Experiences

Design your own Roller Blinds

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:55:42 PST

Roller blinds are available in a wide variety of styles, colours and fabrics. From blackout to sheer to fancy to plain, you are sure to find the perfect match for your home and décor. However, if you are one of the few who shies away from mainstream designs and wants to incorporate a little originality and character into your furniture, then why not attempt at making your own roller blinds? Alternatively, if you are decorating on a budget and are struggling to obtain the ideal finish to a room or home then this is the thing for you.

Here is a step by step guide of how to design and create you very own custom made
window treatments:

Step 1

First you will need to purchase a plain roller blind and a DIY kit. Browse through online
clearance sales to get the best deal for your blind, preferably choosing it in the colour
that you wish the background of your design to be or one which will match the interior
décor of your room. DIY kits for roller blinds can be purchased in most hard ware and
large department stores as well as online. These will include their own instructions and
suggestions.

Step 2

The next step involves creating appliques to apply different patterns, shapes or pictures
onto the fabric of the roller blind. These can be purchased readily made or, alternatively,
be made from scratch. Double sided iron on applique fabric is the best tool for this type
of design as fabric glue, which is still acceptable to use, has the potential to clump in
places or cause the fabric to fray at the edges if the shape has not been firmly pressed
down enough onto the blind.

Appliques: Iron a piece of applique fabric on the back of another piece of fabric and
begin cutting out interesting and pretty motifs. These could be of birds, flowers, leaves
or other designs. Once cut out, iron onto the fabric of the roller blind and repeat the
process for each motif or blind you wish to design.

Painting: For the extra creative, why not personally paint the blinds? This will not only
allow you to be as innovative as you wish and really create a sense of achievement when
completed. Stamps can be purchased if you are happy with the designs and shapes.
Simply dip the stamps into the coloured paint of your choice, allow excess paint to
drip off before firmly pressing onto the fabric of the roller blind. Stamps can also be
hand-made using everyday household objects such as potatoes, soap and blocks of
wood. If using stamps in the shape of leaves or flowers, it may be an idea to use a thin
paintbrush and create vines and stems. This can also be a great way of hiding up any
unwanted drips that occur from stamping; simply convert the drips into patterns.

Step 3

After allowing the blind to thoroughly dry, it is now time to fit your roller blind to the
window frame. The original purchased blind should have come with instructions and
fitting mechanisms. Usually consisting of brackets and screws, these fittings are placed
on either the underneath panel of the frame or at either side of the window. Once up,
sit back and admire your very own, custom made roller blinds. These can be the perfect
addition to your personalised home.

This article is submitted by Nicola Winters

Tips for Oil Bound Distemper

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:00:00 PST

Oil bound distemper offers matchless finishing on walls of the house. It’s high quality, decorative and economical paint with quality of colors. The paint is suitable for various interior surfaces, and maintains excellent porosity in new and old buildings. Let’s know surface preparation, application method, benefits of oil bound distemper.

Where to apply oil bound distemper?

Oil bound distemper can be applied on plaster and brick surfaces. It is used to ornament walls and ceilings. The paint is for interiors use only. You can apply oil bound distemper on two surfaces i.e. A. New Surface B. Old Surface

Prepare New Surface

Clean the surface

The surface should be sound and be cleaned thoroughly. Remove all dirt, dust, moulds and mortar droppings from the surface by washing and scraping.

Prepare the surface applying putty

Any unevenness in the surface should be repaired by applying putty with plaster of Paris, mixed with white lead on entire surface including filling up undulations/unevenness.

Do sandpapering

The surface should be rubbed down with fine grade sand paper for smoothness.

Prepare Old Surface

Clean the surface

Old surface should thoroughly be cleaned by removing dirt, dust, grease, all loose materials, scales etc. and by rubbing with sand paper.

Repair unevenness

All patches should be repaired with putty, made of Paris of Plaster and white lead.

Do sandpapering

The surface should be made smooth by sandpapering and cleaning thoroughly of dirt.

Apply priming coat

A. On dry plaster surface

Priming coat should be applied with distemper primer which is of same brand as oil bound distemper is made of.

B. On wet plaster surface

Cement primer should be applied on wet surface instead of distemper primer.

C. On old surface

No primer coat is necessary for old work.

Prepare mix of oil bound distemper

Step 1: Clean the container

The container should be cleaned with warm and soapy water before mixing the solution.

Step 2: Mix appropriate quantity of water and distemper

Add water about 0.5 to 0.65 liters per Kg. to thick paste of distemper slowly as oil bound distemper is available in thick paste form.

Step 3: Add pigment according to the required color and shade.

Apply oil bound distemper

Applying on new surface

Do sandpapering before distempering

After the priming coat is dry at least for 48 hours, the surface should be sandpapered lightly to make it smooth for receiving distemper. Care should be taken not to rub priming coat. All loose particles should be dusted off after rubbing.

Apply first coat of distemper properly

Apply one coat of distemper properly; which is diluted with thinner (water), with brushes in horizontal strokes immediately followed by vertical strokes that together constitute one coat. Keep at least 24 hours time interval between two successive coats to let the preceding coat dries properly.

Apply second coat

The second or subsequent coat should be applied in the same way as the first. Two or more coats of distemper as necessary should be applied on primer coat to obtain even shade.

Applying on old surface

Apply distemper on old surface in the same way as on new surface. One or more coats of distemper as necessary should be applied to obtain even and uniform shade.

Remember before applying oil bound distemper

Apply a coat of alkali resistant primer paint and allow drying for at least 48 hours if oil bound distemper is done on newly plastered surface.
Use distemper primer and oil bound distemper of same brand.
Make use of 15 CM double bristle distemper brush.
Clean containers and brushes in hot water with soap solution.
Protect door, windows, electrical fixtures, and floors, fittings of door and windows and furniture from splashes of oil bound distemper.
Clean immediately if any drop of distemper falls down on any object.
Do not apply distemper in cold conditions i.e. when the temperature is below 5 degree centigrade.

Benefits of oil bound distemper

Easy in application.
Provides a range of colors.
Durable and economical paints.
Offers smooth matt finish.
Dry quickly, touch dry in 4 hours.
Non flammable.
Environment-friendly paint
Has no harmful ingredients and lead free
Contain no petrochemical based gradients

Note down

Do not apply oil bound distemper within 6 months of completion of wall plaster.
Keep at least 24 hour interval for drying before applying next coat.
Do not apply distemper in cold conditions i.e. when the temperature is below 5 degree centigrade.
Keep the ends of ladders and scaffolding materials away from oil bound distemper surfaces.
Do distempering on ceiling before doing it on walls.
Prepare enough distemper solution/mix for one room in one time.
Make computerized color preparation.

