Category: home improvement

When it's time to cover our windows or complete the decorating process, we generally focus mainly on the colors of products available. But keep in mind, there are many differences in the control systems that are employed on similar roller shades. Thanks to these improvements, our window coverings work better and last longer. Roller shades are a traditional window covering, dating back to the late 19th century. With added springs helping to draw them up, pull shades have encountered a formidable adversary: the chain drawn roller shades.

The roller shades with springs can be lowered manually, by pulling on the shade itself, or an attached tassel. To retract the spring roller shade, simply pull at the bottom of the shade, or the tassel if one is provided. However, it is plain to see the problems that may arise with your manually manipulated roller shades.

So in answer to the concerns, developers in the shade industry have created a new kind of operation for roller shades. This mechanism is referred to as chain-driven, or clutches. Chain driven shades are operated simply by pulling the chain that is attached to the top of the roller shade one way or the other to raise or lower the shade. Chains can be produced with durable plastics or with various alloy metals. It may surprise you to know that plastic chains are stronger and more durable than their metal counterparts are. In spite of this, many consumers still prefer metal chains to control their roller shades. The manufacturers of roller shades make good quality shades, since they are aware that both are high quality. They choose usually only on the basis of price, but consider quality and performance too. Their intentions are good.

Time does not permit us to list every benefit of the chain controlled roller shade, so we will name just a few below. One benefit is that you can position the shade more precisely. Just imagine how difficult it could be to adjust a spring roller shade to a precise height. When you position your spring shade, you are very much at the mercy of the spring's "decision" on where it will be. In contrast, you can set the height of the chain roller shade to precisely where you want it.

Another perk to owning chain roller shades is that the roller shade fabric has the potential to remain in brand-new condition, even after years of use. This is possible because you will no longer be physically handling the shade's fabric to raise or lower it. By doing this, you can make your roller shades last much longer. With the innovation of the control chain, you may never have to wash another grimy fingerprint off your roller shade again.

Roller shade chain systems are much sturdier and capable of lifting heavier shades, compared to the spring systems of days gone by. This can be attributed to the variance in springs compared to the roller shades. The new springs have been placed in a sealed case, and these springs help to keep the shade from slipping. This may not seem like a big difference from the spring roller shade, but the new spring shades are not dependent on the weaker springs that came with older spring shades. Innovations in shades have now made it possible to control much larger shades, as large as 8 feet wide and 10 feet tall. Without spring roller shades, these large roller shades would not be possible.

If long-lasting, clean, and large shades are what you want, a chain controlled roller shade may be exactly what you've always wanted. They will maintain the beauty and extend the longevity of your window treatments. Just imagine medicinal developments are beneficial not only for health, but long life and beauty, as well.

UPVC doors have become all the rage, as a popular alternative to traditional wooden front doors in houses nationwide. Loved for their hardwearing, stylish properties, UPVC has become the material of choice for new home builders and renovation projects, particularly in suburban areas. But why is UPVC considered such a good material for door construction, and indeed why is it so popular given the fact that many people stull prefer the more traditional wooden style doors for the front of their homes? What are the advantages of UPVC doors and how do they compare to their traditional wooden counterparts?

One of the main advantages of UPVC doors as compared to traditional wooden counterparts is the fact that they pose greater insulation benefits as a result of their construction. UPVC doors are often hollow, and filled with specific insulative materials designed to keep the heat in and the cold out. Traditional wooden doors are less insulated than UPVC models and tend to be constructed of solid wood, which is less energy efficient. In terms of your heating bill and the warmth of your home, you will notice a tangible difference with a UPVC door as compared to a traditional wooden frontage.

UPVC is also a more hardwearing material than wood regardless of the elements, and is normally waterproof which will prevent damp and maintain insulation regardless of the conditions outside. Whereas a normal door will absorb rain water UPVC simple repels the elements to keep you warm and to keep the cold weather conditions outside. Additionally this means that a UPVC door is likely to have a longer life expectancy than a wooden door, leaving you with a less frequent need to replace your exterior door.

A major benefit of UPVC doors is the cost, when compared with traditional wooden doors. Because UPVC is machine moulded to fit the style contours fashion requires, there is less manual craftsmanship necessary to produce the desired outcome. What that means in practice is that whilst you can achieve a solid, stylish door as you would with a wooden counterpart, you end up paying a fraction of the price for the privilege whilst achieving the range of benefits brought on by UPVC.

