alanzain,interior design,home decor with good information and tips

Saturday, May 10, 2008

When embarking on a DIY project, the first thing you want to do is jump in with a hammer and start making mess! But this usually means you will end up shopping for the elusive "money tree".

In other words, leaping before you have planned can be very costly!
There are many questions to be asked, and these can be grouped into four areas:
Practical, Budgetary, Aesthetic and Maintenance

Aesthetic

Do you have items of furniture, artwork, carpets, that have to worked around, or which could be the basics of your scheme?Save racking you brains for a place to start, think about what you already have around you that you love, and work from there.

Does the exterior of your building, set the parameters for your interior? You don't have to follow the exterior, especially if you are in an apartment complex, but if you have a Victorian Villa for example it is often nice to keep some of the detailing even if you are updating the interior.

It is good to keep some of the detail from the house following through into the interior as shown here with the cabinetry emulating the window panes.

Do you have a tendency towards any colors? Do you hate any colors?

Also the intensity of color.Get this down on paper now as once you get into a project you will be so busy worrying about everything else that your common sense may goes out the window and you don't pay enough attention to the finishing ie the color. Also your love for a color may not be the same as the rest of the family who have to live in the house. Paint up some large pieces of card and prop them up where you will be renovating, you will start to get used to them and wil soon figure out which ones work in your space and which ones don't.

Do you have features outdoors that need to be viewed, (or hidden)?

Sometimes the view can dictate what you choose to do. If you look out at a concrete block wall through a window, perhaps it is better to use shutters as decoration or drape some fabric across so you don't have to see it. The opposite can also be said, why use window dressings if you have a spectacular view of the harbour!

Does your family (or your clients) have the same taste? Do they dictate a certain style?

Often it is obvious what you like, you always select similar things in magazines that you like, gravitate to particular forms of furniture when shopping, or love to feel textures. Try and pin point what vein of design suits you best - aesthetically as well as practically. This can be done by flicking through magazines and picking out what you like, if you all do that then find the common underlying theme. It could be you all like a similar group of colours ie warm colours, a similar look, uncluttered Minimal or Eclectic - a combination of numerous styles subtly combined, Pacific - bold florals with cane furniture. What ever it is write it down and try and follow that style or look including what you want to keep from your existing space.

Make sure your whole family are involved in the process of selecting style or colors and then select one person to oversee and make the final decisions - don't designate areas to different people, or you could have a nice orange surprise on your hands like this!

Do you want the space to be the backdrop and the furniture and fixtures to be central focus, or vise versa?Do you live in your house or is your house a work of art? You may want to keep one room the central focus for guests and display your artwork and your sense on style, and "live" in the rest ie keep it fashionable and functional.

Do you have an existing style and want to create a new style?Starting from scratch can be expensive, but wow, wouldn't it make a huge difference to your life, so do it! If you have the jitters, you could always put your old stuff in storage - just in case!

Have you see something you like in a magazine or book and have photographs of it for ideas?

This is a great way to start especially if they tell you where you can purchase everything - a great time saver. Just remember, make sure you don't "copy" the magazine, after all it is your own house and you have to spend time there, and it should reflect your style and personality to a degree.

*** random thougths @ 7:09 AM

When embarking on a DIY project, the first thing you want to do is jump in with a hammer and start making mess!

But this usually means you will end up shopping for the elusive "money tree".
In other words, leaping before you have planned can be very costly!

There are many questions to be asked, and these can be grouped into four areas:
Practical, Budgetary, Aesthetic and Maintenance

Budgetary Advice

Have you established how much you want to spend?Don't just guess a figure, the easiest way to get a budget is to prepare a sketch plan and get a quantity surveyor to provide a rough estimate so you can make a realistic budget. At this stage you have somewhere to start. If it is too high, you can prioritise the things you really want to do and leave out those that were luxuries, if it was lower than you thought you can add a few luxuries or simply not spend as much.

Thinking of alternative ways to use your money wisely, if you were to renovate your kitchen for example, the new appliances could be paid off over time leaving more money to spend on the space.

