Set a budget for yourself. Having a wide variety of flooring to choose from is great, but the downside is that it is easy to get overwhelmed quickly, and this makes you very susceptible to overspending. Remember to balance style with quality with your budget when you make your final choice.

Tip #1
You will be wise to match the room with your choice of flooring, whether hardwood or otherwise. For example, do not try to put hardwood flooring in a bathroom, due to the high levels of moisture a bathroom receives.

Tip #2
Different areas of the house demand different types of wood. For example, wood floors that have very light or very dark finishes typically do not fare well in the kitchen.

Tip #3
Choose a hardwood flooring that has an appropriate finish to match your lifestyle. A sitting room that is seldom used will let you get away with a lighter finish. However a hallway or living room will get continual traffic and requires a choice that offers a tougher finish that can stand up to a lot of wear and tear.

Tip #4
Consider installation – doing it yourself or having a professional installer do it for you? Many people successfully install their own flooring, but only after they have done their homework. It is often easer to hire a professional, but do you due diligence when selecting a hardwood flooring installer. You will want to be absolutely sure that it will be installed correctly.

Tip #5
Choosing the color and style of the floor can be the fun part. Choose a hardwood that fits your personal taste and your lifestyle. The comparatively high cost of the flooring and installation demands choosing a wood that will not go out of style quickly.

5 Basic Tips When Choosing Hardwood Flooring is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

1. Choose the right plants

Kids will more likely choose plants and flowers with bright colors, so have a load of varieties of plants. Examples of bright flowers are zinnias and cosmos; these will keep your children fascinated. Don’t forget the sunflowers. Anything that is tall and fuzzy will surely overwhelm a kid. Make sure these plants will not cause any allergic reactions from your kid.

2. Starting seeds

Give your children the freedom to help you with the staring seeds. Some seeds might be too small for the tiny fingers, but their digits can be of help in covering them with dirt.

3. Home Gardening Memoir

To last the kids’ enthusiasm until the plants grow, make them create a home gardening journal. This activity will allow them to use their imagination to sketch on what the plants will be like and write down when they placed in the ground the seeds and when they first witnessed a sprout pushing up.

4. Make sure that the garden is somewhere very visible for the kids.

Before you start home gardening, pick a spot where the kids often play or walk by. Every time they see and pass by their garden, the more they will sight changes.

5. Dirt playing

Always remember that children are fond of playing with dirt or mud. They can help you ready the soil, even if what they are only doing is stomping on the clumps. To make home gardening with the kids more fun, you can provide them with kid-sized tools to make home gardening very engaging for them.

6. Your kids own the garden

A picture of each plant will enable the children to foresee what the flowers will look like. You can also put your child’s name on a placard, so everyone can see that it’s their garden.

7. Playing with the water

Playing with water is right up there with playing with dirt. Look for a small watering can that they can use to water their garden. You can show them how to let the water go right to the roots of the plants. Hoses want only trouble. They are simply formidable for little hands to control.

8. Kids commit mistakes

Adults, too, are sometimes impatient. Give the kids full control to their garden. If they create a mess, let it be, it’s their mess. Allow them to get pleasure from it and take dignity in their own piece of territory. Just don’t forget to tell them how to clean up that mess.

8 Tips To Get Your Kids Enjoy Home Gardening is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

Aluminum seating provides practical inexpensive outdoor seating with elegance. Aluminum sling patio furniture is actually one of the less expensive types of patio furniture available. The lower cost however does not sacrifice quality. The components of aluminum strap patio furniture are heavy-duty, and resistant to all types of elements including scratch and dent, stains, and intense sunlight.

Aluminum patio furniture is just as elegant as higher end types of patio furniture. Aluminum in this type of furniture can be crafted to give a more traditional furniture style like that of wrought iron. It can also be crafted in a more contemporary streamline design. As opposed to bulky wrought iron furniture however, aluminum sling patio furniture can be easily stacked for storage.

Aluminum sling patio furniture is available in a variety of styles. All traditional patio furniture elements are available including patio dining tables and chairs, patio bar chairs, and chaise lounges. However, aluminum sling patio furniture has some unique chair styles including rocking chairs, swinging benches, and recliners. All these great options will ensure a comfortable outdoor patio setting.

All these wonderful features make aluminum sling patio furniture an excellent choice for any outdoor seating. It is versatile, practical, and economical. And if comfort and elegance are top priorities for patio furniture, aluminum sling patio furniture is the way to go.

