Simple Ideas to Make Your Own Inexpensive Curtains

            When we decide to spruce up our house, one of the first things that come to mind is a curtain. There are many types of curtains on the market. Lots of fabrics, colors, designs and styles to chose from. But sometimes, regardless of the vast variety available, we simply can’t find what we’re looking for, and often times when we do, we can’t afford it. 
The truth is, you don’t need anyone to do it for you; you are as capable as it takes, to do it yourself! Let’s see how we can become designers of our own space using basic tailoring techniques. 
           Let’s start by the most prominent, the material. The fabric. Choose a fabric that you like. Avoid quilted fabrics as they can stretch or shrink over time. Fibers like cotton and linen and especially those with polyester and micro fibers, hold up better than others. Also avoid silk or silk blends, because they tend to rot and fade very quickly. Make sure you buy enough fabric; you don’t want your curtains to look poor. Double height of the window and three times width, should be fine. 
          In this article, we will examine the three simplest sewing and hanging techniques for curtains.
For curtains with rings, you need to stitch an approximately 3-inch hem at the edge of the curtain panels that are going to be hung. Now, sew each ring to each curtain panel leaving small distances between the rings so that the curtain is pulled easily. You can also use clip-on rings that don’t need to be stitched and are easier to apply. 
For tied tab curtains you will need to create the hangers. Simply stitch horizontal buttonholes at the top of the curtain panel. Now you can make the hangers using the same fabric as the curtains, or another but suitable fabric for a little diversity. Make threads and place through the buttonholes.
           

No Sew Curtains are also a smart and easy way to make curtains and decorate a window. In this case the fabric should be 3 inches more than double the height of the window and 2 inches more than the width of the window. Pull the fabric through the rod and fold evenly. Now stitch the two ends of the fabric at the bottom and at the sides together. When the curtain is ready, place a single fabric band in the center of the curtain or use two purchased tiebacks evenly spaced along the width of your window. Then adjust folds of fabric panel as desired.
Gather your supplies, fabric, scissors, screws, rings or ribbon, and use your imagination. In less than an hour you will manage to decorate that empty window effectively and inexpensively. But the most important thing is that you will have your own personal work to show off in your house.

3 Kinds Of Wood Used In Real Wood Furniture

          Real wood furniture is the most popular furniture in existence.  It's been around for hundreds of years and probably existed when the cave people got tired of squatting on the dirt floor of their caves and looked around for a better way.
The woods that are fashioned into furniture fall into three categories: 
1. Hardwoods 
2. Softwoods 
3. Composites 
Even the term 'hardwood' or 'softwood' is deceptive. Hardwoods aren't necessarily harder, denser material.  For example, balsa wood is one of the lightest, least dense woods there is, and it's considered a hardwood. Technically, lumber is classified based on how the tree reproduces. As a general rule, though, softwood trees are evergreen year round while the hardwoods create the gorgeous autumn foliage that we all love so much. 
Hardwoods are considered the highest quality and are the most expensive.  Their natural colors vary from the darkest woods to the lightest ones and and they can be stained or painted for even more variety. Hardwood furniture is least likely to warp or bend and is prized in all high quality homes. The five woods most commonly used in furniture production are cherry, walnut, oak, maple and mahogany. 
Softwoods are less expensive than hardwoods, but they require extra care. Because they are less durable, it's much easier to scratch or dent softwood furniture. In addition, they often don't have the beautiful grains of a hardwood, and therefore don't stain as beautifully. 
Pine is an example of a softwood that is commonly used for furniture. These woods are often used in construction as well so the choicest pieces are reserved for furniture. In construction, knots and splits are common. Lots of construction lumber will not accept paint and this kind of wood is used for shelves or packing crates. 
The softwood used in furniture is designated as "Appearance" lumber and includes most softwood lumber that has been custom milled to a pattern or otherwise surfaced on all four sides. 
Composites are the cheapest form of wood and are literally manufactured, rather than grown. 
1. Plywood: multiple layers of thin wooden sheets are glued together and pressed. Plywood is strong and resists swelling, shrinking and warping. There is some furniture made directly from plywood, but generally it is only used as a support when incorporated into furniture. 
2. Particle board: sawdust and small wood chips are mixed with glue or resin which is then shaped and pressure treated. When used for inexpensive furniture, particle board is usually covered with laminate or veneer. This is necessary because particle board splits easily and the laminate prevents splitting. However, the downside is that the laminate may separate from the wood because the particle board responds to temperature and pressure changes by swelling and shrinking. 
3. Hardboard: is made like particle board but it's placed under higher pressure so it's stronger. 
4. MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard: wood particles are bonded with resin and compressed. It is harder than particle board or hardboard, and can be cut like plywood although it isn't as strong as plywood. Some MDF is covered with melamine which is a durable plastic in a variety of colors. The exposed edges of MDF are rough and need covering with molding or some other decorative material. 
Technically, furniture made from all of these wood products is "real" wood furniture, even the composites. Prices and quality range from the hardwoods down to the composites. The higher you go up the spectrum, the more you can expect to pay for your wood furniture.  The good part, of course, is that with proper care hardwood furniture will last for decades or even generations. If you can afford it, always choose hardwood furniture.

