Is Your Deck Safe?

As spring approaches, thoughts turn to sprucing up the yard, the garden, and spending more time outdoors. Part of gearing up for this time of year is making sure your deck is safe and well-maintained.

A deck can be the perfect place to spend time enjoying the weather with friends and family. A well-built and maintained deck offers a safe haven for outdoor living. However, an improperly built or deteriorated structure can mean disaster. A deck collapse can cause unnecessary, and often serious injuries, and even death.

In an effort to save lives and prevent injuries, the North American Deck and Railing Association, Inc. (NADRA) declared May as Deck Safety Month in 2006. Now in its third year, the Deck Safety Month program helps increase public awareness of the necessity for regular inspection and maintenance of existing decks, and proper installation of new decks.

The number of deck failures and resulting injuries has been increasing at an alarming rate. Between 2000 and 2006, there have been at least 30 deaths reported as a direct result of deck collapses and more than 75 percent of people on a deck when it collapses are injured or killed, illuminating just how important it is for homeowners to check their deck. There are 40 million decks in the U.S. that are over 20 years old. At a conservative one percent, that means 40,000 decks are currently in need of repair or replacement. Taking that estimate to 10 percent brings the total number of unsafe decks to four million.

Mike Beaudry, executive vice president for NADRA states, “Our number one priority to the public is to ensure that the decks they and their families enjoy are safe. NADRA takes this responsibility seriously and has created campaigns and educational programs for the builders, lumberyards, and manufacturers to improve proper installation practices along with checklists and safety awareness information for consumers to follow.”

Reasons for a deck collapsing can range from age of the deck, poor maintenance and exceeding load capacity to improper building methods. Deck failures can be avoided. It’s a matter of making the consumer aware of the necessity of choosing a professional deck contractor, regular maintenance and inspection, and knowing the limits of the deck structure.

It's time to Check Your Deck! Homeowners should visit NADRA’s website at www.nadra.org for the Check Your Deck ten-point safety checklist.

“May is a great time to make your deck-check,” Beaudry says. “In parts of the country where there’s a lot of snow and ice, your deck could have developed a trouble spot over the winter.” Beaudry adds, “If you’ve never had your deck professionally inspected, make that appointment. A professional inspection will examine every inch of your deck, educate you on your deck’s capacity limits, identify any problem areas, and give you a map of what to keep your eye on in the future. If your deck is older, this might include a regular deck inspection schedule.”

If you find your deck is not safe to enjoy, NADRA advises taking immediate action to have it repaired or rebuilt as necessary and recommends the following tips to choose a deck builder.

* Ask friends and family members for referrals and contact state and local licensing authorities and trade associations such as NADRA.

* Meet with and carefully evaluate all potential deck builders. Ask to see a portfolio and some samples of the decking and railing materials they prefer to use. Good builders take pride in their work and will be enthusiastic about the possibility of creating a relationship.

* Pay attention to the deck builder’s experience, licensing, insurance coverage and professional references.

A key element of enjoying your deck for years to come is making sure it is safe and code compliant. When hiring a deck builder, there is more to consider than just price. In addition to the tips above, NADRA recommends homeowners contact their city or county building department to speak with an inspector with knowledge in deck construction.

For more information on Deck Safety Month, the Check Your Deck program and finding a reputable deck builder, visit www.nadra.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Kitchen Color Trends and Tips for 2008

Every homeowner knows that the kitchen is the perfect place to please the palate. But it can also be the perfect place to add character with the color palette. When remodeling the hub of your home, choosing the right colors is an important part of the decision making process. But how do you choose colors that are compatible with your space and your taste?

Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD and director of design for American Woodmark, offers some helpful tips for guiding your color choices to banish kitchen boredom.

Cabinetry Color vs. Wall Color

Painting your kitchen walls is an easy way to add color and personality to your space. Soft blue wall paints, which are calming and easy to live with, are also versatile as they work well with both light and dark cabinetry. The color can balance cabinetry with a darker finish, such as cherry spice, or accent cabinetry with a lighter finish like maple butterscotch.

Go Bold

If you prefer the colors in your home to be trendy, consider using dramatic hues to brighten up your kitchen walls. “Bold, ethnic colors such as red and gold, the colors of China, are expected to gain interest because of the upcoming Olympics, while botanical greens are strong partly because of the environmental movement,” says Edwards. If you are not quite ready to make such a bold commitment, buy a small container of paint and test it on an inconspicuous area of the wall to see how it works with your kitchen and your style.

Mixing Finishes and Countertops: How to Avoid a Color Trap

Another simple solution for taking a kitchen from drab to dazzling is to mix cabinetry finishes and/or countertop colors. Mixing finishes and countertops is a surefire way to avoid the common color mistake of matching everything. When everything in a room is the same color, it becomes either too intense or too bland.

