Improvement Resolution

If Home Improvement was one of your New Years Resolutions, then these tips will hlep you on your way. Millions of people every year will make a new year resolution and millions of people will not keep to them, I know, I am one of them. This is mainly because they are not realistic, too many are made or they're not thought through enough. However if home improvement has been one of them we have some good tips to help keep you on the road to resolution. * Decide what needs to be done * Prioritise what need to be done * Set yourself goals to achieve what needs to be done In deciding what needs to be done you should try and take a subjective look at your home, a good way to do this is to take a walk around in the mindset of a prospective buyer, you will probably be shocked to see what is in need of improvement. Get a piece of paper and a pencil and walk through your home room by room. Starting from the entrance to your home, be it a porch or hallway. Is it bright and welcoming, or dark and uninviting? Using softer and lighter shades of colour on the walls can make a dramatic improvement to how people first perceive your home. This can also be achieved of letting in more natural light, which is not always possible but can be remedied by adding more or brighter lighting fixtures. The next logical step would be your Living Room, this is where you most need to feel relaxed and restful. So it is important that all the walls, furnishings, curtains and flooring be coordinated and harmonise with each other. Neutral tones on the walls are often used as a safe colour to achieve this effect and are easier to contrast with your other features. If you find your sofa is looking tired and worn, fitting made to measure sofa covers are a cheaper alternative to buying a new sofa. Dinging Rooms are going to a big design essential for 2008 and visual indigestion will definitely not improve your family's appetite. Ever wondered why red is such a popular colour for restaurants and dining rooms? It's because it stimulates the appetite. It's also an energising colour and therefore a good backdrop for social situations. However, choose the shade carefully - you want to create warmth rather than an oppressive, angry atmosphere. Now to your Kitchen, the most important factor of this room is hygiene. If there are any dirty marks damage to work surfaces or cupboards then the impression may not be very tasteful. The main idea of improvement to this room is make it as functional and pleasant to be in. You may not think it but it can be quite simple and relatively cheap to spruce up you Bathroom. Just by replacing your taps, toilet seats, shower curtain/door etc. with new or modern fittings can make a real difference. Look at the flooring, we are becoming more European in our tastes and they regard carpet as unhygienic. Changing to cork, bamboo or ceramic tiles will give your bathroom a fresh, clean and modern look. Coloured suites are also out of fashion. Look out for offers at the DIY stores or on the Internet and consider replacement with plain white. And finally your Boudoir. In the bedroom the obvious focal point should be your bed and dressed to command attention, this can be done in a number of fashions such as using bedspreads and scatter cushions. Colours again are important in creating the right atmosphere and reflect the personality of whoever this room is intended. You should take you time here to decide how you can create that ultimate feeling for yourself. About the Author Chris Plumb is the Online Marketing Manager for Plumbs who manufacture and supply; Loose Covers, Curtains & Furniture Re-upholstery.

Kitchen Design

Country Kitchen Design by Toby Beckett
A country kitchen design is definitely something very British and traditional. Even so, there's a thin line between success and failure when you're crafting a new country style kitchen.

Even when you're trying to create a rustic and warm atmosphere you can still end up with a cold and off-putting kitchen by making bad decisions.

A classic country kitchen design will not only have these rustic qualities and be accommodating to the whole family but will also be an efficient space that it's easy to operate in.

The first thing you should consider with your country kitchen design, is the size of the room you have to work in. If you have a large kitchen, you might consider painting it a bold colour to bring warmth to the space with an immediate impact. With smaller spaces this isn't as vital but still something to consider.

If your country kitchen actually is in the country, then you'll want floors that are wipe clean and easy to maintain. A great alternative to more traditional methods is laminate flooring. This puts a modern twist on a country kitchen but chosen with care can still create a classic look.

Wood is the primary material for any country kitchen, so consider using it for all your cabinets, doors and surfaces. This will really add warmth to a kitchen and create very homely feel.

Country kitchen design is all about the finishes. If you get these things right, they make all the difference to the feel of the room. For instance, you can have pots and pans suspended on hooks which, done correctly, can make a massive statement.

More than anything, make sure you remain consistent with every choice you make when it comes to your country kitchen. Even the smallest detail out of place can stand out like a sore thumb.

