The Beauty of a Carbonized

Carbonized bamboo is becoming a favorite among home renovators. It’s rich dark caramel color goes nicely with just about every décor. Homeowners especially like the fact that a bamboo floor is easy to clean, environmentally responsible and ideal for allergy sufferers. A bamboo floor will not harbor dust mites or promote any dust at all.

Installation is not more difficult than installing a hardwood floor. A contractor doesn’t need any extra training or tools and will therefore, not charge any more than he would for installing hardwood. Although with a few simple instructions, you can easily install it yourself. The simple tongue-and-groove design snaps together and the boards can then be nailed, stapled or glued to the sub floor.

Five things you need know about bamboo flooring:

1. Carbonized is not stained:The bamboo gets the darker color from inside. Instead of sap, like we see in trees, raw bamboo has sugar inside. By boiling the bamboo strips the sugar caramelizes to produce the darker color.
2. Carbonized is softer than natural bamboo:The boiling method softens the bamboo by about 30% leaving it a little more vulnerable to scratches and dents, but still quite durable.
3. The difference between vertical and horizontal flooring:Bamboo stalks are small in diameter and hollow. To turn them into boards the manufacturer laminates them together. Horizontal style is when the strips are laid flat, showing the top surface of the bamboo’s growth rings. In the vertical style the strips are turned and laminated on their sides, creating long slender rows. Although the same strength and durability, two completely different appearances.
4. Strand woven bamboo is stronger:Natural and carbonized bamboo can both be woven. For a more exotic look, they can be woven together, giving the boards a ‘tiger stripe’ appearance. In the weaving process the strips of bamboo are coated and then compressed together with heat. Resulting in the strongest, hardest form of flooring.
5. Cleaning your bamboo floor:Use a broom or soft mop for regular cleaning, just as you would with a hardwood floor. No harsh chemicals or scratch pads. Water can be used for excessive dirt, but don’t let it sit on the floor. As with all wood products, water can stain and cause the wood to swell. There is no need for waxing, but you may want to varnish every few years, especially in high traffic areas, to maintain the natural luster and shine.

Decorating with Red

Red is a very beautiful color. A lot of us love and would like to incorporate it in to our homes when it comes to decorating. However, although it’s a beautiful, it is also a very bold color.

When you decorate with red, it is important to decorate in a particular way so that you can avoid making it too bold and overwhelming. You want the red to pop out in your room and for it to be beautiful. You do not want people to be overwhelmed by this. It should be the finishing touch to to set your room apart. It is like placing the finishing touch on a room to give it a little flare and make it stand out.

Here are some things that you should consider when decorating with red furniture:

• Decorating with a red couch is a great way to put a little red in to your room without having the red be too overwhelming.
• It is also the perfect pop to a room to make it stand out and give it the perfect flare that it needs to be complete.
• and it’s a great way to incorporate a large piece of red in to the room. This will allow the red to be a focal point of the room with out being too much.
• A red couch is either too much or too little. It is kind of like the perfect dose of red in a room.
• All in all, it is great because it immediately draws everyone’s attention as soon as they enter the room.
• Painting your walls red may be too much for your room. If it is not a large room, the shade of red could make the room seem smaller and darker.
• and… red could also be too much because it is all around the room. If you paint the walls red, it may be too much to place much red in the room elsewhere.

If you choose to go the route of decorating with a red couch, then you will find that it is just the right dose of red that you needed in your room. It is a bold statement that attracts the attention of anyone who enters the room.

However, it does not attract attention in a negative way. It attracts attention because it makes a statement and it sets the room apart and makes it stand out. It’s the perfect way to incorporate such a bold color in to your room. It does not overpower the room, it provides just the right amount of attraction.

Ideas for Patio Furniture Decor

Are you looking for ideas for decorating your patio? If you are, then you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of ideas out there that you can exercise. If you’re like most people who own a patio, then you probably like to spend time there. However, you may find that you don’t spend much time on your patio because it is missing something. Usually, there is a decorative element that is missing. So here are some ideas for decorating your patio:

• Design your own hanging pots. This means going to your local department store and buying some hanging pots. You may then want to visit your local greenhouse or lawn and garden center to invest in some plants for your hanging pots. Yes, you can buy these hanging pots with the plants already in them, but it can be fun to make your own.

• If your patio furniture is old, decorating your patio is made easy by simply buying new cushions. You can also refinish your patio furniture in a different color or the same color in order to make everything seem new.

