a numbers game. Being able to analyze statistics, evaluating them and then reacting to your analysis can separate the good real estate investor from the not so good.

Emotions play a part when one selects a home to live in. But when buying or selling property strictly as an investment function, leave the emotions at the door. As Sergeant Friday used to say on the old Dragnet television show, “just the facts, ma’am,” facts are what you need to base your investment decision on.

There are a number of new technology tools available to help investors separate facts from blue-sky fiction and over enthusiastic promoters.

Here is a list of some of the best:

1.Mortgage Calculator & Mortgage Rate Apps

Zillow has one of the best mortgage calculators apps around. Whether you’re looking to calculate payments on a possible property purchase or prepare a financial deal or refinance an existing mortgage, this app is both fast and easy to use.

A quick glance at the Zillow app on your iPhone or tablet when you are evaluating real estate projects to determine if the deal fits into your plans saves not only time but the danger of making snap decisions without knowing the numbers.

2.Real Estate by Trulia

This app is a very effective and user-friendly adaptation of the original Trulia Website. Always known for its investor-friendly tools, Trulia’s Real Estate app helps you find listings on properties and surrounding comparables in any area of the country. Coupled with an incredible interactive mapping feature, this is one app every serious real investor should have in their arsenal of tools.

Another similar site is the flat fee MLS listing site, Fizber. One of the biggest killers of margins is closing costs and realtor costs. Fizber allows you to get your property listed on the MLS for a small fee, giving you access to nearly 80% of US homebuyers.

3.Skype

If you’re not using Skype in your real estate investing business, you’d be wise to get on board and add it to your tool box.

Skype was a pioneer in free internet voice and video chat. They continue to dominate the market as one of the cheapest phone service providers around. Their face-to-face conference call function brings clients and buyers and sellers together from anywhere in the world. Once thought of as only science fiction, Skype has given us the incredible ability to converse in live pictures from a mobile device at any time of the day and anywhere around the globe.

4.Genius Scan

Going paperless, a goal of most innovative real estate investors, is made easier with the Genius Scan app. You no longer need a computer of a fax machine to forward documents to clients or banks. The Genius Scan turns any image into a pdf document in only seconds that has the finished look of a high-quality regular scanned document. And being that this quality app is FREE, it’s a tool you need to look at right away.

5.PlanEASe Software

This software program helps you analyze commercial property for financial and cash flow projections. It offers the investor a comprehensive management tool to deal with multi-unit residential and office properties. The base unit has extensions that include graphics, reporting, with the ability to combine files for portfolio analysis.

6.REO Wise Software

With his program, you can take commercial real estate analysis into the cloud. With a paid cloud subscription, it’s PowerBroker suite includes investment, leasing, financial modeling and marketing tools. It also features a transaction platform for real estate investors with a virtual deal room and document center.

7.Property Fixer App

If you’re an investor who flips properties for a fast gain, the Property Fixer is the tool for you. Using your smartphone, you can analyze property in five minutes and study the figures for holding it from 0 to 12 months in order to determine maximum profitability. Using the Property Fixer app, you can then email the resulting figures directly your clients under you company brand name with your logo.

8.Easy Kilowatt Hour Calculator

Commercial property investors can use this app as a watt hour meter to help determine the energy usage and cost of a possible acquisition.

To keep up in the competitive real estate investing game, where facts and current information are critical, it’s important to keep up with what’s new in the field of technology tools. Subscribing to a couple of commercial real estate newsletters and keeping current with real estate web sites that promote technological advances could be the key to keeping you successful.

Bathroom Faucet Finishes Explained

August 23, 2016adminBathroom Remodeling, home improvement, home remodelingbasement renovation, bathroom remodeling, home improvement, home trendsLeave a comment

Together with other accessories, a faucet determines the level of attractiveness of your bathroom. With this in mind, buying a faucet finish can be a pretty challenging and confusing job. The safest option is to purchase all the fixtures and accessories from the same company to ensure they match. Nevertheless, if you’re in a process of remodeling your bathroom and you feel like experimenting a little bit, mixing different styles can produce outstanding results.

Whether you are installing or redecorating, make sure you take into account all the pros and cons of different faucet finishes. Also, consulting a pro will help you make a final decision relating to price, durability and appearance of the faucets. Bruzzese Home Improvements is the company that offers a full home improvement services and can be a helping hand when it comes to bathroom remodeling.

There are many different designs of faucet finishes, some of which include chrome, oil-rubbed bronze, copper, stainless, dark and light, brushed and polished options, and even faucets with texture. Whichever you pick, there are a few things you should bear in mind.

