Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling

by: Jennifer Hall
Have you ever noticed how the warm scent of a candle wafting through the air can be uplifting, energizing, or make you cozy? Or maybe there’s a certain body spray, soap, or perfume that just keeps you going through the day. Did you wonder why maybe that Key Lime candle smeeled yummy but also energized you or even motivated you to clean? Or why that Apple Pie scent really helped you appreciate fall? Wonder no longer, study after study has shown that scents do affect your mood! Take a look below of some scents that can really enhance your moods:

1. Citrus Scent - Energy
Need a pick-me-up? Grab a cup of java and light a citrus candle, citrus scents enhance energy and boost mood; so look for candles with lemon, lime, grapefruit, verbena, or orange scents.

2. Lavender Scent - Relaxation
When it’s time to wind down try burning a lavender candle. In studies, lavender has been found to correlate with slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and lower arterial pressure. It has also been found to decrease muscle tension. Other scents that have been found to have relaxing effects are bergamot and sandalwood.

3. Citris, Minty, and Pine Scents - Uplifting, Clean
If you want to create a cheerful, clean environment in your home, choose candles scented with citrus, mint, or pine. Often these scents can be not only uplifting and motivating, but just give that “clean” feel. When you or your guests walk in, these scents will be a fresh breeze to welcome anyone.

4. Lavender, Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Jasmine, Gardenia, Sandalwood, and Rose Scents - Romantic
Studies indicate that lavender, vanilla, and pumpkin pie scents are the most desire enhancing. Many also believe there’s romance in the air if you’re burning scents such as floral and woody scents, they give that wistful, romantic feel to a room.

5. Season Enhancing Scents
Delve into the season with your favorite candles scents! Autumn’s a great time for burning pumpkin spice candles, as well as other baked good candle scents, as is winter. To create that cozy winter environment, choose cinnamon, apple, berry, and pine candles. Fresh candle scents such as cucumber melon are great for spring, as well as fresh cut grass candles which carry into summer. Nothing says summer like a nice citrus, like a lemonade candle scent drifting through the air.

5. Season Enhancing Scents
Delve into the season with your favorite candles scents! Autumn’s a great time for burning pumpkin spice candles, as well as other baked good candle scents, as is winter. To create that cozy winter environment, choose cinnamon, apple, berry, and pine candles. Fresh candle scents such as cucumber melon are great for spring, as well as fresh cut grass candles which carry into summer. Nothing says summer like a nice citrus, like a lemonade candle scent drifting through the air.

If you love a certain candle, soap, or body spray - whatever the scent may be - don’t do what I too often do, which is save it until that scent runs out! Light it and enjoy, it’s sure to affect you in a positive way!

About the author:
Jennifer Hall is a writer who provides inf

by: Lee Dobbins
Choosing a kitchen counter material can be an overwhelming task in the midst of a huge kitchen makeover. Before you select a material, try to decide what look you are going for. Scour magazines and take a trip to your local home improvement center to get an idea how each type of material will effect the overall style of the kitchen.

Some materials for kitchen counter tops include:

Laminate - The least expensive and comes in a huge range of colors. You have to be careful not to cut or put anything hot on the surface, but it is easy to clean. It is not as durable as stone or Corian and doesn’t look as nice either!

Tiles - Tiles can range in price from very inexpensive to very expensive depending on your choice. In my opinion they make terrible counter tops because food and such tends to get caught in the grout lines. Even worse, if you use light colored grout it gets dirty very quickly and must be scrubbed all the time. Tiles can crack and chip easily.

Corian - A very durable counter that is seamless and has the look of granite. It comes in a myriad of colors and can scratch, but these can be sanded and repaired. Unlike stone, it will melt so no hot pots on the counter top. More expensive than laminate but a bit less than stone.

Granite - This material is a long time favorite and one of the most expensive. It is extremely durable and virtually scratch free and heat proof. It is porous, though so you will have to wipe up any spills quickly and be careful about what chemicals you put on it. These days, granite comes in a range shades in the gray - black - green and even dark blue colors. Granite must be sealed every year, but otherwise is quite easy to clean and care for.

Marble - Beautiful but very porous and is not really practical for a counter top. It will stain easily with normal food prep.

Slate - Slate has a nice warm earthy look without the shininess of granite. It is durable and easy to clean and unlike granite is nonporous. Scratches can be easily repaired.

Butcher Block - Wood kitchen counter top materials can give hour kitchen a warm look. Butcher block is good for cutting as the marks can be sanded out but it is not very resistant to bacteria or stains. Would need periodic conditioning.

Concrete - Fast becoming a favorite in modern kitchens that want an industrial look, concrete is a mid priced material that can be mixed to form any color and even can be mixed with little pieces of anything you want it it! It is durable and easy to clean but is very porous and should be sealed to avoid staining.

