Relaxing Ideas for Your Porch

Question: My husband lacks relaxation when he’s back home from work as children are busy in their game play. This makes him a bit disturbed and lacks concentration too. Would porch be helpful in this situation? – Rose

Answer: It won’t be long before your porch will lose its winter wraps and be put to everyday use. During the hot summer months. Dad will relax on the porch with the evening paper. When the next-door neighbor returns the borrowed cup of sugar, Mom will suggest sitting down on the porch “for a minute” and having a cool drink. For youngsters, the porch will be a playhouse, or a place to entertain the gang. These ideas will help you enjoy your porch more this summer.

Furniture arrangement divides a long, narrow porch into two room s,one for a conversation grouping, one for informal summer meals. Notice how ceiling is painted to match canvas valance and draperies.

Cane chairs and tallies give this porch low-cost convenience. The porch sofa doubles as a place to take a breeze-catching nap or even Bleep on sticky, humid nights. It’s covered in practical chintz. Don’t forget to provide ample lights for reading or evening card playing.

Kitchen Refacing Ideas

Over the years we noticed the lack of space in our kitchen. I have done my best to satisfy my family but in vail. What are the best method to make kitchen look spacious w/o much efforts? – Chloe Hallen

Answer: The charming eat spots seem to invite you to draw up a chair or stool and sit down! No matter what other dining facilities you have, you’ll like the step saving convenience of a snack bar. Breakfasts, lunches, or suppers go straight from range to dining counter. Dishes have only a short journey to table, to sink for clean up, then back to their cabinet.

Then, too, these extra counters make a handy place for cleaning silver, checking household accounts, lining up plate meals for family or guests.Junior members of the family like these spacious counters for their many hobby interests. Look at the pictures and plans we show here to gel ideas for a snack counter for your kitchen.

Don’t overlook the possibility of widening a window ledge to make a table or adding a pull-out shelf to your cabinet. If your kitchen is crowded, perhaps a “fold-down shell” against the wall is the answer.

A lunch bar for real short order service- Food stays piping hot as it goes across the counter from the range side of the peninsula the hungry folk on the eating side.

Fleer meals, dishes can glide across counter to tin: sink. Cabinets above tin counter open on both sides for Beau) table set-tins and return of dishes.

A diagonal nail in your kitchen need not in a handicap. On may lentil you can limit in a long counter and use to advantage tiny space. There was lot by the angle. This counter made of bleached oak planks. Plastic-covered with Susan saves crowding of dishes at the table. At mealtime, you cull flue dessert plates, coffee cups up there.

An angular liar makes so sidles lo seat three to four poplin in a limy area. There’s tool spare look out on the race while they eel here. Then the table not gel for a meal, ii makes a workplace planning with telephone within easy arm’s reach.

Narrow wall space gets good use in the. Is a sit-down snack work spot, part is for storage? Kalispell is only little slop away from the cooking center, sink, and refrigerator (see plan). The long shelf above counter puts sugar and creamer within easy reach of break & Biters. Dishes and glassware in the roomy cabinets overhead.

Wide counter with cabinets above divides I he kitchen from tiny living-dining room. The padded hacks & the footrests of these high stools make dinnerís com fordable. Big dinners are served at the (lining table. Glass doors on cabinets racing the living area display silver trays, pitchers. On the kitchen side of liar is storage for pans; a sliding shelf pulls out from under counter for an extra spacemaker.

A generous counter like this, curving gracefully around a range peninsula to any family. There plenty of room lo set up places for or seven for speedy over-the-counter service.

Whether you arc giving a buffet luncheon or n dinner party, there’s space to line up plate meal.- or dishes for an easy trip lo the dining room. And it’s also a place for teen-agers to entertain, and study, too.

Utile pass-through counter seats two to four people for breakfast or snacks. Any jumping up for more coffee can lie (alone from the kitchen side. Here we’re looking into the kitchen from living-dining room. Anyone can dial with her family while she cooks.

A Guest Room Used Every Day

Question: I have guests popping in every other day since my husband is into his marketing profession. What would be the best possible ways to make it look like a living room? – Martina

Answer: This guest room looks like part of a living room. Folding doors open to “expand” the size of the living room, or to close this area off for complete privacy.