Once you have a budget figure. For safety's sake add a contigency sum.This covers any event that may occur, usually an unforeseeable, undesirable one! Allow 10% of the budget figure and add that on top. Keep this to one side as you may not require it, but it is best to have the finance ready, as when renovating you never know what may be hiding behind the wall linings or under the floor! You want to make sure you can finish your project.

Is there a possibility of Hire Purchase to extend your budget?For example, if you were to renovate your kitchen, the new appliances could be paid off over time leaving more money to spend on the space.

Do you think you have enough money to do the job?If not, can you take out a loan?

If you are making improvements to the house, get a valuer to value your property along with the alterations that you are going to make, send it off to the bank and as you will be adding more value to the property, they generally allow you to borrow more money (assuming you can still comfortably repay the debt).

Can you do all of the work yourself or a experts required?

It is often more cost effective in time, materials and tempers to hire an expert in specialised areas. Sanding back a floor using hired equipment can take hours and hours and is extremely messy - call in the professionals who have commercial equipment and it can be a lot quicker, cheaper and easier on everyones nerves.

Have you looked into the market prices for the things you want to do? Is your budget realistic?Go window shopping! Get prices on appliances, furniture, flooring product, light fittings etc. Can you save more if you purchase it all from one place, are there other ways to buy them? Can you buy them at auction, garage sale, friends of friends etc. Think about your time too. Sometimes it is cheaper to pay someone $25 an hour to paint the walls while you work and earn $35 for example.

Making renovations can be expensive, but with setting yourself a realistic budget figure and then prioritizing the items in the project you can achieve amazing renovations, you just need to be sure to get it all on paper first, then you can start working out what is most important in the space and go down your list from there, I am sure you will be greatly surprised at what you can achieve!

Will the changes you make and the money you spend be of value to the property or are you better off selling and buying a new one which suits your needs better?This is a major decision! People often become attached to a house but no matter how much money you throw at it to make it fit sometimes you just out grow (or the family leaves) a home. Your money could be better spent purchasing something bigger or smaller with less maintenance to do.

List up the items that you want to change, and the new things that you want (your wish list!) in order, so that as the budget is set up you will be able to prioritize the work to fit the budget and time frame.Life can be a lot simpler if you tackle small projects at a time. Sometimes this method is not cost effective if you are employing people to do the work, but for DIY projects starting and finishing are most important. There are thousands of DIY'ers out there who have their whole home in pieces and the family has to live in a construction site. Not comfortable!

*** random thougths @ 7:06 AM

When embarking on a DIY project, the first thing you want to do is jump in with a hammer and start making mess! But this usually means you will end up shopping for the elusive "money tree".

In other words, leaping before you have planned can be very costly!
There are many questions to be asked, and these can be grouped into four areas:
Practical, Budgetary, Aesthetic and Maintenance

Maintenance

Have you had the electrical wiring checked? Does it need replacing?This should be addressed at the beginning of a project as it can be an expensive task, usually not allowed for in your budget, so all sorts of problems start. It is important as faulty or worn old wiring can start house fires and be very dangerous to you and your family - as well as ruining all your new renovations!

Have you checked that the house is insulated? Do you need it? Can it be done?This can make your home more energy effecient. It is amazing how much heat is lost through your roof, ceiling and walls. Foil can be used under timber floor boards to reduce the cold air coming up through the ground and into the house. Fibre glass or wool batts can be placed into wall cavities if you are taking the linings off the walls to replace them.

Curtains also help with insulation at the windows, ensuring that each room has the ability to cover the windows at night reduces heat loss in the home.

Have you had the plumbing and drainage checked? Does it need replacing/repairing? Do you have any leaks in the roof or anywhere else?Ensure that your hot water cylinders are not costing you valuable dollars in wasted energy. If they are old and worn they are not efficient, replacing with a new one could save you money and provide more hot water. Check that your hot water pipes are lagged to reduce heat loss. Check for leaks, damp areas of floor or wall. Check guttering and downpipes, ensuring they all connect to the stormwater, and don't just drip onto your path.

Are the current heating and ventilation services adequate? Cost effective? And esthetically pleasing?

