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Home Improvement

Colour trends for your home

August 12, 2018

Orange is Hot for 2008 and 2009, the colour Orange continues its stellar run as a fixture for home dcor colour in 2008; and the leader in Colour forecasting, Pantone, projects that the Orange colour trend will continue on beyond 2010. Its no surprise why, Orange is a warm, inviting, dynamic, invigorating and energetic colour.

Home decor based on your Colour Personality – Confused about selecting colour for your home? Why not try choosing decorating colors based on your unique personality? I decided to have a bit of fun and searched out several websites that cover colour personality types.

The Pratt and Lambert colour quiz was the most comprehensive colour personality test of all those I reviewed. Taking into account not only colour likes but other factors that make you different. This test was the only one that returned a colour scheme that was very similar to my personal decorating style. I was impressed. According to the Pratt & Lambert site my colour personality:

Colours in this palette are reminiscent of a sunny seaside. These combinations are refreshing and invigorating. They provide sparkle with lightness while also imbuing a sense of soothing calm. Oceanic hues are ideal for making a bathroom, bedroom or study an oasis. These colours provide a balance for those with a hectic life. The person who decorates with these colours is looking for their home to be their escape.
Home and Garden TV has an interesting colour wheel that you can spin with your mouse and find the colour that sings to your soul. When I spun the colour wheel my eyes landed on my favourite colour Pink. Once I selected Pink, I was given five other shades of pink to choose from. I ended up selecting two pinks (Lavender Pink and Hot Pink) I adore. According to the HGTV site these colour choices mean:

If you like lavender pink, youre seeking to be more inventive. New possibilities flood your mind. By constantly examining possible practical applications, you create new things, new ideas. Using this purple-pink shade in room design is empowering. You and others will become more determined and self-constructive in a lavender pink office or library. Because it invites warm, exciting conversations, its perfect for dining or living rooms. Guests will feel welcomed.

If you like hot pink, you are constantly thinking about exciting things to do. Through your body language and appearance, without even being aware, you are sending out enticing messages. Designing with this magenta shade of pink creates adventurous conversations and situations. It makes you and others less sceptical and more enthusiastic. Use this colour to turn dull into exciting. Think party room!

Not scared to use strong colour, winters often love reds but avoid soft pinks. Achromatic colour schemes employing tonal variations of black, white and grey are commonplace, giving clean lines and sharp contrasts. Assertive purples are considered a safe choice for the main colour in a colour scheme, a sharp contrast to other seasons that will use purple sparingly as an accent. Blues run the gamut of ice blues through to blue blacks, cool and delineating and reflect onto the green palette giving a range of strong aquas. Neutrals are blacks, whites and greys for dramatic relief against the stronger feature colours. You wont find warm creams here. Simple colour schemes are favoured – one colour as the canvas and then accents of other strong colours for contrast and drama. Like winter personalities, the winter palette is self-assured and intense. Subtle colours are left to the other seasons.

Colour Psychology – Perhaps many of you are contemplating new decorating and painting projects and perhaps you arent aware of the impact that colour has on our mood. Before you pick up that paint brush or roller, read through our colour psychology information. It just might help you set the appropriate mood for your indoor space.

First Things First – Choosing a Colour Scheme

Red packs a wallop, physiologically speaking, increasing blood pressure, heartbeat and energy in most people. It instils feelings of intimacy and passion. Red also increases the appetite, which explains why it is used so often in restaurants, and why it can be a good choice for a formal dining room.

Orange, like red, tends to warm a room, but in a more friendly and welcoming way. As a result, paints in various shades and tints of orange work well in living rooms and family rooms.

Yellow is also warm and welcoming, but it is more attention- getting than either red or orange. For this reason, it is a good paint colour to use in poorly lit foyers or dark hallways.

Blue, which is part of the cool colour palette, makes us feel calm and tranquil, so it is ideal for use in bedrooms. But since blue works as an appetite suppressant (perhaps because there are few blue foods) it is not the best option for a dining room … unless you’re on a diet.

Green is another relaxing colour that is much more versatile than blue. Light greens are ideal for bedrooms and living rooms; mid tones are good for kitchens and dining rooms (many foods are green). Also, because green is calming, it is often used in hospitals, workplaces and schools.

Violet is a tricky colour, psychologically speaking. Many adults dislike purples, but are fond of the rose family, which can work in many rooms, including dining rooms, bedrooms and libraries. Young children, on the other hand, respond favourably to violet, so this colour can be used successfully in children’s bedrooms and play areas.

