How to Set Up a Living Area Outdoors

December 28th, 2009


First, you have to start with your furniture. Although most balconies are covered, and you don’t have to worry about the effects of sun and rain, the wind can still do some damage. So try to put pieces made from hardy materials, but at the same time, make it comfortable to lie down or sit on. You may want to include different pieces such as chairs, hammocks or swings. Don’t forget to choose a nice outdoor table for some snacking or outdoor eating ideas.

Add some decorative touches that go well with your furniture. Also include flowers and plants to complement the outdoor feel.

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How to Create an Outdoor Landscape

November 2nd, 2009


There are only three parts to creating an outdoor haven:
1. Have a plan – this is the road map of a gardener or landscape

Maximizing Kitchen Space

September 5th, 2009

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Cooking in a small kitchen can be stressful. You feel cramped, and you get bothered by the fact that there’s never enough counter space and nothing seems to fit inside the cupboards. You might even be spending more time organizing your things than preparing and cooking meals.

If you really think your kitchen is way too small for you, consider doing renovations to expand the space. However, if you are renting, you have no choice but to work with what you have. Here’s how you can do that.

Downsize. If you have utensils that you don’t use regularly, throw them away or store them somewhere else. There are many kitchen items that are too big to keep in the little space you have. Use that space for items you use daily.

Once you’re done clearing out your space, install storage systems that will help you maximize your working area. For instance, a pot rack will free up space under the counter and is perfect if you have many pots that you always use. A pot rack will also give you easy access to the pots while you cook. Place wire shelves at the back of the door to hold pasta boxes and soup cans. Finally, get a multi-layered spice rack that will allow you to see your spices better.

You’d be amazed at how these small changes will help you maximize the space of your small kitchen.

How to Help Children Adjust to Moving

August 14th, 2008


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Moving to a new home and a new community can be hard on you and your children. Assure your children that they are important and that moving will be a positive experience. Let them be a part of the experience. Be positive and answer your child’s questions about the move. Children can sense if you are apprehensive, so do your best to have an upbeat attitude about the upcoming move.

Surprise your children with address books or diaries and encourage them to fill them with names, addresses, phone numbers and emails of their friends that they would like to keep in touch with.

Give your children specific jobs to do on moving day and let them know that their jobs are essential. You may get so wrapped up in the details of moving, that your children get lost
in the shuffle, so make them a part of the shuffle. You may be surprised at how helpful they can be.

Maximizing Bathroom Space

May 1st, 2008

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The bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house; some are as small as four by six feet. Most of the space in the bathroom is taken up by the toilet, bath area, and the sink, leaving you with little space for storage. Here’s how you can maximize the space of your bathroom.

For most small bathrooms, the shower area and the bathtub are one and the same. Place a corner or flat shelf in one part of the shower where you can keep your shampoo, soap, and conditioner.

If your bathroom is really small, you might have little or no countertop space. Try to store as many things as you can under the cabinet, especially larger items like hair dryers. To organize the countertop, use containers for your toothbrush and toothpaste, and small plastic trays for brushes and combs.

Finally, add life and color to your bathroom by using a colorful shower curtain and placing a small matching rug.

Colors and Room Space

April 14th, 2008


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In the spacing of your room, colors also play a major role. Hues of blue and cream colors are one of those combinations that will make a small room appear bigger. Also, a combination of white and yellow also helps make the room spacious.

If you want to create more space in your room, try to use furniture that are multifunctional such as folding tables, chest that can serve as a coffee table, bed that have storage options, chest with drawer, or sofa bed. The general rule is to place large pieces of furniture against the wall to avoid breaking the space in the middle.

Double Bed in the Bedroom?

April 8th, 2008


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In the interior of a home, furniture indeed plays a very big role in comfort. It is the first thing that we notice when we enter a room. A space with no furniture in it is meaningless.

In the bedroom for example, choosing the right furniture will either make it small and cramped, or bigger and spacious. If you choose to place a double bed, you have to realize that it will take a lot of space in your bedroom. If you think that the space would not be sufficient to fit in a double bed, you can replace it with a platform bed which is lesser in height compared to a full sized bed.

Using Retractable Awnings

April 4th, 2008


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Retractable awnings are a great way of saving your gardens. This is because dryness and heat are the two biggest threats to gardens and plants especially in the south and southwest when the afternoon sun tends to get very hot. The role of retractable awnings for shade gardens is to slow the evaporation of the water which makes the plants easier to maintain.

The most valuable asset of retractable awnings is its flexibility. They hardly need any maintenance, and they can be installed in many areas. They can also be adjusted or closed to control the light and shade. They can be used over gardens, hot tubs, balconies, and patios.

Landscaping Design

March 30th, 2008


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The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) revealed that most of the landscape artists are moving outside of homes, making true living spaces out of outdoor areas. Landscaping has already evolved beyond traditional grilling. As gentle outdoor areas create a peaceful atmosphere that can also be turned to a festive mood, people are finding it perfect for entertaining and daily living.

A major part of landscape design is finding out how a particular area is going to be used and uniting those elements seamlessly. Adequate sun protection helps plants thrive, and evolving designs make yards, patios, and balconies even more beautiful.