Does your open fire fill your house with smoke? Do you need your chimney cleaned or a new enclosed fireplace installed. Is airconditioning an easier option with the ability to heat and cool the room. Think about how much you spend on fuel ie wood, coal as well as the time in chopping and lugging it in as well as cleaning out the fire place, and compare it to electric heating or gas heating and see how they will work for you. You may be happy to stay as is but if you are about to renovate it is a good time to review heating and ventilation.

Do the floor boards creak? Are they of sound quality? Do they need replacing?

If you are going to change your floor coverings it is a great time to repair the floor underneath. Get rid of the creaking forever.

Timber floor boards look fantastic, but if they creak, they could drive you crazy, so make sure you check them out and repair and squeaky patches before you decide to sand and varnish them, especially those on the stair!

Does all the door hardware, window catches, the locks etc function? Need repair?

A simple task walk around with a pen and paper and check them all, list up the ones to repair, if it is more that 50% I would probably replace them all as the other 50% will probably break in the near future also. If you can't find keys to lock, call out the locksmith and get some cut.

*** random thougths @ 7:01 AM

When buying a new home, you will remember that you first saw a picture or drove by, if you didn't like the look of the outside, then you just kept driving. This is an important fact to remember when we now go to sell our own home.

The first impression of the house is the one that will mean stop and come in or forget it.
So we need to make that street or curb appeal inviting and welcoming.
Start by trimming, cut everything back so it nice and neat and tidy. Make sure you can get to the front door with out your hair being skewered by a tree.

Get rid of all the dirt on the outside of the house, it is amazing how much street grim builds up on your walls. Hose down the house, remove the dirt, cobwebs and anything else lurking under the eaves.

Sparkly clear windows, inside and out, with no damaged glass are a must have, they make you house feel larger and accentuate your views.

Make your entrance inviting, surround it with good looking well cared for plants, perhaps some flowers in a pot, they always look cheerful and provide color. Remove anything dead and give the entry a good sweep and hose down. Paint or stain the steps, replacing any broken tiles. Spray for mould or slippery greenery that may be living there, you don't want them to injure themselves on the way in!.

Make the entry neat and tidy, it provides a good first impression.

There are simple things that we forget, that is that perspective buyers look everywhere, even in the dishwasher, so make sure you have at least washed the dishes, no nasty smells left for them to find.

This does take time but it has a double barrelled effect, clean out all cupboards and wardrobes, this makes the spaces look larger and gives the appearance that the spaces are large and adequate. This also saves time when it comes to moving out.

Run around the house with a duster and remove cobwebs, look for mould on the walls and children's drawings! Get rid of any victims. You want to make sure that you house looks well cared for and not neglected.

Let as much natural light into the home as possible, open up blinds and curtains, go easy on the window opening, especially if it is windy!

Some simple things which can often be overlooked, make all the beds, yes even the children's! Put all the dirty washing in the laundry or better still wash, dry and put away! You want to make sure there is nothing to turn off a potential buyer.

One important area is the kitchen, simple stuff here, keep it clean and tidy. Decorate by adding a bowl of fresh fruit or a vase of fragrant flowers to create a pleasant aroma. There are two minds about the fresh coffee brewing, it can be an unpleasnat smell for some so if in doubt, keep the smells simple.

Have the stereo playing soft subtle background music, just enough to disguise the constant hum of traffic outside..

Check that all your door and window hardware is in working order, no sticky doors allowed. This provides a good impression of a well maintained house.

To give the air of space, remove most of your knick knacks from horizontal surfaces, pack them away for now. Remove any other clutter, the swiss ball, yoga mats, exercycle from the living room! Any furniture that is not immediately required, these ideas will all make your room feel bigger.

Try and get your kids house trained, even for the time that your house is on the market, it can be stressful enough if you have to do a quick tidy up before anyone comes to view your home, if you have to pick up toys etc, then it can be even worse. Try giving them one space to contain their mess.

Pets - this can be a big turn off for some people. Make sure that you keep their food out of sight. This should ensure that flies or insects don't congregate around the pets bowl. Plus the smell can often be unpleasant, especially if your cat enjoys a feed of sardines!

