TIPS HOW TO HANG WALLPAPER

PREPARE YOUR WALLS

If your walls have old wallpaper, remove it unless it is in perfect condition. Strippable wallpaper can be removed by lifting a corner and pulling. Unstrippable wallpaper should be sanded, wet and scraped off with a putty knife. If your walls are painted, sand rough spots and spackle wholes. If your walls are paneled, concrete block, or plaster in poor condition, use a wallpaper liner before sizing. If your walls are new drywall or plaster first apply a primer or sealer before sizing. Use a sizer such as Shieldz (R) on all walls to be wallpapered to get a smooth surface. NOTE: Paint ceiling and/or woodwork before preparing for wallpaper. Remove light and outlet switch plates.

MEASURING & CUTTING

Measure the maximum distance from the baseboard to the ceiling and add 4". Check the wallpaper pattern position by holding the wallpaper up and finding the best place for the pattern to break. Mark the top and bottom points on the roll of wallpaper. Cut the first strip with the additional 2" to top mark & 2" to bottom mark on your pasting table. Then cut your second strip after matching the pattern to the first strip. A plumb line will allow you to hang the first strip of wallpaper perfectly straight. Chose a hidden corner of the room to begin.

PASTING

For prepasted wallpaper use a tray of lukewarm water. There will be instructions enclosed with your wallpaper. For unpasted wallpaper user a roller to apply an even coat of wallpaper adhesive and make sure to get the edges. Book-fold the wallpaper before hanging.

HANGING

Unfold the top section of the first strip of wallpaper and place it on the wall, lining up the edge with the plumb line and leaving the 2" overhang. Smooth out with a smoothing brush working from the center outwards. The air pockets can be pushed out from the center, however, wrinkles can not (therefore re-hang strip). Then do the same for the bottom section. Sponge off excess paste with clean water and dry with a soft cloth. Trim excess wallpaper by using a putty knife as a guide and use a single edge razor knife. Butt the edge of subsequent wallpaper strips without overlapping. Use a steam roller to press all seams and remove any excess paste. Continue cutting and hanging strips of wallpaper until you reach the last one, which will overlap the first one. Overlap and double cut this last wallpaper strip. Outside corners can be wrapped with a full strip of wallpaper, whereas inside corners can not. Do not skip difficult areas such as windows and doors. Work straight around the room. Leave a 2" overlap on obstacles and cut a diagonal line at the corners. Trim as described above.

Source : discountdecorator.com

Tips on Kitchen Remodeling Designs

If you are tired of your old kitchen design and really need to make a change, you are not alone. A lot of homeowners are remodeling their kitchen and bathroom for both better appearance and functionality. And the good news is that most kitchen and bathroom remodel jobs actually increase the value and worth of your home.

Maybe you have looked at lots of kitchen remodeling designs and just can't decide what will work best for you. It's easy to see beautiful pictures of a kitchen layout in a book or magazine and think how great they look. But actually putting them in your home is another matter altogether.

So the first thing to do is to decide exactly what it is about your present kitchen that you really like, and what about it do you really not like? For instance, do you have enough counter space? How about storage capacity? Is your food preparation area large enough? Is everything you need convenient, or do you have to keep going back and forth across the kitchen to complete each task?

Once you know for sure what the positives and the negatives about your present kitchen is, you can begin to decide on the changes that need to take place. A logical next step is to actually draw out your ideal kitchen design instead. Of course, you may not be able to actually implement your ideal kitchen design, but it can help you learn about what changes would please you most and you can begin to adopt some of those ideas into your present kitchen.

If more counter space is needed, where can you fit it in? If more storage space is required, can you add another pantry, or perhaps expand or deepen the one you already have? If you find yourself traveling too far to accomplish tasks in the kitchen, can you add an island in the center to make things more handy? If you have more than enough pots and pans, can you hang some of them on the wall?

Other considerations include making things more convenient in you kitchen. For instance, can you arrange the microwave to be very close to the food preparation area? This will help you quickly and easily heat and defrost food as you go. Likewise, the dishwasher should logically be close to the cabinet where your glasses are stored. The refrigerator is usually the most used appliance in the room, so why not try to centralize it in your new kitchen design?

While you are at it, give some thought to kitchen lighting as well. Very often counter tops are under illuminated at night. So why not arrange for some under cabinet recessed lighting to help you see what you're working on?

Once you have the general kitchen design on paper you can begin to make cost estimates regarding the work that will need to be done to bring that new kitchen to life. And when you have the basic layout all set, you can then began thinking about appearance and decoration including colors, cabinet styles, countertops, and all the other fun decisions that will help make your new kitchen design a smash hit.

