By James Brickman

To create a harmonious atmosphere in your home, follow the rules of feng shui living room.

Even small changes can help to restore balance and peace. Soon you may feel the positive Qi energy flowing around and improving your life.

The feng shui living room needs to have a healthy stream of Qi, which is achievable. How can this be achieved? Start with the basics – look around your living room carefully, including the chairs, couches, sofas, tables, paintings, flowers, pillows and decor items. See how these objects are located; try to get an intuitive feel as to what may be improved.

Create a space: if your room is full of furniture, try to free up space. Rely on your intuition and get rid of unnecessary items. The less trash the freer the Qi.

Relocate seating: chairs, sofas, and couches should face the door. The idea is simple – a person sitting in the living room should see the door. If all the furniture is moved to the walls, try to rearrange the furniture in an octagon or a semicircle. Move chairs and sofas located in front of windows or directly in front of the door, as they impede the flow of energy that circulates between the door and windows.

Illuminate corners: free the dark corners of the room. Darkness can blunt the Qi flow. Place lamps in dark corners – they bring good fortune, harmony and peace. You can also place flowers with round leaves (in pots) or hang mirrors in the corners. The flow of good energy tends to avoid dark corners, and you need to do your best to achieve a free flow. Remove any dried out plants – they can become a source of negative energy.

Freshen up the walls: hang a happy family photograph or a picture with a large beautiful tree on the western wall, and your family can grow stronger. In order to advance in your career, hang a picture of a waterfall or a lake on the northern wall.

The fireplace: feng shui recommends having a fireplace in the center of the feng shui living room, as it stimulates and increases happiness and provides a good energy flow.

The balance of Yin and Yang: if you have a lot of high things, add a few low ones. If your carpet has bright colors, use cushions in soft shades. Watch the balance of the horizontal/vertical objects, and the hard/soft objects to balance the yin and yang in the room.

Mirrors: mirrors are very good for the feng shui living room. However, you need to make sure that the mirrors do not reflect the bathroom, stairs or kitchen. Do not place a mirror directly opposite the door; otherwise the mirror can reflect the Qi back.

Aquariums: movement of fish will help to create good energy. For good luck, place the aquarium on the north side of the room. The size of the aquarium doesn’t matter. Remember that placing a large aquarium with a large fireplace can make these two strong elements interfere with each other. In this case, replace a large aquarium with a small one.

About the Author: James Brickman runs http://www.fengshuicrazy.com which teaches the ancient art of feng shui. Please visit his website to learn more about

feng shui living room design

.

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6 Bathroom Remodeling Tips

by

Jordan Rocksmith

Bathroom remodeling is a big project to take on with a lot of aspects to consider. Here are a few tips to help with the process:

1. Make Storage Space

It is usually best to make in-shower storage space for shampoos, soaps, and so on, so that people dont have to carry these items in and out of the shower every day. Shower storage often takes the form of a shelf, but its also possible to get in-the-wall shelving for a sleeker look.

2. Maximize Existing Space

Bathrooms are often built at awkward angles, and theyre often smaller than one would like. Because of this, it is often better to look into customized cabinets than to buy premade ones. It may cost a little more, but not much, and the convenience is well worth it. For those who go this route, local independent suppliers are often the best source for cabinet tops of wood, stone, or other materials.

Another way of maximizing space is to get a curved shower rod, which adds more shower space than one would expect. A curved rod just gives it a larger, fuller feel.

3. Choose a Floor

A bathroom floor handles so much water and daily traffic that it needs to be pretty durable. Porcelain and glazed tiles are usually the easiest to care for. Anything porous, like limestone, will stain over time as it gets wet, though it is possible to slow this process by sealing the floor.

When considering finishes, a textured or matted surface or one with that has a sand mixture in the glaze will prevent some slipping, which is especially important in houses with children or the elderly. Another way to add traction is to get smaller tiles, which means that there will be more grout lines.

4. Give the Bathroom Accents

Many people find it most relaxing to have a simple bathroom with a few accents. The shower is a nice space for some accent tiles, and it doesnt take many to create that special look. Some people prefer their accents on their cabinets. Still others prefer to have a small piece of actual art in the bathroom or even a floating shelf with a few knick knacks, statues, or candles. Another way of giving a bathroom an accent is to take find standard bathroom items (like mirrors) with interesting or unique shapes.