These general guidelines are a good starting point in your search for a paint colour. But remember that colour choice is a very personal matter. You’re the one who has to live with your new paint colour, so choose a hue that suits you, your family and your lifestyle.

And after investing time choose the right colour, make sure it continues to look that way long-term by investing in a top quality paint.

Home Improvement

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Advantages of Travertine Flooring To Add Value To Your Home

August 5, 2018

If you are looking to add great value to your home then considering travertine tiles to add that spice of elegance and beauty. Travertine floors are made from the majestic natural stone and offer incredible depth and colour, adding a great aesthetic appearl to your home. Travertine flooring has its advantages and limitations. Understanding your lifestyle, needs and preferences is key to ensuring that the function of this flooring option is fully maximized for your home.

So what exactly is travertine?

Travertine flooring is made from travertine, a type of limestone that forms through mineral deposits, particularly in and around hot springs. Travertine limestone is composed of calcium carbonate, the same material that makes stalactites and stalagmites.

Travertine tiles have been used for many years not just for its durability but also for its looks and texture. The Romans, for example, built many of their famous buildings using travertine. A notable example is the Colosseum, a building made mostly from the material and has remained as one of the most enduring landmarks in Italy. It is also commonly found in some of the world’s oldest buildings.

So what are the advantages of travertine flooring?

Travertine flooring is quite durable and with sufficient care, it can last for many years and maintain its beauty. When sold, the material is usually displayed with a mark indicating its hardness on the MOH scale. In general, travertine registers at the MOH scale with a 3-4 rating, which is near or equivalent to that of marble. As long as it is sealed, treated and cared for, it can withstand regular foot traffic plus lots more.

If your flooring is not sealed and installed in its rough form, it offers excellent traction. This is why a travertine paver is safer to use than ceramic tiles outdoors in the garden or patio. Travertine also comes in several colours such as beige, white or ivory, brown, red and gold so tiles can be matched to a preferred colour scheme. It is also processed and sold in different finishes such as chiselled, brushed, tumbled and honed.

What are the disadvantages of travertine flooring?

Travertine flooring is made out of natural limestone. If it is unsealed, it can be damaged or stained by high-acid products because it is by nature porous. Travertine is alkaline and will react when it comes in contact with acids from liquids and foods. It can also be damaged over time due to corrosion if cleaned using acid-based products. It also tends to be rather slippery when wet, especially if it is polished.

This type of flooring is also a high-end construction material and as such, tends to be priced at a premium. It is possible it can be as expensive as granite tiles or even more. Travertine flooring also behaves similarly to other natural stone materials in that it can chip or break and is vulnerable to scratching. It also tends to be quite heavy, particularly the larger 12″x12″ tile units, which can weight as much as 2.5kgs.

Travertine flooring also requires regular care and maintenance and may not be the best option in homes where there are kids and/or pets if it is unsealed. Very often you’ll find that it is used more often in the patio and living room areas and occassionally in the kitchen or bathroom.

Home Improvement

How To Tighten Tension Wire On A Chain Link Fence

July 29, 2018

You made the decision to build a chain link fence. You have the posts set. You even figured out how to get the rail ends on and have the top rail in place. Now its time to put the bottom tension wire on. No matter how hard you try or how hard you pull the wire, you just cant seem to get it taut.

The common cable used as bottom tension cable on chain link fencing is a 9 gauge galvanized wire. It usually comes in rolls of 170? or more. The wire is thick, heavy, and is difficult to stretch. Here is a simple way to tighten the wire, and all you need is a pair of pliers. Start by attaching one end of the wire at a terminal post (also known as an end post or corner pole). Put the wire through the brace band and wrap it around its self a few times. It is not recommended to try and pinch the wire in the brace band to secure it. Reel the cable out along the fence line.

Cut the cable a couple feet past the next terminal post you are securing it to. Walk the fence line again and make sure the tension wire has no kinks, is not caught on any roots or under growth, and get out as many of the loops (caused by it being spooled) as you can. Take the free end of the tension cable and thread it through the brace band at the terminal post you are going to attach too. Pull the cable as tight as you can get it, and wrap it around itself a few times as you did at the first pole.

The wire should be fairly tight, but may push away from the poles about a foot. Tighten your brace bands. Take your pliers (lineman pliers work best) and grab the tension cable with the pliers by either one of the terminal poles. With a firm grip, twist the pliers to the left or right. The tension cable will form a z were you twisted. Work your way down the fence line twisting the tension wire in this matter at every pole.

