DIY Home Design Ideas for the New Year - Budget Decoration

The beginning of a new year always incites creativity and motivation for change. We all seek to improve our lives, lose weight, become better people, and update the things that are old and worn out. For many of us, we seek to get our home in order and finally decorate those tough to tackle areas. Here are some great ways to get started on that interior design project you have been putting off for so long!

If you are starting from scratch with a room or whole house, the first thing you will need to do is create a plan. Start by describing what you want from this room. Things like function, style, color scheme, flexibility, and how often you will use the room are all things to consider. What state is the room currently in? Will you need to do some serious cleaning and organizing before beginning your project? It's a good idea to make a list of all the things that you will need to do before beginning. Another great way to plan is to look through decorating magazines and interior design websites for creative ideas. You may also want to look into purchasing some home design software to help you visualize your interior décor (of course, only if you are relatively computer- literate). You can also get fantastic home design ideas by visiting decorator show homes, furniture stores, or organizational stores in your area.

Planning your project is one of the best ways to keep within a budget. You will need to determine how much you are willing to spend, and assign a budgeted amount for each item you are planning for. If you are re-using or re-furbishing existing items, then you will not need to budget as much for those items. Avoid impulse buys unless they are items that are part of your design plan.

Creating a floor plan may or may not be necessary, depending on how much you are changing the room, the function the room will take on, and your skill in measuring and drawing out the area. A simple way to create a floor plan is to use graph paper, and assign each square to a measurement, for example 1 square could equal 1 foot. You would then measure your room and draw each wall and piece of furniture at the scale you decided. It may take some practice, but it really helps when laying out tight spaces.

Clearing the clutter is another important part of do it yourself decorating. You will need a blank canvas so that the design of your space will show through. Too many times, a beautiful design becomes hidden under layers of clutter. Start by pulling everything out, and going through it all, separating things into categories (including trash and donation piles). Then, assign a place for each category. To keep a home organized, you really need to give everything a home, and always return it to it's home. This way nothing can ever be out of place.

Don't be afraid to try new decorating ideas! The new year is a great time to use new and exciting paint colors, or go bold with artwork & accessories! Interior décor is a great place to show your personality and be really creative.

Find more great ideas for budget decorating at http://www.designingonabudget.com, and great home décor tips & resources at http://www.sullivaninteriors.net. Angela Sullivan is an Interior Designer and budget decorating enthusiast. This article may be reproduced as long as it is not changed, and remains intact, including all links and this statement.

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Celebrate the New Year on the Kohala Coast!

Dear Kohala Coast visitors,

Sorry for not continuing our posts on Kohala Coast Real Estate or the Hawaii Big Island Housing Bubble, which we had started recently. For those who are looking into moving to Hawaii and buying a Big Island home or a lot at an affordable price (Hawaii market considered!), we promise we will be back with more information on trends of Kohala Coast real estate market at the beginning of the New Year.

First things first! Now, it’s time to get ready to celebrate the beginning of a new year. The year 2007! Time flies when you are having fun. We wish everybody a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year, which will hopefully include a visit to our wonderful island.

For everybody who was lucky and enjoys their well-deserved Hawaii vacation on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island at the moment, here is the great news about fireworks at Kohala Coast Hotels and Resorts for starting the New Year with a magnificent show:

Fairmont Orchid at Mauna Lani Beach Resort
Four Seasons Hualalai
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

Find the Kohala Coast hotel, which is the closest to your vacation home or resort, on our Kohala Coast Map. Happy New Year from Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide


Tags: Hawaii hotels, Kohala Coast hotels, Hawaii vacation

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Last-minute Holiday Decorating Tips

We all know that getting ready for the holidays can be a very hectic time. There is so much to think about. Family is coming in from out of town, food has to be prepared, Christmas gifts need to be purchased and wrapped. Well here are a few last-minute ways to prepare your home for the holidays. These tips should help you to budget your time and get your last-minute decorating completed without hassle.

1. Set out your Christmas Stockings- Everyone in the family should have one. Great places to hang them include on a fireplace mantle, or if you don't have a fireplace, hang them on a stair railing, on the top of an entertainment center or China Cabinet, or you could even hang them on the wall in a diagonal pattern. Stockings can be fun to decorate as well. This is a great activity for kids and adults alike. What's even more fun is choosing what to fill them with on Christmas Eve. Candy, small toys, accessories like gloves, hair clips, small jewelry and fruit are a great, inexpensive way to create a gift that everyone loves to open.

2. Check you live wreaths and greenery- Be sure that the needles aren't turning brown or falling off. You may want to purchase new ones, or even add fresh greenery to your existing ones to keep them looking and smelling fresh.

3. Water your Christmas Tree- this is the best way to keep a live tree looking nice through the holiday season, and into the New Year. Be sure to check the water level every day, and keep it full! You will have a beautiful, full and green tree for days to come.

4. Fill your home with Christmas Scents- Candles are a wonderful way to create a festive atmosphere in your home. Look for peppermint, gingerbread, cookie, pine, pumpkin and cinnamon scents to add great holiday scents. Potpourri and Potpourri oil are also great ways to create scents in the home. Put out a fresh bowl of a holiday-themed potpourri, or set a light-bulb ring on a lamp in your entryway to create some great aromas. The ultimate way to make your home smell great is to bake! Fresh-baked cookies, pies, and cakes always fill the home with the scents of Christmas!

5. Light up you Home!- Don't forget to put a dusk-to-dawn timer on your outdoor Christmas lights so the neighbors and passers-by can enjoy your lights during the dark winter hours. You can also add festive lights to your interior for a fancy Christmas party. In fact, when hosting a party, try to keep the room lights low and illuminate the room with lots of white or colored Christmas Lights.

6. Don't forget about the reason for the season - A Nativity scene is a great way to remind guests why we celebrate this time of Christmas.

Getting ready for the holiday season can be a time of great fun and excitement. We hope these tips will help you get ready for those holiday parties and add great accents to your holiday decor.

About the Author:

Angela Sullivan is an Interior Designer, and creator of the E-Book, Designing on A Budget, at http://www.designingonabudget.com. Her website provides resources, design tips, budget decorating & more at http://www.sullivaninteriors.net This article may be reproduced as long as it is not changed, and all information and links remains intact, including this portion.

More Articles visit: http://home-interior.blogspot.com

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Big Island Housing Bubble

Big Island Housing Bubble

Let’s pick up where we stopped with our last post on the building or ‘overbuilding’ boom on the Kohala Coast and on Hawaii Big Island. Real Estate market in Hawaii and on the Mainland has been, and still is, an ever-discussed topic all through the year 2006. The so long predicted bursting of the housing bubble seemed to have finally happened or was it just stabilizing of the market or correction of overpricing, as some real estate analysts pointed out?

In January 2006 the available inventory island-wide began to increase as house sale prices declined. Interest rates remained stable, which was encouraging to buyers. The housing market showed a totally different picture this year than it showed in 2005. What will the new year 2007 bring for the Big Island real estate market?
The Hawaii Housing Bubble blog with Oahu and Mainland house sale stats offers some interesting insight into real estate ‘bubble’ facts in Hawaii and on the Mainland. If you are interested in buying a house in Hawaii, this information might be worthwhile reading. The more you read, the more you know. The decision-making is still up to you, just like in the stock market. Not all the predictions by the top analysts are the right ones. Some basic trends help though for making your own house buying or selling conclusions.

Here are a few stats backing the current real estate market on the Big Island:

The Kona Coast has 429 listings with a median asking price of $729,000, with 28 sales last month and a median price of $620,000.

Puna on Big Island’s East Coast currently has 611 active listings. Vacant lot sales and prices in East Hawaii have plunged steadily since November of 2005, according to information compiled from the Hawaii Information Service. Vacant land was a hot commodity last year as investors bought lots in hopes of flipping them for a good profit. But the slowing market made speculators move on, at least for the moment.

With an average Hilo home going for $350,000, buyers last month were paying $17,000 less than they were in November of 2005, with a 20 percent drop in sales volume. Hilo had 34 sales in November 2005 and 27 sales in November 2006.