• Adding bamboo rugs make the flooring of your patio much more exciting. They handle the weather well and they are easier on your feet.
• If you want some privacy, you may want to look for outdoor blinds. They come in a number of patterns and colors. There is a very wide assortment, so you may want to make these the first thing you look at when decorating your patio.

• Make sure you add candles. It can be rather serene to have candles burning as you’re sitting out on your patio enjoying yourself. Maybe you want to enjoy being outside in a protected environment as you read a book.

• Paint the railings that go around your patio. Railings go through a lot due to the weather and they tend to look a little rough. What you want to do is touch them up and give them a fresh look.

So when decorating your patio, you can use these ideas or you can use other ideas that suit you. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination. It is your patio and you know what will make you feel comfortable. When you’re the one that has to deal with it and you realize that, decorating your patio becomes that much easier for you.

The Beauty of Today’s Awnings

Adding an awning to your backyard patio is attractive and practical. It not only adds ‘curb appeal’ it adds living space and value to your home. Local manufacturers will build you a custom awning with your choice of color, fabric and size. Awnings are great for year round protection for your patio furniture and your patio itself. Protection from rain, hail, snow and sun. If you add side awnings, you can enjoy the extra space all year.

An awning can reduce your energy consumption by 25% in the summer and keep your back door free of snow in the winter. Your air conditioning system won’t have to work as hard, since the awning keeps the sun away from the windows.

Most heating and cooling is lost through windows. When the sun heats up the outside of the window, that heat is transferred into your house. An awning blocks direct sunlight, keeping your windows approximately twenty degrees cooler.

Benefits of adding an awning:

• Beauty: Today’s awnings are much more attractive and durable than they used to be. Manufacturers are using more imagination, different types of fabrics and a wide variety of colors in their designs and you can choose and create an awning to suit your taste. Since your awning is custom made, you choose the exact design and the color scheme you need.
• Savings and Protection: You won’t have to replace or refinish your outdoor furniture or your patio tiles nearly as often. Plus you will save approximately 25% on your energy bill.
• Affordable: Local manufacturers will custom build an awning for you at a fraction of the cost of adding a sun room, but with all of the benefits. Since you are buying directly from the manufacturer, you will get a beautiful awning at incredible savings. Installation is quick and easy, but if you prefer, there are many contractors more than willing to help.
• Additional living space: Adding an awning makes your patio more bearable in the summer. With side panels it is like adding another room. Add the convenience of a remote controlled retractable awning, and you can adjust the ‘room’ any way you like, easily with the push of a button, no more cranking as with the older models.

Today’s awnings are not like the awnings of yesterday, they are a masterpiece of modern design. Locally manufactured and custom built with the added convenience of a remote control.

Make Sure Your Kitchen truly is the Heart of Your Home

The kitchen is the heart of our home, or so we’ve always been told. It’s definitely the place we spend a large amount of time throughout the day cooking, eating, cleaning or just making a quick snack. Your kitchen table may even be used for paying bills or getting homework done. If this room really is that important, shouldn’t it be a warm and comfy place with those extra special touches that make it “home”? Remodeling your kitchen can be a lot of fun and can be done very inexpensively if you follow these few tips.

Making your Kitchen Green

Make your kitchen green and no, I’m not talking about painting all the walls green. Green means energy efficient and eco-friendly. There are methods of making your kitchen green including proper ventilation, natural lighting, energy-efficient appliances, low-toxicity finishing and surfaces and countertops that are easily cleaned, durable while still being aesthetically appealing to the eye. Whether it’s online or at your local home building supply store, you can get some great ideas on how to green your kitchen yourself if you happen to be a DIY person.

Countertops

Countertops really do take up more of our kitchen than we realize yet they can be very inexpensive to replace in terms of overall remodeling costs. Consider an eco-friendly countertop such as wood (renewable), bamboo or cork. Cork is very durable, attractive and sustainable. It is also your best choice when it comes to workability, aesthetics and cost. It repels microbes, withstands moisture, and resists heat damage and scratches. It’s perfect for areas next to the sink that are frequently wet. Its fire resistant qualities make it great for next to the stove. Cork may not be your only choice, but it’s one of the beset.

Appliances

There is nothing quite like the look of new appliances in your kitchen. Appliances, however, are a large expense so make wise choices. The more energy efficient your appliances are, the more you’ll save money on energy costs. If your children are grown and gone, do you really need that large refrigerator or freezer?

