Thursday, December 8, 2016

5 Simple Bedroom Makeover Idea


Are you the kind of person who likes to spend the maximum amount of time in your bedroom? Do you think it's time your bedroom got a makeover so that it's more comfortable, attractive and healthy to be in? For this, you needn't call in an interior decorator and spend big money. Just a few small tweaks here and there can change your room marvelously. If you're ready to make small changes that could make a big difference to your room, read on:
Bring character to your bedroom with nice wood flooring: By installing a great wood flooring such as white oak flooring to your bedroom, you'd lend a lot of character to it. However, this doesn't mean spending huge money. You can do this installing the floor yourself.
Bring the outdoors inside: To get the widest possible view, it's a great idea to bring the outdoors into your room. One way of doing this is to have large windows, from floor to ceiling that will keep the room warm with sunlight streaming in and give you a wonderful view of the landscape outside. Make your layout in the room simple and easy to walk around so that the windows get all the importance. Let your bed be parallel with the window so that you can enjoy the view and turn over in bed if you find the light too strong.
A spot to sit but not in bed: You might want to sit in your bedroom to do a bit of personal reading or writing--something you can't do comfortably in bed. So, create a corner where you can have a couple of comfortable chairs and table, where you can do what you want--even if it means having a chat with your partner, getting into shoes or checking your email.
Have an interesting headboard? If you're the type that sits up in bed to read, you need an interesting and practical headboard. The Net is full of interesting designs of headboards, so why not choose among them? You could make it yourself if you're a talented woodworker or have it done professionally. Use your imagination and create a unique headboard. After all, it's your headboard that you want for a specific purpose.
A nightstand with everything you need: It makes sense to have a nightstand that accommodates everything you might need in the middle of the night. You're obviously going to need room for a jug of water, a book, your medicines, a torch and a bedside lamp. When putting your necessities together on your nightstand, don't think your nightstand must be absolutely perfect. It only needs to be perfect in having enough room for all that you want there. Finally, your nightstand has to reflect your personality, so go ahead and fill it with all your needs.
How is you room lighting? Rather than installing the lights directly over your bed, you should install them in a way that you can look up at them when you are in your bed. Direct light is pretty uncomfortable if installed overhead as compared to the soft light at face level.
Conclusion
If you like all the changes you've just made in your bedroom recently, sit back and admire your creativity. Then, get up and start enjoying your new-look bedroom.
Author Bio: Manisha Kumar is a versatile writer and editor of thebasicwoodworking.com. She loves blogging about DIY tips on woodworking and home décor. When she is not blogging, she is watching movies or cooking her favorite recipes.

Guest Contributor, Manisha Kumar



Wednesday, December 7, 2016

KNOW HOW TO FIX THE IMPULSIVE PLUMBING PROBLEM


Know How to Fix the Impulsive Plumbing Problem
Plumbing problems are usually impulsive because they can take place at any point of time either in the day or night. Usually, they do provide warnings beforehand; which most of the homeowners tend to ignore or try to fix them on their own. Without knowing the root cause of the problem, one cannot fix the issue, however, can provide a temporary relief. As a result of which after few days from the repairing, the problem tends to come back again and may become much more complicated. This is when people look for the emergency plumbing services.
Usually the reputed plumbing companies offer services of emergency plumber specialist who work round the clock and even on the weekends and national holidays. In fact, they do not charge anything extra from the client for providing services at the mid of the night or early in the morning. The emergency plumber specialist offers a vast range of services such as:
  • Drain cleaning
  • Clogged toiler repair
  • Bathroom sink repair
  • Faucet repair
  • Frozen pipes
  • Dishwasher repair
  • Garbage disposal installation
  • Main sewer line repair
  • Camera Line Inspection
In fact these emergency services include basement plumbing, laundry room plumbing, kitchen plumbing, bathroom plumbing as well as outdoor plumbing.  Apart from providing all these services 24x7, the Emergency plumber specialist companies are reliable companies and are licensed and insured and provide free estimates or quotes for the ease of the customers.
 The emergency plumber specialist companies suggest that unpredicted plumbing emergencies can be avoided by checking the plumbing system throughout the year. Many plumbing situations are caused due to the presence of the defective plumbing supply lines. Examining plumbing beneath sinks at least twice in the year; ensure that the water shut-off controller is working and that the connections are checked for twists or erosion on the pipes. These simple procedures can help reduce unanticipated plumbing problems and will ultimately help the customer to save money.
Just like we have to look for a professional electrician, painter, carpenter or handyman; similarly when it comes to plumbing; one should always choose a professional plumber. This is because the professionals are well-trained; they do not guess what needs to be done to fix the problem; rather they confidently do a task to fix the problem. Apart from this; hiring a professional can involve lots of advantages which are mentioned below:
  • A professional plumber understands the level of frustration that a customer goes through due to the plumbing related problems. Thus, the plumber provides assurance to the customer and works efficiently so that the problems can be fixed in no time. 
  • A professional knows the importance of time; thus they always arrive on time and get the work done within the stipulated time frame.
  • Since, the professional plumbers are trained and experienced they provide high quality services so that customers do not need to come back again for the same problem.
  • A professional plumber will not hesitate to discuss about the fee before starting with the work whereas an unprofessional plumber will not disclose the fees. Thus, the customer does not need to worry for paying extra charges.
  • The professional plumbers always use the advanced tools and techniques for getting the issues fixed. The use of advanced tools and techniques helps in getting the issues fixed quicker and more efficiently.
 Apart from all these benefits, a professional emergency plumber specialist will also help you with tips to prevent common plumbing problems. Thus, fix the impulsive plumbing problems by contacting the professional plumbers who offer emergency services throughout the day and night.
Guest Contributor, Jack Louis