Last but not least, high end homes over 1 million dollars on the Kohala Coast, such as Kohala Ranch, Kohala by the Sea and Kohala Estates are still at high demand. However, asking and selling prices for the medium range are falling in the Waimea/Kamuela area on the Kohala Coast, especially so in that odd area between worker housing and upper middle class properties $500K to $900K.

All the above stats are once again proving that it’s a buyer’s market, as we ended our most recent post. Some buyers are waiting for the market to swing even further their way in what experts have called a "market correction" after years of brisk sales and high prices, but remember ‘there is no place like Hawaii’ and properties on these islands are not unlimited!

Merry Christmas and aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Rental Guide


Tags: hawaii housing bubble, hawaii real estate

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Easy Bathroom Remodeling

Whether you're in the midst of a bathroom remodeling project or you're interested in updating other rooms, shower curtain rods can make interesting interior design accessories.

Of course, they can be used in the bathroom, where they're best known for holding up the shower curtain, but you can also get quite creative with them in other areas of the house. They're perfect for those on a budget, as they make great decorating accents and won't break the bank.

Use them in the bedroom to camouflage design flaws or unsightly areas in the room. They can be used in creating closet doors. Pressure-mounted rods simply require a flick of the wrist to adjust them to the width of the area to be hidden. A shower curtain pole can't hold much weight, as it's designed to hold a shower curtain. Thus, they're unsuitable for hanging clothing or other heavy items on, but as doors, supporting lightweight material, they work beautifully.

They might also be used to create a romantic canopy over the bed. Suspend two from the ceiling, one even with and parallel to the end of the bed, and one lined up the same way, but at the head of the bed. Drape a long scarf of fabric over both poles and let it cascade down over the head and the foot. It's a visually stunning look, and it's reasonably inexpensive to do.

The uses for shower curtain rods don't stop there. They can be used in your kitchen to disguise an unsightly area, such as a pantry or a laundry room. They can be outfitted with lightweight, kitchen-appropriate material. They can even be coordinated with existing window treatments or décor in your kitchen.

They work well as regular curtain rods in a pinch. If you're looking for an easy and convenient way to block the sun, or perhaps control the temperature in a room, you can stitch up a simple curtain to hang on the window. Make sure to allow for a larger pocket than you would for a standard curtain rod. This curtain, hung in place, will help to control the temperature and the light coming into the room.

The wide selection of curtain rods in the marketplace makes it easy to decorate your home quickly and simply. You can choose a different type of rod for a completely different look. Crescent shaped rods, which are hung in the shower to allow for more room in the shower, can make a statement when used elsewhere in the home. You can get more creative with the attachments, too. Depending on the look you're wishing to attain, you can use ties, ribbons or fun clips to affix the curtains to the pole.

These are just a few suggestions for the use of shower rods. They're a simple and cost-effective way to provide privacy and make a design statement

About the Author:

Concentrating in bathroom remodeling, John C. Baker is publishing for http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com/ . You can come across his comments on shower curtain rods over at http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com.

More Articles visit: http://home-interior.blogspot.com

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Building boom on Kohala Coast of Big Island

Aloha Kohala Coast lovers,
Not everybody can afford an annual Hawaii visit. Trips to Hawaii don’t come cheap. So, let’s assume you have not been back for another vacation on the Kohala Coast for about two to three years but plan another return visit for next year.

Well, you’d better be prepared for changes, big changes in the Kohala Coast scenery you have come to get used to in those past years. Hawaii Big Island was always the island, which was laid back and low key. Beautiful Kohala Coast beaches have been a big attraction to travelers who did not want lie on one of those crowded Maui beaches but rather spend some peaceful time on one of the best Big Island’s beaches, like Hapuna or Mauna Kea beach.

However, as we all know, the ‘only constant in life is change’! Finally, the building boom from Oahu and Maui has caught up with the Big Island. Kona has changed a lot but the Kohala Coast as well. Even though we are all well aware that the economy of West Hawaii, like the entire State of Hawaii, is dependent on the visitor or tourism industry (West Hawaii welcomes more than a million visitors annually!), not all residents approve of the current situation. More and more condos and town houses are already up or are still getting developed on both sides of Highway 19 on your way from Kona to the Kohala Coast. Waikoloa Beach Resort added two more condo or town house complexes, as did Mauna Lani Beach Resort and Waikoloa Village area. Many more complexes are just new where there was bare land before.

Infrastructure changes with shopping centers and additional lanes on the Highway will have to follow! Hey, you know what the good part of all that additional building here on the West coast is: It will increase the number of available Kohala Coast homes, houses and condos, adjust the asking prices and by doing so, it will eventually create a buyer’s market, which can already be observed at certain Big Island areas and certain medium level prices. Perfect for the average buyer looking for an affordable Big Island home for sale or property to buy.

Plus, it will also increase the available Kohala Coast vacation rental units, as a lot of those new homeowners use their Hawaii home as a vacation rental condo or home to help pay for their mortgage. With more vacation rental units being available close to the beaches, your chances for finding a great place at a perfect rate are getting better by the day. Long story short, for our Kohala Coast visitors it’s a win-win situation! Happy? I bet! Stay tuned for more from the Kohala Coast. Aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide


Tags: Big Island, Hawaii Real Estate

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Using Roman Blinds In Decorating

Roman shades are oblong shaped pieces of material that are designed to be lowered and raised in folds of equal size. The construction is a combination of rings, drawstrings and poles that span the width of the blind. When totally extended, the blind is usually flat, although some designs have small folds around the area of the poles. The blind is suspended from a panel which is fixed to the top of the window frame, or the wall above the window.

It is possible to add a lining to roman blinds, both for increased insulation in cold weather, and to add privacy. Being a single piece of fabric these style blinds can be quite transparent when the interior lights are on, unless they are well lined. The lining also makes them heavier and can therefore make them hang better.

These are a particularly versatile type of window covering and can be used in virtually any room of the house to add a stylish touch. When decorating you should consider roman blinds as a simple but very effective form of window covering. They can be made from a range of materials to suit your particular tastes, or existing décor. They can give a homely touch to bedrooms or kitchens, and can be used as sheers together with drapes to really enhance that formal dining area.

Making your own roman blinds is a very simple task for anyone with a sewing machine and a little patience. You can pick up a variety of patterns and designs from interior design magazines, sewing stores or the internet. If you do not feel up to the job, however, there are a fantastic range of reasonably priced roman blinds available in home stores nationwide. You should have no trouble finding something to complement whichever room you are redecorating.

Roman shades are an eye-catching and very fashionable alternative to curtains and they can really add to the feel of whichever room you are decorating, whether that is rich, soft and old fashioned, or cutting edge minimalist. Whatever you choose, your visitors will always stop for a second look at your stylish new blinds.

About the Author:

Eric Slarkowski very often edits news stories on information related to decorating and decorating. His contributions on roman shades can be found on http://www.shades-blinds-shutters-guide.com/roman-shades.html.

More Articles visit: http://home-interior.blogspot.com

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How To Decorate Your Interior With A Theme

Interior decorating with a theme allows you to show yourself in your home décor. What is theme interior decorating? It's simply taking an idea and implementing it in a room or your entire home to create a solid, pleasant look that makes you feel happy and comfortable.

Anyone can place a sofa, chair and coffee table in a living room. But that is not interior decorating. It is simply placing the minimum to allow people to sit down. It doesn't say a thing about the people who live in the home.

That same room, however, can be done with a theme and the room can express a lot about the personalities of the people who live in that home. A tropical theme can make a room light and airy with lots of plants, bright color to accent the furnishings and tropical items like an aquarium, pictures of tropical scenes, sea shells and other objects the family loves.

Interior decorating with a theme can range from country to southwestern to colonial. There is no limit to what you can use in a theme when creating a room that is appealing and welcoming to you, your family and guests that visit the home.

To choose a theme for interior decorating a room, just think of what you or your family members love. Are butterflies your passion? Use that as a theme. Do you love birds? There's a theme that can be beautifully employed in a room. Is the ocean your love? Use it as a theme for the color scheme as well as the décor. Do you love fishing? There's a useful theme to center your room around. Whatever you truly love is what you should select as a theme for a room.