Attractive Styles and Designs

Chrome is one of the most versatile finishes at the moment and it works well with almost every style. This is a great option if you’re on the budget, as it can easily match any other type of bathroom accessories.
Oil-rubbed bronze is another excellent choice and can be used instead of chrome. It’s quite easy to maintain, durable and doesn’t show water posts or fingerprints. Choose this type of faucet finish if you want your bathroom to give Mediterranean/Tuscan impression.
Copper faucet finishes are easy to find, but difficult to match with other bathroom accessories. If it’s mixed with marble, it gives a really impressive rich feel. Copper has some antibacterial properties, but the shiny finish requires more maintenance than chrome or oil-bronze.
The cool thing about polished nickel is that it appears to change its color under different lighting. This material is smooth, shiny and very easy to maintain. It can be mixed with a wide range of bathroom accessories and still look as good as new, due to the fact that it’s one of the most durable finishes. Try not to combine it with stainless steel because it won’t be able to stand out.

Important Pieces of Advice

If you like your bathroom shiny and neat at all times, go for a brushed finish. This material hides fingerprints and water spots and it’s not reflective as, for instance, polished finishes.

If you’re into latest technology, consider purchasing the faucet that features PVD, physical vapor deposition. The finish that includes PVD is slowly but surely becoming an integral part of the faucet. Ozzy plumbing suggests you try this out since it’s one of the best options against scratches, corrosion and water scale.

While choosing the ideal finish, think about the style of the whole space, including the shape of the sink, door, window, edges on the counters, and even lighting. It’s also possible to go for multiple finishes if you think it won’t disturb the harmony of the room.

3 Simple Improvements to Boost Your Home’s Value

August 21, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Decor, Home Improvement TipsDIY projects, home decor, home improvement, home trendsLeave a comment

The term “home improvement” has a tendency to evoke images of new decks, added rooms, replaced appliances, or remodeled rooms. However, if your schedule or budget don’t allow for a major project, there are a number of simple, cheap ways you can improve your home and improve its value. Here are some of the best options for a quick value boost when trying to sell your home.

Paint an Accent Wall

Many homes have the same, neutral, bland paint throughout the house. Though this does offer a clean feel, it does not grab the buyer’s attention. It can make the home look generic and therefore less valuable. To mitigate that effect, find a small wall that can be painted an accent color.

Some good locations might be the entry way (to make a good first impression), the back wall of the kitchen, the back wall of the dining or living room, or a wall that edges the stairs.

For even greater intrigue, you can use a sea sponge to create the popular sponge-painting effect. This is best done in the space between the kitchen cabinets and the counter tops. If you really want to save money, check out the clearance tables in home improvement stores’ paint sections. When paint is mixed incorrectly, it is marked down up to 90% off the original price. Just be sure you will have enough paint as this mistake color cannot be replicated.

Exchange Mirrors

Bathrooms are an ideal place to make your home look more valuable. When people see beautiful bathroom spaces, the home looks unique and more expensive. For this effect, remove any plain mirrors. Mirrors with no or small frames look cheap to your potential buyers. Go out, shop the sales, and look for more ornately framed pieces.

Of course, some of these can be costly, but if you’re a savvy shopper, you will be able to get them for a good price. Or, if you’re particularly crafty, you can take your old, frameless mirrors and visit a craft store for a cheap, beautiful frame and simply put the pieces together.

Update Your Lighting Fixtures

Nothing says “valuable” like a chandelier. While some chandeliers can cost a pretty penny, you can also find inexpensive chandeliers that make your home look great on a budget. You may also want to consider purchasing accent lights for areas like the kitchen, entryway, and dining area. Colorful blown glass lights are a great option for the smaller spaces.

Again, you should be shopping the sales. Don’t go straight into a high-end store with no coupon. If you want to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank, perusing the clearance and sale items is key.

In actuality, value-increasing home improvements do not have to be expensive. The goal is to make your home look clean, unique, classy, and lived in. For added effects, you can have cookies baking in the oven whenever your house is shown or keep a bowl of fruit on the counter. Little details that tell potential buyers that this house could feel like home can only help. So add color, make your bathrooms more elegant, and wow them with your lighting fixtures. You’ll have a satisfactory sale in no time.

Paul Denikin began learning the ins and outs of DIY home repair while making his home better fit and more accessible for his daughter, Maggie, who has special needs. Paul wants to continue to help special needs parents like himself, and offer them a source for ideas. And that’s why he created DadKnowsDIY.com, a website that offers home improvement project how-tos and other accessibility information. When Paul isn’t being handy around the house, he likes to take Maggie to the movies on the weekends.

Why you should Forget Curtains and Get Blinds

August 20, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Decor, Interior DesignDIY projects, home decor, home trends, interior designLeave a comment

Although curtains have been the norm for dressing windows, blinds are now a more popular choice. Curtains, while looking quite beautiful, can fade in the sunlight, become dated and are often difficult to keep clean. Blinds on the other hand keep their colour, are easy to maintain while also very easy to take down and clean.

Click online to find suppliers of blinds along with:-

Security doors
Screens
Awnings
Shutters

All of these products are manufactured from high quality materials and will enhance any home or office. Add value to property by buying blinds Perth from home improvement retailers who specialise in window dressing and security.