Article source : GharExpert

How to Build a Concrete Roof for a House

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:57:13 PST

The cement concrete is mixture of cement, sand, pebbles or crushed rock and water, which, when placed in a skeleton of forms and allowed to cure, becomes hard like stone. The cement concrete has attained the status of a major building material in all branches of modern construction because of the following reasons:

It can be readily moulded into durable structural items of various sizes and shapes at practically no considerable labour expenditure.
It is possible to control the properties of concrete within a wide range by using appropriate ingredients and by applying special processing techniques - mechanical, chemical, and physical.
It is possible to mechanise completely its preparation and placing process.
It possesses adequate plasticity for the mechanical working.

Properties of cement concrete:

The cement concrete possesses the following important properties:

It has a high compressive strength.
It is free from corrosion and there is no appreciable effect of atmospheric agents on it.
It hardens with age and the process of hardening continues for a long time after the concrete has attained sufficient strength. It is this property of cement concrete which gives it a distinct place among the building material.
It is proved to be more economical than steel. This is due to the fact that sand and pebbles or crushed rock, forming the bulk of concrete, to the extent of about 80 to 90%, are usually available at moderate cost. The formwork, which is of steel or timber, can be used over and over again or for other purposes after it is removed.
It binds rapidly with steel and as it is weak in tension, the steel reinforcement is placed in cement concrete at suitable places to take up tensile stresses. This is termed as reinforcement cement concrete or simply R.C.C.
Under the following two conditions, it has a tendency to shrink:

There is initial shrinkage of cement concrete which is mainly due to the loss of water through forms, absorption by surfaces of forms.
The shrinkage of cement concrete occurs as it hardens. This tendency of cement concrete can be minimized by proper curing of concrete.

It has a tendency to be porous. This is due to the presence of voids which are formed during and after its placing. The two precautions necessary to avoid this tendency are as follows:

There should be proper grading and consolidating of aggregates.
The minimum water cement ratio should be adopted.

It forms a hard surface. Capable of resisting abrasion.
It should be remembered that apart from other materials, the concrete comes to the site in the form of raw material only. Its final strength and quality entirely depends on local conditions and persons handling it. however the materials of which concrete is composed may be subjected to rigid specifications.

Visit us at Sevashram Construction

Tips for updating any room on a budget

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:46:37 PST

Every so often you get in the mood of updating different rooms in the house. You may be ready for an entirely new look for your kitchen, or you just want to do some updating to your dining room and living room in order to add some new life to your upcoming holiday parties. At the same time, you are not ready to empty all your savings to create this makeover. The good news is that you can accomplish so much by spending a minimal amount if you are a bit handy and have a creative flair.

One improvement that will transform your room instantly would be by adding different moldings throughout your home or the specific room that you would like to redo. This can be done simply and without much of an investment. In order to get started on this you would need to purchase a couple of new router bits and some simple pieces of wood for the molding. With the correct router bits you can create intricate architectural designs on your own. You will find that with even a simple chair rail molding or a ceiling medallion you can give a new look to your room that you will really enjoy.

Another great way to update any room is to give your walls a new coat of paint. Painting is inexpensive and it will do so much. Choose a color that is a shade darker than you might think of naturally. Darker and more vibrant colors add so much life to the room. You can even choose multiple colors for each room. Make one wall a contrasting color to the others. This will make for a new focal point within the room. If you want to save money you can choose to paint the room on your own, although, you may want to have an expert help you choose your colors. An expert will know which colors will look right with the lighting that you have filtering into your home and with your other furniture that is already there. With the right choice of paint colors you can do so much.

Scraping your wood floors and striping your wood furniture and cabinets will give you great opportunities to give a completely new look to what you already own. You can stain you floors with a totally different color giving you a whole new look. The old kitchen cabinets that you were hoping to get rid of, but pushed off for another time, why not give them a new look by striping them and staining them or painting them, with whatever color you prefer. Add a new color and some great new hardware and it will be up to date and as good as new. You can re-stain your front door or just one or two pieces of furniture and achieve the updated look that you were looking for.

Last but not least make use of second hand shops and online local classified listing to find terrific buys on furniture, accent pieces, lighting, rugs, pictures etc. Virtually everything and anything that you would like can be bought second hand for just a fraction of the cost of buying new. With a bit of ingenuity and creativity you will be able to turn any old room into a beautiful and up to date room.

Sarah Rosenthal is a home decorator who specializes in decorating homes within a budget. For all woodworking needs, including specialized router bits, she has referred so many customers to precisonbits.com.

Add Some Festive Décor To Your Curtain Poles

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:38:51 PST

There are a number of ways to add a little bit of Christmas spirit to your home. The obvious choice is through the Christmas tree, as this has been a tradition for longer than anyone could care to remember. Many people choose to put decorative lights outside their house, and maybe inside too. There are many decorative accents you can add all around the home without having them stand out quite as much as a tree or lights. These pieces can simply be added onto existing furnishings in the home and don’t require any extra additions to the home.

Perhaps one area that you wouldn’t think of accessorizing that is effective is your curtain poles. The potential additions to these furnishings are understated, but can play a huge part in turning them into a festive focal point in your home. What’s more, your decorations don’t have to stand out as massively festive. Some simple ribbon or lights can really give a touch of elegance to your decorations without being too over the top. The same goes for some small, understated ornaments or evergreens.

Ribbons can make great Christmas decorations if the time is taken to colour co-ordinate them with existing décor and furniture. One way of utilising them is to wrap them tightly around the pole with bows on each end. No amount of ribbon is too much either, as you can leave the excess ribbon trailing along the floor which won’t actually look too messy. You may choose to use two different colours of ribbon to add a different effect, but just as important an impact.

Another great way to make a festive statement in your home is through the use of evergreens. One use for them is to make them into a garland, especially if they are branches that have been taken from pine, fir or cypress trees for example. This can easily be done with the use of florist wire to hold the branches together. These can be used plain or furnished. Unadorned garlands look fine wrapped around the curtain pole, however adding some flowers or maybe a bit of holly gives them another edge.