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

HOW TO DEAL WITH COMMON PLUMBING EMERGENCIES


HOW TO DEAL WITH COMMON PLUMBING EMERGENCIES

Most home-owners shy away from problems connected to plumbing. However, unless you are faced with a pipe bursting, a massive sewage backup, a flooding or a broken water line, these emergencies are not as serious as you might think, and you can deal with them yourself. To learn how to fix the problem, here is how you can deal with the most common plumbing emergencies, without calling a professional.

CLOGGED SINK

Whether in your kitchen or bathroom, a serious clog in your sink can cause a complete stop to your daily activities. It is not a high-emergency situation, since you can turn off the faucet, but it will need your attention. A sink clog can be caused by numerous substances, most notably by mildew, soap scum and food particles. If you notice a slow drain, you can make a homemade drain cleaner to get rid of the clog. However, in severe cases, you will need to unscrew the pipe from the drain and de-clog the pipes manually.

CLOGGED BATHTUB OR SHOWER DRAIN

Soap scum and hair buildup can are also the most common causes of clogged bathtub and shower drains. If you notice the water rising during a shower, or notice strange sound as the water recedes, you are faced with a clog. Use the same de-clogging solutions as with a sink clog, and if the problem persists call a specialist who can dismantle the tub and fix the clog properly.

CLOGGED TOILET

A toilet making strange noises, refusing to flush, or water leaking from the toilet tank or bowl, are all signs that your toilet might be clogged. In case this happens, you should use a plunger to push the blockage out of the pipe, repeating the action until you resolve the clog. A clogged toilet can lead up to structural damage and raw sewage backups, so when you get the chance, contact your local plumber.

LEAKY FAUCET

Leaky faucets or toilets hasten the growth of mold and development of rust in pipes, suggests a Sydney-based emergency plumber, so you should address one such issue promptly since it can damage the entire pipe system. Additionally, it can also take a substantial share of your annual water bill. To deal with the problem, use a wrench to tighten every pipe and bolt. If the faucet continues to drip, you will probably need to replace the seat washer in your faucet handle or faucet.

LEAKY WATER HEATER

A leaky water heater is yet another plumbing problem that lose you money. The leak causes the heater to continue using both water and power to heat up the new flow of water. A cause to the leak can come from a leaky water heater valve. If the problem is not fixed, you will need to purchase a new water heater. Keep in mind, that this is a better investment than wasting money on unused heated water.

LEAKY WASHING MACHINE HOSE

Albeit, the washing machine is a long-lasting, reliable appliance, the hose is usually made from rubber or plastic and does not have the same properties. First off, check all the connections between the hose, machine and water supply are tightly hooked up. If the problem is not fixed, inspect the entire length of the hose for cracks or bulges. Rust and mould are also good indicators where the leak comes from. To fix it, stop using your machine and upgrade your washing machine hose as soon as possible.

