Home Improvement Information


Clear Wax Candles vs. Gel Candles


In the last five years a new type of clear candle has emerged - freestanding resin-based (aka clear wax) candles. Using a base of mineral oil, the candle uses a patented resin as the stabilizer, creating a candle that outshines both traditional paraffin and gel candles.

Breaking the Mold - Creative Boys Bedrooms


Decorating boys bedrooms with licensed characters and themes is an easy but expensive option. While most children do have a preferred character or theme that they would enjoy having in their rooms, there are more affordable ways to achieve a similar desired result.

The Smart Way To Look At Home Improvements


What home improvements really pay off when the time comes to sell your house?That's an important question for any homeowner contemplating moving or remodeling. And the only possible answer is a somewhat complicated one.

Remodeling Your Home: How Much Is Too Much?


The classic way for homeowners to increase the value of their house is by remodeling existing rooms or adding on to its current plan.Some choose to build recreation rooms and studies while others add new appliances, fixtures and cabinets to enliven rooms and make their home more attractive to future buyers.

New Trends in Design & Comfortable Living


For the past several years I have seen the emergence of a new trend called 'Lifestyling'. Lifestyling encompasses many elements on gracious living, extravagant and memorable entertaining, architecture, home design, and tips on where to live comfortably in spaces large and small, with less effort or clutter than you can imagine.

How To Give Your Home More Space


Have you been wondering how to free up space in your home? Do you live in a dorm or an efficiency where every inch of space counts?Maybe you're tired of trying to come up with ideas on how to reduce the clutter? Or don't know where to start?If you don't know where to start and feel like you're backed into a corner then maybe this is your solution to the problem.Let me introduce you to the top-to-bottom-strategy.

Change The Style Of Your Interior With A Minimum Of Costs


The style of your interior depends for a great part on the decoration on the walls. Using the right picture on the right place can make your room look bigger.

Tearing Down the House


Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We are just now coming to grips with the magnitude of the "upgrades" planned.

Art and Design


Maybe you've faced it before - a new house with an empty room or two. This room is just crying out for some furniture.

Warm Up the Night! Patio Heaters and Fire Pits


In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating your deck or patio.

Rodent Proofing Your Home


It's that time of year where rats and mice are apt to enter our homes. Lets talk a bit about their abilities and senses first.

Ten Things You May Not Know About Selecting Hardwood Flooring


1) Red Oak is not the only choiceIf you want your home to look like everyone else's, this is a great choice. If you want your home to be unique try hickory, cherry, walnut, white oak, maple or many others.

How To Select Scraped//Distressed Hardwood Flooring


Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice in today's upscale homes and commercial buildings. These floors are a newer trend but are rooted in history.

Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door


You may find it difficult to believe that the days will start getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere in just four short weeks. You can find yourself this time of year coming home on dreary days, or welcoming evening visitors in the dark.

Seeing the Light


Lighting"Light has illuminated the path of humanity" - While Einstein was probably referring to one of his mind-blowing theories, lighting has also revolutionized the home. Before incandescent and fluorescent lighting, most activities stopped after dusk.

Tips for Choosing Log Furniture


If you just love that rustic look, and are finally ready to finally buy log furniture for your home, there are a number of "rules of thumb" that can help you in making good choices.Begin by considering the overall style of your home.

Design Elements


A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your room a personality, choose from among these basic design elements, modify them to suit your tastes and implement them in a way which is just right for you.

Using Colors in Your Room


Colors play an important part in your Home Decor process. Colors are what give life and personality to your room.

Operation Closet


When the wife comes to you one fine day and says, "dear, I think we need a new closet for the bedroom", the heart surges in joy. Immediate thoughts of grabbing the coat and rushing off on a mission to the nearest DIY center enters the mind before realization dawns that first must come a shower and then work.

So Youve Decided to Finish Your Basement!