Similarly, an extremely Christmassy decoration is a decorative wreath. You could suspend the wreath from the ribbon you have already added to the poles to create a lovely centrepiece. Another idea is to add a bow to the wreath. To save a bit of money, you could make your own bow. However this is obviously not something that everyone is capable of, and many florists are more than willing to do this is you take the wreath into the shop.

Whilst these are all alternative decorations you may not have thought of, what screams “Christmas” more than lights? As well as the existing lights you inevitably have on your Christmas tree, a way to add an extra layer of Christmas spirit is to weave some lights in between a wreath or some ribbon. This shouldn’t hit your wallet too hard and the rewards are there for all to see.

There’s nothing to say that these options are a case of “one or the other”, and you could quite easily overlap two or three of them to add some depth to your décor. It’s always nice to add some Christmas spirit to the emptier parts of your home, and curtain poles are no exception to this.

This Article is Written By :- Jack Oldham

5 Benefits of Marble Flooring

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:01:35 PST

There are many flooring options available for home builders to choose from. They come in various colors and designs and are made of different materials. Some of the flooring options to choose from are vinyl, linoleum and hardwood. However, one of the most popular materials used for flooring is marble. Here are 5 benefits of marble flooring.

Appearance. Marble flooring has a clean and distinct appearance. It gives off an aura of opulence. It is nice to look at and comes in several colors and designs.

Use. Marble can be used in many ways – not just for flooring. It can be used in side tables and countertops. It can be used for your kitchen, bathroom and living room.

Easy to clean. Marble may not be the cheapest flooring available, but it is very easy and economical to maintain compared to wood. It’s easy to clean. All you need in cleaning marble is a bucket of soap and water and a clean rug. Unlike wood, you won’t have to worry about destroying its condition if it gets wet.

Environment friendly. Marble is a product that is made from natural stone. It is biodegradable making it extremely environment friendly. It is also moisture and bacteria resistant when sealed.

Durability. Marble doesn’t come cheap but it more than makes up for its price in terms of durability. Marble is hard and can last a long time. In fact, if you take care of it really well, it can last a lifetime. You have to take note that marble is porous so it is best put in areas that won’t be exposed to moisture.

In installing marble, do not attempt to do it on your own. Unless of course you know how. Marble weighs a lot. If you are not a professional, you could end up hurting yourself. Accidents happen all the time. It is better to be safe than sorry. Another reason why you should hire a professional is that marble require precision and experience to install. You have to get it right the first time because repair jobs can be even more expensive.

This Article Is Written By :-

Kevin Preble resides in Phoenix Arizona where he is a student of life and his favorite hobby is learning about wine and the wine industry from the views of http://www.winebuyersco.com/">wine brokers. He enjoys road trips and traveling throughout the southwest and finding good wine pairings to serve with southwest cuisine. Kevin is interested in helping wine drinkers make educated decisions when they http://ibuywineonline.com/">buy wine online.

10 Home Decorating Ideas To Quickly Update Any Room

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:06:55 PST

Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If you're looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:

1. Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. (Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.)

3. Bring In Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you don't have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that its hard to distinguish them from the real thing.

4. Lay An Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table.

5. Hang Pictures or Mirror- Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects and nice view or an interesting architectural element.

6. Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles. Show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try and vary the shapes.

7. Add Decorative Pillows- The good news about decorative pillows is that they are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room. Still better, they can be changed to jazz up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.

8. Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.

9. Add A Throw Or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and man made fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like.

10. Eliminate Clutter- Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items that take from the personality of a room.

Article Source: EzineArticles

Types Of Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:48:39 PST

If a steel girder provided in a structure is found to be weak and flexible, it can usually be strengthened by suitable means; if a column acting as a load bearing member in a building is found to be indequate, it can be made safe by providing additional reinforcement or by introducing intermediate columns, but if the foundation of a building yields and ruptures the structure, then little can be done to improve the situation.

Types of Foundation

Foundation can be broadly classified into two types

Deep Foundations
Shallow Foundations

Deep Foundations

In case, the strata of good bearing capacity is not available near the ground, the foundation of the structure has to be taken deep with a purpose of attaining a bearing stratum which is suitable in all respects. In addition there may be many other conditions which may require deep foundations for ensuring stability and durability of a structure. The most common forms of construction pertaining to deep foundations are:

Piles
Cofferdams
Caissons

Shallow Foundations

When the foundation is placed immediately beneath the lowest part of the super structure, it is termed as shallow foundation. The object of this type of foundation is to distribute the structural loads over a wide horizontal area at shallow depth below the ground level. The various types of foundations which can be included under shallow foundation are:

Spread Footings
Grillage Foundation
Eccentrically loaded Footings
Combined Footings
Raft Foundation

Causes of Failure of Foundation

Unequal settlement of the sub - soil.
Unequal settlement of the masonry.
Horizontal movement of the soil adjoining the structure.
shrinkage due to withdrawal of moisture from the soil below the foundation.
Lateral pressure tending to over - turn the structure.
Action of atmosphere.
Lateral escape of the soil below the foundation.

Visit Us Here: Sevashram Construction

Leakage And Defects Caused By Leakage

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:18:49 PST

One of the essential requirements of a building is that it should be dry. Dampness in building may occur due to bad design, faulty construction and use of poor quality of materials. Dampness not only affects the life of the building adversely, but also creates unhygienic conditions for the occupants. Hence, treatment to check dampness is considered to be one of the important items of the work in the construction of the building. The treatment given to prevent leakage of water from roof is generally termed as water proofing, whereas the treatment given to keep the walls, floors and basement dry is termed as damp proofing.

Defects Caused By Dampness

It causes efflorescence which may ultimately result in disintegration of bricks, stones, tiles etc.
It may result in softening and crumbling of plaster.
It may cost bleaching and flaking of paint with the formation of colored patches.
It may result in the warping, buckling and rooting of timber.
It may led to the corrosion of metals.
It may deteriorate electrical fittings.
It may promotes growth termites.
It breeds mosquitoes and creates unhealthy living conditions for the occupants.

Visit Us Here : Sevashram Construction

Purpose Of Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 08:39:19 PST

Foundation is the lowest part of a structure which provides a base for the super structure proper. This term includes the portion of the structure below the ground level as well as the artificial arrangement of concrete block, piles, raft, grillage, etc. provided to transmit the loads on the structure including the dead weight of the structure itself to the soil below.

