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Home buying tips for homebuyers

2007-06-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

by: Ron Victor

Purchasing a house as per our requirements is a difficult process. We have many choices to select good ones, sometimes house may look good, but it doesn’t match your budget or sometimes the prices may be good, but the house selected may be wrong and so on. These are some basics steps to keep in your mind while buying a house:

1. List the agent: This is basic step; one has to follow while buying and selling of house business. Today, large number of house was sold by agents and the remaining is sold by the owners. It is best to select an agent because more than 80 percent of the property goes through agents and remaining 20 per cent of the houses only sold by the owners. From the list, select a proper agent and make avail of the service provided by him.

2. Select the agent: It is a difficult one to select an ideal agent for buying or selling a house. While making selection, follow some necessary steps.

• From the list select the agent who you feel an ideal one.
• Check whether the houses shown are properly listed.
• See to that, he is an experienced agent in real estate.
• Ensures the details collected by him are currently updated.
• Verify the documents shown by him and see whether it is a legal document.

3. Budget Estimation: Before looking for a house, make a decision for proper budget estimation to buy a house. You should be cautious and aware while estimating a home budget with your monthly and yearly income. Only when you have proper budget estimation you can continue to look for a house. Even you can avail the pre-approved mortgage which clearly estimates the limits of your budget. It helps to hurry up your search which affects your purchase.

4. Locate your area: If you decide to buy a house, then select the location your want to live. If you decide to buy a house, then select the location your want to live. You can also list to the agent what kind of house you needed, whether it suits your budget, the location you find more comfortable and so on. Select the one which you feel good and also suits your needs.

5. Have Precautions: While buying a house, remember that you are making a huge investment. Since house buying has a huge investment, select the one which will be best for a longer period. Have some precaution while buying a house. Also think about your future, because your life is uncertain. Once you decided to buy a particular house which is already used, see to that any alteration like repairing, electricity maintenance is to be made.

6. Perfections: Be always systematic in your work. File the information you collected from different agents. Also file the information relating to price, description and suitability. At last, while taking decision this information will highly help you. With the help of this information you can select the most appropriate house which suits your needs.

7. Proper Inspection: When you are looking a house see to that the process carried on in your house are as per the requirements. Inspecting a house is a more important aspect while making a selection. You should have to check the walls, electricity, painting and maintenance etc. You can carry any number of steps while inspecting your house. Check whether the house is a qualified one.

Etched glass flower art in living room tables

2007-04-04T01:35:00.000-07:00

Grapes and Magnolias by Rhonda Sykes

Find a size and style for this fine garden art table in the lists below to bring a touch of the outdoors into your home.

Highest quality etchings

These glass top tables reproduce the shading and depth of the original art in photo realistic detail on high quality 1/4 inch glass.

Built of solid oak and made to last

Your living room tables are solid oak with a bottom shelf to display books or decorative items. Their hand-stained and double-lacquer finish with a beautiful Early American stain enhances their natural beauty. And their sturdy construction will last you a lifetime.

Glass table tops use double-thick 1/4" glass to give you maximum durability. Sizes are measured to the nearest inch.

Fully assembled for your convenience

Your tables come fully assembled. No need for tools or complicated plans. Just set the glass in its place on top and your table is ready for you—and everyone who sees it—to enjoy.

Best sellers

Want to choose from their most popular designs? See theirbest-selling coffee tables page 1 and best-selling coffee tables page 2, or best-selling end tables page 1 and best-selling end tables page 2.

Wall Sconces

2006-12-22T06:11:00.000-08:00

Access Lighting Gigi Wall Sconce

Access Lighting Torch Wall Sconce

Raymond Wall Mount

Westmoreland Wall Mount

With a decorative wall sconces or torchiers, lightingcan transform a functional room or hallway into a cozy retreat or dramatic passageway.

Wall Sconces

Bathroom Lighting offers shadow-free lighting for shaving, grooming, and applying makeup in your, powder room, spa, or dressing area. In small bathrooms, mirrored lights will illuminate the entire room; but in larger areas, an additional ceiling fixture is often needed for general bathroom lighting.

Wall Lighting

Bathroom Lights, whether casual, contemporary, eclectic, modern, transitional, or simply traditional, the bathroom and powder room wall lighting fixtures by Sea Gull Lighting are the perfect way to achieve your desired fashion or functional needs. We offer styles and finishes that compliment the most popular faucet styles, making the selection even easier in incandescent or energy saving fluorescent bathroom lights.

Sconces

As one of the most recognized names in Bathroom lights, Sea Gull Lighting is proud to feature hundreds of wall and bathroom lighting styles making us the selection of Home Builders, Architects, and Interior Designers today. Sea Gull Lighting’s vanity fixtures, bent glass, bar lights, Hollywood strip lights, wall sconces, wall torchiers, and swing arm lamps will enhance the beauty of any bathe area..

Torchiers

Vanity Fixtures by Sea Gull Lighting have a large selection of plated and hand painted finishes such as polished brass wall and bath lights, antique silver wall and bath lights, variety of other finishes.

Wall Lighting Fixtures

Sea Gull Lighting also features many bathroom lighting fixtures and wall sconces that “ADA Compliant”. This standard, sometimes local building code, meets the requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act for wall mounted fixtures. Specifically, these products will not extend more than 4” off of the wall’s surface.

