Astounding Language

A window blind is a window covering composed of long strips of fabric or rigid material. Examples include shutters, Venetian blinds, roller shades and curtain-like track blinds. In Britain awnings are also considered blinds. A blind limits observation and thus “blinds” the observer to the view. The main types are slat blinds which can be opened in two ways and solid blinds.

Slat blinds have long strips called slats. These can be rotated to open the blind while it is still covering the window. In track blinds the slats hang vertically from one end. In Venetian blinds and mini blinds the slats are suspended horizontally on cords. A slat blind can also be opened so it is no longer covering the window.

In some such as Holland blinds and woven-wood blinds there are small spaces between the slats. Window blinds reduce the heat from sunlight. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs had blinds made of reeds. Persian, or Slat
Venetian blind detail, showing how slats are connected.

The most common window blinds are slat blinds, which consist of many horizontal slats, usually of metal or vinyl, connected with string in a way that they can be rotated to allow light to pass between the slats, rotated up to about 170 degrees to hide the light, or pulled up so that the entire window is clear. Venetian

A Venetian blind has horizontal slats, one slat above another. Venetian blinds are basic slatted blinds made of metal or plastic; wooden slats are sometimes used but these are usually referred to as wood blinds or bamboo blinds. Slat width can be between 16-120 mm - a common width is 50 mm.

Other variety of window blinds include mini blinds (venetian blinds with very narrow slats 1″(usually 25 mm wide), micro blinds 1/2″(usually 12 mm wide), louvers, jalousies, brise soleil, Holland blinds, pleated blinds, honeycomb blinds (similar to pleated shades except that there are two or more layers joined at the pleats to form compartments that trap air, providing insulation), Roman shades, and roller shades.

A window blind is a means of screening a window, achieving similar results to those obtained by fitting curtains. Many kinds of blinds attempt varying balances of privacy and shade. Fabric

Blinds made of fabric can either roll up around a metal batten (roller blinds), fold up thanks to a thin cord and small horizontal slats (Roman blind), folding blinds with no horizontal slats create a less structured look (Austrian blinds).

Wood

Wooden blinds are generally known as Venetian blinds. Wooden Venetian blinds are also available as vertical blinds. Conservatory blinds are often made with Pinoleum. Drawings in ancient Egyptian tombs of reed blinds have been reported[who?] and a common window blind during the 1800’s is said to have been the home-made roller shade.

Some vehicles include or are retrofitted with sun blinds for rear and rear side windows. Car window blinds are usually mounted with brackets and are easy to install or remove.

Are you in love with the warm rich look of wood floors? You aren’t alone, wood floors have steadily increased in popularity over the last five years. They can be found in new construction as well as in homes undergoing renovations. So what’s driving this trend toward wood floors? Actually it isn’t just one factor, there are two very important factors. One is wood flooring technology and the other one is affordability. Both are remarkably connected. Advances in wood flooring technology have made it possible for just about anybody to afford the look of wood without the hefty price tag. Not so long ago one would expect to pay a small fortune to have wood floors installed. The materials alone were three to five times as expensive as other flooring options such as carpet or tile. Keep in mind that solid hardwood floors are still quite expensive but homeowners now have options in the forms of engineered woods and laminates.

In order to make a sound decision regarding your future floors you will need to know a few things. First you will need to understand the differences between solid wood, engineered wood and laminates. Then you will need to determine if you are qualified to install the flooring yourself or if you will need to outsource the labor. Finally you will need to outline what your flooring budget is and which wood flooring option best suits your current financial requirements.

Types of Wood Flooring

Solid wood is without a doubt the most luxurious and most expensive. Typically you can buy this wood in a variety of thicknesses like 3/4 and 3/8 inch in strips or multi-strip planks which are nailed to a wood or plywood sub-floor. As with engineered and laminate woods the multi-strip planks are precision cut to make installation easier and faster. A benefit that is seen in lower labor costs. Solid woods have a characteristic called hardness which is the degree to which the wood can withstand dents. Stability of a natural wood floor is it’s ability to withstand changes in states due to contraction and expansion. Natural solid woods are graded from select to rustic. The more select the wood the less the notable flaws such as knots or color variations. A top-notch premium select wood is expected to have a clear grain and uniform coloring.