Source :

Other topic:

1. Hickory Meadows

2. Contemporary

3. Traditional

4. Shopping

ANYTHING ABOUT FLOORS

1.Wood Flooring Photos - Common Oak Species and Grades
Wood Flooring Room Setting Photo's

2.Cleaning Hardwood Floors - Sealed and Unsealed

3.The artistic collection

4.Bathroom Floor Plans And Bathroom Layout

5.Laminate Flooring

6.Carpet Photos

EVERYTHING ABOUT CAR

The design history of Opel, Vauxhall and Saab

General Motors' new, expanded European design center is proof of the value of design to GM and highlights the company's continued focus on further strengthening product development. Future products from Opel, Vauxhall and Saab are being created at this 20,000 square-meter site using the very latest design technology.
As part of GM's global design network, more nearly 350 staff in Rüsselsheim also contribute to the design of vehicles on other continents. But even in the days when the relevancy of design was uncertain and tools like virtual reality did not exist, design milestones were being set at Opel, Vauxhall and Saab.
Here is an overview of some of these milestones. ..................................READ MORE

Automobile DesignYear 2010 and Beyond

It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m going to talk about automobiles in year 2010 and beyond. Probably the only thing for sure about discussing the future is that regardless of what might seem apparent from our perspective in 1997, it probably will not turn out exactly as we envision it. This fellow’s concept of the car of the future was obviously shaped by his perspective on vehicle technology in 1911. And any long-range forecast we make today is just as likely to be colored by our own perspective in time. The future will of course be an extension of the present - we can look at our trajectory and feel fairly confident of where ..................READ MORE
source :http://www.rqriley.com/

Digital Technologies in Car Design

The digital technologies have a great impact not only on the vehicle engineering development, but also on the creative process. Digital renderings and sketches, 3D models, photorealistic images and virtual environments are the new communication forms...........READ MORE

Discover The Secrets to Quickly & Easily Draw All Your Favorite Cars Effortlessly

“Discover The Secrets to Quickly & Easily Draw All Your Favorite Cars Effortlessly...Using The Same Exact Techniques Professional Designers All Over The World Use To Draw The Cars You Love… Without Having To Spend Thousands Of Dollars And Years .............READ MORE

LANDSCAPING - BUILDING A BACKYARD POND THE SMART WAY

A backyard pond can turn a ho-hum property into a thing of absolute beauty. It can be the perfect finishing touch to a landscape or the centerpiece of a yard. Backyard ponds are increasing in popularity, as a variety of inexpensive kits and products hit the market. For years, backyards ponds were a luxury that only the very wealthy could afford. Today, it seems, any homeowner willing to put in a little effort can add a pond to his or her property.

Unfortunately, in the mad rush to integrate ponds into home landscaping, many do-it-yourselfers make mistakes. There are a number of important factors you should consider before and during the construction of a backyard pond. Let’s look at some guidelines for building your backyard pond the smart way. Keeping these points in mind will allow one to avoid several common pitfalls associated with do-it-yourself pond construction.

First, integrate the pond with your existing landscape. In many cases, amateur landscapers simply find a convenient open area and get right down to work. The finished product? Well, it looks just like a backyard--with a pond in it. The pond just doesn’t seem to fit. It seems “forced” or somehow incongruous with overall look and feel of the property. In these situations, the presence of a pond can actually detract from the beauty of a yard and can serve to diminish curb appeal and resale value.

If you are considering adding a pond to your hard, take the time to select a design and a location that flatter your overall landscaping. Don’t simply “plop” it down somewhere in hopes that it will look great. In many cases, it won’t. If you don’t feel as though you can trust your own design and aesthetic judgment on the matter, seek the opinion of others to guide the location and shape of your new pond.

Second, think about the elements. If you place your pond in complete shade, you might have a problem providing adequate warmth to maintain a fish population. If you place your pond near a tree, you may find yourself constantly working to keep leaves out of the water. The environment surrounding the pond will have a large impact on both its appearance and overall well being. Think about your property and the elements before starting work on your backyard pond.

Third, size matters. You need to make sure your pond will be sized correctly to meet your goals. Those with limited space may wish for a pond with a large fish population, only to find that the space available won’t support enough finned friends to satisfy them. Others may want to experiment with a variety of aquatic plants. These also have specific space requirements that you should consider. If your pond is too shallow or too small, your range of options will be limited.

Another example of considering size carefully has to deal with the depth of the pond. This is particularly true in colder climates with ponds containing fish. If the pond is too shallow, it can freeze completely. It should come as no surprise that a total freeze is likely to cut down on the number of fish in a hurry! Proper pond depth is essential in many situations to maintain a healthy fish population.

Adding a backyard pond can be a great way to make outdoor living more attractive and enjoyable. If done correctly, it can add a certain luster to a property and can even serve to create a substantial net increase in the property’s value. However, a poorly conceived backyard pond can be incredibly frustrating.