What to consider when selecting wall mounted fixtures

Wall fixtures are used to provide illumination for a specific area such as a hallway or a bathroom vanity.
While traditional wall fixtures with "arms" remain the most popular form of wall lighting, more contemporary wall sconces are gaining popularity, especially for hallway or accent lighting.
Wall lighting can offer needed illumination levels to prevent accidents on stairs, especially when an overhead ceiling fixture is not feasible.
For reading in bed use two matching wall mounted or pendant fixtures installed 30" above the top of the mattress.
Atlantis with Water

Avalon with Meteor

Avalon with Orb

Icaro Wall Sconce

Holtkoetter Trendline 11203/1	Bulkhead Wall Sconce	Besa Wall Sconce 104	Fiero Wall Sconce

Minka Lavery Bay View Sconce	Access Lighting Outdoor Sconce 20330	Arianna Wall Light	Minka Lavery 207

Bedding Tips

2006-12-14T08:32:00.000-08:00

In " places of dream and rest " a person spends a significant part of his life. Therefore things, to conformable our private world should surround us. Here there are no unimportant trifles. In bedding we first of all appreciate a pleasant touch, and then its appearance. At a choice of the next complete set the hand goes to feel edge of a panel, to feel its texture, density. The Bedding should provide physiological and psychological comfort: to absorb moisture well, to be soft enough, but not to get off at the slightest turn, not to cling, not to stick, not to rustle and, certainly, to be easy washed and quick to dry. Moreover, it appears, the bedding should be also fashionable!

Choice of bedding is a very personal business. There are people to whom well ironed and starched linen is as natural and necessary, as morning coffee.

You have to select linen in conformity with your taste and opportunities, style of your life and an interior of a bedroom so that it were organic addition and an ornament, but the most important, to provide you both comfortable high-grade rest and a dream. In fact, to get rid of sleeplessness and bad mood in the mornings, sometimes it is enough to change bedding.

Tip: Goose Down Comforters Squeeze Test
Feathers are flat, appear two-dimensional, and have a pointy central shaft. You can easily tell the quality of your comforter by grasping a handful of the down comforter and squeezing. The more genuine down and the less feathers your down comforter has, the more comfortable your down comforter will be. If you feel sharp feather quill shafts and points poking out, you have lesser quality down for filling (or a comforter cover of low thread count).

Tip: Information About Down and Feather Fill for Comforters - Storage
After investing in a luxurious goose down comforter, you can keep it clean and fresh from one season to the next in a 100% cotton textile storage bag. One reclosable, hanging storage bag can hold two to three goose down comforters. Never store your valuable down comforter in a plastic bag or box that doesn’t allow your goose down comforter to breathe. A reusable storage bag can be found online for under $12.

Tip: Types of Comforters
Down is the lightest, most effective insulator known to man. Down’s light, fluffy filaments expand and intertwine to form air pockets in your down comforter. A natural product, down regulates warmth and allows you to maintain your natural body temperature. Down comforters offer year-round comfort, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. You can find summer fill down comforters, winter fill down comforters or year-round power fill down at Alexandra Jordan.

Tip: 800 Fill Power Down Is Best
Checking the label on white goose down comforters will reveal important information on fill power. If fill power is 500 to 600, the down is probably from China, even if the down comforter was made in Canada or the USA. A down comforter with an 800 fill power down has the highest fill power, the most loft and the best warmth.

Tip: White Goose Down
True Canadian white goose down comforters is in demand for top-of-the-line products. Consequently, many down products made in Canada and the United States actually use down—sometimes called silver goose down—imported from Asia. Asian goose down tends to be of lower quality because geese there are raised for food, not down. To be fair, this is not always the case. When buying a goose down comforter determine the quality of the goose down based on the down’s country of origin.

Tip: Goose Down Harvesting Methods
Down used in down comforters may be gathered from abandoned nests, taken from nests with eggs in them, or plucked from live domesticated geese several times a season. The latter two methods of harvesting goose down are controversial. If you have qualms about them, do some research before purchasing your goose down comforter. Each manufacturer has its own source or sources for the materials they use in down comforters. Suppliers of goose down in Iceland, Poland, Hungary, Canada and Asia each have their own harvesting methods. Find out what they are.

Tip: Bedding Labeling Laws
Because tiny feathers get caught in down, down comforters are rarely 100% down. Sometimes, down content is 85% or less, with the remainder being feathers, yet the label states 100% down. Check the down content of your luxury discount down comforter before purchase. Some countries are changing their labeling requirements for down comforters.

Tip: Custom Mattress Sizes
With custom mattress sizes depths vary widely among manufacturers. It’s important to measure the depth of your mattress before purchasing a goose down comforter. Standard and older mattresses average 9 inches to 12 inches deep, while newer, pillow-top mattresses are 14 inches to 16 inches deep or even deeper. Deeper mattresses require additional comforter depth so that the very fluffy down comforters cover the mattresses completely. Luxury goose down comforters puff out for much less coverage. Down comforters in the exact measurement you need to cover your bed can be found online.

Tip: Goose Down Comforters
Many people who are allergic to animals may still be able to use goose down comforters, since the goose down power fill is clean and enclosed within tightly woven fabric. Some experts think it is the mix of regular feathers with down in a down comforter that aggravates some allergies. The purer the white goose down—the less amount of feathers included—the more allergenic the down comforter is.