When a family decides to finish a basement space, there are so many factors to consider it can seem overwhelming. What does your family want to achieve within the new basement? Are you looking for a play area, a family room, a work-out room, home theatre, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, wet bar, etc? Do you have the square footage required to accomplish what you want? How do you get started and how long will it take? How much will it cost and is it worth the money? What if there is a huge beam in the center of you basement? Do you have to have a building permit? Do you have to remove the items you currently have stored in your basement?If these questions make your head swim, try this approach: look for the right team of design/build consultants to navigate you through these waters.

Light Up Your Life With Feng Shui


Feng Shui (pronounced Foong Shway or Fung Shoy) is the ancient Chinese art of luck management, which works by maximising the flow of energy (known as 'Chi') in your environment. Every object, inanimate or living, possesses its own energy field and also has an affect on the flow of Chi in your environment.

10 Tips for Working With a Contractor


This is the year you're going all out. You're going to build a deck, add a porch, erect a gazebo or lay a patio.

Lighting up Your Life


You are visiting a friend that has just had a beautiful kitchen remodel done. It is a lovely kitchen with stunning granite countertops and a sharp looking tile backsplash.

There Is Always Something To Improve Or Innovate For Comfort


In this fast moving world of the 21st century, we are always forced to do everything in a rush, even eating and sleeping. The normal words of today are "hurry", "rush", "fast", "quick" and "immediately.

Make Your Hardwood Floors Shine


You have just installed hardwood flooring in your home. Now what? How do you keep your hardwood floors clean and shiny? Read the following Q&A in which two hardwood floor owners are asking just that.

The Benifits of Home Ventilation


The purpose of a home ventilation system is to maintain a healthy living environment by supplying fresh air to your home while at the same time removing stale and polluted air. Home ventilation also helps to maintain proper humidity levels of 30 to 50 percent.

In The Mood


Creating a Designer Home With LightingTraditionally, spring is the time when many of us think about redecorating or remodelling a room in our home and we begin skimming through glossy magazines, or visiting showrooms for ideas. The results always look stunning, but how do you replicate 'that' look in your own home when your rooms are probably a fraction of the size of those featured in home interior publications? Even if you had the time, energy and resources to purchase exactly the same products that appear in a beautifully prepared photograph or showroom, somehow they never seem to look the same in your own home.

Hydronic vs Forced Air Heating and Cooling


Hydronic, or hot water, heating has been standard for years in many parts of the U.S.

Wood Panels and Humidity


Coping with wood movementAll wood workers need to be aware of wood movement when building furniture projects. Failure to consider this important factor can cause wood panels to crack or split.

Complete Home Rehab In 10 Days


This report is about taking a house and restoring it to an aesthetically pleasing dwelling that has reclaimed it's functional utility. In effect, it is the anti-aging medication for bricks and mortar.

Country Home Accessories


Country home décor is the most sought after home interior and it's no wonder since country décor invites a casual friendly lifestyle.Make sure you carefully study the specific style, and color scheme then carefully coordinate the colors of each element of your country décor.

From Toss Out to Sensational Keeper - Lamp Re-Make


When the old lamp from my children's room was turning decidedly "trash-worthy", a grand idea formed and kept me from tossing it out. Originally, it had been such a darling lamp - it had magically transformed the room into spinning stars and moons at bedtime.

Home Sweet Home


All of us live in houses but how many of us know how to make it a real 'HOME'.You may have a very small house with a few rooms: not much to boast about? However, if you follow some very simple and practical steps you can make your house (big or small) a real home?and thus, a better place to live in?Read On:1.

Hand Stripping Furniture


Directions for HAND Stripping.Work with plenty of ventilation, safety goggles or glases, and skin protection.

Remodeling Your Kitchen


Remodeling a kitchen is one of the best investments a homeowner can make. For most homeowners it is the most important room in the house.