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About the author:

Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.home-improvement-solution.com
in addition to other sites. Visit the article database at http://www.home-improvement-solution.com/articles.htmlfor more on remodeling and home improvement.

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First, I’d like to ask you a few questions, and I want you to answer them immediately. Is your back yard an enjoyable place to sit and relax? Is it pleasing to the eye? Does it offer an escape from the world of bills, traffic jams, and noobs? Your backyard is your sanctuary, and if you did not answer “yes” to any of the above, please read on.

The most important factor to backyard relaxation is comfort. Above all, you want the most comfortable place to sit possible. A visually pleasing scene is the other important factor. A simple and very effective way to meet both of these needs is installing a gazebo in your backyard.

A gazebo is a pavilion structure commonly found in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. Gazebos are freestanding, roofed, and open on all sides; they provide shade, basic shelter, ornamental features in a landscape, and a place to rest. They can be made out of many materials, but most are a stained or painted wood. They are an outstanding place to gather, prepare food, have a band, take a nap, or set as a wireless point and play some Warhammer in your own backyard.

Let me tell you a story about my very own gazebo. There was a planned gathering of friends at my house; we were going to grill a bunch of meat, and play some lawn darts. It was kind of a yearly thing, and the previous year one of my friends got a dart through his right foot which was no good. Anyway, this year we all assembled and got to cooking but soon the rain came and we were faced with a dilemma. Luckily, I had gotten a gazebo installed that spring so we simply moved the grill and chairs to the gazebo and continued our eating and conversation.

However, as time went on the rain became heavier. It was a torrential downpour, but because the gazebo provided such great shelter, we really saw no danger. I noticed it beginning to pool up on the ground, and I saw a small river beginning on the road, as the sewer intake could not keep up with the rainfall. Suddenly, a large rush of water came crashing through my fence and continued flowing through my yard. It quickly splashed up and over the floor of the gazebo, and we realized the danger of the situation. The water level continued to rise, and we needed to seek shelter.

With little time to react, we immediately began to climb the side of the gazebo and sit on the roof. Due to the strong construction of this beautiful gazebo, our lives were spared. Many of my neighbors floated past our gazebo salvation screaming for help, and we were able to save them. They now all have gazebos as well. It turned out that on that fateful day, the rain had indeed caused some flooding, but it was a mudslide on the hillside of our town that knocked over our water tower, creating a rush of water towards the town dam which was not built to withstand such a rush of water. The dam broke, and the city lake was free to flow wherever it wanted, which happened to be all around my house and the surrounding neighborhood.

The gazebo saved my life, the lives of all my friends and neighbors, a dog, and one stray cat. I thanked the builders for making such a high quality and beautiful gazebo many times. In fact, I have since rebuilt my house and now have two gazebos in my backyard. I doubled my backyard enjoyment, and life saving capacity.

While a gazebo may not save your life, it could. At the very least, you should have a gazebo so that you can enjoy the relaxation and enjoyment it provides.

By: Richard Lubin

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

The article was written by Richard Lubin. He is a writer working for Garden Getaway Gazebos. Look at the site for a good variety of Gazebos and Sunrooms that could accent your home and yard.

The kitchen as we all know is becoming the most used room in most homes. It is not only used for cooking and eating; it is also used for social gatherings. Because of this, kitchen planning regarding such aspects as ergonomics and optimized work flows (distance, time) need to be taken into consideration when coming up with any kitchen design.

The ergonomic kitchen is a kitchen design that should be planned to suit you. What is important to the practical use of your new kitchen are specific heights, depths, widths & clearances that need to be observed. The right kitchen design should be one that creates a working environment that takes into account the exact movements of the person using the kitchen. This can include giving careful consideration to working heights for preparation, cooking and cleaning.

The kitchen as we all know is becoming the most used room in most homes. It is not only used for cooking and eating; it is also used for social gatherings. Because of this, kitchen planning regarding such aspects as ergonomics and optimized work flows (distance, time) need to be taken into consideration when coming up with any kitchen design.

The ergonomic kitchen is a kitchen design that should be planned to suit you. What is important to the practical use of your new kitchen are specific heights, depths, widths & clearances that need to be observed. The right kitchen design should be one that creates a working environment that takes into account the exact movements of the person using the kitchen. This can include giving careful consideration to working heights for preparation, cooking and cleaning.

by: Elizabeth Morgan
Do you want to try your hand at building a platform bed? For those of you who don’t yet know what a platform bed is, it’s an exciting, old way of sleeping that incorporates a simple, elegant frame and a single mattress. Its lines have been used in Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Platform beds can be made of wood or metal. If you’re looking to build a platform bed, you’re probably thinking about wood.

