Bedroom Wall Decor - Creative Bedroom Wall Decor Ideas

The interior decorating and decor of a bedroom largely depends upon it's function. There are mainly 4 types of bedrooms in a typical home plan.

1) Master Bedroom

Decor

2) Teenager Bedroom

3) Kids Bedroom

4) Guest bedroom

All these bedrooms have their own decorating considerations. When it comes to wall decor for bedrooms many people think that either painting a wall or applying wallpaper on them is the only option available.

But these two techniques can be combined together for an altogether different look as well. It is not always necessary to apply the same paint to all the walls. Try finishing walls with contrasting colors or a combination of wallpaper and color on the same wall.

If your bedroom receives ample amount of direct sunlight, then you can very creatively make use of shadows for decorating purposes on wall. First observe the wall that receives direct sunlight and then you can "obstruct" the entry of sunlight using a mild steel grill or stained glass painting so that the wall receives interesting shadow patterns. The beauty of this is that since the direction and intensity of the sunlight changes constantly, you will have an ever changing wall decor piece made for you, free of cost.

Another idea is to instead of using picture frames on walls, how about painting the picture on the wall itself. Of course if you live in a rented house, you will have some limitations, but it can be done.

Another options for bedroom wall decor is faux finish plaster or even tile cladding using rectangular or square tiles. Even multicolored tiles can be used for the entire wall to create a mural of your choice. Thus a bedroom wall can be easily treated with little creativity for big results without spending big money.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Bedroom Wall Decor - Creative Bedroom Wall Decor Ideas

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Your Front Door - Designing The Entry To Your Home

Here's a subject that's rarely given enough thought in custom home design...the way you enter and leave your house. We're just talking about a door, right? A hole in the wall, a way in and a way out; what more is there to consider?

It's easy to overlook the design of the entrance to our houses. We spend our time working on the design of the exterior and creating the spaces inside the house. But the front door and the spaces connected to it occupy an important middle ground between indoors and out and set the stage for the success of the entire custom home design. The entry begins to establish your home's personality and suggests how the rest of the house should be. The entry is a symbolic passage from the public realm of the street to the private realm of the family and tells the world something about the people within.

\"home Design\"

If Walls Could Speak

It's a cliché to say that the front of a house "makes a statement", but clichés usually have some basis in truth. The entry can be a barrier or an invitation, obvious or concealed, pompous or humble; it can welcome you in or it can keep you at arm's length. The front door and the area around it can be a message board for the neighborhood - hung with wreaths and ivy during the holidays, festooned with red, white, and blue on the Fourth of July, and decorated with pumpkins and corn shocks at Halloween.

Each element that makes up the home's entry has something to say. The classic American front porch is a good example; it's the outdoor social center, a place to watch the activity of the street, a place to meet and greet neighbors and friends. A front porch is an outdoor room, neither completely public nor private and easing the transition into and out of the house. A house with a big, broad front porch tells the world that the family inside values the social fabric of the street, welcoming neighbors and friends and inviting them to stop and visit.

The Entry Sequence

But the front porch is just one part of a sequence of spaces and elements creating a transition from the public realm (the street) to the private realm (the house). That sequence includes walks, landscaping, steps, porches, overhangs, lights, doors, and interior entry spaces. A successful entry sequence considers the placement and design of all of these elements and their relationship to each other.

The entry to a home begins long before you've stepped onto the property. It starts in the street with the initial visual cues -- where the entrance to the property is, and where the entrance to the house is.

At first glance from the street, the entry to the house should be seen or at least hinted at to provide a clear destination for our guests. Our old friend the front porch is a great way to indicate clearly where the entrance is to be found. A porch or overhang at the entry also keeps your guests out of the weather while they're waiting for you to answer the door.

A path from the street or driveway to the front door should be direct - people look ahead subconsciously as they approach a building, searching for the shortest path to the entrance. The beginning of the path should be well lit so that it can be found in the dark, and should be wide enough for two people to walk comfortably abreast. This is also a great place for colorful landscaping. In temperate and cold climates, leave areas open where shoveled snow can be piled alongside the walk without burying the planting beds.

