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You are here: Home / 2012 / Archives for December 2012

Archives for December 2012

How to Select A Drapery Rod System

by Trish






Draperies can enhance the look of a room in an amazing manner. The look of draperies depend on a lot of factors like the fabric used to create the drapery, the style selected for the drapery, the hardware on which the drapery is mounted, the position of hanging the draperies and the type of drapery rod system. Drapery rod system is that aspect of a hanging a drapery which determines how the drapery rod will be installed and how the drapery will function. Generally the drapery rod system can be categorized under three types depending on the functionality of the drapery.

Manual rod system – As the name indicates, this style of rod system requires manual effort to function. Draperies hanged from such kinds on rods require manual endeavor to open and shut them close. In this case the draperies can be hanged in a lot of ways. The manual rod system supports rings, tabs and grommets to hang the draperies. The rings, tabs or grommets are attached to the curtain panel and are hanged from the drapery rod. Then they are manually operated to make the window treatment functional.

Traverse rod system – This is a traditional method of hanging the draperies and has been around for a long time. In this system, traverse rods are used in combination with a pulley and carrier system. This pulley and carrier is used to open and close the draperies. The draperies are attached to the back side of the drapery headers with the help of pin hooks which are then introduced into the eyes of the rod carriers. A cord that hangs at the side of the traverse rod is used to operate the pulley and carrier of this rod system. Traverse rods can be of three types, namely – one way traverse rod, two ways traverse rod and double traverse rod. In one way traverse rod the pulley system operates in a singular direction only. In case of two ways traverse rod, the draperies are drawn from the center to the right and left of the traverse rod with the help of two pulleys. This style is also known as center draw or split draw traverse style. In the double traverse rod style, two curtain panels can be accommodated on the same window. It is mainly used for the purpose of decoration.

Stationary rod system – This rod system is static in nature. The draperies are hanged from the rod for the purpose of appearance rather than being functional in nature. The curtains are not shut or open as the curtain panels have a static nature. In this style of rod system one can be experimental and divert from the traditional method of using curtain poles or rods to hang the draperies. Any long and slim but strong item like a metal stick, etc. can be used to hang the curtains. As the rod system is static in nature, the only thing to be kept in mind is whether the drapery can be hanged from the alternative item using hooks, rings, etc. or not.

Adam is a passionate writer and currently writing for Buycurtainrod, the best place to buy curtain rod hardware.





Interior Design Ideas for a Better Home

by Trish

When you are looking to beautify a room, the first thing that usually comes to mind is paint and soft furnishings. Putting a new ambiance to any bare and boring room is easily achievable when you have the right color of paint or some attractive wallpaper. However, if you want a more magnified way of rejuvenating it, placing some nice new accessories and decorations can definitely do the job for you. Get rid of old and worn skirting boards, and internal doors which can bring the aesthetic quality of your room to its lowest and bring in new furnishings which can lighten up any space and transform it into a place where you and your family would want to hang out most of the time and spend quality time together. Let your room achieve its maximum potential by replacing items that give it a discordant appearance. Internal doors, for instance, which are among the common items that are frequently neglected but in fact play an important role in interior decoration, often set the tone for the theme or concept you would like your room to have. Most people stick to their same old door even if they have already changed their interior’s style which then leads to an uncoordinated look.

Going for the Contemporary Look

At this age and time, some people still prefer traditional styles for their homes while others choose the modern interior designs. The more contemporary look is chosen by more homeowners and allows them to stay abreast of the latest trends. If you have just recently transferred to your new home or want to imbibe a new ambiance to it, it is important to know some basic ideas for contemporary interior design as this will allow you to determine if such design ideas suit the vision you have for your home.

Among the most common trends in design styles is the use of black and white contrast. Some people prefer to incorporate these colors in all items and walls in the room while some choose to limit them only to the furniture and accessories. No matter which you choose, the classic style and ambiance that the black and white combination creates will surely make your room much more inviting.

Bold Colors Add Life

If the magic of the black and white combination does not appeal to you enough, you can choose to make use of bold colors. People who opt to incorporate bold colors in their home’s interior design usually choose furniture pieces and décor that imbibe the African spirit. The life in the Safari is a very interesting theme to have in any room as bold colors are what give it its much-needed appeal. Throw pillows or curtains which have animal prints will definitely brighten up any living space and add life to it. If you are the adventurous type, this theme will surely appeal to your senses.

