My Front Porch

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I love my home. Every single room in it has provided me and my family with special memories. I love all of the funny conversations that have happened around the dining room table and the late night talks that have happened in each of my children’s bedrooms. I have enjoyed cooking great meals in my kitchen and watching my favorite movies in our family room. Perhaps my most favorite place, however, is our front porch.

When I was looking for houses to move my family to many y…


porch

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I love my home. Every single room in it has provided me and my family with special memories. I love all of the funny conversations that have happened around the dining room table and the late night talks that have happened in each of my children’s bedrooms. I have enjoyed cooking great meals in my kitchen and watching my favorite movies in our family room. Perhaps my most favorite place, however, is our front porch.

When I was looking for houses to move my family to many years ago it didn’t even enter my mind to insist on a house with a front porch. Now I know better. I have grown to love having a front porch almost as much as I love having indoor plumbing. (Okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration!) I didn’t know when I bought this house the endless hours I would spend swinging or sitting on the porch. I didn’t know how many books would get read or how many blankets would be knit on the front porch. And I certainly couldn’t have guessed how many friendships would be started and strengnthened on my porch.

One of the biggest reasons that I have grown to love my front porch is that it has become a gathering place for the people I love the most. I have countless memories of summer nights spent talking with a close friend or one of my children on the porch. Hours of games have been played, tears have been shed, and laughter has been shared on our porch. When my oldest daughter decided to learn to play the guitar it was the front porch that heard her practice hour after hour. When my son got his first girlfriend it was the front porch that listened to their nightly telephone conversations. When my neighbors moved onto the street fifteen years ago our front porch was the spot for our first glass of lemonade together.

My front porch has also become my favorite place to be quiet and think. I love the morning hours on my porch after everyone has gone off to school and work. I have spent many mornings worrying about my children or dreaming about our next family vacation. Give me a cup of coffee, my journal, and a great book and I can spend entire days on the front porch. No where has been quite as inviting and serene as our porch. I honestly cannot imagine my home or the memories of the last twenty years without it.

How Soundproofing Material Works

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Sound vibrations are transmitted through the air, causing problems with noise entering and exiting your home studio. Many materials used in home construction, such as wood and drywall, are conductors of sound. Blocking out these sound waves is the purpose of a soundproof room. This is usually done for a home music studio.

For the highest quality, most complete soundproofing, you should hire a professional. The cost of a professional can be prohibitive for many people. You …


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Sound vibrations are transmitted through the air, causing problems with noise entering and exiting your home studio. Many materials used in home construction, such as wood and drywall, are conductors of sound. Blocking out these sound waves is the purpose of a soundproof room. This is usually done for a home music studio.

For the highest quality, most complete soundproofing, you should hire a professional. The cost of a professional can be prohibitive for many people. You can construct a soundproof room in your home with a little knowledge and the right soundproofing material.

How Soundproofing Material Works

Soundproofing material works by interrupting sound vibrations. This isolation must be complete, or you are wasting your time. One hole in the material will ruin the effect. Sound waves can travel through the smallest hole or gap in the material.

Fiberglass is the material preferred by many professionals. Lead barriers are often used in professional studios. These need to be installed by someone knowledgeable in both the material and the principles of sound waves. This understanding makes the professional the best choice if you want the job done as thoroughly as possible.

Sound Absorbing Techniques

Sound absorbing and soundproofing materials work differently. Each product has different purposes and the two are not interchangeable.

Acoustical foam is sometimes used by professionals and often used by the do it yourself person. This is not used for soundproofing, but for absorbing the sounds within the studio. Not all foam is created equal and these materials are rated for fire safety. The ratings are listed as class A, B, or C. Fatal fires have resulted from use of inferior materials. The class A material is the most expensive, but is the most fireproof. Your safety is worth the additional expense. When using foam, make sure there is a clear path out of the room in the event of a fire. Fire resistant materials release toxic fumes in a fire, which will kill you faster than the flames.

