City Patio Ideas

If you live in an urban area, turning your empty, whitewashed patio into a lush lounging and entertaining area can be easy if you're imaginative and put in a little elbow grease. While lack of space, weather and city ordinances veto some decorating ideas, many more options can brighten up your city patio and transform it from a wasteland to a wonderland. Does this Spark an idea?

Choose a Theme

Pick a style for your patio. Do you like retro '60s look? Then outfit a small sofa with a tie-dye blanket and throw pillows. Add brightly colored plastic flowers and old board games for a vintage look. If you want to replicate a country setting, find wicker furniture, wooden geese and other homey decorations. Silk flowers in baskets, gingham table covers, and old-fashioned house or cabin-style bird feeders will give your patio a rustic country look. When choosing furniture and decorations for your urban patio, consider how much maintenance and cleaning will be required. If you have an uncovered patio, you'll be better off choosing wrought iron furniture and small waterproof cabinets to stash any small items so they won't fall victim to inclement weather.

A Garden Oasis in the City

Visit your local garden center to find herbs in containers, small flowers and vegetables for a city patio garden. Place them on a wrought iron or other decorative shelving unit. Depending on how much space you have (and your city's climate), you can include hanging plants or potted cacti. Set up a temporary lattice fence to grow vines or simply decorate the space. Use muted light globes or black lights for fun effects at night. Water fountains, made from ceramic, copper, glass or stone, can be found in all shapes and sizes, accentuated with miniature sculpted fairies, animals or tiered waterfall designs. You can even add a small birdbath or a tiny aquarium tank or fishbowl, if you don't mind the upkeep.

Make It Musical

Hang wind chimes from the roof of your balcony. Chimes can be simple or elaborate and many resemble Native American dream catchers, butterflies, hearts, teardrops or other enjoyable designs. A spiral wind chime made of teardrop crystals adds a light and lovely touch to any patio without making loud noises even during the heftiest of breezes. If you prefer a more musical chime, a percussion harp wind chime produces a clear, melodic sound. Decorative wind chime hooks of various lengths secure the chime to your roof or enclosure, or apartment window just outside your patio. When purchasing wind chimes for your apartment or condo patio, be aware of how your neighbors will respond to loud chiming on a windy night. Always check with your landlord or condo association about rules regarding the use of outdoor wind chimes, as some buildings place restrictions on their use.

Design for Outdoor Dining

If your building allows barbecues on outdoor patios, choose a compact portable grill with a sleek casing, like the Weber Smokey Joe or the Firestone Legacy Electric Grill. A glass-topped patio table, padded wrought iron or rustic wood chairs and colorful striped melamine dishes add a breezy, festive touch to any meal served on an urban patio.

Tags: wind chime, wind chimes, wrought iron, your patio, city patio, urban patio, your city

Tell If A Key Is Made Of Brass

Brass key

You might wonder why anyone would be concerned with the difference between solid brass keys and brass plated ones. But antique stores and collectors of these items attribute value to solid brass. Furthermore, a very practical advantage of having solid brass keys is that they will never rust.

Brass is created by combining two metals--zinc and copper--to make an alloy. Brass is a versatile material that can be wrought, forged, cast or spun. It is used for home-decorating purposes--such as being employed in lighting fixtures and candleholders--or for very practical items like locks and keys. A clear lacquer coating is usually applied to brass to protect it from becoming oxidized. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Head for the toolbox or your child's collection of school supplies and take out a magnet. A refrigerator magnet will also work. Any hardware store or home-improvement store will have magnets.

2. Dangle your keys next to the magnet. If they are pulled in the direction of the magnet, they have failed the test. Solid brass will not be pulled by magnetic force, because it contains no lead or steel. Steel keys with brass plating, however, will respond to the magnet test.

3. Convince yourself further by scratching a tiny spot on the key with a sharp metal tool. If it leaves a yellow scratch, your key is probably brass. If it leaves a shiny silvery scratch, your key has been brass-plated. The core metal of your key is probably iron, steel or white metal.

Tags: brass keys, magnet they, scratch your, solid brass, solid brass keys, very practical, your probably

"A Raisin In The Sun" Miniactivities

In the play "A Raisin in the Sun" Lorraine Hansberry tells the tale of an African American family, trying to eke out a living in 1950s Chicago. The drama opens with the Younger family wrought with excitement over the impending arrival of a $10,000 insurance check. To the family, who has never had much money to spend, this money seems an answer to their prayers; however, when the funds arrive, the family faces a whole new array of challenges, forcing them to confront complex issues of trust and racial relations. By teaching this tale to your students, you can allow them to glance back into the past and see what life was once like for African Americans, potentially making them grateful for the world in which they live.

Character Sketch

Increase your students' understanding of the characters that fill this drama by having them complete character sketches. Write the names of each of the characters in the play on slips of paper and have students draw them out randomly. Ask students to sketch images of the characters they draw and, around the images, write ten different adjectives that could be used to describe each character. A student who draw Travis Younger, for example, would draw a picture of a precocious, 10-year-old African American boy and write words such as "energetic" and "youthful" around the image.

Scene Illustration

Engage students in the creation of a visual reference, helping them put themselves into the setting of the play. After showing students pictures of theatrical and film productions of the story to acquaint them with what homes looked like in this time, ask students to create sketches of the scenes in the play, assigning each student a different section to capture. Hang these images up, in order, along a wall and reference them as you speak of the tale.

Character Journal

Have your students step into the shoes of one of the characters in this tale by assigning them the task of composing character journals. For example, assign a student to write a journal from the point of view of Beneatha Younger, a highly intelligent member of the family who has ambitions of becoming a doctor and, throughout the course of the tale, has her dreams shattered by the misappropriation of funds. Make this project a standalone one or have students write a series of journals as they move through the play.

Discussion Questions Bowl

Make your discussion of the book more interactive by having students compose their own discussion questions. Give each student an index card or two and ask him to write down one or two questions that he would like to discuss about the text. For example, one student might write the questions, "Would it have been better if the family had never received the $10,000 at all?" Fold these cards and place them in a bowl, then allow students to draw them out one at a time, engaging them in discussion of each as it is pulled from the bowl.

Tags: your students, African American, draw them, each student, family never, have students, students draw

Design A Shabby Chic Toddler'S Room

Paint your toddler's shabby chic room with a pastel wall color.

When your child outgrows the baby bed and nursery, consider designing a shabby chic toddler's room. The shabby chic look is sweetly formal, but the furnishings are low fuss enough for toddler spills and mishaps. Once-elegant antiques sport distressed painted finishes, and dressmaker details adorn easy-to-launder linens. Because the style features primarily vintage appointments, you can create the shabby chic look without a huge investment; your child may have her own decorating preferences in a few years. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Paint the bedroom walls with flat paint in a pastel color. For traditional, gender-specific colors, use blush pink for a girl room or light sky blue for a boy. Shabby chic wall colors appropriate for either gender include French blue, mint or celadon green, pale gray and buttery yellow. Paint the woodwork with a soft, marshmallow white in a satin or glossy finish.

2. Paint a vintage, twin-sized bed white for a girl's room, then distress the finish with sandpaper or sepia-colored glaze. For a boy's bed, opt for soft gray paint or a light wood stain. Wrought iron, Jenny Lind, panel or cottage-style beds suit the shabby chic style.

3. Dress the bed with white cotton sheets, then top it with a vintage or vintage-inspired cover. Consider a floral chenille bedspread for a girl or a patchwork quilt for a boy. Add washable, white cotton pillow shams bordered with shirred welt or box-pleated ruffles. If your bed covering doesn't reach the floor, add a shirred, cotton dust ruffle. Try a pastel floral for girls or subtle ticking stripes for boys.

4. Add a glossy coat of white or pastel paint to a vintage nightstand and to a dresser or chest. Eastlake, Victorian, English country and Federal styles look particularly charming in shabby chic rooms. Painted or natural wicker also suits the style.

5. Dress the windows in your toddler's room with white curtains made of dotted Swiss, seersucker or plain cotton fabric. For a girl's room, consider tie-top panels with big, floppy bows and a narrow, shirred ruffle along the leading edge. For a boy's room, fasten tab-top curtains with covered buttons that match your wall color.

6. Accessorize the room by hanging framed storybook illustrations on the walls. Display a collection of vintage toys on the dresser. Hang a petite chandelier in the center of the room. Look for a gilded, crystal covered chandelier for a girl or a spindle chandelier with a distressed finish for a boy. Soften a wood floor with a rug, perhaps a braided rag rug for a boy or a floral hooked rug for a girl.

Tags: girl room, shabby chic, chic look, room with, shabby chic, shabby chic look, style Dress

Spanish Window Covering Ideas

A common element of Spanish window treatments is wrought iron exterior railings.

