Granite and Marble Stone

How To Choose The Right Marble Or Granite For Your Home

By: Anne Sinclair
Many people have decided to use marble or granite in their home interior ideas. These stones have a way of adding a certain beauty to our surroundings. Each with it's own texture and color shades, they have been used in many of our home improvement projects. Even though these stones are beautiful, do we know enough about them to place them in the proper places of our homes? Do we know the differences that are presented from one type of stone to the next? Here we will look at some of these different aspects of each stone.
Granite is a hard stone that is very durable. Granite is mostly made up of quartz and mica. This stone is considered to be igneous. The color and texture of the stone is determined the cooling speed and the amount of quartz and mica that are found in each piece of stone.

The pros and cons of granite stone
Granite is considered one of the best stones to use in your home. The reasoning behind this lies within the fact that granite is scratch resistant. Other properties of this magnificent stone is that it does not stain, chip or burn. These properties alone, make this one of the most commonly used stones in todays' homes. They have a great color to them and add a nice beauty to the surrounding area. Using granite poses no threats to any problems such as sanitation or health as long as it is cleaned regularly.
As for any cons to using granite, there really is not any bad side to using this stone in your home. With the above mentioned properties, it is no wonder that granite is so popular among homeowners.
The pros and cons of marble stone
Marble unlike granite is not scratch resistant. As a matter of fact, marble is very easy to scratch. Marble is also very easy to stain. If using marble in your kitchen areas, then you want to be careful as this type of stone is susceptible to burns. Also heat can be a major disadvantage to using marble. Heat can also damage the allure of marble as well as any stains that may be found on this stone.

 As for pros with using marble, there really isn't any beyond the fact that this stone is great to gaze upon. The smoothness of marble is so remarkable that many famous sculptures have been formed from this magnificent stone.
When it comes to using either one of these stones in your interior design ideas, there are virtually limitless possibilities. Many people love the look of these stones in their kitchens. Used for counter tops and even dining tables and end tables for their living room. Maybe one section of the wall could be made out of this stone material. The bathroom is another great place to employ the use of this beautiful stone. This will add elegance and sophistication into your home. The possibilities that can be achieved by using this stone is virtually limitless and will be a great addition to your home.

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Home Plumber

Handy Tools for the Do-It-Yourself Home Plumber

By: Frank Terry Morris
For the big plumbing jobs around the house, hiring a professional plumber is often the best choice you could make. However, there are also plenty of smaller plumbing tasks that can easily be handled by the average do-it-yourself homeowner. Of course, even do-it-yourself plumbers need to have the proper tools to get the job done right. If you aspire to do at least some of your own plumbing repairs and tasks around your own home, here are some tools you'll want to have in your plumbing toolbox.
Adjustable Wrenches

Adjustable wrenches are indispensable when it comes to plumbing repairs. These wrenches can be used on a variety of sizes of nuts and bolts, as well as any plumbing fitting that has flat sides. There are many different sizes and lengths of this style of wrench to choose from, including very small 4 inch wrenches for tight spots, or 2 foot long wrenches for really large pipe fittings. However, for home use, a 10 or 12 inch adjustable wrench is usually the best choice. When using this style of wrench, always make sure that you have it positioned so that you are applying the force against the fixed jaw.
Pipe Wrenches
When you need to grip and turn a threaded pipe or a pipe fitting, you'll want a pipe wrench. They have toothed jaws which are adjustable, making them perfect for this kind of task. They are available in a wide variety of sizes, usually ranging between 12 and 18 inches.
Pliers
There are a number of different kinds of pliers that can be handy in your plumber's toolbox. Locking pliers are great when something needs to be clamped, such as when you need to lock a pipe or a bolt. These pliers also let you adjust the size of the grip by using a screw adjustment feature. Rib-joint pliers are also quite handy for turning nuts, pipes and plumbing fittings. The jaws can be adjusted by sliding the pivot, causing the pliers to engage at the desired jaw size.