To avoid this color trap, choose two finishes that balance one another. Combining a maple cream or natural maple finish on the main cabinetry with a cherry chocolate finish on the island adds depth and pulls the entire room together. Or, keep the finish the same on both and use contrasting countertops for the main kitchen and the island to achieve the same balance.

For another fool-proof solution, black countertops combined with white or cream cabinetry create a timeless look. The black and white trend has made a big comeback in the last year.

It’s the Little Things that Make a Big Difference

If you do not want to transform your entire kitchen into a colorful oasis, but still want to show off your style, a little bit can go a long way:

* Incorporate a backsplash in a patterned, multi-colored, or even metallic tile to easily add personality without committing to a full-on color renovation.

* Include glass front cabinetry, such as an open or mullion frame door, to create a dramatic backdrop for your vibrant glassware.

* For a quick and easy color pick-me-up, change your cabinet hardware; add colorful art prints; or invest in some bright appliances such as a toaster, food processor or mixer.

While a lot of thought and consideration should be put into the color choices of your kitchen, it does not have to be an overwhelming process. Once you know what style suits your kitchen color needs, head to your local Home Depot and speak with a design professional about how to add a kick of color to your kitchen. For other great kitchen design ideas, including cabinetry styles and finishes, visit www.woodmark-homedepot.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How To Make Your Bathroom Eco-Friendly

We waste more water and use more chemicals in our bathrooms than any other place in the house! Here's how to green yours up.

Lawn Care Gone Lazy: Two Simple Steps to Greener Grass in No Time

Spring. Back outside again to tackle the lawn. It seems the grass is always greener right next door, but that doesn’t have to be the case this year.

The real secret to a great looking lawn is the soil. It’s your lawn’s foundation and ultimately determines the health and beauty of your lawn throughout the season. This spring, start from the ground up and you’re sure to see a decided difference in your grass.

To ensure a healthy, lush lawn, improve the soil and you’ll see improvement in your lawn. The three most common tasks to accomplish this are: aeration, dethatching and soil conditioning. We’ve all heard of these three tasks, but very few of us pay any attention to them and most of us don’t implement them at all.

So what do these three processes accomplish?

Aeration: As lawns age or sustain heavy traffic, soil compaction often occurs. Grass roots require oxygen to grow and absorb nutrients and water. Compacted soil reduces your lawn’s ability to grow and breathe, resulting in poor top growth and a deteriorating lawn. Aeration benefits your lawn by increasing water, nutrient and oxygen movement in the soil, improves rooting, prevents run-off and boosts the earthworm population underground… Mother Nature’s own aerator.

Dethatching: Thatch is the layer of dead grass that settles in between the soil surface and the green foliage of the grass. Thatch must be removed to maintain the health of your lawn. Too much thatch interferes with nutrient and water absorption. To gauge its thickness, take a 6-inch-deep plug of sod and soil from the lawn and measure the thickness of the packed thatch. If your thatch layer is more than one-half inch thick, your grass will struggle to grow.

Soil conditioners, also called soil amendments, are added to soil to improve plant growth and overall health. Soil conditioners are not fertilizers, but are very valuable additions in helping make your soil productive for growing your landscape plants. These products improve soil’s drainage and some will also increase the water holding capacity of your soil.

This spring you can accomplish all three of these time consuming tasks with just one simple step and very little effort. LazyMan Liquid Gold is a brand new spray-on all-natural product that aerates, dethatches and conditions the soil. The product covers 100 percent of your lawn, is chemical-free and actually adds nutrients, increases much-needed airflow and boosts the earthworm population underground. This revolutionary product, new to the market this spring, will enhance your soil creating that healthy foundation your grass needs to grow healthy and green.

Once you’ve easily accomplished these three essential tasks in one easy, even lazy, step by spraying on LazyMan Liquid Gold you’re ready to make repairs to your lawn:

Is your lawn riddled with bare patches due to dog spots, heavy traffic or neglect? If so, you will need to add grass seed to your existing lawn to fill in those bare patches. This solution is known as “overseeding.”

Your first step is to select grass that has similar characteristics -- leaf texture, length and color - to your old turf. You don't have to plant the same kind. Keep in mind that most lawn failures are the result of grass that is poorly adapted to a region or location.

There are tons of grass seed varieties to choose from, which can make things complicated. This spring get help from Outsidepride.com which offers Major League Grass seed, top-rated and well-respected varieties of perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, bermuda grass, centipede grass, buffalo grass, zoysia grass as well as an award-winning line of tall fescues.

Major League offers the best varieties in their blends, and they clean their seed to achieve high purity, high germination and low weed seed.

Remember: if you neglect spring lawn care and preparation you could end up paying for it the rest of the year. The good news? This year, Lawn Care’s gone Lazy. Visit www.Outsidepride.com for tips, advice and products for your lawn and garden. Then you’ll finally be able to say the grass is greener right in your own yard!