You will notice the farther you work down the line, the harder the wire is to twist. This is due to the wire getting tighter and less slack being able to be twisted. Put as many twists in the wire as needed to achieve the tension you desire.

This is a simple way to tighten bottom tension cable and make sure the bottom of your chain link fence is secure.

Find out more about chain link fence and other fence materials Go to: http://www.sefencellc.com

Home Improvement

Corner Pantry Advantages And Disadvantages

July 24, 2018

For some designs of the kitchen, the corner store may be a good way to add storage space. Can be covered by the door, or leave the door open, so the items inside are exposed and displayed. A corner store is a type of kitchen cabinets that can be either small, designed to accommodate the food non-perishable, or long enough to hold mops and brooms.

Regardless of their size, and corner store makes use of space that would otherwise be lost, such as behind the door. This type of storage offers some of the advantages and disadvantages of more than a store cupboard of the type normal.

Everything nearby

With the corner store, everything is in or near the front of the shelves. This means that you do not return to long years in the cabinet or drawer to make installation easier access. This also means that items will not be pushed back and forgotten. By the same angle and displays the unique dimensions and sizes.

Easy to install

If you have purchased the corner store by the system and then compile and install is a breeze. For the most part, it is installed like any Council of Ministers, which was launched in the wall studs with screws simple.

Less storage space

While you are in to take advantage of some unused space, and you are still limited in what you can do with it. If you decide to close it down, you need shelving corner, which can reduce the storage space usable. That is raised the actual square footage that you can use to store material once you establish the doors or walls.

A walk in the store cupboard, on the other hand, will allow you to shelving box which gives extra space for storage and organizational units and systems.

Tough construction

If you are building a store on the corner of their own, and will face the task of building shelves, doors and walls in the corners of strange. This can present some unique challenges that are probably not part of building a regular walk in the store cupboard.
Situational

A corner store design is circumstantial. If your kitchen does not have room for a walk in closet, you will need to take advantage of the available space. Can shelving unit and corner to corner to make storage space unusable.

Home Improvement

Winterizing Your Pool

July 17, 2018

When the cold breeze starts to blow in and summer time comes to a halt you’re forced to say goodbye to poolside leisure and fun. Unless you’re brave enough to take a plunge in the cold water then it will remain a distant memory until the warm weather decides to return.

When the warm weather returns and it’s finally time to jump back in, will your swimming pool be ready? There are important steps to take during the winter months to ensure your swimming pool is safe and ready for the summer time air.

Location matters the most when considering how you’ll tackle your pools winter maintenance. If you live in the north odds are you’ve already winterized your pool already but if you haven’t there are a few things to keep in mind. Draining and covering your pool and adding antifreeze to your pipes can save your pools life. If you’re someone who lives in an area where winter only occurs for a short period then there’s not much you have to do. Most pools are installed with freeze-fighting equipment that can handle short time winter months.

Down here in the south true winterization isn’t completely necessary, says Dominick Pizzuto, owner of On Time Pool Company. “We install a two-speed pump that allows for chlorination and filtration year-round, as well as a freeze protector in all of our pools.”

Chlorinating your pool year round really isn’t that much work. In the winter your chemical usage will be a fraction, up to 1/3rd, than you would use during swimming season. It is still best to clean your pool thoroughly, shock and clarify your pool before closing up shop for the winter. If you decide to cover your pool then you can limit the chemical usage even more! By investing in a safety mesh cover you won’t have to drain your pool to prevent the water level from rising. This ensures that leaves and people stay clear of chilly water. If you want the best protection for your pool a LOOP_LOC Model is highly suggested. These can withstand an elephant’s weight so all children, pets and clumsy adults will all be safe and accident free.

In warm environments you’ll be able to install freeze protectors. The freeze protectors act to shift the pump into the highest gear when the temperature drops below 32 degrees. The max speed allows for an optimum flow during freezing temperatures and prevents any damage to the pools pipes and plumbing.

If you aren’t sure about the process involved to ensure your pool is preserved this winter call your san antonio pools and accessories company. With the proper tools, winter maintenance will be a breeze. Discuss winterization with your local pool company on what steps a pool owner might take to prepare for the winter months in your area. Freeze damage is the last thing you’ll want to take care of when it’s below freezing outside.

Home Improvement