Purpose of Foundation

It is often misunderstood that the foundation is provided to support the load of the structure. In fact it is the device to transmit the load of the structure to the soil below. Foundation is provided for the following four purposes:

To distribute the weight of the structure over large area so as to avoid over-loading of the soil beneath.
To load the sub-stratum evenly and thus prevent unequal settelment.
To provide a level surface for building operations.
To take the structure deep into ground and thus increase its stability, preventing overturning.

Visit Us Here: Sevashram Construction

Kitchen Storage Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:45:30 PST

Kitchen is the most practical space of your home and needs more attention than your other rooms otherwise it gives a dreadful look. The most recent trend in kitchen organization is to utilize pull-out drawers and base organizers. If you are not ready to redesign your kitchen, you can simply implement smart storage ideas for your kitchen. It will definitely enhance the look of your kitchen as well as storage space.

Kitchen Storage Ideas

Mount small racks on the wall or above the stove. Racks should be installed properly at a perfect level so that the things are easily accessible to you.

Increase your cabinet storage by addingpegboard panels inside the cabinet doors to hang pans. Maximize your cabinet storage space with recessed shelves.
Pull out pantry system having wire shelves prevent the items from falling out and permit easy viewing of inside items.

Store dry goods into airtight and containers.
Install a steel rail on the wall to store your kitchen tools. You can also add some accessories like spice racks etc. It will make your cabinet spaces free for dishes and food.

Put kitchen tools near worktop so that you can take them easily while cooking.
Keep related items together for easy access. Grouping of similar items in similar locations results in easy search of goods.

Build free vertical drawers within cabinet for storage of large trays. You can make awooden dowel divider as it can be moved later if you want.

Use readymade kitchen islands with wheels or without wheels. These movable islands contain storage compartments where you can store anything. You can take it anywhere in your home. Trolleys are better option for this. Large kitchens have built in islands but some have not.

Install half-height wall cupboards where ceilings are low or prevent units from dominating the whole room

Article Source : GHAREXPERT

Commercial Bathroom Dividers

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:20:38 PST

Commercial Bathroom Dividers provide the privacy that people demand in public and office restrooms. These dividers are offered in a large variety of designs and materials. This article will explore the most popular designs and materials currently on the market. Commentary will also be offered about the most common application for each type of material and the key features. The most affordable class of Commercial Bathroom Dividers is Baked Enamel. Today they are stronger and more moisture resistant than those of the past. Their increased strength and moisture resistance is derived from the interlocking panel construction which locks facing metal sheets together without any opening. This prevents moisture from entering the interior and corroding the metal. The manufacturer backs this design with a fifteen year warranty against panel rust-out. The paint process uses the latest technology to create superior adhesion of the paint to the metal. The unit is then "baked" for a very durable and attractive outer finish. This class of divider is the least expensive and most popular with budget-conscious customers. These dividers are found in schools, shopping malls, restaurants, office buildings, and warehouse and manufacturing facilities. The second most affordable class of Commercial Bathroom Dividers is Plastic Laminate. This is also an attractive divider that can be ordered in numerous color and pattern selections. State-of-the-art manufacturing facilities provide durable lamination and edge banding for these dividers. The dividers are constructed by using high pressure to bond decorative plastic laminates to both sides of a particle board core. All of the hardware is heavy duty chrome or stainless steel which contrasts nicely with the bolder colors. These dividers are found in movie theaters, restaurants, office buildings and retail locations. They are moderately inexpensive and are sold with a three year warranty against delamination.
Solid Phenolic is a class of dividers constructed with a resin impregnated core material. The core material is compressed under high heat and pressure which lends it strength and durability. A decorative melamine face is attached on both sides of the core and the divider is impact and water resistant. These dividers are also offered in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Since this divider is not a laminate and water resistant, it is an ideal choice for wet or humid locations. Its high strength also makes it vandal resistant. The solid phenolic is a moderately expensive divider and is frequently found in schools, stadiums, parks, showers, locker rooms, spas, and swimming pool facilities.
Stainless Steel is perhaps the most well known of the Commercial Bathroom Dividers. They are offered in a variety of finishes from smooth satin to textured and leather grain patterns. These dividers are extremely durable, attractive, and vandal resistant. Stainless steel will not rust and is resistant to most chemicals. These dividers are demanded for a number of their features but the aesthetic value is perhaps the most important. Stainless steel dividers are moderately expensive and are usually found in class "A" office buildings, high-end retail establishments, airports, restaurants, and other style conscious locations.
Solid Plastic Dividers are one of the more durable Commercial Bathroom Dividers. They are constructed of at least 30% pre-consumer recycled high density polyethylene and are dent and scratch resistant. They also have a unique ability to resist graffiti - a highly desirable vandal resistant feature. Graffiti has poor adhesion to the plastic and is easily removed with a cloth and cleaner. These dividers are sold with a fifteen year warranty and are frequently found in schools, parks, and retail establishments. These dividers are more expensive when compared to other types.
Fusion Granite is the latest design class of Commercial Bathroom Dividers. It is an elegant combination of granite and stainless steel that creates a bathroom divider that is extremely durable and stain / scratch resistant. These dividers are available in four colors of natural granite and three stainless steel finishes.
These elegant dividers are the most expensive divider on the market and are frequently found in trendy hotels, casinos, art galleries, museums, high-end restaurants, class "A" office buildings, and high-end retail locations...

Article Source : WOODRIDGE Construction Management Articles

Making the Most from Small Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:48:08 PST

These days it seems like everybody is downsizing. Moving into a smaller space doesn’t mean you’ll have to live like you did in your college dorm room. There are so many ways to fool the eye and make you think a room is much larger than it actually is. Check out these easy tips to make the most out of a small space.

One of the most important elements in a design is color. This is especially important when decorating a small room. Because dark colors absorb light and make a room appear smaller, stick to decorating with light colors. White, pastels, or soft neutrals will make your room look larger. Using strong colors in a small room can look overwhelming. If you’re a color-lover, stick to soft colors and go bold with accessories and small details. Think: throw pillows, art, curtains, etc.

Along with color comes light. Light has the ability to really enhance a room and take it from drab to fab. Sunshine really breathes life and energy into a space making it look larger. If you have natural light don’t cover it up with heavy window treatments. Ceiling to floor sheer curtains beat the glare on extra sunny days but still let the light shine through, and because they span the entire wall, they don’t cut the room in half like standard curtains might. If you don’t have all the light you’d like in the room, a great way to get more light without taking up too much room is to install overhead or tract lighting. Standing lamps can take up too much precious floor space.