When doing interior decorating with a theme, you are only limited by your imagination. A child's room could be decorated as a castle and make the child a perfect fantasy environment that will make bedtime fun. A young sports fan can have a theme room decorated around their favorite sport. There's just no end to what can be included in a theme décor.

One major point about interior decorating with a theme is that the room should be fun. It should be fun to look at and fun to use as well. Function and form can work together to create the perfect theme room. Whether you choose a theme that is whimsical or elegant, you can still maintain a sense of fun in the room's décor.

About the Author:

Schutz Hertz is a writer and internet publisher who likes to publish information about interior decorating in the home. Read more at the website Home-Interior-Improvement.

More Articles visit: http://home-interior.blogspot.com

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More about Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Aloha again to our Kohala Coast visitors,
After you followed our last post about Mauna Kea Beach Hotel closure, we have a little bit of new information from our Mauna Kea tennis club friends. Here is what they told us: The big guest parking lot will be serving for the hotel construction crew. Too bad for Mauna Kea Beach lovers but it does not look like there will be more beach parking and passes available. Sorry guys! It’s not quite sure where the tennis club members will be parking in the future. The ladies locker room and the storage room next to it were converted into the ‘new’ beauty salon. Air conditioned and newly carpeted, it looks pretty nice. Reason for this necessary change is that Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel never had its own beauty salon and Hapuna hotel guests always used the Mauna Kea salon.

It's also going to be interesting to see how much the Hapuna guests continue to shuttle over to use the Mauna Kea beach and the Hau Tree beach restaurant there. They are, supposedly, going to be dropped off at the tennis center, to walk across the lawn and down the stairs to the beach, which is an easy beach access and was used in the past by quite a number of beach visitors. That’s the latest for today on Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. If you had planned a stay at the hotel and are still looking for some adequate accommodation on the Kohala Coast, have a look at these private luxury Kohala Coast Vacation Homes as an alternative option. You won’t regret it. Warm aloha for all our Kohala Coast blog visitors from Pua.


Tags: Kohala Coast, Hawaii, Big Island, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

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Include Curtains when Interior Decorating

Think of drapes as the finishing touch to any room in your home. A decorated room seems incomplete without them. The right ones can bring a room together, as well as set the mood.

Some questions to ask yourself while shopping for window coverings include:

1) What rooms am I buying for?

2) What are my goals? (To match bedding, cheaply maintain privacy, complete an interior decorating project, etc,)

3) What is my budget?

You can better plan for the perfect window treatments if you know the answer to these questions. If you're shopping for a child's room, you'll look for something completely different than if you're searching for something to complete the look of a formal dining room. If you're just looking to cover a window to keep out light or neighbors' prying eyes, you'll choose differently than if you'd like to make a statement in your formal living room. If you're on a tight budget, you might find yourself choosing a less-expensive covering, thereby changing the entire look and feel of the room.

Depending on your goals, you'll find light cotton to heavy damask fringed materials and everything in between. You can select solid colors, or fabrics with cartoon characters on them. The point is, the color, texture, print and style of the material bring character and personality to a room.

With such a wide selection of window covering options available, you should be able to find a few to fit your needs. If you don't, and you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own. This way, you get exactly what you want. This is also a reasonable choice when you have window sizes that are not standard. Or you might have bedding you just love, but it's been discontinued but you want to match your window treatments to it. Or if you're interested in a unique curtain design you can't find in the stores. Fabric stores carry miles of materials to make your own window coverings that reflect your own personal style. Even better, you can find patterns, ideas and general information in-store to help you. You don't even have to be a pro to complete a project like this.

Whether you choose store-bought covering or those of your own creation, you can be sure that whatever you hang on your windows will have your signature on it.

About the Author:

The magazine writer George Davidsberg is particularly passionate about things associated with curtain design and interior decorating. Sharing his passion in reports such as http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com , the columnist established his capability on problems related to drapes.

More Articles visit: http://home-interior.blogspot.com

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Interior Home Lighting

Home lighting is probably the most important element in home interior decorating, because it is instrumental in setting the mood of any room. It can affect performance, mood, morale, safety and security. When deciding what lighting to use in your new home it's important to consider how each room will be used, what fixtures are appropriate, energy efficiency and cost. To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, you first need to understand the four basic types of home lighting.

Ambient or general lighting illuminates the whole room. It is a good idea to install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the flexibility to adjust the brightness. Examples of ambient lighting are recessed downlights, cove lighting, soffit lighting, valance lighting, wall washers, sconces, surface-mounted lights, pendant lights, track lights, chandeliers, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Task lighting provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, for example reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free and it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes. Examples of task lighting are valance lighting, pendant lights, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Accent lighting is focused lighting that is used to illuminate an object in your home like a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting. Example of accent lighting are wall washers, sconces, track lights and under-cabinet lights.

Natural lighting comes through windows, doors, and skylights and depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity.


Types of Lighting Fixtures

Once you've considered what types of activities will be taking place in a room and what type of lighting is needed, you'll need to decide what fixture will work best in each room in your new home and don't be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting. In fact, mixing and matching different light fixtures can help create a dramatic look and aesthetically pleasing room. The type of lighting you choose can also help make a room look larger or smaller.

Be prepared: Walking into any light fixture store can be overwhelming, so be sure to have a list of the types of fixtures your considering and how many you will need in each room. Before purchasing any fixtures, make sure you ask your builder if there are any restrictions on the types of fixtures that can be used in any specific room, because sometimes things such as ductwork, insulation or ceiling height can affect whether or not a fixture can be installed properly in a room.

Tip: Your local American Lighting Association (ALA) showroom is the best place to view the many different styles, sizes and shapes of lighting fixtures that are available to deliver the ambient/general, task, and accent light you need. Below is a list of the different types of lighting fixtures.

Hall/Foyer Fixtures can create a harmonious atmosphere, while providing you with the general lighting you need to greet guests and move safely from room to room. Use ceiling, chain-hung, or close-to-ceiling fixtures in hallways, stairways, and entranceways.

Chandeliers can add sparkle and style to your dining room while giving you the ambient/general lighting you need for dining and entertaining. They are also used in large bedrooms, foyers, or over a living room grouping or a grand piano. Some are designed with downlights to provide task lighting for homework or table games. Chandeliers are available in both incandescent and tungsten-halogen. The addition of a dimmer control lets you alter the intensity of light to suit the mood and activity going on in your room.

Pendants can provide both task and ambient/general lighting. Equipped with shades or globes to avoid glare, they are usually found hanging from the ceiling over dinette tables, game tables, kitchen counters, or other work areas. When used over end or night tables, they free up the space occupied by table lamps. For added flexibility use a dimmer control.

Ceiling Fixtures usually provide general lighting and are very practical in busy areas such as foyers, hallways, bedrooms, kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, playrooms, and dens. They are available with incandescent, fluorescent, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Wall-Mounted Fixtures can provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting. Many are designed to match and supplement dining room chandeliers, or to provide hallway, bedroom, or living room lighting. Wall brackets are often used for task lighting at the bathroom mirror. They are available with a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Bath/Vanity Lighting Strips provide task lighting, while supplementing the general lighting provided by ceiling fixtures. Similar to the lighting in theater dressing rooms, these soft glowing strips of globe-shaped incandescent bulbs provide excellent lighting for grooming.

Portable Lamps provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting and give you the added flexibility of moving the light whenever you want. Table lamps, floor lamps, and torchiers are available in a variety of styles to complement your decor. Small specialty lamps, such as clip-on lights, uplight cans, adjustable task lights, mini-reflector spotlights, desk and piano lamps fill a variety of task and accent light needs. These lamps are available with incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Track Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting all at once in one flexible lighting system. You can move, swivel, rotate, and aim the individual fixtures in any direction along the track, giving you the versatility to change your lighting scheme whenever you want. You can also hang chandeliers and pendants from the track. Track fixtures are available in standard or low-voltage current, and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent light sources.

Recessed Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting inconspicuously. Installed in the ceiling with only the trim showing, recessed fixtures can be used anywhere in the home. They are ideal for low-ceiling areas, and with a special adapter they can also be used in cathedral ceilings. They are available as downlights, adjustable accent lights, and wall washers in both standard and low-voltage current and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescents.