3 Great Reasons To Buy A Portable Air Conditioner

1. Oprah said so.

2. It looks like the robot from “Lost In Space”.

3. Brad and Angelina are adopting one. 

For those of you who make your decisions based on real information, here are some cool portable air conditioner facts.

A goldmine of enlightening information can be uncovered by visiting forums. For instance, when I wanted to tap into the experiences of actual portable air conditioner owners, all I had to do was Google “portable air conditioner forums” and Voila!, I had instant access to pages of relevant information from 3 different forums.

I encourage you to try this technique. Just substitute any generic product or service description for “portable air conditioners” plus the word “forums”.

What I uncovered was concerns over energy consumption, how energy consumption impacts circuit load, noise level, venting, the disposal of water from the dehumidifying process, and of course, price. 

Portable Air Conditioner Energy Consumption
In the United States, the average air conditioner runs 750 hours each year. Since air conditioners use a lot of electricity, their efficiency has become a public issue. The EER, or Energy Efficiency Rating, is the ratio of the Btu's per hour to the number of watts the unit draws. 

EER ratings of 7 or 8 are at the low end of energy efficiency. Many units have ratings around 12 which are good. The highest rated portable air conditioner I could find was the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?link_code=ur2&tag=alternatiheat-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPortable-Air-Conditioner%2Fdp%2FB000A8D7X4%2Fsr%3D8-1%2Fqid%3D1153668635%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fie%3DUTF8">Amcor AL10000E</a> . It has an awesome EER of 16.6.

Portable Air Conditioner Circuit Load
Before you start your search for a portable air conditioner, check your breaker box for the number of amps available to the room you want cooled. If you buy a unit that draws 14.5 amps on a 15 amp circuit, you’ll have the additional but unintended cooling effect of sitting in the dark while enjoying your new portable air conditioner.

How Noisy Is A Portable Air Conditioner?
Most portable air conditioners that deliver 14,000 Btu’s or less have a noise level around 50 decibels. This is comparable to the loudness of most refrigerators. At 60 decibels, a 16,000 Btu unit is slightly noisier. Think of what it’s like to watch TV in the kitchen while the fridge is running.

Portable Air Conditioner Venting
There is some controversy as to whether a dual hose unit is superior to the single hose configuration. On one hand, a single hose unit will exhaust from the room some portion of the cool air it just produced. 

On the other hand, a dual hose unit eliminates this problem, but the warmer unconditioned air used to cool their compressors results in slightly less efficiency. They also use two internal fans which result in slightly higher energy usage.

Another hot topic at the forums that people are venting about is having to wrap insulation around the hose of their single hose unit. This is done to prevent the hot exhaust hose from adding heat back into the room. Personally, I can’t think of anything better than duct tape wrapped around insulation to brighten up a room.

Water Water Everywhere
Portable air conditioners offer three methods for disposing of the water extracted by the dehumidifier component. 

The most convenient is auto evaporation which eliminates the need for drains or reservoirs. The reliability of this method varies from unit to unit.

The second method is direct drain using a hose attached to the unit. This can be problematic unless the unit is located near a floor drain. Not much chance of that, so you’ll have to use a bucket. 