One of the major obstacles in downsizing to a smaller home is making room for all of your stuff. To keep living large in a small space, you have to minimize clutter and that means getting rid of some things. Smaller house means smaller closets. A good place to start is with your clothes. If you don’t wear it, won’t wear it, or can’t wear it, it should be tossed or donated. Books you’ll never read, CDs you’ll never listen to, all of these things are just taking up space that you can’t afford to waste in a smaller room.

Keeping things neat and organized is more important in a smaller room than it is in a larger one. There are fewer places for messes to hide, so avoiding them to begin with will help make the room look bigger. Reducing clutter is easy with the right storage. Floating shelves give you horizontal surfaces to put your stuff on without adding bulk. They also look great around a TV in place of an entertainment center. Under the bed storage is a good way to hide away winter wear or shoes. For more room in the closet, consider installing a pull down closet rod. Just remember that if you can’t find a place for something you love, you’ll have to make space by getting rid of something else. Space and storage are limited and you can only create so much storage without crowding the room.

Avoiding crowding will make your room seem more spacious. This can be achieved in a few ways. The first tip may seem counterintuitive, but it works. Pull the furniture away from the walls. This creates a more intimate space while adding depth to the room. The second way to avoid crowding is to make sure the furniture is proportional to the space. Smaller space, smaller furniture. Makes sense right? Ditch the bulky couch in favor of something a little more streamlined or delicate to compliment the size of your new room.

Simple changes can make all the difference and can make or break your space. Keep things light, bright, and clean and your small room can transform in a big way.

This article was written by Erie Construction. Follow Erie Construction on Twitter for more updates on home improvements.

White Kitchen Cabinets For a Timeless Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:26:01 PST

Timeless and classic, it is the descriptions given to the most popular white kitchen cabinets , and adapt to almost any subject and style of the house. In addition, the cabinets to allow more freedom to play with a variety of tones and colors on floors, walls, and even home accessories.

If you like the idea of installing new white kitchen cabinets or if you want to change the color of existing cabinets, think of a theme you like. You can go for sports, clean, contemporary look, or comfortable, modern and elegant, or even a country theme. You can also experiment with the texture of the cabinet. For example, the creation of imperfections can transform ordinary cabinets and furniture simply breathtaking.

Antiques and painful

Instead of just simple white painting, consider creating textures like distressed white cabinets or iced. Concern involves some strategy, scrapes and bruises to their office after covering them with white paint.

If you prefer natural wood cabinets and want to show through, then apply one coat of base paint. Simply lining cupboards with white paint and let dry for two hours. Use sandpaper to wear down a little paint on the handles of the box. To top it off with sharp practice and sandpaper.

To create scratches and dents in their white kitchen cabinets with a hammer or wrench. After the painful process, apply varnish to protect the wood and paint. You'll be surprised cabinets faith you have.

Joiners

If you have the budget, you can always ask for new white kitchen cabinetsmanufacturers doing business online. You can check the Thomasville cabinets, cupboards Mérillat, and many others. You can also shop and white kitchen cabinets from Home Depot or Lowes.

These stores offer a wide selection of furniture in different designs, styles and features to meet your needs.

The colors and techniques

white kitchen cabinets can be combined with black top and black furniture such as chairs or stools, black and even appliances. The approach to design in black and white creates a work environment in the kitchen.

For best results, try to cover your walls in mint green or rose pink paint. You can also use warm colors such as sand or almond if you have an Italian style cuisine. By following these tips, your kitchen will be clearer and more enjoyable for you and your family.

Article Source: Articlebase

Exterior Home Design [Digg]

Digg — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:01:05 PST

Living Room Ceiling [Digg]

Digg — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 00:30:31 PST

Living room ceiling can change the interior of your room. Beautiful ceiling designs and colorful ceiling can be the feature of your living room.

Top Ten Tips for Laying Concrete

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:54:13 PDT

There's no need to be intimidated by laying concrete - it's an easy material to work with and incredibly versatile. The only thing to remember is that it's difficult to fix mistakes after you've made them, so always plan carefully before you start. Our top ten tips should help you get a great result.

1. Don't lay new concrete over old concrete

Laying new concrete over old concrete will lead to only one thing - cracks. Before laying new concrete you must completely break up the old concrete and compact the surface.

2. Always use clean sand and gravel

Don't try to save money by scraping up some gravel from your old driveway or pinching a bit of sand from the beach - always buy clean products from your local building product supplier. Even small amounts of foreign matter can ruin an entire batch of concrete.

3. Be stingy with water

Too much water in your mix will weaken your concrete, causing it to shrink as it hardens. See the tip below about judging when your mix is right - and remember it's easier to add more water if you need it than it is to take it away.

4. Concrete can burn

Concrete mix can actually burn your skin if it comes into contact with it, so dress sensibly with long sleeves and long pants and wear gloves as well as strong boots and safety goggles.

5. Judging a workable mix

A good concrete mix should be dull in appearance - a 'shine' to your mix probably means that there is too much water in the mix. To judge whether your mix is too wet or too dry, draw a shovel tip over the top of the mix to leave a series of ridges. If the ridges crumble, then your mix is too dry and if they settle back into the mix then it is too wet.

6. Don't mix concrete on the ground!

It might seem obvious, but it isn't to some people...if you are mixing your concrete by hand, never mix concrete directly on the ground. Put down a sheet of hardboard, plywood or tough polythene sheeting first. Mix your concrete close to where you want to use it so you don't have to transport it too far.

7. Make sure the surface is level

After you have poured your concrete into the formwork and you think it is finally level...it may not be. Tap the outside of the formwork with a hammer - this will expel any air bubbles and the concrete will settle again. Fill up any hollows and level again.

8. Create a non-slip surface on outside surfaces

A smooth finish on concrete can be very slippery. To create a simple non-slip surface, after you have tamped your concrete, simply draw a stiff bristled broom across the surface of your concrete to create a slightly ridged finish. Ideal for driveways and paths.

9. Concrete needs water to cure

'Curing' simply means the process of concrete drying and hardening. If concrete dries too fast it can crack, so keep your newly-laid concrete covered and moist for at least seven days to cure properly.