*** random thougths @ 6:52 AM

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Repair And Cleaning Tips

Living with Natural Hardwood Floors

Solid hardwood floors repay a little care with a lifetime of value. When you first glimpse a solid hardwood floor, you sense richness, warmth and natural beauty. Gradually, you get to know its distinct personality -- visual harmonies, the traces of history in the forest and in your home.
Take a closer look.

Appreciate the color and pattern of the floor's strips, planks or parquetry.

Read the grain: Is it bold-textured oak? Subdued maple or cherry?

Check the condition of the underlying wood and the finish that protects it. Are there signs of neglect to erase (it’s not difficult), or do you see a well-tended surface that needs just a light touch to maintain it?

Nature’s diversity lets you create dramatic looks with unique textures, colors, patterns and styles of solid hardwood flooring.

Protect Your Solid Investment

Solid hardwood floors are among the easiest to keep clean. Protect their warmth and character with simple, everyday cleaning techniques.
It’s important to know how to prevent damage to your solid hardwood floors.

Prevention

DIRT and GRIT : Dirt, grit and sand are your hardwood floor’s worst enemies.

They act like sandpaper on the finish, causing scratches, dents and dulling. Place floor mats at entrances to trap dirt and prevent damage.

WATER AND OTHER SPILLS : Standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Simply wipe up all spills as they happen.

HARD CLEANERS : Avoid oil soaps. They can build up and create problems when it’s time to put a maintenance coat on the floor. Instead, neutral pH cleaners made specifically for wood floors are recommended.

FURNITURE : Lift the furniture to move it --- avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches.

DENTS : Vacuum with a brush attachment -- don’t use vacuums with beater bars.

SUN : Direct sun can discolor your hardwood floor. Close curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect from the sun’s intense UV rays.

Regular Care

SWEEP : Brooms with fine, exploded ends trap dust and grit effectively.

VACUUM : Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust.

DUST MOP : Use a good dust mop --- one with a 12- to 18- inch cotton head ---- and a special dust mop treatment. Spray the treatment onto the mop head 12 to 24 hours before dust mopping.

Oak and maple are the most popular hardwoods used in flooring. Ash, beech,birch, cherry, hickory and walnut are other favorites for floors and decorative accents.
Does Your New Hardwood Floor Look Old?

Perhaps your hardwood floors were installed just a few years ago, but you haven't taken care of them and now they look old. What can you do? Before you do anything, check the condition of the finish and the wood to see whether they need special cleaning or more involved repair.

What condition is your floor in?

Follow these steps to evaluate the condition of your hardwood floor and its finish.

Finish Condition: Has the finish been worn off or is it just dirty? See if the finish is dull, chipped, scraped or gouged. To test if the finish has worn off, begin in a high-traffic area and pour one to two tablespoons of water onto the floor. If the water soaks in immediately and leaves a darkened spot, the finish is worn and water can damage the wood. If the water soaks in after a few minutes and darkens the wood only slightly, the finish is partially worn. If the water beads on top, the surface is properly sealed. Repeat this test in low- and medium-traffic areas.

Wood Condition: It the finish is worn, the wood may have been damaged. Are there stains, burns, cuts, gouges, holes, cracks or warped boards? If the wood is damaged, repair or replacement may be required before you deep clean your floor or apply a maintenance coat.

What type of finish does your floor have?

The same care and maintenance techniques are used for all finishes in good condition, but when it comes to removing stains or restoring the finish, methods differ. If you don't know what kind of finish your floor has, ask your contractor or Realtor, or try these simple tests:

Surface Finishes: (pre-finished floors, polyurethane, water-based urethane and catalyzed)
Nearly all floors installed today have surface finishes, mostly polyurethane. They are often glossy and may look like a layer of clear plastic on top of the wood. A small amount of paint remover in an inconspicuous area of the floor will cause the surface finish to bubble (unless it is a water-based urethane, in which case there will be no reaction). Surface finishes shield floors from harm by forming a protective layer on top of the wood.

Penetrating Seals: (acrylics, oils and waxes)
Oils and waxes usually have a satin or matte finish. If you can feel the wood grain when you run your hand across the surface, it's most likely a penetrating seal. Paint remover will have no effect on a penetrating seal, but wax stripper or ammonia will soften and whiten the surface. Oils and waxes penetrate the surface of the floor protecting the wood from within.