Spanish design celebrates Mediterranean influences that dictate every choice from building materials to accent colors. Traditional Spanish window treatments incorporate both elaborate design and color elements as well as functional coverings and treatments that protect windows from the hazards of weathering and provide security. Choose Spanish style treatments to complement the other Mediterranean elements of your home's interior or exterior. Does this Spark an idea?

Wrought Iron

Traditional Spanish homes feature simple, neutral-colored stucco exteriors with limited architectural embellishments, not counting the distinct exterior treatments of the windows. In an effort to protect windows from extreme wind or rain, owners of Spanish homes secure wrought iron bars to the exterior of their home's windows. The decorative and functional iron treatments also offer protection against potential intruders. To maintain the pleasing aesthetic of the home, choose bars that feature decorative elements like curves, spirals or elaborately carved accents. Traditional wrought iron window treatments feature a horizontal and vertical bar welded in the center of the cross, though larger windows are better served with multiple vertical bars dressed with decorative flourishes to avoid the look of prison bars.

Interior Shutters

Add authenticity to your Spanish window treatments with interior shutters. Unlike decorative exterior shutters, interior shutters protect the interior of Spanish homes in the event of a broken window from severe weather. The sturdy shutters also provide significant sun and heat blocking for optimum window treatment efficiency. Choose natural wood rather than painted shutters. Most Spanish shutters are folding shutters that feature four decorative panels that open and close over the window, though larger siding shutters are also suitable. Shutters that feature lattice work, wood screens or wood inlays add classic Spanish elegance to interior shutter treatments.

Fabric Curtains

Fabric curtains are less common than shutters in traditional Spanish homes, but modern Spanish designs blend elements of classic Spanish style to incorporate the versatile and inexpensive treatment option into homes. Choose textured, natural fabrics like linen, cotton or wool in bold, solid colors. Spanish fabrics feature more masculine colors like green, red, black and gold rather than softer, more feminine colors like pink or yellow. Spanish fabrics are often faded by the sun, so reclaimed or repurposed fabrics are suitable choices for custom treatments. If you are adding curtains to a window with additional treatments like shutters or shades, opt for sheer white curtains to evoke the breeziness of the Mediterranean coast.

Shades

Traditional Spanish windows rarely feature shades, but modern homeowners prefer the simplicity, low cost and variety of shades for their windows. Avoid shades made from synthetic materials or metals. Instead, choose wide slats and natural rope pulls. Wood or bamboo shutters provide light and heat blocking without disrupting the natural aesthetic of most Spanish homes. Choose shutters that match the trim or other wood features of the roof, but dark stains are typically the most authentic options.

Tags: Spanish homes, window treatments, Spanish window, Spanish window treatments, that feature, wrought iron

Type Of Steel Used For Security Bars

Security bars are one external line of defense when it comes to preventing burglars from breaking into a home. These bars can be custom designed to cover almost any type of window. Manufacturers may fabricate their security bars out of certain types of steel. Stainless steel is one of the most widely used materials for security bars because of its strength, durability and ability to withstand regular exposure to weathering.

Security Bars

Security bars can be effective at preventing break-ins. Most windows can be fitted with a security bar system. While many of these systems feature fixed bars that are attached to the window frame, others are hinged, locked or otherwise designed to allow a certain level of access through the bars in case of fire or emergency. Security bars can be constructed out of various metals, including aluminum, wrought iron and stainless steel. Stainless steel is a popular security bar choice because it is engineered to resist corrosion. Security bar systems might be made out of 1/2-inch-by-1/2-inch tubular steel.

Steel

Stainless steel is a material of choice when it comes to security bars. Stainless steel is an alloy, which means that it is made up of a combination of different metals and materials. There are several different types of stainless steels, all of which contain several integral components. Iron is the base metal for all stainless steels. Stainless steels contain chromium, carbon and manganese.

Properties

Stainless steel holds up quite well in wet environments, making it suitable to security bar systems. The chromium in stainless steel contributes to its corrosion resistance. Stainless steel is one of the hardest metals available, and isn't easily scratched. This type of metal also offers high ductility. Under stress, stainless steel will bend and warp to a point before it snaps and becomes ineffective. These bars can withstand a great deal of stress before they fail.

Warnings

A fixed security bar system that does not open under any conditions prevents individuals from exiting through the window in cases of fire. Consumers may want to consider installing a steel security bar system that allows the homeowner to exit in case of emergency.

Tags: Stainless steel, security system, security bars, security system that, stainless steel, stainless steels

Plan An Outdoor Baby Shower

Tasty foods entice your guests at an outdoor baby shower.

You'll have a wide range of options when you plan an outdoor baby shower, from casual and relaxed to dressy and elegant. If you host a picnic at a park, allow time for guests to play softball or take a dip in the swimming pool. At a more sedate garden party, set up a croquet course and serve tea in china cups. Choose a location and theme that match the interests and personalities of the parents-to-be, and your shower will be a hit. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Choose a location. Your back yard might be the ideal spot for an outdoor baby shower, and it certainly will be convenient. Rent a pavilion at the nearest state park for a picnic-themed shower, or check local historic venues that rent outdoor spaces for parties.

2. Decide on a theme. Outdoor showers suggest themes like flowers, cute bugs, birds, small furry animals or seasonal sports. If you're looking for an elegant theme, make your baby shower a garden party.

3. Purchase invitations and decorations to match your theme. Mail your invitations several weeks in advance.

4. Plan a menu. Every dish doesn't have to relate to your theme, but one or two dishes should suggest it. Make a tray of flower-shaped vegetables and bake flower-shaped sugar cookies for a flower theme, or prepare finger sandwiches and a carved watermelon basket filled with melon balls for a garden party.

5. Arrange tables and seating. Rent tables and chairs, if necessary. Wicker or wrought-iron will add an elegant touch to a garden party. Cover plain banquet tables with pretty cloths that complement your theme and tie bows to the backs of folding chairs. If you're having a picnic, use red-and-white checked cloths on the picnic tables.

Tags: garden party, baby shower, outdoor baby shower, your theme, Choose location, outdoor baby

Melt Scrap Aluminum

Melt your scrap aluminum in a melting furnace.

It is tempting to take your aluminum scrap, melt it and turn it into something more useful than its current state. Granted this metal melting process is something that can be accomplished, remember to follow a strict safety protocol, especially keeping molten aluminum away from a water source, as well as avoiding melting dirty, impure aluminum. As long as you use your best judgment, you can successfully melt your scrap aluminum and pour it into sand castings or a chosen ingot.

Instructions

1. Heat your melting furnace to the desired temperature. Aluminum melts at 1220 Fahrenheit (660 Celsius) so your furnace should be just above that.

2. Coat your carbide ingot, if you are using one, with ceramics slip or weld barrier. This will ensure that the metal will release when it has cooled. Otherwise prepare your sand casting to your liking.

3. Place scrap aluminum into your crucible, also known as a melting pot. Stay away from using small aluminum chips and turnings. Unfortunately, in the melting process, there is too much surface area per volume and it will not melt well.

4. Place the melting pot into the furnace carefully. Melt small amounts at a time in the beginning, such as a pound or two. Make sure there are no screws, rivets, iron filings or any other metals as it will give your melted aluminum poor coloring, a thick pouring texture, shrinkage, will become brittle and may form large crystals.

5. Watch the metal carefully. You want to get it out of the heat source when all of the pieces are molten.

6. Grab the handle of your crucible with protected hands and pour the liquid metal into your sand cast or carbide ingot. Two-inch by 10-inch triangle ingots are a good choice so the castings cool nicely and release with ease. Other shapes can be used of course.

7. Allow the metal to cool thoroughly before you release it from the casting or ingot.

Tags: your scrap aluminum, away from, carbide ingot, into your, melting furnace, melting process

Decorate A Screenedin Porch Like An Italian Trattoria

Wrought iron decor gives screened-in porches a Mediterranean ambiance.

An Italian trattoria is an informal restaurant that serves simple Italian foods. You can quickly transform a screened-in porch to bring to mind the same Mediterranean ambiance. A trattoria typically has a casual atmosphere and is not very spacious. Mediterranean-inspired decor and furniture help to create a room where you can sit back and enjoy the view or host a quiet, intimate dinner with friends. This style of decor creates a screened-in porch that is a useful retreat after a long day at work or play. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Purchase an ornate wrought-iron table and chairs for your screened-in porch. Continue this metal theme with end tables, wall art and shelving units.

2. Decorate with seat cushions, curtains and table linens in warm, earthy shades, such as gold, rust, deep purple and olive green.

3. Drape faux grapevines and grape clusters around the doorways to your screened-in porch. Another idea for the trattoria theme is to stencil vines and fruit onto the interior walls of your porch area.

4. Collect empty or full wine bottles or wine carafes to use as an attractive display on shelving units.

5. Purchase and hang paintings of the Italian countryside or the canals in Venice to enhance the Mediterranean atmosphere of the room.