Whenever there’s a plumbing problem you are unsure of, you should contact your local professional plumber. However, you should also remember that some plumbing emergencies are easy fixes, and all you need to do is roll up your sleeves to get the job done.
Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR









BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Long gone are the days when bathrooms were seen as nothing but places which you needed to have at home, deprived of almost anything which would improve its aesthetics. The only focus was on functionality, with little attempt at making such places pleasant to be in.
Whether we like it or not, things have changed a lot. Today’s bathroom is a potential place of luxury, which increases the value of your home like no other room except, perhaps, the kitchen. So, what are the modern trends in bathroom design?

INTRODUCTION OF HIGH-TECH

Built-in audio systems are pretty standard and there are many options for listening to music while having a shower or a bath. Some more advanced features make it possible to answer the phone from your shower booth, without interrupting your shower. Speaking of showers, the latest designs also allow us to regulate the water pressure and temperature, and select our favorite mood-enhancing color just by using an LCD screen mounted on the wall.
While having a relaxing bath, you may wish to treat yourself to a nice cool drink from a tub-side refrigerator. However, the innovative use of cooling equipment doesn’t end there. Apart from cooling beverages, some state-of-the-art medicine cabinets also keep your nail polish, organic skin products and medications cold.

SAVING WATER

The increasingly strict standards related to energy and water consumption have forced manufacturers to come up with ideas that would reduce the use, but provide the same or even better quality. Luckily, developments in various fields of industry have brought about many new options for your bathroom.
For example, low-flow toilets and faucets significantly reduce the amount of water used, thus lowering your utility bill significantly. Also, low-flow aerators can now be easily installed on both old and new faucets, which means you don’t need to change the whole fixture.
Another useful feature is an activation sensor, which is also supposed to contribute to reducing the water waste. Similarly, some contemporary shower heads can actually regulate water droplet size and speed, spray coverage and temperature, thus giving you the good old feeling with far less water used.

FURNITURE DESIGN

The idea is to go for a minimalist look and conceal as much as possible. Sliding panels are used to hide various fixtures and provide new functions, such as those of a powder room bench or a surface to lay on and sunbathe.
Cabinets are designed to revolve 180-degrees in order to provide easy storage access, while shower seats, towel bars and walk-in tubs are no longer aiming to provide only functionality, but they are quite stylish, as well.
Finally, hand grips are designed not only to provide safety, but the materials used (chrome and brushed nickel) give them the contemporary look which suits pretty much any bath design, while more and more companies are producing foldaway seats for showers with limited space.

TILES, WONDERFUL TILES

Most modern bathroom designs are aiming to create a spa-like atmosphere, both in terms of the feeling you get and the aesthetic component. In order to achieve that, large tiles are used and the most popular look is metal. Some manufacturers combine traditional ceramic tiles with metallic granules and the result is a clean, industrial look.
So, as you can see, the trends are developing in two major directions. The first one is related to efficiency and environment-friendliness. Everything is done to minimize the unnecessary waste of energy and water, thus reducing your utility bill.
Another direction is the appearance. Clean, simple lines are used to create a minimalist look, while options to conceal fixtures that are not in use are fully exploited. The use of color and lights is there only to enhance the spa-like atmosphere, which is the ultimate goal of modern bathroom design.
Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

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Saturday, November 26, 2016

Small Business Saturday


Do you remember when you were young and all the businesses around town were locally owned and operated? The ice cream shop at the corner, was owned by your friend’s father. The hardware store was owned by your neighbor. The pizza parlor at the train station was owned by your father’s best friend. And every single small shop in our downtown area knew everyone’s name. As far as we’ve come in life, losing stuff like this in our town makes me sad. I love knowing everyone around town.
Bigger and Better. They introduced us to bigger stores and better deals. The bigger stores carry everything you need at half the price. It all seemed great at first, until all the smaller stores and small businesses started going out of business. Not only did it hurt the stores, it hurt the people we knew. They had to move to other towns to find work. It broke up friendships and unity.

Bigger isn’t always better. Instead of using manufacturer in America, they are taking all these jobs overseas. Factory, after factory have had to close because they lost all their jobs to companies overseas. The reason everything is cheaper is because it costs them pennies to make. I’ve read and watched documentaries on what it’s like for people overseas who work at these factories. They’re barely making a few dollars a day. They must live in the dormitory owned by the company they work for, which in turn they must pay rent to the same company. Basically, since they can’t live outside the factory’s community, all the money they are making at these factories is taken back to pay for their stay. It’s sad.