Of course a wooden door can be a more personalised item and can be considered to be more of a luxury. However when it comes to practicalities there really is nothing that compares to a brand new UPVC front door for value for money, insulation and protection from the weather outside.

The advantages of buying UPVC doors are clear to see, although some people still prefer wooden exterior doors for their own individual reasons - be they stylistic, or practical. Whatever your personal preference, it is probably in your best interests to at least consider the advantages UPVC can bring for exterior doors and windows, with a view to potentially realising the differences between contemporary and traditional door construction for the value of your property and the other practical benefits it can bring

You can easily make your bedroom more comfortable. Making a modern bedroom will be affordable if you take into account a few details.

1. Use fabrics with warm colors and pleasant to touch textures. Besides the presence of wood, the color of the walls and furniture, the feeling of comfort in the bedroom is largely provided by complementary textiles. Bedspreads, curtains, cushions, plaids, duvet covers? Manage to give them the warm and welcoming touch. One suggestion: dress your bed in a beautiful velvet and linen coverlet.
2. Decorate everything in white. It is fashionable, bright and will help you create a relaxing atmosphere. If you have a seat, cover it with a cotton canvas or better buy a cover, which you?ll be able to wash at home.
3. Add natural supplements. Make lampshades warmer with vegetable fiber, which will provide a pleasant and happy lighting. Adding a small bouquet of fragrant fresh flowers and soft colors will create a delicate and romantic effect.
4. Add color to the foot of the bed. You can easily add a bit of color to your bedroom by renewing the bench which is placed at the foot of the bed. Just add some warm touch fabric with a bright color or pattern.
5. Give warmth to your bedroom with a touch of red. Because red is a hot color that has high decorative strength, it is advisable to use it in small doses, especially if we want to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The red color is perfect as a counterpoint in rooms decorated in white or gray, because it makes them less cold.
6. Choose bedding in light colors. Dress the bed in white or very light color, as we already mentioned before.

Finally, use your imagination when decorating the bedroom. Some small ideas and additions can change the whole look.

With a cousin's son headed this way to start college next week, we've got a couple of decorating challenges on hand. First, there's Randy's dorm room - how to make a small space, shared with a roommate, into a comfortable, cheerful and efficient "home away from home" for the coming school year.

Secondly, to give Randy a place to escape the busy campus when he needs some quiet study time (or maybe just a few home-cooked meals), I'm making over the small sewing room at the top of my stairs into a second guestroom.

To fix up the dorm room is the easier of the two decorating challenges. It's largely a matter od a flexible closet organizer system from a local hardware store, a pair of over-the-door hooks for towels and bathrobe, a cosy quilt in a bold graphic pattern (and coordinating pillows, to turn the standard dorm room single bed into a comfy daybed couch for visitors), and a compact fridge - his new roommate will be bringing a small microwave oven. We measured up the room and found enough space for a clever room-divider Shoji screen with its own attached shelving, to create a screened corner where Randy can hide his laundry bag and other detritus of daily life.

To convert a very small sewing room into a bedroom for a night or two every couple of weeks, without making it too crowded to use properly between visits - that's the tricky project!

Fortunately, with more and more of the world living in tight quarters, it wasn't too hard to find ideas online. In particular, Stacks and Stacks has all sorts of clever products for furnishing a small space. I'm pretty keen on the idea of the Fu-Chest (new to me!) that hides a folded futon mattress in a clean-styled contemporary cabinet.

Add a few space-saving nesting tables - I found a great set with a book theme, perfect for student digs, and the table even has a secret drawer! - and a lap desk with attached light, for making notes while reading or studying in bed. The room already contains a cost old tub chair and a small television concealed in an armoire. (Note to self: take my fabric scraps and off-season jackets out of the armoire when Randy comes to stay, so he'll have somewhere to put his own stuff!)

The only other thing I think I'd add is a mirror with attached basket-shelf for the young man's hair goop and blowdryer and other styling essentials. Come to think of it, one of those might be useful in the dorm room, too!

I'm sure we'll make changes to this temporary guest room as we go along, but these smart space-saver furnishings are a great start on giving our favorite college student a bit of space to call his own. As for earning good marks and staying out of trouble? Well, that's going to have to be his responsibility!