When Your Hardwood Floor Needs Extra Care

Your hardwood floor will eventually need extra care. It's here that much controversy exists.

Damp Mopping

Some professionals recommend that you damp mop your hardwood floor and others cringe at the suggestion. Just remember, if your floor's finish is in good shape and mopping is done correctly, the water won't penetrate even the oil and wax finishes. You're cleaning the finish, not the wood, so don't use water if the finish is in poor shape.

Damp Mopping: This is the fastest and best way to deep-clean solid hardwood floors. Depending on how much use your floor gets, you may have to mop it as often as once a week. Use a neutral pH wood cleaner and water, or manufacturer recommended products. Wet the mop and wring so it's about half-dry. Wet the floor with the mop. Dip the mop into clean water, wring it as dry as you can and mop over the floor again.

Heavy-Duty Mopping: If floors are property sealed, the little extra water and cleaner required will not injure your hardwood floor, but use common sense.

Vinegar: Often prescribed to clean hardwood floors -- does nothing for removing grease and soil.
Maintenance Coat

If you can't restore your solid hardwood floor's luster with deep cleaning or by simply buffing, you may want to apply a maintenance coat. Waxing is an easy way to restore your hardwood floor's natural beauty.

Though a controversial treatment for surface finishes, floor polish or wax can give you a good-looking floor in a matter of minutes. If you don't want to apply a wax to your surface finish, consult a professional.

Pros: Wax can be easily cleaned, buffed and rewaxed to make it look like its original condition. Wear and tear will be on the wax, not the finish. It is easily stripped and reapplied.

Cons: Waxing may limit some refinishing and re-coating options down the road. If not properly stripped, the wax can cause adhesion problems when re-coating the surface.

Only wax a surface finish if the original finish is in poor shape and you don't plan to refinish your floor in the near future.
Removing Stains In Waxed Floors

No matter how careful you are a stain can still occur.

Water Stains: Rub the spot with No. 2 steel wood and rewax. For more serious water stains, lightly sand with fine sandpaper, clean the spot with No. 1 or 00 steel wool and mineral spirits or floor cleaner then refinish and wax.

Cigarette Burns: If not severe, the burn can be removed by rubbing with steel wool moistened with soap and water.

Heel and Caster Marks: Rub vigorously with fine steel wool and floor cleaner. Wipe dry and polish.

Ink Stains and Other Dark Spots: Use No. 2 steel wool and floor cleaner to clean the spot and surrounding area. Thoroughly wash the affected area. If the spot remains, sand with fine sandpaper, re-wax and polish. Stubborn stains may require that you replace the affected area.

Chewing Gum and Wax Deposits: Ice until the deposit is brittle and crumbles off. Pour floor cleaner around the stain so the fluid soaks under and loosens it.

Alcohol Spots: Rub the spot with liquid or paste wax.

Repairing Wax Finishes: Rub fine steel wood in a puddle of reconditioner or paint thinner and clean as you go. Apply wax and buff.

Always start cleaning at the edge of a stain and work toward the center so it won't spread.

Removing stains and repairing surface finishes.

Use steel wood or sand paper to remove one or two complete layers of finish along the entire length of the board where damage has occurred. Remove all dust. Apply the same type of finish that was removed, being careful not to build additional layers on top of adjoining boards.

Squeaks: When the air in your home becomes extremely dry, your floor will lose moisture and contract. Conversely, when humidity is high, your floor will absorb moisture and expand slightly. As humidity stabilizes, hardwoods regain their original dimensions. Air conditioning in summer and humidifying in winter will keep your home's humidity comfortable for you and your floor. Prolonged cycles of shrinking and swelling of your hardwood floor may result in squeaks. They can be easily corrected.

Silencing Squeaks: Apply liquid wax, powdered soap, talcum powder or powdered graphite between floor boards that are rubbing together. If that doesn't stop the squeak, drive two-inch finishing nails through pilot holes on both edges of the board then hide the hole with matching color putty or wax.

If you need to refinish or replace your hardwood floor, consult a professional for best results.

*** random thougths @ 3:53 AM