Today, almost anyone can add a pond to the backyard. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about doing that. If you are considering adding a pond to your property, be aware of the factors you must keep in mind in order to do the job right!

HOUSE STYLE

Modern style

NISSAN PIVO 2 CONCEPT

By far the most provocative and advanced of the four concepts shown here by Nissan, the Pivo 2 is a more globular version of the Pivo shown here two years ago. In design terms, the biggest difference is how the rounded form language from Pivo 1 is now extended to the end views, while the three-seater cabin is developed to include a number of new technical features to enhance its appeal to the 'girl about town' customer that Nissan is targeting.

First impressions are that the chassis 'pillow base' of the Pivo 2 has been visually reduced so that the 10-inch wheels sit as separate globules outside the main rotating cabin and each can now rotate 90 degrees. In sideways 'crab parking' mode the four wheels and grey inner wheelarches turn together inside their blue outer wheel spheres, however, this further emphasizes the essentially excessive use of road space of the novel chassis layout. There are also semantic issues with this design: the connecting joints of the tiny wheels to the cabin leave narrow gaps in the overall silhouette of the car and the hinges themselves appear thin and visually weak, whereas one might expect to see a strong section at these critical points. On the positive side, the whole vehicle shifts with an exciting animal-like movement, tilting and heaving around as the various wheel and cabin arrangements are engaged in sequence.

The drive-by-wire steering and pedals allow the complete front end to open as on the old BMW Isetta bubblecars of the 1950's. A further innovation is the incorporation of a 'Robotic Agent' - an animated monkey-like character that sits atop the IP and rotates to show emoticons to the outside world.

At the end of the day there are two basic parts to this showcar: the multi-directional cabin idea and the globular form language, and the two sometimes act against each other. It feels like Nissan needs a Pivo 3 version to tie the whole concept together and really make it 'sing'

From : cardesignnews.com

HAIR CARE · COMMON HAIR MISTAKES

1. NOT TRIMMING YOUR HAIR EVERY 6 WEEKS.
The tip of each hair is weaker then the root, making it more vulnerable to breakage and split ends. Having the tips trimmed every 6 weeks helps to maintain the condition of your hair and its style.

2. WASHING HAIR ON A DAILY BASIS.
Regularly washing your hair strips it of essential oils and can leave it dry and brittle. If you have naturally oily hair, use a mild, pH-balanced shampoo. When washing your hair don't rub the scalp vigorously as this will stimulate the oil glands to produce more sebum.

3. RUBBING YOUR HAIR VIGOROUSLY WITH A TOWEL.
The action of rubbing you hair with a towel actually roughens the hair cuticle, which can lead to frizzy, flyaway hair.

4. LEAVING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER IN YOUR HAIR.
Shampoo and conditioner that is not thoroughly rinsed out of the hair is the worst culprit for bad hair days. It counteracts styling products, leaves your hair looking dull, limp and unmanageable. Try to rinse your hair for an extra couple of minutes after shampooing and conditioning.

5. BLOW-DRYING HAIR UNTIL COMPLETELY DRY.
Overheating your hair makes it susceptible to breakage and strips it of shine. A better idea is to blow-dry hair until its 80% dry and then let it air dry, naturally. Alternatively use a leave-in conditioner or styling product that protects your hair from heat styling. Also, hold the hair dryer at least 30 centimetres away from your hair.

6. NOT USING PRODUCTS RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR HAIR TYPE.
Many people misdiagnose their hair type and subsequently purchase the wrong hair products to style hair. Using the right product will help to recreate that special salon style.

7. NOT USING A CLARIFYING SHAMPOO ONCE A WEEK.
Everyday pollutants cling to hair and leave a thin coat of grime that dulls and weighs down the hair. Using a clarifying shampoo once a week will give hair a residue free fresh start.

8. THINKING THE LATEST FASHION HAIR CUT WILL SUIT YOU.
Let's face it; we're not all beautiful models. Not all of us can get away with the latest, trendiest, most fashionable hair cut. May be that fashion cut can give you a worst look.
It all depends on individual, their texture, their lifestyle, their quality of hair.
Drastic haircuts take a long time to grow out, so be sure you want to take the risk before sitting in the char and letting your hairdresser go to work. Be specific and take lots of photographs to ensure you are getting the look you want.

BUNGALOW

A bungalow (Gujarati: બંગલો baṅglo, Hindi: बंगला baṅglā) is a type of single-story house. The word derives from the Gujarati word baṅglo, which in turn came from Hindi baṅglā. It means "Bengali", used elliptically for a "house in the Bengal style". Such houses were traditionally small, only one story, thatched and had a wide veranda. Bungalows today are a type of house that is usually single story or one and a half stories, and can be quite large.

In India, the term bungalow refers to any single-family unit (i.e., a house), as opposed to an apartment building, which is the norm for Indian middle class city living. The Indian usage is different from the North American usage insofar as a bungalow can be a quite large, multi-storied building which houses a single extended family. In India, owning a bungalow is a highly significant status symbol.