Tip: Research the Bed Sets and Comforters Manufacturer
When purchasing luxury bedding—such as a quality goose down comforter—do some research. Does a product manufactured in Canada contain premium Canadian white goose down or goose down imported from Asia? You can get luxury bedding at a discount, if you shop wisely. Also, find out if the down comforter’s manufacturer belongs to a recognized industry association with standards its members are required to meet.

Tip: Cleaning Bedding
Caring for down comforters is easy. Take your goose down comforter out of its duvet from time to time. Fluff it up to keep the feathers from clumping together. Hang your down comforter out on the clothesline for a quick freshen-up. Large down comforters should be washed in commercial washers, without agitators, or professionally dry cleaned. Always store your down comforter in a dry place where it will not be threatened by mold or mildew.

Tip: Comforters and Duvet Covers
Goose down comforters can be found in a number of colors, sizes and baffle styles. White is a popular color, since it will adapt to a range of color schemes by adding a comforter cover (sometimes called a duvet). Remember, the comforter cover will add more weight and will need to be washed. Goose down comforters must be gotten in and out of the comforter cover on laundry day. A small price to pay for warmth and beauty, right?

Tip: Down Fill Comforters
Geese and ducks are insulated from extreme temperatures by their down. Down is the soft, fluffy growth found under their outer layer of breast feathers. Down is lighter and more flexible than the goose’s feathers. Goose down comforters are highly sought after because they offer the ultimate in comfort and insulation. Luxury down comforters have up to 90% down and 700 fill power.

Tip: Bedding Construction - Threads Per Inch
Down not enclosed in high thread count fabric might poke through, causing discomfort to the sleeper. This is especially true for lower quality down that might contain feathers. Goose down comforters particles are tiny and must be contained inside a down comforter cover made from high thread count cloth. If you use your goose down comforter inside a duvet cover, it will be heavier but the down comforter will remain cleaner and you won’t feel the occasional feather.

Tip: Construction of Comforters
A baffle or baffle box is an interior wall of fabric sewn at right angles to the top and bottom layers of the goose down comforters outer shell. A baffle box is a mark of quality construction and help give luxury down comforters the appearance of depth. A down comforter’s baffled walls permit the goose down to inflate to its fullest potential for the highest loft. High loft eliminates cold spots.


Santa Cruz Complete Bed Sets $59.99 any size		Shanghai Complete Bed Sets $59.99 any size		Navy Circle Graphics Complete Bed Sets $59.99 any size

Sapphire Cashmere Comforter Sets
$49.99 any size

Rebecca's Bloom
Comforter Set
$59.99 any size

Spice Island
Comforter Sets
$79.99 any size

Erin's Rose Quilt
and Accessories
$89.99 twin save $10

Easton
Reversible Quilts
$59.99 twin

Kensington Garden
Patch Quilts
$69.99 twin

Reversible Faux Suede Feather/Down
Comforter Sets
$49.99 twin save $10

Feather Comforter with
Two Bonus Pillows
$59.99 twin save $10

Pleated Down
Comforters
$89.99 twin

Feng Shui Your Bedroom

2006-12-09T07:52:00.000-08:00

Author: Karen Rauch Carter

On average, one third of your life is spent in your bedroom. I think it is practically impossible to waste money on creating the perfect bedroom because it affects you more than any other room in your house. If your love life seems stale or is nonexistent, if your health could use some improvement or if you are looking for a new or different outlook on life, these simple bedroom tips might work for you:

Change as much as you can about your bedroom furnishings, wall color and accessories, keeping in mind that this room is only about passion, rest and self-nurturing. Try to get a good balance of the five elements as well as honoring the shapes and colors of the house your bedroom falls within.
If you are looking for a major change, then stretch yourself and make major decor changes within the bedroom. In other words, don't buy the same old comfort zone stuff that will get you into the same old love- and health-life situations!
Buy a wooden bed if you have the choice. Metal beds can conduct electricity, which can be a health concern. Try not to place anything electrical near your bed, and do not use electric blankets (even if they are plugged in but not turned on they can be harmful!), heating pads or massage pads.
Check the lighting level to see if it is not too harsh (yang) or too dim (yin). Listen for distracting sounds and try to alleviate or remove them.
Avoid large living plants in the bedroom.
Avoid large mirrors in the room if you are not sleeping well.
Avoid sharp metal within the bedroom (knives, axes, swords, guns, scissors, etc.).
Create a headboard for the bed and place it against the most solid wall in the room. If your bed is in line with a doorway, hang a crystal between the bed and that area

Do you have bad or
good feng shui? [quiz]
Increase Your
Wisdom and... [article]
Your Top 6 Feng
Shui Questions... [article]
Feng Shui &
Children:... [article]
Feng Shui Your Desk [article]

Kids' Rooms

2006-12-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Like grownups, kids need a little space for themselves, to play, to dream, to think and to grow. Help your child make her room into a creative, energetic space she'll love.

Being a kid is all about fantasy and discovery. Whether your children dream of becoming princesses, superheroes or firefighters, they need a room that inspires. So give them a place where they can grow, play and be themselves. From bold and bright schemes to fantasy themes, these 24 creative kids' spaces are sure to get your own imagination going.

"Classic Jurassic"

Kid's Rooms

previous | 15 of 16 | next

This colorful baby's room has vibrant walls, a heavy crib and a fun dinosaur theme running through it. The colors are warm, the patterns bold and the overall feel inviting, happy and comfortable.