Aluminum Sling Patio Furniture. Comfortable Seating for Outdoor Settings is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

Planning
When beginning any project, it is important to plan the layout. Establishing a plan keeps the job flowing smoothly. It is perhaps the most important step. Although installing panel molding requires that you have a good drawing that accurately shows the room and the pattern, you won’t need to generate detailed blueprints. A pencil sketch on graph paper will do. Be certain that the measurements are accurate. Reference dimensions on the drawing to either the center of the room (or to a ceiling dome or ceiling medallion, etc..) or to the walls. This will depend on the dominant feature of your design. Although you may not have any interest in recreating an extravagant baroque ceiling for your own home, you can often find some great pattern ideas by studying the ceilings of historic castles and palaces. Look around your room and decide whether you will have full or split panels; single size or variable sizes, or symmetric sized panels. Panel molding is strictly a decorative element, so there are no rules to follow for the design. This is your opportunity to create a unique and individual design.

Ordering
When ordering your panel molding make sure that the pattern of the molding is compatible with the corners (if you are using corners) and that you have made adequate allowance for cutting waste. Remember to take pattern repeat into account when figuring cutting waste. I like to use a cut list for all trim work. It allows me to plan all of the joints before I start cutting. I use the same list to plan my order. Normally, panel molding is inexpensive due to its small profile. Therefore, you may want to save some work and order enough to eliminate as many joints as possible. You are also going to need adhesive, caulk, etc. to complete the installation.

Prefinishing
If you are not planning to finish (paint or faux finish) the ceiling and the molding at the same, you may want to prefinish the molding and then touch it up after installation.

Assemble Materials
Setup a work area close to the job and assemble your tools and materials. Look over the moldings to make sure they haven’t been damaged either on shipping or on the job. Inventory your tools and supplies to ensure that everything you will need is there. If something is missing, stop and get it now rather than waiting until you need it, which inevitably is at the worst possible time.

Layout
Transfer your plan to the ceiling in full size. Layout the outline of the molding rather than the centerlines so the layout will be visible with the molding installed. Remember to reference patterns that surround ceiling domes or ceiling medallions, to the center of the feature they surround. Reference moldings that run parallel to walls to the wall (to minimize the effect of out of square or wavy walls).

Install
Because of their light weight no mechanical fasteners are required. Use an appropriate size bead of adhesive and temporary fasteners as necessary until the adhesive sets.

Finish Up
After the adhesive has set, remove the temporary fasteners or set below surface. Caulk the joint between the ceiling and the molding. Fill the holes made by the fasteners with non-shrink filler, sand, prime and paint.

Voila! Enjoy and relish in the glow of all the compliments you receive when others see how beautiful your room is with the simple addition of panel molding.

copyright 2006 goceilingmedallion.com

7 Steps for Easy Elegance: Visually Enhance Any Room with Panel Molding is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

Types:

There are several different types of security cameras. A few security cameras are black and white security cameras, color security cameras, wireless security cameras, night vision security cameras, and vandal resistant security cameras. Besides differing in function and design, security cameras also vary in price. Some security cameras also allow remote access, therefore allowing access to the monitors through an Internet connection.

Size & Resolution:

Video monitors come in a variety of sizes. It is best to buy a larger monitor because the smaller ones may be hard to view. CCTV monitors may have as many as 1000 lines of screen resolution as compared to 550 lines on ordinary televisions. This shows that security monitors do have their place in a home security system.

Advantages:

The advantages to owning a security camera in your home include:

It has the ability to monitor people in your home.
They can even save you money on your homeowners insurance.
Its easy for you to know who is in your home at all times with remote access.

Security:

CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) Security Systems is a fast growing segment of the security market. They are a relatively cheap addition home security systems. The security system consists of cctv security cameras, security monitors, sensors and cabling. Wireless cameras provide an extra measure of coverage since they can be positioned anywhere quickly. These are good trends in the security industry.