6. Hang cafe curtains on the windows, with fabric featuring pictures of wine bottles, grapevines, jars of olives, Italian scenery or in warm earth shades.

7. Display dinnerware that has the look of pottery and bold patterns in rich color schemes.

8. Place real or silk potted plants around the room to accentuate the intimate, cozy feel of the area.

Tags: screened-in porch, your screened-in porch, Mediterranean ambiance, shelving units, wine bottles

Make A Classy Copper Kitchen Trivet

Copper tiles come in many different designs.

Copper accents will give your home an old-world elegance that enhances any decor, and a copper trivet is one accent that is as functional as it is decorative. Trivets protect your dining room table from hot dishes and add a lovely decorative touch. You can make a classy copper kitchen trivet in a short amount of time and with only a few supplies. Trivets make lovely gifts for friends and relatives on birthdays and holidays or thoughtful housewarming and wedding gifts.

Instructions

1. Choose a copper tile pattern. Copper tiles are available at home supply and hardware stores. They come in many designs from smooth finishes to patterns that look like punched tin.

2. Place newspapers under the tile to catch any excess spray, and spray a clear coating sealant on the copper if you do not want it to change colors as it ages. The sealant is available at paint stores or stores that sell copper tiles.

3. Allow the copper tile to dry thoroughly according to the sealant directions.

4. Turn the copper tile face down onto some newspapers. Glue a marble to each corner to act as the legs.

Tags: copper tile, come many, Copper tiles

Drill Into Cast Iron

Cast iron is used for everything from cookware to safes.

Cast iron is created by melting pig iron, scrap iron and steel together. This mixture is poured in its molten state into a cast--whence the name--and is allowed to cool and harden. Cast iron is a perennially popular material because of its low cost and ability to be molded into a wide variety of shapes. Cast iron is easier to drill through the many other metals. The carbon in the iron keeps the drill bit cool, so no water or lubricant is necessary. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Position the cast iron in a way that gives the drill bit a clear path to the area to be drilled.

2. Place the tip of the center punch at the point where you want to drill the hole in the cast iron. Hit the other end of the center punch with a hammer to make a guide mark in the iron's surface.

3. Insert and lock the 3/16-inch high-speed steel drill bit into your drill. Set the speed on the drill to a low setting, about 500 RPM.

4. Set the tip of the bit into the mark you made with the center punch. Turn on the drill and keep steady pressure on the drill bit as it bores into the cast iron. Drill this narrow pilot hole to the desired depth or until the drill bit comes through the back side of the iron. Remove the 3/16-inch bit from the drill.

5. Insert and lock a larger bit into the drill that coordinates to the size of the hole you intend to drill. Place the drill bit's tip into the pilot hole. Turn on the drill to a low RPM setting again and, applying steady pressure, drill into the pilot hole until the size and/or depth of hole you need is achieved.

Tags: cast iron, Cast iron, center punch, drill into, pilot hole, drill into pilot, drill setting

About Vintage Dollhouses

Vintage dollhouses were once exclusively for adults.

Dollhouses have traditionally been thought of as children's toys in modern times. However, the history of vintage dollhouses started in the parlors of wealthy adults. Collecting and crafting vintage dollhouses is considered a relatively rare hobby among adults today. Modern dollhouses are a common and much beloved toy by many children.

History

The traditional dollhouse can be traced back to the 1600s, where it was made for Albert V, a Bavarian duke. Originally called baby houses or cabinet houses, the dollhouses were exclusively designed for adults of the aristocracy to display miniature idealized rooms. However, with the rise of mass production, dollhouses became a children's toy. They were often used to train a young girl about domestic life.

Dollhouse Construction

Vintage dollhouses can be constructed from a variety of materials, from simple cardboard and paper to elaborately made wooden ones commissioned by the wealthy with marvelously detailed furnishings. Today, dollhouses can be bought in kits for those who wish to build their own, designed by avid dollhouse builders or purchased from local stores. These dollhouses often are made with a combination of plastic and artificial or actual wood.

Scales

Prior to the early 1900s, vintage dollhouses rarely had set scales. Each individual craftsman or toy company had its own standards. However, scales became consistent following World War I. Modern children's dollhouses are commonly 1:18 scale, while 1:12 is generally the standard for adult collectors of vintage dollhouses and dollhouse decorations.

Famous Dollhouse Makers

Some of the most famous dollhouse makers were German companies, such as Christian Hacker and Moritz Reichel. The Lines Brothers and Siber & Fleming were common English dollhouse makers. The McLoughlin Company was a major American producer.

Types of Vintage Dollhouses

Vintage dollhouses range from the antique cabinet houses, mostly found in museums, to the more common mass-produced houses of the late 1800s and early 1900s. These vintage houses can be like the McLoughlin Folding Dollhouse in the 1890s in which colored lithography was glued to cardboard, to painted wood and cardboard houses common in the 1920s and 1930s. Traditional furniture is often ceramic, wooden or even cast iron and imitated popular furniture in houses of the time.

Tags: cabinet houses, dollhouses were, early 1900s, vintage dollhouses, vintage dollhouses

Oldworldstyle Decorating Ideas

Old-world-style decorating can lend a warmth and traditional touch to any decorating project. A weathered look, one that seems to have held up under centuries of use, can be part of an old-world style,but so can a richly appointed design. Old-world-style decorating ideas typically center around a particular set of finishes that can mimic the ornate or the simple approach. Do you know what finishes work best in an old-world-style design project? Does this Spark an idea?

Wrought Iron as a Hardware Choice

Chandeliers, sconces, console tables, mirror frames, drawer hardware, door handles --- wrought iron can be formed in a variety of ways. Finding the perfect architectural touch in wrought iron can underscore the old-world-style atmosphere you are creating. Choosing an additional finish in antique bronze can add further old-world style. Additional hand-applied finishes may add further visual interest. Choose one finish and use it throughout to add continuity.

Marble is a Favorite Old-World Finish

Endless halls of marble polished to perfection, columns and stair steps reaching upward with elegance, the image of marble as an indicator of the old-world style is familiar to almost everyone. Marble has an ageless beauty and a European feel. Try adding a few tumbled marble objects, a column, an urn, a pair of lamp bases or marble statuary. Tabletops for consoles, end tables or a coffee table should have curved edge details.

Plaster and Stucco Techniques for Walls

Plaster techniques are found in Venetian and Byzantine designs. Plaster can give a rustic simplicity and a hands-on feel to an old-world style. The understated strength of the materials suggests time-worn tradition and family gatherings.

Patina on Wood and Metal to Create an Aged Feel

Patina can be created to simulate a rustic or distressed look, a reclaimed appearance or an exotic look. Custom stains are also a possibility. Metals or woods can be treated to have the appearance of an old-world style. Antiqued or bronze metal finishes add another layer of texture to any old-world-style decor.

Faux Painting Adds a Warmth to Cold Finishes

Not interested in the real finish? They can be costly in some cases or you may not care for the cold feel of marble or the patina of a metal. There is an alternative to creating these old-world-style decorative finishes --- faux painting or finishing. Decorative painters can replicate any finish from marble to a copper patina.

Tags: old-world style, Old-world-style decorating

Install Wood Stoves

An porcelain enamel wood stove.

Wood stoves provide supplemental heat to central-heating systems. They also provide spot heat for a particular room. Installing a wood stove should be undertaken by a homeowner with relevant skills, or should be left to a professional. Correct placement for optimal heating and enjoyment ensures the best use of your new wood stove. Properly maintained, wood stoves will supply satisfying heat sources for many years at a nominal cost. Flooring must include a fire pad for the wood stove to sit upon; fire pads are dictated by local building codes, and the size is determined by wood stove manufacturers. Chimneys, either already in place or those to be installed, are dictated by local building codes; the size (diameter) of the chimney is recommended by the wood stove manufacturer. Install all wood-burning appliances according to local building codes, using Underwriters Laboratory (UL)-approved materials. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Determine the placement of the stove before unpacking it. Make sure a suitable fire pad is in position, according to the stove manufacturer's recommendations for size and clearances to adjacent walls; treat all clearances as minimums. The clearance is the distance the stove must be from substances that are combustible (those that will burn).

Measure for all sides of the stove, including the front and the bottom. Heat shields can be used to adjust, or reduce, space clearances. Install heat shields according to manufacturer's instructions.

2. Move the stove into position and unpack it. If the stove needs assembly, put the stove together following the manufacturer's directions. Assembly may include: doors, grates, firebricks, heat shields and connecting chimney pipe.

3. Place the assembled stove into position on the prepared fire pad. Make sure the stove is aligned with the required amount of clearance (airspace) from all adjacent, combustible surfaces according to building codes and manufacturer's instructions.

4. Attached the stove pipe from the wood stove outlet into the existing chimney, or install a new chimney, per building code requirements and manufacturer's recommendations.

