What Kind Of Curtain Rods To Use

Knowing what kind of curtain rod to use depends on the window treatment and the window.

There are many different types of curtain rods on the market, each having its own application. The type of curtain rod needed largely depends on the style of curtain being hung, as well as the type of window the curtain will hang in. Curtain rods not only vary in style, but in cost. Simple, standard curtain rods are most often inexpensive, while more elaborate styles can cost a great deal more. Does this Spark an idea?

Standard Curtain Rods

Standard curtain rods are the plain-Jane hardware in the world of drapery rods. Use this type of rod for most typical window treatment applications including hanging sheers, panel curtains, pleated and ruffled curtains and even some types of valances. Most standard rods are made from aluminum, as it is a light-weight material capable of holding most light to medium-weight curtains and draperies. Typically white in color, standard rods are normally concealed by the curtain hanging on the rod. Standard curtain rods come in various lengths and widths, though larger rods include central support brackets in addition to end brackets, to support the curtain's weight without bending or bowing.

Tension Curtain Rods

Tension curtain rods, also known as spring rods, fit on the interior frame of a window and do not require any drapery hardware. The end of the rods press against the wall using rubber stoppers, which are perfect for apartment and rental home dwellers, as the stoppers will not mark-up or damage the wall. The rods twist to increase or decrease the length of the rod in order to fit the inside window frame. Curtains hang on these types of rods either with curtain hooks or by sliding the rod through the pocket in the curtain. Curtains may also be hung from tension rods using caf rings. Tension rods work well with rod pocket curtains, tab-top curtains, eyelet heading curtains and any curtain that can be hung with caf rings. Tension rods are available in many different lengths and in various diameters. Like standard rods, white tension rods are the most common; however, rods may also be purchased in numerous colors.

Magnetic Curtain Rods

Magnetic curtain rods allow curtains to hang on a metal door or on sidelights, without having to drill a hole in the metal of the door. Installing magnetic rods is extremely easy, as no hardware is needed to attach the magnets to the metal. Magnetic rods are available in different thicknesses and lengths and commonly come in both white and gold colors, while other colors are available. Unlike curtains suspended from a window frame, curtains hanging from a metal door normally have a magnetic rod running through a pocket at the top and at the bottom of the curtain. Attaching the curtain at both the top and bottom keeps the curtain from swaying when the door is opened or closed and provides privacy.

Decorative Curtain Rods

Decorative curtain rods may be used with several different types of curtains that can be hung with decorative curtain rings or valances that drape over the rod. Decorative rods may be made from wood, wrought iron, various metals, or PVC, and may offer a smooth finish or include a design etched into the pole's surface. The hardware used to hang decorative poles is normally designed to match the poles, adding more embellishment. Decorative end pieces, known as finials, are normally used to draw even more attention to the rods. Homeowners may choose from various shades of white, numerous metals and several different shades and stains of wood.

Bay Window Curtain Rods

Bay window rods are designed specifically for use on bay windows. Homeowners can hang rod-pocket curtains, caf curtains or panel curtains to cover a bay window; however, the type of curtain used will depend on each individual bay window and its angles. While standard curtain rods might work over each individual window section in the bay window, bay rods are specifically designed to eliminate problems with bunching and/or gapping due to odd bay angles.

Traverse Rods

Traverse rods are primarily used when hanging pinch pleated draperies. This type of window treatment hardware has the ability to expose the window by pulling a cord on one side of the rod, attached to a pulley system. Traverse rods utilize a track mechanism attached to a rope that allows the curtain to open and close similar to the set-up of a vertical blind. Drapery pins attach the drapes to the rod clips, which slides across the track, pulling the drapes open from either one side or from the middle.

Tags: Curtain Rods, metal door, standard rods, window treatment, curtain rods

Chainlink Vs Wood Fence

Tongue-in-groove cedar fence

Aside from the obvious difference in material between chain-link and wood fences, the leading considerations are aesthetics, privacy, maintenance, intended functionality and cost. Ultimately, the choice of fence will be determined by the use for which it is intended. Does this Spark an idea?

Wood Fences

Wooden fences are often referred to as privacy fences for good reason. In both urban and rural settings, wood fences, if nothing else, can be built to any height the local building code will allow and provide privacy if that is what you want. They can be ornamental, such as picket fences. They can be rustic, like split rail fences. The one thing in common is they are all wooden, which means they all must be maintained to prevent rotting, particularly at the posts. The choice of wood will determine the amount of care it will need. And depending on the wood, wooden fences can become quite costly, even for small areas.

Chain-Link Fences

Clearly, chain-link fences lack the privacy and aesthetics that wood offers. But that is not usually the point of chain link fences (though there are ways for them to offer a degree of privacy). Imagine how far a catcher would have to chase a passed ball in baseball without a chain-link backstop. Imagine how far an ill-trained dog could wander if he wasn't bounded by a chain-link fence. Chain-link fences may not be pretty but they certainly serve a purpose.

Know the Purpose of Your Fence

Putting all other considerations aside, the right fencing choice is defined by its purpose; a close second is your pocketbook. Sometimes either a wood or chain fence may serve the same purpose. Either will pen a dog, for example. Only then do the other considerations come into play. Both wood and metal fence require maintenance, though wood demands more attention over time. Metal, on the other hand, will eventually become pitted and rusted, depending on how heavily it is used, and require maintenance of its own; just less of it.

Cost

Comparing apples to apples, the highest-cost wooden fence--probably tongue and groove cedar--will cost more than the highest-priced chain-link fence. So if cost is the overriding consideration, chain-link will ultimately cost less both to install and maintain. The same applies to a cheaper wood fence and cheaper chain-link fence. But for either to last, the higher the quality the better. Installation of either can be as difficult or easy as you make it but the key to either is to make sure that the posts are hardy and well set in the ground. If the posts don't wear well, neither will the rest of the fence. You can paint both wood and chain link, though the aesthetics of wood will always win out. Durability is a toss-up too, as long as both types of fence are well-constructed and well-maintained.

Chain-Link for Privacy

Unless the chain-link fence is used for commercial purposes, like a vehicle impound yard, most standard residential chain link fences are limited to 6 feet in height. You may be able to see right through them at first, but planting climbing vines along the base of the fence will eventually grow into a visual barrier. You can also plant trees, like arborvitae, at close intervals along the fence that will provide a visual break, and privacy, as well.

Tags: chain-link fence, chain link, chain link fences, fence will, link fences, other considerations

Create A Shabby Chic Chandelier

Create a Shabby Chic Chandelier

"Shabby chic" is a simple design that focuses on lightly worn antique replicated items. Many of these items concentrate on three main colors: white, pink and light green. Creating your own shabby chic chandelier adds romance and a touch of whimsy to your boudoir, dining room or living room.

Instructions

1. Scour thrift shops or antique markets to find an antique chandelier of any color that is in ill repair but has a solid structure. You can also reuse an old or antique chandelier that no longer operates.

2. Lay out newspaper or drop cloth in a well ventilated area.

3. Snip all electrical wiring on the chandelier with your needle nose pliers or scissors; discard the wire. Keep the hanger intact if you are going to be hanging the chandelier.

4. Remove all light bulbs and wires inside the bulb sockets.

5. Take your sandpaper and lightly sand the surfaces of the chandelier to remove excess paint and dirt. Wipe clean with a dry washcloth.

6. Paint the chandelier on both the top and bottom surfaces with the white matte spray paint. Flip over to allow one side to dry for 1 hour before painting the other side. Allow to dry completely or for 24 hours.

7. Sand scattered locations lightly on the painted chandelier. Allow the base color of the chandelier to lightly show through.

8. Attach the faux crystal drops by drilling a small hole through the base surrounding each socket area. Hang the crystals from the socket base. Insert white pillar candles into each socket hole.

9. Hang the chandelier from the desired location or set the chandelier on a table.

Tags: antique chandelier, Chic Chandelier, Create Shabby, Create Shabby Chic, each socket, Shabby Chic

Ideas On Decorating An Archway For A Wedding

A simple palm leaf wrap works for a beach wedding.

Create a cohesive design theme as you decorate the archway for a wedding. An archway is a covering or enclosing arch where the bride and groom exchange their vows during the ceremony. Most are composed from wood or metal, which are usually too harsh a line for a wedding, so adding some design elements softens the look and brings in the wedding theme.

Fabric

Fabric can soften the hard lines of an arch. Choose fabric reminiscent of your wedding theme. Some examples include tulle or organza for a soft, romantic feel; toile for a French flair; silk or gossamer for a Roman appearance; gauze for a beach wedding, or rope for a western theme. Fabric may be draped from the center and gathered at the sides and pool onto the ground, or it may be weaved through the open lattice of the arch and wrapped around the columns.