"Climbing Retreat for Two"

Kid's Rooms

previous | 16 of 16 | next

Fresh blues, lots of silvery-gray woodwork and an indoor climbing wall provide plenty of exercise to a young mind and body. The scheme is fun and refreshing without being childish. This is a room that a child can enjoy well into adolescence.

"Ultra Mod"

Kid's Rooms

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This clean and sophisticated teen room is anything but ordinary! Orange circles echo the shape of the plastic cup ball that hangs from the ceiling and the light reflection window hanging. Silver spray-painted cabinets, star bead lampshades, beaded frames and mini rug squares pull the look together.

"Rosy Posey"

Kid's Rooms

previous | 4 of 16 | next

Play up a monochromatic, or single-color, theme by using various tints and shades of the same hue.

Wedding Cloths Collection

2006-12-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

BJ-232	Collection from ZarithAndaman at www.zarithandaman.com BJ-257	BJ-265
BJ-269	BJ-273	BJ-274
BJ-288	BJ-281	BJ-299

Limits: 1 | 4 | 9 | 16

<< [ 1 ] 2 3 >>

Malay Wedding.. Definations and Some Ideas..

2006-12-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Malay weddings are grand affairs where the couple is treated as royalty. Weddings are usually spread out over several days, starting with the Henna-staining followed by the Nikah ceremony and ending with the Bersanding, which is the actual wedding day.

Engagement
As soon as a man announces his wish to marry, an engagement date will be set when families of the couple meet to discuss the wedding plans.

Henna-staining ceremony
The excitement begins three days before the wedding. On this day, the bride-to-be shows off her trousseau, changing five to six times throughout the day, as a sign of good luck. Her friends and relatives are invited to view her wardrobe. A day after this, the wedding ceremony proper starts with the henna-staining ceremony. During this ceremony, yellowish oil, extracted from henna leaves is applied on the fingertips of the couple by friends and relatives. It announces their forthcoming unity.

Nikah ceremony
Religious solemnisation of the marriage takes place on the wedding eve. Known as the Nikah ceremony rite is required by both the Islamic law and the civic law to legalise a Malay wedding.

Bersanding
The actual wedding day is the Bersanding. This literally means the "sitting together of the bride and bridegroom on the bridal couch". Known as the Pelamin, this couch is the centrepiece of the whole ceremony, and two pelamins are equired - one in the bride's house and the other in the bridegroom's. As the Bersanding ceremony customarily takes place in the afternoon, the bridegroom entertains guests at his own house in the morning. At the agreed time, he is escorted in a procession with a hadrah or kompang band (male music group) to his bride's house. An astakona, a tiered pedestalled tray, is also placed in front of the pelamin. Each tier contains a mound of cooked yellow rice studded all over with red-dyed eggs. This tray will later be presented to the emak pengantin (a close friend or relative chosen to be the matron of honour for the marriage) as an act of appreciation for her help during the ceremonies.The groom then sits with the bride on the pelamin. After this the couple eturns to the bridegroom's house in a procession. They are normally accompanied by the hadrah band, with men beating a rhythm on their timbrels and reading verses from the Koran. The music proclaims their marriage to the world. At the bridegroom's house, the Bersanding ceremony is repeated for the benefit of the bridegroom's kinfolk. This is followed by feasting and merry-making, called the kenduri. The wedding celebrations come to an end when the bridal pair returns home to the bride's house to
pay respect to her family.

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Choose a Color Scheme Like a Pro

2006-11-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

The Color Wheel

The color wheel identifies color families and how they relate.

Primary Colors

All colors, with the exception of white, come from primary colors. Blue, yellow and red are the primary colors. Combinations of these three colors produce other colors. Mix all three together in equal amounts to produce brown.

Secondary Colors

Mix equal amounts of two primary colors to create secondary colors. The results are violet (red and blue), green (blue and yellow) and orange (red and yellow).

Tertiary Colors

Mix one primary color with larger amounts of another primary color to create tertiary colors. For example, mix one part blue with two parts red to make red-violet.

Basic Color Terms

The hue of a color is the basic color. For example, blue is the hue in light blue and dark blue.
Tone describes the color's density and reflective quality. Tone is important when choosing a color scheme.
The value of a color describes the amount of white or black in the color. The value ranges from light to dark on a gray scale.
The saturation of a color refers to its pureness and boldness.

More Hot Color Tips:

Theme of this week..Blue..hehe

2006-11-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

Bedrooms

previous | 20 of 22 | next

Frugal Flair

Look for exotic silky fabric in markets and use it to trim a plain white duvet cover or bedspread and to make cushion covers that add an aura of luxury to your bed.

Bathrooms

previous | 20 of 24 | next

Sky High

With billowing curtains and blue-washed walls, this room borrows the color of a spring sky to create a beautifully refreshing atmosphere. Natural textures and accessories join a varied mix of furniture and fittings to give the look its laid-back, modern charm.

Living Rooms

previous | 26 of 31 | next

Harbor Lights

The bigger the windows, the greater the potential to play decoratively with light, dark, and all nuances in between. The elements in this peaceful sitting room have been expertly planned to enhance those

Kitchens/Dining Rooms

previous | 11 of 32 | next

Tropical Punch

A tile-top table is backed by a deep blue wall in this outdoor dining area, evoking the hues of the Caribbean Sea. The addition of white accents in the tabletop and chairs, as well as the white-painted wood floor, gives the space a tranquil yet refreshing feeling.

contrasts.

