To begin installing a kitchen exhaust fan, turn off the power. Then, use a 3/8-spade bit to drill a hole through the ceiling into the attic in the location you would like to place the fan. In the attic, clear insulation from the area where you will create the vent hole, using the ceiling cutout you made earlier as a reference for the hole size.

Measure the vent fan’s intake port (the part that will be installed into the ceiling), and make a reference hole this size. Use this reference drill hole to draw the exact size of hole you will need to cut into the ceiling. Use a drywall saw, jigsaw or reciprocating saw to cut out this portion of the ceiling.

Installation

In the attic, attach a duct elbow (usually a 90-degree, 4-inch elbow works fine) to the exhaust fan’s outlet port, using duct tape to tape it securely in place. Be sure to use foil duct tape to protect against deterioration in the future.

Attach a cable connector to the fan’s housing side, insert the metal brackets that came with the fan into the sides, and put the vent fan into the ceiling hole. Make sure the metal brackets extend to contact the closest joists, then screw them into place. Put the electrical cable through the cable connector. Using a wall cap kit, tape a flexible duct to the elbow that you previously attached to the vent fan.

Completion

Metal outdoor exhaust vent
You’ll now need to make a duct hole for the exhaust fan to vent air outside of the house. Find a location on the attic wall that is close to the fan and between wall studs. On the outside of the house, identify where this location is, and cut a hole in the wall using a hole saw.

Back in the attic, use foil duct tape to connect a foot-long connector duct to the wall cap, then slide the cap into the hole in the wall. Secure with a rubber gasket and silicone adhesive, and screw it to the house’s siding. Attach the duct end of the flexible exhaust duct to the connector duct of the wall cap with foil duct tape.

Inside the kitchen, make the appropriate wire connections and attach the fan’s grille. Turn the power back on and test the fan.

To create a good feng shui bedroom, you can use a variety of simple, practical feng shui tools, such as the basic feng shui tips below:

1. Let go of the TV, computer or exercise equipment in your bedroom. The good feng shui energy in your bedroom is destroyed when these items are present in your bedroom.

2. Open the windows often or use a good quality air-purifier to keep the air fresh and full of oxygen . Be mindful of the quality of air in your bedroom. You cannot have good feng shui in your bedroom if the air you breathe in is stale and full of pollutants. Please note that plants in the bedroom are not good feng shui, unless your bedroom is fairly large and the plants are located far from the bed.

3. Have several levels of lighting in your bedroom, or use a dimmer switch to adjust the energy accordingly. Good, appropriate lighting is very important, as light is our # 1 nutrient and one of the strongest manifestation of energy. Candles are the best feng shui bedroom lighting, but be sure to buy candles with no toxins.

4. Use soothing colors to achieve a good feng shui balance in your bedroom. Feng Shui bedroom decor is a balanced decor that promotes the best flow of energy for restorative sleep, as well as sexual healing. Best feng shui colors for the bedroom are considered the so-called “skin colors”, and we know the colors of human skin vary from pale white to rich chocolate brown. Choose colors within this range that will work best for your bedroom decor.

5. Choose the images for your bedroom wisely, as images carry powerful feng shui energy. Best feng shui advice for the bedroom art is to choose images that you want to see happening in your life. Unless you enjoy being sad and lonely, do not use sad and lonely images in your bedroom.

6. Follow the basic feng shui guidelines for your Bed, which are:
* have your bed easily approachable from both sides,
* have two bedside tables (one on each side), and,
* avoid having the bed in a direct line with the door.
A “good looking” and well-balanced bed is very important in creating a perfect feng shui bedroom. Good mattress, solid headboard and high quality sheets from natural fibers are also very important in creating harmonious feng shui energy.

7. Keep all the bedroom doors closed at night, be it the closet doors, the en-suite bathroom door or the bedroom door. This will allow for the best and most nourishing flow of energy to strengthen your health, as well as the health of your relationship.