Do you need that supersize microwave? The larger appliances you have, the more energy they’ll use and the more space they’ll take up – space that could be used for cute knick knacks or pictures of the grandkids!

Lighting

If you’re going all out with your remodeling, why not put in some large windows to let the sunshine in each day? There is not quite like natural lighting. It’s great for your plants and will lessen the time you need your lights on in your kitchen. It provides you with some great solar energy as well.

Tips on Patio Furniture to Meet Every Need

The end of the cold winter months means more than just warm weather. Along with the warm summer months comes cooking out, soaking up the sun and kicking back on the patio or deck. If this is the year you finally decide your outdoor furniture needs replacing or fixing up, here are some great tips on ways to renovate your patio without needing a loan to do it.

Keep Them Nasty Bugs Away

One of the unfortunate things about cooking outdoors or just relaxing on the deck is dealing with the bugs! Citronella candles work great for keeping the bugs away and they also make an excellent source of outdoor lighting.

In keeping with a “go green” style, you can make your own outdoor lanterns with items from. If you have any old canning jars or tin can, you can clean them up, stick a candle inside and hang them with a wire.

You may also put a several candles in a can and let them sit on your picnic table. It will not only do wonders for the bugs, but it looks great. Best of all, by reusing items you already have in your home, you’re saving money.

Turning Old into New

People are spending more time outdoors than ever before, making comfortable and environmentally friendly outdoor furniture a necessity. Furniture manufacturers are now making furniture that can be used both indoors as well as outdoors.

One advantage of this is when your living room furniture reaches the point where it needs to be replaced, it can be moved out to the deck and used as outdoor furniture. This allows you to use a reusable item for your deck while saving money. There are numerous things you can do with your outdoor furniture to spruce it up and make it look brand new, starting with a top to bottom cleaning. Pillows (water repellent) add a great sense of style to your outdoor furniture.

Don’t worry about matching colors. In fact, the bolder and larger variety of color you can have on the deck, the better it will look.

Tips for Purchasing New Outdoor Furniture

If you really do have your heart set on new outdoor furniture, you’ll be happy to hear there are many stores that sell eco-friendly pieces that are made of reusable materials and are also very reasonably priced. Ask for outdoor furniture that’s made of sustainable and renewable sources such as cork, bamboo or wood from trees that are from renewable forests. Coverings for your outdoor furniture should be should be natural fibers like cotton, silk, linen, wool or hemp. Once your deck or patio is complete, you’ll love the chance to show it off to all your friends!

Remodeling the Right Way

As much as we look forward to remodeling our home, a lot of our enthusiasm if often squashed when we see the bill. Fortunately, there are ways around this. You can have fun remodeling without breaking the bank in the process!

In addition, when you keep the word “green” in mind throughout the process, you’ll end up with a home that meets all your dreams is energy-efficient and will continue to save you money while providing you with a home you can be proud of.

Check out some of these great tips to add to the fun of remodeling…

Window & Window Treatments

One of the major sources of heat and energy loss is your windows. Windows that are old, cracked or in poor condition should be the first thing replaced when remodeling. The extra money you’ll spend will easily be saved in energy costs. Whether you choose to hire a contractor or get instructions for DIY, make sure you get windows that are energy efficient such as Energy Star. A wide variety of window shades, curtains or blinds will help you to further save on energy as well as enhance the beauty of your room.

Floor Coverings

Seldom is a home remodeled where new floor coverings are not needed. If your carpet is old, replace it as it’s probably filled with dust and other allergens. Although carpeting is beautiful and soft on the feet, you may want to consider a more “green” type of flooring such as wood flooring from renewable forests, bamboo, cork or similar items. Although they may seem plain at first, you’d be amazed at how much a few area or throw rugs will do for the room. Most of these floorings are very easy to install yourself, saving you a bundle on installation costs.

Wall Coverings

You can easily decorate your walls with a fresh coat of paint, wood paneling, wallpaper or some of the many different styles available at your home building supply store. If you’re painting, make sure you get paint free from harmful chemicals that are in the traditional paints of the past. You don’t have to paint all four rooms the same color for a great look. Consider wainscoting or wall borders for a great and very stylish look as well. Always ask for materials that are reusable and come from renewable sources.