Kitchen Fitting

Have you every wanted to know the rules of kitchen fitting? Read through the dos and don'ts of fitting your own kitchen. Make sure your kitchen looks and works how you want it to. Fitting kitchens can be a very straight forward procedure if the correct precautions are carried out before starting.

Ok, the first thing to do is to place a level on the floor in a series of places around the area where the units will be fitted. find the lowest point of the room. This is the place where you will start your datum line. Next, measure the height of your units (not including the feet), measure the height of your plinth and add 5mm for clearance. You will now have the height to set your datum line at. Measure from the floor at the lowest point and put a mark on the wall, then draw a level line around the room.

You can now start to mark out your kitchen as per the plans. Remembering to Mark out all clad on end panels (if supplied). Measure 500mm off your datum line; this will give you the bottom line of your wall unit. Then simply measure the height of your wall units and continue. At this stage it is recommended to mark out where you are going to need electrical or plumbing supplies. Please note all integrated appliances will need these supplies inside the nearest unit as electrical plugs and pipe work behind the appliance will often prevent them pushing back into place.

You are now ready to start fitting your base units. If you have one, always fit the corner unit first and work off this unit as a point of reference. The neatest tool to use for cutting out holes in base units is the hole saw, select the correct size for the cut out in question whether it is for pipe work or electric cables. When leaving spaces between units for appliances, a small amount of clearance is required to enable ease of fitting. This is also helpful for future maintenance and servicing of the appliance. Once all your base units are fitted its time to fit the wall units. Please refer to your instructions manual to find the dimensions for fitting wall unit brackets.

Now all your kitchen units are fitted you are ready to start on the worktops. It is recommended to consult a professional when attempting a butt and scribe worktop joint. However if its worktop strips being used it can be quite an easy process. Measure the area requiring a work surface, add on a couple of inches (80mm) put the worktop in place and mark the underside using the end base unit as a guide. Its recommended using a router and a jig to ensure a straight and true line is achieved. Contact adhesive and a brush or spreader is required to stick on edging strips (if working with laminated worktops)

Once the work surfaces are fitted and screwed down you are ready to cut out your sink and hob appliances. Making sure you refer to the fitting instructions for each set of dimensions. Mark the cut outs and cut out using a jig saw. The pipe work should already be in place, making the connections to the sink and hob a straight forward procedure. Ensure a corgi registered gas fitted is on site to make the gas connection on both the hob and oven. (If required)

You are now ready to start fitting the cornice, lighting pelmet and plinth. This also is the time to fit any infill pieces using a colour coded panel. A Chop saw is required to complete this job professionally.

The last task is to fit the doors onto the units. The reason this job is left until the end is due to the potential damage caused by completing the previous tasks. Once all the doors are fitted its time to fit the handles. You should now have a fully working, perfectly fitted kitchen.

Window Replacement

Return on Investment for most residential home maintenance jobs is between 80% and 90% according to multiple published surveys across the United States. One of the best returns on investment in the home maintenance arena is window replacement. Window replacement improves the visual appeal of your home both from the inside and the outside, it reduces the cost of heating in the winter, and of cooling in the summer, not to mention that it is pure pleasure to stand within the comfort of your own home and look out from a beautiful window onto the world outside.

Today you can find a plethora of new window styles and fabrications. Look for something that works well with other styles in your residential neighborhood. If you go too upscale with any home maintenance job you may not reap the full benefits of your investment because house prices in any given neighborhood are always limited to a degree by what other properties in that neighborhood go for.

Window replacement can be one of the most nerve-wracking of home maintenance jobs. Buying all your windows at once is the only way to ensure that they will match, but it is very expensive for most of us to do so. Manufacturers discontinue certain styles from time to time so if you replace one or two and then plan on replacing the others later, you may have to choose from a different style. However, buying them all at once can put the job beyond our reach. One way to tackle the problem without losing residential curb appeal, and without taking out a massive home improvement loan, is to tackle sections at a time. Take a look at your house from the front. Study which windows really have to match. Perhaps all the bedroom windows that face front need to be the same, but the front living room window can be a bay window, which does not have to match exactly. Perhaps the kitchen faces front. You could put in a greenhouse window there that does not have to match the other windows. This piecemeal approach allows you to replace your windows over time, spreading out the cost of the job without losing visual appeal.