5. Schedule building inspections with local municipal authorities. Some municipalities require multiple inspections, while others may simply require a final inspection of the completed work before the stove is put to use.

6. After receiving inspection approval and final use permits, run the stove for the first time building small fires to avoid overheating the metal. This helps the stove to "cure," or settle in.

Tags: wood stove, building codes, local building, local building codes, building codes size, codes size, dictated local

Season A Grill Pan

Cast-iron grill pans provide years of use if seasoned and cared for properly.

Metal grill pans, such as those made from cast-iron, require a coating process called seasoning to prepare for their first use. Seasoning coats the porous iron and prevents rust development. The coat also produces a nonstick surface, smoothing jagged edges within the pan.

Once seasoned, a pan cleaned according to manufacturer's instructions and limited to water exposure can last for years. It is not uncommon for a well-seasoned cast-iron grill pan to be passed down to multiple generations of cooks. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Lining your oven with aluminum foil speeds up the cleaning of any oil that has dripped during the seasoning process.

Line the bottom of the oven with aluminum foil. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. While a thorough cleaning is necessary before seasoning, avoid generous exposure to water after the process.

Wash a pan with warm soapy water and dry it completely.

3. Vegetable oil permeates a pan's jagged iron surface, leaving it smooth.

Use a rag soaked with vegetable oil to completely coat the interior and exterior surfaces of the pan.

4. Let the pan return to room temperature before removing it from the oven.

Place the pan upside down in the oven for one hour. Turn off the heat and let the pan cool completely in the oven.

5. Iron grill pans perform well for oven and stove-top use.

Remove the pan and store it in a dry area. Discard the aluminum foil.

Tags: aluminum foil, grill pans, oven with, oven with aluminum, with aluminum, with aluminum foil

Hibachi Spices

Fried rice is an integral part of a hibachi dinner.

In the United States, the hibachi style of Japanese cooking is characterized by communal dining around a large grill table, the centerpiece of which is the chef, who puts on a show, flipping knives and performing feats with fire as he prepares the meal. The term "hibachi" refers to the type of grill. Also known as teppanyaki, the cuisine itself typically includes an animal protein, commonly steak, chicken, shrimp, scallops or other seafood, as well as fried rice and an assortment of vegetables. In addition to the essential butter or oil, hibachi chefs use various spices to add flavor to their creations. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Dry Spices

The three principal dry spices found in hibachi cuisine are garlic, ginger and sesame seeds. Garlic imparts the most intense flavor when used in whole clove form, although garlic paste and jarred minced garlic are quite pungent as well. Garlic powder and garlic salt aren't as potent but are easy to work with and last for months or even years. Ginger appears in various forms: fresh, pickled, candied, paste and powdered. The fresh, whole root is preferred for cooking, although, as with garlic, ginger paste and powder provide handy substitutes. Sesame seeds come in three varieties: white, tan and black, and often may be toasted.

Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is made by fermenting soybeans, salt and water, and sometimes wheat. High in sodium, soy sauce adds a distinctive salty taste to hibachi dishes. Choose a low-sodium variety if you're watching your salt intake. The recipe for soy sauce, also known as shoyu, was brought to Japan from China during early medieval times. Japanese soy sauces differ from their Chinese counterparts, as wheat is typically a primary ingredient, imparting a slightly sweeter flavor. However, the prized tamari soy sauce, darker and richer than other Japanese varieties, contains no wheat, making it suitable for those with gluten intolerance.

Mirin

Mirin is a sweet, golden cooking wine made from rice. It is similar to sake but possesses a lower alcohol content. Some hibachi chefs refer to mirin simply as "rice wine." Mirin helps bind sauces and glazes to the food and imparts a sweet flavor. Unlike most other cooking wines, mirin must be refrigerated after opening.

Dipping Sauces

Different hibachi restaurants offer different dipping sauces to pair with the meat and vegetables. The most common sauces include ginger, sesame, miso, fruit and white. Ginger sauce, typically watery and brown in color, contains ginger, garlic, soy sauce, white vinegar or sake, sugar and sometimes onion, oil or lemon juice. Sesame sauce includes garlic, soy sauce, mirin, sugar and both sesame oil and sesame seeds. Miso paste is added to the thin mixture of soy sauce, garlic, onion, sugar and oil to make miso sauce.

Fruit sauces are thicker in consistency. Usually based on either orange or pineapple, they also contain soy sauce, oil and a thickening agent, such as tomato paste or honey. White sauce, sometimes known as shrimp sauce because it pairs particularly well with shrimp, is also more viscous. White sauces are mayonnaise-based and often incorporate butter, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic and paprika.

Tags: garlic ginger, garlic sauce, ginger sesame, hibachi chefs, sesame seeds

Anchor Wrought Iron Fence Posts To Concrete

Fence posts anchored in concrete are less likely to move.

A heavy wrought iron fence post won't stay in place if it's only anchored in earth or gravel. In fact, it will probably topple over within days of being installed. The best way of guaranteeing that your iron post stays where it's supposed to is to anchor it in concrete. If you're worried about the concrete looking unsightly, you can cover it over with the earth you dug up to create your post's foundation. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Contact your local building code association to find out if you need permission to erect your fence.

2. Determine the best place to install your fence post. If you're putting up fencing panels, use a tape measure to work out where you need to anchor your post.

3. Dig a hole measuring at least 6 inches wide and 2 feet deep for larger fence posts over 5 feet tall using a post-hole digger. If your post is smaller, you can dig a smaller hole. Consult your post manufacturer's instructions for recommended anchoring guidelines. Use a tape measure to make sure your hole is of the correct dimensions.

4. Place your post in the middle of your hole and shovel in your concrete.

5. Cover your filled hole with earth to add support to your post.

6. Use a bubble level to make sure your post is plumb. You can alter the position of your post while the concrete is still wet.

7. Place four wooden blocks against your post at right angles and secure these in place with bricks to create a brace.

Tags: your post, fence post, make sure, make sure your, sure your

Cement A Post For A Wroughtiron Fence

A properly installed wrought iron fence will last generations.

Wrought iron fences add a certain elegance to a home. They come in a variety of heights from about knee high to six feet or more. The iron is heavy and the posts need to be set properly to hold the weight in place. With careful planning and execution the homeowner can easily install the posts. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Paint the lower 1/3 of the post with a rust inhibitor and let dry.

2. Dig a hole the diameter of the support tube and to the proper depth plus an additional six inches. The depth of the hole is determined by the height of the posts -- generally they are set one third of their height into the ground. Try to keep the sides of the hole vertical instead of sloped. In sandy or loose soil this is less of a concern.

3. Fill the bottom of the hole with six inches of pea gravel. Measure the distance from the top of the pea gravel to the top of the hole.

4. Cut the support tube with the saw to match the distance from the gravel to the top of the hole. Be sure the cut is as straight as possible.

5. Slide the tube into the hole so that the top of the tube is level with the top of the hole. Place a bubble level on the side of the tube and hold the tube plumb. While you are holding the tube, have your assistant backfill around the outside of the tube with soil so that it holds steady in the hole. Keep the tube in a plumb position the entire time.

6. Center the fence post in the tube, with the bottom of the post against the gravel.

7. Hold the bubble level against the side of the post to ensure it is vertically level, and have the assistant fill in the tube around the post with the cement. Stop every shovelful and use a stick to poke the cement in the tube to remove any possible bubbles or hollow spots. The post must not be allowed to slip from the level position.

8. Continue to fill the tube until the cement is at the top of the tube. Smooth the top of the cement with a trowel, creating a small grade to allow water to run away from the post. Wrap a piece of tarp or canvas around the post at the bottom.

9. Repeat until all the posts are installed. Sprinkle the concrete with water every day for four or five days until it cures, and then remove the covering.

Tags: tube with, around post, bubble level, cement tube, distance from, distance from gravel

Hotels Near North Gower Ontario

Hotels in North Glower, Ontario

North Gower is a large village in eastern Ontario, Canada. The small agricultural town is located approximately 20 minutes south of Ottawa, and there is plenty to see and do. North Gower was settled in the 1820s and offers many historical sites. Today, it hosts an annual Night at the Races and a farmer's market. Fishing is allowed on Stevens Creek. There are plenty of places to stay near North Gower.

Black Lab Inn

The Black Lab Inn is a distinctive accommodation that caters to dog lovers, although you don't need to have a dog to stay there. The inn is a bed and breakfast located on the southern side of Ottawa, about 15 minutes from North Gower. The inn houses four separate rooms, each with a dog theme in its decor. The owners are dog lovers and try to cater to travelers with dogs. Each of the four rooms is smoke-free and contains wireless high-speed Internet access, cable TV and a DVD player, a personal bathroom with a hairdryer. The inn offers a large doggy bed, water dishes and towels for your pet. The house itself contains a library full of books, magazines and movies, which you can borrow for a night. You may also use the kitchen's microwave;coffee machine; and refrigerator; the elliptical trainer in the fitness area and the inn's swimming pool and patio.

The Black Lab Inn‎

1429 Lowen Drive

Ottawa, ON K1V 1H3, Canada

613-422-7322

blacklabinn.com‎

7 West Restaurant & Motel

The 7 West Motel is conveniently located in Carleton Place on Highway 7. The location is within minutes of shopping, nature trails and entertainment, and only 15 minutes from North Gower. The motel offers one- or two-bedroom suites. Each room comes with a private bath and shower, high speed Internet, satellite television, iron and ironing boards, refrigerators and microwaves. There are copy and fax services available for a fee. There is also a full-service family restaurant.

7 West Restaurant & Motel‎

10470 Highway 7

Carleton Place, ON

Canada K7C 3P2

613-257-5666

7west.ca

Travellers Haven Motel

The Travellers Haven Motel is located 10 minutes from Ottawa International airport, shopping centers, business and industrial community, and tourist attractions. But it still retains a country setting. Each room has a private bathroom, and the motel's cabins have their own fireplaces and kitchenettes. A large television and VCR adorns every room--with video rental in the front office. There are free local calls from every room, as well as free air-conditioning and parking. Throughout the day, fresh coffee and muffins are available in the lobby.. On the motel's ground, guests can enjoy a chip wagon and ice-cream bar that offer chips, chicken, french fries and beverages, a swimming pool, grill and picnic tables.

Travellers Haven Motel‎

2747 Prince of Wales Drive

Ottawa, ON

Canada K2C 3H1

613-825-2635 or 800-572-1750

travellershaven.yp.ca

Kirkstone House

The Kirkstone House Bed and Breakfast has three rooms rooms. It was refurbished from a 150 year old farmhouse. The rooms come with duvets, high-speed Internet, TVs, and telephones. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are served in the sitting room, where each morning you can enjoy a fresh country breakfast which includes fresh fruit, homemade granola or muffins, toast, and vegetarian or special needs diets. Fax services are available upon request.

Kirkstone House

2962 Carp Road

Ottawa, Ontario K0A 1L0

613-831-8805

bbcanada.com

Carsonby Manor

Carsonby Manor is a small, three-bedroom bed and breakfast. It bears the distinction of being the only lodging actually located in North Gower. The rooms contain either an in-suite, private bathroom, or a shared bathroom, and either contain single or double beds. Pets and smoking are not allowed.

Carsonby Manor

6035 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa

North Gower, Ontario K0A 2T0

613-489-3219

bbcanada.com

Tags: North Gower, Carsonby Manor, Drive Ottawa, Haven Motel, Kirkstone House, minutes from, Travellers Haven

Bedroom & Bathroom Ideas

Choose a bath and bed design idea that fits your personality.

Be it revamping an outdated space or designing a room from scratch, designing a bedroom begins with a theme. Heidi King, author of "Design Ideas for Home Decorating" suggests removing all items from the room to get a feel for the space. Develop a theme based on your interests and slowly add pieces that match your vision. Choose from a variety of themes that vary based on geographic region and history. Does this Spark an idea?

Tropical Asia

An Asian-inspired bed and bath theme draws from a tropical, earthy aesthetic. Use a Bali or Thai resort for the source of inspiration: Choose dark wood pieces of furniture for the bedroom and bathroom. For the color scheme, hang simple white cotton curtains but add patterned, warm-colored accessories such as pillows, cushions and towels. Color choices include burnt orange, deep violet and maroon. Select a canopy-style bed found in south Asian resorts and place tropical plants like bromeliads, birds of paradise, bamboo and ferns near the windows and patio door. Separate the bathroom area from the bedroom by placing a Japanese shoji screen between the areas.

Modern Design

Modern design showcases whimsical light installations, sleek Scandinavian furniture and steel rod installations in the bathroom. For a modern design bed and bath, choose a color palette of no more than three colors and one pattern. An example would be black damask wallpaper with white furniture and green accessories. A bathroom may showcase stainless steel square light design, black toothbrush holders and a striped purple curtain.

Keep the room uncluttered and choose simple furniture designs in basic shapes. Maintain the industrial, hardened look by avoiding natural textures such as unpainted wood and stone. Opt for stainless steel, glass, plastic or painted wood when selecting things such as curtain rods, table tops and picture frames. For lighting, use white fluorescent lights to add sterility to the space.

French Countryside

The French countryside design is feminine, practical, earthy and rustic. Draw inspiration from antique-like designs, from paintings to furniture. For the color scheme, use white as the primary color for the furniture and bedding. Add accent colors of light pink, soft purple, baby blue, gray or yellow. Apply a white, faux-antique finish to bureaus, tables and towel holders by using little more than some base paint, glaze and sealant.

Dedicate a portion of the budget to buy a white, rustic chandelier to hang in the bedroom and the bathroom. Find antique glass door knobs for the cabinets. Common French patterns to use for pillows, shower curtains, vases or pictures are damask and toile. Also, continue with the feel of the countryside by placing vases of fresh sunflowers or lavender on the bureau. Hang a dried flower wreath on the bathroom door.

Tuscan Southwest

Many villas in Italy and even modern homes in the Southwest display a Tuscan Southwest interior design. Paint the bedroom and bathroom walls a deep brown color with light copper flecks. Adorn the rooms with wrought iron picture frames, curtain rods, toilet paper holder and candle holders for an old world feel. Integrate elements of the Southwest by lining the bathroom mirror with Mexican talavera tiles in vibrant colors and choose a ceramic sink painted with a similar pattern. Place a small cactus garden in the bathroom as well.

Tags: bedroom bathroom, color scheme, curtain rods, more than, picture frames, stainless steel, Tuscan Southwest

Secure A Shepherd'S Hook In The Ground

A shepherd's hook is a rod of forged iron with one or two sweeping curves at the top. The hook is designed to hold hanging plants, lanterns and decorations, such as wind chimes, in your garden or on the lawn. The shepherd's hook has two pointed spikes at the bottom for anchoring into the ground. A flat iron bar above the spikes provides leverage for driving the hook into firm soil. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Hold the shepherd's hook upright in the desired spot for securing the spikes in the soil, preferably on level ground.

2. Rotate the iron rod so the hook or hooks at the top are facing in the desired direction.

3. Place your foot on the flat iron bar above the two ground spikes as though the bar is a step. Push down on the bar with your foot to drive the spikes into the soil until the bar is pressed against the ground.

4. Hang plants or decorations on the iron hooks at the top.

Tags: shepherd hook, flat iron, flat iron above, iron above, your foot

Plants For Front Gardens

Flower beds provide interest and color to the front of a home.

Planning the front garden provides more than just a pretty frame for the house. Plants can define the property, soften harsh lines of the house's foundation and hide unsightly objects. Planning the garden before buying any plants clarifies the vision for the landscaping and promotes selecting plants that will work in the garden. Including a mix of plants of varying mature size, color and fragrance in the space boosts diversity. Does this Spark an idea?

Trees

Because of their long life and mature size, trees are a foundational plant. Beyond appearance and mature size, buyers should consider a tree's purpose, such as providing shade or privacy, when deciding upon the type and placement of trees in the front garden. Another consideration is a tree's year-round appearance. Evergreens provide continuous color, but deciduous trees often provide a variety of hues as the seasons change.

Shrubs and Bushes

Shrubs are useful as foundational plants within a garden or planted as a hedge to edge the property. Like trees, some shrubs are evergreen and others deciduous, some flowering and some producing only leaves; selecting a mix of both offers year-round interest. Evergreen shrubs include holly, abelia, coral berry, Mexican orange blossom, heath, heliotrope, rhododendron, gardenia and Christmas box. Deciduous shrubs include camellia, lilac, flowering dogwood, forsythia, hydrangea, lavender, oleander and pomegranate.

Flowers

Through color, shape and height, flowers provide a kalidescope of variety in a front garden. Perennials, such as roses, asters, lilies, tulips, hyacinths, bellflowers, irises, daisies and columbines, require less work and maintenance than annuals and provide for long-term color and interest. Annuals, such as pansy, ageratum, hollyhock, periwinkle, larkspur, dahlia, poppy and salvia, fill in bare spots in the garden while waiting for perennials to grow to their mature size. Some annuals, such as cosmos and forget-me-nots, self-seed, coming back year after year.

Groundcover

Groundcover suppresses weeds, provides a natural mulch for the soil and helps maintain even temperature and moisture in the soil. Groundcover plants also grow around the base of trees, on steep slopes where mowing is a challenge and above poor soil. Groundcovers appropriate for a front garden include ajuga, vinca major, ivy, ballota, dianthus, heather, lithodora, alchemilla, anemone, sea thrift, hosta and snow-in-summer.

Tags: front garden, mature size, shrubs include

Compare Furniture Covers For The Outdoor Patio

Quality furniture covers protect your patio furniture.

