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The shape of the yarn and the way it is attached to the backing of a carpet is also known as the pile. Types of piles are: frieze and loop. Frieze is made of twisted yarn tufts that curl at the carpet surface. It covers footprints and is highly appropriate for areas with high foot traffic. Loop pile like Berber has uniformly cut yarn and lasts also in areas with high foot traffic. When changing carpets, it is also best to change your cushion to extend its life. Your carpet underlay can assist in absorbing the shock from the foot traffic and avoid the carpet fibers from being tangled or squeezed out of shape.

Remodeling your home can be exciting for you if you throw yourself headlong into it. But, how does your pet feel about it? Ongoing construction work in your house can and do upset your pets. Below are some simple tips to help your dog adjust to your home renovation:

Having your remodelling done by contractors means your dog will be seeing a lot of different people coming and going in your house for the duration of the work. Introduce your dog to the workers who will be there at least on the first day of the work by letting him/her sniff the air while they are around so he/she becomes familiar with their scent. This will assure your dog that the workers are not dangerous people. Put your pet in a smaller space like your laundry room together with his/her toys and a cozy blanket. Of course, make sure you check on them every now and then. While doing that, you can throw in a hug or two every time you drop in on them to make them feel they have not been forgotten. If it is a good day to be outside, and you have a fenced backyard, by all means let him/her stay there for a part of the day. Outside, the excessive noise like drilling, hammering and banging would not be quite as loud. Family and pet safety are of utmost importance during renovations. Be particular about dangerous materials lying around such as sharp objects, saw, power tools, paint thinner, sawdust and the like. Protruding or bare electrical wires and cords are highly attractive chewing material for your dog and highly shocking for them too when touched. To avoid having your pet electrocuted, inspect the work area daily for such things and try to hide them. Or better yet, try “cordoning off” the construction area so your pet cannot enter them. To better safeguard your family’s and pet’s welfare during re construction, you can do renovations one room at a time if you plan to “overhaul” your house.

If you want to cut costs and decided to paint your walls yourself, here are some steps you’ll need to take after you’ve purchased the paint and before you actually apply it on your walls.

1.Buy the right tools. Choosing the right brushes and rollers, and making sure there are enough for everybody, will make the job faster.
2.Make sure the room is well-ventilated and the air is circulating if you don’t want the fumes going to your head. Open the windows and use an oscillating fan if you have to.
3.Remove all decorations, fixtures, etc. from the walls. Move all furnitures away from the walls. For immovable objects like built-ins or light switches, cover them with plastic sheets or drop cloths.
4.Clean and repair the surfaces to be painted – Remove old and peeling paint, clean and wash the walls and repair the surfaces to be painted. Patch and sand any holes or uneven surfaces.
5.Apply a primer - priming seals the surface and helps the paint cover the surface more evenly. It will also lessen the number of coats you’ll have to apply.

Now that you’re all ready, make it a group project and invite your best buds. You’ll get free help, and have fun bonding along the way!

The Hollywood Regency motif is quite “in” right now. The idea behind this design is layering. You may begin by making use of black and white floral inspired wallpaper. Match it with the couch on your living room by using stripped fabrics for its cover. Add plain black and white throw pillows to complete the set. Keep your furniture simple. It is recommended that you make use of a Parson white or pitch black table. Highlight the platform with a simple but sophisticated high-gloss black and white lamp. For empty spaces, use black or white modernly crafted bookshelves.

Organize your son or daughter’s trophy and plaque collections as well as academic ribbons and display them in glass cases. You could also use shadow boxes, floating shelves or classic bookcases. Accessorize them with photo albums, picture frames, yearbooks as well as sentimental toys. This will immediately breathe life to any room. For added drama, use black and white photos, enlarged images and display them on translucent picture frames that are thin enough to go invisible. If you are up to the rigorous labor, create a family collage. This will contain your children’s transition from childhood all organized in a gold plated frame that is as big as a regular painting. This is sure to be the center-piece of the room if not the whole house because of the conversation it will encourage.

8. If ever you have items that you no longer need but are still functional. Do not throw them away just yet. Try giving it out to friends who may need them or better yet donate it to charity. It is much better to have others use them than being disposed. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone, you got rid of unnecessary stuff and have others benefit from it at the same time.

9 Sort your storage for useful items that you can reuse and recycle, aside from saving extra bucks for repurposing them you also get to help mother nature by maximizing the use of resources around you.
Conservation may be a little thing, but a little thing goes a long way don’t they? Beautify you home and help save our HOME, Planet Earth.

5. Consider using reclaimed wood for things like benches, decks and fences. Buying new ones will cost bigger while the quality is almost the same. Also do some research on what kind of wood you will be using, for example: Cedar wood ages gracefully and it naturally has an insect repelling property, by doing so you can choose the right kind of wood for the job.

6. Another man’s trash may be another man’s treasure, check out garage sales for items that may come in handy. But never buy things that you do no think would have a purpose so that they wont end up sitting in your trash bin.

To be continued…

3. Replace fluorescent lights with more energy-efficient bulbs. If possible, get solar powered ones. It may be a bit costly but it will prove its worth in the long run. Imagine this: by getting solar powered lights you can save a lot on your electric bill, and contribute in energy conservation as well.

4. Make your home a better place for you and your family. Have a space for potted plants, they would act as C02 absorbers and give out 02 in return. Choose plants that do not require much watering so that they would not be hard to maintain.

To be continued…

1. When painting your newly renovated home, always use a low VOC paint. VOCs or Volatile Organic Compounds is known to be a cause of indoor polluting as well as the air in the atmosphere. VOCs contribute to the greenhouse effect that causes Global Warming.
When painting, use a spray machine to lessen the work time, thus limiting your exposure to the VOC.

2. Set up s a rain chain and barrel under your home’s eaves troughs so that you can catch rainwater which can be used in watering the plants or some minor cleaning. By doing this you can help conserve water.

To be continued…