No matter how you approach the situation, window replacement is one of the most rewarding residential home maintenance jobs you can do. The windows look better from the inside, the energy efficiency is greater, and they give the exterior of your home a much nicer and cleaner look.

See other Home Maintenance and repair tips and strategies at 2 LEFT THUMBS Maintenance. You will also find links to our 2 LEFT THUMBS Remodeling, Home Improvement and Decorating articles.

Air Conditioner

I know what you are thinking: but, there is no such thing as Air Conditioner Appreciation Day! There could be, though. All you have to do is take a little time to make sure your air conditioner is running properly. Why is this so important? Air conditioners do more than cool and dehumidify air. They also filter out the pollen in the air. Dust mites and mold hate the cool dry air so air conditioners dissuade them as well. They also discourage cockroaches because those little critters hate the airflow an air conditioner provides. A poorly maintained air conditioner can spread airborne bacteria and allergens. It also can produce enough prolonged noise to cause hearing damage. It is also potentially hard on your wallet because it can consume more energy.

Now that we have covered the importance of air conditioning maintenance are you wondering where to start? Look no further than you air conditioner filter. The filter(s) on your air conditioner need to be replaced and/or cleaned regularly. Dirty filters reduce the efficiency of an air conditioner substantially because the dirt blocks the normal air flow. When the airflow is blocked, the air that bypasses the filter can carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair heat absorbing capacity of the coil. Remember how poorly maintained air conditioners consume more energy? Well, a clean filter lowers the consumption of energy by 5-15%.

You may now be wondering where the filter is located on your unit. If you have central air conditioning, the filter is located somewhere along the length of the return duct or in the air conditioner itself. If you have a room air conditioner, the filter is mounted in the grill that faces into the room. Some filters are reusable and need to be cleaned. Others are disposable and need to be replaced. During the cooling season you should clean or replace the filter(s) every month or two. If the air conditioner is in constant use, is subject to dusty conditions, or you have fur-bearing pets in the house, your system may need more frequent attention.

Another place to check on your machine is the coil. The coil and condenser coil collect dirt over the months and the years. One way to slow down the collection of dirt on the coils is to make sure the filter is clean. If the coil is insulated by dirt, the ability to absorb heat is reduced. It is important to check and clean the coil every year. You might also need to check the outside coil (or condenser coil). You should check to see if dirt is collecting on its fins. Make sure you minimize the amount of dirt and debris near the condenser unit and allow for adequate air flow around the condenser as well. You should also make sure that foliage is trimmed at least two feet back from the coil.

To complete your Air Conditioner Appreciation Day rituals, you should check the coil fins, condensate drains and window seals on your unit. Coil fins are easily bent and can block air flow through the unit. There is a tool that will comb the fins back into their original position called a fin comb. For the condensate drains, you should pass a stiff wire through the drain channels occasionally. This is important because if the channels are clogged the unit is prevented from reducing humidity. This excess moisture in the air can cause discoloration of walls or carpet. If you have a room air conditioner, you should check the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame. The seal should make contact with the metal case of the unit. The seal can be damaged by moisture which allows cool air to escape from your home.

Checking the filter, coil, coil fins, condensate drain and window seals on your air conditioner should complete your observance of Air Conditioner Appreciation Day. What is that you say? You are upset that it is over so soon? Never fear. I doubt your air conditioner will mind if you make every day Air Conditioner Appreciation Day!

Homemade Carpet Cleaner

Be aware that like floors, carpets will receive a lot of abuse over the course of its life. Dust, dirt, stains, spills, pet urine and similar stuff are going to adversely affect the way your carpet looks as well as determine how long it lasts before you have to replace it with an entirely new one. In reality, many of the carpet problems you'll face are near impossible to avoid. However, that's not to say that you shouldn't do anything to keep your carpet clean and looking nice.

You may be worried that it's going to cost you a lot of money to maintain and clean your carpet. On the contrary, you can make homemade carpet cleaner yourself and save a ton of money in the process.

-Making Your Own Natural Carpet Cleaner

You can make this particular homemade cleaner quite easily. All you need are the following ingredients: baking powder, corn flour, dried bay leaves and potpourri.