Undercabinet/ Undershelf Fixtures provide both task and accent lighting. Under kitchen cabinets they light a countertop. In a display cabinet they show off special collections. They include slim, energy-efficient fluorescents, miniature track lighting, and strips of low-voltage mini-lights.


What About the Bulbs?

Certain fixtures are designed for a specific type of bulb, such as a two- or four-pin fluorescent bulb. Others can accommodate the more common screw-in type. When choosing fixtures, be sure to note what type of bulb it requires, so that you won't be surprised to find the bulb you bought isn't the right one.

Incandescent bulbs are the most heavily used in homes. Unfortunately, these bulbs are inefficient and expensive to operate. Fluorescent bulbs have come a long way from the humming, glaring office lights we've all been exposed to. Today's fluorescent bulbs don't hum, and they provide light that is almost identical to incandescent bulbs. The best part is that fluorescent bulbs have significantly longer life than incandescent bulbs (almost 10 times as long), use less energy and are affordably priced for use in your home. Halogen and LED bulbs are also available for the home market. Both are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but are more expensive than fluorescent lights.


Room-By-Room Home Lighting Ideas

When you start shopping for lighting fixtures, you'll find that there are literally hundreds of home lighting options, so think of lighting from two perspectives - function and aesthetics. Functionally, your home lighting needs to provide the right type of light in sufficient quantity for your intended purpose. Aesthetically, you can configure your lighting to create the desired mood through its intensity, style and color.

Below are some ideas for lighting the various rooms in your home.

Living Rooms

- Place a lamp about 42 inches above the floor in areas where you plan to do reading.
- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.
- Use accent lights to illuminate bookcases or display shelves.
- Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to accent beautiful wall textures, but be sure your lighting comes with a dimmer.
- Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays.

Kitchens

- A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting and flexibility.
- Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and cooking areas.
- Place halogen pendant lights over bars and countertops.
- Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting.

Dining Rooms

- A chandelier with a dimmer over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting.
- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.
- Install halogen strip lighting inside your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles.
- If don't care for a chandelier and you have a long table, try using a trio of pendant lights.

Bedrooms

- Place table lamps on your bedside tables, but avoid halogen lamps in children's rooms because they can get very hot.
- Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright.
- If space is limited you should consider recessed lights or pendant lights.
- If you want to create a romantic setting, place candles around the room.

Bathrooms

- Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming.
- To avoid shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead.
- It's always a good idea to install a night light.

About the Author:

Tammy Crosby is Editor and Author for Dream Designs, The Homebuilding Club, and TheHouseDesigners. The House Designers award winning residential house plans, architectural home designs, floor plans, blueprints and house plans will make your dream home a reality!

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Decorating Your Kitchen With Unique Country Style

The idea of decorating your kitchen country style is especially important to those people who get pleasure from warm earthy feelings and the simplicity of nature. Country Decorating of a kitchen has become one of the more popular interior decorating designs and this is because of the overall welcome and friendly feeling that such country kitchen decoration can offer to not only the home owner but their guests and visitors as well.

If you are thinking of decorating your kitchen in a country style then you may also have to consider whether it will just be limited to the kitchen or will it spread through to other parts of your home as well. Also you need to look at the kind of budget you will have available to carry out such a style of decorating to your kitchen.

There are a number of popular country kitchen decorating ideas around and below are just some of them.

1. The colours to be used. All country style kitchens will include fresh, clean and warm colours such as browns, yellows, greens, whites, pinks and all the shades in between. You may well find that by adding a few accents to your country kitchen design such as fruit, flowers, vegetables and plants will help to increase the feel you are aiming for.

2. Any furniture to be used in a country kitchen decorating scheme should be made from lighter woods as well as wicker. Preferably the chairs and couches in the room should be upholstered in either floral or gingham patterns and this can be done either by purchasing new furniture or by making slip covers for the furniture that is already there.

3. The flooring of any country kitchen should be natural such as wood, tile or flagstone flooring. However, if these happen to be outside the budget you have set for yourself then the same look can be achieved by the use of wall to wall carpeting or laminate flooring in the right sort of colour (light shades). You may even find that hooked or braided rugs can add the authentic finished look that you want.

4. When decorating your country kitchen the accessories that will work best in such a design will be those that the family enjoys such as photos in wooden frames, painted rustic scenes, plants, candles and even lace curtains will add that all important finishing touch to any country kitchen decorating scheme.

Remember all you need to have is an open mind and choose the features that appeal to you the most and have fun designing the country kitchen of your dreams.

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Decorating Choices Can Be Too Varied!

One of the weird things about the world is that the more options a person has, the harder it is to decide just what to do. This is just as true in the area of home design as it is anywhere else. There are so many shows, companies, and option when it comes to interior design and decorating that the very number of options can prove stifling. One way to find ideas for creating a new look to your home is to consult a magazine; but again, there are so many, how can you decide which to purchase? The answer is, you can find sufficient ideas for your own project in just one print source, you just have to go about determining which one that is.

Home decorating and design magazines are available on newsstands everywhere, from Wall Mart to specialty construction stores and on your local gas station's shelves. They are available at bus depots, ferry terminals, and airports. One of the great things about these sources is not only their abundance, but also the inexpensive prices they entail. They are usually very original pieces of work, and cater to specific niches. Some, for example, will be geared towards owners of country homes, some to owners of old style Tudor homes, and some to young new home owners. This is the first step in your own selection process; determine if you are a member of the demographic whom the publication you are holding is writing to. A lot of the time, this information can be determined just from looking at the cover. Is the person in front of the home around your age, give or take five years? Does the home on the cover look like one that you could reasonably afford?

Some magazines cater to people who do not own their own homes but who are looking to add a personal touch to the space they are renting. These magazines are great for finding ideas to help enhance the appearance of any size of apartment or flat.

If you are lost in the sea of options when it comes to design, then a good magazine is a great way to regain your direction. Use the pictures to determine the right look for you, and then take advantage of the step by step instructions these publications will provide in order to usher the design into reality.

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Mauna Kea Beach Hotel Closed!

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is closed!

Yes, you read it right. Now, it’s final. One of the most favorite Big Island hotels on the Kohala Coast is temporarily closed for repair due to more structural damage than originally assessed from the Kohala Coast earthquake in October. Some hotel employees anticipated this move; others were totally caught by surprise. Hotel management waited with this announcement till the last minute.

Last Saturday, the official day of closure, was a very sad moment for employees (we feel with all the employees being laid off at a time when they need their jobs the most!), guests and residents alike but safety comes first. It’s hard to comprehend that this oldest of the Kohala Coast hotels won’t be open for their regular busy Christmas crowd over the holidays. Current guests were moved to Mauna Kea’s sister hotel Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel will do everything to find appropriate accommodations in other Kohala Coast hotels for guests with future reservations.

Good news for Golf players who stay at Hapuna Prince Beach Hotel or belong to Mauna Kea golf club. Mauna Kea golf club and clubhouse restaurant will stay open. As will the beach restaurant ‘Hau Tree’, which is great for Mauna Kea beach lovers who like to have lunch on the beach. Mauna Kea beach will attract Kohala Coast visitors just as before or even more, as we expect the number of beach passes issued per day to increase with much more beach parking available. Stay tuned for more on Mauna Kea or Kohala Coast news. A hui hou. Pua
Kohala Coast Vacation Guide


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10 easy steps to the perfect bathroom

1. Determine what type of products you need according to the use and users of the bathroom.
2. Measure your space.
3. Produce a scale version floor plan.
4. Plot position of the products - make best use of space and include extra room around the products for moving around.
5. Plan out your plumbing, including water supply and waste requirements.
6. Plan for storage, lighting, heating and ventilation.
7. Get a quote – include cost of products, installation and extras such as flooring and tiles.
8. Appoint an installer and purchase the products, but don’t remove old fittings until the new ones have been delivered and checked for damage.
9. Add the finishing touches such as mirrors and other accessories to your new bathroom.
10. Enjoy it!

The following is a simple guide to planning your bathroom which takes you through the steps to follow if you are working on an existing bathroom and are changing the fittings you already have. If you are building from scratch, creating an en-suite or changing the function of a room, or if you are at all unsure about what you are doing, then you should seek sound professional advice before you begin.