Visualize Your Choice of Theme

You can put your innate creativity to use in designing your home, or you can opt to relinquish this responsibility to someone who is more knowledgeable by getting the service of a reliable interior designer or decorator. Either way, you must know beforehand what theme or concept you would like your home or room to have in order to achieve a unified look. The Internet is a rich source of interior design ideas so it would be a good idea to do some research and find out if such ideas suit not only your taste, but also your budget. As soon as you have already decided on the theme, you can then shop for items and decors that go with it. Shopping in discount shops where rugs mentioned above can also be found are a great way for you to save money and still find quality items that can last you a long time.

Rugs Can Do Wonders

Aside from your door, there are other elements that need to be considered when enhancing or improving the look of your interior. Items like rugs in themselves play a role in your room’s transformation; from a simple space to one that seems to transport you to another dimension or part of the world. Persian rugs, which have are in demand all over the world because of their intricate patterns, are a mainstay in many homes. Aside from providing appeal to your living space, they function to prevent slippage thus providing safety to anybody who treads in your home.

The aforementioned trends and styles all show a variety of rugs that you can choose from, depending on the patterns and materials they are made of. Some can cost a fortune depending on the quality and craftsmanship but if you are on a tight budget, you can always go to any rugs sale in your nearby home furnishings stores and avail of huge discounts.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://morguefile.com/

Cedric Loiselle is a highly talented writer providing quality articles for a wide range of niches. These include business and finance, health and fitness, as well as home improvement and real estate.

5 Key Special Occasions to Save up For Throughout the Year

by Trish

Doesn’t it always feel like as soon as you’ve saved up for one occasion, another is just around the corner? For some reason, these events seem to come round faster than pay day does, so it is important to be organised with your savings to make sure you can make the most of your money.

A really useful tip is to have a timescale of how long you need to be saving up for certain events, so you savings become either short-term or long-term. If something does come up out of the blue, you can always take a payday loan, but have a bit of savings is always a great idea.

Here are a few examples of special occasions that happen throughout the year, starting with short-term and increasing to longer-term saving, and a suggestion of how long you may want to consider saving for them:

  1. Birthdays: Gifts are a way of treating someone, so it can always be tempting to spend a little more than you can actually afford to, and the amount that you spend on gifts throughout the year can really add up. Try alternative presents that may cost less in money but more in time to manage your costs, like baking a cake or using any skills you have to make a gift. But for a very special someone, make sure you save up for a couple of weeks so you can really afford to splash out. Save for 1 – 2 weeks.
  2. Weekend city break: Everyone needs a weekend away every now and again, and with the temptation of cheap flights across Europe, there’s no excuse not to have an adventure! To cut down your costs and make the most of your trip, try staying in cheaper alternative accommodation to hotels, like hostels which often have their own cooking facilities. Save for 1 – 2 months.
  3. Christmas: It is so easy to spend a lot at Christmas because there are so many people to think about! But be organised by saving up beforehand. Write a shopping list so you can plan how much you intend to spend on certain gifts and people. Try not to be tempted to overspend because with so many presents, little extra costs can really add up! Save for 2 – 3 months.
  4. Summer holiday: This is the big one – the holiday you’ve waited and saved for all year. There are a lot of costs to think about; you need to save up for flights, villa or hotel, any daytrips you might want to take, as well as saving for a good food and cocktails budget. Cut some costs by booking things far in advance and looking into package deals, but otherwise save up so you can really enjoy yourself without worrying too much about you bank balance. Save for 4 – 5 months.
  5. Wedding day: This is probably the biggest single-day occasion that people will save up, so understandably it’s going to take the longest! With a million different things to account for, a wedding day is no small undertaking! Save up and budget meticulously to avoid feeling the sting of the price tag long after the day. Save for 12 – 18 months.

Hopefully we’ve provided you with a few ideas of how to make it a bit easier to save up for special occasions.

Louise Jenkins writes about payday loans, for more information see https://www.communitypayday.com/

Christmas Gift Ideas That You Can Use For Buying Gifts Suiting Different Age Groups

by Trish

As Christmas approaches, you may find it necessary to try to buy some gifts for your loved ones. After all, the best thing about Christmas is receiving gifts! In many of such cases, you often need to get something that the recipient will appreciate in order to make a good impression. If you are not very good at getting presents, however, this often turns out to be a disaster since you may end up getting something that they do not like. However, based on a few variables such as their ages, you can come up with a few gift ideas that the individual you are going to gift to will definitely like.

