We UK Lighting Specialist – Supplies Designer Lighting, Pendant lighting, Contemporary lighting, Shadowless light, Architectural lighting, Studio, Design Lighting, Home Lighting, Office Lights, RGB, LED, Energy saving lights, Garden lights, Bollard lights, Security light, Track lighting, Hotel Lighting & Stage lightings.
The way your home is designed speaks volume of your personal tastes. Appropriate lamps matching with the decor adds a dash of color in your home. They are marvelous objects of enhancing the decor of a home. They are both beautiful and functional. Actually it is the lampshade that is the most attractive feature of the lamp. The color, style and designs on the lampshade will make a great deal of difference. The lampshade is the key to the perfect lamp.
Types of shades
There are many kinds of lampshades to choose from on the market nowadays. Some of the lampshade types include those made of glass, paper silk and fiber glass. Some are beaded, chandelier clip-on or rawhide. They are used on many types of lights, including floor lamps, table lights, and ceiling fixtures.
Things to remember
There are a few points to remember when you buy one. Color is one of the important factors. Usually, shades are white or off-white. But that does not been you cannot experiment with other colors. You can use warm colors like red, auburn or black. They would also tone down the harsh glare. Choose the color according to that of your decor. Other factors include the fabric of the shade, the size and the proportion. Keep it according to the size of the lamp. Selecting one depends on the personal choice. The essential purpose of a lampshade is to hide the hardware surrounding the bulb and subdue glare. For this reason, it needs to be large and low enough. If possible, you can bring your lamp base or its measurements to the store.
Before purchasing the shade, check it with the light on and with it off and see if you like the effect. It is essential to see what it will look like during the day and at night as the textures could vary. You need not stick to the same old type of shade. Try something different like a new fabric, material or shape. Also it is important for you to think of the lamp’s role in the room how would you perceive it? As piece of art or a functional tool? Choose an elaborate shade for the former and a simple one for the latter. Investing some money to enhance the beauty of the illumination fixtures of your home would not leave you with an iota of regret. Infact, expect praise for your personal taste.
Looking for more information on Lampshades visit www.lampsusa.com an online store to buy contemporary and modern home decor accessories for home and office.
Continue reading about A Little Effort and a Shade of Difference
Molding for Austin homes – Adding the Crowning Touch
It really is amazing what a difference the right molding can make in a home. I was visiting my parent’s house in Austin, a 1960’s brick home that has always had the look of well, the late 1960’s but this time the inside of the home looked new and up to date. At first I wasn’t even sure what it was until my Dad pointed out the crown molding he had installed himself. That small added touch along with a fresh coat of paint had fast forwarded their home into the present. So let’s take a look at how your Austin home might benefit from molding and whether or not a do it yourself plan or custom installation is right for you.
Let’s start with you DIY people out there who have the skills to make a quick trip to your favorite hardware store, come home with the crown molding along with a few tools and are able to spend a weekend adding this nice touch to your Austin home.
Step #1 – It’s all about the Planning.
Start by taking careful measurements of the room(s) where you will be adding your crown molding. It’s always a good idea to take those measurements and then add another 10% or so to those numbers just to make sure you have enough and to make up for any small mistakes you might make along the way.
Step #2 – Settling In
Wood needs to settle in if you will and get used to the temperature and humidity of the area where it will now spend the next several years. So lay out all of the molding in the rooms where it will be installed for about 3 days. If you skip this step and go right to installation you will have problems as the wood will move as it becomes adjusted to the new surroundings. So patience is the key to adding crown molding.
Step #3 – Marking the Line
Using a chalk line mark your wall so that you will now have a guide to keep you straight and on the right path. It is usually best to begin in an area that is least visible like behind a door since the beginning spot will usually have the least finished look of the entire project. So don’t start in the most visible place in the room.
Step #4 – Making the Right Cuts
Carefully measure the amount you need and then cut accordingly. You will need to either use a miter saw for the edges that meet or, (and this is a great invention) you might go with a relatively new idea to cover those areas called crown corner blocks. These blocks actually add a decorative feel while at the same time covering the spot where the two pieces of molding come together. You can install these with a nail gun, liquid nails or even screws.
Step #5 – Stick to it.
Using a caulking gun apply adhesive to stick the molding to the wall. Make sure you apply the glue to both the top and the bottom of the backside of the molding. It’s a good idea to then finish up by using finishing nails, just to make sure you have a secure application.
This DIY project of adding molding to your Austin home can be done with moderate handyman talents especially with the use of the crown corner blocks as you no longer need a perfect cut. But if you are like most people and might feel a little intimidated by this project then by all means have a professional do the work for you. For those in the home improvement business this is an easy job so you will have many takers, just be careful to choose the right one asking for not only estimates but references as well.
So what’s the cost? Well for those do it yourselfers you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 per foot for a basic molding to upwards of $80 per foot and more for a high end look. If you are looking to have a profession do it then add in $2 to $5 per foot for installation. This is in addition to the cost of the materials.
If you are looking to easily update your Austin home then consider the finishes touches that crown molding can add. Whether you take the DIY route or turn to the pro’s, you’ll be amazed at the difference molding can make in any room in your house, from the kitchen to the bathroom, the bedrooms to the living room. If your are looking to sell an Austin home, make sure you ask an Austin realtor for suggestions of additional ways to imporve the look of your home other than crown molding.
This article was written on behalf of Brian Talley of Regent Property Group LLC, providing an updated list of Austin homes for sale. Brian provides Austin tx real estate services to those buying or selling an Austin home and is a top Austin REALTOR®.
Continue reading about Molding for Austin homes – Adding the Crowning Touch
If you’re a homeowner handyman, and installing a door is a problem area , you now have no more reason to fear. learning how to do this will open up a whole new confidence level. The reason being that a new door can change the look and style of any home, as well as increase the value of your home. Plus, new entry door units have much better weather stripping, and seal better than older units.
The entry door is the most difficult door to replace and once you’ve mastered this type of door all the others are pretty easy, usually the interior doors are much lighter and easier to work with. A combination storm/screen door will usually follow the same procedure of the entry door, though sometimes it can get a little complicated. If you’re unsure how to do it, look at your manufacturer’s information for more instructions.Some of the storm doors come through to install left or right swing so you’ll have to use the template and drill holes for your specific application.
Remove the old door obviously to replace it. You’ll have to open the door, and stick a piece of wood under the door to take the weight off. Usually, the door will have a hinge that contains a pin that you can tap out with a punch and a hammer. After years of paint this is a bit difficult. Once the hinges have been taken off, you can take the door off the frame.
Take a circular saw and cut the jambs about half way down and remove jambs,usually this method works great and the jambs,with a little prying fall apart.
Now it is time to measure and make sure you got the right size door,any rough opening that is 1/2″ to 1″ is fine.If the door assembly is a little undersize,not a problem,add a piece of wood to better fit the unit Center the unit in the opening with the caseings removed and the door closed.Level the sill and shim between the side jambs at the bottom,tacking through both jambs and shims into the trimmer studs. Plumb the side jambs,shim at the top,and tach. Shim at several intermediate points along the side jambs and tack through the shims,makeing sure that the proper joint between the door and jamb is maintained. Check the operation of the door to see that it opens and closes without sticking or binding.Make any final adjustments,and complete the job by driveing and setting all nails,and putting a screw in each hinge going through to the trimmer studs. If you take your time and research the project a bit you should do just fine,the entry door is one of the more challengeing projects around the house and after that interior doors and even windows will be easy.
Paul Beaudette is a handyman and you can get more information by visiting his Website…http://www.home-improvement-hardware.com