10. Concrete takes longer to cure in cold weather

When the weather is cold concrete needs longer to cure - be patient and you will get a better result.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Bathroom Tile Options

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:11:49 PDT

If you think about flooring options for your bathroom, you might want to consider using bathroom tiles. When it comes to that there are several options available. Today, we will tackle that subject. You will learn that these tiles are very attractive and are the most popular choice when it comes to flooring options for the bathroom. So what are the different tiles options for your bathroom that are available at your disposal? Here is what you need be able to take a decision for your flooring solution.

In terms of tile options for your bathroom, we have three main choices that manufacturers sell on the market these days. They are:

Glass

1. Much more expensive than ceramics but cheaper than natural stone materials.

2. Mid range option.

3. Standard size 4x4 squares.

4. On specialty tiles stores, you can find other size and color options.

Ceramic

1. Standard size is 12x12 and 18x18 inches.

2. It is the cheapest option.

3. Does not give you a lot of color option.

Natural stone

1. It is the most expensive option.

2. Different natural stone types

Natural stone material like marble, travertine, granite, and soapstone are very popular when it comes to bathroom flooring. Marble and granite are often sold by slabs. Travertine is sold with a standard size of 12 by 12 inches.

These three options are definitely perfect in terms of looks, feel and function but they differ in price. Pricing is an important factor that you should consider when choosing bathroom tiles. Always remember that it depends on your budget. If you have the money to spend for natural stone, which is the most expensive among the three options, then go ahead. But if you could, do not be contained in using just one type of tile. Try to experiment and mix them up. Keep in mind that you should do that in an artistic way. Create something that would look well and be original. You can get many different ideas from browsing related Internet sites or home decoration specialized paper reviews.

When it comes to strength and durability each of these options are remarkable. The toughest option would be the natural stone. Very often the durability of the tile does not just rely on the tile itself but also on how it was installed. Proper installation could improve its durability while sloppy installations could do the opposite. For this particular reason, when you want bathroom tiles installed in your bathroom, you should always seek professional help. Nobody can stop you from doing it yourself but the safest option is to let the people who make a profession out of it do their job.

ARTICLE SOURCE: EZINE ARTICLES

Dining Room Vastu

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:31:39 PDT

According to vastu dining room should be located in east or west portion of the house. If the kitchen is on ground floor, dining room should not be on upper floor. The room should be located adjacent to kitchen or drawing room. Having meal in such located dining room will be beneficial for you, ensures Vastu.

Vastu Dining Location

Dining room should be located in west direction whereas kitchen should be made in south-east direction. Dining room should not be located in south side. Water arrangement should be in north-east direction.

Color: The color of dining room should be light like pink, light green, cream etc. Avoid black and white color.

Shape of dining table: According to vastu dining table should be in square shape and rectangular shape. It should not be in round shape, egg shape, and oval shape.
Location of TV and electronic appliances:Electrical appliances like fridges should be in south-east direction. Television should not be placed in the dining room.

While taking food Family members should face east, west or north directions. Do not face south direction as it creates quarrels among family members. It’s best to face east or west direction while eating.Window and Door: Window should be placed in north or east side as compared to south or west side. If the house is located in north direction, the entrance should be in north direction. If the house is located in east direction, the face of entrance should be in the east.Lighting: Lights create positive energy. The décor of dining room should be arranged according to the mood and taste of the family. Lighting should create easy and relaxed environment. Candles and lamps give special effects to any meal. Ceiling lights should fall vertically and mainly focus on the surface of dining table. Scenery and paintings give positive effect in dining room.If the room is located in south direction, the face of entrance should be in the South and if it is in north direction, the entrance should be in the north.Main entrance door and dining room door should not face directly to each other. Toilet should not be attached to dining room.

Living Room Ceiling

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:48:44 PDT

Living room ceiling can change the interior of your room. Beautiful ceiling designs and colorful ceiling can be the feature of your living room. Tray ceiling, textured ceiling, bold ceiling colors, or wood plank ceiling can be your choice for living room. We have a collection of ceiling designs that may help you to choose ceiling design for your room.

6 Advantages of Using Plastic Spray Paint

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:16:18 PDT

Plastic spray paint is made specifically to adhere to the smooth surfaces of plastic products. While it may seem like any paint will suffice, this particular invention has saved a ton of people from the hassles of using other paint types in plastics. If you are questioning the benefits of this special product, look at the list of them below.

Adhering Capabilities

Plastic spray paint will adhere better to plastics than other spray paints, which tend to scrape off very easily. Even rolled on paint can come right off if you put high water pressure on it. Thus plastic paint is ideal if you want a durable coating on the surface of an object.

Lack of Fading

Plastic spray paint will not fade easily, so it's perfect for outdoor furniture. You can keep your plastics looking great no matter what weather they have to endure.

Speed and Accessibility

Using spray paint as a whole is a lot faster than using a roller and regular paint. A roller may cover more than a brush, but it still can not be compared to spray painting. Spray painting also gets into areas too small for both brushes and roller. You will get a more complete paint job without having to go back over the space you painted. When you have to paint awkward areas, like the corner of a plastic table, a roller will have a difficult time because of the shape of the roller. If you try to do it with a roller, you will more than likely end up leaving scratches behind in the paint. This is eliminated when you use plastic spray paint.

Even Coating

After you have finished painting with a paint roller, you might be disappointed in the job done. This is because rollers don't always leave a nice smooth finish. Plastic spray paint, on the other hand, comes out in a mist, and the mist engulfs the entire surface that it is sprayed on. You can wait for a thin layer to dry and then spray another layer over the plastic. Every time, you should get an even, drip free coat.

Ease of Use

It probably is obvious that spray painting is a lot easier to use than other kinds of paint, especially on plastic. All you have to do is squirt and go with spray paint. If you use a roller, brush, or the like, you have to get a pan ready and hope that you don't rip all over the place. Plastic spray paint is essentially the lazy man's solution to redecorating.

Colors

You can get plastic spray paint in an array of colors, many of them brighter hues than you can find in most spray paints. You can easily restore the look of an old faded toy, or you could completely paint over a plastic car part. Whatever the project, you can rest assured there is a spray paint out there for you.