My Favourite color.. Blue.. nice combination.. white

2006-11-25T21:53:00.000-08:00

Photography by Andrew McCaul

Inexpensive Options

Paint is an economical way to change the look of a room; this striking pale blue is softened by the theme of white. At the center of it all is a bed of cloudlike comfort, enveloped in simple white cotton jersey sheets ($25 for a queen set) and a down comforter under $100. Framed by a versatile and well-priced cotton-duck-covered headboard and sheer curtain panels draped from a wall-mounted rod above, the bed's pure palette also allows for fun with color and details.

Mirrors: Oly. Mattress: 1-800-Mattress. Bedding: Linens 'n' Things, Pine Cone Hill. Headboard: Spiegel. Rug: Shyam Ahuja.

next : Add Easy Details

Three Bedrooms

Inexpensive Options

Add Easy Details

A Splash of Color

Ross Simon Jewelry

2006-09-10T02:18:00.000-07:00

The very first Ross-Simons retail store opened in historic Providence, Rhode Island in 1952 with a mission to provide exceptional quality jewelry and luxury items at the most affordable prices possible. As the concept took off, the company quickly expanded - our second and third stores followed in 1965 and 1975, and our first catalog was mailed in 1981.

Today, Ross-Simons is a thriving multi-channel retailer. In addition to our Web presence, we now operate 14 retail and outlet stores in nine states and mail more than 60 million catalogs annually across the globe. Though the times may have changed, our focus remains the same: a commitment to service and satisfaction, providing the finest jewelry, tableware, collectibles and more at affordable prices.

Fine Jewelry

Ross-Simons is renowned for its comprehensive collection of fine jewelry. Our selections cover a wide spectrum of styles, fashions and settings, all with one thing in common—impeccable quality and exceptional value.

Whether you're looking for gold jewelry or silver jewelry, Ross-Simons is sure to have the piece for you. Like all of our jewelry, our selection of diamond jewelry has the right way to say what words alone canno

Estate Jewelry

Discover the allure of a Tiffany brooch or the signature style of the Van Cleef Panther. Your Estate collection begins at Ross-Simons, with an array of the finest heirlooms from the world's most revered ateliers and jewelry studios.

Browse Ross-Simons for a vast collection of fine Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Rings, Brooches and Pins, Pendants, Pearl Jewelry, Estate Jewelry, Diamonds, Sterling Silver jewelry, Watches and more.
Ross-Simons is renowned for its comprehensive collection of fine jewelry. Their selections cover a wide spectrum of styles, fashions and settings, all with one thing in common -- impeccable quality and exceptional value.

Whether you're looking for gold jewelry or silver jewelry, Ross-Simons is sure to have the piece for you. Like all of their jewelry, their selection of diamond jewelry has the right way to say what words alone cannot.

Visit Ross-Simons today and see how affordable beauty and luxury can be.

Landscape & Garden

2006-09-09T10:12:00.000-07:00

Your first consideration when starting a new landscaping project is style. The style of your landscape should match the style of your house, but it's also a reflection on your personality.
This page showcases a variety of developed and distinct landscape styles, so you can see the possibilities for your yard.

Style Options:

Formal Style:
This garden shows the formal style of straight lines and perfect geometrical shapes. Here the plantings seem orderly, not random, and they're closely managed and pruned to maintain the formal effect. View Detail

Informal Style:
The house here has kind of a cozy look to it, and it's enhanced that with an informal style of design. That's where the beds have curving edges rather than straight lines and where the plants seem to be placed almost at random. View Detail

English Garden Style:
Here is a garden planted in the English garden style. It was designed to harmonize with the architecture of the home, and it features mass plantings of shrubs and perennials. View Detail

Formal/Informal Garden Style:
In this garden, the more formal brick walkway leads to a circle of plants in the rear. But the flowers and shrubs are laid out in an English garden style with mass plantings of perennials and annuals and no formal borders. View Detail
Oriental Style:
This garden was just planted in the small backyard of a family's townhouse, and it shows an oriental style in its use of rocks, evergreens and water. A lot of different plants were used to create several perspectives. View Detail

Woodland Style:
This garden is done in a style to blend in with the wooded backyard and the sloping terrain. Even though the waterfall looks natural, it's actually man-made and it operates with re-circulated water. View Detail

Try to imagine how your ideas would blend in with the other yards your neighborhood. There's a certain value in keeping a visual continuity between the houses. In fact, you might want to incorporate some of your neighbors' ideas in your own yard to promote continuity.

Landscape Function

After deciding the style of your landscape, next consider what you want the new landscape to do for your house and yard.

The function of your landscape could be to create new areas for play and leisure, increase privacy, block the sun, wind or street noiseways, or to improve the view of your house.

If you have large windows or french doors, think about how you can improve the views from the inside.

You may also want to improve views from a porch, patio or a deck. Or you can create an outdoor seating area if you don't already have one.

Prevention's Anti-Aging Guide

2006-09-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

How to take off 10 years or more--and look and feel better than ever (Anti aging)
-by Andreas von Bubnoff and Joanna Lloyd

We used to think our fate was in the cards--or in the stars. Now, thanks to research unlocking the secrets to living longer and better (Anti Aging), we know different. It turns out that 70% of the factors influencing life expectancy are due to good choices and good luck--not good genes. (Anti aging)

What are the moves that will peel off the years? Prevention asked dozens of scientists studying aging, exercise, nutrition, and related fields which changes deliver the biggest payoff. Read on for their picks--powerful enough to make these researchers adopt them in their own lives (Anti aging).