And finally, you get to empty the pan yourself. Just make sure the pan is large enough so the air conditioner doesn’t shut off in the middle of the night when the pan fills up. 

Price
I think price is a secondary consideration to efficiency. As usual, a higher priced unit that operates more efficiently will always end up costing less in the long run than a cheaper, less efficient model. 

Portable air conditioners are much less efficient than comparable window units and cost roughly twice as much. What you're paying for is the flexibility to roll it from one room to another or into a closet for easy storage. 

Another Option to Consider
For the price of a portable air conditioner you might be able to buy a window air conditioner AND a new window to put it in.

3 Benefits of Owning a Patio Awning

            More and more of us each year try harder and harder to enjoy the
outdoors and the warm days of summer without having to leave our
own backyard.  Back yard pools are becoming more popular as
prices become more affordable.  Even gazebos and sunrooms are
increasing in popularity.  These are all great ideas to enjoy
your backyard.  One idea that now is also becoming main stream
in household owners is the patio awning.  Below are the 3 top
benefits of owning a patio awning.

Protection

The number one benefit of owning a patio awning is protection.
Many properties have patio doors leading onto the patio or deck.
 Unfortunately, this area by most property owners is not being
used to its full advantage.  Basically, the area is useless when
it rains or if the sun and its harmful rays are not your cup of
tea.  Having a patio awning will eliminate both of these issues
and provide you with more enjoyable usage of your patio or deck.
 With the shelter that the awning provides, you may sit outside
and still enjoy the fresh air and sounds of the outdoors with
out getting wet or worrying about harmful UV rays from the sun.
Also, any patio furniture you own is now protected from these
weather conditions.

More Living Area

With the added protection as mentioned previously, you now have
just expanded your living area.  You may now be outside and
enjoy a nice dinner and entertain your guests without the worry
of a rain shower.  Your guests will enjoy the comfort of being
shaded from the sun and take in the beauty of your backyard.
The awning will basically give you a second dining room as well
as living room and you will be able to enjoy all your meals
outside under the protective awning canvas.

Price

A benefit of the patio awning is that you do not need to break
the bank to own one.  As opposed to getting a pool or gazebo to
add value and cosmetics to your house, choosing an awning can be
the logical choice if you are on a tight budget.  There are many
companies that offer pre-made awnings that come in different
sizes, fabrics, and colors that will probably more than suit
your needs.

A simple investment in owning a patio awning can make a great
difference in how you spend your days and evenings in your

backyard.  

1 800 mattress

If you're looking for 1 800 mattress, then you know that 1 800 mattress is a leading national bedding tele-retailer. 1 800 mattress is also the first in the industry to launch a Spanish-language call center and website, 1-800-Su-Colchon and http://www.1800sucolchon.com/, to assist its customers better understand their bedding purchases in their native tongue.

1 800 Mattress offers the best selection of the most popular brands in North America like Simmons, Sealy, Serta, King Koil and more. They have the largest selection of the number one brand in the United States, Sealy Posturepedic, and their house special, the 1-800-Mattress Collection, a hand-picked line designed by the owner to provide you with the best buy.

Currently, 1 800 Mattress is expanding into Southern California with a franchise agreement with Mattress Gallery, a 57-store retailer based here. A little history lesson tells us that  1 800 Mattress is based in Long Island City, N.Y and 1 800 Mattress has served Southern California since 1999 via telephone. 1 800 Mattress practices a Next Day Nationwide Delivery Policy and customers can order online or even call 1-800 824 7777 to speak with a specialist.

For those who have done business with the national retailer of mattress, they will know that 1 800 Mattress is super efficient and very polite on the phone. Their specialists will offer callers a wide range of prices $200 and onwards plus choices such as Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Simmons, Hypnos, King Coil and Nation's Pride. They also will allow customers to test the mattress when it arrived and to return it if it does not meet expectations or fit the specifications.

A company experienced in mattress retailing such as 1 800 Mattress should not be ignored when you are sourcing for mattresses or other bedding products. It will save you a lot of trouble by buying from them as they are both winner in variety and pricing!