Flowers and Vines

Embellish the fabric with flowers and vines. Whether you go for live or faux flowers, the procedure remains the same. Wind ivy vines around the fabric or the column posts of the arch, attaching it with florist wire. Grape vines or ribbons may be substituted for ivy. Prepare the largest flower arrangement in the center of the arch, directly over where the couple will exchange their vows. A kissing ball of red roses may hang down from the center. Weave flowers into the vines or place two smaller flower arrangements where the fabric is tied back.

Lights

Lighting is especially effective for a nighttime wedding as it adds a soft glow to the occasion. Wrap twinkle lights inside light fabric, such as tulle, so the bulbs and wires remain hidden but the light shines through. Another option is to wrap the column poles with the twinkle lights or to drape the lights along the front of the arch and cover them with flowers. You may also use LED lights that resemble candles and stick them into the arrangement.

Embellishments

For a beach wedding, forgo the flowers and fabric and decorate with large palm fronds and shells instead. Weave the palm fronds around the posts and arch as you allow shells to drape from the center and strands of shells to wrap around the leaves. Another option is to decorate the arch with balloons or creating a balloon arch. Tie the balloons to the arch in groups while some are tight to the arch and others are allowed to float above.

Tags: beach wedding, from center, Another option, exchange their, exchange their vows, palm fronds, posts arch

Homestead Landscaping Ideas

Flower gardens add color to your homestead.

Homestead landscaping ideas add attractive elements and a touch of personality to your property. It doesn't matter whether you're trying to create shade on your lawn or increase your home's selling price--endless materials and ideas are available. Combine waterfalls and flower gardens to give your homestead a fantasy feel, or rustic retaining walls and a pond to give it a country feel. Simply mix and match different elements to find a homestead landscape that suits your needs. Does this Spark an idea?

Decorative Fences

Decorative fences are useful for artistic and protective purposes. A short fence can serve as trim around a vegetable garden, and a tall fence can serve as protection from strangers. Popular decorative fences include white wood picket fences, wood lattice fences, twisted aluminum rail fences, scroll-topped iron security fences and thick stacked stone fences.

Decorative Ponds

Water decorations may not be suitable for year-round use, but even a drained pond covered in snow has an artistic appeal. A decorative pond can consist of a simple, pebble-lined pond filled with water or an elaborate, rock-trimmed pond filled with water, fish and fountains. Small ponds are extremely popular for Oriental-themed landscaping and can include small bridges, boardwalk edging and island gazebos.

Flower Gardens

Landscaping with flowers is a simple way to add color to your homestead. The gardens can be small, with trim around the edges, or they can be raised beds. The decoration can be any shape, from a thin rectangle of tulips bordering a driveway to tiny circles of roses accenting each side of a gate.

Lawn Islands

Lawn islands are large, rounded plant beds in the middle of an open, grassy area. The islands add texture and contour to a dull landscape. The difference between a lawn island and a round flower garden is that an island combines an assortment of decorations, such as trees, bushes, flowers, statues and fountains. Most lawn islands consist of tall objects in the middle and short objects around the edges for aesthetic balance.

Patios and Decks

Patios and decks serve as flat surfaces for outdoor furniture, such as benches and grills. The difference between a patio and deck is that a patio is built flush to the ground and a deck sits on a raised platform above the ground. Wood, stone and tile are popular choices for a patio or deck floor. Wood, stone, metal, glass and plastic are popular choices for the patio or deck railing.

Retaining Walls

Multilevel landscaping with angular lines requires retaining walls to help keep the dirt in the tall levels from spilling into the low levels. Without a retaining wall, the silhouette of the landscape changes from stacked boxes to a simple mound. The barrier walls are usually composed of wood, stone, cement or brick.

Tags: patio deck, your homestead, around edges, choices patio, choices patio deck, color your

Styles Of Fence Gates

Iron gates are a romantic choice for the garden fence.

Fence gates are an opportunity to add drama, color and design to a landscape. Consider the style and size of your house and garden and choose a gate that complements both. Gates range from simple wood to elaborately crafted wrought iron, with countless variations in between, and should encourage passage either through design, color or transparency. Does this Spark an idea?

Wooden Gates

Wooden gates can be repainted or refinished as your design changes.

Wooden gates come in a variety of styles and finishes and provide flexibility. Wood can be finished and painted to match any design style or existing fence, or can be left to age naturally for a more organic look. Wooden gates have the added benefit of being easy to change, since finish or paint can be sanded and removed and the gate refinished. Add flair to a simple fence with an elaborate or brightly colored wooden gate. For a consistent look, choose a gate in keeping with the architectural style of your house. Wood options tend to be the most affordable fence gates available.

Pergola Gates

Climbing plants provide attractive adornment to a pergola gate.

For country or rustic charm, install a pergola or arbor gate. Pergola gates include a roofed structure that covers the gateway, and attractively mark a transitional space, such as that between front yard and back. For added charm, encourage climbing roses or ivy-like plants to grow along the arbor. Be sure to trim any hanging plants regularly to allow for easy travel through the gateway.

Iron Gates

Add unique sculptural detail with an iron gate.

Iron gates may be the most expensive option, particularly if you choose a hand-crafted wrought-iron gate, but the investment is well worth the artistic statement. An iron gate, while substantial and heavy, simultaneously welcomes visitors as it allows light to pass through and encourages exploration of what lies beyond. Common iron gate designs range from a simple row of bars to elaborate whirls, botanical motifs and medieval designs, and doors may be single or double. Elaborate doors often look best when paired with a simple stone or brick wall, or when matched with an existing iron fence.

Tags: iron gate, Wooden gates, choose gate, from simple, Iron gates

Designer Bedrooms With Sage Colored Walls

Sage is an almost neutral green and suits lots of different interior styles

Sage is a good color to use as a backdrop with many different designer styles; a muted, dull green, the color is almost neutral, which means it looks just as good in a contemporary, minimal interior as it does in a period home. An ideal match with pale cream, other tonal greens or gray, sage creates a calming feeling that is ideal for the bedroom. Does this Spark an idea?

Modern Minimal

Sage is a good color to use when creating a modern, minimal designer bedroom. Almost a neutral tone, sage can easily take the place of gray or white when creating a contemporary look. The key to this look is to avoid clutter, so use built-in storage to hide away clothes, and look for a simple bed that appears to float and has built-in side tables. Ideally the furniture would be lacquered in a matching color to the sage walls, but white would also look striking.

Country Cottage

A classic color for a country cottage look, sage pairs well with a white-painted wrought iron bed frame and exposed wooden beams. Keep the look tonal by looking for quilted bedlinen that picks up on the sage green in the walls, and use freestanding furniture also painted white. Homemade or vintage pillows in applique or cross-stitch would work well for accessories for the bed. Lightweight linen curtains or a cotton gingham add to the country feel.

Period Home

Sage green was a favorite color in Georgian times, so if you have a period home, select this style. Choose a feature bed in wood -- a four poster or sleigh bed -- with bedside tables in a matching style. Sit matching table lamps with decorative lampshades on each one. Hang heavy patterned curtains, with lighter curtains beneath, and tie back with tassels or decorative curtain hooks. Use swags and tails to decorate the curtain pole. A buttoned occasional chair in a tonal fabric would complete the look.

Feminine Boudoir

Although not a traditionally feminine color, sage can look striking as a boudoir tone. Texture makes a room luxurious, so choose a buttoned, fabric headboard in a tactile fabric a tone darker than the walls, and use plenty of pillows and cushions in shades of sage green to decorate the bed. Trim the cushions with ribbon or pom-poms for a girly look. Add a mirrored dressing table and a pretty stool upholstered in the same fabric as the headboard, and include a chaise lounge in a similar but lighter sage velvet upholstery.

Tags: almost neutral, color sage, fabric headboard, good color, look striking, Sage good

Decorate A Spanish Room

Earth tones and wrought iron are common in Spanish decor.

Spanish decorating combines Mediterranean modesty and Southwestern color schemes, as well as religious elements, to give any room in your home cultural flair that is pleasing to the eye. Rich shades of orange and red, as well as variations of brown and gray, come together to make a prominent Spanish-style room in your home one of the most attractive. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Paint the walls a medium shade of tan if you want to include intensely colorful elements such as end tables painted turquoise or wall art in vivid red hues. To make the walls the main color feature in the room, use an intense shade of rust red or dusty pink.