The purpose of soundproofing material is to reduce the sound waves being transmitted into your studio from the outside. This is generally done through material in the walls, ceiling, floors and windows of the studio. Most materials are rated for the number of decibels the sound is reduced. For the materials to be effective, they must be installed correctly without holes or gaps.

Using and Installing Soundproofing Materials

A double wall is the ideal sound barrier that can be built by the do it yourself handyman. When building a second wall, it’s important to use floor insulation. This prevents the sound waves from being transmitted between the two walls via the flooring. Flooring carries acoustical energy and once the vibrations start, it can be nearly impossible to stop them. Thick carpeting is used because it absorbs these vibrations. There is no sound when walking on thick carpet.

To be effective, don’t just nail sheets of drywall to the existing wall surface. Sound will travel through the wall to the drywall. You need to create two completely independent wall sections. Make sure the studs aren’t directly across from each other. For best results, studs should be staggered across the length of the wall. A concrete surface at the bottom of the wall helps prevent sound from reaching the other wall and ultimately, your room.

The space in between is filled with sound proof material. Insulation can be used and is usually sprayed or blown into the area between the sections. You could also use foam insulating material or wool. Be sure to leave several inches of space between the two walls for absorbing the noise adequately.

MV Modern Electric Blankets – New Styles of Electric Blankets

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Not like the ones belonging to your grandmother, the new styles of electric blanket have really changed to enhance your sleeping comfort. New electric blankets now come with heat sensors that turn the blanket on and off to keep a desired temperature in the bed while you sleep. No longer just a matter of setting the temperature and plugging it in, these blankets are designed to keep your sleep as comfortable and cozy as possible.


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Decorate The Outdoors

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You don’t have to limit yourself to decorating the inside of your home. Your patio and yard are extensions of your home, and have unique opportunities to allow you to express yourself and your sense of style.

Of course, they present unique challenges as well. Much of your outside decor will be seasonal. The furniture may have to be stored indoors in winter in some climates, and plants may die back.

Start out by thinking of what you would like to do in your patio and yar…


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You don’t have to limit yourself to decorating the inside of your home. Your patio and yard are extensions of your home, and have unique opportunities to allow you to express yourself and your sense of style.

Of course, they present unique challenges as well. Much of your outside decor will be seasonal. The furniture may have to be stored indoors in winter in some climates, and plants may die back.

Start out by thinking of what you would like to do in your patio and yard. Perhaps you enjoy barbequing, or maybe you have pool parties with friends. Maybe you just want a quiet sanctuary.

Start out by figuring out what will require the most space. If you love to have friends over, you may need a great deal of seating. Or, if you prefer to barbeque, maybe that dream grill will be the focal point. Perhaps you would like to install a fountain. In any case, whatever the focus will be you will likely want to place first, to ensure that other elements do not get in the way.

There are great options these days in outdoor furniture. Many are pretty much weatherproof, so you may not need to be quite so concerned with bringing it indoors in poor weather. Style is important too, and if you haven’t shopped for outdoor furnishings recently, the selection available, in terms of comfort and quality, may pleasantly surprise you.

Outdoor lighting has become easier to install and quite functional. It used to be that in order to light up your yard you would have to install wiring, a tedious process, or hire an electrician. Now, however, solar lighting has become quite functional and affordable. All you have to do is put the light where you want it, and let the sun charge it up for use. Not all solar powered outdoor lights will last all night; it depends on the brightness, time of year and so forth, but they are sufficient for many needs.

One of the most difficult parts of planning your outdoor decor is figuring out what to plant. A basic green lawn works with just about anything, of course, but it doesn’t express your style very well… unless basic is your style. You will want to learn how to pick appropriate plants for your yard and garden.

You can plant both in the ground and in containers. Most often you will grow flowers in decorative planters, or perhaps a decorative shrub. The containers themselves can be a part of your decor.