A Security Camera System Plays An Important Role In Your Home Security. is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

1. Natural glass cleaner
Biodegradable ingredients Non-alkaline
No phosphates or ammonia
Contains natural ingredients (like white distilled vinegar) instead of caustic chemicals
Uses a concentrated formula, so there is less waste going to recycle centers. The concentrated, biodegradable formula is effective on a multitude of surfaces, including:

Glass Windows Aluminum Stainless steel
Chrome Mirrors Appliances

2. Natural floor/rug cleaner.
Versatile cleaner replaces need for other, more dangerous cleaners
No chlorine, ammonia or other caustic chemicals
No toxic or unpleasant fumeseven when mixed with other EcoSense cleaners

Mixes Well With Others

Unlike many grocery store cleaners, you dont have to worry about toxic fumes or dangerous reactions when you mix EcoSense cleaners with one anotherin fact, its encouraged! A mix will tackle even the grimiest barbecue grills, and for taking out greasy stains on clothes.
No-wax floors Oven tops Ventilation hoods
Lawn mowers Bicycle parts Cement pads
Barbecue grills Car engines Garage floors
Decks Outdoor furniture
3. Natural disinfectant.
When used as directed it effectively eliminates 99.99% of:

Salmonella choleraesuis Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
Trichophyton mentagrophytes HIV-1 (the AIDS virus)
(athletes foot fungus)

Its effective on hard, nonporous surfaces, including:

Countertops Sinks Garbage cans Toilet seats
Pet habitats Prostheses & orthotics Sports equipment
Childrens toys Changing tables High chairs
Food preparation surfaces
Any other surface where bacteria or unpleasant odors are a concern

The patented broad-spectrum, disinfectant formula is EPA-approved for use in a wide variety of residential, commercial, and medical facilities, including:

Day cares Schools Nurseries Hospitals
Nursing home Food storage areas Zoos & kennels
Veterinary offices Kitchens Restaurants & bars
Cafeterias Fitness gyms and Spas Hotels & motels
Medical and dental offices Health professional, chiropractic, &
physiotherapy clinics

4. Natural all purpose cleaner
No chlorine bleach, ammonia or other caustic chemicals
No abrasive cleaners that can pit or scratch surfaces
Leaves behind no sticky residues, is effective on a lot more than just kitchen counters. Put its natural cleansing power to work on

Countertops Appliances Pots & pans
Lamps Crafts Cabinets
Car interiors Light fixtures Artificial plants
Computers Walls Whiteboards

5. Natural all purpose cleaner enhancer
Biodegradable
All-Natural
Contains no caustic chemicals
Is packaged in a recyclable bottle
Full-strength contains 10% Tree Tea Oil taking advantage of our Oils natural solvent, penetrating, non-caustic and aromatic properties.
Gum in hair Permanent Marker Road Tar
Tree sap Crayon Paint and fingernail polish
Grease Pet accidents
Use in a 5:1 water solution for:
Deodorizing Garbage Cans Eliminating moldy odors
Freshening the bathroom Removing smoke or pet odor from air and furniture Treating pet accidents
Look at a typical household cleaner and youre bound to find some rather shocking warnings

Use in well-ventilated area
Avoid direct contact with product
Excessive inhalation can cause headache, drowsiness, nausea and lack of coordination.

With warnings like these, its no wonder Poison Control Centers across the nation field over 200,000 calls each year involving household cleaning substances. Ours contains no caustic chemicals and can be mixed with other EcoSense cleaners without fear of formation of harmful gases.

Household chemicals can affect more than just the person using them. According to the EPA, household chemicals and other factors can make the air within a home more seriously polluted than the air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.(1)

Many common household cleaners can contain ammonia, phosphates, chlorine and other known offenders. Ecosense contains no ammonia, no phosphates, no chlorine and is made from all natural, biodegradable products.

1. EPA brochure, The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, (www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html).

5 All Natural Spring Cleaners is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

Tip 1: unadulterated Is Best. When adding products outdoors, from furniture to statuary, you should always look towards the most organic of products. When you do this, youll allow for something that fits within the landscape, not something that sticks out in it.

Tip 2: Flow Is Essential. If you have a large garden or landscape, you can create a flow throughout it to make it a much more livable and organic environment. For example, a pathway leading through the garden is important as it provides for a way to move through the area enjoying all of the principle sights along the way.

Tip 3: Overboard Isnt Good. Over crowding a space with too much dcor or even too a multitude of plants is bad business. Instead, look for a more nature-based landscape component. Overcrowding plants can cause them to eventually die or take over the entire garden. To much dcor can make it look cluttered instead of lavish.

Tip 4: Use Lines. Lines from your home or your edging can help to create a lovely look within the garden. The roof line of the house can be a line that leads the eye to something excellent at the end. Use the lines that you have to create a flow to the eye.

Tip 5: Charm Means Theme. While you dont need a specific theme throughout your garden dcor, you should look towards the same or similar offerings. For example, if you place a white metal table under your trees to produce a restful place, make sure that the chairs that go with it match it. Add a white picket fence or other matching pieces to tie certain areas of the garden together as well.

