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