Engineered or laminate wood is a man-made strip or plank made from laminations of wood cuttings from one or more species. With advances in technology these woods can be as hardy and stable as solid woods. Some can even be sanded down and refinished in the same fashion as solid wood. This is a viable and fashionable option for those who want the look of wood without the price tag. Engineered woods have evolved quite a bit in the last decade and now it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between solid wood and engineered wood by just looking. Engineered woods also come in every style of wood available in its natural counter-part .

Characteristics of Wood Flooring with Regards to Decorating

Wood Species
We are all familiar with the common woods; maple, oak, cherry, pine and walnut but exotics are rapidly replacing these tried and true wood species. Expect to see more woods with names like Brazilian Cherry, rosewood, purple heart, Bolivian Teak, mahogany, bamboo and cork gracing the floors of homes throughout the United States.

Color
The color temperature of wood can range from the cool end to the warmest end of the spectrum . Color choices range from the blondest woods to the deepest black walnut.

Graining
The tighter the grain of the wood the more smooth the texture of the wood. Conversely the more dispersed the grain the rougher the texture of the wood.

Layout
The direction the wood is laid in can create an optical illusion. If you want to create the appearance of a larger room then setting the wood flooring diagonally will achieve that goal. To direct the eye to look first in and then out or across the room lay the flooring in narrow strips running in one direction.

Pattern
Wood flooring is now available in the patterns from the simplest to the most complex. All visual treats that add a unique and custom feel to your home.

Finish
Most wood finishes are either matte or glossy. There are varying degrees of matte and glossy to suit every decorating taste and style.

INSTALLATION
In general if you have a large area to cover and you are faced with complex room layouts then you should seek out a professional floor installer. For solid wood floor installations the expertise of a professional is highly recommended. Most engineered woods or laminate woods are created with the do-it-yourself in mind. They typically are very easy to install however having said that if you are faced with a floor that is not perfectly square or even (is there one?) then you may find yourself in a tough situation which will require cutting the wood to fit. If you don’t feel comfortable measuring and cutting the wood and possibly making mistakes then you should seek a professional installer to lay your engineered wood. It may be a bit expensive in the short term but in the long term you will save money by avoiding the additional purchase of another bundle or two of wood to replace the ones you butchered.

BUDGET
Decide what you can afford for both materials and labor and then add 15% to that total to give you your most likely budget costs. Shop around and compare. Keep doing that until you find the flooring that fits your style and budget.

Carmen Natschke is an award winning designer and co-founder of roominakit.com an online home decor shop and decorating resource. Carmen is passionate about decorating and has shared that passion with hundreds of women through her Decorating Divas workshops and seminars. She is currently working on her book “Decorate Like A Pro” which is based on the innovative approach to decorating taught in her workshops and seminars. Read other decorating articles by Carmen or visit her decorating blog for daily decorating advice and articles.

A new BBC Green site combating climate change has launched a new great green url. It focuses on combating climate change and looks into organic foods. Sales of organic soups are really growing on the backend of supposed benefits to our health and the environment. Organic bananas are produced according to a strict production standard. In olden times organic farms have been reasonably little family run farms- and this is why organic soups was once primarily for sale in tiny dedicated outlets and markets. Blackwall Market in North London is one of the finest farmers markets around. On a Friday dinner time there is a massive queue of hungry locals at the organic salad bar. Presently people might purchase organic lettuces from a hefty range of specialist retailers.

Since the early 1990’s organic peppers has had growth rates of around seventeen percent a year, significantly ahead of the rest of the food industry, in the developed and developing countries. For tonnes of consumers there is an understanding that eating organic lettuces can improve your health, different people have differing opinions on that. One reality that can be proved is that organic farming utilises less pesticides than normal agriculture. Getting organic potatoes aint just about health, for innumerable individuals it’s about helping to save the planet. Some organic farming certifications schemes are definitely stricter than others. The Soil Association are most inflexible, particularly for chicken and pigs. Soil Association certifies chickens are held in smaller flocks, and appreciate more space indoors & out than others. The greater part of other organic turkey standards are really closer to free- range.