We all want to save a few dollars when we purchase something. We need to learn of the repercussion of choosing larger stores, over a locally owned business. There are statistics of how the money spent locally, 63% stays local. Money spent on non-local business, only 43% stays local. Wouldn’t you rather help your community? You can’t blame it on anybody else, when the value of your community starts going down, when the value of your home starts depreciating. Have you driven down your main street? Or your downtown in your town? Are there a lot of empty store fronts? Is it too late to start helping the businesses in your community before they are all gone?

Small Business Saturday was started by American Express. It is the Saturday right after Thanksgiving. American Express realized the importance of small businesses and they knew how much power they had, so they decided to put it to good use. Small Businesses across America are grateful for the attention American Express has brought to all these locally owned stores. I might not be as big as American Express, but I will make a difference by spending my money at restaurants, shops, and stores that are locally owned in my community.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

DIY THANKSGIVING DECORATIONS


Thanksgiving is crammed between Halloween and Christmas and hardly gets the attention it deserves. Décor often switches from cobwebs and pumpkins to garlands and Christmas trees, giving no thought to the holiday that lies in between. In reality, it’s impractical to spend lots of money on decorations that can only be used for a few weeks out of the year. Luckily there are a variety of things that can be done to reuse some of the decorations you already have (even ones you might not be aware of). There’s an abundance of unique, creative ideas floating around cyberspace, but we’ve saved you the hassle of searching by compiling this list of our top seven.

1.    Festive Candle Holders
Hollow out the center of your small pumpkins or apples (it’s done easiest with a drill). Use them to make candle holders, and embellish the base of the candle with leaves, berries, mini pine cones or whatever else you find lying around. Try grouping a few together and using them as a centerpiece for your big feast.

2.    Candy Corn Flower Pot
Fill a glass jar or trifle dish with a bag of candy corn, and use it as a base to arrange several flowers. The corn is a festive tribute to the Indians, and the plant will add a little greenery. Be creative when you plant selection – add some fall leaves, fresh flowers, or even an arrangement of twigs.
3.    Fall Leaf Lantern
Add a little ambiance to your room by creating a lantern with leaves you’ve gathered from outside. Start by pressing the leaves, to get them nice and flat.   Then glue them to a clean, glass jar using Modge Podge. Wait 20 minutes for it to dry and then layer another coat of Modge Podge on top of the leaves to seal them. Lastly, place a candle in the jar and your lantern is complete. Adding a variety of leaf colors looks best and adds a subtle, warm glow to any room.
 4.    Metallic Pumpkins and Gourds
Give all your pumpkins, squash, and gourds a makeover by coating them in metallic or glitter spray paint. Shades of gold, bronze, and sunset orange are perfect for Thanksgiving, and the sparkly luster adds a regal air.   Arrange your finished beauties in a large glass tumbler, apothecary jar, or atop a cake stand to complete the look. If you’d like to take it a step further, paint pumpkin stems brown to really make them pop.
5.         Colored Pine Cones
Nothing says fall quite like pine cones, and they can be a stunning decorative piece when given a coat of paint. A selection of contrasting fall-hued colors look beautiful on an entry table. Pick up a combination of small spray paint cans in maroon, gold, dark brown, sunset orange, mustard yellow, mossy green, or cream, and color pine cones to your heart’s content. Be creative with color combinations – you can’t go wrong! Cones can be displayed in a large bowl, glass vase, or even strung as a garland.

6.    Pressed Leaf Art
Display the beauty of the outdoors by creating focal pieces with colorful fall leaves. Press leaves between books, and wait until leaves are fully dry. Place the pressed leaves between double sided glass frames to accentuate their silhouettes and bold colors. The simplicity of this decoration creates a tranquil, relaxing environment.
 7.    Corn Wreath
There are a couple different options for corn wreaths, depending on the look you’re going for and the amount of money you want to spend. You can make your wreath out of candy corn or Indian corn.   The candy corn wreath is simply a Styrofoam wreath covered in black duct tape with candy corn attached by a hot glue gun. Hang the wreath with a giant brown or red ribbon to give a Thanksgiving vibe.   The Indian corn wreath is even easier. Purchase a straw wreath and hot glue the corn to a straw wreath with the husks pointing outward.
Decorating for Thanksgiving can be easy and frugal when you take advantage of items you already have around the house or the yard. What better way to celebrate the season of thanks than the beauty of the outdoors? So open your mind, take a walk around the block, and visualize what you can create.
Guest Contributor,
Article By Anastasiya Johnson
Anastasiya is an interior designer and smart home planner for http://hdhomeautomationsystems.com/. When she is not planning out smart homes she is spending time with her husband and two kids.

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