2. Hang brass or wrought iron candle holders on the most noticeable wall in the room, and adorn the sconces with red or orange candles to add another pop of color. Candles wrapped in paper or wax paper that displays images of Christ or the Virgin Mary make for authentic Spanish decor as well.

3. Place an area rug in burnt orange or light tan in the center of the room.

4. Add a sofa, loveseat or armchairs made from upholstered leather and hardwood frames. Dark leather in shades of chocolate brown or cocoa is fitting for rooms adorned in Spanish style. Include throw pillows in rustic shades of orange, pink, yellow, and red on the furniture.

5. Include a hacienda-style chest of drawers, wine rack, or hutch in the room with wrought iron accents and carvings of images such as vines or grapes. Pieces made from distressed wood will add authenticity to the space.

6. Include terracotta pots in the corners of the room; the vases can be empty or filled with bright red Spanish flowers such as Valencia roses or carnations, or varieties of cacti.

7. Add artwork to the accent wall, such as an oil painting of a flamenco dancer, or an ornate Catholic-themed picture of the Virgin Mary holding Baby Jesus.

Tags: wrought iron, made from, room your, room your home, shades orange, Spanish decor, Virgin Mary

Refinish Wrought Iron Patio Furniture

Wrought iron patio furniture is a great, functional way to add a retro or art deco look to your patio. It will also never break, barring some natural disaster, and it holds up to the weather better than wood or plastic, with the proper finish. Like anything made of iron, your patio furniture might rust from time to time, and if left unchecked, this rust could damage the furniture. However, it's fairly easy to perform maintenance on wrought iron patio furniture. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove any loose flakes of paint with a paint scraper and a wire brush. Keep scraping and brushing until any piece of paint that is even somewhat loose has been removed.

2. Apply a commercial rust remover (widely available at automotive stores) to the rusty areas on your furniture, and allow the coating to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions on the bottle.

3. Sand the rust remover off of the furniture. (It will turn the rust into a sort of black powder.)

4. Using the brush, apply a coat of the rust-resistant primer to all of the exposed areas that you have just scraped and sanded. You do not need to apply primer to the areas where you will leave the old paint. If the old paint is still firmly attached, it makes just as good a bottom coat as the primer.

5. Brush on a second coat of primer once the first has dried.

Tags: patio furniture, coat primer, iron patio, iron patio furniture, rust remover, your patio

Install Prefabricated Fence Panels

For anyone who has never put up a fence before, installing prefabricated fence panels is a much simpler home-building project than building a fence from scratch. The biggest part of the job is digging fence post holes and cementing them in so that the posts are plumb. With proper planning, the installation can be done in a simple, systematic way. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Pound in the first stake to mark the beginning point of the fence. Measure off 8 feet and drive in the next stake. Repeat this procedure, staking out all the fence posts you need for the installation.

2. Dig the post holes either with a hand-held post hole digger or a rented automated auger. Dig each hole 18 inches deep and 12 inches in diameter.

3. Mix quick-set concrete according to the manufacturer's instructions in a rubber tub. Use a garden hoe to mix. Shovel 4 inches of gravel into the bottom of each hole for added drainage. Set the fence post in the hole and shovel concrete around the post.

4. Make sure the fence post is plumb -- straight up and down -- by laying the 4-foot carpenter's level against one face of the post and adjusting it until it is plumb. Use the level to check an adjoining face on the same post to make sure it's plumb. The concrete should start setting up after a few minutes.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4. Make sure each subsequent fence post is cemented in 8 feet on center. To do this, start your tape measure at the center of the first fence post. Pull out the tape measure 8 feet along the fence line to the next post hole. Set that post in the hole so that the 8-foot measurement on the tape measure lands in the center of the second post. Shovel in mixed concrete. Repeat for the rest of the posts.

6. Wait for the cement to cure a minimum of four hours.

7. Measure the height of the fence panel starting at ground level and mark that height with a pencil on the first fence post. Hammer in a nail where you marked it and tie a string around it. Walk the full distance of the fence line. At the last post, hang a line level -- a small plastic level -- on the string and move the string up and down until the line is perfectly level. Make a mark on the face of the fence post. Hammer in a nail and tie the string so that it is taut.

8. Lay a metal carpenter's square across the face of every fence post where the string is touching and draw a line. Cut off each post at the pencil line with a circular saw.

9. Lay a couple of scraps of 2-by-4 on the ground between the first and second fence posts. Set the first panel on them. The bottom of the fence panels must be at least 2 inches off the ground. The top of the fence panel should be 2 inches higher than the top of the fence posts. Lay the 4-foot carpenter's level on the top horizontal rail of the fence panel. Check to make sure it's level before nailing each end of the fence panel to its respective fence post.

10. Nail a 6-inch stake to the outside face of each end post. Tie one end of a string to a stake at the height of the fence panel that you just nailed in place. Unfurl the string the entire length of the fence line. At the opposite stake, hang the line level on the string. Pull the string taut, making sure it's running along the top edge of the installed fence panel. Move the string up and down until it is level. Tie the string to the stake.

11. Repeat Step 9 for each consecutive fence panel, making sure that each additional panel is installed at the height of the leveled string.

Tags: fence post, fence panel, post hole, fence line, fence posts, level string, tape measure

Make An Old Door Into Primitive Decor

Old hardware adds to the rustic charm of an old door.

Primitive decor often includes handcrafted designs made with elements found in nature. Beeswax candles, dried herbs, metal stars and decor made from twigs are a few of the natural items you can find in a primitive-style home. The rustic properties of an old wooden door also fit into primitive decor. Hang the door along the hallway wall to create a background for primitive art or hang it behind your bed to create a primitive-style headboard. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove any loose paint or stain from the old door with light-grade sandpaper. The objective is to keep the door looking as natural as possible, but clean it up enough to accept the wood sealer. Skip this step if you like the old door as is.

2. Spray the old door with a light coat of polyurethane wood sealer in a matte finish. The sealer will protect the door from moisture damage. Skip this step if you skipped Step 1.

3. Install decorative wrought iron hooks on the front of the old door using a screwdriver. Place the hooks on the door frame, between the door panels or centered on the panels, whichever looks best to you. Leave room for twig-framed photos between the decorative hooks.

4. Locate at least two wall studs using a stud finder on the wall where you plan to hang the old door. Install wall hangers into the wall studs. Old doors are heavy and need the support of a wall stud rather than an anchor hook. Install wall hangers on the back of the old door to line up with the wall hangers on the wall. Hang the door.

5. Gather a bunch of dried herbs or flowers and wrap them together with twine. Leave enough twine dangling from the dried herb bunch to tie to the decorative wrought iron hooks. Hang dried herbs from as many of the decorative hooks as you like.

6. Insert a nail into the front of the old door to hold a twig frame. Center the nails between the wrought iron hooks or in the center of each door panel. Place photos in the twig frames and hang the frames on the door.

Tags: dried herbs, iron hooks, wall hangers, wrought iron, wrought iron hooks

Black & Green Kitchen Decorating Themes

Green paint and black accents can make a unique kitchen theme.

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home. It is the gathering place for friends and family during holidays or special dinners and deserves special care and thought when choosing a decorating scheme. It should reflect your personality and style while being fun and inviting. Look to your favorite colors as inspiration. For example, if you are drawn to green tones, look to black for your accessories and develop a kitchen theme that will blend these two colors in the most unique and creative ways. Does this Spark an idea?

Nature Abounds

Black iron trivets in different patterns make wonderful wall accents.

Create a soothing and welcoming atmosphere in your kitchen by filling it with living greenery. Start with a pale green wall, then add black wrought iron accents, towel holders, cup holders, decorative trivets, baker's racks and plant hangers filled with live green plants such as ivy and ferns. Include a black planter filled with culinary herbs on your kitchen counter, giving you instant access to fresh additions to your cooking. Herbs like cilantro, basil, chives, thyme and oregano grow well indoors and can be harvested quickly to enhance your favorite dish.

Good Enough to Eat

There's nothing more exciting than the sound of an ice cream truck coming down the street. Add that excitement to your home by creating a mint chocolate chip ice cream theme for your kitchen. Start with mint colored walls and black cabinets. Add black polka dot "chips" scattered on open wall space and fill your display shelves with ice cream accessories (dishes, scoops, old signage, etc). Fill an apothecary jar with chocolate chips or green M&M's for an additional accent. Add a pot of fresh mint onto your counter for that great minty taste and smell and watch everyone scream for the cool treats coming from the room.