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Safely Use a Hammer

Hammers are helpful around the house, unless you're the type to smash your thumb whenever you use one. Find out how to hold and use a hammer safely.

Backyard Landscaping Changes 'Blah' to 'Aha' With Hot Tubs

With the housing market in a slump, more homeowners are putting efforts into smart updates of their current property. For many, this means creating the ultimate relaxation destination right in their backyard. Hot tubs and strategic landscaping improvements are leading the trend as homeowners are changing their simple backyards into peaceful havens their family and friends can enjoy.

If you have been thinking about updating your property, don’t be overwhelmed by the many options available. Customizing your backyard with a hot tub and appropriate landscaping is much easier than you think.

“The first step in creating your dream backyard is to scout out the best location to place your hot tub. Ponder the view, privacy and ease of access. Keeping your spa just steps from a backdoor to your home is a great convenience on cold evenings,” advises Erica Moir of Jacuzzi Hot Tubs. “But before you settle on a location, take a chair and place it in the spots you are considering. Pre-planning and a touch of creativity are critical to the success of any backyard design project.”

Recently, the two largest manufacturers of acrylic hot tubs sponsored backyard design contests for designers and hot tub installers around the world. You can learn from the experts. Here are some hot tips for landscaping around your hot tub, drawn from the award-winning entries received by Jacuzzi Hot Tubs and Sundance Spas:

1. Mix landscaping elements for visual appeal.

Use various types of architectural and landscape materials in interesting ways. Natural stone, brick, block, synthetic or wood decking, waterfalls, fencing, grass and flowering foliage all come together to create a varied and visually stimulating area.

2. Plants and decor provide privacy.

Gazebos, pergolas, screens, shrubs and strategically-placed walls afford modesty and essential privacy for the backyard and hot tub serenity zone. If you are planting trees or shrubs, consider the plant’s eventual maximum size and place accordingly. Surrounding the space with dense plant life creates a cocoon of intimacy. Many people choose evergreen plants because their thick covering lasts through all seasons, including the cold winter months.

3. Customize for an integrated look.

Every backyard is unique and each hot tub installation can be customized to integrate seamlessly into your landscape elements. One popular trend is to recess a portion of the hot tub below ground level. Another customized look is to tuck a hot tub into the side of a slope. The possibilities are endless. Consult a professional hot tub retailer for advice on the particular attributes of your backyard.

4. Water features create a tranquil environment.

Select a hot tub with a built-in waterfall or water feature. These features bring the feeling of peace and serenity to your hot tub experience. Look for models that will run the water feature even when the main hot tub pumps are not on so that you can enjoy the sounds of nature any time.

5. Lighting effects set the mood.

Today’s hot tubs have amazing, energy-efficient, multi-color LED lighting effects both under water and around the exterior. But don’t stop there. Consider the pathway from the house to the hot tub and ensure that you provide adequate lighting for those late night soaks. Lighting is an attractive feature that keeps the area safe and sets the mood and tone of the hot tub experience.

Ready to get started changing your backyard into a spa-like retreat? “After you have your plan, it’s very important to take a tape measure, then mark out the space using masking tape or chalk,” adds Anthony Pasquarelli of Sundance Spas. “That’s the only way you’ll be able to see how much room you have for all the elements you want to include.”

For more great landscaping ideas and to see more award-winning backyards, visit www.JacuzziHotTubs.com and www.SundanceSpas.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Mulch a Garden

Gardening doesn't have to be a lot of work, especially if you use mulch in your vegetable and ornamental beds and pathways. Mulch is a huge garden timesaver because it helps prevent weeds, reduces the need to water, moderates soil temperatures, adds organic matter to the soil as it breaks down and helps your garden look tidy.

How To Paint a Wall

Never picked up a paintbrush? Don't worry. You can still paint a wall like a pro!

How to Plant Tulips

The key to keeping fresh cut flowers perky for a week or more without floral preservatives (which contain biocides that kill bacteria and fungus) is to keep the water fresh and the stems free of air pockets so they can continue to draw up water.

How to Use a Jigsaw

Many home projects require cutting, and the jigsaw is a great tool that's easy to operate when you have to start sawing. See how to use a jigsaw in three simple steps.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Wooden Yard Structures

Warmer days and shorter nights mean it is time to get out garden tools and hoses, tidy up the yard and prepare your home’s wooden outdoor structures for spring and summer use.

Caring for decks, gazebos and pergolas, often made of Western red cedar, should be a regular part of the spring cleaning checklist. Routine maintenance, like cleaning surfaces of dirt and other debris and protecting wood from mold and mildew, can be done easily in a weekend.

“Many people choose Western red cedar because of the natural durability and beauty of the wood,” says Paul Mackie, western area manager, Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, or “Mr. Cedar” as he is known in the industry. “Preparing your outdoor living structure for a busy spring and summer is an important step to help maintain that beauty.”