The idea of a perfect feng shui bedroom may bring different images to different people, but they will all have one thing in common - Pleasure and Dreaming as the keywords. In a good feng shui bedroom, every item will reflect the clear intent for love, healing and relaxation.

Small Apartment Decor Ideas

* Furniture plays a pivotal role in every home Decor. The choice of home furnishings can either create or occupy space.
* Do not go for bulky sofa sets, because they are difficult to move, occupy a whole lot of space and make the room look cramped. Small pieces of furniture such as an ottoman, an armless, open chair, low table will open up the space. A frugal option is sofa-cum-bed, which can be unfolded to serve as a bed during the night.
* The arrangement of furniture is another thing to consider. Make sure that you place the largest piece of furniture, probably the couch, against the longest wall of the room. Keep the furniture away from the walkways, so that people do not stumble upon it while coming or going out of the room.
* Lighting is another important factor in determining the look of the room. For a small apartment, the rooms should be illuminated in such a way that space is opened up. Ceiling lights are a strict no-no in this case, because they tend to cut off the height of the room. Soft lighting is preferable. Go for recessed lighting. Install more lamps in your home. Eliminate shadows at the corners of the rooms by placing soft incandescent lights at strategic locations.
* Apart from artificial lighting, natural light also plays a pivotal role in creating the illusion of space. Open the windows of your room during daytime, so that your rooms are illuminated with sun’s rays.
* Soft, monochromatic color schemes create the illusion of more space. Hence, choose colors that are light, such as white, cream and off white. You may also opt for cool colors. Select soft tones of blues and greens for the walls.
* Match the walls with a monochromatic color scheme for the fabrics of the furniture and drapery. You may choose light and airy fabrics for the throw pillows and curtains. Cotton is the best bet. Laced curtains are good, because they provide good ventilation as well as allow the light to pass through, during the day.
* Mirrors can open up a considerable amount of space, because they reflect light. Use large decorative mirrors for the purpose.
* Use minimal number of accessories for your rooms, because they create clutter. Stick to small sized throw pillows, wall hangings and framed photographs or artwork.
* Last but not the least - keep your small apartement free of clutter. Organize things on cupboards, closets and drawers. When things are neatly arranged and out of sight, the space in the home is opened up automatically.

(taken from http://homedecor.iloveindia.com/ : Decorating Small Home)

A great bedroom is a place to relax and recharge, a stylish and peaceful retreat that’s as versatile as it is welcoming.

Sometimes your new bedroom decorating simply needs a change of atmosphere to make it more comfortable. Maybe you have a bedroom design that is immaculate, modern, and beautiful. But is it comfortable? It’s important that a room still feel like home, and an easy way to achieve this is by adding some creature comforts. Some personal bedroom decorations add individual character to a space and make it more relaxing. Here is bedroom inspirations for you that I’ve taken from http://freshome.com

See another bedroom decorating ideas at http://freshome.com

An extra large living room may accommodate a piano, eating area complete with dining table, tennis or billiard table or even a number of plants, if your living space receives lots of direct sunlight. You may also shift am armoire to make use of the extra space for storage purposes. Living room can use maximum number of furnishings and it is a challenge to fit in all the desirable furnishings and accessories and coordinate them with carpeting, wall color, crown moldings, lighting style and window treatments among many other things. Usually, sofa or the entertainment center is the largest piece of furniture in a living room and since, placement of sofa will decide the view and focal point for the people seated in the living, room, use it as the starting point for living room decor.

Express your personality, your personal taste and decorating flair in the way you decorate your living room. Remodeling or decorating your living room doesn’t just mean to throw away items and add furniture pieces to the living room but how you arrange what you already have in the room. Arrangement mistakes can ruin the look of your room. Do not go wild with imagination. Some of the rules and traditional ways of keeping things and proper design must be followed to keep things sane. Creative and unusual living room decorating ideas should be limited by the comfort and usability of the room to make the living room more inviting.

