Every object in the bedroom large or small has a direct relation to dimensions of the human body. This relation with our body decides the comfort level in a bedroom. If a double bed is oversized, it will naturally occupy more floor space by reducing the volume of empty space. That’s why proportions of every furniture piece are vital to maintain comfort levels.

Let’s examine some important factors about bedroom furniture units.

1) Double Bed….

This piece of furniture occupies the maximum amount of floor space. A typical double bed measures about 1800mmX1800mmX450mm height. Of course this is a comfortable sized bed but can vary depending upon the requirements at the interior site.

Double beds come in steel/wrought iron/wooden frames. The most important point to note here is that 80% of the structural framework gets covered by linen. The mattress, bed sheets, pillows cover most of the part that supports the load of the users. That’s why the real beauty of a double bed lies in the linen used. Linen defines the shape of a double bed to some extent.

The patterns and decorations used on the linen also ads to the overall design theme of the bedroom. The headboard of the double bed (the part of the double bed which stands behind the head when we lie down on the bed) is a prominent feature and can be used effectively by using semi-circular shapes.

One creative use of the headboard is that we can add artificial lighting in it by providing blur glass and the effect of indirect lighting can be created. This is helpful if the master wants to read a book or magazine by relaxing in the bed itself.

Most of the time we see that the space below the mattress is used for storing linen. This is done in the form of sliding drawers which slide out from sides.

I have seen one more creative way of supporting the platform where the master lies down. By giving an angular slant to the supporting structure of the bed we can save valuable circulation space in a small bedroom.

2) Wardrobe….

A wardrobe is another element in a bedroom that creates a significant impact on the entire interior design theme. We always see a wardrobe in elevation. A typical wardrobe is most of the times measures 2100mm in height. The length and depth of the wardrobe differs from location to location but
is typically around 1200mm in length and 600mm in depth for a single person’s wardrobe.

The internal compartments of a wardrobe are divided keeping in mind the various styles and sizes of clothes we wear. The internal design of a wardrobe also depends upon regional influences. For example in Japan, women wear a typical kind of dress or in Indian, most women wear a dress code called as “Saree” which needs much more space similar to trousers.

Depending upon the requirements a wardrobe might also include a small “money safe” with locking arrangements, drawers for keeping smaller sized clothes such as under-garments.

3) Dressing Table….

A dressing table is a place to be happy about. This is the place where we spend a lot of time shaping our faces. A small bedroom may not have enough space for a dressing table. At such times the outer faces of the wardrobe can be used to fix a full height mirror. This also creates a reflection of the rest of the room it and thus creates an illusion of more space.

A wardrobe needs special spotlight arrangements to throw light spot on the person in front of the mirror. This will include a flat mirror and small storage spaces for the makeup-kits, perfumes, etc…

In a case where the mirror is fixed on the outer surface of the wardrobe shutter,(as mentioned above) the storage space for make-up kit can be arranged inside the wardrobe.

4) Study Table with extra storage desk….

A study table is just a place to do some important daily tasks Sometimes it is useful to keep a computer on it. This study table can be designed to include an elevated storage space for books/files.

This combination of a study table and a book shelf is a great way to save space in small bedrooms. If the table top in not occupied by a computer or other objects, it can be made to fold and thus increasing more floor area.

This was a very basic study of the most commonly used furniture items in a bedroom. There are hundreds of creative ways to improve the performance and efficiency of furniture items in interior design. This article was just a starting point to trigger the creative genius in you.

I hope you have benefited from these words.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

A Study of Furniture Elements For Smaller Bedrooms is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

Cities and Counties throughout the country are adopting CPTED ordinances requiring site plan reviews with crime prevention in mind. Law enforcement officers who are specially trained in CPTED are now working closely with Planners, Architects, City Officials, and Educators to ensure the proper design of structures, schools, and neighborhoods. These experts know how the design and use of the environment can control human or criminal behavior and reduce the fear of crime. They used natural means such as landscaping to deter criminals. Access control, natural surveillance, different aspects of lighting and its effects on human behavior, all deter crime.

Many landscape specialists incorporate CPTED into their layout & design of landscapes. Each of the following CPTED strategies are low cost guidelines that they apply to reduce the fear and incidence of crime and improve the quality of life.

1. Natural Access Control guides people entering & leaving a space through the placement of entrances, exits, fences, landscaping & lighting. Access control can decrease opportunities for criminal activity by denying criminals access to potential targets & creating a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways & landscaping should direct visitors to the proper entrance & away from private areas. The design should create a perception of risk for would-be offenders. Walkways should be installed in locations safe for pedestrians & keep them unobscured.

2. Natural Surveillance is the placement of physical features, activities & people in a way that maximizes visibility. A potential criminal is less likely to attempt a crime if he or she is at risk of being observed. At the same time, we are likely to feel safer when we can see & be seen. The landscaping should be selected and installed to allow unobstructed views of doors & windows. The front door should be at least partially visible from the street. Shrubs & bushes near windows should not restrict full visibility of the property. Sidewalks & all areas of the yard should be well lit.

3. Territorial Reinforcement is use of physical attributes that express ownership such as fences, signage, landscaping, lighting, pavement designs, etc. Defined property lines and clear distinctions between private & public spaces are examples of the application of territoriality. Front porches or stoops should create a transitional area between the street & the home. Property lines & private areas should be defined with plantings, fences or retaining walls. Use thorny plants along fence lines and under windows to deter access by intruders.

4. Maintenance is a well maintained home, building or community, and creates a sense of ownership. A well kept area tends to make someone feel like they will be observed by neighbors or business owners as it is obvious people care about the area. Keep trees & shrubs trimmed back from windows, doors & walkways. Keep shrubs trimmed to 3 feet & prune the lower branches of trees up to 7 feet. Use exterior lighting at night & keep it in working order. Keep litter & trash picked up & the yard neat & free of items that might attract theft.

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

Most of these situations would never have gone so awry with some careful planning and early decision making sooner in the renovation process. Below are a few issues that it is vital to think about before you begin your home renovation.

10 Things to Think About BEFORE Beginning Work

• Prepare a budget
• Be aware of council regulations
• Find a tradesperson
• Know your start and completion dates
• Selecting Products
• Prepare plans
• Purchasing products
• What should I purchase myself?
• What services are available to my property?
• What sort of hot water unit do I need?

Prepare a budget

Before you start shopping for your new bathroom or kitchen you must know your spending limits. Whether you are getting a loan or paying cash, you need to work out how much your project is going to cost. Some businesses also offer finance solutions for approved customers.

Be aware of council regulations

Find out all the information you can before you arrange tradesperson. If your home is heritage listed you will need to meet strict council regulations. Many renovations must be approved by the council before work can commence. Contact your local council for more details.

Finding a tradesperson

Speak with family and friends who have done renovations or built a home. It is important to find a tradesperson that you can communicate with. Make sure you understand everything they are telling you. Book a tradesperson well ahead of time, as they can be booked for months in advance. Ensure that your tradesperson is licensed. Your product warranties are only valid if installed by a licensed tradesperson. In Australia, Trades@call provide professional, reliable tradespeople for most jobs, and all workmanship is guaranteed.

Know your start and completion dates

Communicate with your tradesperson and come to an agreement of realistic start and completion dates for your project. If you have a specific date that the job must be finished by, for example you have relatives coming to stay, let your tradesperson know. Keep in mind that unexpected problems can hold up your project, no matter how well you have planned it.

Selecting Products

It may take a few shopping trips for you to decide on the products that give you the look you desire and are also practical for your needs. Browse through a print or online catalogue. Once you have decided on a style (modern, heritage or easy living) this will narrow down your product choices. Be aware of any size restrictions of the room. Print out or write down product specifications and measure up your bathroom. You may use the online bathroom planner at the Bourne Bathroom and Kitchen Centre website to layout the products you have chosen.

Talk to your tradesperson about your choices. If the tradesperson tells you that a product you have chosen is unsuitable, find out why. It may just be that extra work is required that they don’t want to do. Remember, it is your home and you need to be satisfied once the job is complete.

Prepare plans

It is important that you draw up plans of your bathroom or kitchen. Discuss the plans with your tradesperson. Let him know what sort of products you would like, so he will know what work needs to be done. For example if you have chosen an inwall cistern, the tradesperson will need to know so he can set up the plumbing correctly before the tiling is done. It is best to have specifications of all of the products you have chosen so the tradesperson knows exactly what work is required.

Purchasing products

When selecting products, find out how long it will take for delivery. Some goods such as tapware and toilets will be in stock, while others such as spas and vanity units are custom made and can take up to 1 month to order in. Often these custom made products are non-refundable so confirm your product choices with your tradesperson before ordering. Find out from your tradesperson which products they will required first. Generally, the first products needed are the shower base, bath or spa and mixers if they are being installed on the wall.

As an owner builder, what should I purchase myself?

If you are owner building, make sure you purchase all of the main products for your bathroom, kitchen and laundry. This will ensure that you make all of the decisions and achieve the result you want. There will be things you will not think about when placing an order, such as different handle types on a vanity unit, the pump position of your spa, that you will need to decide on. It is important to make these decisions yourself as they will affect the overall result of your project. Smaller fittings for plumbing can be purchased by your tradesperson.

What services are available to my property?

It is important to know whether you need gas or electric appliances (hot water unit, cooking appliances). If you live further out from the city, you may need LPG appliances. If you currently have electric appliances and you want to change to gas, speak with your tradesperson to determine if this is going to be cost effective and worthwhile in the long run. If you are building a new home, decide on the appliances you want before building begins, as the plumbing will need to be roughed in based on your product selection.

What sort of Hot Water Unit do I need?

There is a wide range of hot water units available and it can be quite daunting to try and choose one. If you are replacing an existing unit your choices can be limited, so speak with your tradesperson. The instantaneous hot water units are popular at the moment, but they use a larger gas line than the standard storage units. This can mean major plumbing changes which can be quite costly, though in the long run the instantaneous systems are cost efficient. See the Bourne Hot Water Selection Guide for more detail.

Many of these points seem somewhat obvious, but the problem arises when you start taking things for granted. When you don’t make sure that all your bases are covered, you may find that you have invested a lot of time, effort and money in a home renovation that you may end up unhappy with.

10 Things You Must Know When Building or Renovating is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

Selection of Garden planters is most important. Quality material with nicely crafted garden planters must be selected as it did not require replacement at later point of time. Garden Planters with good wooden material like teak, cedar, Redwood, synthetic material like polymer and granite or marble is durable and elegant. Wooden and Granite Garden planers are natural and beautiful. They withstand tuff weather conditions and monsoon seasons. Garden Planters can be selected taking into account whether the container will survive mid-day sun, breezes and can hold moisture and should not dry out immediately. Terracotta Planters dry out very fast while wood and metal garden planters retain water unless there is provision for water drain. Fiberglass Planters are very light weight, mobile but not durable.

Popular kind of outdoor planters is terracotta planter pottery. These clay planters are natural in color and well suited to the greenery in the garden. Terracotta garden planters can be painted, glazed or engraved designs. Pottery Planter designs can be arranged nicely like Linear (stripes, checks), Geometric shapes, Floral. Ceramic Planters come out with beautiful colors, designs and textures. Ceramic normally contains moisture and this will be useful for plants thrive on moisture. Ceramic planters are light weight and can be hanged on wall. Hanging Planters also called suspended gardens adorn house dcor. Plants in hanging planters at ceilings, windows walls add beauty to the garden or living place. Patio Planters act as a bridge between garden and home and is very decorative.
Garden Planters are very important accessories for garden art. Garden Planters also indoor and outdoor herb gardening. Growing fresh herbs for day to day use in cooking is made possible by garden planters. When it comes to making your own garden art, there are so many different possibilities as to what you can do that it can almost be overwhelming. That is why I am going to focus on just one type of garden art in this article: planters. Check out these fun and unique ideas for your garden pots and planters:
Bonsai Garden can be created by using garden planters. Bonsai trees are very popular and bonsai garden provides peace and relaxation over the years. Garden Planters should support the type of bonsai trees grown.
When selecting the outdoor planters for your bonsai tree, you need to keep in mind the overall impact it is supposed to have, little to none. The outdoor planters are not what you are trying to show off. They are simply the vessels that are supporting the bonsai trees that you are raising. That means the outdoor planters you choose should not be showy or over the top. Instead they should be natural looking pieces that add to the overall effect of the tree in them.

Amusing Garden Laterns is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

Growing flowers outdoors from bulbs is simple; in fact, it is so easy that its almost foolproof. One of the most important aspects is timing. Bulbs need to be planted about six weeks before the first frost. Bulbs must be planted in an area with good drainage and a lot of sun. Make sure the soil is loose, and then plant the bulbs about six inches in the ground. (Package directions may vary depending on type and location; when directions differ, following your package.) Try to place the bulb in the hole with the pointed end facing up. Cover the hole and water. Voila! Youve planted your flower bulbs.

Flower bulbs and seeds make flower gardens accessible for everyone. They can be grown virtually anywhere. One idea is to plant them in containers. With container gardens, even apartment dwellers can enjoy the beauty of flowers. Container-grown flower bulbs and seeds also allow growers to defy nature. Flower bulbs can be planted indoors in any season and in any climate, as long as the indoor conditions are favorable for growth.

Flower bulbs are available in many varieties, such as tulips, daffodils, gladiolus, and crocus.

Flower Bulbs: Natures Greatest Gift is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

Explore the alternatives. Look in magazines for rooms that appeal to you. Architectural Digest, Southern Accents, Veranda and others all regularly feature homes that have faux finishes on everything from walls to furniture. Designers love to change the feel of a space with color and textures, painted faux finishes are an easy first step in that direction. You can do the same thing, too.

Faux finishes can be applied to almost any surface. From walls, ceilings, cabinetry in the kitchen and bath, floors, to all types of solid furniture as well. Styles of finishes can be extremely simple and subtle, to way, way over-the-top fantasy finishes, depending on your personal taste and pocketbook.

For your walls, heres something to think about — a faux wall finish can provide a striking and seamless alternative to wallpaper. Seamless. No peeling or splitting. Just a beautiful hand-painted unique finish individually crafted for you alone.

A skilled faux finish artist can create a look just for you that the wallpaper manufacturers would love to copy and mass-market. Some of the more popular looks for walls include:

Color washes ragged, bushed, sponged single glazes over solid paint, the work-horse of faux finishes
Multiple glazes layered over solid paint, provides great depth
Faux leather looks terrific in a study
Faux suede stipple glaze over solid paint
Stencil over-all patterns antique damask or simple borders
Venetian plasters lustrous beautiful plasters
Tuscan old-world plasters troweled on plaster, chipped, cracked and aged to perfection
Faux stone effects limestone, fieldstone, slate, cut and fitted patterns
Faux brick looks
Faux wood faux bois, antiqued, distressed, burled, bamboo
Faux metal brilliant metallic glazes, antique iron, verdigris
Tissue paper textured paper, paint and glaze
Stripes glazed or just painted, always classy

On columns, trim, doors, crown molding, fireplaces and art niches there are a number of cool faux finishes that can enhance the architecture of any room. Classic looks feature:

Marble from travertine to Rojo Viejo, the choices are wide open
Granite mimic your countertops
Fantasy stones, such as lapis and malachite
Gilding any metal leafing, gold, silver, copper
Strie fine dragging of colored glaze over a solid paint

Antique or distressed faux finishes are wonderful choices on cabinetry and furniture. Adding a few worn edges and some crackled paint to those dated, tired kitchen cabinets can give them a fresh new old look. Think Provence.

Its easy to expand your options. Change your mind about whats acceptable for your sweet home space. Play a little with something fresh and new. Remember, changing the dynamics of your home is easy with the assistance of a skilled and experienced faux finish artist.

Always go to a pro who has a track record and samples and customers who love to tell you about the artists work that was created just for them. Then let him create a special room just for you.

He can guide you to faux finishes and colors that will be appropriate to your style, your furnishings, and your pocketbook. Consult with a trained professional artist and get the best look for your home today.

Oh. And keep in mind, if you are tired of that old chest-of-drawers and thinking about tossing it out, maybe all it needs a good old-fashioned antiquing. A dab of glaze here, another dab there. Just right.

Grandma would approve, no doubt.

A Sampler of Faux Finish Techniques is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

With a computer speaker, the covert hidden camera is hidden inside the working speaker and virtually undetectable. Does your office, home or store have an acoustic drop ceiling? There is a speaker video camera that is perfect for use in them. They contain a pinhole camera that looks straight down, and that give you a seventy degree field of vision, and is great for use in low light.

Another way to hide your covert hidden camera is by purchasing one that looks like a DVD player. Once again it contains a pinhole camera and has a range of up to three hundred feet. Who would ever guess that the DVD player in your home or office is actually recording the people and movements that are happening in that room?

Maybe you want a covert hidden camera to use strictly as a security measure for your home. There is a flood light camera available that not only is great day or night but is as easy to install as changing a light bulb.

Dont let your security needs tick away like the seconds on a clock. You can get a covert hidden camera disguised as a beautiful mantel clock or a clock radio. You have heard of clock watchers, well, now the clock can actually watch you.

Covert Hidden Cameras: Put the Sneak in Sneaking is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

Here are 10 surefire ways to avoid the top DIY home improvement mistakes in the future and ensure success.

1. Take out the required permits its amazing how many DIYers skip this step. Sure, it takes time, and it means you have to deal with the government, but its actually in your best interest to make sure get the required home improvement permits. The folks in the permitting office will make sure the project is done correctly and that you stay safe in the process. Also, for some projects, youll need proof that you have a permit or your insurance company wont cover the improvement. Youll probably need a permit for any project larger than wallpapering and painting. If youre unsure, call your local building department and ask.

2. Have all the tools and materials you need available before you start your project starting a job without the necessary tools and supplies will slow down the job and delay your progress. And make sure you buy quality tools. Theyre a wise investment.

3. Prepare the job site for material deliveries when your suppliers deliver materials, youll want to make sure the job site is ready to accept them. You dont want your materials exposed to the weather while you are working and you want to have a storage area to prevent theft.

4. Dont skimp on materials for example, dont use 1/4-inch drywall for building walls. Use at at least 5/8-inch; and 3/4-inch works well for a good sound barrier. Use 3/4-inch plywood for sub-floors. It creates a much stronger floor.

5. Prepare the walls for painting clean the walls, sand them and patch any holes before you paint. Use a coat of primer or stain blocker if you’re trying to cover over oil-based paint, stains or peeling paint, or if you’re painting a lighter color over a darker color.

6. Use the correct paint use flat paint ceilings. Interior paints should have at least an eggshell or satin finish so you can scrub it. For outdoor decks, use a linseed-oil-based stain to drive the pigment into the wood and preserve it.

7. Keep safe while working you dont want to end up in the emergency room. Wear safety goggles when using power tools or working with drywall or wood. Wear a hard hat when you’re working under other people on scaffolding, and open some windows when you’re painting or staining, or stripping old finishes off of floors or walls. Dont wear loose, hanging clothing, especially when using power tools. Wear gloves when carrying wood, metal and rock, or when hammering, and wear a nail or tool pouch to prevent damage to your floors, feet, and pets.

8. Measure twice and cut once probably the most important rule of any project. If youre going to make a mistake, make it too long. You can always make something shorter. You cant make it longer.

9. Know the limits of your abilities youre not going to be good at everything. If you dont have a lot of experience at plumbing or electrical work, for instance, dont attempt those projects.

10. Don’t start to learn how to do a project on your own house If you want to learn how to do a project, offer your assistance to a friend who is an experienced DIYer or a contractor. And if you have any question about what youre doing, make sure you stop and ask.

You probably wont eliminate all of your DIY home improvement mistakes, but you can surely reduce them with these 10 tips.