In container, mix 1/2lb backing powder with up to 3.5-oz. corn flour. Crumble the dried bay leaves before adding them into the mixture. Add a handful of potpourri to give your natural carpet cleaner a fresh smell. Cover the container and shake the mixture thoroughly.

Apply some of the powder onto the stained area and leave it overnight. Wipe off the powder the next day and then vacuum to make sure no residue remains in the carpet.

-Making Your Own Homemade Carpet Shampoo

To make this particular homemade carpet cleaner, the ingredients you need are: 1/2 cup cleaner liquid (no bleach), 1/2 cup Downy, 1 cup ammonia, and 1 gallon of water. Mix the ingredients together. Scrub the solution over the stained areas of your carpet. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth. If residues form overnight, vacuum over the area.

-Making Your Own Homemade Spot Remover

You can easily and quickly remove small spots on your carpet with the help of this easy to make homemade spot remover. You need three ingredients, which you should already have in your kitchen: vinegar, water and baking soda.

Mix the vinegar and baking soda. Dilute the vinegar-baking soda solution with some water before applying it on your carpet. Scrub the solution over the spot using a small brush (e.g., old toothbrush). The vinegar works to dissolve the stain while the baking soda works to clean up the stain.

Carpet Cleaners

Home steam carpet cleaners are excellent choices for the following reasons:

Improves indoor air qualityFaster and more effective cleaning process No chemicals, good for environment Cleans and sanitizes Easy to useEliminates dust mites and allergens

Home steam carpet cleaners are becoming more popular among homeowners because of their ease of use and they are environmentally friendly. People can do the work themselves and they do not need to hire a professional to do the work. However, if they would prefer not to do the work then hiring a professional carpet cleaner is fine too.

You can also find portable home steam carpet cleaners. They are smaller and less powerful than the regular size models. They are also a fair bit cheaper than the larger models. When researching on what type to purchase, it is important to know exactly what you will be using it to clean. If you are cleaning whole carpets then you will certainly need a full size machine as opposed to a portable unit.

One thing all home steam carpet cleaners all do is they heat water to create the steam that cleans. An upright machine is better for cleaning larger surfaces and the canister is better for smaller areas along with vehicles and furniture. The majority of the upright water tanks hold about one gallon of water. The canister style holds more than one gallon on average. Many models come with different attachments for cleaning automobiles, stairs and furniture.

A new type of home steam carpet cleaner is the vapor steam cleaner. It apparently is more efficient due to modifications to the design. Some of the features include:

• Self sufficient Has its own heater, tank and container Vapor particles are smaller than steam particles thus it dries fasterHeats water to very high temperatures

Before making a purchase, it is recommended that you do plenty of research including using the internet. There are consumer reports available to provide all the necessary information needed to make an informed decision on which type of home steam carpet cleaners to purchase.

Remove Wax

Wax can easily get into your carpet. Those times when you light up candles for birthdays, romantic dinners, anniversaries, special get-togethers and a host of other occasions are times when your carpets become victim to wax. Unless you know how to remove candle wax from carpet each time, don't expect your carpet to remain looking nice and new.

You can use two techniques to remove wax from carpets: the icing technique and the scraping technique.

The Icing Technique

It can be a fun activity although I wouldn't advice you take this on as hobby. For the icing technique, you'll have to completed freeze the wax. As soon as you see wax on your carpet, take some ice cubes, put them in a plastic bag and place them over the wax. The ice cubes will make the wax harden and become even more solid.

After a few minutes, you can pick open the hardened wax with a blunt object. Do this to loosen up the wax. Next, vacuum over the carpet, making sure that waxy debris is removed from the carpet. If the vacuum doesn't completely take off the wax, you can scrape the remaining wax with a blunt object. Do not use scissors, knives or sharp objects as they can damage the carpet fiber.

The Hot Iron Technique

You'll need the following: alcohol, clean rags, rolls of paper, irons, sponges and putty knife. First, begin scraping off the bigger chunks of wax on your carpet. Next, place a sheet of paper over the remaining wax on the carpet. Gently sweep a hot iron across the paper. The wax should melt and attach itself onto the paper. Gently lift the paper. If you see a stain on the carpet, dab some alcohol on the spot and the stain should be gone.