Western red cedar contains natural preservatives that make the wood very durable and basic maintenance relatively simple. A broom, a garden sprayer, a little bleach and a hose are all you need.

Cleaning the Deck

Start with the deck. Inspect it for buildups of dirt that may have accumulated during the winter. Begin by sweeping the deck to remove debris, taking special care to clean between the planks and boards of horizontal surfaces. This will help spring rainfall drain from horizontal surfaces and allow air to flow between the boards. Reducing standing water and increasing airflow will limit the amount of moisture that can collect and stay on the surface of the plank.

Get Rid of Mold and Mildew

Killing mold and mildew that may have grown during fall or early spring is another important piece of deck maintenance, particularly for materials that have rough textures such as composite decks. Mackie recommends a simple solution of three parts water and one part oxygenated bleach be applied with a garden sprayer. Rinsing the treated areas with clean water once the solution is applied should eliminate mold and mildew.

Skip Pressure Washing

Do not pressure-wash wood, says Mackie, because “you can make it look like your grandfather’s corduroy pants.” Pressure-washing also can disrupt Western red cedar’s natural moisture resistance by forcibly pushing water into the wood. If you just cannot resist using your pressure-washer, keep it below 800 pounds per square inch.

Elevate Planters

Many outdoor living spaces are decorated with planter pots and boxes, but setting and leaving planters directly on wooden surfaces can stain.

The Web site realcedar.org recommends people elevate planters from deck surfaces so moisture can more easily evaporate from wood planks. Adequate airflow keeps the area drier and allows Western red cedar’s natural preservatives to protect the wood.

Care for Gazebos and Siding

Check gazebos and pergolas, as well as any wooden siding on the house itself, for dirt, mold and mildew. Clean away any dirt, and treat the siding or structures with the oxygenated bleach solution if needed.

Water, dirt, pollen and mold tend to collect and sit on horizontal surfaces. Left alone, they become a harmful cocktail that can speed up the deterioration of otherwise healthy wood.

Preparing an outdoor structure for spring and summer use is simple and well worth the minimal time invested. Following these easy steps is a sure formula to protect your wooden structures and maintain their natural beauty for years to come.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Remove Rust From Tools

Tools can last for years if you take care of them. But don't worry; if your favorite shovel has gotten a tad rusty, it's a snap to make tools shiny as new.

Craving Concrete Countertops? You Can Do it Yourself

Do you love the look of concrete countertops, which is the hottest trend in kitchen and bath design, but the cost of professional installation puts them beyond your budget, and you’re not sure if you’re up to the task of doing it yourself? Don’t despair. With planning, practice and a new crop of DIY-friendly materials, you can install your own concrete countertops.

“Concrete countertops are absolutely a do-able DIY project,” says Fu-Tung Cheng of CHENG Concrete, a top concrete designer. “In fact, you don’t even need a power tool.”

Concrete countertops are cropping up in high-end kitchens across the country. Designers love the beauty and warm profile of concrete. Consumers savor the durability and customization. The materials needed to make concrete countertops are relatively inexpensive compared with other high-end countertops like granite or natural stone. Until recently, however, labor costs of professional installation made concrete one of the most expensive types of countertops.

“Homeowners can really add to the beauty of their homes by designing and installing concrete countertops,” says Shawn King of Sakrete, a leading manufacturer of concrete mixes and masonry products since 1936. “Sakrete’s 5000 Plus eliminates many of the problems contractors have typically encountered when installing these countertops, such as cracking, warping and shrinking.”

As with any home improvement project undertaking, be sure to educate yourself before getting started. Here’s a primer on the basics you should know about concrete countertops:

1. Concrete countertops can either be poured in place, right on top of cabinets or cast elsewhere and then installed on the cabinets. With either method, the first step is to start with a sturdy frame into which the concrete is poured – the concrete form.

Start out by measuring your space to determine the size and shape of the form. To construct the form, many experts recommend a coated particle board that will not stick to the concrete after it has cured. Openings for sinks, faucets, cook tops, etc. may be required. This is accomplished by placing smaller, appropriately-sized molds to create voids for these fixtures or hardware.

2. Once the form is completed, it’s time to mix and pour the concrete. Common problems include getting the mixture just right, and cracks that develop as the concrete cures. Using a pre-mixed, consistent blend of concrete will yield the same visual results as more complicated mixtures, with the added benefit of less risk for errors. Sakrete 5000 Plus mixed with CHENG Pro-Formula concrete additive, virtually eliminates cracks, chipping and unevenness – both as the concrete cures and when it’s done, and only requires the addition of water.

3. To further enhance the strength of a custom countertop, reinforcing materials such as diamond lath or reinforcing rod can be used. Then, pour the concrete over the materials. This will further reduce cracking during curing and result in a stronger finished product.

