Archive for the "Home and Garden" Category

Stairs with Shelving and Drawers for Bunk Beds

March 24th, 2011
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Traditionally people associate bunk beds with young children. And they almost always associate access to the top bunk with a metal or wood ladder. And while these associations are definitely common and rooted in reality, there are actually a number of other bunk bed users, and additional options for making your way to the top bunk. No-one has yet developed an elevator for them, but one of the great access devices is a small staircase. There are miniature stairs to help small dogs climb up on furniture, why wouldn’t there be stairs for bunk beds? And actually, this serves more than one purpose and is an extremely space efficiency options.

Bunk beds with stairs are a great way to access the top bunk while also serving as a quality storage space. The stairs are frequently able to open into drawers where pajamas , sheets, etc. can be stored. In addition, it makes access to the top bunk safer and easier, which also expands the bunk bed user population, it might even entice the family dog up to the top bunk with you.. There are a variety of staircase designs for the bunk beds, and whatever the needs or aesthetic priorities are for you and your family, there is a model that will suit you. The possibilities with bunk beds are endless, and the options are limited only be individual space, or more appropriately creativity and design inspirations. Bunk beds are great for any room, including a spare or guest bedroom.

Home and Garden

Outdoor Lighting for Your Garden and Yard

November 27th, 2010
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Few people think about lighting when they begin planning a landscape project or any other exterior home improvement. They think about installing a deck, planting a garden, or redoing a walkway. Many forget to consider outdoor lighting until the very end of the project.

There are a variety of outdoor lighting systems available for gardens, yards, patios and even pools. They are related to the type and amount of power used. Conventional lighting is the most expensive option and may require a professional installer in order to ensure that the lights meet city safety requirements. These lights are much more susceptible to moisture and water, which severely limits where and how they can be installed.

Solar lights have become very popular in recent years. Their green factor combined with the elimination of the risk of electrocution make them attractive options — but only in climates with enough sunshine to generate the necessary power. These lights require more maintenance than conventional systems, though installation is much easier.

The best options seems to be low voltage systems. These combine the best of all worlds: lower installation costs, less maintenance required, and less expensive to run and safer than conventional lighting. It provides the most flexibility in where and how lights are installed and offers the added benefit of providing more illumination than solar lights.

Home and Garden

Chose the Right Safe

November 19th, 2010
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If you’re worried about the safety of your family, you will likely install a security system with alarms, motion-detection lighting and possibly even a neighborhood guard service. If you want to protect your money and valuables, you’ll probably want to take the additional step of buying a safe, installing tracking devices on your computers, and keeping a good, up-to-date inventory of all valuables.

The concept of buying a security safe seems simple enough, but the actual variety of models, sizes, and ratings on safes can make the process confusing. The best thing to do is to start by considering exactly what you need from the safe. Is it for documents and money or do you have a large amount of jewelry, heirlooms and other valuables? How big is the biggest thing you want to store in a safe? Do you have a spot picked out in your home for the safe and, if so, how large a safe will fit there? Are there alternative spots that may be more suitable? These types of questions will help you determine what type and size of safe you need.

You’ll also want to consider what you’re trying to protect your valuables from. Most people want to secure valuables from thieves, but safes are also rated for fire protection. How much protection from the elements, heat, water, and even the collapse of the building, do you need? Figuring out how much and what kind of protection you need is the other half of the equation. Once you know both, then you’ll know which is the right safe for you.

Home and Garden

Planning a Pool

November 11th, 2010
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Now that the long, hot Houston summer is over, it’s time to plan for next summer. For many people that means finally putting in that backyard pool. The idea of a pool that’s available any time the temperature and humidity gets too high is hard to resist. Home owners who are seriously considering installing a pool need to realize that now is the time to act. If they wait too long, there’s a good chance their pool won’t be ready for next summer.

The main problem is that demand is still high and Pool builders in Houston can only take on so many projects at a time. Since projects can take several months to complete, it’s important to choose a builder and get started right away. There will likely be a gap between the planning stage and the actual construction time, especially if the installer is one of the better, and therefore more popular, ones.

Before contacting a builder, it’s important to make some initial decisions about the pool. These include size, purpose, and location on the property. Home owners who are willing to do their research can also begin to look into different materials, pump systems and additional features they may want. Once they have their idea in mind, they need to get some estimates, choose a builder, and get their project scheduled — with any luck it will be ready before that first really hot day of 2011 comes around.