As you plan the natural parts of your yard, consider whether you would like to have any seating out there. A stone bench makes a lovely and durable addition, for example. Statuary might also fit your style.

Fountains are very popular right now, and very relaxing to listen to. As with lighting, solar powered fountains are available and quite practical. They can be as simple as an urn spilling water into a container below to a series of small waterfalls. The sound of water splashing is a great way to mask noise from the outside world and most people find it very relaxing.

Whatever you do, don’t skip decorating your yard as you decorate your home. It’s a great place for entertaining or relaxing in good weather, or it can be a quiet sanctuary.

Build a Redwood Fence In Five Easy Steps

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Fences are built for many reasons. Fences keep children or animals in the yard and define property lines. Fences also provide security and privacy, and complement other backyard amenities, like pools, spas and decks.


Build a Redwood Fence In Five Easy Steps

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Fences are built for many reasons. Fences keep children or animals in the yard and define property lines. Fences also provide security and privacy, and complement other backyard amenities, like pools, spas and decks.

Redwood is often the material of choice for fences because it is durable, looks good, and resists warping, splitting and checking.

Many homeowners save money by building their own redwood fence. Fence building isn’t difficult. Here are some tips for successful fence building from the California Redwood Association:

1. Designing the fence: Most redwood fences are variations of a simple post, rail and board design. The post and rail support structure is made of standard dimension lumber, while fence boards of different shapes and sizes give a fence its individual style.

2. Choosing quality materials: Most redwood fences are built with knot-textured “garden grades” of redwood. These rugged grades are economical and provide the best combination of performance and value. It is important to use noncorrosive nails and hardware to avoid unsightly stains.

3. Setting redwood posts: Setting posts is the most critical part of the job. They must be straight and evenly spaced, which requires patience and lots of measuring. Construction Heart grade redwood is the right choice for fence posts because it resists decay and insects.

4. Attaching redwood railings: Two or three horizontal rails run between the posts, depending on the fence height. Upper rails should rest on the tops of the posts for support. Bottom rails can be toenailed into place, but the preferred method is to place a block underneath the joint for extra support. Use metal hardware, such as “L” brackets, to secure rails to posts.

5. Nailing redwood fence boards: Nailing the fence boards in place is the easiest and most satisfying part of building a fence. Near the ends of the board, predrill holes before nailing to avoid splitting. For fence boards four inches wide or less, use one nail per bearing. For wider fence boards, use two nails.

It’s Spring Cleaning Time. Don’t Forget Your Luxury Down Bedding & Sofa Cushions.

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Spring time is here and as we enthusiastically open up our windows, begin cleaning or redecorating, let’s not forget our down comforters, down pillows and featherbeds. They should be cleaned professionally every 3 – 4 years and renovated every 7 – 10 years. Proper care keeps them fresh and beautiful ensuring they will last for years. It is also a good time to plump them back up with extra filling if they have become flat.


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Never wash or dry-clean down. Harmful chemicals and soap will rob the down of its oils leaving you with a flat pillow, comforter or featherbed. It will also cause pieces of the down cluster to break off interfering with its ability to trap body heat. There will also be a bad odor from dry-cleaning fluids. Drying can be problematic due to the size of comforters and featherbeds. If down is not dried properly, mildew will set in, leaving you with a bad odor and a problem for allergy sufferers. Dry-cleaners do not have equipment large enough for featherbeds.

Down bedding purchased within the last 3 or 4 years should be hung over a line on a warm, sunny, breezy day. Let nature refresh and rejuvenate them. If this is not possible hang them over a couple of chairs near an open window. Placing comforters and pillows in a dryer will fluff up the filling if it has flattened or you may wish to add some filling when you get them cleaned. If your down comforters, pillows and featherbeds are over 4 or 5 years old, take them to a down care specialist. They will be expertly cleaned and reconditioned using an all natural method which will plump up the filling and deodorize it. Possibly they need a complete renovation which includes cleaning, reconditioning and a new outer shell. If you wish to plump up your comforter, pillows and featherbed (which will reduce annoying shifting, and add extra warmth), additional filling can be added at this time.