Similarly, some people like to splurge on 1 or 2 areas of the bathroom and get something really nice. Toilets and fixtures are popular areas for this, since its important that they work right and no one wants the hassle of replacing them later on. Its much easier to swap out art or repaint walls.

5. Consider Lighting

It may be time to update the bathroom lighting, and the remodel is a good time to do it, since it could involve new cables. When selecting bathroom lighting, it is important to keep all lighting layers in mind. Bright task lighting, soft ambient lighting, and focused vanity lighting are all of equal importance. The more lighting the better in a bathroom, but dimmers are very helpful so that the user can choose the right amount of light at any given time for any specific activity.

Lighting is one of the areas where it is especially important to call in professional advice when doing bath remodeling in Denver, though one may call in the pros at any stage. Since both water and electricity are in play, safety is a vital issue. Bulbs must be rated safe for damp or wet locations, depending on where they are placed.

6. Be Prepared

It is important to have everything ready before beginning your bath remodeling in Denver. A lot of bathroom pieces, especially the custom-order ones, will take a while to trickle in, so its best to wait for them. Otherwise, everyone will be stuck using half a bathroom while waiting for parts to arrive to finish the other half of the project.

Christophers Bath + Kitchen Design Center is Denver, Colorado s expert bath and kitchen design and remodeler and Showroom.

Bath remodeling Denver

. Visit our page on

christophersshowroom.com/

for more info!

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By Alyssa Davis

Apartments dwellers are often surprised to find out that the lease they have signed strictly prohibits the use of paint of nails on the apartment walls, which presents a huge barrier to decorating their apartments to suit their personal style and tastes. After all, most people sign a year’s lease when they rent an apartment. You can still manage to impart your own unique style in an apartment that doesn’t allow the use of paint or nails – you simply need to be a bit more creative.

Adhesive Hooks and Putty

There are some great products out there that are made specifically for hanging pictures and wall art without creating a nail hole, like adhesive hooks or putty. With adhesive hooks, you simply peel off the back of the hook and secure it firmly to the wall to hang the object. Putties are usually kneaded into a specific shape and then applied to the back of the object, and then you press the object firmly against the wall for thirty seconds or so, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions, until it forms a tight hold.

Fabric

Many people who live in apartments choose to cover the walls in fabric, which can be tacked up as long as tacks are allowed. You can purchase large pieces of fabric from any craft store, in various designs and colors. Choose lightweight fabric so that tacks can hold it to the wall easily. To apply the fabric to your walls, place tacks along the fabric’s upper edge along the top of your wall. Fabric is sold in square yards, so measure your wall before heading out to purchase your fabric. You can do either a section of the wall or the entire wall.

Paper Tape

You can make a striped wall using decorative paper tape that is sold in many craft supply stores and art supply stores. This type of tape will stick firmly to the wall and then just peel away when you’re tired of it or when you move. Experiment with various widths and colors to give your plain apartment walls a decorative punch.

Posters

Posters can be very decorative in apartments where you cannot paint or use nails to hang artwork. Look for posters in themes that coordinate with the style of the room in which they will be hung. Choose high quality poster hanging tape (available wherever posters are sold) to hang your posters without causing any damage to the paint on your walls.

Vinyl Letters

You can also use vinyl lettering or vinyl graphics to dress up your walls. Spelling out words like “faith”, “hope” or “love” on a living room wall can be a great sentiment. Or you can spell out your favorite quote. Vinyl letters merely cling to the wall, so they won’t damage your wall or paint.

These are just a few of the options that you have when it comes to dressing up plain apartment walls. And keep in mind that if you ask, many landlords will allow you to change the paint color in a room if you agree in writing to return the room to its original color before vacating the apartment.

About the Author: Alyssa Davis is a staff writer and specialist in decorating with

butterflies metal wall decor

and

tropical wall art

for Metal-Wall-Art.com.

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By Kazama Amazak

People are very concerned about their appearance and realize that it is best to maintain a healthy weight. However, with all the fast food and quick microwave food available these days, it is sometimes a struggle to eat right and maintain the right weight. There are a plethora of diet plans out there, all guaranteeing they’ll get off those extra pounds. However, everyone’s bodies are different, with varying metabolisms and varying degrees of fitness. Here are a few of the popular diet plans and a quick summary of the plan highlights.