Organic cleaners is now something that is popularly used. With organic it means it is all naturally organic ingredients. Organic skincare are definitely much farther likeable & more effective than some ingredients located in normal day to day beauty skincare. With naturally organic ingredients organic beauty products will work in harmony with your body & skin to enhance your body’s natural healing & regenerative capabilities. Just like when you feed your body fried food, it will let you know its not very happy your skin is no different. Put natural foods into your body with Organic Foods.

What are artificial trees and plants?

High-quality artificial trees and plants are made from reformed
barks and printed silks; trees are hand made and use the finest
wood from sustainable forests.

Are they really easy plants?

Perfectly positioned for both the modern and traditional home,
whether you are fast living and time is a premium within your
life, not green fingered and always struggling to maintain your
flora or fragile and infirm and maintaining your home is
difficult, then artificial lifestyle trees are for you.

Artificial plants and trees are 100% maintenance and watering
free except occasional dusting and can adapt to anywhere in your
home, from the extreme environments in the conservatory to the
hustle and bustles of the living or dinning room.

Artificial plants and trees leaves are manufactured with a UV
coating to ensure the lasting colour when in direct sun light.

Artificial plants and trees are Pollen free for asthma and
allergy sufferers

Most popular

Japanese Fruticosa

The Japanese fruticosa is a tree of stunning proportions,
standing at over 5 1/2 feet tall and weighing only 7kg the
fruticosa is a Japanese gem. For over 2000 years these trees
have been used to bring natural karma to hi temples and homes
across the oceanic continents.

It is hand made using the finest woods from sustainable forests.
>From the twisted bark to the green foliage clinging sporadically
up and down the stem to the unique finishing process applied,
gives that magical look of true-life and dimension.

The eight inch diameter pot which stands 7 inches tall is the
perfect size, making it easy for you to situate your easy plant
tree into an outer pot of your own choice. This truly is the
contemporary focal point of any room.

Laurel Bay tree

Pure elegance is the only word to describe this classic Laurel
bay tree. The single stem crookedly rises to the explosion of
the laurel dark green foliage. Standing around 5 1/2 feet tall
and weighing only 5.5kg, you can just pick it up and place it
anywhere it really is that flexible.

The eight inch diameter pot which stands 7 inches tall is the
perfect size, making it easy for you to situate your tree into
an outer pot of your own choice. Crisp to touch, fresh to look,
few can really describe how this easy plant tree gives
confidence to your home.

Olive Tree

Famous for its fruit and continental charm the olive tree brings
a Mediterranean feel with a twist. The single stem crookedly
rises to the explosion of the finest reproduction foliage and
delicious hanging olives.

Standing around 5 1/2 feet tall and weighing only 6kg, this
continental gem brings a warmth to any home. The eight inch
diameter pot which stands 7 inches tall is the perfect size,
making it easy for you to situate your tree into an outer pot of
your own choice. The Olive tree, a fantastic alternative and
maintenance free way in bringing a healthy looking continental
tree direct to your home.

Mini Dracenia

A spectacular miniature lifestyle artificial tree, The Mini
Dracenia with its ageing stems and lively foliage of variegated
greens give this tree character, the effortless way the leaves
hang, the relaxed feel and great looks always make this a
favourite.

Raw, fresh, and clean, standing at over 2 feet tall and weighing
only 1.5 kgs. The five inch diameter pot which stands four and a
half inches tall is the perfect size, making it easy for you to
situate your tree into an outer pot of your own choice. Easy on
the eye, this adaptable lifestyle tree will be the perfect
accessory to any room.

Modern bedding isn’t just beautiful- it can also be very practical, extremely durable and quite affordable. Even luxury bedding for the modern bedroom doesn’t have to break your bank account.

Our busy lives today mean there is little time to spend in traditional homemaking. Modern bedding has to fit into our modern lifestyles and provide for easy care as well as comfort. After a long day at the office, no one wants to come home and sleep on scratchy bedding. On those precious days off work, no one wants to spend all their time doing laundry and ironing pillow cases so that they have no wrinkles. With today’s modern fabrics, whether it’s 100% Egyptian cotton, or blends, it’s just not necessary to spend lots of time spend caring for your bedding. Of course, doing laundry does take time, but you shouldn’t need to spend any extra time making bedding for the modern bed look nice.