Fine Art

Living, family and bedrooms aren't the only place you can feature fine art. Use a favorite art print in black and green to inspire the decoration of your kitchen. Frame your art in black and add extra smaller prints framed in black or green to create a focal point for your kitchen. Accessorize with the colors featured in the prints. Consider a forest scene wall mural as your focal point. Easy to apply, it creates a peaceful feeling and brings a hint of the outdoors inside. Accent the kitchen with patio-like black iron and glass tables and chairs and add aged stone vases or even a glass-topped birdbath as a corner plant stand. Highlight the area with wrought iron lantern sconces.

Food for Thought

Develop a kitchen theme using specifc foods as inspiration.

Look to several foods for inspiration. An avocado green wall can be accented with black and brown paper faux leather accessories and a giant print of an avocado. Fill a molcajete (a black stone grinding bowl found in Mexican restaurants) with avocados and use it as a table decoration. A kiwi-inspired kitchen might feature light green walls, mossy green cabinets, black accessories and an almond shaped black seed border.

Tags: your kitchen, kitchen theme, black green, cabinets black, filled with, focal point, foods inspiration

What Living Room Decor Matches An Italian Kitchen

The colors of nature are at the heart of Italian decor.

An Italian style kitchen borrows colors from the Tuscany region of Italy and pairs them with the patina of age and wear found naturally in centuries old villas and quaint European farm houses. Use these elements to carry the Italian Old World theme from your kitchen to your living room. Does this Spark an idea?

Colors

Chances are your Tuscan style kitchen features earth tones like muted orange, gold, brown, green, yellow and dove white, highlighted with more intense hues like tomato red, sunflower yellow and the bright blue of the Mediterranean sky. Choose a palette for your living room from one or two muted colors drawn from the kitchen. Punch it up with the same intense accent colors that make the kitchen pop. For example, paint your walls a subdued olive or sage green, but give them a punch of color with artwork featuring bright yellows and reds. Or upholster the furniture with neutral linen fabric, and give it a lift with throws and pillows in patterns of yellow, Mediterranean blue and grass green.

Walls

The walls in Tuscan or Italian style decorating mimic the look and texture of plaster or stucco applied centuries ago and patched and painted over time. If your kitchen walls have this Old World look, carry it through to the living room. Applying plaster or textured paint to all the living room walls might be overkill, but an accent wall featuring these Old World techniques naturally draws the eye from the kitchen to the living room. Old World kitchens also feature stone walls, and you can capture this look with a fireplace constructed of fieldstone or cobblestone.

Floors

A true Tuscan kitchen has stone, tile or brick floors. If your kitchen floor features one of these authentic materials, carry it through the living room and warm the floor with oriental style area rugs. Wood flooring works with all of these and offers a more conventional and less personal choice that might appeal more to potential buyers if you intend to sell your house in the future.

Furniture

Tuscan style furniture is heavy and dark. Wooden pieces like armoires, china cabinets and tables are often trimmed with wrought iron, copper or bronze. When choosing living room furniture, take into account the wood and trim in your kitchen and carry them through into the living room. For example, if the kitchen has a pot rack featuring copper cookware, buy furniture trimmed with copper. If your kitchen cabinets have wrought iron hardware, choose furniture with wrought iron embellishments. Soften the mood with distressed leather club chairs and luxurious overstuffed couches covered with upholstery in colors that tie together the other colors in the room. If your kitchen has an island or snack bar with upholstered stools, use the same upholstery on a piece in the living room.

Tags: your kitchen, living room, living room, wrought iron, carry through, carry through living, colors that

Front Door Design Ideas

Front doors are the first impression to a home.

The front door welcomes guests to a home and makes a statement about who lives inside, besides being a barrier that protects the home and its occupants. Replacing the door may be as simple as determining what will fit in the existing space. But, designing a new front entrance allows you to get much more creative. You can select something truly original that reflects your taste and the architecture of your home. Does this Spark an idea?

Color

A painted door naturally draws the eye. A visually stunning color can surprise and delight visitors, make a home stand out in the neighborhood, and even attract Feng Shui good fortune. Red is an obvious choice. It goes with many home styles, from brick to shingle to stucco. It also brightens up the entrance, doesn't show dirt and is an auspicious color for attracting prosperity. A shiny black door is another typical color choice, but think about a midnight blue or a deep, almost black purple instead. Those colors blend well with a gray shingle house, a limestone townhouse or a stately brick home. Lighter colors such as sage green or pumpkin are distinctive choices for a Mediterranean or Spanish colonial-style home. Paint the door frame a contrasting dark cranberry or a slate gray to underscore the drama of the entryway.

Wood

A period wood door with its warm, natural color can be an invitation to a stage set. Double wood doors with wrought-iron insets reinforcing etched glass panels hint at a 19th-century design sensibility. A heavy-wood arched door with iron fittings set in an entryway evokes Mexico or old Spanish missions. A polished and precise arts and crafts-style door with rectangular moldings and glass windows suits a mid-20th-century bungalow, while a Dutch door with two halves that open separately can be a prelude to a farm-style interior. A light wood door with a fanlight set over it spills light on an entrance inside and out.

Church Doors

Specialized manufacturers offer reproductions of church doors for residential front entries. Church doors tend to be taller and heavier than most other doors due to the architecture of church buildings. These doors can be sized to fit a more typical home entrance or copied for a custom-designed home with a grand entry. Choose carved double doors in a burl-finish wood and go for scenes of real angels and demons for authenticity. Doors of this magnitude definitely require a large capacity entry as the proper stage for such a memorable introduction to a home. A more modest wooden door with an iron grille over a small window might have been the entrance to a monastery and speaks of a simpler design sensibility. A Gothic arched door of faux sculpted stone or composite wood can look as if it came from a castle or a cathedral. A double door with aged metal studs and a fan-shaped stained glass panel set above it will send beams of colored light into the foyer, spilling across a custom floor of worn, paved stone.

Tags: door with, arched door, design sensibility, door with iron, with iron, wood door

Decorate Cabin Bathrooms

Decorate a cabin bathroom with rustic charm.

Cabin bathroom decor is popular with homeowners who desire a relaxing, nature inspired house design. Whether the architecture of the home includes rough interior cabin beams or smooth traditional walls, you'll find many ways to amplify the bathroom space and give it a lodge-style appearance. By incorporating a rich color palette, wood or slate floors, wildlife motif lighting, wooden elements and appropriate rustic accessories, you can create your own cabin bathroom area. The result is a room with function and style with a touch of rustic flair. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Use a nature-inspired color palette. To serve as a backdrop for the entire lodge-style bathroom design, select a room color palette for surfaces like dry-walled walls, window treatment and shower curtain fabrics, and other rustic accessories reminiscent of nature. Hues ranging from sage green to tan to red are appropriate for this style of decor and add optimal visual appeal to the space.

2. Add rustic lighting. Choose wall sconces and ceiling fixtures in copper or wrought iron finishes with nature-inspired motifs such as pinecones, deer, bears, fish and trees. To further amplify the cabin bathroom decor, incorporate a small accent lamp with a faux rawhide shade on a side table or vanity.

3. Hang a lodge-style mirror. Enhance the space above the sink area by selecting a rustic-themed vanity mirror with an outer edging frame depicting tree branches, or a frame with simple birch wood accents, to create a focal point that is stylish and functional at the same time.

4. Incorporate a slate or wood floor. Natural materials like these make ideal surfaces for a lodge-style bathroom. The rough, irregular lines of these flooring choices amplifies the look and feel of the room. Scatter a few braided area rugs as a finishing accent to the floor to provide warmth and visual interest to the design.

5. Add a wood vanity. Cabin-style decor is all about nature. One way to highlight this element is by choosing a bathroom vanity in slightly distressed varieties of hickory, mahogany, pine or oak woods. Finish off the piece with wrought iron hardware for a vanity with rustic flair.

6. Accessorize the lodge-style bathroom. Add artwork in natural themes to the walls. Roll up towels and store them in wicker baskets next to the sink, and select a shower curtain that coordinates with the color palette for a cabin bathroom with style.

Tags: cabin bathroom, color palette, lodge-style bathroom, bathroom decor, bathroom with

Make Corrugated Cardboard

If you have ever been interested in making your own paper, but found that was a little too tame for you, then you might be interested in making a hardier substance. Corrugated cardboard, which is used for boxes and often employed by children for fort construction, is a handy thing to have around and a great craft material. For a designer product or a science project, here is make your own corrugated cardboard.

Instructions

1. Lay down one sheet of chip board on a flat surface.

2. Take a sheet of construction paper and begin folding it into 1/2 inch folds. This doesn't have to be exact because you will be folding many of these. After you fold them into ½ inch folds, it will look like an accordion. Fold as many pieces of construction paper as needed to layer the entire piece of chip board.