The Atkins Diet

The basic idea behind the Atkins diet is to eliminate and slowly reintegrate carbohydrates into your meals. The first phase is two weeks long and you must eliminate almost all carbohydrates from your diet no breads, no pasta, no rice! The second phase of the plan involves slowly reintroducing high-fiber carbohydrates a little at a time until you reach the optimum amount of carbohydrates required to reach your ideal body weight. The third and fourth phases involve maintaining your healthy body weight.

The Pritikin Diet

The Pritikin diet plan involves eating an extremely low amount of fats and a high amount of carbohydrates. Low-calorie carbohydrates are promoted along with fruits, vegetables and low-calorie proteins. This diet has been around since the late 1970’s and since it is still viewed as a viable diet plan, it must still be producing results!

The South Beach Diet

The South Beach diet is similar to the Atkins diet in that it has phases, the first of which is a severe restriction of carbohydrates. But more foods are allowed in the South Beach diet plan than are allowed in the Atkins diet plan. The second and third phases of the South Beach diet are similar to the second, third and fourth phases of the Atkins plan.

The Jenny Craig Program

The Jenny Craig program involves eating their pre-packaged frozen meals and learning how to moderate your eating habits as well as introducing exercise into the weight loss plan. Their counselors are available around the clock via telephone plus there are online groups for discussion on any problems or questions you may have. No foods are off-limits; you simply eat smaller portions of what you like. As you lower your food intake and then integrate exercise into the program, the extra pounds will come off.

The Macrobiotic Diet

The Macrobiotic diet emphasizes eating unprocessed foods and complex carbohydrates. The proteins in your diet come from sources other than meat. This is considered more a way of life than simply a diet plan. By eating the right foods, the weight will come off naturally.

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet follows the typical diet of the residents of the Mediterranean areas of Europe. Most of the proteins do not come from meat as meat consumption is restricted. Consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grain carbohydrates and olive oil provide all the essential proteins, carbohydrates and fats to keep you healthy. Exercise is important part of this plan and should be engaged in on a daily basis. This is also more of a way of life than a diet plan.

About the Author: Find more information about Diet, Visit

Diet plans

and

Diet plans

website.

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By David H. Urmann

Cordless drills have varying features relative to their brands. One can search for good quality drills in the internet. Search for the leading manufacturers of drill and compare the specs side by side.

Consumers now rely on the latest innovations and breaking technology in cordless drills. Compare prices and public ratings before buying one. The best units are continuously repeatedly manufactured, promoted endlessly and garner high sales in the market.

The Makita 6935FDWDEX, DEWALT DC759KA Cordless Drill, Bosch 13618, Porter-Cable 9977 and Panasonic EY6432GQKW are some of the best and most popular models in the market today.

Makita 6935FDWDEX 14.4V Cordless Impact Driver

Makita 6935FDWDEX is the best impact driver with a free 6337 MForce Drill and a ML143 cordless torch, making it very power efficient.

Features:

—

1/4″ Impact Driver (0 – 3200 IPM)

—

True variable speed for a smooth increase in speed and control

—

Two-piece D-28R motor with dual ball bearings

—

External brush feature for longer tool life

—

Ergonomic rubberized pistol grip (6 3/8)

—

Built-in high output LED to increase visibility

—

Phosphorescent rubber bumper to help locate tool in low light areas

—

Free flashlight

DEWALT DC759KA Cordless Drill

Dewalt DC759KA is one of the most powerful drills that have been completely revamped with an 18-volt motor. This provides a dual speed that weighs only 5 pounds.

It comes with two batteries and a case.

Bosch 13618-2G Brute Tough Hammer drill

Bosch 13618-2G has a blue paint scheme that is very appealing to customers. Machines are more streamlined and contoured. It is the best selling cordless drills of Bosch. Bosch has been providing great designs and excellence throughout the years. Here are some of its features:

—

Reinforced collar steel

—

18-volt bluecore batteries

—

Durashield construction

—

Includes a magnetic bit holder, double ended bit, side handle and 30-minute charger.

