Besides an introduction to kitchen organization, I’ll provide tips and guide on kitchen storage which depends to some extent on the shape and layout of the kitchen. The four classic kitchen arrangements are the U-shape, the galley, the L-shape and the island. The U-shape has work surface on three sides, the galley has a counter along one or both long sides of a rectangle. The L-shape is exactly that; on two sides at right angles to each other. An island configuration is a variation on the L-shape, with a block of work surface with storage beneath.
There are many ways of achieving a sense of completeness in your home. Walls, floors, architectural details, furniture, and soft furnishings are all important components which can be adjusted to harmonize or provide a splash of contrast color. Everything has a part to play in the overall look, from walls to paintings and small decorations.
Using the same or similar flooring throughout your home is an easy way to impose a sense of continuity - it also creates a feeling of spaciousness. You could, for example, choose natural sisal or a light honey-colored carpet for halls and stairs, vinyl tiles or woodblock in similar colors in the kitchen, with stripped and polished floorboards in the main reception rooms and bedrooms. Rugs can be used to vary the look of each room, and to pick up color from the rest of the room.
There’s little doubt that the bathroom is probably one of the most used rooms in the house. But sometimes, in terms of design and remodeling, it’s one of the most neglected. Sometimes bathroom renovation only happens when a leak or some other plumbing problem develops. It’s true that leaking, moisture and dampness are signals that a renovation is needed. But today’s bathrooms are also becoming much more of a personal retreat and are getting more attention in terms of renovation and design.
In part two of our two part series, we look at some specific decorating tips and ideas for apartment bedrooms…
Style Pointers
WALLS AND CEILING
Fresh white walls and ceiling reflect the light and create a spacious atmosphere as well as a neutral backdrop for colorful furnishings and accessories.
ACCESSORIES
Framed posters reinforce the blue and white color theme and break up the wall space. A few well-chosen accessories - vases of flowers, bedside candlelamps, and simple knickknacks - add a personal stamp.
SOFT FURNISHINGS
Unlike a torn screen or a squeaky door, plumbing and electrical emergencies demand immediate attention. Here’s how to handle common plumbing and electrical emergencies in your home.
Plumbing Emergencies
One of the best ways to be prepared for a plumbing emergency is to have a plumbing repair kit located in an easily accessible place. This kit should include the following:
A working flashlight and spare batteries
A few rolls of Teflon tape
Plumber’s putty
Epoxy putty
Pipe joint compound
Silicone caulk
A pipe repair kit
A set of plumbing hand tools:
Screwdrivers
Adjustable wrench
Sliding jaw wrench
Locking jaw wrench
Hacksaw
Tubing cutter
- Ensure Proper Light. When shooting indoors, turn on all the lights in the room if possible. This will avoid graininess when your camera tries to brighten up the image. As a last resort, use an on-camera light, although it will give you a more “deer in the headlights” look compared to the natural beauty of multiple lamps. When shooting outdoors, keep the sun above your subject, or to the side. This will prevent your subject from having to squint in the sunlight, or from having the background too bright.
- Turn off the Auto-Iris (exposure) if Possible. The iris is what controls the amount of light coming into the camera. Normally this is set to be automatic, so you don’t have to think about it. But this results in the video image being brightened and darkened constantly as you pan between subjects, or having your subject darkened to where you can’t see it because you had a bright window behind them. If you camera has the option of using manual exposure, be sure to turn it to manual so it stays even.
- Avoid Zooming. Walk in close (within 5 ft.) to your subject whenever possible and avoid zooming, which makes your image shaky and obscures the field of view around your subject. Plus you continue to lose light as you zoom in. If you’re shooting people or children, a close up of them while you’re completely zoomed out seems as if you’re right there next to them, not some distant stranger trying to peek in. Furthermore, your audio will be much louder, cleaner, and tighter when you shoot close up to your subjects.
- Frame your Subject Properly. Now that you’ve got the camera close up to your baby in the walker, now frame the shot where the head is NOT in the center of the viewfinder all the time. Always try to put the back of their head near the edge of the viewfinder. This is a much more pleasing picture to watch, instead of having faces bumped up against the edge of the screen.
- Overshoot, then Edit Later. You will get far more memorable moments on camera if the camera is actually recording compared to when it is turned off. So overshoot constantly even if nothing seems like it’s happening, because eventually it will! Go back later and edit out the slow stuff. If it seems too tedious or too expensive to invest in all that tape stock, consider upgrading to a non-tape camera, such as a DVD recorder, hard drive recorder, or even a good digital still camera can shoot decent full screen video and record it to a memory card. This way you can record nonstop and delete the boring scenes instantly. The result will be beautifully composed, lighted, and entertaining home movies that your family will cherish forever.
Paul Lyke is the managing director at MidSouth Visual, Inc., a Nashville video production company.
Not that any of you were seething in anticipation, but I have finally finished with Part II. We will now discuss payment policies and the installation of your new carpet.
Feb
14
14
Hardwood Floor Care Tips - Care A Little And Get A Lifetime Of Value
Posted by admin under Home Improvement
You have made a substantial investment in hardwood flooring to get an impeccable home décor - now it is time to learn how to care for your precious hardwood floor, so that your investment is well protected and keeps on adding value to your property for years and for generations.
Here is a simple hardwood care and maintenance guide for every homeowner.
With the proper care and maintenance regimen it is possible to retain the original richness, warmth and natural beauty of your hardwood floors for years. And the good news is: hardwood floors are among the easiest to maintain and keep clean.
On Color Restoration
Obsessive carpet cleaning is one of the reasons why carpets lose their color. Whether they enjoy it or not, there are really some neat freaks who can’t help but clean their carpets as often as they can get the chance to, especially when the carpet is new. What these people don’t know is that cleaning can cause a lot of damage to a carpet especially with its color.
Another reason why the carpet’s color can fade is because of accidents involving bleach spills. These loss of carpet colors can be counteracted if you use a bleach stain carpet repair liquid.
Red is traditionally used in dining rooms - the Victorians believed it aided the digestion. It makes a wonderful backdrop for sparkling silver and glass, sets off the rich tones of dark wood furniture, and casts a romantic glow in candlelight. This is a room used generally in the evenings and for short periods so it avoids the danger of becoming oppressive, and you can afford to be lavish with color.