Tips
Temperatures have fallen across the country and many of you have already cleaned up your fireplace and started using it on a daily basis. The quest to find decent wood to burn is easier for some than others. We've picked up a lot of free wood from Craigslist but the quality often hasn't been so great.
Multifuelstoves.org shows us 5 more ways to score free firewood.
Our favorite sources would be: Furniture makers, friends and neighbors and our own woodlot if we had one.
Unfortunately not all landlords and property managers are honest and until you become a tenant it's difficult to determine what to expect from the relationship. Contracts and leases are meant to protect both the tenant and the owner but there is a large gray area that contains the emotions and intricacies of each tenant/landlord relationship.
Beyond reviewing a lease with a fine-tooth comb, there are some simple precautions to take that will protect you during the course of your lease and more importantly at the end of your lease.
1. Take Photos Moving In- When viewing the property, make sure you take plenty of photos. Not only of the space in general which can help with decorating and layout ideas but more specifically of the walls, floors, ceilings, doors and windows. Narrow in on damage or stained floors that won't be fixed before move-in. Walls with scuff marks or dents. Broken glass or inoperable windows. Doors not hung straight or damaged.
Photograph anything else that is out of the ordinary. Digital photos are best for this application and make sure your time setting is correct.
Unfortunately there are millions of people who do not have the physical freedom to function in a standard home and kitchen. Special considerations need to be made when planning a kitchen design. Once again Susan Serra, CKD, from thekitchendesigner.org steps in to show us the way.
For those with special needs, a preliminary analysis of the household member(s) needs is critical. For situations in which modifications need to be made to the interior of a home, a joint meeting with all parties, including the contractor and an occupational therapist to the household member with special needs is advisable. A design professional with a CAPS designation (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) awarded by NAHB National Association of Home Builders is verification of completed course work in this area.
It is to everyone's benefit, and often a strong desire of a household member with special needs, to preserve the homeowner's independence for as long a period of time as possible. In a situation that includes wheelchair accessibility within a home, adequate space must be provided for wheelchairs to turn, particularly in a bathroom and kitchen, in areas of the home where a hallway and doorways intersect, and to plan for adequate, and smooth flooring materials and transitions inside and outside the home via ramps.
Since moving to LA from NYC last year I thought I'd be doing a lot more surfing. It hasn't worked out like that. As soon as the water got warm the waves went flat. I guess that's par for the course in Southern California. Even if I don't hit the beach as often as I'd like, I can still live vicariously through those that do and my favorite surfing blog is El Porto Fridays. Despite the name they surf almost daily and upload pics, video, board reviews and surf spot reports.
Recently they shared a how-to for building a vertical surfboard storage rack. This is the easiest way to store your quiver especially if you have more than 3 boards.
This project is also cheap and only requires a 2x4, wood dowels, wood screws and padding.
With two-more days before Halloween we've gathered our favorite decoration ideas that can all be finished before the guests arrive or the kids come knocking.
+ Spooky Silhouette Votives from Design*Sponge
+ Halloween Crafts on Etsy from Casasugar
+ Chic and modern Halloween decorations from Apartment Therapy SF
+ Go Green this Halloween with Treats and Tips from Inhabitat
+ Do-It-Yourself Bats from Young House Love
When designing a kitchen for the elderly and those with special needs, you need to consider more than just the tile or countertop choice. Kitchen layout, counter and cabinet height, and appliances are just a few options that need to be thought out more carefully.
We asked Susan Serra, CKD, of The Kitchen Designer to share her thoughts on designing for elderly homeowners and those with special needs and she didn't disappoint.
Designing a kitchen for all generations, at the very least, can easily, and beautifully, include elements of Universal Design, design that is safe and functional, for all ages. It is design that is personal, yet adaptable to everyone.
Just as paint brush bristle type is dependent on type of paint used, the same applies to roller naps.
+ Nylon and wool blend naps are to be used with alkyd paints.
+ Nylon only naps are required for latex paint usage.
Nap length (thickness of fuzzy stuff)
+ Use a shorter nap for glossier and smoother surfaces.
+ Long roller naps are better for textured surfaces where you need better coverage like brick and stucco.
+ Plastic nap cores are of higher quality than cardboard and don't lose their shape and can be used repeatedly.
Ants, a common nuisance for homeowners, love kitchens for obvious reasons. Even if you keep your counters and cupboards clear of food, ants will find a way into your home and only need a few drops of spilled soda or bread crumbs to make them decide to stick around for more.
The problem with getting rid of ants the conventional way using bait traps and sprays is that you are exposing yourself and your food to toxic chemicals. These poisons are particularly dangerous when used in the kitchen when potentially every surface comes into contact with food.
Pesticides used in the kitchen also don't remove ants from their base source, which will continue to grow if left unchecked. The number one way to remove ants is to remove their source of food.
Follow these steps to get rid of these buggers for good:
The bristles on a paint brush are either natural or synthetic and in some cases both. Bristle choice is determined by type of paint used.
+ If your paint can be cleaned with paint thinner then use the natural bristles.
+ If you are painting using latex paint then use synthetic bristles.
+ Natural bristles can absorb the water in latex paint and will become limp and difficult to use.
+ Brushes that contain both types of bristles can be used with any type of paint.
A strong indicator of a good paint job will be the quality of brush or roller used. You may have everything else in place (high quality paint, clean surface) but if your brushes are cheap the finished product will not have the desired result.
When shopping for brushes do these quick steps to make sure you are getting a good quality paint brush.
1. Paint brushes should be balanced and comfortable in your hand. Heavy brushes contribute to fatigue and your work will suffer.
2. Do the bristles spread out evenly when you press the brush against the palm of your hand? If you see obvious spaces then the same will happen on your wall.
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November 6, 2009 | Comments ()