Carpets

In general, carpets and indoor pets are a dangerous combination. You may love having your pet in the house, but you should be prepared to undertake the task of cleaning pet urine from carpet not just once, but many times. You may have paid good money for a professional dog trainer to potty train your pet, but there'll be times when your pet is going to urinate on your carpet. After all, if your pet needs to go, he'll go wherever the need to catches him.

Unless you don't care much about your carpet and you don't mind living in a house that smells of pet urine, you'll need to put it on top of your list of priorities. The only way you can dodge the carpet pet stains is if you kick your pet out and never let him inside your house.

Whether it's a cat, dog, hamster or some other pet that stains your carpet, pet urine is not something you'll want to remain on your carpet. Pet urine has an extremely powerful odor and it leaves a visible spot on carpets.

Here's a tip to removing pet odor from carpet with the help of baking soda and vinegar: The pet stain needs to be completely dried down first before applying baking soda. Take some paper towels and press them down against the urine on the carpet. When you have most of the urine out, dampen the area with clean water. Next, sprinkle baking soda over it. Allow the baking soda to dry for several hours (even overnight). Vacuum over the area the next day.

Alternatively, you can use white vinegar. Mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1/4 cup of warm water. Pour the solution over the stained area. Place a dry towel over the area and press it down with a heavy object. Keep the towel pressed over the area for at least two hours or even overnight. The next morning, take off the towel and clean the area with a soft hairbrush.

Sometimes, you'll see no visible stains on your carpet but you could definitely smell them. It can be rather hard to get rid of pet odor from your carpet if you are unable to find where exactly on your carpet the odor is coming. It could be that your pet urinated in a hard-to-reach corner of your house. Or it could be that the odor has become so impregnated into the carpet that it's virtually impossible for you to determine exactly where it coming from.

For those hard-to-see pet urine stains, use a black UV light. Close the blinds, turn off all the lights and turn on the UV black light. Pet urine stains glow under black UV light so you should be able to see where the pet odors are coming from and then you can take steps at removing them.

Laminate Flooring

When you decide that laminate flooring is what you need in your home, you still are just on the cusp of decision making. Laminate flooring encompasses everything from light wood appearances to stone and tile styled products. Sure laminate is tough and attractive, but do you know what you should really be considering when you choose your laminate floor?

Texture

You'll soon discover that some laminate floor is textured and some is smooth. If you have a busy household with a lot of foot traffic and pets, strongly consider textured laminate. The smooth planks might be more visually appealing in the store, but they will show every piece of dust, dirt and dog hair which lands on top. Sure, you can sweep it up in a matter of heartbeats, so it's not a make-or-break decision, but going an extra day before dusting might be appealing enough to go with a bit of texture.

Color

Again, color can have a lot to do with the feel of your laminate flooring and what shows up. The darker the flooring, the more dirt and dust will show. It seems wrong, but since dust and dirt aren't getting ground into the flooring like with carpet, the particles sit on top of the floor and are easily spotted. Dust especially is light in color, so it shows up like a homing beacon on dark laminate flooring. Picture a dark vehicle that is obviously in need of a wash. Dark flooring though can make a home appear statelier and warmer while light colors are more contemporary and lighten a room considerably.

Pattern

Naturally you'll want to select a pattern of flooring that suits your needs and your design plans. Stone façade laminate flooring might be perfect one place while wide plank designs more suitable someplace else. Don't be afraid to try something new - just be very sure it is what works for you since you'll be enjoying it for the next fifteen or twenty years at least.

Price

There is a wide range of prices in laminate flooring. Not surprisingly there is also a wide range of quality. While there is not really a poor quality laminate since all laminate is graded on durability, some flooring choices appear more "real" than others and the texture and feel of the flooring under your feet is different as well. Less expensive laminate flooring options are thinner with fewer layers or less padding beneath your feet, but can still be very attractive and last for more than a decade. More expensive laminate will appear almost identical to real wood floors, and will have a bit more give under your feet.

Durability

Finally, you'll want to consider durability. There are multiple AC grades / ratings of laminate floors. The heaviest grades, namely AC4 and AC5, are commercial grade laminate flooring and very rough under bare feet. The first two grades are best for homes and residential foot traffic. When selecting a laminate, don't be fooled into thinking that higher grades are better for your home - the opposite is true. For once, you want one of the lowest grades available, although the absolute lowest might not last as long in your home due to the limited amount of traffic the flooring can withstand.