Home and Garden

Avoiding Common Pool Building Mistakes

October 17th, 2010
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Choosing from the plethora of Dallas swimming pool builders to find the right one to build your pool can seem like a minefield of mistakes. To keep the process from turning into a horror story, remember that a pool is a construction project. It’s not like buying a car or other major investment. These builders will be coming to your home and working for weeks, if not months to permanently alter your yard or home. If you follow these tips, you’ll have a better experience.

Don’t be afaid to ask questions. This is the number one mistake homeowners make. Thinking that the builder will know what’s best is a close second. Do your own research and ask lots of questions before hiring a builder. This includes asking for references and then actually contacting the references and asking them questions too.

Don’t shop by price. The lowest price is not automatically the best. You need to balance the time costs along with material costs. A more inexperienced builder or a sloppy one may make mistakes that end up costing you more in the long run. Look at the big picture as you would with any construction job.

Don’t look only at looks. While you want your pool and surrounding area to be aesthetically pleasing, remember to consider safety issues as well as the mechanics of plumbing, electricity, heating, and filtration for your pool. All these factors should trump what looks best.

Home and Garden

Calypso and the Garden Fountain

August 8th, 2010
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The contemporary garden is a place of relaxation and diversion. People gather here for entertaining and socializing, and it’s also a nice place to spend time in solitary contemplations. It has become an everyday place, so that people may not consider its origins, but the most elegant gardens can always bring about the sense of mystery, and awe, of nature. Some care to the layout, and some well placed garden fountains , and a contemporary space suddenly has touches of the classical.

The connection to the classic is no coincidence. Gardens have inspired many for centuries. In Homer’s epic, Odysseus spends seven years with a rather famous gardener, Calypso . His verse about her garden fountains is powerful enough to remind and inspire into the modern era. At the same time, it’s interesting to note that his inspiration came from stories of the great Greek pantheon of deities.

Calypso, of course, was no ordinary gardener. She had the power to promise immortality, and also kept Odysseus captive to her love . He forgot about his journey, and also his destination. She is the one who causes him to lose his navigational star, which is the origin of the contemporary notion of desire. Gardens can inspire, and the way they speak to the desire for visual pleasure draws on modern notions of beauty, and also speaks to a much older idea of splendor.

Home and Garden

Next Day Blinds Achieves Greatness Once Again

February 19th, 2010
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Perhaps because it is something that we all use on an often times daily basis, we do not realize that retail is hard industry to work in. From grumpy customers to unreasonable demands, those who work in customer service can never really be sure what to expect at the start of each day. Having spent several years in retail, I can appreciate the challenges. I also have great respect for those who can overcome them. One such company is Next Day Blinds. Virginia ,Maryland and D.C. based, Next Day Blinds key focus is their customers. When you put the customer’s needs first and are willing to do whatever it takes, you cannot help but be successful.
Next Day Blinds has been a long time member of the Better Business Bureau. Their profile can be found on this site: http://www.bbb.org/greater-maryland/business-reviews/blinds/next-day-blinds-corporation-in-jessup-md-23011175. The Better Business Bureau holds businesses to the highest levels of trust, integrity, and transparency. Because of their honorable business practices Next Day Blinds continues to hold an A+ with the BBB.
Another source for evaluating and reviewing business practices is Angie’s List. Even though Angie’s List is on a more local level, the requirements are high. To be considered for the award, businesses must maintain an overall grade of A after receiving a minimum number of reviews, they cannot be on the”Angie’s List Penalty Box” list or have an unsatisfactory review with the Better Business Bureau. For the second year in a row the Next Day Blinds awards wall will be graced with the Angie’s List Super Service Award.
Some may consider it bragging to point out the achievements of others; however, I do not see it that way. When I find a company that distinguishes itself the way that Next Day Blinds has, it makes me want to tell everyone I know. It is companies like Next Day Blinds that run on honor and integrity that deserve our business. So with that I give a hearty congratulations to Next Day Blinds. Keep up the good work!