1. Stay the weight you were at 18 (Anti aging)
"Next to not smoking, this is probably the most important thing we can do to stay healthy and live longer (Anti aging)," says Walter Willett, MD, chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. (Anti aging)

Leanness matters, because fat cells produce hormones that raise the risk of type 2 diabetes. They also make sub-stances called cytokines that cause inflammation--stiffening the arteries and the heart and other organs. Carrying excess fat also raises the risk of some cancers. Add it up, and studies show that lean people younger than age 75 halve their chances of premature death, compared with people who are obese. (Anti aging)

The government deems a wide range of weights to be healthy (between 110 and 140 pounds for a 5-foot-4 woman), partly because body frames vary tremendously. So to maintain the weight that's right for you, Willett suggests you periodically try to slip into the dress you wore to your high school prom--assuming, of course, that you were a healthy weight at that age. If not, aim for a body mass index of about 23.5. (Anti aging)

Willett can't use the prom-dress test himself. Nevertheless, at 6-foot-2 and a lean 184 pounds, he dutifully hews to the BMI of his youth. (Anti aging)

2. Take the dynamic duo of supplements (Anti aging)
They're what Bruce N. Ames, PhD, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley, swears by: his daily 800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid and 2,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine. In these amounts, he says, the chemicals boost the energy output of mitochondria, which power our cells (anti aging). "I think mitochondrial decay is a major factor in aging," Ames says--it's been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes. (anti aging)

In his studies, elderly rats plied with the supplements had more energy and ran mazes better. "If you're an old rat, you can be enthusiastic," Ames says. "As people, we can't be sure until clinical trials are done." (They're under way.) But the compounds look very safe--the worst side effect documented in humans is a rash, Ames says--and "the data in animals looks really convincing," says S. Mitchell Harman, MD, PhD, president of the Kronos Longevity Research Institute in Phoenix. (anti aging)

3. Skip a meal
This one move could have truly dramatic results. Rats fed 30% less than normal live 30% longer than usual--and in a recent study at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the hearts of the leaner human calorie-cutters appeared 10 to 15 years younger than those of regular eaters. (Anti aging)

In other research, calorie restrictors improved their blood insulin levels and had fewer signs of damage to their DNA. Eating less food, scientists believe, may reduce tissue wear and tear from excess blood sugar, inflammation, or rogue molecules known as free radicals. (Anti aging)

Edward Calabrese, PhD, and Mark Mattson, PhD, have opted for "calorie restriction lite." Calabrese, a professor of toxicology and environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, dumped the midday meal. Mattson, chief of the laboratory of neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging, has done without breakfast for 20 years. (Anti aging)

Try it (Anti aging)
Skip a meal a day. You don't need to try to cut calories; Mattson's research suggests you'll naturally consume less that day. Or try fasting one day a week. Just drink plenty of water.(Anti aging)

4. Get a pet (Anti aging)
Open up your home and heart to Rover or Boots. Owning a pet reduces the number of visits to the doctor, prolongs survival after a heart attack, and wards off depression (Anti aging), says James Serpell, PhD, director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania. (His family has a cat, a dog, a large green iguana, a bearded dragon, and a dozen fish.) (Anti aging)

Pet ownership (anti aging) also protects against a major problem of aging: high blood pressure. In one standout study at State University of New York, Buffalo, stockbrokers with high blood pressure adopted a pet. When they were faced with mental stress, their BP increased less than half as much as in their counterparts without animal pals. But pick your pet with care. There is nothing stress-reducing about a dog that chews the baseboard to bits. (Anti agiing)

5. Get help for what hurts (anti aging)
Studies suggest that continuous pain may dampen the immune system--and evidence is clear that it can cause deep depression and push levels of the noxious stress hormone cortisol higher. (Anti aging)

So enough with the stoicism: Take chronic pain to your doctor and keep complaining until you have a treatment plan that works, says Nathaniel Katz, MD, a neurologist and pain-management specialist at Tufts University School of Medicine. Your mood will improve--and your immune system may perk up, too.(Anti aging)

Click here for more tips : - Anti Aging Tips

Crystal accessories

2006-09-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hair Accessories

Crystal hair accessories complete this season's sophisticated look for formal occasions, and our collection of crystal hair accessoriesis more varied than ever. When you imagine yourself in that perfect outfit, what crystal hair clips do you see completing your unique look? From demur to modern, sophisticated to Hollywood Glam, we have designer crystal earrings to fall in love with and the hair accessories that say ‘you'

And always the perfect detail: Crystal Earrings. From sparkling chandelier earrings to classic diamond studs. Crystal Necklaces: From dazzling choker to simplistic necklace. Crystal Bracelets: From modern bangles to unique designs, our crystal accessories range is the ultimate detail, the finishing touch. Crystal Hair Accessories: Pins, Clips, Barrettes.