Designing in innovative ways that ‘break the rules’ can be tricky, so is best left to professionals. Ensure that you maintain visual balance and harmony while displaying your accessories and should not look chaotic. For budget decorating, try to use what you already and then only opt to buy new things that you think are absolutely necessary. See, if rearranging furniture and accessories can achieve the effect you want. For a dream living room, it is not necessary to start from scratch. Make sure that you do not let your precious collection of art lie wasted or ignored just because you didn’t think of placing them correctly.

While decorating a living room, one must pay attention to the natural focal point of the room, lifestyle of the family members, functional placement of furniture, creating well-defined traffic patterns, creating close grouping and intimate conversational areas, visual balance, ambient lighting, color scheme of the room and fabric patterns of the curtains, window treatments and the upholstery. You must also watch out for organizing things, display of accessories, camouflaging architectural elements that are ugly, hanging art and wall groupings, proportion and scale of decoration, unifying factor of your decoration and most importantly, when to stop.

* An elevated loft bed is a great item to make use of vertical room space while open shelves instead of chest of drawers can be used to accommodate more books and magazines.
Display your handmade quilts and throws that make the bed look warm and elegant at the same time.
* Fashionable bright-colored washable slipcovers can make your mismatched furniture pieces look coordinated and in harmony with each other.
* Keep things you want to hide away from view in containers that can be stored under the bed.
* Make your tiny bedroom look comfortable and inviting by adding soft pillows of all sizes and shapes.
* Maximize the use of vertical wall space by adding bookcases and shelves.
* Nail some hanging wall shoe pockets at the inside of your closet door, where you can keep your shoes, socks, gloves and even your handkerchiefs.
* Use bright colors and make use of fabrics complimenting your bed linens, throws and pillows, to add a romantic touch to your tiny home, apartment or dorm Decor.
* Use filing cabinets and decorated stackable crates as a cheap option for keeping your place organized.
* You can also use your large storage trunk as a table.
* You may like to add a personal touch to your tastefully decorated tiny home by selecting a color scheme for your walls, furniture and furnishings beforehand.
* You may utilize space underneath the loft bed by accommodating your entertainment area or work desk underneath it along with a beautiful floor lamp and ottoman to rest your tired legs. Even this ottoman can have the storage area to hide away magazines and bills to be paid.
* You may want to add a small futon for an additional seating area.

(Taken from “Small Space Living” at http://homedecor.iloveindia.com)

These come in round, square, rectangle, and oval shapes. This makes it easier to find the perfect fit for your space. A large room can easily accommodate a large rectangle table with six to eight chairs. However, if you live in an apartment or town house with a small area your best choice might be a drop leaf dining table. The benefit of this table is that with the leaf out or turned down you have more space for walking around the table. One style that works well for those with a serious space issue is a wall mounted drop leaf table. When this is not in use it only extends a few inches from the wall.

If you have absolutely no area in your home, there is still a table option for you. A convertible table offers a workable solution for you. Once you raise the coffee table to dining table height you can seat several people around the table. A convertible table may cost more than a standard table but they are both beautiful and functional.

Table designs allow them to be a multi-purpose piece of furniture. If you cover the top to protect the surface it can serve as a craft table. It makes a good place for playing family board games and works well as a homework station.

There are many amazing dining table designs. To further compliment your dining room consider a black iron chandelier. These can look amazing with your design theme.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_G_Gray

Before tackling your shoe issue, you should first clean out your closets so that they aren’t stuffed. Walk over to your master bedroom closet and take a fearless peek inside. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I have items here that don’t belong in a closet?
In general, let’s say that clothing is the only thing you should find in your master bedroom closet. This isn’t the place to store hundreds of family photos in search of albums. It isn’t the ideal spot for holiday decorations. Gift-wrap and bows shouldn’t take space away from suits and dresses. You catch my drift.

2. Is the closet bursting with clothing I haven’t worn in a long time?
Perhaps you harbor full wardrobes from various sizes. It’s time to clean everything out and keep only what serves you now. A charity or women’s shelter is waiting for your things and wants to give you a tax receipt!