First of all, think about what products you want to include and get familiar with all the options available so that you find a combination that’s right for you and your lifestyle; you will need to consider the space you have available and the needs of all the individuals who will use the bathroom. Include all the basics and add some luxurious extras if space and your budget allows, but don’t forget about the impact this may have on future buyers and the fact that you may not be able to take it with you if you sell your home.

Your existing plumbing may limit your choice of fittings so you should check with an expert first, and if you are extending your existing bathroom or converting a room into a bathroom, then there are building regulations which may also affect you.

There are dozens and dozens of bathroom showrooms across the country which have hundreds of products on display. Regardless of where you get your inspiration and ideas from you should always take the time to look at the fittings ‘in the flesh’ so that you can check the quality of the product and get a far better picture of what it looks like and how big it is.

Be prepared for some mess while your new bathroom is fitted. A straight refit where new products replace the old should only take 2 to 3 days to complete, but a more complicated installation, where new systems are introduced and extensive work needs to be done, can take longer. If this fills you with dread and you cannot get by without a fully-working bathroom you might want to make arrangements with family or neighbours to use their bathroom, or even book into a guest house or hotel for the duration.

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Home Interior Design Making Your Home Your Style

If you are planning to decorate the interiors of your home, there are many places to start with, the first being obviously the wall.

Choosing an appropriate color is really a daunting task. Mainly because there are so many options to choose from, literally an infinite array of colors and shades. This is the most versatile element of your room decoration, the easiest to change and the least expensive. Start by collecting paint chips and sample cards, but do not make the final decision until after the design and colors of rugs, carpet, tile, wallpaper and fabrics are finalized. So when you actually go to buy the painting it is very essential to carry small trim samples of all the above.

Always choose coordinated fabrics and wallpapers. Keep the background colors the same when designing patterns, for example all white or all ivory. Suppose there is a pattern in the design, it is better you repeat colors in each pattern after a certain number of times. Include a mix of different pattern sizes like large, medium, and small, rather all of them being of the same size. Add plain or textured fabrics for more appealing look.

First choose a theme for your room such as American country, English garden or techno modern. Then choose an anchor fabric that has 3 or more colors. Use the background color of the fabric as the wall color. Pick a mid-toned color from the fabric for flooring and large pieces of furniture which could be a simple solid or patterned design.

Upholstery can also be done in the same color of your anchor fabric or coordinating fabric. Use the brightest colors in the fabric for accessories and accents like welting, picture mats, and decorative pillows. Place your anchor fabric in at least three places in the room like upholstery, pillows, curtains etc. Use coordinating fabrics in other scales as accent fabrics, in tune with the anchor fabric, on chairs, pillows, cording, and tablecloths.

The general rule of thumb is to divide color use, with approximately 60percent of the room in a light color, 30percent in the mid-tone color and the rest 10percent in the brightest accent colors. In order for the ceiling color match the wall color, buy ceiling paint 1-2 shades lighter than the wall color.

Consider which paint finish to use. Matte or flat finishes hide wall imperfections, wall bumps or cracks as this finish does not reflect light. Flat Enamel and Eggshell Finish are a few examples. Glossier finishes like Satin Finish and Semi-Gloss will reflect more light.

Colors are often grouped as 'warm' and 'cool.' Orange, red, and pink are considered 'warm' colors, whereas blues, greens, and violet are thought to be 'cool.'

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Your Decorating Style Is Reflected By Your Choice Of Accents

Creating and carrying through themes in decorating. Use accent items, different colors to make your own decorating statement, and don't let others change or influence it.

It is necessary to understand the value of every decorative article you purchase. By value, we do not mean only the monetary value; each article, in addition to its own intrinsic value has a value relative to every item used in furnishing a room. Whether it is an entire room, or just the fabrics and articles used on the dining room to make it stand out in the room, each item's beauty and value must blend with all of the others.

Artwork, furniture, silver accent pieces, the glassware, dinnerware, every inch of the linen and lace on the table, every yard of the fabric on the furniture and every carpet or rug used in a room must contribute, whether it be in a subtle or very obvious manner, to this aesthetic whole in order for a room to be truly successful. The specific style of decorating used matters much less than the knowledge, gained by experience and training of how to use the blending of items in a room to reflect the personality of the whole room, and, by extension, of the owner of that room.

One of the newest trends in decorating is the use of lighthearted themes, such as tropical or oriental motifs, that are more amusing in nature, rather than the traditional formal decorating trends. This type of decorating is off-beat, even bizarre, using unusual and delightful color combinations. Russia, Munich, Bakst and Martine of Paris have been the contributers of this new genre. Almost like a stage setting of "Sumurun" by Rheinhardt, these rooms spring at us from every corner, sometimes in a charming way, sometimes in a boldly astonishing way. There are homes, and the personalities who live in them, that would blossom in this type of decorating. It may not be considered a revolution in the decorating arts, but this style of decorating does not attempt to follow the rules, but rather to refresh and entertain. The very use of exaggeration in this style positions it exactly opposite the stunted formality so popular a decade ago, when it was thought that antiques had to be used exclusively. In reaction to this dull style, new startling colors were introduced and a fresh creativity was born.

It doesn't matter whether we are discussing your summer porch, your master bedroom suite, your family room, dining room, or all the way through to formal reception rooms or ballrooms, you must never let anyone change the mark you have made on a room through the decorating choices you have personally made and paid for. Purposely or inadvertently, family members or household employees may rearrange furniture, or move it from one room to another. The effect of carefree fabrics and outdoor furniture that you carefully chose for your porch will be ruined if the furniture of the living room is moved into it. By the same token, your should have a supply of easily movable chairs that go well in the ballroom to accommodate extra guests, rather than using pieces from other areas of the house that do not match the style of decorating.

About the Author:

Andrew Caxton is a syndicated writer who writes tips for many online resources. For additional information on interior design and decorating styles subjects visit http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com

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E Komo Mai. Welcome to the Kohala Coast!

Aloha Angela and Mike from Californa,
Sorry for the delay with this message. We were just waiting for our Kohala Coast vacancies from rental owners for December coming in. It looks pretty good for your plans, even for the time between Christmas and New Years, there are still a few vacation rentals available on the beach or ocean view rentals. If you want to save some money on accommodation, you can find great places 10 -15 minute-drives from best Kohala Coast beaches. Save money on accommodations, rather spend it on a great dinner or even better on an exotic luau on the Kohala Coast resorts.

However, remember what I said last time in my post Christmas Vacation on Kohala Coast of Hawaii Big Island. make sure that you have a flight and car reservation before checking for Big Island accommodations. If that is all taken care off, check Cancellation, Last Minute vacancies for Kohala Coast rentals and Big Island vacation homes, vacation cottages, apartments, condos and suites. If your travel dates are flexible, plan your Big Island vacation for the beginning of December when restaurants and beaches will be still empty.

Kohala Coast hotels are preparing all their beautiful Christmas decorations. The Orchid Fairmont at Mauna Lani Beach Resort displays a full size gingerbread house which fills the lobby with an enticing aroma. Who can resist that? One of the most famous Kohala Coast hotels, actually the oldest one, will be missing and will be missed though. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel announced today that they will be closed due to more structural damage than expected from the October earthquake. Quite a number of guests will be accommodated at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. Private vacation rentals might be an option for those who won't be the lucky ones to get a room at Hapuna Beach Hotel.

E Komo Mai. The skies are blue and sun is shining on the Kohala Coast. Kohala Coast rental homes are awaiting you. Come visit the Kohala Coast on Hawaii Big Island. Kohala Coast Acccommodation Guide


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Decorative Area Rug: How to Care for Area Rugs

There are many reasons to want to purchase an area rug for your home. Maybe the living room is too large and a break in the floor area will give a spectacular effect on it. Or maybe a room has a very light color on the floor and something darker will make it look better.

The opposite effect can be done is a room is too dark and you need to make it more friendly, lighter. Your personal touch can also make the living rooms open area looking more elegant and fancy.