Pipe Cutters
Chances are, you'll also have a need to cut pipes from time to time. Some pipe cutters are designed specifically to cut either steel or copper pipes. These cutters have an adjustable jaw combined with sharp cutting wheels. There are also pipe cutters that are designed for plastic pipes and tubing.
Tools for Drain Clearing
The need to clear a drain is a common do-it-yourself plumbing task. Be sure to have a sturdy plunger and a manually operated plumber's snake for this purpose. If you can't get a clog clear with one of these tools, you might need to rent an electric drain auger or call a professional plumber.
Other Essential Tools to Keep On Hand
In addition to the plumbing tool basics, you'll also want to have any accessories that are needed for the kind of plumbing in your home. This might include pipe sweating supplies, or the proper adhesives for plastic plumbing pipes. You'll also want to have a tape measure and a good assortment of screwdrivers on hand.

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Home Electronic

Save Money Now On Your Home Electronic Purchases

By: Daniel Smith
Everyone loves to save money on the everyday things, but it is especially nice when you save a lot of money on a really big item. Home electronics aren’t cheap, but with discounts you can get using home electronic coupons, you won’t mind upgrading your home’s technology. Can you imagine saving enough money on a plasma TV to be able to purchase those extra sports channels the cable company has been advertising? You might even save enough to keep you in beer for the entire football season. By taking advantage of coupons, this dream can be a reality. Coupons aren’t just for your mother to take to the grocery store anymore.
There are three great ways to save money using coupons on your home electronic purchases. You can find coupons in your newspaper, on the internet, and by using coupons codes when you order products online.
It is possible to watch the newspaper for great sales and occasionally the Sunday sales flyers will contain coupons for discounts at your favorite home electronic stores. These coupons are often for a certain percentage off of a purchase over a certain dollar amount or perhaps for a set amount off of a particular brand or product. Very often home electronic stores will send out their flyers with the Sunday paper, perhaps to avoid being lost within all the other ads. Make sure you check your Wednesday paper so you don’t ever miss out on any sales or coupons it might contain. While these coupons offer a nice savings, they are just the beginning.

 Your favorite stores often offer coupons online that you can print out and take into the store and apply to your purchase. These coupons usually represent a far greater savings than the coupons found in your Sunday paper and sometimes they can be used in conjunction with the coupons found in sales flyers. To find printable coupons check out the websites of your favorite stores or do a search online for printable coupons and then name of the store you are interested in shopping at. Better yet, visit a site that specializes in compiling coupon information and let them do all the legwork for you.
The best coupon savings on home electronics happens if you are willing to shop for electronics online. By taking advantage of coupon codes, you can receive substantial savings on all of your online purchases. You can find codes by visiting sites such as http://www.latestcouponcodes.com and searching for codes from whatever online store you are interested in making your purchase at. The coupon codes are simply inputted in as you check out and the coupon total is deducted from your total. You can find coupon codes for free shipping, a certain percentage off of your total purchase, a certain dollar amount off of your total purchase, and even for free items.

Remember that traditional home electronic stores aren’t the only places that actually sell home electronics. Often you can find home electronics at discount chain stores, department stores, and office supply stores. Don’t be afraid to look in the type of stores you normally wouldn’t associate with home electronics. Sometimes these stores will use an item like a DVD player or a computer as a loss lead to get you in their door, so take advantage of the lower prices they may offer.

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Bedroom Furniture

Bedroom Furniture – Create Your Bedroom Retreat

By: Jesse Akre
The bedroom is a unique space in your home that can take on an entirely different look from the rest of your house’s theme. It really should be your own personal escape from the rest of the world. When you are designing your bedroom keep that in mind. It’s meant to be a getaway. It could be an exotic getaway, with a jungle theme or a tropical beach feel, or you could think of your bedroom as a place to escape into the pages of a romance novel, with a sexy boudoir feel complete with canopy bed. You may also like the idea of your bedroom being a way to escape the modern world, and choose the theme of an old-time country retreat. None of these are wrong answers. Your bedroom should be whatever makes you feel like you have found your perfect escape. It’s a place of rest and rejuvenation. You can create that feeling through bedroom furniture.