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Outdoor Built in Grills are Perfect for Entertaining

December 14th, 2009
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Tim and Kyla were looking to remodel their backyard. Tim was extremely interested in building a large deck and adding some sports related equipment and accessories to the main yard area. Kyla was not opposed to this and even liked many of his ideas, however she was much more interested in establishing a nice kitchen and dining area into which she could invite guests for dinners and parties. The couple had originally planned to add these new elements on an item by item and theme by them basis, though as they were making their plans they quickly realized that they were going to end up with a complete overhaul of the backyard and decided it was best to have their full design elements completed before beginning.

Ultimately it took the couple two months to create all of their plans and decide on what all they would like to include. Kyla was thrilled that Tim agreed not only to add the kitchen appliances such as the counter area that would include a popular model of the built in gas grills but also to include a nice dining area with a built in fireplace for both ambiance and adding warmth to a cool spring evening.

After six months their entire backyard was finished and they were ready to host their first dinner party for friends. They decided to make it rather informal and cooked barbeque chicken breasts with potato salad and fruit. They had a small fire going which created a great atmosphere and after eating they planned to have a croquet tournament, which was one of the sports elements Tim thought would be most fitting for their area. They had both wine and beer and a strawberry cheesecake for desert. Ultimately the party was a huge success and everyone had a great time. This was just the first of what would become an ongoing event. And it was only the tip of the iceberg on activities that would occur in their new backyard paradise.

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Heat Us Up Stove

December 7th, 2009
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Have you been looking for a new stove for you cabin in the woods. There are so many heating stoves to see. If your going to put it in the get away cabin up north do you want it to be a new modern style or and old classic vintage style. it is really fun to look through all the history of stoves and see the designs and ideas that made them morph into what they are today. Every country has their version of a stove so unique to its local heritage. Who were some of the inventors of these progressing stoves?

Benjamin Franklin was a contributor of the American twist on the stove. He created the iron furnace stove which many call the Franklin Stove but he called the Pennsylvania Stove. The first kerosene stove was designed by Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist. Finally a soot free option was available. Coal stoves came around in 1833 with Jordan Mott’s design ideas. This stove had good ventilation so that the coal would burn more efficiently. The British contributed with the first gas stove. Patented and idea holder James Sharp us the first gas stove which hit the market in 1826. Then there came the big Carpenter Electric Manufacturing Co with the first invention of the electric stove in 1891. William Hadaway was the first person to get the patent on the electric stove in June of 1896. Mr Hadaway was a real inventor. He came up with the first toaster as well. Westinghouse made the horizontal toaster.

The industrial revolution gas us all even more stoves. By the 1920 most people had gas stoves in there homes. They had top burners and deep ovens. By the 1930s the electric stoves were giving the gas stoves a run for their money. It took a while for the electric stoves to compete with gas because they were available in the 1890s. Now we can just pop a quick dinner into the microwave oven and hit start.

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Benjamin Franklin and the Cast Iron Stove

December 1st, 2009
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While the hearth and fireplace has been with us for tens of thousands of years, it took one man to make a major improvement in this simple technology — two hundred and sixty seven years ago, in 1742, Benjamin Franklin, in a life noted for a veritable inventing spree, created in addition to bifocals, the public library, and the use of electricity, the reinvention of the fireplace.  Of course, I’m talking about the cast iron stove.  He called it the Pennsylvania Fireplace, and today we know it, more simply, as the Franklin Stove.

In Franklin’s time, the fireplace was a dangerous thing, using a lot of wood and wasting a lot of heat.  The Franklin Stove allowed people to cook and warm their homes with a little less danger and with less wood.  The cast iron stove looks like a fireplace but it contains metal baffles and this increases its heating efficiency to such a degree that it has been used now to warm homes and farm houses for over two hundred and fifty years!

Here are some of the highlights of this amazing device.  Two years after he invented the stove, he wrote a pamphlet titled, “An Account of the New-Invented Pennsylvania Fireplaces.”  Then, in 1744, twenty-eight years later, a man named David Rittenhouse made the first real improvement to the stove: He added the L-shaped chimney.  By 1790, the stove was considered a vital part of America.  In 1895, the design was adjusted again, adding a flue damper you could adjust as well as a slanted fireback.  In 1800, several manufacturers strove to improve the design, making the stove even more popular.

The state’s governor offered Franklin a patent, which would provide Franklin with the sole right to make and sell the stoves.  Franklin turned down the patent, believing, as he said, that the appreciation of his invention was better than financial reward — a selfless act that would one would find hard to replicate here in the 21st Century.

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