Platform beds can be extremely simple. The extremely simple platform beds have no headboard or footboard, and certainly no canopy. They incorporate slats, which, in effect, replace the need for a box spring, since, because they are sturdy yet somehow slightly flexible, support the single mattress on top. The result is that you get a good night’s sleep, are very comfortable, and yet don’t end up with back pains or numb muscles in the morning.

It’s ever better for your back than sleeping on the floor. And now, with the rapid proliferation of memory foam, your platform bed can be even more comfortable and healthy. Memory foam is a gel-like polymer that accepts your shapes and bones, but supports it fully. (It was first used in hospitals, and is now a popular mattress and pillow material.)

Platform bed plans can be more complex too; you can add headboards, footboards, canopies, even extra flourishes and storage units. You can build the storage units as one with the bed frame, or you can create rolling drawers supported by castors, so that the drawers are modifiable and easily maneuverable throughout your bedroom.

It’s not the most difficult job in the world for a handyperson. If you want to build a platform bed, you can order platform bed plans from any of a number of plans retailers. Woodworking clubs, furniture enthusiast groups, and other organizations can give or sell you plans. You can also buy plans online.

About the author:
Platform Beds Info provides detailed information about contemporary, Japanese, discount, and wood platform beds and platform storage beds, as well as platform bed frames and plans. Platform Beds Info is the sister site of Futons Web.

Whether you have an old garage or if you construct a new one you should take into consideration the quality and the type of roof that you choose for your garage. You might encounter problems with a home inspector if you don’t have an adequate roof for your garage.
He may cite your garage. And of course you want to make sure you have a stable and reliable roof that can face a massive rainfall.

A flat roof with sagged joists allows rainwater to pool at the center, rather than draining toward the roof edges. This is a common problem and it affects nearly all the so-called flat roofs. Having an insufficient roof slope promotes standing pools of rainwater and
this increases the likelihood of leakage as the roof becomes older.

Roof drains should be installed at each low point of the roof. Since the roof joists have sagged it seems that they were not designed to support accumulated water. Therefore if you can add drains at the power points of the roof it could prolong the life of your roof.

by: Lee Dobbins
Small changes can have a big effect on how your kitchen looks. Below are 11 decorating ideas that you can do yourself in a day or less. Not only are these simple changes are easy to do, but they are inexpensive too!

1. Afraid of changing your drab white kitchen walls? Instead of choosing rich, deep colors for your first project, you will likely feel more comfortable with a neutral such as beige or gray which will not date the room or create a jarring palate that you will easily tire of.

2. Brighten up the kitchen. Use mirrors to capture the sunlight and bounce it around. Try putting a mirror across from a window or on a wall that corners against the window wall for the most light distribution.

3. Make seasonal changes. Moving the kitchen furniture into a ’summer arrangement’ can optimize your space and give it a more airy feel. Make it light and breezy - think about removing some of the furniture and decorations for a lighter feel. Open those curtains and let the sun shine in!

4. Use slipcovers. Slipcovers over your chairs can soften the room and add to your decor. For the holidays, try using special covers in holdiay patters or colors. For a nice summer change use white cotton or canvas slipcovers on the chairs.

5. Get ideas from the pros. Look in magazines, books, television or the internet to get a flavor of the accessories and designs you would like to see in your kitchen. IF you see a kitchen decorated in a way that you like, think about how you can duplicate the same decor in your home.

6. Decorate with cookbooks. You can make a nice display with your cookbooks. Try grouping them in interesting configurations with some laying down and some standing. Don’t put small books next to tall books but align them in graduating sizes.

7. Warm it up with rugs. Area rugs can add a splash of color or cover up an old or unmatching floor. When buying rugs, measure the space so you can be sure to get the right size. Rugs used under a table should be large enough to also accommodate the chairs when fully pulled out.

8. Bring the outdoors inside. Don’t be afraid to hang plants from any bare ceiling corner to give a lived in feeling to a plain kitchen. Plants provide interest and soften up the room. For above the cabinets or hard to reach places, silk plants work just as well as real ones, however, if you do buy silk, go with a good quality arrangement that looks realistic.

9. Change your look with accessories. A few strategically places accessories can change your kitchen from dull to dramatic! Maybe you want to go with a certain theme and you might be able to give your kitchen a whole new look just by replacing some key accessories like toaster covers, dish towels, cannister sets, salt and pepper shakers and pot holders.

10. Change your cabinet pulls. Theres so many different styles of cabinet pulls these days - figural, wooden, ceramic, glass - you should be able to find a design that matches your new decor easily. They are easy to install yourself and your friends will think you got new cabinets!

11. Add a border. wallpaper borders are easy to put up and can add color and interest. You can use them at the top of the wall or go with a less traditional use underneath the cabinets. Use them at chair rail height to break up long walls. An even less expensive (but more labor intensive) alternative is to use stencils and paint.