1 800 mattress

How to” for Lawns – Mowing

home improvement          How often you mow your lawn will depend on a number of factors. Firstly how much time you have to devote to your lawn’s maintenance. How fast your lawn grows, and this in turn will depend on whether you fertilise it regularly and whether it receives adequate water and sunlight. Normally, lawns should be mowed at least one a fortnight to keep them in check, so to speak. 
           One of the worst things you can do for a lawn and a big misconception is that you can or should mow your lawn very short in order to reduce the number of times you have to mow it. Grass generally will do much better when mowed at a higher setting. This is especially the case in the summer months, where short grass can often be burnt by the sun otherwise. It is suggested that you should never be cutting or trimming off more than 1/3 of the length of the grass in a mowing session. If you have let your lawn go and it is far too long, it is recommended that you firstly mow it at a longer cut and then remow it at a slightly lower setting. If it is still too long, then you can go over it again in a couple of days time. Although this is time consuming it is the preferred method for caring for your lawn. Needless to say like having your hair cut, you should maintain your equipment. In this case make sure your mower blades are sharp and in good condition. Remove any stone or other obstructions from the lawn before mowing to avoid any damage to the mower or lawn. 
             Other recommendations for mowing a perfect lawn:
• Do mow in different directions, it does not matter which way – whether it is diagonal, horizontal, or vertically each time you mow your lawn. This prevents the grass blades from curving in a particular direction after numerous cuts. 
• It is well known that you should never mow when your lawn is still wet. The reason for this, however, is not so well known. There are actually two reasons for this. Firstly, you will not be cutting your lawn evenly and when it dries may be a lot longer than expected. Secondly, you can often cause fungus to establish itself. 
• For the lawn bowl look of a flatten smooth lawn larger lawn rollers can be purchased. To use these you simply roll them over your lawn after mowing in nice even and straight rows.

Home Security Systems Do Not Discriminate In Katrina Aftermath!"

https://homeimprovemenn.blogspot.com/2020/02/home-security-systems-do-not.html         Only a few weeks ago, most people never gave much thought about having a security system for their home or business. But, after the looting and violence during and after Hurricane Katrina, sales have grown tremendously. Electronic Home and Business Security sales around the country are estimated to be around $28 billion per year. That number is estimated to increase by nearly 20% by the end of 2005.
While the whole subject of looting has become a touchy (and even political) issue for most people, which is largely due to the medias portrayal of the situation, security systems show no descrimination to an individuals race, social status, age, or gender. They also do not subscribe to any political parties or even listen to talk radio.
         But, home and business security systems continue to play a large role in the rebuilding of homes and businesses in the devastated communities along the Gulf Coast. More homeowners and business owners than ever are planning on installing security systems ranging in sophistication. Kathy Lott, a home owner in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, said, "I've never given it much thought before, but after watching all the looting and fighting on tv, I figured it was worth a hundred dollars just to have the securiy it provides."

Although much of the spotlight has been on the local power and phone companies, local and online security retailers are busy trying to meet the demands of recent inquries in the aftermath of Katrina. Gaston Collins, owner of Home Security Superstore and online at www.Best-Home-Security.com, says that he has had more orders in the last 2 weeks, than the whole Christmas season last year.
"Because of the long re-building process for the damaged communities, we're not expecting business to slow down until probably next spring, which is good news for us. We'll probably need to hire a few more people on top of the two we hired this week," he says. "As long as guys like Rush Limbaugh and other people in the media continue to push the subject of looting and violence, I'm sure we'll continue to see an increase in sales," says Gaston.
So it seems as though preparing for a disaster has consisted of gathering food, water, and batteries in the past - It will now include installing and checking your security system.