3. Spray a coating of spray adhesive directly onto the chipboard. You can spray liberally.

4. Lay down your folded construction paper until it fills the chipboard end to end and side by side. You will see the corrugation start to manifest itself.

5. Spray another coating of adhesive directly on top of the exposed accordion-folded construction paper. As before, you can be quite liberal with the adhesive since it has a lot to hold together.

6. Lay your other piece of chip board directly onto the pieces of folded construction paper. You can press it down lightly, but not too hard or you will flatten the construction paper.

7. Allow your homemade corrugated cardboard to dry overnight. You will have a solid piece of corrugated cardboard. You can make as many if these as you would like.

Tags: construction paper, chip board, adhesive directly, corrugated cardboard, directly onto

The Maintenance On The Galvanized Pool Fence

Galvanized fencing is a suitable option for swimming pool areas.

Swimming pools are a fun and healthy way for families to get exercise, but pools can also be a hazard. Most communities require safety measure for residential swimming pools that include gates and fencing for safety. Galvanized metal is commonly used for pool fencing. It is a low-maintenance building material that will last for years and provides a strong and secure barrier to prevent pool accidents. Does this Spark an idea?

What Is Galvanizing?

Galvanizing is an industrial process that uses zinc to prevent corrosion of steel. Steel is a metal that reacts when in the presence of moisture, which leads to rust. This rust is a compound of iron oxides created when oxygen atoms react with the surface of the steel. Corrosion can continue eating into the metal until the structural integrity is affected. Applying a zinc mixture to the surface inhibits this chemical reaction. This coating makes maintenance of fences much easier.

About Galvanized Fencing

The galvanizing process is often used on chain-link fencing to provide corrosion-resistance in all types of climates. Chain-link fencing is a very inexpensive material that is used for residential properties, industrial security fencing, and animal fencing, among other things. Steel pickets can also be galvanized for rust-resistance. Pickets provide more attractive fencing for residential properties. They can be worked into a number of designs to suit any home style. Galvanizing helps steel fencing last for years and also makes metal easier to maintain throughout its lifespan. Powder coating is often applied on top of the galvanized fence to further protect the metal in high moisture areas, such as around swimming pools.

Care of Galvanized Fencing

Galvanized fencing is known to be virtually maintenance-free. You do not need to do anything to a galvanized fence. If it becomes coated with dirt, mud or lawn debris, simply rinse it off with a garden hose. Some types of galvanized pool fencing has a vinyl coating on the links of the chain-link that can become dirty and stained. Simply wash off the dirt with soapy water and rinse clean. The galvanized coating can sometimes chip off, exposing bare metal. It's advisable to re-coat the area with one of the zinc spray products available on the market for this purpose.

Galvanized Fencing in Pool Areas

Galvanized fencing is often used in pool areas because of the large amount of moisture that contributes to the rusting of steel fencing. The hot-dip galvanizing process helps prevent the corrosion that would ordinarily occur in this moisture-rich environment, allowing the material to last much longer than it would without this coating. The best way to maintain your galvanized pool fence is to inspect the coating regularly to see that no scratches or chips are visible that would indicate the underlying steel is exposed to air and moisture.

Tags: galvanized fence, Galvanized fencing, Galvanized Fencing, galvanized pool, galvanizing process

Design A Custom Garden Gate

This garden gate designed of wood works well with stone fencing.

A flower or vegetable garden space may need special fencing to separate it from the rest of the yard; adding visual appeal, a recycled metal or wooden gate works well. For an inviting garden entryway, a newly built gate with scroll work, a floral design or simple wooden slats is inviting. Some gates complement certain posts or columns better than others, so try various designs to see how fancy or plain the gate needs to be. The overall design largely depends on how close the gate is to the house too. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Use a measuring tape to define gate space. Include room for columns or an archway over the gate, if desired. Figure out exactly where posts will be installed and how wide the gate itself needs to be. Consider any issues with removing part of the existing fencing.

2. Sketch a basic gate design. Figure out how high the actual gate should be. Should it be waist high, for example, or should it be shoulder high? Choose a style that fits the surroundings, which might mean installing a simple gate or an extremely ornate one. Select a gate with lots of detailing, if it's far away from the house. Use a simpler design that doesn't stand out, in most cases, if the gate is close to the house.

3. Draw the garden space with the gate. Create a drawing to represent the lawn areas as closely as possible. Include all landscaping and garden plants to get a true idea of how the gate will look. Sketch any planned walkway with stepping stones or vines that will climb on gate columns or posts. Look at the overall picture from the perspective of the home's front curbside to ensure the design will work.

4. Choose a gate color. Use black glossy paint, if the gate is near the house, to match black house trim. Paint the gate pale green, for instance, to blend in with the lawn and not stand out. Use a rust-colored paint to create a garden with "shabby chic" tables, chairs and flower pots scattered about.

5. Plan install the gate. Sink wooden or metal posts in concrete on each side, for example. Let the concrete dry for 24 hours before adding the actual gate via heavy-duty hinges. Use a lock if you want to keep small children out of the garden. Line up the gate and support post properly -- then fit with a small deadbolt.

Tags: actual gate, garden space, gate with, works well

Choose Best Driveway Gate Designs

There are special requirements for driveway gate designs which differ from other types of entry gates. You not only need to look for strength, but proper size and convenience is important as well. Because cars and other vehicles will enter the driveway gate, it is especially important to use driveway gate designs with these factors in mind. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. ** Measure the width and height of vehicles that will enter the driveway gate **

The driveway gate needs to fit not only your own car, but should be large enough to allow entry into emergency vehicles as well. Design the driveway gate to take into account not only the width of vehicles, but also the height. Make sure to leave some extra width on the sides to make entry though the gate easy and accident free.

2. ** Leave enough space in the driveway before the wrought iron driveway gate **

When constructing a driveway gate design, it is important to measure the distance between the road and the gate. The more space the driveway has between the road and the gate, the better as the car will need to wait in the driveway as the driveway gate opens up.

3. ** Opt for an automated entry **

Using an automated steel driveway gate, such as one that works with a remote control, is preferred with driveway entry gates so that you do not have to leave your car each time you want to open the gate.

4. ** Select strong materials **

Because driveway entry gates are large, make sure all materials are strong and supportive. Driveway gates made of steel or wrought iron are very sturdy, but the posts holding the gate up as well as the hinges need to be strong enough to take the weight.

5. ** Evaluate swinging vs. sliding driveway gate options **

You can choose a driveway gate that swings open and outward or one that slides sideways. Swinging doors require space in front or in back of the gate but are generally cheaper and more popular than sliding gates. Sliding gates require enough space on the side of the gate for the gate to open into, however, they may be preferred if you have something that would interfere with the free swinging of a driveway gate or if the gate is on a steep slope.

6. ** Make sure the driveway gate opens safely **

If you choose a swinging driveway gate design, then it is important to design the driveway gate so that the gate opens fully beyond the driveway and does not stop partially inside the driveway. Make sure vehicles can enter safely without hitting the open gate.

7. ** Calculate in all the angles and slopes of your driveway **

If your driveway is located on an angle or has curves in it, have a professional evaluate your landscape to best determine options for safe driveway gate designs.

Tags: driveway gate, driveway gate, driveway gate designs, entry gates, gate opens, Make sure

Create Photo Ironon Patches

Iron-on patches can be a great craft activity for rainy days or bored summer vacation days with kids. Use your own photos to create iron-on patches as gifts for family and friends. There is no limit to what you can create. Create small emblems to large photos. Put iron-ons on the front and back of your T-shirts. Purchase the appropriate iron-on paper for either light-colored or dark-colored shirts. Buying the right kind of paper provides the best end results.

Instructions

1. Check the ink in your printer since colored photos take a great deal of ink. Use a new ink cartridge to prevent misprints, wasted paper and ink.

2. Choose your photos. Crop them or touch them up in a special software program for photography, if desired.

3. Use a computer graphics program to help you create different shapes for your photo patches. Make circles, squares, triangles or whatever shape and size patch you desire. Add logos and text to your patches to promote your school, business or special program.

4. Read all the directions that come with the iron-on paper before you begin to print. Insert the paper the proper way to ensure printing on the proper side. Insert only one sheet of paper at a time to prevent two sheets of paper going through at once and possibly ruining both sheets.

5. Click "Ctrl" and "P" on your keyboard to open the print window on your computer. Open the "Properties" tab on your print window. Click the "Advanced" tab. Check the "Mirror Image" box so the printer will automatically reverse the image onto your iron on paper. Click "Apply." Click "OK" to print the image.