About the author:
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.a-kitchen-decorating-idea.comwhere you can find tips to decorate your kitchen no matter what your budget. Find out more about decorating your kitchen for less at http://www.a-kitchen-decorating-idea.com/decoratingkitchenonabudget.html

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by: Lee Dobbins
Using accessories is a fun way to accent your bedroom for a beach theme. You will find that you can dramatically change the look of your room simply by making small changes with the accents. See how easy it is to get a designer beach theme look in your bedroom without shelling out the big bucks.

If you’re not sure exactly what you want in your beach desing, try looking in decorating magazines and books to get a flavor of the accessories you would like to see in your bedroom. For keeping the beach look consistent, you’ll have to limit yourself to only purchase the accessories that match your theme.

Colors for a beach décor should make you think of the beach. Light and breezy with lots of blues and maybe even some yellows. If you prefer neutral tones think of the beige of beach sand and the color of shells.

Incorporate sea shells, ocean prints, and other seaside accents that will help bring out the beach in your bedroom. You should group your accessories in odd numbers. It always looks nice if your groupings consists of tall and short accessories mixed together. An interesting group of accents might consists of some shells aside a nice beach theme frame and a taller lamp.

Use beach theme prints and photos on your walls to establish the theme throughout your bedroom. Many people do not know how to correctly hang a piece of art and this makes a big difference to the visual appeal. Whether you are hanging a large oil painting or a small print, the middle of the piece should be at eye level. If you have a large piece of artwork you can try using it as a headboard. When hanging prints or photos behind a table, always place them 7 to 10 inches above the table. Hang pictures in circular, triangular, or rectangular geometric groupings to add interest.

When accessorizing your bedroom don’t forget about the lighting. When purchasing lamps make sure to buy ones that go with the beach theme you want to create. For beach style lighting try using clear glass lamps filled with shells or figural light house shaped lamps.

Area rugs can define a space and pull your bedroom together. Rest furniture completely on the rug for a warmer effect. Only use rugs that go with your beach accessories.

Using pillows can add interest as well. Use several at the top of the bed and vary the texture colors and patterns while still keeping the color and theme within your overall bedroom design.

Don’t think you have to buy everything for your bedroom at once. Shop around to find the perfect accessories to match the beach theme in your bedroom. You can find bargains at consignment stores flea markets and yard sales.

About the author:
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.bedroom-designs-and-decorations.com/where you can find out more about decorating your bedroom. Read more articles on bedroom decorating at: http://www.bedroom-designs-and-decorations.com/articles8.html

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If you are considering remodeling you garage you might consider choosing a rubber flooring for your garage. This
is an inexpensive option for general purpose flooring: most common uses include parking vehicles on the rubber flooring, converting the garage space into a play area or into a workout room.

Parking your car on a recycled rubber matting is the least common use for this product because of two major inconveniences: recycled rubber tire products have very little resistance to petroleum products so an oil leak could
seriously damage the floor; the melting point of this type of flooring is relatively low, in extreme circumstances the
heat from the tires can be sufficient to melt the tires into the mat.

If planning to remodel for your garage and you also have changing the flooring in mind, it is important to
know the primary function that you need your floor to fulfill. If you are going to convert your garage into a dog-house, the rubber flooring would provide insulation against extreme temperatures of the cement as well as an
extra cushioning. Also you must consider the ease of maintenance for this type of flooring. For a home theater,
a rubber flooring is desired to reduce the noise transmission.

As more and more homes have to be built, more and more people are using kitchen island design ideas to maximize their kitchen space. Here are a few kitchen island design ideas that you might want to use as you plan that storage and extra work space for your kitchen.

1. Incorporate electronics and plumbing into the island.

A kitchen island is not only a work area or extra cabinet space. It should allow you to have everything you need within your reach. If you plan to chop vegetables and fruits on it, you will need a sink nearby. If you plan to toast bread the minute you slice it, or if you plan to bake cakes and pop them into the oven immediately, you will also need a built in stove.

2. Have both open and closed shelves in the island for more style.

Have open shelves for plates or saucers, and closed cabinets for knives and pots and pans. You might also want to have a dishwasher installed in the island, so that you can store your utensils easily.

3. Be creative.

Your kitchen island can have a wine rack, shelves to store your cook books, a bin for deep frying, or higher surfaces on which you can carry out slicing work separate from batter or mixing work. The possibilities are endless if you have a wide kitchen and a large island to boot.

Just be sure that you do not go overboard on the kitchen island amenities: a kitchen island is meant to keep everything within your reach, but don’t store the wines next to the hot oven, or the dried spices next to the moisture-rich plumbing.

You can find more kitchen island design ideas at your friends’ homes, so don’t be afraid to consult with as many people as possible on the best kitchen island design ideas for your own space. With the best design meant for your needs, your kitchen island can make your kitchen look richer and dreamier.

By: Tim Lee

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

To learn more kitchen design ideas, visit www.kitchendesignideas101.com