More Resources


House Plans - Research Is Key
When you think about building your new home consider your needs and your lifestyle. If you are newlyweds your choices will be different from a couple who is ready to retire and is looking for a smaller home.
Measure Your Window for Verticals and Horizontal blinds, Wood blinds, Faux Wood Plantation Shutters
Here are five important things to remember.1.
If You Think Mold and Mildew Hibernate During The Winter, Think Again!
If You Think Mold and Mildew Hibernate During The Winter, Think Again.Free Tips For Removing Winter Mold & Mildew Stains From the Makers of InstaGone"The development of mold and mildew stains can actually be intensified during the winter," says InstaGone Consumer Products president Peter Chicarielli.
Designing With Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will compliment the decor of both minimalist and eclectic designs. Hardwood can be classic, rock, jazz, country, or hip hop.
Why Is Your House Cold?
How many of you have experienced this situation? As the wind blows outside and the temperature drops, you get chilled even while you are standing in the middle of your home.How does this happen?The three biggest problems with the comfort of your home are,1) air infiltration2) air infiltration3) air infiltrationThe total air infiltration in an average house is the equivalent of having a door or window open every day of your life.
Types of Table Saws
A table saw is one of the most popular pieces of machinery used for woodworking. It consists of a circular saw powered by an electric motor that is mounted onto a table.
There Is Always Something To Improve Or Innovate For Comfort
In this fast moving world of the 21st century, we are always forced to do everything in a rush, even eating and sleeping. The normal words of today are "hurry", "rush", "fast", "quick" and "immediately.
Tiles are the Foundation Stone for Your Stylish Bathroom!
Tiles can increase the value of any home. Ceramic tiles, mosaic tile, floor tile all add an extra quality to your home.
Buyers Guide To Heavy-Built Mailboxes
If you are tired of replacing your mailbox every few monthsdue to vandals or just poor quality construction, you needa heavy-built mailbox. Some of the more common reasons forpurchasing a heavy-built mailbox are destruction byvandals, snowplow or street sweeper damage, or just apoorly built mailbox that will not stand up to harsh orextreme weather conditions.
Ceiling Fans Look Great and Save You Money
It doesn't matter if you live in a hot climate or the North woods; there are many days when the breeze isn't blowing and you would like the air to circulate for comfort. Running central air conditioning is expensive and isn't always called for.
Spring Chores at the Cabin
Whether you live in your cabin year round or it's been closed up for the winter, it's time for spring cleaning. It's hard to get motivated.
An Introduction to Waterproofing Systems
Many homeowners find it necessary to invest in a waterproofing system for their home, especially if their home has a basement or cellar. In modern home developments, it is often required by state or local regulations to have a waterproofing system installed before the completion of the home.
Buying The Right Comforter For Your Bed
Putting the right comforter on your bed can make the whole bedroom look fabulous. Comforters are the most visible of all the bedding pieces, so when you change the comforter you make a large change in the decor of the bedroom itself.
Decorating Ideas to Make Your Living Room more Livable
Above all else, the furniture in the living-room should make it livable. It should be grouped so that it offers centers of interest, convenience and comfort.
Scented Candles - Take Me AWAY!
Remember the old Calgon commercial-"Take me away Calgon!" There's only one thing that can take you away faster than a Calgon bath, and that's a scented candle. Whether you want a breath of fresh spring air, or you want to transport yourself to a South Sea paradise minus the hassle of airport security, crowded, delayed flights and lost baggage, grab a scented candle, and travel wherever your imagination leads.
Choosing a Furnace Humidifier
While everyone longs for a white winter, the problems associated with dry winter air can be unpleasant. Low humidity can dry out our skin, our mucous membranes, and our nasal passages.
Brighten Up Your Patio With Sun Catchers
Sun catchers add sparkle and beauty to any room in your home. Far beyond the paint-n-bake sun catchers of childhood, sun catchers come in a huge variety of styles that dazzle the eye.
Cordless Impact Wrench - Not the Same Tool as Your Cordless Drill
The cordless impact wrench is quickly gaining in popularity among professional mechanics and the hobby mechanic as well. You may be thinking "I already have a cordless drill that I use for impact applications, why do I need a cordless impact wrench as well?".
Improving Your Bottom Line Through Vastu
The design of your office and home has a great influence on your financial success. If your work or living environments are in harmony with nature they have a positive affect on your prosperity.
How To Artify Your Home
Would you like to make your house feel more like a home? Is it comfortable enough, but not really special? If so, I have some easy 'arty' tips to make your environment that bit more special.Before you start making any alterations, or adding anything, you need to clean and declutter.

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