Crystal hair accessories can bring designer glamour to the simplest of hair styles. "Haute Couture" would better describe the full range of our crystal hair ware accessories and accessories made from ageless crystal stones that sparkle and glitter in unison bringing lasting beauty to every occasion. If you are holding a dinner party or attending a special event Nemesis Accessories' crystal hair accessories range will make you shine above the rest. Also The unique light qualities of our Crystal Accessories will enhance any photographs of the bride, and the photographer will capture the infinite beauty of Nemesis Crystal hair accessories. More hair hair accessories click Crystal Hair Accessories

Bracelets

The bracelets in this range, vary from expensive looking bridal swarovski crystal designs that can be worn as part of your bridal attire, to fashion bangles that can be worn throughout the day. There are rhinestone bracelets, rhinestone stretch bracelets, swarovski crystal bracelets and coloured bangles for you to chose from. Adding one of these bracelets to your bridal jewellery collection will surely make you sparkle! These bracelets are part of our bridal jewellery range. However, these bracelets can also be worn as fashion jewellery. More Bracelets photo

To find more accessories from crystal visit Nemesis-Jewellery

Malaysia Hottest Fashionista

2006-09-04T01:40:00.000-07:00

Bernard Chandran

Currently known as Malaysia's 'Prince of Fashion', Chandran is one of the very few who takes the effort to understand his customers. This makes his work unique, as each creation is incorporated with something that has not been used before. All his creations are a fusion of artistic elegance and modern day practicality.

He honed his fashion design skills in Paris and became the first Malaysian to win the 'Open European Contest for Look of the Year 2000' in 1991. In 1993, he launched his label and opened his couture house in KL Plaza, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. His talents have earned him many faithful clients among Malaysia's elite most notably the Royal families of Brunei and Malaysia. He was voted Designer of the Year by the Malaysian International Fashion Awards in 2003.

Not contented to rest his laurels, the Malaysian fashion maestro has big ambitions, to introduce Europe to his couture. With a boutique at swanky Knightsbridge, London, it seems that the first step towards his ambition has been taken. Stocked with sumptuous gowns, gorgeous tops and luxurious skirts, Bernard's offerings are guaranteed to delight his European customers with their unique design and vivid colours.

The drama in his designs are brought out by his exemplary cut and workmanship. His suits exude an aura of competence and confidence, as it befits a modern career woman without sacrificing the femininity of his client. His gowns and dresses highlights her best features and enhances her feminine mystique.

His creations are drawn from Chinese, Malay, Indian and other eastern cultures. Think of sky blue sarees, burgandy cheongsams with chinese dragons embroidered with gold thread or dark gold baju kurung with its bold artistic plant motives, complete with a intricate keronsang.

A Bernard Chandran is fine art. It is an expression of individuality and the ultimate indulgence afforded by those who want something beautiful and different from their peers.

Collections:

The Autumn/Winter Collections 2006/07
Prosperity Allure Collections 2005
Tropical Splendour Collections 2004
Rock Zardosi Collections 2003

Quick living room makeover

2006-09-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons one might want to perform a quick living room makeover. There may be family coming into town, or you may be having a party or event in your home. You may even just be ready for a change. Here are some ways you can change your living room quickly and easily.

Damage: You can change the perception of your living room by eliminating all signs of damage from the room. You can hide worn upholstered furniture by hiding the problems using slipcovers. If the furniture still looks like it sags after the slip covers are put on you can put a board under the pillows and use padding in needed areas. If you have broken wood furniture items, repair them. What cannot be repaired, you should probably throw aware and replace. For table tops, side tables, and other wood items that are scratched and damaged, you can cover the damage by painting the item or even adding tiles to flat surfaces.

Mood: Another quick way to change the room quickly is the change the room’s mood. The mood of the room could be altered by adding or softening lighting, or by installing dimmers. Wall hangings can also change the mood of the room. Bright colored abstract art can energize a room while a soft, romantic oil painting will lend relaxation and sophistication to a room. The larger the piece is the bigger effect it will have on the room. A subtle way to give your living room a quick makeover is the change the smells in the room. Purchase candles with pleasant and relaxing scents, or add seasonal items to the room like flowers, or cinnamon scented pinecones.

Color scheme: Dress us a bland or boring room by changing the color scheme. This can be accomplished in a single shopping trip to your favorite department store. Pick a family of colors that coordinates with your current décor, and purchase throw pillows, throw blankets, new curtain panels, or a curtain scarf to top existing panels. You may want to purchase an area rug as well.

This is also a quick and inexpensive way to decorate seasonally. In the fall, you can purchase these items in rust and yellow colors, during the holidays you can use cranberry, and green, in late winter, you can use silver and blue. For spring, you can purchase your accessories in greens and yellows, and bring in whites in the summer.

Drastic changes: If you feel your room needs drastic changes, it can be doe most quickly and easily with paint. You can choose a bright color to energize the room. You can se a deep color to make the room cozier. You can choose a soft pastel color to lighten the room and give it a bigger feel. To make the room more sophisticated, do a faux finish treatment on the walls as well. Another drastic change you can make to your room is to purchase new furniture. Of course, this is not a cheap choice, but furniture changes, even one piece, can cause the room to take on a new personality. Add one or two retro pieces to make the room more fun, or add a few carved pieces to bring a sense of formality to the room. New flooring such as a new carpet, are rug, or adding wood floors will make your entire room look brand new.

Design ideas for oversized bedroom

2006-09-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

While it can be a great joy to have an oversized bedroom, such room can be a huge challenge to decorate. It may be difficult give a large space the cozy feeling necessary in a bedroom. Here are some ideas to make your oversized bedroom more conducive to sleep, rest and relaxation.

Keep it simple: Just because the room is large does not mean that you need to fill it with lots of things like exercise equipment computer systems. These things do not promote rest. All you really need in your bedroom is a bed, the bigger the better. All other items are expendable.