If you purchased a high quality down comforter, most can be used year round. If you do store your comforter because you have a summer down comforter or prefer to use only a sheet, store the comforter in a cotton bag, not a plastic bag.

Take care of your down bedding by having it cleaned by a professional. Luxury quality down comforters, pillows and featherbeds deserve the proper care to protect your investment so you can enjoy your down luxuries for life.

When your down bedding is returned from being cleaned or renovated, remember to always use pillow protectors on pillows, a high threadcount lightweight duvet cover to protect your down comforter, and a featherbed cover preferably with a baffle wall to allow your newly cleaned featherbed to loft up to its full potential especially if you have added extra filling.

Did you receive an heirloom down comforter from your grandmother? After it is cleaned and renovated you can decide whether to keep the same size or upgrade to a larger size.

Don’t forget your down and feather sofa cushions and throw cushions. These too can be cleaned/reconditioned, have extra filling added to plump up a sagging chair or sofa and new ticking to prevent loss of feathers and down. Look for baffling in your new ticking if you are having your sofa cushions renovated. This prevents the filling from moving out to the sides when you sit on the sofa or lean back on the back cushions. Baffling will keep it all in place.

MV Jacobean Style Antique Furniture

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Jacobean is a term used to cover all English style furniture from the reign of King James I to King James II. However, throughout this span of time Jacobean furniture showed markedly different influences. The earliest Jacobean furniture was influenced mainly by Elizabethan (1603 -1688) styled furniture. Commonwealth Style (1649-1660) marks the middle of the Jacobean Period, when the furniture was of simpler design and undecorated. The late Jacobean Period is that of the Carol…


Jacobean Furniture

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Thermal curtains are conventional looking window coverings that save energy

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Thermal curtains are in the middle of the more useful tools for keeping a home warm. Additional five times as efficient at insulating compared to a traditional curtain, they use thermodynamics to keep heat in.


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If you are living in a colder climate, makes you recognize how important thermal curtains can be used for insulating a house. A cost efficient option, to most additional heating solutions, curtains are a fairly nominal one-time deal. They can keep your house comfortable and warm all through the cruel winter months without sending your heating bill through the top.

Thermal curtains are in the middle of the more useful tools for keeping a home warm. Additional five times as efficient at insulating compared to a traditional curtain, they use thermodynamics to keep heat in. Windows are a main source of heat loss, since the panes conduct high-energy heat away from the home and in the direction of the low energy area of the outside.

This difficulty is enhanced, by weakening frames and window casings that allow pockets of cold air to leak in. Thermal curtain uses insulating fabric to create a fence intended to block this procedure. They can be made from scratch, but these days, it is just as simple to buy them online. The simplicity of the Internet makes it useful to look for professional-grade goods that will actually do the trick throughout the most horrible months of winter.

Add Luxury In Your Bathroom With The Curved Shower Curtain Rods

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The innovative curved shower curtain rods expand the shower space by at least 25% to 35%. The simple installation of the shower rods instantly increase the width of your bathroom by at least 6″ and make your bathroom look much more spacious than normal size. The curved shower curtain rods are very easy to install and comes in package with at least four wood screws, four tile anchors, four sheetrock anchors and two setscrews and an Allen wrench.
Benefits of curved shower curt…


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The innovative curved shower curtain rods expand the shower space by at least 25% to 35%. The simple installation of the shower rods instantly increase the width of your bathroom by at least 6″ and make your bathroom look much more spacious than normal size. The curved shower curtain rods are very easy to install and comes in package with at least four wood screws, four tile anchors, four sheetrock anchors and two setscrews and an Allen wrench.
Benefits of curved shower curtain rods

The curved shower rods simply promise advantages and benefits to you. They are effective, efficient and inexpensive rods that easily increase the shower space, and provide a completely different look to the entire bathroom. The shower curtains have 3″ curve-in at the corners, which prevents water leakage and allows the curtains to remain inside the bathtubs and does not allow it to blow over you. It is because of the curved shower rods that you can easily get extra elbowroom without renovating the bathroom in a new way. With the help of this rod, you can get some additional space for soaping, scrubbing and bathing in the bathrooms.