The best thing you can do when the rooms floor needs to be changed is to purchase an area rug. Replacing the entire carpet or hard wood flooring is always very expensive. You can have a very good result using an appropriate area rug and you will save some money. All the wood flooring replacement is hard to be done; it takes time and enhances many inconvenient.

Another area rugs advantage is the possibility to take it with you if you are renting the place. The landlord will happy to have his propriety unchanged and you will be able to personalize the place without making him mad. Everybody can be happy in the same time. There are so many designs for the area rugs that it will possible to find the one suiting your most exigent demands. You will find the area rug that is suiting your taste, that is for sure! You will find the carpet for any of the rooms you need to decorate.

There are area rugs for any room you want: the child bedroom or playroom, the living room, and the dining room. In your house you can have smaller rooms; you will find some area rugs for, too. There are also attractive area rugs for the bathrooms. They can represent waves, shells, starfishes, dolphins and many other symbols of seas or oceans. The colors can in the large variety of blue or green, maybe the sand color too. Whatever your preferences are, you will find the area rug who will change your home aspect, making it more warm and friendly.

Also, If you buy your new area rug from a good source, you will have instructions on cleaning, and it is important to use those if you want to maintain the rug in perfect condition. Regular vacuuming, at least once a week, is usually the basis. But, at regular intervals it is advisable to have your rug professionally cleaned. It is best to choose a technician or company with an industry standard certification.

About the Author:

George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including watches and blog site. If you want to read more about rugs, click over to George rug site.

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Trends in Decorating with Bamboo Blinds

Because of the durability of bamboo and its ability to withstand many weather conditions, furniture manufacturers and interior designers alike are using more bamboo in their products.

What was once used as a traditional art form as well as an energizing force in Japanese and other Asian cultures now makes an elegant style statement of both functionality and reliability. These characteristics lend to bamboo's revival as a home decorator item.

In fact, interior designers who see the appeal of natural bamboo use it more and more as a window covering. Partly because of its eco-friendly properties, bamboo is an ideal solution as a shade because it adds both an ethic ambience and charm to an interior space.

The versatile natural product can compliment the interior furniture of a room or blend with any decor. Bamboo blinds have a flair and grace that may look delicate, but are very durable.

Because they are natural, beautiful and easy to design around, designers create a more chic, exotic and natural look to a room by layering bamboo blinds under silk curtains.

Thanks to the numerous varieties, shades, colors and textures of bamboo blinds, they serve as an elegant, stylish way to keep out the light, providing a relaxed and cool look to any room.

Plus, you can change the look of your room from exotic to casual just by changing to a different type of bamboo blind. For more about bamboo blinds, browse Payless Decor's Web site.

About the Author

Article by Payless Decor, your premier source for blinds, curtains, shades, and other window treatments.

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Home Decor: 5 Easy Ways to Add Color to Your Room

Is your room not sending the right messages to your guests? Does your sofa look plain and outdated? Would you like to give your room an easy facelift? Adding color to a room can bring your space to life and add style to your home. Lets take a moment to review the basics of decorating with color.

Yellow, orange, red and pink are referred to as warm colors. This is because they remind us of the warmth of the sun or a campfire. Blue, green and purple are referred to as cool colors. They remind us of grass and the ocean. There are plenty of neutral colors such as your grays and browns. Neutral colors tend to not contrast with other colors.

Paint can give your interior an entirely new look. When choosing a color for your wall, it is important for you to decide on the type of mood you would like to set for the room. What feel or moods are you trying to create in your room? Would you like a warm or cool atmosphere in your room? What color décor will be incorporated in this room? It is also important to choose the type of paint finish you would like to have on your walls. There are many to select from.

Sometimes adding something as small as a throw pillow or cushions on a sofa, love seat or chair, can transform a room's disposition. Different textures along with the right colors can produce an incredibly distinctive look to your space.

The right lamp can bring great sophistication as well as better lighting in a room. Always choose a lamp along with a lampshade. A shade helps to pull a room together and should coordinate with the other lamps in the room. They do not have to match identically.

Many people leave their windows naked with only shades and blinds to dress them. Drapes and curtains shouldn't only be considered as a means of adding privacy to your home. Hanging them to your window can soften and add texture to the room while filtering out unwanted sunlight. Choose draperies with a length that will benefit your room's décor. Long drapes add design and eloquence to the décor as it lays along the floor.

The easiest and fastest way to add life to your room is to, well, add life to your room. Placing fresh cut flowers and indoor plants in your room will give it an earthy feeling while satisfying your need for color.

Adding color to your home décor should be fun. It may take some time before you find a color scheme that you are happy with. But it will be well worth the effort.

About the Author

Fransis Rodrigues is the author of this article on Bedroom Decor. Find more information on the subject at www.habitatdesigns.net

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Valances as Easy Interior Design Accents

Window valances are a simple way to add interest and beauty to your windows. They can either stand alone to create a striking fashion statement, or be hung in conjunction with other window treatments, such as drapes, sheers or blinds. You can use a ready-to-hang valance or make your own.

Valances come in a wide variety of designs and fabrics to create the perfect feel in your home. They can be formal or casual, free-flowing or constructed. Here are a few popular valance types.

Balloon valances have a puffy, cloud-like appearance when hung above a window. Sometimes, to accentuate the fullness of the valance, they're stuffed with tissue paper or newspaper. They're generally made of lightweight fabric, and used for a more casual look.

Swag valances are created when a long scarf of fabric is hung across the top of the window, and secured by decorative sconces or brackets, resulting in a graceful drape of fabric on the window. A swag is sometimes simply hung over a curtain rod. They can be used on many different types and sizes of windows: short or long, narrow or wide. Lightweight fabrics work best in this application, as they're easier to arrange and they hang nicely. They can be used to create a casual look or more of a polished look.

Pleated valances provide a way to create a formal look. They're generally constructed of stiffer, heavier fabrics to better hold their shape. Lighter weight fabrics can be used, but are generally attached to a heavier backing for added support.

Valances can also alter the look of a window by the way they're hung. They're generally hung over the top of the window, in such a way that the bottom of the valance covers the top of the window. As a rule, they shouldn't cover more than one-third of a window. They can also be used to visually reduce the size of a tall window. Longer valances can give the appearance of a smaller window behind it. Or they can bisect a window, similar to a café curtain, to create a look on the lower portion of the window.

Beginners and experts alike can use valances to change the look of a room. You can find ideas anywhere, from home design books, to magazines to the internet. Valances don't have to be store-bought to be attractive. A little creativity can go a long way toward creating the home décor that fits your lifestyle.

About the Author:

Kenneth Morris continually creates detailed reports on news related to curtains and interior design. His publications on window valance are found on http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com/window-valance.html.

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Top 5 Tips For Home Decorators

Is your house and home feeling a little bit tired and jaded? Does it lack that special edge that it once had? If so you're no doubt sick of living in a home that no longer suits you so why not convert that drab interior to something fantastic? Your home should be a place of rest and relaxation. A place for you to recharge your batteries that have been drained by todays busy lifestyles. The great news is that regardless of what type of look or feel you want your redecorated home to have there are ideas aplenty available to you for use as inspiration.

There are several important tips that you should follow for each interior or home decorating project:

1. Choose A Theme Have a very clear idea of what you want the finished "product" to look like before you begin. Get your hands on as many home decorating books and magazines as you can. As you read through them you'll find yourself drawn to one theme or style more than others. Exposure to as many decorating styles as possible is the key to success here.

2. Choose A Color Scheme During your theme research you'll have noticed that most decorating themes rely on specific color schemes to achieve the required results; those colors are standard to that particular decorating theme. What do we mean by this? Well for example Asian decorating styles and themes are dominated by the use of red, black and dark blue. Another example is tropical decorating themes which rely more on green, red and aqua colors. Your chosen theme will, realistically, follow the same basic pattern of using a fixed palette of colors for the entire decorating project.

3. Choose A Use For the Room What will you actually do in the room you're redecorating? Just because the room was originally built for a specific purpose don't mentally trap yourself by only decorating to that particular type of room. For example if your family eats most of their meals in the kitchen then don't decorate your dining room with a large dining table and accessories - it's a waste of the room. It could be converted to a study, home office or even a play room so don't limit your thinking to using any room for its original purpose - unless it suits you of course.