Patio furniture can cost nearly as much as the furniture you keep inside your house. In the cooler months, outdoor furniture can suffer from rain, freezes, heavy snows and major fluctuations in temperature. These changes can cause cracks and splits that could ruin your outdoor investment. Even though it lives outside, you can easily protect your investment from the weather. Learning select the right furniture covers for your climate can help you keep your outdoor living space looking great. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Outline what types of weather your furniture has to endure. Include hot summers, wet weather, the frequency of thunderstorms, snowfall and wind. If you have a hot, dry climate, a natural cloth cover resists sun better than synthetic materials, which can become brittle and crack. If you live in a wet climate, synthetic materials resist mold and mildew better than cloth does.

2. Ensure the covers fit the dimensions of your furniture. Covers that don't fit well do not protect your furniture properly. Find covers with a snug fit that cover the piece entirely.

3. Decide on a material. Vinyl lasts longer and protects well against moisture, but the surface cracks over time. Plastic repels rain but does not fare well in windy areas.

4. Select a light color. Light colors resist fading, and they tend to look better longer.

5. Check for zippers or ties. Try to find covers that easily go on and come off patio furniture. This makes it easy for you to protect your furniture quickly in the event of sudden weather changes.

6. Compare remaining contenders for durability. Heavier materials decrease the likelihood that the cover will tear or blow away in strong winds.

Tags: protect your, your furniture, better than, furniture covers, patio furniture

Solutions For Hanging Pots In Your Kitchen

Pot racks provide ample storage.

An overflowing pot rack instantly communicates the message that a good cook lives in the home. Along with sending that signal, pot racks in the kitchen serve multiple purposes. They keep cookware within easy reach, free up precious cabinet space for other items and add style, acting as a functional piece of art. Does this Spark an idea?

Pot Racks

The most obvious solution for hanging pots in your kitchen is a pot rack. These handy items are usually mounted from the ceiling and sometimes from the wall. Crate & Barrel, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's and many other retailers carry them in all shapes, sizes, finishes and styles, complete with mounting hardware. Make certain the rack you choose is capable of supporting the substantial weight of your cookware.

Chandelier

An alternative to the traditional hanging pot rack is a chandelier with curving arms or a circular bottom. Hang S-hooks from the arms or bottom of the chandelier to support a few pots and other kitchen utensils. For a Tuscan look, hang a circular wrought iron chandelier that holds candles. When entertaining, light the candles. This option simultaneously provides illumination and storage.

Wall Mounts

You can mount a variety of items to the wall for hanging pots. A vintage wrought iron gate, a stainless steel curtain rod or even a pegboard painted to match your kitchen are a few ideas. Add S hooks and pots. A piece of wood molding with evenly spaced hooks or even a coat rack are other options. If your pot collection is large, drill into the wall stud for the most support.

Tags: hanging pots, wrought iron, your kitchen

Outdoor Patio Design Ideas

Enjoying an outdoor living space

Your outdoor patio is an entrance to your space; the place where friends and family gather to enjoy community, conversation and a way to step away from our hurried lives. Your patio is a reflection of your style and personal flair and can be designed in a variety of manners--one that speaks to your own personal panache. When choosing the design, consider the climate, your favorite colors and how your patio is an extension of your house. It's a way to add square footage by building a livable space that extends the indoors to the outdoors. Does this Spark an idea?

Tuscan Decor

Tuscan style continues to be a popular design choice. The colors are warm and inviting and the plants you choose to enhance your patio are subtle Mediterranean plantings that require little water and low maintenance. Begin with warm terra cotta tiles for an inviting patio surface. These generally run in the red tones however, they can also go towards butter yellows and are generally in soft matte finishes. Once your surface is complete, consider adding large earthen vessels in bright blue ceramic that reflect the colors of the Mediterranean or perhaps the Adriatic. The cool tones of blue are a perfect complement to the rich earthy tones of the tile. Complete the patio with wrought iron furnishing. A table that seats at least six is a good start for al fresco dining. Add a small caf table in a corner for an intimate dining or reading area. Remember to add outdoor lighting and take your gatherings long into the night.

Spanish Influence

Spanish d cor is similar to Tuscan but is bolder in the use of color. Tile the patio in warm earth tones, but accent in between large tiles with small four inch square decorative tile in shades of blues and oranges. Add groups of planters in bright yellows and oranges and fill them with large flowering plants and colorful annuals. Choose furnishings in wrought iron and use seat cushions upholstered in bright outdoor fabric. Add outdoor wall hangings made with glazed ceramic that reflect a Spanish influence. Often these can be religious symbols or bold patterns. Spanish style is inviting and energetic; decorate the table with fiery red stoneware to complete your design.

Napa Style

The Napa Valley region of California has its own distinctive sense of design. It's a mix of rustic wood balanced with high level of sophistication in food and d cor. Tile the surface of your patio in slate that has shades of blue, green and gray worked into the natural stone surface. Add a long wooden table that seats at least six but consider a longer table for large groups and have an electrician add string lights above your dining area. Use benches for seating and rustic wooden chairs at either end. Napa style is about low maintenance and a natural look. Add native plants in rustic pots that offer subtle hints of color in light yellows and soft lavender. Small pots with white flowering annuals are a perfect accent color. Fill vases with sunflowers and place on the table or in large pots around your patio. Artistic renderings of metal grapevines are a nice final touch to your vineyard inspired space.

Tags: your patio, ceramic that, ceramic that reflect, seats least, table large

Small Deck Decorating Ideas

A deck can be a useful and alluring space.

While small decks may seem to offer limited decor possibilities, there are many things you can do to make your deck appealing and beautiful. You should always make full use of your space---even a deck can be tailored to perfection. There are many ways to decorate a small deck, increasing its usefulness and aesthetic appeal. Does this Spark an idea?

Flowers and Plants

Use plants to invoke a natural feel on your deck.

If your deck is too small for a table or grill, you can go the natural route. By utilizing your deck to showcase nature (plants, flowers, pottery) you can create a great focus-point for outsiders and people within your home. Choose some tall potted plants and prop them against the sides of your deck. Line the deck's floor with smaller flowerpots and plants. Choose a theme if you'd like, including only flowers of one kind, plants of one kind or pottery that invokes a certain culture or aesthetic. You may want to purchase Mexican or Southwestern pottery, for example, for flowers and plants.

Deck Seating

Small furniture creates a comfortable space on the deck.

If your deck is too small for large seating but big enough for one chair, you can make this look work. Purchase a small chair. There are many small chairs available in stores or on websites such as Patio Furniture USA. Also purchase a small table (wrought iron or cast aluminum works well) and prop it against the chair. In this setting, less is more. Your deck becomes a comfortable space for you to relax in.

Bench and Carpet

A small bench or two can make a space inviting.

For decks with limited space, you can easily purchase a small bench. According to HGTV's website, using a small carpet and a bench can create a relaxing space and a nice touch for a small deck. Instead of a chair, which can be awkward and hard to fit, a bench provides a nice place for people to sit. If the deck is large enough, place two small benches, one on each side. Place a small carpet between the two benches. Embellish the calmness of the deck with small potted plants.

Tags: your deck, comfortable space, deck small, deck your, deck your deck, potted plants, purchase small

Cook In An Outdoor Fire Pit

A roaring fire pit.

Along with the soothing ambiance of nature, nothing adds to the pleasure of being outside like grilling food--thanks to the aroma, warmth and aesthetic appeal of a cozy fire. With a little practice, you can cook on your outdoor fire pit just as easily as any grill or stove. You can use coals or wood in the fire pit, allowing you to choose your flavor through the various types of woods available. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Instructions

1. Build your fire with either wood logs or charcoal. If using wood, consider starting the fire in a barrel first, or somewhere away from the fire pit. Arrange the logs loosely in a pile so the oxygen will circulate freely--this makes the fire burn better. Use a starter aid, such as kindling or tinder. Light one end of the kindling or tinder with a match, then place it under the logs. Continue this process until the logs start burning well. Once the flames die down and the red-hot embers start to fall off the logs, use a shovel to carefully transfer the embers to your fire pit. This is what you will cook over--the embers, not the flames. Cooking over embers prevents you from charring the food and ruining it in an open flame. Cook on the embers while you wait for the rest of the logs to burn down, and keep a steady supply of embers coming by adding fresh wood.

If it's too much trouble to create the fire somewhere else and move the embers, light the wood logs within the fire pit. Start your fire an hour or two ahead of the actual time you want to cook so the embers will be ready. Follow the same process given above to light the fire. Don't put the grate on or start cooking until the flames have died down and you have nothing left but red-hot, glowing embers. (The embers are actually hotter than the flames.)

If you plan to use charcoal, use a quick-start brand of charcoal. Or, if you're using regular charcoal, sprinkle charcoal lighter fluid onto the coals. Mound the coals in the center of the fire pit. Light the mound at the top and on the sides with a long match so it will burn evenly. The coals are ready for cooking when they turn whitish on top.