Gifts for a baby

Well first off, when a child is very young (such as a neonate), you should consider a gift that is going to be practical to them. In many cases, the fact that they do not need much means that your options of what to get are very few, and this makes it much easier for you to buy the gift. Typically, the kinds of gifts you get for such an individual include bedding and clothes. When doing this, it is very important that you try to get items that are of high quality. For instance, the bedding needs to be made of a material that is going to be comfortable to the baby, and also non-irritating to the skin. You can also try to buy items such as toys for the baby, which include rattles. All in all, it is often very easy to get gifts for a baby, since they don’t really judge your gift that much!

What you can get for a preadolescent child

Though you may need to think a bit harder when trying to find a Christmas gift for a child who is not yet an adolescent, it is still not as hard as getting gifts for other kinds of people. Most of the time, you only need to consider the gender and the general mannerisms of the child in order to figure out what to get them. For instance, if they are male and love playing, you can get them some kind of action figure or video game console. However, if you are thinking of getting items such as video game consoles, you would need to find out if they do not have them in the first place. If they do, you can then buy other items such as a video game that is popular but which they do not have. For girls, items such as dresses may be all you need to get.

Gifts for teens

Most people find it difficult to get gifts for teens, mainly due to the fact that it is sometimes very difficult to gauge the personality of one. This can be attributed to the fact that they are in a stage of life that is very complex for them, and this means that they may be still struggling with their identity. However, you can leverage on facts such as the idea that most teens look to impress others when you are getting a gift for them. Most of them value material things, so a gift that is going to impress them most include things such as cell phones and other electronics. However, this is not a hard and fast rule; some teens (especially girls) may be happy to get items that are more sentimental, such as a cup with their names on it. To figure out what kind of gift to get them, it is often a good idea to try to find out what kind of personality they have.

Young adults

When you are thinking about getting a gift for someone who is just starting out in life, you will often find it very easy to impress them using items that are going to make their lives easier. For instance, if you are aware that such an individual has just moved out, you can get them a gift certificate that allows them to buy household items that they may need in their new houses.

Adults

Getting gifts for adults is not such a difficult thing to do. If you do not have any idea of what kind of personality they have, you can easily get them items such as ties (for guys) and perfumes (for ladies) and most of them will be happy with them. Personally, I think that the current trends are leaning towards gift vouchers so you can consider that too.

Remember, what you give does matter, but when it is gifted from your heart, that’s what matters the most!

Susie Chris the author of this article is a very creatives person. She is a part time worker at The House of Christmas, a place from where you can purchase the most beautiful and unique Christmas decorations things in town.

Shopping Made Easier Than Ever Before

by Trish

Shopping may be stressful but not even as close to how stressful it used to be in the past. Things are so much easier these days and not just because of technology but because of all the different ways you can pay, preorder, carry and locate the items you need the most.

Today we are going to talk to you a bit about some of our favorite things when it comes to shopping. Some you probably use regularly and others you may want to consider adding to your routine. We are lucky these days to have so many options as we do.

Reusable Shopping Bags

These days, companies are doing what they can to make reusable bags available. They are a very affordable option and are much more durable than your everyday plastic bags. They commonly cost no more than a dollar. One reason you may want to reach towards these instead of plastic is because a lot of businesses are actually charging you per bag these days in order to push people towards a more green option. While they may only be a few cents each, this can really add up in a year’s time so might as well bring your own bags each time you go shopping. Leave them in your passenger seat and it will become second nature to you.

Ordering Online

If you lead a very busy life or do not enjoy shopping then you may want to consider shopping online. The great thing about shopping on the internet versus in person is the fact that most things can be delivered directly to your door. On top of that, you can shop on your own time so you don’t have to stress about whether or not you are going to make it to the store before they close. This means, no more lines and you are much more likely to find deals because it’s very simple to shop around and compare prices between companies on the web compared to in person. A lot of the times, if you purchase at least a certain amount of items or over a certain price limit you can even get free shipping, which is always nice.

We know how important saving money is and the internet is a great place to start because a lot of companies have deals available only on the web as a way to promote themselves.

Self Check-Outs

As you’ve probably noticed, self check-outs are something that most stores are adding. They are great because they allow you to get in and get out faster than ever. No more waiting in a long line when you only have a few items. You’re able to do everything at your speed and this includes enter your cash, pay with card, use your EBT and even scan your coupons. There is always an attendant around who can help you learn how to use the machine. It’s pretty simple after a few times of using it.

Sally Cruz is an avid blogger and a shopaholic. She reviews various shopping destinations around the world and also gives tips when it comes to shopping. So get ready and hit those display racks.

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