4. The Shopping List Of all the items that you could potentially list here paint is the most important. Paint forms the "foundation" of any room and if you rush the paint job then everything that comes afterwards just won't "work" in the room. Another mistake many people make is to buy the cheapest paint possible. You might save a few bucks on the cost of the tin but you'll wind up kicking yourself later on when you realize it's going to take 3 coats to finish each wall instead of just one - it's generally not cost effective to buy cheap paint; it just doesn't cover or finish as well as the more expensive brands.

Also make allowances in your budget for disposable overalls and any cleaning or preparatory materials you might need for your project. Decorating can be a messy business so prepare for the clean up operation before you even begin.

5. What To Paint With? Another important decision is whether to use brushes, a roller or foam painting pads. Brushes have their uses for "edging out" a room - for those tiny corners. For the large surface areas it makes more sense to use a roller or paint pads. Personally I've found rollers to be just plain old messy and now use paint pads (some stores call them speed painters) for any large surface area that needs to be painted well and quickly. Use a roller if you really have to but bear in mind that they're extremely messy so make sure both you (disposable overalls are ideal) and the flooring is well covered against splashes.

Don't forget to have some fun along the way too! For all the planning, preparation and work that goes into redecorating any room or home it should still be a fun experience for everyone involved. You'll have that added sense of satisfaction knowing that you redecorated or helped to redecorate your home with your own hands. Take some time out to relax in your new room once it's finished - especially before you start redecorating the next room in the house.

About the Author:

This article was provided by Aaron Walker at www.DecorSecrets where you can grab an interior home decorating idea to suit your style and budget.

More Articles visit: http://home-interior.blogspot.com

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Choosing Fabric for Curtains in Your Home Decor

There’s more to shopping for curtain fabric than seeking out the perfect print of the weave those complements the color scheme to perfection. Furnishing fabrics are not all suitable for every situation. With the wide range of weaves and weighs of cloth available, make sure the one you buy will do the job you have in mind. The two most important factors to bear in mind when looking for curtain fabric are resistance to fading and the weight of the fabric.

Light resistance curtains, being so close to windows, take a lot of punishment from sunlight. Make sure to close fabrics that are resistant to fading and rotting by the sun’s rays, particularly for rooms which get the sun throughout most of the day. Look at the weight and quality of the fabric. In general, all but the lightest curtains are worth lining, and even some of the thinner softer cloths, which drape well look very limp unless they are lined.

The after-care of made-up curtains also needs some though when choosing fabric. Unless a fabric is labeled and sold as pre-shrunk of fixed-finished, shrinkage have between five and six per cent is considered normal. Fabric needs to be flexible enough to roll around a wooden dowel. All medium-weight fabrics can be used, but look for tightly woven cottons for really reliable results. If curtains are going to need regular washing it is sensible either to pre-wash the fabric, lining and tape, or to make curtain with detachable linings.

About The Author:

Roger King has been involved in home interior designs for several years, and has been helping people find and review the best value for interior design solutions. Visit his web site http://www.all-homeinteriordesigns.com to learn more about this service.

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Christmas on Kohala Coast

Christmas Vacation on Kohala Coast of Hawaii Big Island.

Are you are planning a Last Minute trip to the Kohala Coast on the Big Island for the holidays?

Well, the motivated, committed and dedicated traveler always finds a way around obstacles, just like in 'Amazing Race'. So, be prepared that most of the Kohala Coast hotels and a lot of the vacation rentals are booked by now over the holidays and choices have become limited. Also know that flights and car rentals are another big issue when you plan your Last Minute vacation on your own. First check with the the Big Island car rental companies what is available and at what rate. You may have to dig deep into your pocket when making a late car rental reservation.

Over the holidays, car rental rates can be as triple the regular rate. Common sense tells you that this is an island with limited cars available, right?!. After your flight and car rental are reserved, check with us for accommodations. Cancellation Specials, Last Minute Specials, Hot Deals, Low Season Specials for Big Island Vacation Homes, vacation cottages, apartments, condos and suites will be posted in a few days on Vacancies for Kohala Coast Vacation Rentals.

If your travel dates are flexible, plan your Hawaii vacation for the beginning of December…restaurants and beaches will be still empty and vacation rentals are still showing vacancies. Kohala Coast Hotels show their nice Christmas decoration like the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel has its annual Christmas tree decoration contest with lots of beautifully decorated trees in the lobby in addition you their huge Christmas tree downstairs at turtle ponds, Hilton Waikoloa has a special attraction for families with children with their miniature railroad tracks and gingerbread house in addition to their regular free of charge boat and train rides around the expansive property and Mauna Kea Beach hotel shows off with a nice winter wonderland decoration on their fresh pine trees.

A few of the Big Island activities might be still restricted for some time due to necessary repairs after the October earthquake (like 'Fluming the Ditch' does not operate at the moment) but the Kohala Coast vacation rental hosts are ready for your business. The skies are blue and sun is shining on the Kohala Coast. Vacation rental owners are awaiting you! When you are visiting in December, don’t miss the special Christmas events at the Kings’ Shops. The Christmas decorations and hula performances, including keiki (children) hula, at the Kings’ Shops are are special treat and fun for the entire family!

Come visit the Kohala Coast on Hawaii Big Island. Stay tuned for more on beautiful Hawaii. Aloha, Pua

Tags: Christmas in Hawaii, Kohala Coast

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Vintage Chic Interior - A How To Guide

With the recent trend for all things retro, I thought I'd share my thoughts on this quick and easy guide to creating a picture-perfect vintage chic home interior:

1. Planning Think granny's home in the 60s and 70s with floral motifs and lace tablecloths. There are no hard and fast rules on what makes for a vintage look. Generally, the furnishing includes antiques, second-hand furniture or new pieces deliberately 'distressed' to look used. This means reinventing vintage items and giving them new life.

2. Key Pieces Whimsical designs ranging from crystal chandeliers, floral fabrics, old-fashioned lampshades, wrought-iron furniture, comfortable armchairs, candles, recycled accessories and offbeat ideas like using an old teapot to hold fresh flowers. There's no running away from wallpaper, furs and curtains if you're going for the European vintage look.

3. Color: Light vs Dark Personally, I like to opt for light colors like white and cream as they evoke a more breezy and casual touch. It's also the classic base palette of the vintage look. This color is also easy to work on since you don't have to worry about clashing color. Alternatively, rich and darker color like burgundy, purple, black with gold accents can also character to the room.

4. Cheap & Chic The key to a bona fide vintage look is, well, vintage pieces. As such, you'll need to include second-hand pieces which do not break the bank.

5. Coordination Rules There are practically no rules on putting the pieces together. However, it is important to visualize the impact of all your mismatched bits and pieces when placed together. While we are not talking Stepford Wives perfection, it helps to create a theme or motif that recurs throughout the space. For instance, pick a family of colors and vary them subtly. Using white as an example, we'd be looking at egg shell, cream, caramel etc.

6. Where to Shop Anywhere! From ebay to antique malls and flea markets, the important rule is to know what you want but be flexible to adapt when necessary. If doubt sets in, do not commit to a purchase.

About the Author:

More information about home decor ideas available at www.unique-home-decor-ideas.com. I love all things beautiful; be it people, fashion, art, literature or home
decoration.

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Kohala Coast Retreat

Aloha everybody,
Let's continue on our jouney to discover some other qualities of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast than 'just a lovely beach'. There is so much more to find on our island. Desiree, cofounder of Kamuela Life Retreats, Big Island of Hawaii, will share her and her husband's ideas with our visitors today. We think this is a great way to combine a Kohala Coast vacation with addressing some personal issues in your life. So, if you liked what she had to say and you are interested in more information about their Hawaii retreats, visit their website. Enjoy Desiree's post of today. Aloha, Pua www.kohalacoastweb.com

Are You Where You Belong In Life?

Many people come to the Big Island of Hawaii for personal renewal and reflection. The first time I came to Hawaii in 1974 I fell in love. Not with a person. I fell in love with this warm, colorful, sensuous, smiling island. I somehow felt at home, like I was where I belonged in life. However, belonging is not only about location. It is about your life.

Now, this is what I do for a living with my husband, Mark. We lead retreats on the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii helping other people get clear where they belong in life. What dream do you have brewing? Are you at a crossroads or feeling unsure about your next steps? Perhaps it is time to make a change in your business or personal life and you don’t know where to begin? The following quote by Philosopher, Harold Thurman Whitman speaks volumes about the importance of igniting your own fire.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs—ask yourself what makes you come alive,
and then go do it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.”

Our Hawaii Retreat business opportunity came to us after we hit this same turning point three years ago and became clear what would make us come alive. We knew it was time for a change and we each began asking ourselves the hard questions. Things like: What do I want my life to be about? How can I create greater meaning and fulfillment in my lives? How can I use my talents and skills to make a difference to others?

The answers we found took us both by surprise. “Move to the Big Island of Hawaii and teach others how to find clarity of purpose and direction. Teach them how to navigate transition with greater ease and effectiveness.” Hummm… sounds good, but how could we possibly step into doing this. We did not understand the changes we were about to make, yet stepping toward this vision seemed like the only choice that would bring resolution to our uneasiness. Move, start over and begin a new business. Yikes! Oh, but our vision and the Big Island of Hawaii were both powerful lures. So here we are living our dream near the beautiful Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Running the Hawaii Retreat and Mentoring programs is simply our way of bringing the healing, Aloha Spirit to the rest of the world…one person, one group and one retreat at a time. So combine your next visit to Hawaii with time for focused reflection along the Kohala Coast. Simply take five days with us to redesign your life around what holds real meaning for you so that where ever you go… you are where you belong in life…for the rest of your life!

Warm Aloha Blessings,

Desirée Watson,Cofounder Kamuela Life Retreats, Hawaii Big Island

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Creating a Unique Room with a Wall Mural

Home interior decorating distinction truly lies in details, the personal touches and unusual twists that make a room entirely unique. To put your personal mark of creativity in your home, do what many professional interior designers do: use a Wall Mural.

Wall Murals are among the most versatile of decorating tools. Furthermore, they are affordable and easy to install. Any wall takes on a more finished look with the addition of a Wall Mural.

Wall Murals are extremely useful in the kitchen. Kitchens typically contain permanent appliances and cabinets that separate wall space. By adding an elegant Wall Mural with a Tuscan or garden theme, the overall space will be unified while also giving the room greater depth and visual appeal.

A Wall Mural can also provide a visual transition between the kitchen and the living room beyond it. Choose a bright or whimsical design, such as Tokyo Night or Japanese Temple at Dusk.

Experts agree that we spend nearly a third of our lives asleep! With that in mind, you can easily transform your bedroom into a luxurious, comforting haven with a beautiful, serene Wall Mural (such as one depicting a sunrise, sunset, or water theme). Make your most private room your favorite with the clever addition of a Wall Mural.

Now you're on a roll. So why not use a Wall Mural to decorate your powder room, guest room, dining room, foyer, or home office? The possibilities are endless. The addition of a Wall Mural makes your living space unique and beautiful. Give your walls an instant face lift with a Wall Mural!

Find a wide selection of Wall Murals at http://www.artistichomeowner.com. You may also inquire about Custom Wall Murals.


About the Author:

Lisa Herbik is a happy homemaker who loves to do her own home interior decorating. For more fun and free tips for decorating your home, check out her website, http://www.artistichomeowner.com.

More Articles visit: http://home-interior.blogspot.com

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Exciting tips on lighting design

Some time we do not know why we like or dislike a particular room or interior. Proper lighting and illumination is the most important factor in designing an attractive environment. Today there are many villa lighting applications, which can be used to meet up specific lighting needs.

General or Ambient Lighting: It refers to an overall level of light that makes a room or space more comfortable and safe for intended use. Recessed lighting is very popular and comes in 3 to 8 diameter. Recessed lighting is available in hundreds of styles and colors to control the spread of light in particular decor or theme. House is an actual enclose that is installed into the attic and connected to power system. In the office environments, general lighting is offered in form of luminous fluorescent ceiling panels.

Task Lighting: It refers to the higher level of light offered specially at work areas such as kitchen islands, countertops and desks. Additional light could be redirected to these areas using recessed or pendant fixtures. Fixtures with either low or line-voltage halogen offer a whiter, warmer light. 5 watt xenon or halogen lamps spaced 6 inches apart are most suitable for task lighting purposes where the fixture is within 24 inches of the work surface. The transformer is as well included in many low voltage fixtures but it is sometimes separated depending on the particular fixture and style.

Accent Lighting: Accent lighting is approximately four times the level of ambient light in any area. Same again, Halogen lighting type fixtures offer a whiter, brighter look than standard incandescent or florescent type of fixtures. The chosen fixture needs to be directional on swivel type fixture to aim the light exactly where it is required. For further museum-type effect, some fixtures could include a focusing lens for pinpoint accuracy. Wall Washing: It is again a type of Accent Lighting, which creates an area of uniform illumination, which might desirable for a series of photos or further artwork. Wall washing typically reduces the texture of wall surface. Often the reflected light could even create ambient light in the remainder of the room that appears pleasing and restful.

Wall Grazing: It is just opposite to Wall Washing, it creates a dramatic highlight and shadow effect on surfaces such as draperies, stone or brick. Ceiling light fixtures for Wall Grazing are placed near to wall in order to highlight the three-dimensional effect.

Lighting that is perceptively measured and organized could make a real difference and will bring an improvement that lasts for years together. Many home improvements Stores also have sample displays of different lighting systems and fixtures. As today there are huge variety of appliances and electronics, lighting fixtures available, be sure you purchase from reputable company. There are numerous online retailers, which offer name brand fixtures delivered to your door at very competitive prices.

About the Author:

Subhash is an experienced professional lighting designer who has brought life in to various houses, bureaus, films etc... He has also made various live shows alive through his lighting techniques. For further queries on villa lighting, home improvement and outdoor lighting Contact Subash at samsubhash.rk@gmail.comand to buy attractive an.

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Hawaiian Healing

Here we go again,
Our most recent post talked about our active volcano and how Hawaii Volcanoes National Park attracts each year thousands of visitors. Have you ever wondered what makes people want to come to Hawaii Big Island? Is it the live volcano, the exotic beauty and the diversity of our island, the white sand beaches, the warm Pacific Ocean or the unique Hawaii events like the Big Island Ironman Triathlon in Kona or Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo? I guess everybody has his own reasons why they are drawn to the Big Island.

Here is another, more recent powerful tendency within the Hawaii tourist industry, which Kohala Coast resorts and private Big Island holistic practitioners alike are recognizing and paying attention to. More and more tourists are visiting the Hawaiian Islands for healing purposes, with baby boomers leading the group of searching for a healing vacation in Hawaii. They want to get away from their busy lives in the fast track, take time to relax, recuperate and rejuvenate in the serenity of exotic, tropical environment Hawaii has to offer. Of all the Hawaii Islands the Big Island with representing fire, snow, ocean and earth elements, has always been considered as a very powerful energy and therefore healing island.

To further meet the needs of this ever-growing group of Hawaii tourists, the First Hawaii Island Conference on Health and Wellness Travel was recently held on the Big Island with great success. The conference helped launch the Hawaii Island Health and Wellness Travel Association, which was successful in signing up more than 100 members at the event. You can read more about this conference in West Hawaii Today’s article article ‘More than just a pretty beach’.

Anybody who is interested in alternative healing and would like to combine his or her vacation on the Kohala Coast with accomplishing some serious healing, can find a wide array of ancient Hawaiian & modern healing modalities provided by individual healers, health care professionals or Kohala Coast Spa professionals from Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage to acupuncture, chinese medicine, ayurveda, herbalism, naturopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, fitness, yoga, Pilates and more. Kohala Coast spas and Big Island retreats will help your design your healing vacation. We also recommend Five Mountains Hawaii and Kekukui.com online directory & a healing island resource guides which offer a comprehensive variety of health and healing resources on the Big Island of Hawaii. Find more information on healing vacation on the Kohala Coast.

Get started on your way to optimal health. Aloha, Pua www.kohalacoastweb.com


Tags: Hawaii healing, Lomi Lomi, Big Island

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