10 Surefire Ways to Avoid Common DIY Home Improvement Mistakes is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

To be included among the past recipients of AHS awards is the highest honor of my professional life, and nothing I could ever have dreamed of receiving, said Paul Tukey, who founded People, Places & Plants magazine in 1995, along with a television show of the same name in 2002. It is something I share with an incredibly dedicated staff at People, Places & Plants and my friends and family, who have supported me through all the trials and tribulations of an running an independently-owned publishing company in this day and age. Honestly, to win this was stunning.
Founded in 1922, the American Horticultural Society is one of the oldest gardening organizations in the nation. Its awards program, started in 1952, is considered to be the most prestigious in the field of horticulture.

The American Horticultural Society recognizes American horticultural heroes in a wide variety of professions through the annual Great American Gardeners Awards, said AHS President Katy Moss Warner. These awards celebrate the best and brightest in our nation, from scientists who develop tough plants for our gardens, to public garden professionals who promote earth-friendly gardening practices, to journalists who popularize gardening throughout America. This year, Paul Tukey is receiving the AHS Horticultural Communication Award in recognition of the extraordinary work he has done to encourage gardening through his dynamic talks, his presence on HGTV, and his People, Places & Plants magazine.

Tukey, who hosts a popular gardening show based on the magazine on HGTV at 7 a.m. each Sunday, is one of 12 members of the horticultural community who will be honored by the American Horticultural Society during its Great American Gardeners Awards ceremony and banquet on June 2. He is just the third Maine recipient of a lifetime achievement award since AHS began presenting the awards. University of Maine horticulturist Lewis Lipp (1972) and Currier McEwen (1995) were the others.

At times like this there are many people I really hope are smiling down on us, and Currier is one of them, said Tukey, who wrote numerous articles about the renowned iris hybridizer from South Harpswell, Maine, who passed away two years ago at age 101. Another would be my grandfather, Henry VanDyne, who Im proud to remember once won the award for dairyman of the year for New England at the Springfield Exposition. Spending my summers with him on his farm was what made me love the scents and physical activity of gardening.

After graduating from the University of Maine and embarking on an award-winning, nine-year career as a sportswriter and newspaper editor, Tukey followed his love of the outdoors into landscaping and founded his own company, Home n Land, in the late 1980s. In honoring Tukey for his garden writing and his television work that began at NBC affiliate WCSH6 in Portland, Maine in 1996, the AHS cited his repeated commitment to supporting independent garden centers as well as promoting environmentally friendly gardening including an upcoming book on organic lawns.

Now more than ever I think its important to retain an independent voice and be an advocate for the environment and family business, Tukey said. This award, in great measure, is a validation of the efforts weve made. We really try to make a difference in peoples lives.

Tukey also reiterated his thanks to many people who have made a difference in his own life and professional career.

This really should be an award for everyone involved with People, Places & Plants because, even though I had the idea, the company belongs to our staff and everyone in horticulture in the Northeast, he said. I could fill an entire magazine thanking everyone who has helped, including Susan Gilman and Rick Churchill, who have been here since the beginning, and especially Mark Sellew, who was at our side for five extraordinary and evolutionary years. And, of course, The Man in the Red Suspenders and his amazing wife Roger and Elisabeth Swain. If I should get an award for anything, it would be my ability to surround myself with great people. Allen Lessels

American Horticulural Society-Award Winner is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com

It would be difficult to house all of the different bulbs in one store, and even more overwhelming for a customer to try to decide which one is right for them. Luckily, stores dont even have to try. Consumers can simply open a flower bulb catalog and see pictures of all of the different varieties available. Many of the catalogs will give all of the pertinent information to consumersname of flower, colors available, water requirements, sun requirements, geographic area, price, etc. These flower bulb catalogs make it easy for customers to decide at a glance what type of bulb they need.

Jackson and Perkins is a well-known flower bulb catalog company. John Scheepers, Inc. offers a catalog of Dutch flower bulbs. Old House Gardens bills itself as Americans only source devoted to antique flower bulbs. Finally, Van Dycks offers a catalog of flower bulbs and perennials.

Many of these companies now offer online flower bulb catalogs in addition to or in place of their print catalog. Most also now take orders online and accept credit cards, so it is possible to complete the entire transaction online.

Flower Bulb Catalogs is a post from: Home Improvement & Interior Design Blogs | Moroccantilesale.com