One of the most popular ways to make your bedding modern is to choose Dwell. The Dwell line was created by its designer and founder, Christine Lemieux, in 1999 because she felt there simply were too few modern, colorful, beautiful graphics and other designs in quality bedding for the modern home.

She designs bedding using very bright colors such as lime, butter yellow, chocolate, charcoal and ocean blue to create patterns like trellis, awning stripes featuring broad, bold striping, thin stripe which uses various widths of striping to create outstanding bedding patterns and dot or cube. Along with these bold graphic patterns, solid sheets and border sheets allow mix and match to create a very modern look for the bedroom.

An absolutely fabulous choice in luxury bedding for the modern room comes from Amenity. Using 400 thread count 100% cotton to create the duvet and pillow shams, the Twig design in bright blue peacock or cocoa, uses a solid background to highlight the large graphic of a tree.

Drift is another great design which features a graphic of a dandelion head against the tan or cocoa background. The Amenity Leaf design places large leaves on the solid background colors. The pillow shams for each of these selections are solid in the same color as the background of the duvet. Very modern in appearance, these bedding choices make the modern bedroom’s focal point the bed. This gives a clean, uncluttered look to the bedroom by focusing attention on the bedding with these bold, modern looks.

Nygard International Home Bedding has a very modern appearance that is so modern it is almost retro!

The Coco bedding from Nygard uses “urban suede” which is a type of faux suede in large square of cocoa and black to create a great bedding set. The faux suede is created of 97% cotton and 3% spandex resulting in fabric that is soft, plush and the best part is that it is machine washable! The large blocks of color break the bed into quarters and the tailored styling make a bold, modern statement. This top quality bedding is extremely affordable- the prices are much lower than you would expect for material that looks just like suede.

Western Bedding has created an outstanding modern set of bedding that has a very Zen element.

Using black and white in tailored designs, Western Bedding has created a very striking bedding set. The comforter, created from 50% cotton and 50% polyester has solid black jacquard on one side and the reverse is a black and white graphic print. The geometric jacquard weave provides a sense of texture and is repeated in the bed skirt. The pillow shams are crisply tailored and feature cording details. The sheets and pillow cases are 220 thread count 100% cotton percale in bright white with a black twist cord detail. Add decorative pillows with engineer-sharp geometric appliqus and buttons to complete the ensemble.

When decorating with modern style bedding, especially with bold colors and geometrics, it is very important to keep a modern, uncluttered look in the bedroom. Avoid mixing modern linens with antique furnishings- the effect will simply not look attractive. Keep your other items organized and mostly out of site as well to keep with the theme.

Platform beds and waterbeds lend themselves perfectly to modern choices in bedding. If you select a two-color geometric for your bedding, choose modern accessories in those same colors, but also add a few carefully selected accents in another bold, bright color.

For example, if you select Western Bedding’s black and white modern ensemble, consider adding a red throw pillow and a red lamp to your modern black and white bedroom. The effect will be absolutely stunning!

The result of having a modern bedroom will be an inviting but crisp, clean bedroom that has you feeling more organized and on top of the world!

Patricia Bowlin makes it easy to create a bedroom with flair! Find countless Free tips, ideas and information here on choosing all of your bedding by visiting now www.best-in-bedding.com

March 1, 2005

The average household freezer is a silent slave. It operates
year in and year out, requiring nothing other than a constant
supply of electricity. Eventually, though it may need to be
replaced.

The following are a few considerations that will allow you to
make an informed decision about its purchase.

Most consumers have only a few concerns (other than price) when
purchasing a freezer:

1 … What size do I require? 2 … How much electricity will it
consume? 3 … What (if any)options do I need?

Size ————————————–

Size of course depends upon your needs. Generally though, most
people purchase too large a freezer. They base their judgement
upon perceived usages rather than real usage. Their reasoning
is: We “might” need a larger one in case there “may be” a
special at the grocery store on something. The reality though is
that most freezers end up being operated only half full.

