Dining Chairs - Pull Up a Seat and Enjoy a Good Meal

Dining chairs can go from the surprisingly cheap to the ridiculously expensive. Your only constraints may be your existing dining room furniture, your budget.... and perhaps your environmental conscience. Let me explain. Your dining chairs are an opportunity to choose furniture that is made from sustainable wood and with non-harmful products. Sustainable hardwoods like oak, cherry and maple make a good base, and even better when the production process excludes any chemicals that might vaporize overtime and pollute the air in your dining room.

Interestingly, if you have a dining room table that is not too outlandish, you'll probably find ch16B6airs to meet the criteria above and that still look good in your dining room. Sleek, contemporary designs using natural materials can go very well with glass top tables or tables made principally of metal. And of course, dining chairs can be both "green" and durable at the same time. No one says that you have to sit on chairs made out of cardboard or recycled soda pop bottles.

Naturally, if your budget extends to it, you can always partake in another form of recycling which is to buy antique chairs. Whether or not you choose to use them to seat your guests is another matter. It's true that purchasing those hand-built, eighteenth century master craftsman dining chairs makes you a little wary of using them for guests who might not appreciate their full value.

Another option is open to you as well. If your current set of dining chairs are looking a little worse for wear, then you can still get a little bit more useful life out of them by using seat covers. As seat covers can be relatively inexpensive, you can even treat yourself to "new" sets of chairs for every day of the week!

However, there comes a time when even the best recycling tips and tricks will no longer save a set of chairs whose time has come. It might be the right moment to overhaul the whole of your dining room furniture, from chairs to sideboard to table. Depending on what you have and what you want your dining room to look like, you may well find that a new ensemble of dining room furniture breathes a whole new life into the dining experience.

One of the basic choices that you will have to make in that case is whether to buy chairs with arms or without. It's a question of space, mobility and whether or not you and your guests at the dinner table would like to lounge around in your seats. Having arms on dining chairs also makes it easier to move the chairs around if you want to continue the conversation away from the table. On the other hand you would probably be well advised to acquire chairs for your dining room which do not require too much cleaning or maintenance, and that are protected against the stains that will inevitably result in area where food is commonplace.

Author Jennifer Akre, owner of many sites dedicated to indoor and outdoor home decor product and information, provides online consumers with advice on purchasing gorgeous dining room furniture and distinctive dining tables perfect for daily use and special occasions.

Renovation Revolution - How To Renovate In A Cooling Housing Market

A question many home sellers might be asking themselves these days is what sort of renovations, if any are financially safe in a cooling housing market. In recent years up-scale improvements were on the rise including recessed lighting, renovated or additional media rooms, and high end kitchen amenities. Such "extravagances" may be a thing of the past for most - at least for now. But while high-end renovation choices may not be as popular, there are still certain renovations that can improve the re-sale value of your home.

What needs to be paid attention to in today's market are renovations based on functionality, needs and aesthetics- and in that order. No longer is high end luxury the best way to go in terms of boosting the re-sale value of your home. When you head into a re-sale geared renovation you want to make sure you'll more than re-coup what you invested into the renovation.

The hard facts that'll illuminate this situation are that upscale renovations offer a re-coup max of about 93%, where the mid range renovations will stand to get you about 102% return in investment. In today's market you want to be sure you'll re-coup all that you put in, and ideally you'll profit..

Another aspect to consider as you contemplate which renovations will serve to boost the re-sale of your home, is that of location. The re-coup potential of many renovations is a location specific phenomenon. For example, a new deck will be much more popular in the West than in the South. Typically bathroom and kitchen upgrades are pretty standard and are the two rooms that hold the most potential to boost the sale price of your home.

Unfortunately energy efficient upgrades are considered more of a luxury item these days and in the short term may not be the winning choice to help up the sale price of your home. This being said, there are still great long term benefits of the energy efficient upgrade. They won't necessarily boost the value of your home today, but hang in there, as fuel prices are steadily on the rise, they are the smart long term renovation/upgrade.

Other things to consider as222A you embark further into your renovation plans are how you can go about doing a good job at without spending a fortune. If you're looking at renovating a bathroom, this is a room that can be done with relative ease, without hiring a professional contractor. Know that hiring a professional to do the whole job from plans to execution will step the project further toward a higher grade renovation.

Whatever you decide, remember that renovations today can still help you sell for a better dollar tomorrow. You just have to be smart with what you choose to do and how you choose to do it.

Illustrated Properties is a Jupiter FL real estate company with professional, effective services to help you succeed in the local market. Visit TedSoldIt.com for information on neighborhoods and home listings, and to get in touch with an expert Tequesta real estate agent.