A little mystery isn't a bad idea here either - vary the direction of the path a bit so the scenery changes and the front door moves in and out of view.

It's A House, Not A Greek Temple

Historically, the design of a home's entry gave the public an indication of the wealth and status of its owners. The entrances to grand homes are often flanked by huge classical columns, their doors framed by elaborately carved surrounds. But when more modest homes take up these motifs, they often feel out of place and forced. An entry can be too easily seen from the street, announcing itself too boldly (as if it were an entrance to an office building), and draining all of the warmth from the entry sequence.

Better to design the entry on a human scale, using familiar elements that don't overwhelm the visitor. Benches, small windows, potted plants, brick paths and porch railings all contribute to the comfort we want our guests to feel as they are welcomed into our homes.

The human scale should continue on the other side of the door. Although some larger homes are appropriately fitted with double curved stairs and four hundred square foot entry halls, these features overwhelm a typical family home. Entry halls and foyers should welcome guests, allow them to get oriented to the house, provide a place to hang their coats, and direct them efficiently to the "public" rooms of the house. There's a place for splendor and majesty of course, but that's best left to the grand homes.

Hey, I didn't invent this stuff...

Other cultures also place a high value on the design of a home's entry. The Ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui dictates exactly where a home's front door should be to attract good Chi (energy flow) and block harmful Chi. It's a complex relationship between compass position, proximity to other structures, roads and paths, access to sunlight, and views to the outside. According to Feng Shui, a well-placed and well-designed front door can enhance luck, promote business success, and increase the health of the occupants. Although deeply rooted in ancient culture, much of Feng Shui is simply good design practice that we can apply to the design of the ways that we enter and exit our own homes.

Welcome Home To... Your Laundry Room?

Although the introduction of the automobile has had a profound impact on the way we enter our houses, it was the popularization of the attached garage in the mid 20th century that eventually relegated the traditional front door and porch to ceremonial status. Ironically, we rarely use the impressive entries we build in our homes. We're content to enter our own house through the garage - often through a laundry room or mudroom. Is that what we've worked so hard for? Providing grand entry experiences for our few visitors or the annual holiday gatherings while we trudge daily through the dirty laundry? The owners of the house should be welcomed into their sanctuary through a space designed to greet them, to acknowledge them, and to recognize them as the reason it exists.

On a recent pre-design tour through a remodeling client's home, the client and I entered through the garage and laundry room, moving aside bicycles, toys, and baskets of dirty clothes to get into the kitchen. She hadn't thought about it, but I suggested we consider reworking the way she enters her house as a part of the remodeling. She agreed, and the result is a small but well appointed "owner's entry hall" directly off of the garage and connecting to the kitchen and breakfast room. The laundry and mudrooms are adjacent to but closed off from this entry. She's already told me how much she enjoys the new space and how it brightens her spirits at the end of the day.

Knock, knock...

But what about the front door itself? The front door is at once a bridge and a barrier. Should it be big, small, opaque, transparent, rectangular or arched? I prefer a big door wide enough to make the furniture movers happy - at least 42 inches wide. Because the front door will be used every day, durability and resistance to weather damage are important. A bit of glass in the door allows permits residents to see someone outside without allowing the stranger a view of the interior. A lot of glass in the door is less private, but brings in more light from the outside.

Although a wood door is susceptible to damage from the elements, it always looks better than metal or fiberglass imitations. And if properly protected with an overhanging roof, a quality wood door should last the life of the house.

An Open And Shut Case

The front door is one part of many elements that make up an entry design. A successful entry sequence starts in the public realm of the street and moves through a sequence of spaces on its way to the private realm of the house. The design of the entry communicates with the neighborhood and is scaled appropriately to the rest of the house.

That "hole-in-the-wall" is much more than just a way in and a way out.

Your Front Door - Designing The Entry To Your Home

Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect | Luxury Home Plans

Victorian Interior Design

Lots of people believe that Victorian interior design is very challenging and expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. Creating a Victorian look is actually quite easy and can be done even on a tight budget. A Victorian interior design can be achieved by using lots of extravagant fabrics, wallpapers and tapestries. However this does not mean you will have to spend lots of money on these items. You can just use things you have lying around your house.