 The trick is to hammer down a central theme so the bedroom furniture items are of the same style or complement each other. You can start with one piece of bedroom furniture you are in love with and can’t bare to do without, and then build around it. But also keep in mind that you may want to mix things up down the road and make sure the bedroom furniture pieces will do that for you. For example, if you want a beach getaway now, the main bedroom furniture items you should choose may be things that can fit that theme, but also translate to any tropical style you may want to switch too in years to come, without too much hassle. In this case a bamboo dresser would do, but one with flip-flops as feet will be hard to use in any other themed setting.
You also want to make sure the bedroom furniture pieces you choose now are going to be ones you want to use for years to come. The larger bedroom furniture pieces you will buy for your room are going to set you back a bit of money, so you want to know you are making the right decision. One place you do not want to scrimp is on the bed frame. A bed frame that is squeaky or does not support your mattress properly is going to get on your nerves and be a piece of bedroom furniture where you focus your anger instead of a place to relax.

 Next, while there is great looking bedroom furniture out there, make sure it will suit your needs. Make sure the dresser or armoire you choose has enough space for all of your things. If you have wide walls in the room you can look at traditional dressers, but if you have a smaller room, you may need to look into the highboy category of bedroom furniture to find one with the space you need.
Now it’s time to decorate. Enjoy looking for the cute and kitschy things that will complete your environment and make your room the perfect retreat.

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Home Architecture

What Is Landscape Architecture?

By: Kimberley Ennett, MLA, ASLA
Many times I have been asked what is the difference between a landscape architect and a landscape designer. Hopefully the following will answer this question.
The American Society of Landscape Architects, ASLA, provides the following:
"Landscape architecture encompasses the analysis, planning, design, management, and stewardship of the natural and built environments. Landscape architectural projects include design of public parks, site planning for commercial and residential properties, land reclamation, urban and community design, and historic preservation. Examples of landscape architecture include Central Park in New York City, TRW’s headquarters outside Cleveland, the “Emerald Necklace” of green spaces and parks in Boston, Sursum Cordan Affordable Housing in Washington, D.C., preservation of Yosemite Park and Niagara Falls, and the landfill reclamation of Fresh Kills in New York. Landscape architects have advanced education, professional training, specialized skills, and are licensed in 47 states."

What is the difference between a Landscape Designer and a Landscape Architect?
The national professional association is the American Society of Landscape Architects, based in Washington. ASLA full members have graduated from an accredited landscape architecture program, have 7 years of education and/or professional experience and are state licensed. In Michigan, as well as all other States, a three (3) day LARE examination administered by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards is required to be passed for state licensure.
Landscape designers do not have these professional credentials. Many state and local governments require designs to be stamped with a state registered Landscape Architect's seal.
What can I expect the landscape architectural design process to be?
Various architects may have different approaches, yet all are aimed at the same result. Make sure you're comfortable with the steps that the Landscape Architect defines. A typical process includes:
· Pre-planning - As the client, you discuss your desires with the architect and provide background, priorities, and any basic design guidelines. You'll work together and define the overall scope and timeline. The result will be a proposed budget and statement of work. The landscape architect will then prepare a contract for you to sign.