—

It maintains alignment between gearbox, motor and the clutch with its unibody power train.

Porter-Cable 9977 Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

The Porter-Cable Cordless Hammer Drill offers up to 420-inch pounds of torque. This is for a 14.4-volt and 2-amp hour batteries. Batteries can be changed easily and chargers charged quickly.

Porter-Cable 9977 is a good alternative, especially if one does not need a 19.2-volt tools. Big grips for men, and small grips for a women are included in the set.

Other features:

—

Two-speed gear box (0-450 and 0-1400 RPM)

—

Interchangeable Grip-to-Fit insert handle

—

20 positions clutch

—

1/2-inch keyless ratcheting chuck

—

1-year warranty with a 30-day performance certificate

The box includes: a drill, a charger, two batteries, user’s manual and a storage case.

Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Panasonic EY6432GQKW is actually rated as the best buy in leading consumer magazines. It’s innovative, high-quality and reasonably priced. It is a lightweight, compact and handy. This drill is packed with a 390-inch pound torque, allowing full torque for any speed.with the help of a motor speed control. This tool is a smart-buy for most carpenters, plumbers, woodworkers and electricians.

Other features:

—

3-1/2 amp NiMH delivers a per change runtime.

—

Battery Amp per hour: 3.5Ah

—

Dual speed ranges (0-400/0-1,300 rpm)

—

Electronic brake

—

Keyless chuck

—

A soft-pad grip provides an extra cushion.

—

9-inches long; weight: 4.4 pounds

—

The chassis measures 8-1/2 inches.

—

Volts: 15.6

The drill includes a universal charger (55 minutes) and a plastic carrying case. Warranty is for 1 year.

The five cordless drills mentioned above are the most popular in the market. They have been receiving a lot of good reviews and positive feedbacks from consumers. Their bestselling features are the ergonomic grips, high speed torque, long battery life and charging time.

About the Author: For more information on

Cordless Drill Reviews

and

Best Cordless Drills

please visit our website.

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By Dave Matthews

When the weather gets warmer there can be no more satisfying thing than sitting with the windows open in the evening. Sadly this small pleasure can be spoilt by the many flying, biting insects that also enjoy the warmer temperatures. Luckily these irritating pests can be kept at bay by installing a fly screen. If you are unfamiliar with these products don’t worry as by following this simple guide, you will know exactly what to shop for and how to install your screen.

First you need to decide whether you want to undertake the installation yourself or whether you would rather get a professional to do it for you. If you do decide to have your insect screen professionally installed then the best step is to find a reputable installer in your area and they will be able to take care of the rest. However if you fancy yourself as something of a handyman then you may need to learn a little more before you tackle the project.

You should choose between buying either a permanent or a retractable screen. The advantage of permanent screens is that they are easier to install.

Next you need to determine whether the doorway or window that you are screening is square, whether it has a flat surrounding it and that it isnt obstructed by any objects that may interfere with the installation process. It is likely that any do it yourself screen installation will have a limit on the size of opening that can be covered. In the case where the opening is larger than the screen you have bought, you may need to construct a frame to bring the opening down to the maximum size of the screen.

Make sure that you measure each opening from top to bottom and from side to side. Most screen systems have a base which is secured to the frame and contains a spline that holds the screen in place on the base. They also come fitted with cap pieces which snap into place and serve as a trim in order to cover the spline. Ensure that you add all the individual measurements together in order to determine the total number of base strips and cap pieces required.

Cut the base strips to fit each vertical frame and then attach them by using 1 inch screws. Each slot in the base will hold 1 screw but make sure that you don’t install the screws too tightly or the base may become deformed. Repeat this for each horizontal frame too.

You may wish to get a helper to stretch the screen over the opening. It is important that the screen is tight enough not to sag, yet not tight enough to deform the frame. Don’t be afraid to ask for help during any stage of the installation process as not everyone is a natural handyman. Many hardware stores will offer various screen systems and screen building materials. They will also offer advice and step-by-step instructions that you can take home with you. Remember that all the hard work will eventually pay off when you are able to enjoy those summer evenings without the flying pests!

About the Author: Dave Matthews is writing on behalf of New Blinds, an online supplier of

fly screens

.

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