Advantages

Bungalows are very convenient for the homeowner in that all living areas are on a single storey and there are no stairs between living areas. A bungalow can be more easily converted to a wheelchair-accessible home. Neighborhoods of only bungalows offer more privacy than similar neighborhoods with two story houses.

With bungalows, strategically planted trees and shrubs are usually sufficient to block the view of neighbors. With two story houses, the extra height requires much taller trees to accomplish the same and it may not be practical to place such tall trees close to the house to obscure the view from the second floor of the next door neighbor. On the other hand even closely spaced bungalows make for quite low density neighborhoods, contributing to urban sprawl.

Source : Wikipedia

PAINTING

Painting Your House: Information, Research and Price Estimates

Painting your house is one of the best ways to add value to your home. This is true even if you are putting on the same color as before. Keep in mind, using paint of a good quality can make a surface more abrasion-resistant, easier to clean and capable of washing without the risk of removing the paint.

Interior Painting

If you are working indoors, you must attend to the holes in walls and ceilings before slapping on a coat of paint. These areas should be repaired with a vinyl spackling compound and they will usually require more than one coat due to shrinkage. If you have larger damaged areas to repair then you will most likely need to use wallboard or plaster patch. You can make wallboard repairs with Fiberglas joint tape and drywall joint compound. Plaster repairs can be successfully made with plaster patching product. If you need to blend in a textured finish after you make a repair, try using a spray texture in an aerosol can.

Exterior Painting
For exterior finishes, you will probably be working with old flaking paint on the siding, trim, gutters and downspouts. This needs to be removed before you put a fresh coat of paint on. The most effective approach would be to begin with a power washing with water to remove the majority of the damage and then use a paint scraper to remove the remaining flaking, chipped or blistered paint. Once that is done, mix together a solution of 50/50 bleach and water to remove mold and mildew.

Paint Selection
Your next step is to select the right paint and applicators for the job. This step is essential to an attractive and long-lasting result. As a rule of thumb, note that the more costly the paint is the better quality it is. Basically this means is that a costly paint will most likely get the job done in one-coat, be abrasion-resistant and remain good looking for a longer period of time. It is definitely worth paying the extra money for. Below are a few tips on what type of paint should be used for applications.

*Oil-base semi-gloss enamel should be used for surfaces that will be subject to abundant moisture, such as basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. Although new advances in latex paint are making latex just as durable in wet spaces.
*A High-quality 100-percent-acrylic latex flat wall paint should be used on other surfaces.
*Exterior paint should be selected according to the material that you are painting. There are special paints designed to work with different materials.

10 TIPS FOR ARTFULL GROUPING

1.Balance large with small, grouping small frames together to offset the heaviness of a single large piece.

2. The spacing between objects creates rhythm and affects the way each item relates to the next. For an airier effect that lets each piece be appreciated on its own, leave more space between frames; for a dramatic look that highlights the relationship between each piece, leave less. But whichever approach you choose, leave equal spacing between each piece for an overall harmonious look.

3. Experiment with symmetry and repetition, playing with different combinations of both until you find the combination most pleasing to your eye. For example, line up three same-size frames side by side, or place two smaller frames on either side of a large one. (Since tastes vary widely in this area, trust your instincts and just go with what you like best.)

4. Choose a theme, such as nature or travel, to link each piece to the others. Or, group the artwork by color. An eclectic series of photos in multiple sizes, for example, can still look unified if they’re all in black and white.

5. Grouping artwork by era or style is another way to connect the items in a display. Whether the style is Vintage or Abstract, works of differing subjects and artists can coexist beautifully if they represent a consistent era.

6. However, art pieces need not be from the same era to be combined. When mixing old and new, use matching frames in one or two neutral colors. This helps link the different pieces together in a smooth, cohesive way.

7.Odd numbers of frames (3,5,7) create the most pleasing effect in a display. Place central pieces at eye level or slightly above on the wall, then expand your display outward from there.
8. To add interest and character to a collection of similar art pieces, use frames in a variety of colors, textures and shapes. Interspersing the display with mirrors helps break up repetition, and creates the illusion of amplified natural light.
9. Hang several shelves to create a gallery of artwork and objects. Place framed or un-framed artwork on the shelves to lean against the wall, and then add eye-pleasing items (found river rocks, sculptural vases, or vintage children’s toys, for example) that play off the shapes, colors and textures of the artwork.
10. Use wall ledges as a framework for an ever-evolving mix framed artwork. Aside from protecting your walls from misplaced holes, ledges also provide the freedom to layer artwork so that one frame slightly overlaps the other. This technique puts the focus on the display as a whole, rather than on any individual piece.

Source :Art.com