Archive for September, 2010
Hanging Some Family Portraits
Family photographs consigned to an album generally remain there till the day nostalgia makes you want to look at them. Hanging photos in groups based on theme or family member is just one way to do it.
Home decor stores offer an array of frames in various styles to get you started. You could choose between whimsical, nostalgic, eclectic, traditional, region specific or contemporary styles. Frames come in many mediums like glass, wood, metal, paper Mache, terracotta, fabric and leather to name just a few.
Chose the right frames to set off the beauty of your photographs and select a noteworthy area for display. Arrange photos on the floor in their frames to get an idea what looks best with what. Once confirmed mark relevant measurements making sure photos don’t end up too much above or below eye level. Rotate photos every few months to display all eventually.
Measuring Wire Wall Baskets
Wire wall baskets are available in a plethora of shapes, sizes, materials and colors in most home décor stores to meet your interior as well as exterior needs. They work well in kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, gardens, patios or anywhere else you want to put them.
To fix a wire wall basket select the basket keeping its use in mind. Measure not only the length and breadth but also the depth carefully as they might get in the way once hung. Measuring such baskets is quite a bother but it has to be done to avoid accidents.
Mark out the positions on the chosen wall as per the number of screw holes given on your basket. With simple screws or with those given by the manufacturer proceed with the upper points and finish at the lower level. Add some extras if you plan to store heavy items in the basket.
Ideal Depth for a Window Seat
Window seats are constructed to make use of the nooks provided by bay windows that generally extend outside the building exterior. Many times it is constructed along the length of normal window as a home décor aspect to add character to a room. Window seats do not have a back and can be a simple bench or modeled on the lines of a day bed.
While the seat is typically 17-22” in depth most people only use the area provided in the window recess. If you want a window seat to serve as a seat then the above measurement does extremely well. You could also create a box type window bench with useful storage space underneath.
However if you want a day bed cum a window seat consider extending it to 24” in depth. This measurement allows a sufficient place for a person to lie down with an interesting book.
Hiding the Computer Cords
A home office is more appealing if unruly masses of tangled wires are organized and out of sight. Today home décor stores across the country offer surprisingly affordable solutions for this problem.
A little organization in your approach can get you further in the race if you chose the right products. Opt for color coded cables or label what goes where and use a power strip to cut down the number of plugs. Use cable ties to tie up long cables into bundles that can be easily hidden behind or under your table in a simple cable basket or bag that can be mounted near workstation. Such bags or baskets do exist at home décor shops.
If your desk is at a distance from the power source run cables behind decorative or simple cable covers available at hardware stores. Or simply pass them along the floor skirting under the carpet.
How to Select Quality Pedestal Sinks
Pedestal sinks instantly add a classic appeal to your bathroom and are at par with the design sensibilities of contemporary, traditional, eclectic, rustic and even minimal styles of home decor.
They provide a substantial amount of free space in a bathroom or powder rooms. They are available in a host of colors and designs made from wood, stone, marble, vitreous china, glass steel and chrome in square, round, oval and rectangular shapes.
Keep the material and size in mind while choosing pedestal sinks. Height is another consideration as a pedestal sink in a standard size is not very comfortable for a taller person.
A notable downside of a pedestal sink is that it has no storage facilities, but today some designs offer attached napkin holders, a wider top to accommodate toiletries and set of shelves for instance a console sink. The newer versions incorporate a backsplash in the design itself.
Rating a Top down Feather Bed
Apart from offering a dreamy surface to lie on after a hard day’s work, feather beds also provide the adaptability that few other home décor items allow.
If you buy online remove the feather bed from its packaging upon arrival and scrutinize to confirm that all ends are stitched efficiently. Next compress a handful to see if any quills or sharp remains come up through the fabric layer. Lay it down flat and run your hands all over to check for lumps and other protrusions. Sleep on it and cover yourself to check for awkward sounds. Finally leave it spread out in a closed room for half an hour. When you return the room must not have an offending chemical odor.
Incase the bed doesn’t pass any of these tests send it back immediately and cancel your order or ask for a replacement pointing out all the above discrepancies.
Hiding the Electrical Wires
A tangle of wires is a very disturbing aspect to home décor in all homes. Exposed wires are both ugly and dangerous. The most popular choices for hiding these wires are to hide them within wall, under the rug, baseboards and crown moldings. Resorting to wireless systems can be heavy on the pocket for most.
To pack away wires into the wall a small hole should be drilled in the wall at the ceiling and the floor end. Drop a cable guide and pass wires through with its help. Pull out successfully at the other end.
Crown molding of various sizes and shapes can be an attractive feature to hide ungainly wires out of eyesight.
Then again they can just be pushed under a rug but that is dangerous if passed across the room rather than along the wall skirting. Baseboards are also an effective way to hide wiring.
Converting a Carport into a Room
A carport can turn into a new room to give you the additional space you need for an increasing family. Without making too many structural changes and by adding a wall and some flooring, your new room is ready to use.
First you must connect the house to this room by cutting a doorway in the outer wall that reaches the carport without disturbing your home décor. All the beams must be supported by joist hangers and the floor framed with recommended boards to demarcate the floor area and provide a basic frame.
Install windows, electrical outlets and doors with or without the help offered by the company. Cut bits of fiber glass and stuff loose pieces of fiber glass into cavities around doors and windows for additional insulation.
Attach siding to the exteriors to match the rest of the house and caulk all joints. Add flooring of your choice.
Buying Quality Bed Sheets
A good sound mattress and soft lightweight sheets are the perfect ingredients for a good sound sleep. Not all sheets are comfortable to sleep in although they are intended for home decor. To select the best sheets you must know exactly what counts per sheet.
Starting from the top first of all always ask for the thread count of a sheet. It’s this factor that determines the quality of sheets. Thread count generally refers to the number of threads per square inch. Most European sheets come with a thread count of 310 or more while American sheets stick to the thread count of 200 or lower.
Bed sheets are available in cotton, Percale, sateen, real silk satin or cotton polyester blends that are generally preferred in colder climates.
Sheets can be bought with careful consideration even online because once you know what to look for no one can fool you.
Painting a Room after an Initial Coat of Polyurethane
Polyurethane is used to remove any traces of preexisting wall paper and to smooth out wall surface before paint is applied. A perfect pain palette enhances home décor more than any other décor element.
After the polyurethane coat has dried completely for a day after you applying, mix the paint for the chosen wall. Dust off any blotches and residual surface dirt to avoid a messy uneven wall surface with a broom or lint free rag.
Follow with a coat of primer to cut out the shine of the polyurethane and allow drying for an additional day. Using a flat paint brush or roller start painting the first coat on the wall from ceiling to floor to get an even and clean coat.
Wait till it dries completely to ensure that the polyurethane is not shining through. A second coat is recommended incase the polyurethane shows above the painted layer.