· Project Planning - Further preliminary details are developed with you about the site and its function and usage. The site is analyzed and the Landscape Architect creates a list of development priorities, which you'll approve.
· Preliminary Design - A review of the site, usage requirements, and environmental conditions are undertaken to create preliminary drawings. The Landscape Architect will show you design and presentation drawings showing the overall site concept. Initial construction cost estimates are provided, which you review and approve.
· Final design - Further detail is added to the concept. Material is selected and initial construction documentation is created. Where necessary, cost estimates are revised.
· Documentation - Additional detailed specifications and drawings are developed and provided to you for approval. The Landscape Architect may give you construction documents to assist you in soliciting bids from contractors and may help you review bids.
· Installation - Depending on your contract, the Landscape Architect may play an active role in representing you in your interaction with the contractor and provide on-site supervision. At the close of the project, the Landscape Architect will make a final inspection.
How do I find a good landscape contractor?
If you're going to need referrals to contractors and other service providers as part of your project, ask the Landscape Architect about these people. They will typically have an array of competent people in the industry for you to contact.
What's included in the landscape architecture contract?
Any reputable Landscape Architect will provide a written contract before beginning a project. This agreement will specify in detail the exact work to be done, the work schedule, the amount and payment terms of the landscape architect's fees, and the responsibilities of each party to the contract.
As a registered landscape architect in the State of Michigan and principle architect with Sexton Ennett Design, LC, a landscape architectural firm in southeast Michigan, I am particularly aware of the professional responsibilities related to landscape design. See: http://www.sexton-ennett.com
If there are nay questions please feel free to contact the ASLA or me.Published At: Isnare.com Free Articles Directory - http://www.isnare.com/

Home Lighting

Home Design Sense - How Lighting Effects Colors in Your Home

 By: H John Johnsen
Have you ever wondered why colors look different in your home? Simple.
Lighting in the paint store is not the same as in your home. Your windows bring in light and your light bulbs are different. Even against other colors; color can change. Take a paint sample home and see the difference.
Lighting effects colors in the way that they absorb; or reflect light. Some colors will appear warmer in natural light, brighter in florescent light and toned down in incandescent lighting.
Light colors reflect; while dark colors absorb the lighting. Of course, everyone has a different opinion on whether light or dark colors make a room look smaller or larger. What's your thought? Think about this. If you look at a black ceiling can you really tell where it ends?

Keep this in mind when planning the lighting in your home. Yeah; another thing to think about.
* Incandescent (bulbs) - This light enhances yellow and orange. While it dulls blue and violets. Red takes on an orange tint.
* Florescent (tube) - Invigorates green, blue and violet hues; but it washes out red, yellow and orange shades.
* Natural (outside or man-made lights) - This is the best, but not always practical light for the home. Reds warm and yellows tone down; while blues brighten and greens darken.
Lighting is not the only thing affecting colors. Ever wonder why colors look different when placed next to each other? It has to do with light wavelengths, but that is more scientific so, we will stay clear of that and make it easier to understand.
In plain language, colors can change radically when they are viewed next to another color. Try it at home to see the effect. Or try it with some paint swatches by putting them together.

Red next to blue - Red takes on a yellowish tint.
Red next to green - Red appears brighter and stronger.
Red next to yellow - Red seems bluer.
Red next to black - Red appears duller.
Red next to white - Red seems brighter and lighter.
Also, opposite (on the color chart/wheel) colors attract such as:
Red is redder when it's with green.
Yellow is sharper when it's with purple.
Blues becomes bluer when it's with orange.
Keep this in mind if you have two or more colors that will be next to
each other. Always put the two colors together and view in the lighting
that you have in your home - during the day and at night.
Here is a list of the warm and cool colors:
* Warm Colors - Red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange and yellow-greens.
* Cool Colors - Green, blue-green, blue, blue-purple and red-purples.
Always remember...view the color samples at home in the room they will be used. You will be surprised. View during the day and evening. Leave the swatches on the walls for a few days or longer if you are not sure. Oh, yes...use removable tape (blue or purple) if you are leaving them on for some time. You don't want to mar the wall when removing the tape.
Then, before buying gallons of paint; purchase a quart or if they sell the small paint samples and paint a 6' x 6' square are and feather out the edges so you don't have a hard line. Why? Because those small swatches don't give a wide viewing area and to be absolutely sure you love the color before spending lots of money on gallons of paint.

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