Every once in a while, use a fire poker to move the coals or embers around to get more oxygen circulating. The oxygen will intensify the heat.

2. Place the grill grate on top of the fire pit to grill your food. There are two methods for grilling:

For the direct heat method, grill directly over the hot coals or embers. Cook food on the grill grate just as you would on your regular barbecue grill. From hamburgers, hot dogs and steaks to pork chops or sausages, this is the easiest cooking method. Steaks should take 20 minutes, or less, to grill, depending on your tastes. Hamburgers take around 20 minutes, or less.

For indirect heat grilling, cook away from the hot coals or embers. Arrange the food on the grate where it is a little off to the side of the main hot spot. The circulating air is still pretty hot, and your food will cook more slowly. This method is often used for whole chickens or other small fowl, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and other vegetables. A whole chicken sliced in half will take about an hour to cook over indirect heat. Cook 30 minutes breast side down, turn and cook 30 more minutes breast side up. Corn-on-the-cob wrapped in tin foil will take about 20 minutes over indirect heat; turn the corn frequently to keep it from burning. A baked potato wrapped in tin foil will take about 45 minutes; prick it with a fork to see if it's done.

3. Cook in a fire pit with skewers. Soak wooden skewers 30 minutes in water before loading with food. Metal skewers should be cleaned and lightly oiled. Place the loaded skewers on a grill grate over medium-hot embers or coals.

Roast hot dogs, sausages, small vegetable pieces, beef or pork kabobs, seafood morsels, marshmallows and a variety of other small items on skewers. Small vegetables pieces and shrimp cook within a few minutes. Chunks of beef and pork may take 15 minutes, or longer. Hot dogs and sausages take about ten minutes.

If you want to cook with skewers like you would around a campfire, simply load marshmallows or hot dogs onto the ends of the skewers. Hold the skewers directly over the embers and the food will cook within a few minutes.

4. Cook over your outdoor fire pit with a cast-iron frying pan, or stew pot with a lid. Cook fresh fish, Brunswick stew, steamed vegetables and more in your cast iron cookware. Place a frying pan with cooking oil on the grill grate directly over very hot embers or coals (it is mandatory that you use high, direct heat for pan or pot cooking on the fire pit--you can even have a few flames). Consider mounding the coals or embers up under the pan or pot to make sure it is as hot as it can get. Cooking times will vary depending upon the dish. Fry fish until golden brown on one side. Then turn and fry the other side until golden brown.

Pan-sear scallops or vegetable slices in butter in less than 10 minutes.

Brunswick stew made from scratch will take up to three hours. A fish stew will also take about three hours. These great stews need to simmer a long time to perfect their flavors.

Broccoli takes 4-to-6 minutes to steam, green beans take 10-to-20 minutes, carrots 4-to-10 minutes and squash 3-to-8 minutes.

5. Cook in your outdoor fire pit as if you were having a clam bake on the beach. Line the pit with stone, rock or brick. Loosely pile on your wood. Get the fire going well and let it reduce to red-hot embers. You want the stones so hot that water sizzles on them.

Rake off the embers from the fire and cover the rocks with seaweed. Take your food and place it in cheesecloth squares (for a clambake this would be corn on the cob with silk removed but husks intact, whole fresh clams, live lobsters, peeled whole onions and baking-size potatoes). Create individual serving packets and tie them up at the corners. Put the food packets in wire baskets; lay the baskets on the steaming seaweed and cover with more seaweed. Then cover it all with a tarpaulin. It will take around two hours to cook. The rocks or stones hold enough heat to allow the seaweed to steam the food. This method of cooking is slow, but yields moist and flavorful food.

Tags: take about, will take, coals embers, grill grate, about minutes

Secure A Wrought Iron Fence With No Lock

Secured Wrought Iron Fence

Having a wrought iron fence in your backyard, especially when you have young children, is a blessing. Maybe you have the wrought iron fence put in your backyard before having children though and did not need a lock. Now with toddlers who have the ability to open the wrought iron fence door, you need a way to secure the door from being opened. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Securing a Wrought Iron Fence

1. Cut two to three feet of rope. Any thickness of rope you want can be purchased at a local hardware store. The rope being used here is approximately 1/2 inch thick.

2. Take the rope over to fence and weave it through two holes in the fence design.

3. Weave the rope into the wrought iron fence. This is what the rope looks like being weaved into two holes of the wrought iron fence design. Make sure that the rope is woven enough times that it is secure and it can't be easily removed.

4. With rope weaved into fence holes, tie the two pieces of rope together on the outside of the fence so your toddler(s) will not try and loosen it. Consider tying the rope in a knot that isn't easily removed by children. If it can be untied easily, it isn't a safe method of closure.

Tags: iron fence, fence your, easily removed, fence design, fence your backyard, Iron Fence

Outdoor Furniture & Furniture Fabric

Outdoor furniture is not limited to dining tables and chairs, seen here.

Women's Web reports that Americans will spend more time in their backyards this summer than anywhere else, and are looking for innovative party ideas beyond the average barbecue. Outdoor furniture is now as important as the grill. There is a host of options when shopping for the perfect set. Does this Spark an idea?

Function

Outdoor or patio furniture serves the same function as interior furniture--it provides an outdoor space for dining and hosting, relaxing, and enjoying family and friends.

Types

Backyards and Gardens classifies patio furniture into the following types:

Teak -- A rich, warm wood that is durable, but requires regular maintenance and care.

Wrought Iron -- Durable and virtually maintenance-free, it is heavy and can withstand strong winds.

Metal -- Much like wrought iron; maintenance is minimal.

Aluminum -- More lightweight than metal, but also less expensive while achieving a similar look.

Wicker -- Classic; requires a high level of care and maintenance, and may not provide the longevity of other types.

Resin -- Durable, easy to clean and dries fast; can provide the look of wicker at a much smaller price.

Plastic -- The least expensive type; more concerned with function than style.

Furniture Fabric

Fabric used on outdoor furniture differs from indoor furniture because of its direct exposure to the elements. Sun fades fabric and rain-soaked cushions can harbor mold and mildew. Fabric made of acrylic will hold up to the external elements much longer than cotton-based materials. For poolside furniture, Backyards and Gardens recommends fabric that is waterproof and protected against chlorine.

Styles

The following styles of patio sets and pieces are designed to create a mood in an outdoor space:

Conversation -- Similar to an indoor living area, matching chairs, sofas and love seats, coffee tables and end tables.

Bistro -- Two chairs and a small table, traditionally made of wrought iron.

Dining -- At least five pieces (table and four chairs), but is available with more seating. It's designed for full dining.

Lounge/chaise -- Sits close to the ground, with upper body support and full-length lower body support. Designed for sunbathing.

Bar -- High table, usually with storage space underneath, and barstools or bar-height chairs

Considerations

The biggest thing to consider when shopping for outdoor furniture and cushions is weather. For rainy areas, choose furniture that specifies it can hold up to this environment and is resistant to mold and mildew. For particularly windy locales, look for heavy pieces with a durable finish, as debris can harm paint and finishes.

The sun can quickly fade fabrics, especially those with vibrant colors. Look for UV protection on labels and consider furniture covers for cold-weather months.

Trends

With shows like HGTV's "The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie," the outdoor living space is becoming increasingly popular. According to Construction Week Online, homeowners demand outdoor furniture that is not only functional, but also expresses the style seen inside the home.

Rattan, melamine and polycarbonate materials are showing up more in outdoor furniture, as well as round shapes and combinations of deep materials with light textiles.

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Shelf Decorating Ideas With Tuscan Accessories

Tuscan style is an enduring trend, partially because there are so many artisan traditions in the Tuscan region of Italy. Whether you have a small floating shelf or a major cabinet with display shelving, you can give the space a Tuscan touch with accessories. Incorporate pieces from Tuscany as well as accessories that recall Tuscan style. Does this Spark an idea?

Architectural Elements

Add more visual pop to your shelf by adding architectural embellishments. Give your shelf Old World flavor by fitting a lightweight arch above it or placing small columns or statues in the corners. Another option is to adhere a faux bas relief-style trim to the edge of the shelf. Use architectural features that have natural-stone finishes, or create a faux finish that looks distressed and vintage, such as applying a thin coat of antique white paint and, after it dries, sanding the sides with fine-grit sandpaper.

Nature's Bounty

Tuscan accessories typically celebrate the fruits and flowers indigenous to the region. Customize your shelf decor to reflect this trend by integrating a vivid backdrop, such as a landscape painting of Tuscany. A still-life painting that includes images of grapes alludes to the region's celebrated vineyards. You can create a still life setting by incorporating Italian ceramics or a simple blue bowl, and filling it with real or fake fruits and flowers. Go rustic and simple with a vintage glass bottle in Mediterranean blue holding bright wildflowers (bougainvillea or cornflowers would be ideal). Or try something more elaborate, such as an arrangement of fruits made of Italian marble set on a hand-painted Italian cake stand.