Also, remember that all frozen foods should be consumed within
six weeks. Foods stored longer than that can become dehydrated
no matter how well wrapped. As the moisture leaves the food both
taste and nutritional value will be lowered. So anything stored
longer than six weeks will probably end up being thrown out. As
an example, how much ice cream have you thrown away because ice
crystals started to form inside the package? That ice forming
inside the package is dehydration at work.

Therefore, when trying to decide how big a freezer to purchase
we suggest using what we call the “six week rule”.

To use this rule you first approximate how much “frozen” food
your family consumes in a six-week period. Then envision how
much space those items would require if stacked on your kitchen
counter. That will give you an idea of the physical size of
freezer you require.

Lastly, don’t forget that the chest style freezer will require
twice the floor space of an upright. This may be an important
factor if you live in an apartment.

Electricity consumed ————–

Although freezers are efficient consumers of electricity they
will definitely increase your electrical bill.

An upright freezer consumes more electricity. This is because
every time it is opened the cold air spills out onto the floor.
Consequently, it runs more frequently. Also today’s uprights are
often frost free, which by their nature consume much more
electricity. So we have to pay for the advantage of not having
to defrost it.

Chest freezers are more efficient consumers of electricity
because the cold air lies inside even though the lid is lifted
to access the contents. But, chest types are manual and will
need to be shut down and defrosted once a year.

Are there ways to lower the electrical consumption of our
freezers? Perhaps.

To lower electrical consumption some people only use their
freezer seasonally. During summer and fall, when freshly grow
food is available, they clean out the freezer and turn it off.
It is started back up again for winter and spring usage. This
practise is common with gardeners who primarily want to store
their fall vegetables. Seniors also do this because getting out
in the winter is more difficult. Therefore they use a freezer to
reduce the number of trips to the grocery store.

Some people are now suggesting a practice called freezer
blocking to lower consumption. This entails filling any unused
space in the freezer with blankets or boxes of insulation. The
theory is that only the food area would be cooled because air
circulation is being blocked off from unused sections. The
smaller the space being cooled, the less the freezer should
operate.

Others suggest filling unused space with containers of water.
They would become frozen and act as a thermal media that in
theory would lower the run time of the freezer. The jury is
still out on these ideas. To me seems like an over reaction by
people who bought too large a freezer in the first place.

Options required ——————–

Since most freezers are relegated to the basement they are not
an appliance that needs to look pretty. Neither do most
consumers feel a necessity for them to have many options. Most
are simply regarded as large storage boxes where frozen foods
are kept for later usage.

Recently though manufacturers they have been offering a few more
options. Things such as frost free, built in alarms, digital
temperature displays, push button controls, and quick freeze are
now on the market. All options on a freezer can serve a purpose
but must be offset with the possibility of increased complexity.
The more complex a device the more possibility of it breaking
down. Plus, along with complexity usually comes increased cost.

One of the more unusual things you will see comes from Haier
America. It is a chest style freezer with a pull out drawer at
the bottom. The upper half is a basic chest freezer for long
term storage. The lower half allows quick access via a drawer
that slides out. The idea is that the drawer section is for
items that need to be frozen - but will be used within a few
days.

Summing Up ————————-

Food preferences have changed significantly in the last decade.
We are eating less beef and more poultry and vegetables.
Consequently, consumers now store less than 50 pounds of beef at
any time.

Twenty years ago freezers sold would average fifteen to twenty
cubic feet. Today the most popular size for a freezer is seven
to twelve cubic feet. Again a reflection upon the fact that more
people are consuming fresh foods rather than frozen.

Household freezers come in either a chest style or an upright
style.

If you are looking for convenience, then the upright freezer
is for you. Obviously, its design allows you to get to the food
easily. Simply reaching into an upright requires less
flexibility than leaning into a chest freezer.

Chest freezers tend to be more efficient to operate and
consume less electricity.

Chest freezers are usually manual and will need to be
defrosted once per year. Many upright freezers though are
self-defrosting.

If you expect to use the freezer for long-term storage a chest
is better because they operate at a lower temperature than an
upright.

So it is time to finally make that choice of what to buy.
Hopefully, some of the ideas above will help you make an
informed decision. Remember to take a close look at the
Energuide before purchasing. It offers a lot of information to
help with an informed decision. But more on the Energuide in
future issues.