6. Cut out the image. Trim as close to the image as possible without removing any of it. Follow all the directions that came with the photo iron-on paper for ironing the patches and photos onto your shirts and other clothing.

Tags: iron-on paper, directions that, onto your, print window, your photos

Clean A Cast Iron Barbecue Grill

Barbecue grill

Barbecue grills provide years of enjoyment and delicious meals to families who use them. Cast iron grills are popular because of their ability to retain heat longer. They are also likely to last longer than other kinds of grills. You will want to take care of your cast iron grill by keeping it clean so that you can enjoy it for years to come. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Create a fire in the pit of the grill and close the lid. Allow the grill to heat up for 10 minutes.

2. Scrape the iron grates with a brass, copper or stainless steel grill brush. Use the brush to remove any grease or burned food that may be on the grill. Allow the grill to cool before proceeding.

3. Remove the cast iron grates from the grill.

4. Mix 1 cup liquid dish soap and 1 cup sea salt into a paste. Scrub the cast iron grates with the paste using another grill brush. Allow this mixture to dry onto the grill for 30 minutes.

5. Rinse the cast iron grates with warm water and dry them off with paper towels. Coat both sides of the grates with a generous amount of cooking oil.

6. Place the cast iron grates back on to the grill. Light the fire in the grill again and close the lid. Allow the grates with the cooking oil to sit over the fire for at least 1 hour. Let the grill cool off before proceeding.

7. Coat the cast iron grates on both sides again with cooking oil. Apply a small amount of cooking oil to a rag and wipe down the exterior of the grill to keep it looking good.

Tags: iron grates, cast iron, cast iron grates, grates with, iron grates with, Allow grill

Troubleshoot A Smith 8 Series Oil Furnace

Smith 8 series oil-fired water heaters are meant for residential use and offer a large water content and increased surface area for reduced mineral buildup and less corrosion. The units have a front access door for easy entry for cleaning and other standard maintenance tasks. Performing basic care and maintenance of the Smith oil furnace will help ensure several years of use, but if problems occur, performing some troubleshooting can help find and possibly fix the issue before a professional technician is needed. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Turn the Smith furnace "Off" and disconnect from the power supply before performing any troubleshooting, cleaning or maintenance tasks.

2. Make sure the furnace is turned "On" if it is not working. Ensure that the furnace is plugged into a working power supply, and reset household fuses or circuit breakers if necessary.

3. Remove the cover plate if the furnace is not working properly or heating as expected. Use a wire brush to clean the inside of the furnace, working from the top down toward the combustion chamber. Replace the cover plate.

4. Open the clean-out door, located on the right side of the burner mounting plate, if the furnace is not working well. Use a small hand-held vacuum to remove excess soot from the bottom of the chamber, avoiding the ceramic blanket on the bottom of the combustion chamber. Close the clean-out door when finished.

5. Examine the thermostat if the water temperature does not seem to be high enough or seems low. Turn the thermostat clockwise to increase the water temperature and turn it counterclockwise to reduce the water temperature. Allow several hours for the temperature to adjust.

6. Check the relief valves on the side of the furnace if the furnace appears to be leaking. If there are signs of water, corrosion or rust buildup, contact an authorized Smith service technician for assistance.

Tags: furnace working, water temperature, clean-out door, combustion chamber, cover plate, maintenance tasks, plate furnace

How Do Fire Pits Work

Fire Pit Definition and Design

Fire pits are used as an alternative to building a fire on the ground. Where this may be impractical or not allowed, fire pits permit the enjoyment of a fire in a contained unit. Pits are typically made of metal or pottery, and come in various shapes and sizes. Fire pits usually feature a bowl, which may be completely or only partially open, set atop supporting legs. Some pits will feature a top with screen or mesh sides, while others are completely open air.

Using a Fire Pit

To get the full enjoyment from a fire pit, the fire should be of a size suitable for the bowl of the pit. In other words, a small fire which corresponds in size to the pit itself represents much less work and danger than a large fire built up and over the sides of the pit.

To build a fire in your fire pit, begin with fine tender, shredded paper or material which will catch the flame long enough to ignite small twigs, sticks or larger fuel. As the fire begins to burn, larger pieces of wood should be slowly added. Keep in mind that green woods should be avoided, and kindling made from scrap lumber is often undesirable due to additives in the wood. Tend the fire, maintaining a desired height. Never leave a fire unattended.

Types of Fire Pits

Fire pits have become very popular accessories on patios, decks and porches. Pits are available in a wide array of materials, including stainless steel, wrought iron and copper. Pits will also vary in size from a couple of feet across to 5 or 6 feet. Many pits feature a decorate railing or flat surface suitable for setting a drink or snack on. Fire pits are used as accessories as well as main features in outdoor settings, and with a wide variety of designs, there is one to fit every decor.

Tags: Fire pits, Fire Pits, Fire pits used, pits used

Components Of Interior Floor Lamps

Interior floor lamps require a variety of components.

Although their designs, shapes, colors and materials vary greatly, interior floor lamps share a number of components. Decorative floor lamps provide functionality because people can move them, adjust them to the appropriate height and select an aesthetically appealing design. Whether you're taking apart a pole lamp, assembling a lamp from a few vintage pieces you have salvaged or drawing one as an illustration, recognize that a lamp becomes the sum of its parts. Master lamp craftsman Z. G. Crawford, with over forty years in the lamp making business, takes numerous components into consideration when he creates an interior floor lamp. Does this Spark an idea?

Vertical Pole

Interior floor lamps usually have some type of vertical pole or mast that runs down the center and attaches to a base that sits on the floor. Types of fabrication materials of this pole include wrought iron, wood, glass and metal; the chosen material is suspended on a sturdy metal inner pole.

Base

A floor lamp's base enables it to stand up vertically. It needs to be heavy enough so that it will not tip. A base also requires some symmetrical placement of casters so that the lamp rests securely on the floor without rocking.

Arm and Oil Pot

The arm extends from the lamp's upper mast or pole and usually adjusts so that a user can position the light head just over his head, whether he is sitting down or standing. The oil pot derives its name from its history as an oil container that burned real oil. Today's oil pots are decorative and consist of a rounded brass or glass piece that holds the lamp's switch, socket and harp holders.

Weight

Usually a rounded ball that screws onto the base, the weight helps a lighter lamp, such as a wrought iron pole lamp, stand up. The weight balances the lamp and prevents it from toppling over.

Cap

A metal or brass cap fits over the oil pot and covers wires extending from the socket and down the lamp.

Socket and Switch

The socket of a lamp is part of the light head. It provides a holding place for the lamp's bulb to screw into. It also connects to the switch and electrical cord, and allows electrical current to flow from its source to the light bulb.

Finial

Finials are decorative pieces that screw onto the pipe and hold the harp and lamp shade. When tightened, a finial keeps the lamp shade on straight. Finials come in a myriad of styles and colors. Designers incorporate porcelain, ceramics, glass, brass and other metals in crafting finials.

Neck

Also called a "riser," a neck is a hollow, decorative piece of metal that helps raise a lamp's finial higher. Necks come in various lengths.

Harp

The harp, usually brass or metal, slips into two grooves alongside the socket and holds the shade in place via the metal wires inside the shade. Harps come in various sizes so that the lamp and shade appeal aesthetically to the eye.

Shade

The crowning touch to any lamp, shades come in all sizes, shapes and styles. Some of the finest ones are silk or handmade paper. Fabric, leathers and synthetic materials find their way as lamp shades, as do glass and porcelains.

Tags: floor lamps, lamp shade, that lamp, come various, floor lamp

Install Lenape Corner Shelves

Prepare the corner for the Lanape corner shelf assembly.

Remodeling or changing a bathroom can be one of the most labor intensive home improvement projects, and one of the most rewarding. No other renovation can offer as much personal use and enjoyment as a newly upgraded personal hygiene and grooming area. Lenape corner shelves can add convenience to these areas. Heavy duty makeovers require a professional level of exactness and tile laying know-how, since most modern baths are laden with tiled floors, walls and ceilings. To prevent the frustration of tearing out and redoing these jobs, plan and lay out the job carefully before starting. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Measure the amount of room needed to accommodate the new shelf space.

2. Locate and mark the mounting location.

Remove any tile already covering the mounting area.

3. Measure and cut into the sheetrock to fit the Lenape corners. Temporarily set the shelves into the space and draw an outline around the shelves, marking the exact spot they will be located.