Other specialties of curved shower curtain rods
The curved shower curtain rods are suitable for both rectangular and oval shaped tubs. The different types of shower rods include rolling shower curtain rods, 5″ and 6″ shower rods with brushed nickel finishes. The rolling shower rods have ball bearings that help in the opening and closing of the curtains with a slight tug. All of these shower rods create the feel of open spaces in your bathroom.

The brackets used in the curved shower curtain rods allow adjusting of the rods of different lengths between the end walls. However, if you want a shorter or longer than the normal sizes, the curtain rods can even be cut down on site for shorter or longer installation purposes. Completely compatible with standard shower curtains, these curved shower curtain rods are truly durable thereby fitting and adjusting to all standard bathtubs.

Four Critical Tips for Cleaning Up after a Flood Strikes

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The value of knowing how to respond to an emergency has never been so clear, with one of the worst hurricane seasons ever behind us.


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The value of knowing how to respond to an emergency has never been so clear, with one of the worst hurricane seasons ever behind us. Educating yourself on what to do in a flood, therefore, is one of the key disaster preparedness issues. Here are some valuable tips homeowners should be aware of when cleaning up damage left behind by a flood.

Don’t Go Near the Water: Floodwaters can be some of the most contaminated water you will ever come in contact with. Seek medical attention right away if you or a family member has been exposed to flood waters for any length of time. Topical floodwater contact could lead to serious infections. If you believe you or anyone else has drunk floodwater, seek medical care at your local hospital or clinic as soon as possible, as the dangers of infection are even worse.

Tread Lightly: Stay out of any buildings or structures that still have floodwaters encircling them. Don’t underestimate structural damage floodwaters can cause. A structure’s foundation can be significantly weakened by floodwaters in relatively short periods of time, especially in older structures. Foundations can sink and become unstable, causing cracks and gaps in the flooring, even a house’ total collapse without warning. An apparently sound structure may also have suffered gas leaks, electrical damage, or water line damage, so you should steer clear of such buildings until local officials have declared them safe .

Wait Until the All-Clear: Just because the rain has stopped and the floodwater seems to be withdrawing, doesn’t mean its safe to go home and start cleaning up. Of course you’ll be anxious to find out what damage if any has been done to your property, but sometimes, floodwater damage creates many a hazard that requires professional clean up before the area is cleared as safe to local area residents. Keep watching for information on the weather if you have access to local radio or television stations, which will inform you of any threat from incoming storms, or other floodwater-related dangers in your area.

Handle with Care: You should inspect flood-damaged buildings cautiously once local officials have judged the area safe. Start with examining your house carefully. Tread carefully; flood damage can weaken structures. Do not smoke inside the building. (gas leak hazard) Bring battery-operated flashlights or lanterns as electricity may be cut off. Study the floors, walls, doors, staircases, and windows closely to make sure the house is not in danger of collapsing, using the flashlight to look at the foundation for cracks or other signs of damage.

After you’ve examined the structural integrity of the building, check for damage to the utility systems. Find and note down damage to the building’s gas, electrical, and sewage system. Check for gas leaks by listening for a small hissing noise and smelling the gas in the air. If you suspect a gas leak, shut off the main valve immediately and contact the gas company.

Scrutinize the building’s electrical system. Any broken, frayed, or loose wires are spots for worry. If you see any sparks or smell any burning, immediately turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker or fuse box.

You will also need to check out your home’s sewage system. Avoid using the toilet and call a plumber if you believe the sewage lines have been damaged. If fresh water pipes have also been damaged, call your water company and don’t drink water from the tap.