Exterior Remodeling

New siding or a paint job? As with any remodeling job, you’d be surprised how much a fresh coat of paint will do for your home. Unless new siding fits into your budget and is badly needed, new eco-friendly paint can add years to the beauty of your home.

Giving Your Interior a Facelift While on a Budget

When the cold wintry days change to warm and sunny days, we tend to want to make some changes within the home as well. Don’t let the recent economy stop you from giving your interior a much-needed facelift. There are many ways you can improve and brighten up your home while not going over your budget. You’ll have a lot of fun doing this in cost-efficient green ways

Painting & Wall coverings

Few people realize how much a coat of paint can spruce up a room. A dark room can be suddenly brightened with some of the new colors that are now available. Since so many traditional paints are loaded with harmful chemicals and toxic compounds, you’ll want to look for paints that are natural and nontoxic. AFM Safecoat paint is an excellent choice to use in any room.

Painting the walls different colors or allowing your child to paint designs on the walls will add a lot of variety to the room. You can also find some borders for the middle or top of the room. Whether it’s Wal-Mart, Kmart or your building supply store, you’ll find these are a very inexpensive ways to spice up a room.

If you sew, your possibility for window treatments is endless. Fabric is still very inexpensive and curtains or valances are simple to make, even for the inexperienced seamstress. Old sheets that are no longer being used will give you all the material you need while allowing you to reuse what you already have.

Floors

Renovating or redoing your floors doesn’t have to be a big expense. If you’ve had carpeting in your rooms for years, you may want to rip it out. It’s probably filled with dust and pollutants that you just can’t vacuum out anymore. If you can afford it, consider replacing your carpeting with cork, renewable bamboo, or a sustainable hard floor.

Many of these are very affordable and they’ll last for many years. In fact, you’ll be surprised at how affordable they can be when you install them yourself with the included instructions. By adding a few throw or area rugs, you’ll be giving your room a total facelift.

Extra Accessories

There are so many little extras you can add to your home to make it attractive, green and not break the bank. Potted plants add a lot to your room as do pictures on your wall. If you take a lot of pictures, put some of these on display on your walls. A quick trip to the second-hand store will find many knick knacks to make your rooms more interesting.

Choosing Interior Furniture That’s Green & Affordable

Is your living room badly in need of a facelift but your budget just can’t seem to stretch any further? If this is the case, there’s good news! There are ways you can totally renovate your living room in a way that’s not only attractive but green as well, without sacrificing on style. When we hear the word green, we often think of the color.

However, green furniture is furniture that’s eco-friendly and good for our environment. Even furniture manufacturers are now doing their part in making furniture that’s environmentally friendly.
Furniture Arrangement: Sometimes, just rearranging your furniture is all your room may need to give the entire room a new look. Consider spacing your furniture in a way that makes the room appear larger without compromising on walking area. You don’t want to have to make walking through the room difficult because of furniture blocking the walkways. Throw pillows in bright and cheery colors add a lot to couch or loveseat.

If you have some old pillows you’re no longer using, you can make simple and removable covers for them. Even if you don’t have the pillows, you can still make them buy purchasing stuffing and sewing them together yourself, making sure it’s all hypo-allergenic.

Consider Redoing Furnishings: If your furniture is old, you may consider having them reupholstered or covered. While reupholstering may be more than you care to spend, coverings can be very inexpensive. This allows you to work with what you have and preserve it rather than throwing it out and purchasing new stuff.

Old coffee and end tables can be easily stripped down to the natural wood and refinished with eco-friendly stains free from harmful chemicals. Before you rush out to price new furniture, take a good look around your room at the many things you already have. You’ll be surprised at the results when you’re finished redoing your current furnishings! You’ll also be pleased at the dollars you’ve saved in the process.

Go Rummaging: A trip to the local thrift shop can help you find many things that may enhance the décor of your room, while helping to keep them out of the trash.

Like the saying, “one man’s junk is another man’s gold.” For instance, look for picture frames that have been made from reclaimed materials or consider making your own from old chunks of wood laying around the garage. Nothing adds a more personal touch to a room than family pictures.

Once your room is totally redone to your satisfaction, you may find some area or throw rugs in the thrift shop that coordinate with your “new” furniture. Or, consider redoing the furniture to match the floor coverings you already have.

You’ll be amazed at the satisfaction you’ll get out of renovating your living room (or bedrooms) in a green style while spending very little!