Article Source: DOITYOURSELF.COM

Fiberglass Door Advantages

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:03:27 PDT

Fiberglass is an extraordinary material with extraordinary performance characteristics. Featuring minimum thermal transfer and spectacular noise reduction, high-tech fiberglass doors are a superior alternative to metal, vinyl and wood doors. Considered one of the best all-time green building products, fiberglass doors offer the following recognized advantages:

Environmentally Friendly
Fiberglass features the lowest embodied energy when compared to other common door materials. Fiberglass doors also greatly lower the pressure on wood products and the environmental services that forests provide.

Durability
Fiberglass is a very stable material which provides an ideal base for a full range of finishes, allowing the finish to last three times longer than on a wood door. This material is so tough that it will withstand extremes from Arctic cold to blazing desert heat or the rugged seacoast. Unlike wood doors, fiberglass doors won't rot, warp, split or crack. Unlike aluminum or steel doors, fiberglass doors won't dent or corrode. Fiberglass also delivers vastly superior strength characteristics when compared to PVC.

Energy Efficiency
MaxValue fiberglass doors have an environmentally friendly CFC free polyurethane foam core that offers up to five times the energy efficiency of wood doors. The double or triple glazed insulating glass used on all MaxValue entrance doors also greatly helps cut heating and cooling costs.

Security
Fiberglass doors are more resistant to forced entry than wood doors. The 16'' wood lock block used on our doors adds more strength and security to the door.

Versatility
Our Smooth-Fiber doors are either factory-finished or factory-primed. Factory-primed doors can be painted any color using a high quality, semi-gloss, exterior grade oil-based paint. Our Wood-N-Fiber doors can be painted or stained to match your architectural requirements.

Strong Warranty
MaxValue Smooth-Fiber doors are backed by a lifetime limited warranty to be free of manufacturer's defects.

Brick Arches

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:32:33 PDT

Brick arches are ornamental ways of bridging openings which are comprised of small units bonded together around a curve or series of curves. Arches need no additional reinforcements as brick lintels do because of wedge shaped units as load increases, the unit in the arch becomes tighter.
Arches offer architectural view and enhance aesthetic beauty of buildings. They are used to cover openings of door and windows andtransfer the above loads to the side of walls. Various arches have been developed over centuries. This article gives details of arch designs, arch form work and precautions during construction of arches.

Brick Arches

Brick arches are mainly classified into three groups according to their construction and structure.

Rough Brick ArchIn

rough arches the joints are usually wedge shaped. These arches are constructed where high standard finish is not required. Such arches are constructed where plaster works are done. Bricks are not chamfered in construction of this arch.

Fine Axed Brick Arch

Fine axed arches are constructed carefully by setting bricks into required shape. The bricks are cut into wedge shape properly and are constructed where fine work is required. These arches may be constructed with bricks in contrasting colors. The finished shape of this arch gives pleasing appearance.

Gauged Brick Arch

Gauged arch is very ornamental and expensive. The bricks should have fine dressing before use. Also the joints between bricks should be very fine. These arches should be constructed by skilled mason who has sound knowledge of geometry.

Arch Designs
Flat Arch

A flat arch is suitable only for small spans and light load. It is constructed mainly on doors and windows in ordinary buildings. The square shape of this arch is decorative and non load bearing. Generally it is used to cover reinforced lintel which bears the load of wall from above.

Circular Arch

Circular arch is suitable for long spans and can take heavy load. In past these arches were constructed over bridges but nowadays they are constructed in buildings where architectural appearance is required. They add to the beauty of buildings.

Semi-circular arch

Semi-circular arch is very simple to construct or design as there is no complex geometry or cutting of bricks. Its semicircular shape with all the bricks facing towards the centre of the arch creates a wonderful view. Two or three rows of bricks are layered to add decorative touch to the beauty of the building.

Arch Centering/Form Work

Arch centering is used for same purpose as a turning piece i.e. the temporary spot to carry arch load during construction over an opening. It is made up of a number of small sections and timber members into required shape. Arch form work can conveniently be used over large spans.

Precautions for Brick Arches

The length and width of the arches should be according to drawings.
The quality of bricks should be good having required strength and should not show any efflorescence (salt on face).
There are minimum brick bats brick arches.
The sand used for brick mortar should be of required FM (Coarser) with no silt. It should not have fine grains and be free from silt etc.
The mixing of mortar should be proper with required quantity of water. It should not be dry or liquid.
The bricks are soaked in water before use otherwise these will absorb water from mortar and the bonds will be weak.
The water should penetrate to the core of bricks but the bricks should be skin dry i.e. from outside when it’s used in actual.
The bricks are absolutely aligned horizontally and in a straight line which can be checked by a stretched string across the face. Also they are vertically aligned which can be checked with a plumb bob.
The courses or layers of bricks are level. This can be checked with a spirit level.
The thickness of joints is not more than 1 cm and the joints should be filled with mortar fully without any gaps.
The joints are pushed inside when cement mortar is still wet so that later plastering can be done effectively.
Brick work should be kept wet for seven days so that the mortar may gain its full strength.
There are no continuous vertical joints and the bricks, sand and cement used in brick work should be according to their specifications .

ARTICLE SOURCE : GHAREXPERT

Classification of Sands

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:55:13 PDT

Fine Sand
Fine sand should consist of natural sand or crushed stone sand. It should be hard, durable, clean and be free from organic matter etc.Fine Sand should not contain any appreciable amount of clay balls and harmful impurities such as alkalis, salts, coal, decayed vegetation etc. The silt contents should not exceed 4%.

Classification of Sand

Classification of sand is given below.
1. Fine sand = 0.075 to O.425 MM
2. Medium sand = 0.425 to 2 MM
3. Coarse Sand = 2.0 to 4.75 MM

Various Types of Sand
There are following three types of sand.
1. Pit Sand
2. River Sand
3. Sea Sand

Pit Sand (Coarse Sand or Badarpur)
Pit sand is obtained by forming pits into soil from ‘Quarries’. It consists of sharp angular grains which are free from salts. It is coarse sand which is usually used in concreting and has reddish yellow color normally.

River Sand
This sand is obtained from banks or beds of rivers. River sand is fine and consists of fine rounded grains. The color of river sand is almost white and Grayish. River sand is usually available in clean condition and is used for plastering.

Sea Sand
This sand is obtained from sea shores. It has fine rounded grains and light brown color. Sea sand contains salts which attract moisture from atmosphere. Such absorption causes dampness and disintegration of work. Sea sand also retards setting action of cement. Due to these reasons, sea sand is generally avoided for engineering purposes. It is used only as a local material for nonstructural purposes.