3. Is everything separated into categories and organized by color?
If your closet isn’t at least divided into categories (blouses, sweats, skirts, slacks, etc.), every time you think of an item you’d like to wear, a battle to find it will ensue. It does indeed take a few hours to organize a closet. Over the course of a year, however, you’ll save twice that time.

Now let’s consider those shoes. I once organized a famous actress who had a huge shoe collection. She kept 89 pairs that I organized by color in stacks of clear acrylic boxes. (”If you can’t see them, you generally don’t wear them” is a good rule of thumb to remember.) And even she parted with 40 pairs! If she can give away 40 pairs of Manolo Blahniks to a women’s shelter, I know you can weed through your collection. After you pare down your shoes, divide your collection by type. For example, it’s nice to keep day shoes, sport shoes and evening shoes separate. If you live in a climate with four distinct seasons, you may have a winter and summer selection. Here are some common shoe storage solutions:

1. Hang a canvas shoe rack over your closet door and keep your sport shoes there.
2. Like most women you probably don’t use your evening shoes too often, so they can go into clear acrylic shoeboxes on a high shelf in your closet. (You may want to have an extra shelf put in if you see a huge space between the standard shelf and the ceiling.)
3. With your closet organized, you can introduce a shoe rack. The metal expanding shelf variety works really well. You can also use a cedar shoe rack if you have the space and protect your woolens at the same time!

Never buy paint based on how it looks in the store because it will always look different at home. Grab as many paint samples you can find in the color you’re interested in. Choose shades that are both darker and lighter than what you think you might want because you’ll be surprised how different they’ll look when you get home. If you have an inspiration piece, coordinating fabrics, or wallpaper that you’re trying to match, bring those with you as well to compare to the paint chips.

Spread out all of your paint chips out in your room to get a general idea of which ones work and which ones don’t.Immediately eliminate the ones that don’t, set them aside, and don’t look at them again. Trust your instincts and keep moving forward rather than backwards. Tape the remaining samples to the wall and stand back to look at them. Study them over the next couple of days at different times. Look at them with the lights on, lights off, curtains open, and curtains closed. Look at them at night with various lights on. Eliminate colors as you go until you get down to your top three choices.

Go back to the store and buy small sample sizes of each color. Most paint stores now will mix a small tester size and some paint brands are even selling prepackaged tester packets right off the shelves. Take these testers home and paint a large square of each on the wall to see how they look over a larger area. All paints darken when they dry, so they’ll look slightly different. Analyze them again over the next couple of days in different light.

Once you’ve chosen a winner, you’ll need to decide on the finish. Interior paints come in five finishes: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy. Flat finishes have no shine, a rough texture, and are great for hallways or rooms that don’t get too dirty. Eggshell finishes have a slight sheen, like an eggshell, and can be used in bedrooms with light traffic. Satin finishes have more shine to them, a smooth texture, and work well in most rooms, especially kitchens or bathrooms because of their durability. Semi-gloss finishes are very reflective, easy to clean, and work best in kitchens, bathrooms, or kids rooms.

Always make sure the wall surface is flawless before you paint with semi-gloss because it highlights imperfections. Glossy finish is the shiniest paint you can get, so it’s rarely used on walls. Glossy paint is best used on furniture, cabinetry, or trim.

Choosing the right wall paint may be affected by the type of paint you have to use; for example, paint that are specifically designed for use on rough exterior wall come in a limited range of shades, while there is a huge variety of colors to paint a room, available for use.

Decorative painting patterns do have one thing in common: because they are all carried out by hand, the finished result will always be absolutely unique, giving the surfaces that you decorate a personal touch. The way you manipulate the glaze, with plastic or rags, and with subtle or bold ragging technique will determine the final texture you create.

Choosing the right wall paint creates a unifying backdrop to harmonize an eclectic group of furniture. Use a contrasting white for the furniture and artwork to let individual pieces stand out and take on greater importance. When used together, soft beiges, tans, whites, and grays will never clash.