Get it off the wall: In a very large room, there is no reason to place your bed against the wall. Put it in the center of the room facing the windows with the best view. It is preferable for the bed to be facing a direction so someone entering the room would not be able to see the bed, but only the headboard. You can add to more privacy to the bed by placing a large armoire or dresser with the back of it to the headboard. If the back of the dresser shows through the headboard, you can upholster the back of the dresser with fabric, to coordinate with the bed. Sleigh beds adapt well to this placement because they have high headboards. Canopy beds would work as well because you can use fabric hanging from the bed poles as a screen. Folding floor screens can be placed at the head of the bed if you do not have a dresser or armoire that will fit in the space. For side tables, find pieces that look good from all sides like round tables instead of traditional nightstands. You can also choose to purchase a headboard unit designed for such a placement. Side tables are usually attached.

Break it up: Break the room into two or three zones, sleeping, lounging and dressing. Creating a sleeping area is obvious. Place the bed and side tables in one area of the room. For the lounging area, add sofas and chairs to the bedroom for an area to sit and talk, or even furnish an area where the children can feel comfortable. If you find you are sharing your bed with children, and want them to transition into their own beds, make sure that your bedroom sofa or lounge chair is comfortable. You may even want to add a day bed to your room. This way they can sleep in your room, but not in your bed. Once they can sleep without being next to you, transitioning them to their own bed will be easier. For your dressing areas, you can place your dressers, armoires and mirrors grouped together and add a bench or chaise that you can sit on when dressing. You can separate the room for more privacy if you wish. To do this, add a folding screen to block the view to your dressing area or use a two-sided bookshelf. The shelves can display beautiful items on the side facing the bed, and clothing related items on the other side.

Super-size it: Buy big furniture. A big room calls for big furniture. Get a California king bed with a double pillow top mattress that sits high off the floor. Add a set of bed steps or stools so you will not have to pole vault into the bed. Instead of traditional side tables, use three or four-drawer dressers on each side of the bed. Placed next to a large bed, they will look like night tables. You can use the drawers to eliminate clutter around the bed as well. Instead of a bench or regular chest at the foot of the bed, as they will tend to look like miniatures, place a low dresser without the mirror. You will have a super sized footlocker in which you can store spare bedding. Another option for the foot of the bed is a cabinet in which a television on a hydraulic system is housed. This way the TV is seen only when it is in use. Instead of traditional dressers in a room of this size, you might opt for a full wall unit or built in cabinets instead.

Take advantage of the shape: Many large rooms are also odd shaped rooms. Use the shape of the room to your advantage. You can place one of your room zones, like your dressing area out of sight in an L-shaped room. Alternatively, you can tuck your sleeping area into the nook of a T-shaped room.

Small room decoration

2006-09-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

It seems that every house or apartment has at least one small room in it. This small space can be a spare bedroom or other. While you may be stuck with this small room, you can use some easy decorating tips to help make the room look bigger and seem roomier! You can paint the room in a variety of light-colored shades. Pastel colors are most effective in creating a peaceful setting, while they increase the lightness of the room. Dark colors make the room look smaller than it really is. In fact, some colors can actually make the room feel like the walls are coming in on you, so avoid dark colors, or save them for large, spacious rooms. For the fullest effect of space, you should not paint the walls the same color as the ceiling. You could paint the walls a pastel color, but cover the ceiling in a clean white finish.This will not only help to break-up the room, but the white ceiling will help to reflect much-needed light. The lighter the room, the bigger it appears to be. Or, for another broken-up effect, you could paint three of the walls using one pastel color, and then paint the fourth in a lighter or slightly darker shade of the same color.

Wallpapering

Wallpapering is always a good decorating technique that can help turn a ho-hum looking room into a more appealing space. In choosing wallpaper for a small room, though, it is most important that you choose a pattern that does not contain large flowers or designs. Choose a pattern that has small designs in it. This will help give the visual effect that the room is larger than it actually is. You could choose to mix painting with wallpapering by painting three of the walls and wallpapering the fourth wall.

Mirrors

Mirrors are an absolutely terrific way to decorate at least one whole wall, or a part of a wall in a small room.

Mirrors give us the illusion that whatever room they are in is larger than it really is. Good decorating helpers are square mirror tiles. These can be purchased at your local home supply store and are not very expensive. This type of special mirror has a very sticky adhesive on the back, and are covered by a waxed-type paper. To install these mirrors, you simply peel away the paper cover and position the mirror tile into place. You can use your creativity and place the mirror tiles in whatever pattern you choose.

Furniture and Effects

No matter what size of room you have, if it is cluttered, the room will appear to look smaller than it really is. And, of you are working on decorating a small room, your goal is for a roomier, cleaner appearance. To get that effect, you will want to choose small furniture, and not very much of it. Remember, you want to avoid a cluttered look. Use the least amount of furniture that you can, and make sure the furniture you choose is functional, not just pretty.

Knick knacks are always a popular effect to use in decorating any room. Knick knacks are fine, as long as there are not too many of them put into one room, and they are not too big and clunky. Choose small effects such as a few knick knacks or pictures for a small room.

Yehaaaaaaaaa..!!

2006-09-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my second blog (my first blog at www.zureyna.blogspot.com ) .. this blog will be different from my first blog coz i plan to share things that i feel intresting to me and maybe intresting to most of u... so. dont forget to visit my blog when u free to find out what's new here... see yaaaaa!! ..