Ecouraging Affiliates to Promote Your Products

        If you want the quickest, easiest way to sell your own products then you need to do it the 'lazy' way. You need to convince other people to sell your products for a cut of the profits. Having your own affiliate program is the 'lazy' way of marketing and getting maximum returns.
Here are 4 ways to encourage affiliates to promote your products.
1. Have a common affiliate program.
There is nothing worse then having to signup for a separate affiliate program every time you want to promote a certain product. It is a real put off to affiliates. So if you have just one or two products I recommend that you use a large market place such as Clickbank or PayDotCom to get lots of affiliates to promote your products. 
2. Pay a big commission.
When selling digital products online it is recommended that you give the largest percentage you can. A minimum of 50% should be offered, 60% is nice but 70% or 75% is a generous commission. You might be thinking to yourself, "75%! That is crazy... I want to make 'some' money as well, why should they get more than me?". Quite simply, the more you give affiliates the more likely they are willing to spend their money to promote your products so you will make more sales and get the potential for more repeat products in the long run.
3. Pay them quickly and reliably.
Affiliates always have an inbuilt fear that the product owner will run off with their money so the sooner you pay them the more comfortable they are and the more willing they are to promote your products. Plus if you pay them reliably at the agreed time each month then this will have the same effect.
4. Make it easy for them to promote you.
The last thing you want to do is make it hard or complicated for your affiliates to promote your products. So you have to make it dead easy for them to promote you by providing them with easy to brand solo ads, articles and ezine ads.https://homeimprovemenn.blogspot.com/2020/02/ecouraging-affiliates-to-promote-your.html

How to redesign a bedroom online while staying on budget

home       Sitting in front of the television envying people getting their homes made over may be a great way to pass the time, but in reality only a few lucky fans are actually chosen to a have a room redone by their neighbor on Trading Spaces, their home completely remodeled by the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team or a quick room redesigned as a surprise on the Oprah Winfrey show.
So, what do the rest of us do when we want to remodel our bedrooms? We could hop in the car and drive to local stores to view paint colors, furniture and bedding accessories, but these days all that effort is unnecessary. 
      The Bedroom Furniture Source, an online company, is revolutionizing the way people are thinking about their bedrooms by offering the average person the chance to get a custom designed bedroom while staying on a budget. 
The designers will actually talk with people by phone or participants can elect to take an online questionnaire to help people achieve the designer bedroom of their dreams. The designers at The Bedroom Furniture Source can provide their customers a new bedroom complete with bedding accessories and even suggested paint and flooring ideas.
      “People can come to our Bedroom Design Center with a budget and the style they are looking for, and we will help them redo their bedroom space with new furniture, comforters, pillows, sheets and curtains,” says Chuck Rosselle, president of The Bedroom Furniture Source. “We will even suggest paint colors to go with the room.”
And the possibilities are endless; people can choose the type of room they want from modern, contemporary or traditional styles. The folks at The Bedroom Furniture Source have created everything from ultimate romantic spaces to fun rooms for children with lofted beds, according to designers that work at the company.
One of the main goals of the company is to make sure people are happy with both the quality and the price. “All of our products are available on Froogle for comparison shopping, and we offer free shipping to our customers that spend $750 or more. All they have to do is paint the walls and assemble the room,” Rosselle says.
Not only does The Bedroom Furniture Source offer remodeling help, they also offers tips, articles and suggestions about redesigning rooms in your home.
The Bedroom Furniture Source offers the following tips when working with an online designer:
Be sure to give the designer a good understanding of both the kinds of styles that you like as well as the styles you do not like.
Make sure your budget is realistic. For example if your budget is $200, don’t expect to get a $1,000 bedroom complete with 600-thread count sheets. 
Send the designer a photo of the space you want to redesign. It will give the designer a better idea of the space you are redoing as well as an understanding of your style.
Make sure the designer is aware of how open you are to new ideas. If you already have a clear idea of what you want, make sure you share that with the designer. 
Don’t be afraid to ask the designer about different ideas he or she may have. It may give you a better understanding of what you want to do with the space.
“What we offer is a do-it-yourself project made simple,” Rosselle says. “We give people the tools they need to get the look they are after without spending a fortune.”
Cheryl Ferrara, a new customer to The Bedroom Furniture Source, says, “I was trying to find a comforter with a high thread count when I came across The Bedroom Furniture Source online. I was a little hesitant about making a purchase online, but I am glad I ordered from them.” 
“I ended up with a high quality product at the best price around. I plan to order new comforters for my sisters for Christmas,” Ferrara adds.
To start a makeover on a bedroom in your home or to find more tips on bedroom design, visit www.bedroomfurnituresource.com.