Paint, colors to paint a room cost as little as ten dollars a gallon and as much as one hundred dollars. The success of your painting project depends greatly on the care that goes into selecting the paint and tools and preparing the walls. With a little creativity and some decorative painting patterns you can make a masterpiece for your home.

With so many styles available, here’s what you need to know how to choose the right kitchen sink:
Ceramic
Ceramic sinks are chemical, stain and heat resistant, but can chip easily and should be dried after use to avoid limescale marks. Many come in the Belfast style (below).

Classic kitchen workstation, £445, Brass and Traditional Sinks

Stainless steel
Steel cleans well with ordinary detergent - but scratches easily, so avoid scourers and neat bleach. Buffing with a dry cloth after use will help maintain the finish and avoid limescale build-up. Comes in a variety of designs – from circular to square.

VQ40FN sink, £329, Smeg

Composite
Composite sinks are made from rock or quartz crystals and resin, and are resistant to scratches, stains, heat, chemicals and colour-fading. They are easy to clean with normal detergents and water, and come in a range of colours and designs.

Lausanne sink, £321, Astracast

Corian
Corian is a solid surface material that’s stain-resistant and durable. It can be formed into any shape so can be used to create a sink that joins seamlessly to the worktop. Available in over 70 colours, it’s easy to clean with soapy water.

Corian sink, £300 per linear m, Corian

Copper and wood
These are unusual options. Copper sinks develop their own patina with age, but you can seal them to maintain your chosen finish. Teak is the most popular choice for wood sinks as its natural oils repel water.

Etienne copper sink, £1,250, The Eclectica Partnership

If you thought buying a shower tray was simple, think again.

You’ll want as much showering space as is possible to squeeze into your bathroom, but the size and shape of a tray can impact the position and size of other fittings, and can vary in cost depending on what material it’s made from and what sort of screen is required.

Check out our top tips for buying the right shower tray.

SQUARE
This standard shape is a versatile option – sizes range from 76sq cm to a more luxurious 90sq cm – and it can be positioned in a corner, along a wall or even in the middle of the room.
Cast stone resin tray (W76cm x D76cm x H5.5cm), £39.98, B&Q

PENTAGONAL
This tray fits neatly into a corner and is designed to take up as little floor space as possible – the ideal choice if you want to squeeze a separate shower enclosure into a compact bathroom.
LA Genta low-profile pentagonal shower tray (W90cm x D90cm x H3.5cm), £120, Bathroom Heaven

QUADRANT
Thanks to the curved front of this design, there’s a little more showering space than the pentagonal tray but it needs a curved shower screen, which is more expensive than a flat screen.
Quadrant acrylic capped stone resin tray (W80cm x D80cm x H3.5cm), £109, Flight range, Mira Showers

RECTANGULAR
Got a large bathroom? Go for maximum showering space with a rectangular design. They start from around 120cm long, but you can get them the same length as a bath (170cm).
Superplan XXL steel enamel tray (W170cm x D75cm x H4.7cm), £523, Kaldewei

DRYING AREA
A tray with its own drying area allows you to towel off before stepping out of the shower so you don’t need to use a bath mat or duck board – handy if you’ve got the space for it.
Tefeli stone resin tray (W123.5cm x D88.5cm x H18cm), £275, Vogue Bathrooms

LOW-LEVEL
Usually available in square or rectangular shapes, low-level trays are recessed into the floor and are increasingly popular as they create the feel of a wet room without the expense and hassle of having to waterproof the entire floor area. Tile up to the edges for a smart finish.
Sculptures low-level tray (W120cm x D80cm), from £325, Roman

Which material?
Acrylic and plastic are common types of tray as they’re lightweight and affordable, but they can chip and crack. An increasingly popular option is stone resin, which is strong, luxurious-looking and easy to install. Corian is also an extremely durable material, but is more expensive than stone resin. Ceramic is hard wearing and resistant to even the most abrasive cleaners, but is heavy and difficult to install. If money’s no object, natural stone gives a spa-style finish, but is extremely heavy and may not be suitable for some floors.