4. Reinstall the removed tile up to the line. Make cuts where needed to make the tile fit back into the newly reduced space.

5. Apply masking tape to the outside of the pencil line.

6. Turn the shelves over so that the back of the assembly is facing up. Squeeze out a bead of bathroom silicone sealant around the mounting flange, roughly a quarter inch from the edge.

7. Set the shelving assembly into place. Check it for straightness. Use firm, steady pressure to press it into place, once it is perfectly straight. Do not to let it slip or move while you are pressing it into place. Continue pressing into place firmly for a count of 30 to 45 seconds.

8. Use your dry forefinger to go around the outer edges to smooth and remove excess sealant. Remove tape and let dry for at least 24 hours before getting it wet. Check the sealant seam after it has dried and add sealant if needed.

Tags: into place, pressing into, pressing into place

Wrought Iron Gates & Railings Ideas

Give old wrought iron a second life by using it in your home's decor.

It may have outlived its usefulness as fencing, but that old wrought-iron gate or railing isn't too decrepit to lend some style to the house. Whether you find them in a thrift store, a salvage yard or your own back yard, good pieces of wrought iron present design possibilities that go beyond just hanging them on the wall as art, although that is a charming use for them as well. Does this Spark an idea?

Headboard

Hang a wrought-iron gate or section of railing on the wall behind the mattress, and you have an instant out-of-the-ordinary headboard. The metal could complement any number of decor styles. A dark metal would look sophisticated in a room with a Tuscan theme and a natural palette of red, gold and green, for example. For a cottage-style room, find a gate or railing that was painted white in the distant past and has weathered into a shabby chic style, or re-create the look yourself by painting it white and then sanding off the paint in places that would naturally get the most wear.

Pot Rack

Either a railing or a gate can serve in the kitchen. Hang it parallel to the ceiling to create a pot rack that's also a conversation piece. Leave the metal as-is or paint it to better match your kitchen. With the addition of some hooks and pots and pans that look nice enough to display, the wrought iron can be useful once again.

Picture Display

Instead of simply hanging some wrought iron on the wall, use it as a backdrop for family photographs. Whether the photos are in similar or random frames is a matter of personal taste. Hang the gate or railing so that its bars are horizontal. Use simple S hooks to hang the photos, putting one end over one of the metal bars and the other end under the hanger on the frame, whether it's a sawtooth hanger or a wire stretched from one side of the frame to the other. Place the frames randomly, rather than in a line, for the most interesting look.

Garden Trellis/Ornament

The garden is another good place to give wrought-iron pieces a second chance. Sink a gate or piece of railing deep enough into the ground so that it won't fall over and use it as a trellis for growing vines or just as a beautiful addition to the landscape. Several pieces of railing could border a planting bed, keeping children and some pests out. Don't worry if the pieces don't match; different types and even heights of railings are less predictable and more interesting to look at.

Tags: gate railing, gate railing that, interesting look, railing that, wrought iron

Use Cast Iron Whistling Teapots

Teapots may be made of cast iron, ceramic or copper.

Teapots are closed containers with a narrow opening. They allow water to be heated directly over an open flame, bringing it to boiling very rapidly. Most teapots are made of cast iron, although you can find ones made of ceramic or copper. The whistling teapot was invented in the 1900's. A whistling teapot is a teapot with a small hole bored in the lid of the spout. When the water inside reaches boiling point, the steam pressure causes a whistling sound. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Fill the whistling teapot with water. Fill the water to half an inch below the level where the spout connects to the pot. This keeps the water from boiling over.

2. Place the filled teapot on a stove, and turn on the heat. You can turn the heat on to the highest temperature to heat the water faster. The cast iron can sustain the high heat from gas stoves and electric stoves. It is also conductive and works especially well on induction stoves.

3. Wait for a whistling sound to come from the teapot. When this happens, the water is at the boiling point.

4. Turn off the stove, pull the lever that flips the spout cap up and pour the water.

Tags: cast iron, whistling teapot, boiling point, ceramic copper, made cast, made cast iron

Know If An Antique John Deere Is Cast Iron

The company John Deere has used a variety of different types of materials to make its tractor equipment over the years. If you have an antique piece of John Deere equipment and you want to find out if it is made out of cast iron, you can do so by figuring out the age of your tractor and determining whether or not your unit was produced within a few specific years, or you can perform a few basic tests on the material from which it is made. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Check on the tractor itself to see if it the year it was built is listed anywhere on the device. John Deere only made cast iron tractors between 1836 and 1837 before switching to steel. The year in which your antique tractor was produced could be pounded into the frame of the unit at any location, so check carefully.

2. Chip off a small piece of the metal on your antique John Deere tractor with the sharp end of a tool like a file or a pair of pliers. If your tractor is made from cast iron, the metal on the unit will break off into small pieces as you move your sharp tool across its frame. If your tractor is made from cast steel (as John Deere tractors were after 1837), you will be able to make a continuous indentation along the side of the unit with your tool.

3. Rub your hand along the metal frame of your tractor. If it is made from cast iron, you will notice a gray streak left on your hand after rubbing. This streak is graphite from the older cast iron used to make the tractor. If no streak is present, your antique tractor was likely not made of cast iron.

Tags: John Deere, cast iron, your tractor, from cast, made cast, made cast iron

Hinge Ideas For A Room Divider

Room divider hinges should suit the look of the room.

A room divider is an ideal object for breaking up a large room into two or more usable areas. It's common to separate dining rooms with living rooms and a large bedroom's sleeping area with its sitting area. Dividers typically have several hinges that allow you to position each of the panel's sections. When choosing hinges, ensure they match the room's overall style and decor. Does this Spark an idea?

Heavy Hinges

In a room that contains heavy elements, such as a wrought iron fireplace and furniture, select heavy hinges to maintain the room's style. Opt for large, iron hinges finished in black. If black hinges are not available, use large hinges and spray paint them black. Other suitable colors for heavy hinges include silver and rust color. When buying heavy hinges, ensure they're high quality -- because of their size, they will stand out in the room.

Small Hinges

If you want the panels of the room divider to be the focal point, rather than the hinges, select hinges that are small. These hinges have small plates that are easy to find in virtually every color and style. Because you likely won't move the room divider much after placing it, the hinges can be small. Small hinges also have tiny, discrete knuckles that will not stand out in the room.

Gate Hinges

To ensure the room divider's hinges can be part of the room's decor, use gate hinges. Unlike door hinges, gate hinges extend on one side of the gate or, in this case, the divider. A gate hinge typically has a long arm that can be straight, tapered or have intricate curves. The latter style is suitable for a room divider that contains a damask pattern, for example.

Ribbon

In a bedroom, it's sometimes ideal to have a soft, flowing theme. If your bedroom contains wood and material elements, metal hinges will not match the room's decor. instead of using traditional metal hinges for the divider, glue strips of suitably colored material down the side of each divider to act as a hinge. If possible, use the same material as the room's linens or curtain set to keep the theme consistent.

Tags: heavy hinges, room divider, divider hinges, ensure they, hinges ensure

Hotels Near Bala Ontario

Visit Bala, the Cranberry Capital of Ontario, for relaxation and recreation.

When you visit Bala, Ontario, located about 100 miles north of Toronto, you will find yourself in the wilds of nature at Lake Muskoka and Moon River. Filled with hiking and biking trails and many waterways, you and your family can enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation, including snowmobiling, swimming, roller skating and golf. Plan one of your trips the weekend after the Canadian Thanksgiving for the annual Bala Cranberry Festival, featuring lots of food, live entertainment and contests.

Bala Bay Inn

Located on the edge of town, the rooms at the Bala Bay Inn feature bright colors and comfortable bedding. Choose from one two-bedroom, 28 single, queen bedrooms, three rooms with two double beds and two rooms with a double and a single bed. All rooms provide you with free Wi-Fi, local phone, clock radio, small flat-screen TV, down-like duvets with four pillows and Simmons Beauty Rest mattresses. You also receive an iron and hair dryer at the front desk. Enjoy complimentary coffee and tea daily until 10 a.m. as well as free continental breakfasts on weekends.

Enjoy fine dining at Bala Bay at Ghosts restaurant featuring bistro, Italian and North American cuisine or have a beer and casual dining as you play billiards at Bala's sports bar called The Grill. Relax with a cocktail at the Lux Lounge, featuring Indian decor.