How Your Home is Killing You

Carbon monoxide is a well-known household threat, as are lead paint and toxic household cleaners. But one lesser known killer can cause the deaths of over a hundred times more people than carbon monoxide poisoning can. This toxin is present in varying degrees in homes all across America, and can quietly slip through the cracks in your foundation and into your basement. Like most artful poisons, it has no odor, taste, or color, and causes no noticeable symptoms until it's too late. You can get lung cancer from it at a rate that is second only to cigarette smoking. There are estimates that approximately 20,000 people die annually from this unknown threat, and what's worse is the fact that it comes from a naturally occurring event that can't be stopped. All homeowners can do is try to prevent and/or slow down its progress before it claims any more lives.

This harbinger of death is called radon. It is a radioactive gas that is created by the decay of uranium that exists in the ground below us. Soil, water, and rock formations are all sources of radon. It seeps quietly into your home, usually through cracks in the foundation, and if the area is not properly ventilated, the gas gets trapped indoors.

Radon becomes deadly when it is breathed in. Particles of the gas can attach to the inner lining of your lungs, slowly damaging the tissue, leading to cancerous tumors. If you are a smoker, your risk of getting lung cancer is increased ten-fold, as cigarettes themselves already contain Polonium-210, another source of cancer-causing radiation.

Because radon is naturally occurring, there is not much that one can do to stop it. However, there are steps that homeowners can take to prevent the gas from entering their homes.

Your first and best defense against radon poisoning is to test your home for its presence. While most of us have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our homes, a large segment of the population has never heard of radon, or know the threat that it can pose. Homeowners can purchase a home testing kit that they can use themselves, or they can hire a qualified radon tester in their local area.

There are two types of tests for radon: short term and long term. Short term tests are performed from as little as two days, up to a few months, depending on the type used. These testing kits can give fast, accurate results. Short term tests are especially useful during the sale of a home, when time is short and a buyer needs to know that the property is safe.

Long term tests, as their name implies, take longer, but provide a better overall picture of your h586ome's radon level. This is because radon levels can shift from day to day, and can greatly increase during periods of renovation. To learn the average levels over the course of a year, it is best to use a long term testing kit. Long term tests used in conjunction with short term tests can also be useful when selling your home, as you can easily reassure the potential buyer that your home is safe now, and poses little risk during the course of the year.

If you discover that radon levels are high, seal all cracks in the foundation immediately. This will prevent some of the radon from getting into your home. Don't allow yourself to have a false sense of security by simply sealing the openings; you should also install a vent pipe and fan, which are referred to as "sub-slab depressurization systems." These will help to prevent further radon from coming into your home, as well as disperse existing radon gas outdoors. Other methods such as soil suction can be effective as well, but be sure to hire a contractor who is licensed to install radon systems. The contractor will be able to test your home for gas levels, and be able to determine the best course of action, depending on your home's structure.

Test for radon annually or every two years to ensure the safety of your home, and remember that while your home is your haven from the rest of the world, it is not always safe.

Ellingson Properties is one of the top ranked realty firms in the Brevard County real estate market. If you're looking for information about homes in Palm Bay Florida, be sure to visit GregEllingson.com

Environmental-Friendly Homes Using Natural Building Materials And Techniques

With todays inflated prices on energy and the urgent need to be more environmentally friendly, building a self-sustaining home that will save you money as well as your environment is on the rise. If you are considering building a new home, do check out the natural building materials available today. It will have a positive effect on your pocket and the environment.

There are nearly 20 types of natural building techniques used in home building today. Some of the most common techniques used are outlines below.

One of the most popular forms of natural building in America is the bale building. Straw-Bale Construction is the practice of taking baled straw stacks to create extra-insulated walls. Straw bales provide the ultimate in insulation, are lightweight, cost almost nothing and do not require many tools. Mixing straw with natural plaster provides homes the ability to breathe, something missing in our society today. HUD (Housing and Urban Development), Fannie Mae (a shareholder owned company, established to expand the flow of mortgage funds in all communities, at all times, under all economic conditions and to help lower the costs to buy a home) and Habitat for Humanity have approved the construction of bale buildings which are economical, healthy and insurable too.

You can say adobe style houses are built both by the rich and poor. Its because in the South these types of homes are built because the homeowners cannot afford anything better whereas in the Southwest, the rich build adobe homes. This type of housing made from sun-dried mud bricks, has been in use for centuries all over the world.

A mixture of clay and sand are used in the construction of adobe homes. Sometimes straw and manure are added. The clay mixture is poured into Molds and left to harden in the sun for days. They are then laid on a stone or concrete Foundation using traditional masonry techniques. Mud is the mortar of choice for adobe style homes, however concrete or lime also has a history of use. Because of the severe restrictions on adobe constructions, it is limited to the desert southwest.

Among the most self-sufficient homes built are earthship homes. Michael Reynolds of Solar Survival Architecture started earthship construction. An independent structure, created and sustained by Solar Energy and recycled materials, the walls of earthship homes were and still are created from soil-filled tires, which are excellent thermal conductors. Bottles, cans and other recyclables fill the gaps between the tires. The building is typically framed with localized wood and roofed metal that will collect rainwater. Optical upgrades include integrated wastewater treatment systems, photovoltaic electrical systems and solar hot water and heating. There have been many Earthships communities built in places like New Mexico and Arizona.

Another common method of building homes today are using recycled building materials, with the sole purpose of creating less waste. By using materials and objects that would otherwise end up as trash, you will not only build an affordable home but one that is earth-friendly as well.

Global warming is a threat that will affect generations to come. The atmosphere surrounding us that supports life is a God-given gift. It must be protected. We should be leaders in efforts to curb global warming, not resistant followers.

Erin Hunt is an avid writer and activist. She discovered that many are still unaware of the dangers of global warming and thus created a website to educate others on how they can play a role in the fight against global warming. Find out more about the effects and causes of global warming and how you can make a difference at http://www.fightagainstglobalwarming.com

Consider Installing a Standby Generator

Now is definitely the time to consider installing a standby generator. Hurricane season starts in a couple of months and there is no reason to believe that the shortage of electrical power will be corrected in the near future. Weather systems have been producing severe weather throughout North America and other parts of the world, in areas that have not seen these phenomena previously. The installation of a standby generator will provide you and your family with security and comfort in the event the power grid or local disaster stops the flow of electrical power to your home.

Standby generators come in a variety of sizes for both residential and commercial applications. The size governs the maximum power that you will have available in the even of a power outage. Some homeowners want the comfort and security provided by a total replacement of the incEAAoming power, while others are satisfied with having enough energy to maintain, heating, refrigerators, freezers, and some basic lighting.

Convenience is also a consideration when considering the size of the standby generator that you require. As an example, the stove and hot water tank (if they are electric) create the highest amount of power consumption in a home. A standby generator can be installed so that you can have hot water and your stove but not at the same time.

Heating and air conditioning are also heavy electrical energy draws. Again, a homeowner may be satisfied with the loss of air conditioning for a few days rather than pay for a standby generator that can deliver enough power to keep the house cool. If you have forced air heating, the blower uses a motor that requires electricity to operate. Without an operating blower, the furnace will not work even if gas or fuel oil supplies are still available.

A standby generator is not the same as a portable generator although a portable generator can be used to supply temporary power. Standby generators are generally installed so that they start automatically and switch the load, in the event of a power failure. A portable generator usually requires set-up, including the physical connection to whatever load it is to service, and must be started manually. The amount of fuel available is usually substantially different. Where a standby generator is usually equipped with enough fuel for at least 72 hours of uninterrupted operation a portable generator may have three to five hours of run time with its fuel supply.

Standby generators are available to operate from natural gas (NG), liquid propane (LP), or diesel fuel. If your local zoning will allow, I recommend the installation of a LP standby generator. LP has the advantage that it is stored on your property so that should the natural gas delivery system also be affected because of the natural disaster (in many instances the natural gas pipeline will be shut down after a natural disaster to avoid potential explosions from fallen wires), it will not affect your ability to generate electrical power. Diesel standby generators are generally used in commercial facilities. Diesel, although stored locally on the site, has the disadvantage that after a period of time it needs to be replaced, if not used. This can be a costly expense.

Whichever type of generator you purchase make sure you follow the manufacturers installation instructions and your local building codes. The installation of a standby generator does require a building permit. Remember that any electrical generator, portable or stationary, uses a combustion engine to power it. Where there is a combustion engine operating, you have will have carbon monoxide gas, which is toxic.

Proper planning is the key to a successful standby generator installation.

For additional information on standby generators for your home or other home improvement projects, visit Renovation Headquarters

Give Special Attention To Your Bathroom Vanity Cabinet

No matter how your bathroom is well decorated, if you do not get your vanity cabinet right, your bathroom will still not look right. To complement all your effort in choosing your vanity lights, your vanity mirror, etc. you must choose the perfect cabinet to give it a perfect finish.

When you choose your cabinet, think about four simple things. Think about what you need, your budget, the size of your bathroom, and your style. Be sure you have answers to these questions before deciding what to buy in your favorite home equipment shopping center.

The first thing to consider is the need. If you need more storage space, then you might consider something that has a lot of room in it. A great way to determine how much space you really need in your cabinet is to list all things you need in your bathroom. Try downsizing then to include only the essentials to save some space. If you need more aesthetics, however, then you can sacrifice some space. Cabinet in your guest room might not need the same space as your master bedroom because your guests will not stay long in your house to need that much space in their vanity cabinet.

Another thing to consider is your budget. A great tip in this area is to size up what you can afford for new bathroom furniture. Then take that number and spend 10% less than that number. But the truth to the matter is, a more expensive cabinet does give more to the owner, so you might want to really decide on this one. Keep in mind that you also need to spend to mount it in your bathroom. The cost of plumbing should also be considered.

Perhaps another crucial consideration is the size of the bathroom. It is only logical to put a huge vanity cabinet in a huge bathroom. For obvious reason, you do not want to sacrifice more on ease and comfort inside your small bathroom by having a bulky cabinet. In fact, going for a smaller vanity tucked on a corner will give your bathroom a more spacious look.

Your own style should also be taken into consideration. Anything you put inside your bathroom speaks a little something about you. So you don not want your guests to think that you are a disorganized person by having a mismatching cabinet to the bathroom theme. If your bathroom has a traditional theme, then you go for the wood made cabinet, usually with a stone sink, to match the theme. A contemporary bathroom should have a cabinet with copper vessels and some with stainless cabinet edges. The cut should be clean and straight forward to match the straightforward look of your contemporary bathroom.

For tips on choosing bathroom vanities, visit http://www.bathroomvanities101.com.

Kitchen Designs and Ideas

When you're trying think of potential kitchen designs it can be a long and difficult process. After all there are so many colour schemes and cabinet designs and appliances and a hundred other things to choose from, that getting the right combination is incredibly difficult.

The best way to sort through everything is to come up with a few designs based on one central theme for your kitchen. For example, many people like the kitchen styles that are synonymous with a certain country or region, hence why Italian and Spanish kitchen design are so popular. By choosing a theme you can narrow down your search and look for much more specific things to build up your kitchen design.

or some others, their designs will be dictated by the shape and size of their kitchen. For instance if you have to plan a small kitchen, then your choices will be much more limited and your designs will have to be built around coming up with clever storage solutions and fitting things in.

A great way of finding focus when things get confusing is to think about exactly what you want from your kitchen and what you're trying to achieve. You can then write a list of all the essential things you need and go from there. The style and look can come much later and you can find ideas from showrooms and looking online.

Also get hold of some software to play around with. This can be incredibly beneficial because you can input the exact dimensions of your kitchen into the system and then play around with different colour schemes and styles. This can prove an excellent source of inspiration if you're struggling to come up with kitchen designs you like.

The basic rule of kitchen design is very simple - plan. By planning ahead and thinking about every tiny detail, you'll leave yourself less open to things going wrong. The problem with kitchen design is that one small thing can trigger and domino effect and send your whole vision tumbling down. Don't get caught out like this and plan for everything well in advance.

Thomas Baugh offers more advice on kitchen planning at the Kitchen Design Site.

Renovating The Exterior of Your Home the Easy Way

While many people do minor repairs and interior remodeling jobs, they often hesitate about doing exterior remodeling or renovating. There's not really a big difference between the interior and exterior 5B4of your home except for the size of the DIY jobs.

Most of the time when homeowners choose to remodel their home, there is something on the outside that needs to be done. If you allow yourself enough time, you can look for great deals on many of the supplies you're going to need. Some of the exterior jobs that may need to be done are gutters, siding, windows and window trims or perhaps adding a patio or deck to your home.

If you plan ahead, you can not only save money but also get yourself organized, whether this means getting the time off from work or arranging for the rental of some of the tools you'll need for the job. You'll be spending enough on the supplies, so you won't want to have to buy tools as well, especially when you can rent them for a fraction of the cost.

If purchasing new siding is not quite in your budget this year, repainting your home is a great DIY job that will brighten and spruce up your home. Again, planning is very important. You may have to prepare the siding for painting such as sanding old paint off or washing the home. Some people don't understand the logic of washing if it's going to be repainted. It's the best way to give it a professional look. If your home is tall and needs ladders and scaffolding, doing one section at a time will save you a lot of time and energy. Many make the mistake of trying to get the whole house done at one time. You'll find working in sections at a time not only5AA is easier but also makes you feel you accomplished more at the end of each day.

If you are going with new siding and windows, you may want to hire a professional if you have no experience in this type of work. However, many books and online sites have step-by-step guides for the DIY jobs. The stores where you buy your supplies (siding, windows, roofing, etc.) may also be able to give you many much-needed tips. If you're lucky, you have a friend or family member knowledgeable in home renovations that are willing to help you. You will save a fortune on labor costs!

Rob Carlton regularly edits newsletters on things associated with compressor designs. His articles on air compressor cooling systems can be discovered on http://www.insidewoodworking.com