Where can I put it?
Almost anywhere, although obviously it depends on the position of windows and doors. The direction the joists run will also affect where you can put the waste pipe – ask your plumber for advice.

What size tray?
As big as you have space for. Draw a scale plan of your room and try different tray shapes and sizes, not forgetting to factor in the added dimensions of false walls to house pipework for the shower and trajectory of the door.

What colour?
White is the most popular colour, but trays are also available in cream and a pinky colour called pergamon. Some stone resin trays can still be ordered in ‘discontinued’ colours such as champagne, avocado and turquoise – visit www.tubz.co.uk for details.

Are all trays suitable for all enclosures?
Not necessarily. To ensure your tray and enclosure fit well together, buy both from the same retailer.

* Organise their space efficiently.  Store toys in a variety of containers, combining see-through plastic crates, trunks and toy boxes with tubs, baskets, over-door organisers and mini-drawers.

* Sort the small stuff. Use clear plastic jars with lids (old sweet jars are ideal) for storing small toys suchs as figurines, marbles, badges and Lego for over three-year olds.

* Choose the right storage. Drawers and shelves are more useful than hanging space, so go for wardrobes that give you all three. Fill the bottom of the wardrobe with plastic baskets for storing socks, underwear, nightwear and shoes.

* Under bed storage. Use the space under the bed for storing seasonal clothing, coats, and extra bedding. Plastic drawers on castors are ideal, or go for soft canvas zip up bags that can expand to fit more in.

* Hanging basket storage.  Find storage space you never knew you had by hanging wall-hung baskets by the bed, in a line above a desk and on the back of a door. They are ideal for pencils, pens and crafty bits, and hanging them at kid height encourages them to put things away after play.

1. Wipe down all woodwork with a cleaner. Paint adheres better to a clean surface. Sand all the trim, doors and windows and vacuum and wipe with a tack cloth.

2. Before using your paintbrush soak it in water (if being used with latex paint), or paint thinner (for use with oil-based paint). Flex the bristles to spread the liquid right into the base of the brush and spin or shake it dry. This step will make your brush easier to clean later. When you open the paint can, use a nail to drive holes in the U-track around the top of the can. This allows the paint to drain back into the can after pouring.

3. Prime any bare woodwork before applying final coat. When molded doors, paint the rails first, then the inside panel, and finally the stiles or outside frame. Allow to dry overnight and sand with a 220-grit sandpaper. Vacuum and dust once again.

4. Use Dap or spackling compound to fill any nail holes or cracks. Once dry, sand lightly if necessary and paint with primer.

5. Caulk all the gaps between the trim or baseboard and the walls to create a nice clean line. To smooth the caulking, wet your finger and run it along the the line.

6. It’s time to paint the ceiling. Cut in or paint a 2 to 2 1/2 inch stripe along the outside edges of the ceiling. Wipe away any paint that touches the walls. Using a roller, complete the rest of the ceiling by dividing your strokes into a 3-foot section. Work your way across the room, one square at a time.

7. Now begin the finish coat on your trim, windows, and baseboard. Once dry, sand lightly and dust with a tack cloth. Next, apply your finish coat. When painting window trim, if you get paint on the glass, let it dry and then scrape it off. Dampen the glass first to prevent scratching it with the window scraper.

Some use the paint as a sealant from moisture. To do this, hold the edge of a wide putty knife blade against the glass, flat side against the wood, and scrape up to it. You’ll end up with an even strip of paint on the glass about the thickness of the blade.

8. Once the baseboard is dry, cover the top of the trim with blue masking tape. Using a brush, cut in around windows and door trim, then along baseboard and finally at the ceiling or crown molding. Use an extension handle on your roller to paint the walls. Just as with the ceiling, envision a 3 or 4 foot square and fill in working from the top down. Use a putty knife to remove any paint nubs on the wall once the paint dries. Finish with a final coat and remove the masking tape as soon as the paint has set. Don’t wait too long or you may pull off some of the drywall with the tape. Resist the urge to yank the tape, but instead pull it slowly and evenly to avoid ripping it.