4. Finishing is the final step, and a critical one; the ease of working with Sakrete 5000 Plus and the consistency of the mix simplifies this job. The skill used to tamp, screed and trowel to the finished appearance is the big pay-off.

5. Countertops should cure for at least 48 hours before removing the form. As with any job using concrete, the more slowly the water evaporates from the concrete, the stronger the finished product will be.

Finally, if you need more incentive to install a concrete countertop consider this: whether you hire a contractor or do-it-yourself, countertops are a “green” project. By installing your own countertop, you conserve the energy consumption and pollution associated with mass producing and shipping manufactured countertops. Also, you can boast a unique, one-of-a-kind product in your home.

To learn more about do-it-yourself concrete countertops and Sakrete 5000 Plus, visit www.sakrete.com or www.concreteexchange.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Clever Kids' Room Storage

Little ones have lots of stuff and need easy ways to store it. This room is built for fun and organization.

Six Must-Have Features on Today’s Cutting-Edge Lawn Mowers

Ask anybody who toiled in the backyard in the 60s, 70s or 80s: Mowing the grass used to be an exercise in frustration. People struggled with equipment that was limited by the technology of the day. They yanked the starting cord on less-than-reliable engines, trudged through the yard pushing tough-to-maneuver mowers and wrestled with awkward bags of grass clippings. America could put a man on the moon, but why in the world couldn’t it come up with an easier way to mow?

You can now find all kinds of innovative outdoor equipment that will make mowing your lawn a lot easier than it used to be. Here are six high-tech features to look for when you’re choosing a mower:

* Easy-to-use bag. “For many people, bagging has long been the worst part of the whole mowing process,” says Joe Hager, senior engineer at outdoor power equipment manufacturer Lawn-Boy. “In our research, we found homeowners frustrated with their bagging system, struggling to get the bag on and off their mower.” Lawn-Boy responded to that challenge by developing a bag that can be removed or replaced with just one hand and fits into a convenient cradle on the back of the mower.

* Self-propel system. Mowers with self-propel systems can take much of the strain out of mowing the lawn. Some of the newest models feature an innovative system that automatically senses and intuitively adjusts to the user’s walking speed.

* Adjustable handle. If you’ve got several people who will be mowing the lawn, consider a mower that can be easily adjusted to fit a wide variety of operator heights.

* Quick storage. Look for a mower that can be quickly and compactly stowed in a garage or shed. Some models have a lever that folds the handle with a simple step

* Blade control system. If you find yourself stopping and starting your mower’s engine as you pause to clean up branches or other debris in your yard, look for a mower with a blade control system (also known as a blade brake clutch). The system stops the blade when you release the mower’s handle, letting you pause to empty the bag, pick up debris or roll across a driveway or sidewalk without having to stop – and then restart – the engine.

* Easy-to-start engine. Today’s mowers are much easier to start than their predecessors. Look for a mower with a recoil system with an oversized, padded grip or an electric starter.

With the variety of features available on today’s mowers, how do you know which piece of backyard equipment -- or which combination of features -- is right for your particular situation? To help make the whole process easier, Lawn-Boy has created an online shopping guide that walks you through the decision-making process. On www.FindYourMower.com, you can enter information such as: who will be doing most of the lawn care, the size of your yard and what kind of terrain you’ll be mowing. The guide then takes that information and helps you select a model that best meets your needs.

“The key to choosing the right lawn mower is to take a good look at your specific needs and go from there,” says Hager. “With all the options available, there’s no reason to settle for anything less than a perfect fit.”

More information is available at www.FindYourMower.com or www.Lawn-Boy.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Boost Bath Vanity Storage

Store bath essentials right where you need them with these clever cabinet tricks.

How to Clean a Granite Countertop

With the proper care, your granite or marble countertop will stay new-looking for years. Stone is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain. And granite, being 7 on the Mohs hardness scale of 1 to 10, is virtually unscratchable. (A stainless steel knife blade is a 6 on the scale.)

The Seven Deadly Sins of Kitchen Design

Getting a new kitchen may seem like heaven, but if you commit some common kitchen-planning sins, you may spend your remodeling project in you-know-where.

Kitchen designers may be trained to help customers avoid mistakes, but they all have war stories of being brought into projects only after big problems arise. What are the kitchen-planning gaffes they see most often?

1. “Appliance Fever”-- This commonly occurs when clients insist on having a 72-inch Viking range in an 8- by 10-foot kitchen. They may have six burners, but nowhere to store a pan. This problem can usually be fixed by choosing appliance options like double oven ranges, dishwashers that are incorporated into the sink, counter-depth refrigerators, and even under-the-counter refrigerators. A kitchen’s cabinet space can be planned down to the square inch, as well, with products like Decora’s “superpantry,” which unfolds like a Swiss army knife to reveal layers of shelving.