Tip 6: Uphold it. a large amount of of the aspects within a garden are going to need some upkeep. If you pull your weeds, dont let this be overshadowed by the fact that you havent washed that white possessions in a year. Keep up on broken or misplaced items as well. Within the duration of harsh winter months, make sure to put as much as possible in storage that can be broken.

Tip 7: Garden dcor is not done without the look for lovely patio items. Allow it to mesh with the settings that you have created too. For example, in a woodsy area, look towards an organic, lovely product such as teak to keep it looking as if it belongs there.

The aforementioned points can help to contribute to a lovely and fashionable garden dcor that is everlasting, easy to manage and a welcoming place to call your own.

7 Timeless Garden Decor Practices is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

Are there tracks in the lawn? Are there tons of weeds despite a good fertilizer with weed prevention? Are pests becoming a problem? Is water pooling in the lawn after heavy rains? Are there bare spots that you havent been able to help? The soil might have compacted, and it might just take a little aerating to make the lawn thrive. If the customer has clay soil or its a dry area, youll need to aerate more frequently. Theres a simple and pretty unscientific way to tell when its time to aerate. Grab a stick. If the soil is difficult to penetrate with the stick, you should aerate.

You should choose a nice, clear day to aerate. If the soil is wet, you will have a huge mess and a lot of explaining to do to customers. Youre also going to get compacted soil much more quickly if its wet. If its too dry, you wont be able to penetrate the soil with an aerator. Pay attention to the weather. You should have nice weather for as long as possible (a week at least) after you aerate for maximum benefits.

If you dont yet have an aerator attachment for your mowers, you can rent one. I recommend renting them before you buy one anyway. There are different types of aerators with different features, and the best way to determine which you prefer is to try them out. Aerators with spreaders allow the plugs (or cores) of soil to be spread throughout the lawn. Its fine to leave them, but they should be raked to make the lawn look better right away. If you have a lot of clay soil yards or live in a dry area, you want longer spikes on your aerator. You also want more spikes to play the odds. The more spikes you have, the more likely at least some will penetrate harder, dryer soils. In particularly dry areas, its a good idea to water a day or two before aeration, just to promote penetration. Then simply mow in the same pattern you were going to mow anyway, with the aerator attached.

Aerating a lawn allows air, water, and nutrients to get to the roots of the grass. It allows earthworms to move about. Other good little organisms that take care of pests and naturally fertilize the lawn will thrive. Youll also break through some weed roots, and the healthier lawn will have a better fighting chance against the weeds. Youll have fewer problems with flooding, and the lawn will be more drought-tolerant. Bare spots will fill in much better.

Right after aerating is the perfect time to overseed if you are trying to repair bare spots or filling in during fall for a green winter lawn. By core aerating the lawn, youve perfectly prepared the soil to thrive on the seeds. This should be done as soon as possible after aerating, and its best to remove the pulled plugs from the lawn if youre going to seed. Its also a great time for water to get deep into the soil in dry areas, so watering after aeration is preferable. If its fertilization time, its also a good idea to aerate first if its needed.

In hot, dry climates, you might need to aerate in summer, fall, and at the beginning of spring, depending on how dry the winter was. Cooler weather grasses are better aerated early in fall. They are too fragile and will recover more slowly if aerated in the summer, and fall is the perfect time to prepare them for winter. If the soil is heavy with clay, you might need to aerate more often. Its a good idea to keep your stick (knife, screwdriver, etc) handy to check if the soil has compacted.

Aerating will save your customers time and money watering in the summer as their lawns will be better able to withstand drought, and they will be thrilled with their healthier, fuller lawns. Its well worth investing in a good aerator.

Aerating Your Customers Lawns is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

In deciding on how to design your kitchen, you must take into consideration such things as: will your kitchen have an island? Will it be of a modern or traditional design? What kinds of appliances will you need for your new kitchen design? What kind of lighting design?

1. Kitchen as ‘Great Room’
Whether you are redesigning an existing kitchen or planning a new kitchen in a new home there are some design considerations to keep in mind, such as including in an island or peninsula as part of the kitchen design. These can be used to connect the kitchen to a nearby dining area or family room thereby creating a ‘great room’. A kitchen island or peninsula will allow the cook to keep in visual and conversational contact with family members or guests in the adjoining family or dining room.

2. Create a Kitchen Canopy
To give the kitchen some visible borders without blocking views create a kitchen canopy. Also a high ceiling in the kitchen can create the perception of spaciousness.

3. Using Kitchen Cabinet Color to Set Tone of Kitchen Design
Kitchen cabinets will help set the tone for the whole room. The choice of wood will influence the overall look of your cabinets. To create a light look, use a light wood such as ash, beech, birch, oak, maple, or chestnut. For medium range, select cherry. To darker kitchens, choose wood that has some color to it.

4. Plan Out Use of Cabinets and Drawers in The New Kitchen Design
Plan out in the kitchen design blueprint just how your cabinets and drawers will be used and how much space and storage you will need before you start your new kitchen design. The first thing to examine is the counter surface area. Look at where you put everything in your existing kitchen and where in your new kitchen design will these things will go in the new space. Will there be more than one person cooking at a time. If so, will there be enough room for two cooks in the kitchen to work together?

5. Use The Galley-Type Kitchen Design
As for counter arrangements, many kitchen designers agree the galley-type design to be the best in terms of efficiency with it’s single aisle and counters to either side, making it easy to turn around to go from sink to cooking range.

6. Under-Cabinet Kitchen Lighting
Kitchen lighting can be an overlooked area of kitchen design. Even if the kitchen has generally good lighting, the counter areas can be somewhat dark. For these areas under-cabinet lighting can help provide more light to work in. By using simple spots or fluorescent lights a smaller kitchen can be made to look larger.

7. Looking at Countertops
Granite, marble, and limestone are all popular natural materials for use in countertops are available in many colors. Ceramic tile kitchen countertops are versatile, practical, and also available in many colors, as well as many shapes, patterns, and finishes. Solid surface countertops provide seamless acrylic faces. Solid surfaces also come in almost limitless colors, patterns, and styles, and are stain and heat resistant. Laminate countertops are more affordable but not built to last. Concrete countertops are known for versatility, as well as strength. Wood countertops are long lasting and easy to clean and repair but the wood will not withstand exposure to water and household chemicals. Stainless steel countertops lack the elegance of granite or tile. These countertops do not absorb stains, but tends to scratch easily.

7 Kitchen Design Ideas is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site

Fire Safety . . .

Fire is perhaps the greatest danger in apartment buildings. With so many units joined together, it doesnt take long for fire to spread from one to another. The following guidelines are critical to your safety:

Install smoke detectors in the kitchen, all bedrooms, the laundry area and hallways. You must test them every month and replace the batteries every 6 months. They wont do you any good if they arent in working order.

Keep fire extinguishers handy in the kitchen, laundry area and near your outside grill.

Develop an escape plan. This plan should include two ways of exiting in most cases, this will probably include the main door and either a window or door wall. If you live on a higher floor and dont have access to a fire escape, purchase a rope ladder to use for exiting from windows or a balcony. Practice your escape plan regularly so each member of your family knows exactly what to do in case of fire.

Never use an elevator during a fire.

Never park in front of fire hydrants or in fire lanes and make sure your guests dont either.

General Safety . . .

Fire isnt the only danger in an apartment building. You must also be aware of hazards that can exist no matter where you live and take precautions to prevent them.

Install a carbon monoxide detector.

Install screen guards or window stops and doorstops on your patio door to protect your children from falling.

Keep your apartment and building number near the telephone so your family or babysitter can access it in case of an emergency. Remember that memories can fail during emergencies.

Make certain your apartment number is clearly marked on your door.

Be sure that each person in your family knows how to dial 911.

Protecting from Intruders . . .

There are many people coming and going in an apartment complex. Criminals count on this anonymity. That makes it very important to get to know the other tenants. When you do, not only are you better able to identify someone who doesnt belong, it also makes it more likely that tenants will look out for one another.

Consider forming an apartment watch. This is similar to a neighborhood watch but confined to your apartment complex. If a group of tenants is on the alert for suspicious behavior, they can prevent many problems from arising.

Install quality deadbolt locks on your door and place a wooden rod or steel brace on sliding doors. One caution about deadbolt locks dont purchase those that require a key. In an emergency, you wont have time to search for the key.

Make sure your landlord has installed good lighting in all stairways, hallways, and common areas like the laundry room.

Make sure that if your building has a common entry, the entry door locks so that only tenants can enter. Never open that door for strangers.

If you follow these guidelines, practice good common sense, and are alert to whats going on around you, your apartment will provide a safe home for you and your family.

A Safe Apartment is a post from: Hollywood Hills MLS Listings Home Improvement Site