Artisan Crafts

Use Tuscan artisan crafts for your shelf decor. Wrought-iron wall accessories add visual interest. You can use wrought iron as shelf supports, or even add a shelf made of wrought iron. The region's artists often work with ceramics. Vintage Tuscan crockery is typically in red and earth tones. Other options are terracotta pots, brightly painted Majolica ceramics, tile murals (for backdrops or even as shelf surfaces) and earthenware bowls. Give your shelf Tuscan flavor with pieces made of natural materials such as wood, stone, paper, metal and clay. Place ornate candle holders on the corners as a frame for an eye-catching painting or an elaborately painted plate. Go Tuscan modern with sleek glassware set against black marble, or aim for shabby chic with an heirloom placed on a lightweight cornice or on a column used as a pedestal.

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Arbors & Arches

An arbor partially covered with climbing roses.

Arbors and arches are landscape structures which, when covered with blossoms, add charm as well as vertical interest to the landscape. Arches are simpler than arbors and curve at the top; arbors, with more horizontal designs on the top, are usually larger and more decorative. Location, materials, styles and flower choice are also important elements. Does this Spark an idea?

Location

Arbors and arches placed at the entrance to a property, pathway, back yard or pool provide an inviting welcome to the area. They can be transitional structures, much like doorways, from one landscape area to another. Arbors can be used on patios or in yards and, when furnished with outdoor chairs and small tables, can delineate an outdoor gathering or dining area. A roof covered with flowers also provides shade on a sunny day.

Materials

Arbors and arches are available in such materials as wrought iron, cedar wood, vinyl, aluminum, copper and heavy-duty plastic. Perhaps the most-used material is wood, especially cedar wood, which is insect- and moisture-resistant. Vinyl is gaining in popularity because it is maintenance-free and will not fade. The strongest material forming the sturdiest structure is iron, and a powder coating makes it weather-proof. Copper is very sturdy and, over time, turns greenish.

Sizes and Styles

Arbors should be wide enough for a person to walk comfortably through and beneath it, without vegetation brushing against him --- at a minimum, 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall. Arbors can be as deep as desired. A furnished, gathering area for socializing would require a larger space --- 12 feet or more. Arbor styles can be freestanding or attached to a structure, like a house or poolside changing room. The sides can be latticed or simple pillars.

Flowers

Climbing roses, wisteria, bougainvillea and clematis are all wonderful choices for decorating the arch or arbor. Most plants need to be tied to the structure. The canes of climbing roses, with a growth habit more horizontal than vertical, should be bent and tied horizontally as the plant climbs for maximum blooms. Take care that flowers don't gather on the top of the structure, leaving the sides bare of foliage and flowers. Sometimes aggressive pruning can correct this.

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Sell Scrap Iron

Scrap metal

If you're moving, remodeling or performing a deep cleaning, you might come across bits and scraps of iron and other metals that are ready for the scrap heap. With a small investment of time, you can unload your scrap iron for cash. The type of metal and the weight will determine the value of the scrap iron. RecycleInMe.com is a scrap trader's marketplace that provides data about the current prices of scrap iron and other metals.

Instructions

1. Separate your scrap iron from other metals. If you're looking for additional scrap iron to sell, check online marketplaces such as Freecycle.com or Craigslist for free junk and offer to haul it away. Walk or drive around your city on trash night looking for items that are being thrown out.

2. Remove any non-metal parts from your scrap iron if possible, such as wood, plastic or rubber.

3. Locate scrap metal dealers in your area. It's good to call several dealers because they might have different prices at any given time. Some dealers might not be accepting iron because they have too much, so even if you have a preferred dealer, you should always check in before you go. Survival Insight offered the approximate price of ten cents per pound of iron in 2009.

4. Call the dealers and ask what the current price is for scrap iron. Choose your scrap dealer based on the current price.

5. Load your metal into a car or pickup truck. If you're using your car, you might want to lay a tarp in the trunk or back seat to minimize damage and soiling.

6. Drive to your chosen scrap metal dealer. The metal dealer will weigh and evaluate your scrap iron and then offer you a payment.

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Use Sheers

Sheers can help dress up a window.

Looking to make a statement with your window treatments? Sheers may be just the thing you're looking for. They are a thin, transparent material frequently used in conjunction with curtains for an added aesthetic and privacy. The material lets in light during the day while impeding prying eyes from seeing in. Most are easily cleaned in a washing machine. Knowing use sheers may help to determine if sheers will work for you. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Affix a double rod above your window. If there is no curtain currently on the window, a double rod will suffice for both sheer and curtain. You at least want to hang the rod a couple of inches above the top of the window. Depending on the space between the top of your window and the ceiling, you may want to go a couple of inches higher, as long as there is at least 4-to-6 inches between the ceiling and the rod.

2. Attach a secondary rod if there is already a curtain rod at the window. Place it at the same level or slightly below the curtain rod already there. The secondary rod should be much closer to the wall than the curtain rod, so measure how far out the curtain rod comes out from the wall before purchasing a secondary rod.

3. Measure the length from the rod to the floor. The "length" is the measure from the rod hanging down to where you want the sheers and curtains to end. Some people prefer their curtains end just above the floor or at the floor, others want them to hang only a few inches below the window. Still others want the "puddling effect" of curtains that are deliberately purchased too long. Length is entirely your preference.

4. Iron the sheers carefully with the iron at a low temperature recommended for the type of sheer fabric. The material of the sheers will be creased from being folded in the packaging and will need to be pressed so they look crisp hanging at your windows.

5. Hang the sheers. Affix the sheers to the rod closest to the wall. Follow this by putting the curtains on the other rod.

6. Hang sheers on the horizontal bars of a canopy bed, which is another place that sheers are frequently used. Affix two panels on each side of the canopy, which may or may not include the head of the bed.

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Sea Glass & Driftwood Sculptures

Sea Glass & Driftwood Sculptures

People have been creating sculptures from items they find on beaches for a very long time. Sea glass and driftwood are just two of the many items on beaches which artists use to create unbelievable and breathtaking forms of art. Some artists create sculptures using only sea glass, while others use only driftwood. Still others have combined sea glass and driftwood into beautiful pieces.

Sea Glass Attributes

Old bottles, jars, plates, pottery, cups, dishes, windows and many other items either tossed or lost in the ocean waters are the foundation of the beautiful sea glass you find on beaches. Whether from someone littering or from a ship wreck long ago, various glass items end up on the ocean floor. Over time, the sharp edges of the glass become smooth and rounded due to a combination of the churning ocean waters and the rough sand and shells at the bottom of the ocean floor. Sometimes, sea glass will gain a frosted look from the abrasive sands.

Sea glass comes in a variety of colors, but some colors are rarer than others. The most common colors are white, green and brown since those were the most popular colors for jars and bottles. Some of the harder to find colors include red, orange, lavender and aqua.

Sea Glass Art

Some colors of sea glass are more common than others.

Artists have created many beautiful pieces using sea glass. Some artists and sculptors make sun catchers, while others make Christmas ornaments. Artists will use the sea glass as eyes on animals, use color variations to create shapes in pictures and various other techniques in their sculptures.

Sculptures and other art pieces vary in price depending on how rare the sea glass is that is in the art. Visit some of your local beach shops and see what sea glass art is available. Be wary though; some people try to duplicate sea glass by using tumblers. These glass pieces will not be as smooth or natural looking.

Rarity of Sea Glass

Due to the increased efforts of environmentalists and the arrival of plastics in the bottling industry, the chances of finding sea glass are becoming slimmer each day. Many individuals are tumbling glass to create artificial sea glass, which would otherwise take nature decades to create. Nowadays, a majority of the sea glass enthusiasts are relying on artificial sea glass for their artwork.

Driftwood Attributes

Some driftwood can take on the appearance of an animal.

Driftwood is wood that has fallen into the ocean. This wood, through the currents, waves, beach sand and winds, has been smoothed and shaped to what you find lying on beaches. Driftwood generally has a porous appearance due to effects of nature. This wood does not present a pollution hazard to the environment since it is of the earth and bio-degradable. Some fish and other aquatic animals will use the driftwood that sinks to the bottom of the ocean as shelter.

Driftwood Sculptures

There have been many driftwood sculptures made over the years. The artist Lucile Worlund created a technique called the LuRon method for processing the driftwood into magnificent sculptures. Some artists will choose to carve driftwood into various forms of art, while others will use the driftwood as a base for their sculptures. Artists will choose to leave the pieces of driftwood as natural as possible, using several pieces of wood to create their masterpieces.

Driftwood sculptures are prominent among environmentalist artists as they are biodegradable and are taken from wood that has usually fallen off trees naturally that have died near coasts or have been dragged into oceans due to flooding.

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