2. “Door Smack Syndrome”-- Have you ever been in a kitchen where you’ve been working at the counter, only to get banged by someone trying to get into the pantry or coming in from an outside door? Consternations such as planning a dishwasher beside a corner sink, or placing the range right in a narrow walk throughway, can be corrected by allowing at least 3 feet of elbow room on either side of each primary work area, and putting key appliances in protected areas.

3. “Embellishment Mania” -- Corbels, columns, and decorative molding make a kitchen distinctive . . . unless you’ve overdone it. “I was in a kitchen recently that literally had fluted columns between every cabinet,” says award-winning Decora kitchen designer Neal Luck, owner of NHL Kitchen Designs in Long Beach, Calif. “Not only was it gaudy to look at, but they wasted a staggering amount of space.”

“Columns and corbels should only be used at the end of a run of cabinets, or to offset a major design piece, like an island or a farmhouse sink,” he says. “The same principle should be applied to molding. It can run around the top of the cabinets, or offset an important design feature.”

4. “Habitual Code Breaking” -- A surprising number of people plan kitchens with dangerous building code violations that can be very costly to fix. Common mistakes include poor or nonexistent venting above the cooktop, building cabinets less than 12 inches from the cooktop, using non-tempered glass in cabinets that require them and putting too many appliances on one circuit.

5. “Cabinet-Induced Claustrophobia” -- “It never fails to surprise me when I walk into an open kitchen, and a client has put upper cabinets over the top of an open counter,” says award-winning Decora cabinets designer, Tracy Foslein of Home Valu Interiors in Bloomington, Minn. “People are spending thousands of dollars to knock down the walls between their kitchens and dining areas, and they’ve just hemmed themselves in.”

“If you really need the storage space, it’s better to use Decora’s ACCESSories line to get more storage space out of your lower cabinets. Over the years, you won’t enjoy peeking underneath the cabinets all the time to talk to your family,” she adds.

6. “Wood Matching Disorder” -- Few things make customers crazier than trying to pick a wood for their cabinets, especially when they are trying to make an exact match with the furniture or the flooring.

“In a million years, you’ll never get an exact match, and you wouldn’t want to,” says Luck. “Having that much of an exact wood shade can be very tiring on the eyes. Instead, plan your kitchen cabinets to be two to three shades lighter or darker than the wood tone you’re trying to match. It will coordinate, without being too ‘matchy-matchy.’ ”

7. “Investment Dysfunction” -- Is your kitchen really ugly, or just not working for you, yet you refuse to admit it? “I see clients come in all the time who just hate their cabinets, and have a poor kitchen layout, yet they think they can fix all that by getting a new granite countertop,” Foslein says. “Or even worse, they’ve already ripped out the cabinets and only want to spend half what it would take to do the job properly. When you’re planning your kitchen, remember, it pays to get a good, well-made cabinet. They’re the one thing you can’t remove, and you can’t fix so easily later.”

For more information on kitchen design, and to see a gallery of “Design with Decora” contest winners, visit www.decoracabinets.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Have a Beautiful Spring Garden Despite Drought

In these times of severe drought in many parts of the country, consumers are desperate for plants that will make their gardens shine, in spite of water restrictions. The secret is selecting plants that are naturally not thirsty.

Many of our own native plants, water-storing cactus and succulents for example, have evolved over time to tolerate dry conditions. Typically such plants are found in areas with strong light, good air circulation, and poor soil such as parts of the Southwest. Often they display one or more adaptations, including deep taproots or shallow but wide-reaching root systems to maximize the chance of finding water, gray green waxy or hairy leaf coverings, or reduced leaf surface to cut down on water loss through transpiration.

Prudent gardeners select companion plants with similar water needs, both in the landscape and in containers. In either location, avoid rich soil and fertilizer that encourages soft, water-thirsty growth. The trick is to keep young plants watered during the first two to four weeks while they become established, and after that they will be fine. After planting, spreading a layer of gravel or organic mulch on top of the soil will help reduce surface water loss through evaporation.

To try low-water planting in your own garden, here are a few suggestions:

* Top your list with “Diamond Frost” euphorbia, an easy-care, deer-resistant plant from Proven Winners. Its 10- to 12-inch-tall, mounded plants can reach up to 2 feet across. Even in extreme heat they sparkle with clouds of airy self-cleaning flowers all season long; in frost-free climes they are evergreen. In containers water “Diamond Frost” as little as once a week, but when planted in the ground it seldom needs additional water, even during very dry spells.

* Self-cleaning Cuphea llavea “Totally Tempted” displays a profusion of 1-inch wide, lavender-throated, fiery red blooms that attract hummingbirds throughout the season.

* Chrysocephalum apiculatum, “Flambe Yellow” and “Flambe Orange” are Australian shrubs that sport clusters of brilliant yellow or orange knobs of flowers at the end of silver-hairy trailing stems.