Trust manufacturers of blinds for a great service

If deciding to switch from curtains to blinds for all windows in a property, there’s a huge range to choose from. Depending on the size of the window to be covered the following will look absolutely stunning:-

Venetian blinds – a very popular choice in many Australian homes. Can be made for sloping and conventional windows.
Roman blinds – these types of blinds are firm favourites made from natural style materials. They are also easy to clean.
Roller blinds – are also known as Holland blinds and can be made from sunscreen, translucent or blackout material. Roller blinds are energy efficient too.
Sunscreen blinds – these blinds are designed to keep the sun and heat out of a room. Can be ordered in different trims with aluminium bottom rails. They have safety features to protect children and users.
Shutters – this type of window dressing will certainly make the exterior of a home stand out. Shutters are available in timber and look great when added to colonial style properties.

For something a little different, think about having timber or vertical blinds. Versatile vertical blinds can be opened fully or partially to let light in and provide privacy. Outdoor blinds are a great idea too as well as awnings. Awnings give protection from the sun’s harsh glare or can be a godsend if it’s raining when a barbie is on the go.

Experienced blind suppliers

Experienced blind suppliers advertise their fantastic products via the net, browse soon to see what’s on offer. Get in touch with fully trained specialists who will make an appointment to call round to measure, manufacture and install the blinds. Forget curtains and go for blinds every time. Blinds are the perfect solution to keep the cold out and make any room look fantastic.

Expect the best blinds from online manufacturers who also provide a full warranty against any components that are found to be faulty. Affordability and quality are the two main options available when buying blinds as well as:-

Good value for money
High quality
Great range of styles to choose from
Competitive prices

Why not click on westral.com.au soon to find out more about patio awnings, verandah and shutter installation, along with beautiful blinds?

Adding The Perfect Combination of Kitchen Benchtops for Amazing Result

August 19, 2016adminHome Improvement Tips, Kitchen Remodeling, kitchen renovationshome improvement, home trends, kitchen remodeling, kitchensLeave a comment

Just like flooring and colorful walls, you cannot deny the importance of kitchen benchtops. Well, mostly made out of various types of stone and similar materials these bench tops are available in different shapes, sizes, designs and colors. Choosing the best package seems crucial, when you have plenty of options to spoil you. Now, if you want to choose the best bench tops among the available options, then you have to work fast and research thoroughly before finding the best option for you.

Some of the latest variations:

Most of the time, these bench tops are available in two major variations. You can choose from the set standards or can custom made your own kitchen tops. Now, the final choice depends on you. On the other hand, the custom made tops are further subdivided into two significant categories. You either can opt for the stone bench tops, or can work on the laminated ones. Most manufacturers or dealers deliver both of these to you in 2-3 weeks.

Know more about the custom made stone ones:

Let’s start your kitchen benchtops with the customized stone option. These products have a shining and glossy texture, which will last for ages. And the best part is that, it is easy to clean such customized bench tops. You just need a piece of plain clean cloth, and wipe off the surface.

These stoned bench tops are quite durable in nature and comprises of higher impact and strength.
On the other hand, these tops are scratch resistant too, which is another plus point around here.
These items are constructed using nearly 95% of natural quartz crystals which are defined as hardest of all materials on earth.
On the other hand, this material further comprises of nearly 5% polymer resins. This is used for making the surface smooth, easy to clean and non-porous, at the same time.

Laminated bench tops are available too:

If you are not much into stone kitchen benchtops, then you can always opt for the laminated ones. These are going to take nearly 14 business days to be delivered in your given address. Before you purchase any of these items, it is time for you to know more about it first.

These laminated bench tops are available in mostly two different thicknesses, and those are 7.6 cm and 3.8 cm. Furthermore, the items are available in vast colorful ranges.
The thickness of this bench top along with the edge profile helps in making the perfect combination, you have been looking for.
It can offer you with a subtle look, yet comfortable and effective, at the same time. It can work wonder to mingle with the beauty of your kitchen.

Maintaining the kitchen tops for sanitation:

Kitchen is the place where you cook some good food. It is the place, which needs to be kept clean and fresh always. As you are cooking and cutting your fruits and vegetables on top of the kitchen benchtops, therefore; it is your duty to keep the place clean, and wipe off the leftovers, whenever the works are done.

You must use a clean and microfiber cloth for cleaning the top of these bench tops.
Always keep in mind that even though the tops are free from scratches, you must use proper measures for maintaining the looks and the surface of the tops clean.
Use water and clean cloth to wipe off the tops, and leave the rest on experts.

The kitchen benchtops are designed in such a manner, which will last for a longer span of time. Once installed, you can use these products for ages now.

Author Bio:

I am Lauren Bracy, a qualified blogger. Here you can see my skills which gives you small ideas on understanding all the concepts with different themes. I love to write blog on different topics, like: Automotive, Business, Health, Lifestyle etc.

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