If you are not very familiar with the Victorian interior design style it may be a good idea to do some research before you get started. Just look at some pictures online or in interior design books and try to duplicate the look.

Interior

While it is always a good idea to let your own creativity dictate your design decisions there are some rules you should be aware of when trying to achieve a Victorian look.

o Darker shades were very popular during the Victorian period. Dark, yet rich colors were used and were never applied to all four walls.
o Fireplaces used during the Victorian era were plain and polished. Their brackets were often curved in some kind of shape. Victorian fireplaces often used white marble.
o Also typical of the Victorian style are stain glass windows. While these are very expensive to have custom made, you can have your windows stained with stain glass colors as an alternative.

While there are lots of other elements that make up the Victorian interior design style, with these basic ideas and some quick research you should be able to begin your design project.

Victorian Interior Design

For more information on Victorian interior decorating as well as lots of free home decorating ideas, visit 123HomeDecorating.com

Baby Keepsake Gifts - What Are Those Exactly?

This old friend, whom I have known since college, hadn't seen each other for a few years so this was my first time seeing her since she had given birth to her new six month old son. The kid was beautiful and she looked great (she credited that to good genes and a great personal trainer), but one of the things that I was most impressed with was the child's nursery. Besides beautiful furniture and subtle but wonderful paintings, the room was adorned with a variety of baby keepsake gifts from different family members. This gave the room a personal touch that was hard to miss.

So, the first question you probably have after reading the opening paragraph is probably the same question I had upon entering the nursery: what exactly are baby keepsake gifts? Essentially it's just a fancy word for heartfelt baby gifts which are given to a newborn for them to either play with or decorate their nursery. They can range from usable to decorative and in price from to, well, just about anything. Keepsake gifts are all about emotional value and are gifts that will be kept and cherished throughout a child's life.

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When I returned from my little East Coast jaunt, I started keeping an eye out for these keepsake gifts as many of my girlfriends are either already or trying to get pregnant. I found that there are dozens of websites and specialty shops offering different types of keepsake gifts for almost every type of baby or taste. These keepsake gifts included such typical fair as towels and plush toys, to decorative gifts such as plaques, paintings and tins and even seasonal items such as ornaments. Each of these products was beautifully crafted and hand decorated.

A few of the items I came across really impressed me, such as a rocking horse (a bit out of my price range, but nice none-the-less), a simple hand crafted piggy bank (it's never too early to teach kids the importance of money) and small, soft hangable crosses (which I actually purchased for an upcoming Christening I'm invited to). I was a bit surprised at how big of a business these baby keepsake gifts are, but then again, we all love to give baby gifts to newborns, so why not give them something that parents will be sure to keep and cherish throughout a their life. Sounds like a good purchase to me.

Baby Keepsake Gifts - What Are Those Exactly?

Author Kimberly Green's favorite gifts have always been those that can be used as baby keepsake gifts

Tips to Choosing the Best Coffee Table Furniture

Earlier, coffee tables were not called so. They were known as cocktail tables. This kind of says something about our nature of entertainment and the change it has gone through over the years, right?

To be lured into the prospect of buying table furniture, you have to first dream what it can really do for you. Just let your mind play back all those moments when you come back home from work, tired to the boots that you cannot rest them on the ground anymore. You somehow drag yourself onto the sofa, being suddenly glad for that low table of the perfect height, so that you can throw your legs over it and rest in peace. Try another memory- how about the times when you get into a heated passion when your football team wins, and to rejoice the moment you glance down and see your beer glasses winking at you from the coffee table?

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Be it for family discussions, or to keep your prized possessions like books or any showpieces, this table furniture come in real handy at all times. This is why choosing the right coffee table furniture is also important. How can that be done? after all, to you it is a piece of board lying flat on four stumpy legs, right actually, there are lot of options that you can run into in the market, and to get the most comfortable and stylish coffee table, you have to go through these tips first:

• Size up your area. Where are you going to put your coffee table furniture? Do your sofas allow you enough space to put your table in the middle? Of what size should the coffee table be? It is better that you measure the space that you can accommodate for your table, and then make the decision at the store.