Try a large container with shrubby shiny-leaved ”Petit Bleu” Caryopteris as the "thriller," surrounded with ”Diamond Frost” and ”Flambe Yellow” or ”Flambe Orange” spilling over the edges.

* Another good trailer for containers or as a ground cover is Lantana, “Luscious Grape.” The new low-water, heat tolerant selection with heads of large bright purple flowers attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. The leaves have a strong fragrance or odor, depending on your nose. Their rough-to-the-touch surface cuts water evaporation. Pair this with 2- to 4-inch tall lavender pink Cleome “Senorita Rosalita” and ”Diamond Frost” for a long-blooming designer-look.

While periods of dry weather are nothing new, the frequency and degree of drought that certain regions are experiencing are critical. We may need to confine our old favorite annuals to containers where they can be babied, possibly with recycled household water. Change is always unsettling, but gardeners must adapt their mindset and search for plants that laugh at the sun. The palette is broader than we think.

For more information on plants for low-water gardening, visit www.provenwinners.com/idea27.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Lawnmower Blade Sharpening

In this video tutorial, learn how to sharpen a lawnmower blade.

Home Decorating Tips: Copy an Inspiration Room on a Budget

Raise your hand if you know what an inspiration room is. Anyone? While it sounds like a place to meditate or quietly think, it’s actually an attractively decorated room from a magazine, showroom, or even a friend’s home that you admire but don’t have the budget to afford yourself.

However, with a few easy tips, you can achieve a similar look without the hefty price tag. The trick, experts say, is to draw “inspiration” from these examples and emulate the look and style with more affordable furnishings and decorations.

“More people are wanting luxury in their homes, even if it’s just a touch of elegance,” says Joyce Richter, spokesperson for JELD-WEN Windows & Doors. “Not everyone can afford the opulence of a high-end inspiration room, but sometimes all it takes are a few key elements to make a room look like a million dollars.”

Windows and doors can be those special touches that make a home feel like a castle, according to Richter. An inspiration room with high-end windows and doors can be emulated with equally impressive, and budget friendly, options that look just as good. By choosing products that offer style and affordability, homeowners can come surprisingly close to matching the elegant look of an inspiration room.

Here are a few tips from the experts at JELD-WEN on essential elements when emulating an inspiration room:

1. Invest in dramatic differences.

Invest in items that will make a striking difference. For example, homeowners often take doors for granted, but they take up a large amount of space and can make a dramatic visual impact. The same with windows, which offer the dual benefit of great looks and enhanced performance (think energy efficiency).

2. Focus on details.

The shape of a lamp or picture frame is often what stands out in an inspiration room, not the material or price tag. Ask yourself what you like about the product’s detail, and then go searching for it.

3. Look for overlapping features.

Sometimes national manufacturers offer similar features in both their high-end and more affordable products, so do your homework to see if these benefits are available across the board. For example, JELD-WEN offers on many of its window lines simulated divided lites (SDL), or a grid system, that divides the window into smaller sections and creates an interesting look.

4. Focus on color.

Incorporating colorful items such as bedding, or a lampshade, are often enough to take an ordinary room to the level of an inspiration room.

5. Bargain shop.

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Scour online auction sites, or estate sales, for unwanted high-end items that offer the style and price you are looking for.

6. Remember, it doesn’t have to be exact.

Inspiration means infusing your style into the design, rather than exact replication. Trying to find the identical lamp or bedding from an inspiration room is highly unlikely. Most experts say get as close to the look and style as you can and then move on to the next item on your list.

For more information about JELD-WEN products, or to find a dealer near you, visit www.jeld-wen.com or call (800) 877-9482.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Ceramic Tile

Don talks about the advantages to using ceramic tile in your home, and goes through a few of the options for tile.

From Trash to Treasure

Increasingly, heirs of America’s baby boomers face the unpleasant prospect of selling or distributing the possessions accumulated by their parents. These heirlooms are often dirty and damaged. It is possible, however, to restore unwanted furniture to heirloom beauty with some simple cleaning steps.

“A dear friend of my mother was selling her home in Illinois to relocate into a retirement home,” says Susan Tyra of Upland, Calif. “She had three beautiful pieces of furniture: a hutch, a side board and another matching cabinet. Her children were not interested in the pieces and I offered to buy them from her.”

When the furniture was delivered, she saw that years of usage had left the pieces covered in dirt and grime. She wanted to restore the items without inflicting further damage. Her research showed her that most furniture restoration projects involve three steps: Clean off the grime, restore the finish, then protect the wood from further damage

It is crucial that the products used to clean the wood do not damage it. You do not want to use any product containing silicone because silicones impregnate the wood fibers and can prevent the wood from accepting a new finish. It keeps wood from breathing, so over time the finish will develop cracks.

You also do not want to use water-based products to clean wood because the water will soak in and ruin the surface. And never use soap to clean a wood surface because it will remove the moisture from the wood.

