Archive for October, 2011

The conventional resources are depleting, hence a lot of research is dedicated to find out solutions to find a new source of energy or optimization of the current resources. Even from a household perspective, many small things help in saving energy. For example, the replacement of CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) over the traditional incandescent ones facilitates the reduction in power usage. Also, the CFL has a considerably longer work life. Here are a few tips to ensure your CFL remains in a good condition for a longer period of time.

It is a bad idea to use a non dimmable CFL in a dimmer switch, as it may call for the flickering of the light. Allow the CFL a sufficient time between its subsequent ON (or OFF) positions. Rapidly pressing the button may cause flickering of the CFL. Also, make sure you call in for professional technical help when required.

The new age has brought with it many astounding home decor solutions, some of which were never ever thought of (by normal human minds). From the oddly shaped (yet growing in demand) art boxes to comfy designer chairs – every decor invention surpasses its predecessors. The zip tie lamps are one such brilliant invention. The lamp looks like a fluffy ball of cables, each cable having its own illumination, though none of them are so. You can make your own zip tie lamp with a few materials and handy tools to begin with.

You can buy the zip tie cables at any computer store. You will need a lot of patience while doing this project, owing to its complex nature. You will need to fix the light source neatly into the holder and adjust the wires so that they fill the basket neatly. Secure the cable ties at as many locations as you want.

Quite often, people tend to get bored of the new age miracles and wish to resort to the good old days. An occasional retro themed party facilitates people to dress and walk and talk the way history did. However, you would be glad to know that you can even add a tinge of retro spice to your house – and it is beyond the classy hip hop music and shiny drapes. You would be surprised to know that the retro touch has extended itself even to the lighting solutions.

Retro styled lamps are easily available at your local antique stores. One of such famous lamps was the psychedelic lava lamp, which had blobs of shining liquid inside the container. You can also go for the well popular Tiffany styled lamps, which are hand crafted and have been adorning houses during the good old days. You can also go for the art deco or mid century lamps.

Wine is a very rewarding drink – not only because of the oomph scene it creates on the occasion, but also because the empty bottles serve many purposes after the party (and I am not talking about bottle fights). A collage of these empty bottles can lighten up your mantel. Also, a few simple steps can help you transform this empty bottle into a hurricane lamp, useful for lighting as well as warming purpose. First, you need to clean the wine bottle thoroughly, using a good soap detergent.

You do not want any residue at the bottom. Once done, drill a metal tube (about one fourth of an inch in diameter) through the cork. This will serve as the wick holder. Next, insert the wick. Use oil in water emulsion as a fuel. The water base prevents the oil from evaporating into the air. You can use a chimney to cover the top of the bottle.

When it comes to designing your house, the first thing that comes to mind is the big hole the project will drill in your already tight budget. From raw materials to labor cost – money finds its own way to slip away, wanting you to postpone that dream decor project. However, it is nice to know that there are ways in which you can achieve your desired output at an astoundingly lower budget.

First, make a note of what your room is all about and what you want to transform it into. Do the basic measurements so that you have a concrete plan to work upon. Did you know that a couple of ornamental plants can do the magic similar to chic artifacts? Instead of going in for fancy cabinets, use simple box cabinets and give them a manual touch over. You can use cheap yet sober looking lamps to dimly lighten up the space.

Children are very specific about their wants – quite unlike the adults who are bound to get confused on the way through. Let it be hobbies, candies or opinions about their teachers – kids will never listen to a second opinion. In such a case, the best we can do is to assist their hobbies by creating an environment which will reflect or nurture them. Though the recent fishing regulations have brought down the fun in a ‘Dad and son’ fishing day out, you can still create a similar environment in your child’s bedroom.

Use a color scheme (and theme) based upon a local lake or sea (full of coral, sea bed and so on). The furniture can look like something out of a fairy tale fishing cabin. You can use curtains, pillow covers and sheets which will have colorful fish prints over them. You can add pictures of famous fishermen.

When you are on a mission to remodel your home, you can get some additional credits if you are good at playing with various color schemes. A thorough knowledge of the color wheel and ‘what complements what’ will help you bring out a more appealing picture. When it comes to your kitchen, using a shade of green as the foundation is a good option, since the color reflects the natural aura and has a calming effect. You can add complementary colors like bright shades of red and blue to neutralize the green aura, thereby creating a perfectly blended theme.

If you wish to stress over the green hue, paint your kitchen windows and doors with a somewhat light shade (like cream) so that they can stand out against the green background. Work over the color of objects like rugs, the crockery, flower vases and most importantly – the kitchen cabinets.

With endless ways and locations (in your house) to flaunt your creativity, one is bound to get confused as to where to begin. One obvious location is the mantle. Though people prefer having mantles near the eye’s level, there are some households which secure the mantle place at a higher position. Such tall mantles often pose a problem from the decor point of view. Here are a few tips to make a tall mantle a well looked-at place.

Keep decorative objects which will not need frequent dusting, when it comes to taller places. You can assemble a set of decorative candles or wax figures. Trophies are another option to be thought upon (though it is one of the most traditional ones). You can even put up a series of elegant pictures or even paintings. You can use S hooks for tilting them forward, so as to get a good view.

Maintaining a house is quite difficult, though a few guidelines can surely help ease the pain a bit. Also, many of the household equipments are constructed from materials which, after a few months of usage, start showing signs of wearing. Take your counter tops for example – after a few years, they are bound to get dull. You will definitely think of installing a new counter top, getting rid of the old one. However, such a replacement asks for big bucks. A simple way would be to gather some good paint and replenish the old counter top, breathing in a new wave of air.

Make sure you cover every other object in the near vicinity of your counter top. Sand the top well, while taking care that you do not overdo it. Apply a coat of primer and let it dry. Later, add a coat of your favorite paint (you can also opt for a texture).

When the amount of things stuffed into a room exceed a certain threshold value, it becomes necessary to either throw away the trash or to neatly arrange the components. Though most of us have ready made wardrobes or cabinets, such storage equipments often occupy a considerate amount of floor space. Wouldn’t it be greater if you just cut a couple of shelves inside your walls. This way, you can increase the total floor space of your house and hence a storage space for those randomly lying objects.

It is necessary that you make a rough, and then a final draft of the shelves. This way, you have a thorough idea what to expect after your project is successfully completed. You will have to measure the distance between your two stud walls and accordingly plan the width of your shelves. Use the right tools and observe utmost caution while handling them.