• Always make sure that your house decor goes well with the choice of you furnishings. If you are more traditional style, you should get a coffee table that is antique and heavy too. The style will be from the Victorian Age, the legs stumpy and decorated. The coffee table furniture in this case should be made of hard wood, be it mahogany or rosewood. They will probably be expensive as well, but it all depends on your choice.

• If you have your pad set up in the high-chic, high-tech and ultra-modern outlook, it is better to get a table that is made of metal or steel with glass top. This will be more effective in pairing up with the rest of the furniture in your room too.

• Of course, this does not mean that you must always play by the rules as a boring nerd. Try to be funky too. Nothing makes s a mug of coffee more appealing than bright shades of pink or better- red. If your sofas are made of black leather, pair them with red coffee table furniture and see your room transform!

• You can also go for stencils, wallpapers or shelving paper to give more texture to your coffee table.

• Remember to polish your table and use vinyl or plastic coating if possible so that you can wipe off coffee stains. However, if you choose something antique, this is a risk you will have to take. Just use coasters in order to see that beverage spillages leave no marks.

Take proper care of your coffee table furniture. When you buy them from the local store or from any website, just check out the prices and quality before making your move. A good coffee table and coffee table furniture will always keep you in a good mood in eth morning and evenings as you take your rest with a cup of tea or a mug of coffee!

Tips to Choosing the Best Coffee Table Furniture

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it is living room tables for your living room or accent tables for you newly remodeled home, there are many tips you can use to make any spot both functional and beautiful. Click today and indulge your senses.

Japanese Hanami Picnic and Party

Hanami (flower viewing) is a beautiful Japanese tradition of picnicking under the cherry blossoms in Spring. Whether you want to take a simple picnic to the park, have a Hanami garden party or barbecue at home, or take it indoors if the weather isn't so good, Hanami makes for a colourful setting and some fun cooking and preparation!

Hanami Food & Drink
The Japanese pack their picnic food in bento boxes - lunch boxes with compartments for different types of food. The food for Hanami should be colourful, especially pink, white and green to reflect the colours of the blossom laden trees. Here are some ideas to get you started...

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Yakitori Chicken (wonderful done on the barbecue, but just as great cold), Salmon Teryaki, Sushi Maki (you could get adventurous and try the cherry blossom version wrapped in salmon and made into a flower!), Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette) - a bento box staple, Hanami Salad - a pretty cherry blossom inspired rice noodle salad, Dango rice dumplings (traditionally pink, white and green for Hanami) - a bit of an acquired taste for the Western palette so you could use pink and white marshmallows threaded on a bamboo skewer instead. Drink Sake! (preferably served warm).

Hanami Decoration
If you hanami in the park, you'll have the real cherry blossom to sit under. If you decide to Hanami at home (outside or in) you can decorate with paper lanterns and sprigs of cherry blossom, and fold some cherry blossom napkins. You can find useful videos on how fold cherry blossom napkins on YouTube.

Eating Japanese Style
In Japan, food is often eaten off low tables and cushions on the floor, rather than Western style chairs and tables. If you are having a Hanami party at home and have a low table this might be nice to try.

You can't have a Japanese party without chopsticks! There are quite a few rules surrounding the use of chopsticks, the main ones being; don't spear your food with them or leave them sticking up in a bowl of rice and don't point with them or wave them around in the air.

You say "itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive") before eating, and "gochisosama (deshita)" ("Thank you for the meal") afterwards.

When drinking alcohol, it is customary to serve each other, rather than pouring your own drink so keep an eye on your friend's glasses!

And finally, in Japan its not unusual to see barbecues, karaoke machines and boom boxes, and even night time picnics in parks strung with lanterns. So go to town and have your own Hanami party... at home or in the park!

Japanese Hanami Picnic and Party

Christine Osborne

As well as Hanami recipes you'll find lots of other recipe and dinner party ideas on somewhereintheworldtoday.com

Plan a trip trip to see you favourite fiesta, find a recipe to host your own at home, visit the shop for exotic things from far flung places or just drop by and tell us where you've been.