On the recommendation of a friend who operates an antiques store, Carrie Leeper of "Generations Antiques and Art" in La Verne California, Tyra used Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner to remove the dirt and grease from the items and to restore moisture to the wood. “Once the dirt and grime from all the years of use was removed they came out gleaming.”

After cleaning, assess the finish for damage. It is important to try to retain the existing finish when restoring used furniture, because stripping and refinishing can greatly diminish the value of antiques. The antique store owner suggested Howard Restor-a-Finish to blend out scratches and blemishes and to restore the color and luster without dissolving the existing finish.

Lastly, it is important to seal the finish and protect the wood from heat and cold and from grease and grime. A properly applied protectant will add years of service to fine furniture. Susan applied a thin coat of Touch of Beeswax Wood Preserver to her newly restored furnishings.

If you are faced with the task of selling or distributing or even keeping heirloom furniture, remember that you’ll get much more value from your pieces by using the three-step restoration method: Carefully, clean the grime. Restore the existing finish; don’t strip it! Then protect the finish to prevent further damage.

For more information about the products mentioned in this article, visit www.woodrestorationkit.com or call (800) 867-2643.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Color is Key to Brightening a Winter Home

The cold months of winter can feel very long, as most people are forced to spend more time indoors. When animals hibernate and the colors of plant life fade, our moods and energy often fade as well. Short of taking a monthly vacation to a bright, tropical paradise, one way we can keep energy in our lives is with the creative use of color.

Winter is the perfect time to spruce up the interior of your home. There are simple, economical ways to add color to your interior spaces to improve your outlook during the winter and year round.

1) Paint the winter blues away.

One of the best ways to integrate color into a home without much cost is with the use of paint. Even if you think you don’t have the energy or talent to repaint an entire room, don’t worry. You can add splashes of color by painting just one wall a vibrant hue.

Take cues from Mother Nature to establish optimistic color schemes. For example, bright blues and warm shades of taupe are inspired by the ocean, reds and yellows can represent the brightness of a rising sun, and brown and green tones remind you of those first days of spring when buds begin to appear.

When deciding where to paint, it’s important to ask yourself, “What is the room’s strongest feature?” It might be a fireplace, a view, or even a favorite piece of artwork. The wall around that focal point is the wall you want to highlight! Bold colors work well on these walls because they tend to be broken by the window or fireplace, so the impact is eye-catching, not overwhelming. Also, there really isn’t that much area to paint, so the work isn’t too time-consuming.

Rollers are the DIY enthusiast’s best friend because they can save a lot of time and produce a professional-looking finish. When choosing a roller, make sure it holds an adequate amount of paint without a lot of shedding. For example, the new Wooster Avalon performs like a high-capacity knit while delivering a very low-shed finish like a woven. The special fibers provide a finish with at least 50 percent lower fiber shed count than other rollers on the market. Using a high-quality roller will speed the painting process so you can enjoy your colorful new room sooner, with less effort during the job.

2) If you miss the green, add some greenery.

Do you miss looking outside and seeing full trees and blooming flowers? If so, there’s no better way to brighten your home than to integrate some plants into the decor. Many people participate in some form of indoor gardening, whether having a full container garden, a simple herb garden, or a favorite green plant or two. Ivy, cactus, spider plants and bonsai are all good indoor plants.

If you prefer flowers, you have options as well. African violets are great indoor plants that produce small flowers in vivid shades of purple, pink or white. Geraniums are easy-to-grow annuals with pretty leaf shapes that will flower continuously if given adequate light. Finally, many bulbs work well in an indoor environment. Paper white narcissus flowers provide a strong scent to bring the smell of summer inside your home. Don’t feel like growing flowers? A trip to your local florist or grocery store can provide you with a bouquet that can be displayed anywhere in the house.

3) Accessorize with the feeling of the sun.

Adding accessories to your house’s decor that draw from the feeling of summer can really make a difference in revving up a home’s energy. New pillows can instantly transform an old sofa into something lively and new. A new piece of art with a nature scene can brighten a boring wall. Update family photos with favorite moments from the past year’s warm months. A fun beach picnic scene might be just the pick-me-up you’ll need on a cold winter morning. Finally, be sure to open your curtains and allow natural light to enter the house as much as you can during the daytime.

Brightening your home with the feeling of summer is easy when you utilize color. For more information about Wooster painting tools, visit www.woosterbrush.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Ideal Garage Doors

Ideal garage doors have four things in common. They're beautiful, durable, easy to maintain and well insulated. To discover how to find your ideal garage door AsktheDecorator.com host Meghan Carter visited Clopay to get the insiders tips for selecting the best type of garage door for your home.

Garage Door Styles

Choosing the right garage door style not only makes your home more beautiful, but also worth more money. So, AsktheDecorator.com host Meghan Carter visited Clopay to discover how to choose the right garage door style for your home.