If your living room doubles as space for guest sleeping, perhaps you can adopt the folding-door idea. As alternatives, try traverse draperies on a ceiling track or a portable folding screen. Either could give you a private “guest room.”

No matter where you fit in your guest space, there are three essentials to keep in mind: You should give your guests as much privacy as is possible, a place to hang their clothes, and a light near the bed.

Wall of bookshelves is broken by shallow closet and small sections enclosed by plywood doors. The doored section cost less than drawers, add decorative interest.

It’s only 12 inches deep. A pull-out clothes rod, a shelf for hats, rack for ties, one for shoes, and a mirror help small guest closet do big-closet duty.

Your Floor Covering

Question: I would like to have an appealing look and feel for my floor covering. It’s been past 5 years, since I had done last. Can you suggest me a nice floor covering within budget? – Kate

Answer: Floor covering is one of your largest home-furnishings expenditures. Today it’s possible to gel almost any type. But no matter what you choose; rugs, carpets, or smooth-surface floor coverings only makes good sense to protect your big investment. Here are tips to help you get longer wear from the floor covering in your home:

Keep it clean

Dirt is Enemy No. 1. Rugs and carpets should be vacuumed at least twice a week. If dirt and grit sink into the pile and backing, they will cause fibers to break. Regular vacuuming also eliminates the danger of moths’ breeding. A professional cleaning every one or two years will help add to the life of rugs and carpets.

Good-grade, shag-cotton rugs will not shrink when laundered. They should be vacuumed regularly too. Smooth-surface floor covering should be cleaned and protected by following the directions recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure to ask for instructions when you have flooring installed.

A turn for the better. If you have a room-size rug give it longer life by turning it around twice a year for even “traffic” wear.

Cutouts

Practical hard-surface flooring can be combined with carpeting in interesting and decorative ways. The area under and around the dining table is ready to laugh at spilled foods. The oval cutout isn’t wasted; it’s used in an upstairs hall. In an open-plan home you can use carpeting to suggest walls and define areas. Note how it has been curved to make a transition between the slate-floored entrance way and the living room

Tackles Installation

For wall to-wall carpeting avoid dirt catching tack impressions. See the smooth edge around this tile hearth. Carpet is hooked to grippers along one wall, stretched across the room and hooked at the opposite wall, A new tape makes seaming of carpel strips practically invisible.

Winning team

To save wear on your rugs and carpets, use in combination with hard-surface flooringó tile, slate, brick, linoleum and so onóin heavy traffic lanes. Then use your rug in a free-form style as part of the furniture grouping. This is not only decorative, giving interest and texture contrast, but cuts down on the quantity of carpet needed. You’ll see examples of this use of combination flooring illustrated with this article. If your sod floor covering goes right up to the entrance door, a scatter rug of the same material placed on top of the carpet eliminates the usual hard wear and dirt which concentrates here.

What’s underneath?

A rug cushion or lining is a must. It should come approximately one inch from the edge of the carpel. A too-short cushion will cause a “wear ridge.

Whoops a Spot

Clean those unavoidable, accidental spots immediately on both hard and soft surfaces. It’s a good idea to keep a spot-cleaning kit on hand for these emergencies.

Beware of the Moth

Nationally known manufacturers give a moth guarantee with their rugs, carpets and cushions. Then, when you have your soft door covering professionally cleaned, mothproofing will be renewed. If in doubt about guarantee, it’s a good idea to spray your rugs and carpets with a good spray just like you do your clothes and closets. Be especially careful to spray around the baseboards.

Start Right

When you buy new carpet, the tackles method is a new way to install it. It does away with dirt-catching, unattractive tack depressions. A new seaming method makes seams practically invisible. Also, it’s easy to put in a patch if a hole is burned.

Extra Protection

Get casters or glides for protection from depressions made by heavy pieces of furniture. Glass or plastic glides under beds, pianos, sofas, and other extra-heavy furniture pieces, are a must for longer wear for your floor coverings.

Read the labels and information given you when you buy new floor covering. Care for different types varies with the materials used. It’s always a good idea to check the labels for care information supplied by the manufacturer. Ask the salesman the recommended care, and find out if an instruction booklet is available. Most name-brand manufacturers will send instructions on request. Be sure to file them in a convenient place for ready reference.

“You probably won’t be able to make the turn BO crash where the boards are loose and coast out his driveway to the street and hope that no ears are coming.”

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.