How to Seal a Concrete Driveway

Sealing a concrete driveway is a simple, inexpensive and fast way to maintain the value of a home. Your concrete driveway is one of the first things people see when they drive up to your home. That is why it is a good idea to keep the concrete driveway looking as good as the day it was installed. Sealing the concrete driveway with a penetrating siloxane concrete sealer will give years of protection to the driveway. Another name for them is siloxane water repellent.

How Concrete Driveways Deteriorate

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Water that penetrates and expands from freezing does most of the damage to concrete driveways. That is because the water expands 9% in volume when it freezes. This expansion can physically break the concrete bonds and cause it to flake, pit, spall and crack. Sealing the concrete reduces the amount of water absorption.

De-icing salts do damage to the concrete also. The salts attack the surface layer of concrete and the steel reinforcement inside the concrete. When de-icing salts are applied, the melted water can enter the concrete and then refreeze as the temperature drops.

Sealing the concrete with a penetrating siloxane sealer, also called a siloxane water repellent will reduce water and salt uptake and the number of freeze-thaw cycles the concrete goes through.

Penetrating Concrete Sealers

Concrete driveways are high traffic areas, with cars entering and leaving and kids using them for basketball courts. That is why your concrete driveway needs to have a penetrating sealer as opposed to a surface sealer.

A surface sealer is just that, it is applied to the surface and does not penetrate. The surface sealer will wear away rapidly from use. Every time a car pulls in or someone bounces a ball on it, a little bit of the sealer is removed. Some surface sealers can make the driveway slick and dangerous when it rains because the rough texture is covered up.

On the other hand, a siloxane sealer penetrates below the concrete surface. Siloxane sealers form a hydrophobic barrier against water and de-icing salt attack. They are commonly called siloxane water repellents. Because they are below the surface, they are protected from wear on the surface of the concrete. The natural texture of the concrete is maintained so traction and safety are not a concern. Finally, because the concrete sealer is below the surface, there is no shininess or gloss to the concrete.

Step 1. Let the Concrete Cure

Freshly poured concrete cannot be sealed. It must cure for 21-30 days prior to application of a penetrating sealer.

Step 2. Clean the Driveway

Broom off any loose debris such as dirt, mud and leaves off of the driveway. If there are any oil or grease stains, these should be removed to the best of your ability with a pressure washer.

Step 3. Allow the Concrete to Dry

Water-based siloxane sealers need to have the concrete dry for 24 hours prior to application. No rain should fall within this 24 hour time period. This will reduce the dilution of the siloxane sealer and ensure that the maximum amount gets into the concrete substrate itself.

Step 4. Spray, Roll or Brush on the Sealer

It doesn't really matter which method of application is used, but of course a roller is faster than a brush and a pump up garden sprayer is faster than a roller. No other special equipment is needed. You do not need to worry about getting it onto plants or grass. If any gets onto metal or windows, wash it off immediately with soapy water and a sponge.

Apply only enough concrete sealer that a slight whitish color is seen. Any ponding of material should be spread evenly prior to drying.

Step 5. Keep Rain and Traffic off of it for 24 hours

The sealer will dry in 1-4 hours but it is a good idea to keep cars and traffic off of the driveway for 24 hours. Application should occur when rain is not in the forecast for 24 hours after application to give the sealer plenty of time to penetrate and seal.

Once cured the siloxane sealer becomes a bonded component of the concrete driveway. A properly sealed concrete driveway will give years of protection from damage. The return on investment will be worth the time and expense of application.

How to Seal a Concrete Driveway

This article is written by Aaron Kuertz who's with Applied Technologies Aaron is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute and has been in the waterproofing industry since 1998. Applied Technologies is a manufacturer and supplier to professional waterproofing contractors and homeowners in the United States.

For more information about concrete siloxane water repellents, visit Applied Technologies.

Tips For Great Restaurant Interior Design

One of the things that we really enjoy when we get to eat outside of our
homes and eat in a restaurant is the ambiance, besides the food that they are
offering. Ambiance really plays a big part when it comes to making you enjoy
your dining experience and for some, it determines if they will be returning to
the restaurant or not.

Here are some great tips that you can take note of for a great design if you are
one of those people who are thinking of opening up a restaurant. These tips play
a big part in design and are proven to be very effective when it comes to
creating a great ambiance where people will keep coming back for more of what
your restaurant can offer.

Interior

Know This

One of the best restaurants interior design tips that you should first take note
of is knowing and understanding your target market. Just by determining what
your customers are demanding, you can instantly create a design in your mind
that will suit best suit their lifestyle. Are you going for the young urban
professionals who wear a coat and tie most of the time that will require your restaurant interior design to be more
flashy and elegant? Or are you going for the market of kids who enjoy having
quick fixes for their tummies but will like play rooms or arcades at the same
time?

Getting a feedback from your target customers will clearly help you in
formulating the best design in your mind. Chances are, once that you have
finally determined what they want and once you have implemented all those
elements in your restaurant, the higher the chances that they will, time and
time again, visit your place and spread the word that yours is one of the
greatest restaurants that they have been in.

Ask Help From The Experts

It is also important to recognize that you cannot do all the
restaurant interior design by yourself and sometimes it will be best to get help from the experts. Vision Design is one of the most reputable interior design companies in the industry and they are
specializing in designing restaurants, spas, homes, and others and have already
received numerous awards for their outstanding designs and service.

Tips For Great Restaurant Interior Design

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Table Centerpieces for Easter: Ideas for Easter Decorations

Most people don't really look at Easter as a holiday to go all out decorating for, and I'm sure many people don't decorate for this holiday at all. If you do want to bring a touch of Easter into your home and are looking for some ideas that don't involve Easter grass, we have what you need!

Easter decorating can be very subtle or more elaborate. It's up to you to figure out how far you want to go. The following ideas can work in any home and are only limited by your imagination.

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- Got the munchies? Fill some small bowls with Easter candy and distribute them throughout your home. Your guests can enjoy a sweet and colourful snack.

- Watching what you eat? Instead of candy, try filling those same bowls with decorative Easter eggs.

- On a budget? Fill a basket with a stuffed animal or two and add some colorful ribbon to the handle. You can either use items you already have at home, or go to your local store. Brightly-colored baskets and stuffed animals are often very affordably priced during the Easter season.

- Say it with flowers. Use potted flowering bulbs as a centerpiece for your table. Or use smaller pots filled with crocuses in the kitchen and living room to add colour. The potted bulbs can be replanted outside when they're past their prime inside and should come up again next spring. Just make sure that the flowers you choose aren't heavily scented or the flowers may end up outside sooner than you intend.

- Don't like dirt? Put some freshly cut daffodils in a vase and arrange them into a globe shape, with the longer stems in the middle. About 20 daffodils should give you a fresh and crisp display that will make you smile whenever you see it. Their fresh but mild smell will add some sweetness to your home as well!

These ideas can be used on their own or in combination to create original and unique Easter decorations. Which options you choose will depend on your own taste and whether you're decorating for your children or for the guests you're having over for Easter dinner, or both!

Enjoy!

Table Centerpieces for Easter: Ideas for Easter Decorations

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Process of Installing a Stand Up Shower

Whether replacing an inconvenient and little-used bathtub, or adding a facility in a previously un-plumbed area, installing a stand up shower is one of the simplest and easiest projects the home restorer can take on. The process is straight-forward and the expense minimal. All the big-box Home Stores have everything you will need for the job.

If a tub is being replaced, the old one needs to be removed, along with the subflooring which will undoubtedly be damaged and infected with mold from water getting past the caulking around the tub. This is a good time to put a new floor, vinyl or tile, in the bathroom; half of the work is already done. You can use the existing plumbing, with some modification, when a tub is replaced. If it is a stand up shower in a new location, a drain pipe and the hot and cold water pipes will have to be run to the room. In most jurisdictions a licensed plumber will have to do this part of the job, and an inspector brought in to sign off on it.

\"room Design\"

Once the new subfloor is installed, and the necessary drywall replaced, the shower tray can be installed. The method of installation varies with the tray design. Some will require a cement or mortar base underneath the tray, some are strong enough to sit directly on the floor without flexing. Almost all require the use of a mastic as a final step to keep the tray from moving around. A standup shower needs to be able to bear the weight of any person without flexing and breaking the caulk bead.

The caulk bead is the most important part of any bath installation. Great care taken now, at the installation of the standup shower, will make future repairs unnecessary. Care must also be taken in the caulking around the shower controls. They are designed to stay dry inside if they are installed correctly, so these are some instructions that really need to be read carefully.

If the space available for the shower is larger than the shower pan that is selected, then some creative carpentry and tilework can be used to enhance the usefulness of the installation. One popular choice is to frame up a bench or seat that can be tiled to match the rest of the room, rendering the standup shower also a sit-down shower, for those who need one.

Process of Installing a Stand Up Shower

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Mirror Test

In 1970, psychologist Gordon Gallup Jr. developed the mirror test, a measure of self-awareness. He based it in part on Charles Darwin observations. During Darwin's visit in a zoo, he let an orangutan looked into a mirror and recorded the animal's series of facial expressions. He noted that the significance of the expressions was uncertain. Its reactions could either mean that it could be another animal or just playing with a new toy.

To assess the animal's self-awareness, Gallup created a test by determining whether an animal can recognize its own reflection in a mirror as an image of itself. An experiment was conducted by furtively painting the animal with two odorless dye spots. A test spot is on the part of the animal that would be visible if he faces the mirror. The other one or the control spot is in the hidden part of the body. The animal shows that it is aware that the test dye is in its own body and ignores the control dye. Observations in the absence of mirror revealed that they rarely touched the marks.

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Animals that see themselves in the mirror for the first have the reaction like that of the orangutan studied by Darwin. Even people who restored their sight from blindness since birth react as if their reflection in the mirror was another person.

Orangutans, great apes, chimpanzees, gorillas, bottlenose dolphins, elephants and European Magpies some of the animals that passed the mirror test. At first gorillas were thought to have failed the test, but many studies show that they passed. Dogs, cats, and human babies all fail the test. Humans have what they call as the "mirror stage'', wherein they tend to fail the test until they are about 18 months old. Pigs also passed a variation of the test. Seven of the eight pigs were able to find the bowl hidden behind a wall using a mirror.

Mirror Test

Mirrors are dazzling ornaments to the house. That is why it would be good if you have bedroom mirror uk. For more details, visit bedroom mirror door.

Dome Awnings

An awning is a covering usually attached to the outside of the building and used to provide shade from direct sunlight, rain or snow. Awnings are great energy savers, because they prevent direct sunlight from entering the rooms. Lightly colored fabric-roofed dome awnings perform a dual function by adding elegance and beauty to the building. If a few inches gap can be maintained between the top of the awning and the face of the wall, accumulated heat can be vented from under a stationary solid surface awning. Over the years, dome awnings have become attractive, classic architectural enhancements for restaurants, hotels, shopping areas, storefronts, windows, doors, and even small or narrow outdoor patio areas.

Dome awning roofs can be made of metals, synthetic fabrics or canvas. Metal sheet roofed dome awnings are virtually maintenance-free and last for a lifetime. Fabric or canvas roofed awnings can easily last for up to ten years, with proper care. These awnings are made from the finest water repellent and mildew resistant synthetic fabrics. However, if dirt accumulates on the awnings, they will become susceptible to mold and mildew after a few rainy seasons. It is therefore necessary to wash the roof of the canvas or fabric awnings on a regular basis. Special cleaners and disinfectants are available in the market for this purpose.

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Dome awnings, by virtue of their shape, allow the rainwater to run off and not collect in the middle of the awning. This of course, requires the canvas or fabric to be held tout against the frame. The frame for dome awnings is usually made with powder coated aluminum tubing or galvanized iron tubing, giving it the rounded shape.

Awnings help to reduce utility costs and also prevent degrading of the building. Dome awnings, when installed over windows, provide shade and prevent carpets and furniture inside the house from looking old and faded. They also decrease the indoor temperatures, reduce the need for air conditioner usage, and help save on energy bills.

Dome Awnings

Awnings provides detailed information on Awnings, Retractable Awnings, Canvas Awnings, Window Awnings and more. Awnings is affiliated with Lattice Patio Covers.

Garden Decor

A garden can be a place of peacefulness, or a place of entertainment. It really is all to you and the type of garden décor that you choose. The point of garden décor is to bring your garden together.

Garden décor is similar to home décor but with different elements. For your garden you would use things like fences, trees, grass, walkway, bird feeder, and flowers. Furniture is not uncommon in garden décor but it must be made of material that will hold up on all kinds of weather. Of course you can store your furniture during your winter months is you live in a state that has winders.

Decor

The first thing to think of before you begin shopping for your garden décor is what sort of theme would you like. Do you want a more country rustic feel to it? Are you looking more for a Zen garden type décor? Do you have young children and want to create an ideal outdoor play area for them or are you looking for a Japanese garden? Once you decide on your theme, then it is time to go shopping. Keep in mind you don't need to color coordinate your yard. You can mix and match with your ideas. Have fun with it. Think of the feeling you want your garden to give off. If you are going with the country feel and theme, you can put wooden flower pots out there, and other country pieces. A Zen garden might have a small waterfall in it and be arranged very specifically. If you are having trouble coming up with a theme, think of what you will be using your garden for. If you have children and allow them to play out in the yard and Japanese style might not be right for your yard.

Some people treat their garden décor as serious as they do their home décor and you should get in the habit of doing this also. Your pieces could be at more risk for damage due to the environment they are placed in. They are exposed to severe temperature, wind, rain and even snow. Make sure you take care of your pieces.

Also remember that keeping up with your garden décor also includes maintaining your garden. You want to keep your lawn cut and trimmed and watered routinely especially during the summer months. You also will want to keep your bushes trimmed to so they do not bring your garden décor down by being overgrown. Keep your flower beds free of leaves. If you are one who likes to have a pond in their garden with real fish, make sure you keep up with them. Feed them and clean the pond accordingly. If you have a fruit or vegetable garden, make sure you keep up with it and water it. Pick the fruit and vegetables before they go bad. If you are a pet owner, especially a dog, make sure you pick up after it.

There are endless possibilities for how you can decorate your garden. Your garden is a blank canvas and the garden décor is the paint. Have fun painting your masterpiece.

Garden Decor

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Tips For Adding Color to Your Kitchen

Most families spend a great deal of their time in the kitchen, so why not make it more interesting and add some color. Even if you don't want to have a drab and dreary kitchen you may not know quite how to add the right touch. Here are some easy ways to add color to your kitchen and make it go from boring to beautiful.

Add Color by Dressing up Your Table

Decorations

One of the easiest ways to add color to your kitchen is to dress up your kitchen table. This may include a colorful tablecloth or placemat as well as colorful dishware. Adding a centerpiece such as flowers in a vase or basket is another great way to dress up your table and add some color in an instant. Look for colors that will compliment your kitchen but at the same time add some interest.

Add Color with a Backsplash

A kitchen backsplash doesn't have to be boring. Some people keep it simple with a neutral colored tile or laminate, but why not venture out a little and choose a colorful backsplash. There are plenty of different colors of tile and laminate that can be used for a backsplash. A unique idea is colored glass that has been broken up and placed in a random pattern on the wall. You can get a few different colors worked into the décor and have a personalized, one of a kind backsplash.

Paint an Accent Wall a Different Color

If the paint in your kitchen is a neutral color, then add color by painting an accent wall a different color. Choose a wall that is not completely covered with cabinets or appliances. Pick a color for the accent wall that works well with the décor of your kitchen. You can go for a matching color or you can pick a complimentary color and have the wall really stand out.

Take the Doors off the Cabinets

Taking the doors off your kitchen cabinets is a great way to showcase your colorful dishes and other tableware. You can also paint the inside of the cabinets a contrasting color to add some pop if you have neutral dishes. You don't have to take every cabinet door off, but you may want to choose between one and four prominent cabinets above the countertops as your "color cabinets."

Use Window Treatments to Add Interest

Most kitchens have at least one window so why not utilize the window area to add color. Choose a window treatment, whether it is a valance or drapes, in a color that will stand out. If you have a black and white kitchen, red or purple window treatments would be a great way to add color to the room.

Adding color to your kitchen doesn't have to involve redecorating the entire room. Instead use what you already have and build upon that to add your own touches here and there.

Tips For Adding Color to Your Kitchen

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