Bala Bay Inn

3063 Muskoka Road

Highway 169

Bala, ON P0C 1A0

Canada

(705) 762-3313

balabayinn.com

Severn Lodge‎

As a secluded resort, Severn Lodge offers an atmosphere suitable for your conferences and business meetings. You will find 46 rooms and suites in buildings surrounding the Main Lodge, providing a waterfront view with a balcony, patio or deck, color TV, Wi-Fi, telephone and small refrigerators. Some of the hotel rooms have Jacuzzi's and fireplaces. The two-bedroom suites each have a rear bedroom with two beds and a living room with a queen bed and pull-out sofa.

For your business meetings, select from three main meeting rooms for groups up to 75 people, each provided with audio visual equipment and business services according to your needs.

Enjoy outdoor recreation also when you stay at Severn Lodge with boating, kayaking, fishing, swimming, tennis, mountain biking, hiking as well as horseback riding and gambling nearby.

Severn Lodge‎

116 Gloucester Trail

Georgian Bay, ON L0K 1S0

Canada

(800) 461-5817

severnlodge.on.ca

Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort‎

When you stay at the Delawana Inn, choose from a variety of accommodations, most with views of the Georgian Bay. For example, select from one of seven houses such as The Georgian designed for up to six guests, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a Jacuzzi, fireplace in the living room and a private beach and dock. Or perhaps you would like to stay at one of three chalets, like The Blueberry, a one bedroom cottage with a king bed, a pull-out sofa in the living room and a private deck with a hot tub. Suites like the Trilliums house up to three adults and three children with sunken living rooms, wood-burning fireplace and a pull-out, double-bed sofa, one bedroom with two queen beds and a large deck. Lakeside and Parkview accommodations provide open-air decks or screened in porches and sleep from three to six guests.

Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort‎

42 Delawana Road

Honey Harbour, ON P0E 1E0

Canada

(705) 756-2424

delawana.com

Tags: Severn Lodge, living room, Bala Cranberry, Bala Ontario, bedroom with

Bistro Decorating Ideas

Wrought iron bistro style chairs

Bistros are small cafes found in France and other European countries. Their design is simple but inviting, featuring intimate places to sit, brightly hued walls and table settings and eye-catching extras, often in French country themes. Bistro menus are frequently posted for customers to easily see and food is displayed in vintage, glass fronted cases. The mood is relaxed and conducive to conversation over a cup of coffee or espresso and a pastry. With a few basic elements, you can capture the essence of this laid-back European eatery in your own home. Does this Spark an idea?

Seating

In a bistro customers sit at small round tables, frequently referred to as bistro tables. Some are made of wood and painted with shiny black enamel paint or covered in checkered red table cloths. Others are crafted from wrought iron with graceful, turned legs. Their tops are decorative with wrought iron formed into woven patterns. Bistro style chairs are often made from wrought iron with similar embellishments on their backs. Wicker is another popular choice and a combination of wicker and wrought iron chairs are seen as well. A simple flower arrangement of one or two flowers placed in wine bottles or milk bottles often decorate bistro tables.

Colors

Because bistros are most often associated with France, the colors of French country decorating style are used when introducing bistro décor into your home. You will want to use sunny yellows and bright blues for your walls. Try a mix of paint and wallpaper. Red plates, cups and napkins in a French country print will complement them. A black-and-white checkered floor is traditional but any tile that resembles the worn stone and tiles often found in European countries will work as well. Both these looks are replicated in vinyl floor coverings for a less expensive option. If you prefer wood, try aging your floor to simulate many customers going in and out of a bistro for many years.

Accessories

If you are replicating a European bistro in your kitchen, feature appliances like espresso makers, coffee grinders, standing mixers and blenders. Heavy duty models are preferable because those are what would be used in an authentic bistro, but home models will serve you just as well. Choose them in bright colors that compliment the room's other hues. Use wrought iron items like pot racks, wine racks and napkin holders. Hang heavy cast iron pots and pans like those made by LeCreuset, in bright colors from the pot rack.

To achieve the bistro ambience in another room, hang posters in Parisian themes on the walls, cover the table with a French country-inspired tablecloth in a small flowered print or check and center with a flower. Sunflowers work well, but any brightly-colored bloom will do.

Tags: wrought iron, French country, bistro tables, bright colors, European countries

Choose The Right Drapery Rod Color & Type

Choose the Right Drapery Rod, Color & Type

While choosing curtains and drapes for your home is an often-thought-about decision, it's easy to forget that the rods they will hang on are also decorative items and will have their own impact on your home decor. Once you have chosen your curtain fabric, choosing the rod is simply a matter of a few considerations. Whether you're modern or traditional, want total darkness or to let the light in, finding a curtain rod is easier than you think. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Consider the weight of drapes or curtains you are using in a room when you think about what thickness of drapery rod to use. If you plan on having heavy, black-out drapes in a room, you may consider choosing a rod with a larger diameter (two or three inches). If you're hanging a lightweight material, such as lace, you may want a small, half-inch diameter rod. If you have heavy fabric but want a thin rod, plan for the need of additional support brackets to hold up your curtain.

2. Consider the material of your curtains when choosing a material for your drapery rods. Drapery rods can be made of plastic, different metals or wood. While most of these materials are fine for the everyday usage of most curtains and drapes, if you have curtains in very light, fragile fabric (such as lace, silk or tulle), you may consider a smooth metal or plastic rod over a wood rod, which may split and splinter over time in the sunlight coming through a window. While cafe rods are most susceptible to sun damage, sunlight reflected off light fabric, plastic roman shades or white walls can damage any rod over long periods of time.

3. Choose a color for your drapery rod that matches one of two things: other items in the room or the curtain itself. Usually, you'll want to match your rod to other items in your room. In the kitchen, for example, a stainless steel rod can pair well with stainless steel appliances. Choose a black rod if the furniture in your room is black. If you have light, shear white curtains and don't want to over-power them with a black rod, choose a white plastic rod to match the curtains themselves.

4. Decide whether or not you want a simple, one curtain on one rod look for the room or if you want to do a layering effect to have a choice in a light window shade or heavy covering. If you would like two curtains over your window, choose a rod that will allow for this: a combination rod. A combination rod is basically two rods in one and will allow for two sets of curtains to be hung over the same window.

5. Measure your window area to determine if you have room for a standard curtain rod with decorative ends or if you'll need a cafe rod, one that fits inside of the windowsill (usually in kitchens and nooks). A cafe rod is usually paired with a valance cover, as well, because the curtain on a cafe rod will not cover the top or sides of the actual window (only the window itself). If you'll need a cafe curtain rod, use the same steps above to choose color and material and consider a "bubble shade" curtain to add depth to your window.

6. Look around your room and determine whether your style is more traditional or more modern. Traditional curtain rods are round and fit the curtain on the rod simply by sliding on the curtain. The rod is attached to the wall and other than that, there are no additional attachments or brackets. A modern look may include attaching the curtain with hooks, not unlike a shower curtain setup. For this, the rod doesn't necessarily have to be round. Modern rods can be triangular and have small holes to fit hooks to hang curtains. Choose a rod that will complement the style of the surrounding room and your personal tastes.

Tags: your room, your window, Choose Right, Choose Right Drapery, Color Type

Cook With A Camp Chef Ultimate Dutch Oven

The Camp Chef Ultimate Dutch Oven resembles a cross between a cast iron pot and a tube cake pan. The central post in the pot transmits heat to the middle of the food, greatly reducing cooking times when compared to typical Dutch oven recipes. Racks on the inside of the pot let you cook several foods at once. Like traditional Dutch ovens, the Ultimate Dutch Oven performs best in outdoor cooking applications, such as when camping or grilling. Be sure to watch your food while it cooks due to the shortened cooking time. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Season your Ultimate Dutch Oven if you have never used it before. Skip this for a previously used Ultimate Dutch oven.

2. Set a propane stove over medium flame or use medium hot flame with charcoals.

3. Place the lid of the Dutch oven upside down on the flame or charcoals and brown the meat in the lid. Preheat the lid to hasten cooking even if you do not use it to brown meat before cooking.

4. Set the bottom rack into the oven, and optionally pour water in to just below the rack to steam the food.

5. Add browned meat or large vegetables onto the bottom rack. Set the top rack into the oven and lay on it smaller vegetables or breads if cooking.

6. Cover the Ultimate Dutch Oven with the lid and place the pot onto the propane stove or set it directly into smoldering charcoals. Place a single layer of charcoal briquettes on top of the lid for faster, more even cooking.

7. Cook the food according to your recipe, while using a meat thermometer.

8. Remove the food from the Ultimate Dutch Oven and clean with water only while the oven still retains heat to prevent stuck-on food.

Tags: Ultimate Dutch, Ultimate Dutch Oven, Dutch Oven, bottom rack, brown meat