Sand for Construction Works
Different construction works require different standards of sand for construction.

• Brick Works: finest modulus of fine sand should be 1.2 to 1.5 and silt contents should not be more than 4%.

• Plastering Works: finest modulus of fine sand should not be less than 1.5 and silt contents should not be more than 4%.

• Concreting Works: coarse sand should be used with finest modulus 2.5 to 3.5 and silt contents should not be more than 4%.

NOTE

If the above quality of sand is not available due to any reason, the blending of sand should be done by adding more coarse sand to achieve the required finest modulus.
Washed sand should be used at site for getting more strength in construction work.

Bulking of Sand
Due to moisture in each particle of sand, sand gets a coating of water due to surface tension which keeps the particles apart. This causes an increment in volume of sand known as Bulking.

The 'Bulking' is shown in the following table

Moisture content(% by Weight)	Bulking (% by volume)
2	15 %
3	20 %
4	25 %
5	30 %

Checking the Quality of Sand
The following methods are used to check the quality of sand.

To check the quality of fine aggregates or sand; put some quantity of sand in a glass of water. Then it is vigorously shaken and allowed to settle. If the clay is present in sand, its distinct layer is formed at the top of sand.
To detect the presence of organic impurities in sand, a solution of sodium hydroxide or caustic soda is added to sand and stirred. If the color of solution changes into brown, it shows presence of impurities

Article Source : GHAREXPERT

Exterior Home Design

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:40:46 PDT

Exterior home décor is as important as our interiors because the first impression is calculated with exterior of house and if it is not up to date then doesn’t matter how good is your interior! Unlike interiors exterior of house tends to get chirped or ripped off because it is subjected to natural phenomena say rain, storm, hailstorm or snow.

Interiors are safer than exteriors which get treatment through paint or colour every year or so. However, paying attention to the exterior is also important indeed essential to maintain the overall good looks of house. Designing of exterior don’t really involve laying heavy embellishment or decorating exterior walls to add up beauty in the décor of house.

Apparently exterior décor is just about maintenance of exterior walls with regular cleaning, colouring, renovating and accentuating it with exclusive exterior wall art. Exterior can be designed to create functionality while choosing right decorative item is important because outer look of building matters a lot in attracting people towards indoor.

Design the exterior way you want to design and decide the features that have to been engaged into. For expert work hire some professional who will design the exteriors determining architectural factors and blending it with interior design.
Windows are important to in every house and practically windows are being constructed from exterior to be affected for interiors. Design the exterior windows in keeping architectural features into mind and then enhance the look with tile or exterior paint.
Design small garage or porch in the exterior which is more useful and attractive. Do not place junk or scrap in the garage and proper lighting is essential in the porch. Generally garage is designed as bleak and dingy place to park vehicles and nothing more. Make a difference by designing this place uniquely which is ventilated, airy and functional than just a bleak garage.
Paint the exterior wall with exclusive exterior paint to buck up the outer strength and protecting the walls from natural phenomena thus sustaining it for longer time.
Exterior of home can also decorated with creepers and plants to make the house worth watching. Beautiful plants can be planted in the outdoor area of house to beautify the exterior.

Article Source: sereneinteriors

Happy Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:09:32 PDT

Wishing all of you a

very happy

INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Basics of Using Patterns in Home Decorating

noreply@blogger.com (AD) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:19:49 PDT

Pattern refers to the way colors lines and textures are arranged in an object. While the word pattern generally refers to something which repeats itself, such as a checkerboard, in decorating terms it can just refer to the layout of design elements, and can be quite chaotic, such as in a floral pattern.

In decorating, patterns can be used for several purposes.

You can use it to create a focal point in a room.
You can use it to create a theme throughout a space
It can add interest to an otherwise dull space
Or you can use it to reproduce a particular historical style

Traditional patterns are generally taken from historical decorating schemes. Chintz is often associated with English decorating, while calico patterns have a strong association with country style. Contemporary patterns are being designed everyday, but are usually based roughly on traditional ideas.

Picking Patterns
When choosing a pattern, some people start by falling in love. If you find a furnishing with a certain pattern that you adore, you can make it the basis for an entire room, or home. The pattern itself should suggest complimentary patterns to use, and the colors within it will tell you what colors to use in background pieces.

Other people prefer to have a plan. Maybe you are trying to recreate a traditional look, or maybe you are trying to achieve a specific ambience. Whatever your goal, you should remember the following tips when panning your strategy.

Small rooms should use smaller more intricate patterns, which will fill the space with more interest
Large rooms should use grand patterns, that stretch out throughout the space and keep the room in proportion
Use your patterns to add interest to places that lack architectural features.
Make sure your pattern is matched to the style of the houses architecture. If your home is a grand old Victorian you don’t want to create a confusing décor with contemporary silver geometric lines.

You can use some patterns on everything in a room, the walls, furnishings, floors, and accessories. However the room will be immersed in the very particular ambiance created by the pattern, so be careful of overwhelming yourself with anything you won’t love for a long time.

Traditional pattern decorating is done with a single pattern, being matched against a solid background. In this way a boring white room is given vibrant life by a series of brightly upholstered chairs.

Mixing patterns with different colors and with other patterns can be a little tricky. You have to both create harmony between all of the different colors, and create contrast to give the space interest.

Mixing patterns is tough! Start with just one or two, decide how you feel about them together, and then add more.
Try to maintain one dominant pattern, and let the others act as support.
Use patterns which have a single consistent color that runs through all of them

When working with patterns, many people find it useful to use a board, and samples of the various patterns, to get an idea for how they feel together. You can use samples of cloth from the store, matched with paint chips, and magazine clippings. Set several patterns up together, and then leave them on the board for a couple of days, so you can see how you really react to them.

The most important thing when using pattern is to be willing to change your mind. If a pattern doesn’t feel right, or stops feeling right after a time, then you have to get rid of it. Patterns can create powerful feelings in a space, and you have to pay attention and be aware of those feelings in order to control the ambience of the room.

Article Source: myinteriordecorator.com

Experiences: The TAJ MAHAL [Digg]

Digg — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:55:50 PDT

Taj Mahal stands on the bank of River Yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide moat defending the Great Red Fort of Agra, the centre of the Mughal empire until they moved their capital to Delhi in 1637. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal