Friday, February 5th, 2010
Wooden chair mats are ideal for use over any working surface, from carpets and hardwood flooring to tiles or vinyl floor coverings. As many people are aware, wooden chair mats can ensure a luxurious aspect of your office and can simultaneously offer great functionality. They are usually laminated and treated in order to resist wear, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to do anything to maintain it. If you maintain your wooden laminate chair mats properly, the beautiful color and finishes of the hardwood will last for years.
You can obtain the best results from your wooden chair mat by cleaning it periodically. The instructions are easy for anyone and requires minimal time and effort. Cleaning wooden chair mats is done to achieve three basic purposes. These are to avoid scratches, to avoid staining and to remove any built up dirt and foreign materials.
Successful maintenance of chair mats begins with proper daily care. The chair mat should be checked at least once a week for any stains or dirt that could affect the finish, such as coffee, ink, glue or other things that you use daily on your desk. These stains should be removed as soon as possible to avoid permanent stains to the mat. You can use any of the mild cleaning products recommended for wooden floors and can find such products in local stores that sell cleaning products.
On a weekly or bi-weekly basis, depending on useage, the following steps should be taken to ensure that the mat’s life and wearability is extended for as long a time as possible.
- Remove loose grit and debris by sweeping the surface with a broom or a vacuum to avoid surface scratching.
- When needed, clean the wooden chair mats with a solution composed from water and four parts of light detergent. Using a soft cloth dampened in the solution, clean the surface of the chair mat. Avoid leaving large quantities of water or puddles on the mat and avoid spilling the solution under the mat to avoid absorption by the mat materials.
With these simple steps, wood laminate chair mats will practically take care of themselves, other than the occasional cleaning. With a slight bit of care, your wood chair mat will deliver year after year of enjoyable comfort, style and elegance.
Tags: Chair, Maintaining, Office, Tips, Wooden
Posted in Chair | 2 Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
A beautiful garden is one of the most sort after additions to any home. A beautiful garden takes many hours of dedication and hard work but can be achieved by not only gardening experts but beginners as well. One of the most important gardening tips for any avid gardener is to have good gardening advice. Below are some basic gardening tips to get you started on creating your dream garden.
Gardening Tip 1. Consider your plants health as well as your own. Ensure you keep yourself well hydrated whilst gardening. As most gardening is done in the sun, involves physical labour and is very engrossing, it is easy to work away for hours on end without noticing the time flying by. Keep drinking lots of fluids and make sure you are wearing adequate sun cream and a hat. Your garden will only suffer if you are in bed for a few days with dehydration or sun stroke. Remember, skin cancer is still one of the top killers so dress appropriately.
Gardening Tip 2. Design your garden before you start digging. Your time and energy is precious so don’t start digging holes and planting plants without having a garden design first. You may choose to employ a professional garden designer or you may just want to draw your desired garden on a piece of paper yourself, depending on your budget. Either way if you have a plan of what you are doing and what you want to plant where, you will save yourself many back breaking hours digging and planting unnecessarily.
Gardening Tip 3. Make a list of the tools and materials you will need. After creating your garden design, list the tools and materials that are required to create your masterpiece. You may need specialist equipment like heavy earth moving machinery that needs to be hired and booked in advance or you may wish to plant exotic plants that need to be ordered and grown specially. You don’t want to get half way through your project only to find you cannot get a piece of equipment on hire for 2 weeks. When this happens it is very frustrating and can sometimes hold up the entire job.
Gardening Tip 4. Plan your gardening activities with small tasks and regular breaks. You will no doubt be full of enthusiasm and excitement about your new gardening project but do not over do it. Gardening is an extremely good method of exercise and is good for your health as you are outside in the sun and fresh air. Make sure you break your activities into small achievable tasks and take breaks in between those activities. This way you will not burn yourself out and your gardening will be more enjoyable.
Gardening Tip 5. Use the correct gardening tools for the job. Some gardening tools are designed for specific tasks and can save the gardener a great deal of time. If you need to purchase gardening tools you can compare prices and makes quickly and easily over the internet. If possible purchase tools with long rubber handles as they are easier on your muscles and joints as they are less prone to jarring.
Gardening Tip 6. Consider the maintenance requirements of your garden. Before creating your garden you need to decide how much time you want to spend in the future maintaining it. If you want an easy maintainable garden you should investigate ideas like weed suppression methods in your flower beds. This can be achieved by using a special mesh that allows water and moisture to permeate through but doesn’t allow plants (primarily weeds) to grow through. Bark mulch is another good method of weed suppression and gives your flower beds a professional and natural look.
Gardening Tip 7. Choose the correct plants for your gardens location. Some plants are very choosey about where they live. Some like hot weather and lots of sunshine, whilst other plants prefer a cool, shaded and moist environment. Before purchasing your garden plants do some research on whether those plants or plant types will grow in the location in which you are going to plant them. If the plant does not like where it is planted it will be stunted in height and of poor appearance and in the worst case will die. Probably not the look you are after.
Gardens can become the show piece and social gathering point of many homes and communities. No matter where you live or what type of garden plants you like with some basic planning and design you can create a wonderful garden that you and your family and friends can enjoy for many years to come. The most important thing about creating your garden is that you enjoy yourself whilst doing it.
Tags: Garden, Successful, Tips
Posted in Garden | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
For a style that calls to mind la vita bella amongst the sun-kissed villas of Tuscany, turn to Tuscan decor to transform your home into a little slice of Mediterranean heaven.
The prevalence of this decorating style has soared in recent years, spurred in part by the popularity of books and movies that have brought Tuscan charm into American living rooms and movie theaters.
Even though Tuscany may be a heartbreakingly-inaccessible thousands of miles away, this look can be achieved with a few careful design decisions.
The foundation of the Mediterranean style upon which much Tuscan decor is based is a rich, sunny palette of earth tones, ranging from the terra cotta of the region’s clay roofs to the deep blue of its glittering azure sea.
Working from this foundation, the Tuscan look can be achieved by combining primitive, rustic furniture and accent pieces with large-scale art that reflects the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Hand hewn pieces that clearly bespeak skilled craftsmanship reflect the rustic theme that unifies much of Tuscan decor. Many of the homes in Tuscany are hundreds of years old and bear the unmistakable charm of history within their weathered facades and unique forms.
The investment in even relatively minor changes that could significantly increase the architectural interest of your space—such as a large-scale mural, the installation of terra cotta tiles, or the placement of faux wooden support beams along the ceiling—could prove to be worth the cost and effort.
Because most of the interest of the Tuscan look is architectural, it is important to keep the look of other types of decorative items spare and uncluttered.
Window treatments, if necessary, should be minimalistic and unobtrusive. Taken together, these design ingredients can provide you with the luxury of a relaxing Mediterranean retreat in your own home.
Tags: Bring, Decor, Living, Mediterranean, Room, These, Tips, Tuscan
Posted in Living Room | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
After my move, I began to notice that several pieces of my furniture were just “too big” for my living room. My over sized overstuffed sofa, chair, and ottoman are comfortable but a bit large in scale for my new space. While I love my entertainment center, it takes up too much room. I also have a tall, open bookcase that I refer to as the “storage unit!” It holds an odd assortment of items including shoes, magazines, books, receipts, and cat toys! It is somewhat functional but very unsightly!
1. Shop for Furniture and Accessories that are a Reflection of You: From Feng Shui I know that physically moving in to a new living space generally reflects an inner shift and desire for other changes in one’s life. With that in mind, I decided to “window shop” on Trend Funnel for furniture and accessories that I really love; that express who I am now and who I’m becoming. (Click here view pictures of/comment on the selections that I discuss in this post).
On a recent visit to the Baker Furniture showroom in High Point, NC – during the Fall International Home Furnishings Market – I fell in love with several Hollywood Glam living room displays. I loved all of the luxurious textures, somewhat contemporary but timeless and elegant lines of the furniture, and the unexpected glitz from a mirrored piece or shiny, baubled chandelier. In particular, I was drawn to a mostly gray, very luxurious living room vignette with delightful touches of yellow – very elegant, soothing, and unique!
So that is what I ran with on Trend Funnel! I chose the “Timeless Glamour” trend – inspired by the late 1920s, 1930s, and early 1940s Art Deco, French Art Deco, Art Moderne, and other classic vintage home decor styles. I fell in love with the Park Avenue Sofa Set and the Hoffman Leather Tub Chair. I really like the classy neutral tones, clean lines, nail head trim on the sofa and love seat – and these pieces expose more floor space, visually making my living room look larger!
2. Select a Color Palette that Makes the Room Feel More Expansive: By staying in a neutral (but not boring!) color palette and layering in textures, the space appears to be visually expanded. I selected the Sherwin Williams Cocoa and Cream color palette for my living room – along with Oyster Silk Italian Drapes. Depending on the mood I am going for, I would choose the Dots-Brown area rug for a more contemporary style or the Symphony-Brown rug for a luxurious, more traditional look.
3. Create the illusion of higher ceilings: Paint ceilings the same color as the walls – or a slightly lighter tone. This provides a more seamless, less defined visual transition from the walls to the ceiling. Hang draperies very close to the ceiling and this magically gives the effect of higher ceilings as well.
4. Think Carefully About the Location of the TV: The Plasma TV Stand with Mount – Serenade – really caught my eye as a great alternative to the bulky, boxy TV armoire that is now taking up too much floor space. Ideally, TVs and computers need to be behind closed doors – or at least out of sight when not in use – so they do not command too much attention. Therefore, it would be best if the new Plasma TV and cabinet could be placed in a position such that it is not the first thing you see when you walk in the room – for example, place it on the same wall as the main door or entry into the room.
5. For Multipurpose Spaces, Select Furnishings that Coordinate with the Rest of the Room: Instead of a separate room for my home office, my office space is now a corner in my living room! The Tribeca Loft Office – Writing Table would provide a great workspace for my laptop, but wont take away overall from the visual aesthetics of the living room.
6. Have Fun with Accessories: Because I “laid a good foundation” with some neutral colors and properly proportioned furniture, I can now have some fun and be creative in selecting accents. Some accessory items that would add a finishing touch of panache to my all new “dream” living room include: Black Majesty Bowl filled with Granite Decorative Glass Balls, Palento Table Lamp and “Traditions I” Giclee Print.
Voila!! I feel totally energized and inspired by having created an all new look for my living room – via easy and convenient shopping on Trend Funnel! I especially love the design board feature on the site – which enables you to experiment with out-of-your-comfort-zone choices and to see everything together! If you want to share your selections with friends and family, you can post them to our blog in one easy step by clicking the “blog” icon on the top right side of the page of your design board. Please feel free to comment on what I have written about my own recent downsizing experience – and I encourage you to offer your own tips and thoughts about this current trend. I would love to hear from you!
Tags: Decorating, Living, Room, Small, Tips
Posted in Living Room | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
Water bed owners are among the most loyal of mattress consumers. Water bed mattresses aren’t right for everybody, but those who love them feel very strongly about them. Many people consider water bed mattresses to provide the ultimate ideal for comfortable sleep. To many people, there is nothing so soothing as being lulled to sleep by the gentle movement of their water bed mattress. Water bed mattresses are also long lasting and easy to use.
Water bed mattresses are very low maintenance, but there are a few simple maintenance steps you can do that can help lengthen the lifespan of your water bed mattress, as well as increase the comfort you can experience from your mattress. The most important components in the proper care of your water bed mattress are the periodic addition water bed conditioner to the water in your mattress and maintaining an appropriate water level in your mattress.
Water Bed Conditioner
Adding water bed conditioner to your water bed mattress periodically will prevent the water in your mattress from becoming stagnant. If conditioner isn’t added as it should be, stagnation will result, and a bad smell originating with the stagnant water will emerge from the water bed mattress.
Failure to add conditioner to the water in your water bed mattress can also decrease the life span of your mattress. Deterioration of the mattress will accelerate as a result of algae growth within the mattress. Algae growth can result in hardening and cracking of the vinyl material from which the water bed mattress is made.
To maintain your water bed mattress, you simply need to add eight ounces of high quality, multipurpose water bed conditioner to the water in your mattress once every eighteen months. The best place to find high quality water bed conditioner is from a water bed dealer.
Proper Water Level Maintenance
Keeping the water level in your water bed mattress is an important part of proper water bed maintenance. Overfilling and under filling can both result in damage to your water bed mattress. A mattress that has been overfilled is subject to stretch out. As the vinyl stretches, pressure will be placed on the seams that can cause it to weaken.
Additionally, water bed frames are designed to support the weight of properly filled water bed mattresses. A water bed mattress that has been over filled weighs more than it should. Therefore, additional stress is placed on the water bed frame. When the water bed frame is under excess stress, its ability to properly support the mattress is diminished. Damage to the hardware that keeps the frame together also can occur as a result of excess water in the water bed mattress.
An under filled water bed mattress can result in excess stress being placed on the water bed heater that can cause it to overheat. An adverse effect of an overheated water bed heater is damage to the vinyl material that comes in contact with the heater.
One way to determine if your water bed mattress is filled to an appropriate level involves placing a broom handle across one of the corners of your water bed mattress frame. As the mattress begins to fill, watch the frame. You will know that it is time turn off the water supply when the handle lifts off the frame as a result of the expansion of your water bed mattress. This might not be the most scientific way to be certain your water bed mattress is filled to the correct level, but it is an easy and accurate way to be sure.
Tags: Maintenance, mattress, Proper, Tips, Water
Posted in mattress | No Comments »
Sunday, July 12th, 2009
Have you tried looking for a super king size bed with a super king mattress lately? You will be surprised to see how this task has evolved into something difficult and complicated. This change may be attributed to the wide assortment of names available for these super king mattress and beds, as well as the various sizes and types of bed mattresses available in the market today.
Basically, you must know the various types of a mattress and the different features and benefits that you must be looking for in a super king mattress and bed. That way, you will be confident in choosing the perfect super king mattress that will fit your beds in your bedrooms. Here are some tips to guide you in choosing that perfect super king mattress for your home.
Choosing The Finest Super King Mattress
Picking the finest super king mattress is definitely dependent on one’s personality and character. You will choose the one you like based on your acquired taste and personal preference, so when it’s time for you to choose, make sure you also consider other factors when choosing. Here are some tips to help you in deciding which super king mattress to get.
Length Vs. Width
If you are more concerned with the length rather than the width, then it would be wise for you to get the Western, or California super king mattress which is perfect for people standing more than 6ft. in height. However, if you are more concerned of the width than the real length of the mattress, go for the Standard or Eastern king size mattress which is about 4 inches wider than the California super king mattress while also 4 inches shorter when it comes to height.
Different Types of Super King Mattress
Air Mattresses
At present, air super king mattress cover a wide range of air mattresses including those of the portable and easy to keep air mattress and the more complex air mattresses that use air pockets inside the mattress rather than the previously used metal coils inside the mattress.
Futon Mattresses
The futon super king mattress is generally bought very thin; however, you can choose the thickness or thinness you want should you be buying separately. Moreover, you may also choose the kind of material you want to be used that you believe you will be most comfortable with if used in your futon super king mattress.
Latex Mattresses
Going for the latex super king mattress is a very wise decision although they can cost you more than the old models of mattresses. Since it has the capacity to conform to the contours of your body, it can have a more therapeutic effect on eliminating back and neck pains as well as removing the pressure on the legs when sleeping. What’s more, latex mattresses are designed to be hypoallergenic.
Memory Foam
And last of all, there are the memory foams or mattresses which used a more modern technique of manufacturing them. Called the “visco-elastic foam”, it has the capacity to maintain its shape despite having been used for a long time and provides comfort by alleviating pressure in the back, neck as well as the legs. Last of all, the materials that were used to produce memory foam super king mattress are sensitive to heat thereby permitting the body to better control its temperature at the same time following the contours of your body.
Tags: Buying, Guide, king, mattress, Size, Super, Tips
Posted in mattress | No Comments »
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
Living room feng shui is one of the best ways to start the process of fine tuning the home to reflect the ancient philosophy. No other room is the house gives an individual more feng shui potential than the dining room.
The reason for this is that more than likely the living room is central to all family life. The dining room is the one room of the entire home that can be activated according to all nine sectors that are used in the bagua square.
This makes dining room feng shui very important and one of the best rooms to begin transforming to reflect a good home using this chinese philosophy.
A dining room is where everyone congregates together no matter if it is just the family getting together or being used for a celebration. In order to promote good living room feng shui, the key to remember is arrangement.
Most living rooms are designed to form an L where either the fireplace or television is the central focus. However, people should be the focus instead.
In an L-shape, people may feel uncomfortable for no reason. However, if the dining room is arranged so the seats face each other then everyone will begin to be more at ease and harmonious.
This simple change in arrangement can promote a more positive energy flow, which is the key to good living room using this chinese philosophy.
In dealing with living room of this chinese philosophy, a person can make quick fixes that can help promote feng shui. By simply adding red and gold to a living room, a person will help promote happy feelings and keep conflict away.
Another simple thing to do is hand a family picture on the east wall. According to the bagua square, this area of the room is intended for boosting family relationships. The dining room is a perfect place to do this since so much time is spent with the family in this room.
Living room feng shui is one of the most popular feng shui searches on the internet. A person can promote this ancient philosophy by doing just a few simple moves of furniture or pictures.
By adding certain colors, design using this chinese philosophy can be promoted quickly and easily. If a person wishes, they can be more elaborate by completely rearranging their furniture to enhance feng shui.
The key to remember when searching for living room of this chinese philosophy is to promote positive chi in every touch one adds even if the touch is elaborate or simple.
Tags: Feng, Living, Room, Shui, Tips
Posted in Living Room | No Comments »
Monday, June 8th, 2009
Every now and then I pick up some great tips and ideas to help give my place that clean, gleaming feel with as little stress as possible. Cleaning and keeping your apartment in tip-top guest shape can be an overwhelming thought when you are limited for time. Then, sometimes, no matter how hard you clean and try to keep your place in shape, it just gets out of shape again…
Here are a couple of tips to help you keep your place suited for visitors and keep them from going “Ewww.”
Sparkling Mirrors - I used to get so frustrated that every time I cleaned my mirror, it always ended up spotty. Turns out I was doing a major thing wrong. I was spraying the mirror directly with Windex rather than on a clean lint-free cloth. To get sparkling results in your mirror cleaning spray commercial window cleaner on a lintless cloth like an old T-shirt and wipe down the mirror. Dry immediately with another clean lintless cloth to prevent streaking. Do this once every couple of weeks and you’ll be sure to impress when your guests are glancing back at themselves.
Handle the Wobblemeister- Have a wobbly chair or table? Don’t pull the restaurant fix and shove a folded napkin or sugar packets underneath. A much better solution is to re-use old corks. Just take an old wine cork, cut a horizontal slice, and place it underneath the leg of the chair or table that is doing the wobble-wobble.
Fresh Flowers- Don’t receive flowers as often as you’d like? Let your man know he needs to pick up his game and then try extending the life of the ones you do get. A common solution for this is to make sure and cut the stem of the flower at an angle rather than straight across , but for even better results and a longer lasting flower, add a little bit of sugar and a small amount of an acidic ingredient like Sprite, which allows for better water absorption. But…you should still get on your man about stepping up his game…
Tags: Apartment, Cleaning, Some, Tips
Posted in Apartment | No Comments »
Monday, June 8th, 2009
The rooms in a home often flow in style, reflecting one overall theme. Other people decide to take on a different approach with interior design, focusing on each different space in the home as individual and a chance to create new themes and exciting styles.
There are many different styles that are typically undertaken in the home although these conventional styles do often overlap. A common feminine look is romance and this is a style which has roots in childhood fairytale yet has progressed into grownup glamour. Romantic style is full of delicate pretty curtains and kitch ornaments. Romantic style also often overlaps with classic sophisticated contemporary chic.
One room which can really benefit from a cosmetic overhaul is the bathroom. This doesn’t mean that you have to put in a new bathroom suite; there are loads of little tricks to make your bathroom the stylish, clean and relaxing place it should be.
One way to brighten up the bathroom is a new lick of paint which doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. It’s just like putting a slick of foundation on your skin before a big night out; it leaves the skin tone looking even and rejuvenated, just like the walls in your bathroom will. Making one wall a feature wall with some good quality wallpaper can also make the overall bathroom appearance seem more lavish yet you’ll only need a couple of rolls. Using floral rich patterns always looks super sumptuous.
Tackling the rest of the room is generally quite easy as the walls are the main feature. Always keep carpet out of the bathroom! This is an absolute necessity as when the carpet inevitably gets wet it will become damaged and rot. A cheap way to sort the floor is to borrow an electric sander and then coat with waterproof varnish. You can then put down a fluffy luxury bath matt to finish off the look. Remove all nik-naks and shower curtains etc that are cluttering up the bathroom. This way you can achieve a completely blank canvas before you begin.
A good neutral colour to make your bathroom ultra feminine is white and this doesn’t have to be plain. There are loads of luxury fabric shower curtains in a fab new style which uses thick good quality material which attaches to clear plastic liner, resulting in a really luxurious shower curtain. You can get them in tons of styles but sticking to white will completely exude maximum femininity and you can get the luxury shower curtains in styles which have floral detailing and embedded patterns.
To prevent the bathroom from getting cluttered I would recommend getting two types of shelving. One cabinet for toiletries you don’t want on display. Cotton buds and tampons won’t fit in with the romantic style! Then one area of shelving which can have the odd pretty candle or ornament and also be a place to stack towels.
Buying new luxury towels is a great way to fully indulge the body and not just the decor, and you won’t want to hide these away so the whole look will be one of romantic chic femininity.
Tags: Bathroom, Chic, Feminine, Luxury, Tips, Toward, Ultimate
Posted in Bathroom | No Comments »
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
Community laundry is such a joy.
Really though, having laundry centers in your apartment community is a huge, HUGE bonus over having to go to the laundromat next to the stop and go. Although some communities actually offer laundry hookups and even washers and dryers in their actual units, most other communities offer on-site laundry centers.
There are a few really great benefits to having a community laundry center. Check it out:
1) Money Saving- Running the washer and dryer at home is convenient, but it eats up electricity and if you are constantly washing loads, you will run up your bill quite quickly. Not only that, but if you have the connections, but don’t have a washer and dryer yet, they can be quite expensive and a pain to lug up to a second or third floor apartment.
2) Noise Prevention-Then there is always the unbalanced dryer that bangs around and can cause all kinds of disturbing noise through out your building. Do you really want to be the cause of all that noise?
3) Meet People- Honestly, if you are an outgoing person…its a good place to meet your neighbors and make friends in the community.
4) Time Saver- If you can get into the laundry center when noone else is in there, you can start a few loads at once and save time by washing several loads at one time!
5) Maintenance-- If a washer or dryer breaks, it’s not your responsibility to get it taken care of.
So keep things clean and don’t be afraid to use your community laundry center. Make sure to bring a book, laptop, or good conversation topic while you wait. AND REMEMBER YOUR QUARTERS!
I think it’s time for me to wash and dry!
For More info check out: ApartmentHomeLiving.com
Tags: Apartment, Center, Laundry, Tips
Posted in Apartment | No Comments »