Interior Painting Tips - Painting Behind Bathroom Toilets

Painting in tight quarters can prove to be difficult and aggravating in itself, but when it comes to painting behind a toilet things can get messy. Most folks just brush around the toilet then roll the paint up to the area that has been brushed out. There are a couple of problems with this technique in that the brush cannot get all the way behind the toilet. This leaves for an area that has not been painted and when standing in front of the toilet you can see this area, which does not look good. Another issue with this technique is that when using a brush it leaves brush marks in the paint when it dries, revealing an area that does not blend well. However, there are still a couple of options left for painting behind a bathroom toilet which can be explored.

One of these options would be to remove the toilet from the bathroom. However, when doing this you must know how to get the toilet back in and working properly or consult with a plumber to do it for you. Underneath the toilet is a wax ring that will need to be replaced when putting the toilet back or it will leak.

What I have done in the past is just remove the tank itself. The water must be emptied out of the tank and the water shut off valve must be turned off. Once this has been completed just unscrew the two nuts holding the tank on. When replacing the tank you should buy new nuts and bolts for the tank, some are metal some are plastic. Obviously plastic will not corrode and rust, making for a better fit.

Just remember if you do not feel comfortable working with your toilet to just consult with a professional plumber. And always work safely there by minimizing potential accidents.

Another option, which I feel is the best, would be to use the correct tool for the job. Most of the time when painting the wall behind a toilet there is a small amount of space back there where a small roller can fit. These rollers can be purchased at any of the large home supply stores and are very inexpensive. "RollerLite" is one of them and works very well because it is made of the same fabric the normal 9 inch roller sleeves are made of. These mini fabric rollers come in the same nap sizes that the traditional 9 inch sleeves come in to ensure the paint will blend in seamlessly. You also have the option of getting a handle that can easily reach down behind the toilet. So for your next interior painting project that involves a painting bathroom walls this is the best suggestion I have as a solution to getting around the toilet.

Living Room Interior Design - Tips That Leads To A Relaxed Visit

Your living room interior designs should be something that you really like. That is why it is important to consider the homeowner's personal interest and styles when it comes to living room interior design.

There are several things you have to consider before coming up with living room interior design. Here's the list:

1. Organization

Have you ever wondered why interior designers and decorators seem to work on designing and decorating homes so easy? It is simply because they have a process to follow. They are organized with their plans that they incorporate the elements of designs in a timely manner.

So before you start incorporating your living room interior designs, ensure that everything is all planned.

2. Color

The color spectrum of every material used in your living room is an important factor to consider when incorporating living room interior design. It is best to use colors in a discreet, natural range so they can perform their tasks as backdrops or settings for striking information displays and environments.

Moreover, considering appropriate choice for colors when creating living room interior designs tend to offer a relaxed atmosphere to entertain visitors during their stay.

3. Furniture

Comparable to the outlook structural design, the well thought-out utilization of the furnishing elements in the living room, such as sofa, accent chairs, coffee tables, etc., correspond to a central and significant detail within the living room interior design.

When equipping your living room, make sure that the furnishing details are applicable and should match the other elements in the living room interior designs.

For example, it is best to combine materials in glass, metal, and wood; glass, metal, and dyed plastic; or glass, wood, metal, and dyed leather for your sofa, accent chairs, and tables.

4. Dividers

Your living room, without proper wall dividers will look barren and bleak. To soften the look, it is best to come up with living room interior designs that will enhance the vertical architecture of the room.

The desired items for dividers are materials with etched, brushed, or matte finish as well as metallic items.

Dividers tend to create special enclosed areas within the living room. For example, you can use dividers to separate the living room from the other parts of the house. In this way, you can easily set the area apart from the others without having to spend more and consume more spaces.

Pendant Lighting

Pendant lighting fixtures are suspended from the ceiling and get their name from the jewelry accessory of the same name. Pendant lighting has a distinctive appeal and is considered perfect for places like kitchen islands, desks, breakfast nooks and the like. Pendant lighting can be either a single pendant lighting fixture or two or three different ones teamed up to provide a dramatic effect. Generally when two or three pendant lighting fixtures are teamed up, mini pendant lighting fixtures are used. The area of pendant lighting provides a lot of scope for the use of creative designs and ideas.

It is advisable to mount pendant lighting fixtures at least 24" to 30" above the area to be lit. When mini pendants are used, the ideal height would be 18" to 24" above the surface area to be lighted. When two or three pendants are used, an adjustable pendant bar can be used to fix them at different heights. This makes it possible to adjust heights from time to time, varying the overall lighting effect in the process.

Pendant lighting fixtures are available in various styles. Some of the commonly seen styles are sleek clean designs, reflective stained glass and crinkle glass designs. Pendant lighting fixtures are task oriented and provide necessary lighting for specific areas. The intensity of light needed can be dictated by the choice of bulb used inside the pendant lighting fixture.

Most pendant lighting fixtures are available with chains and rods that enable adaptation for different heights. Multiple pendant lights in a single fixture at staggered heights create a dramatic effect and are ideal for use little corners of large rooms. This kind of lighting creates an interesting area in an otherwise ordinary room.

Pendant lighting fixtures made of hand blown glass are available starting around $30, with some costing $500 and above.

Differing budgets and lighting needs can be catered to efficiently by the imaginative use of pendant lighting.

Designing a Modern Kitchen For Your Home

Do you avoid entertaining because your kitchen is outdated? Is it hard to find adequate storage space? Is counter-space an issue? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to begin the process of remodeling your kitchen area. You would be surprised at how much easier life is with an upgraded modern kitchen.

Many people avoid beginning such a project because they feel overwhelmed by how much work it will take. Realistically, it is possible to remodel your kitchen on a budget and in your spare time. You just have to know where to start.

The first step to creating a modern kitchen is realizing what your kitchen lacks. If counter-space is an issue, replace the counters and perhaps add a island counter to the middle of your kitchen. If cabinet space is an issue, take into account your current cabinets and ask yourself how they could be improved. Many kitchens that were designed in the 70s and 80s make terrible use of space and often times the cabinets fail to reach to the top of the ceiling. By replacing cabinets and using all of the available space, your kitchen will automatically have more storage and appear more spacious.

One modern kitchen trend is having cabinets that are fiberglass and see-through. This makes the process of finding appliances much easier plus there are many types of designs you can use for the interior of the cabinets. For instance, one house had see-though cabinets and painted a floral pattern on the inside. This added a beautiful and modern twist to their outdated kitchen.

The next step is figuring out what types of appliances to purchase to update your kitchen. You can get many appliances for a cheap down payment and then a financing option to make the process more affordable. If you have an old refrigerator, go to the store sometime and check out newer models. You will be amazed at how much they've been improved over the years. Some other appliances that have come light years in the past couple of years are stoves, dishwashers and trash compactors. These are all affordable ways to modernize your kitchen.

Another terrible trend of kitchen design in the 70s and 80s was color choice. So many kitchens were painted bland, boring colors that look outdated and make your kitchen appear cave-like. For an instant upgrade, try painting the walls a bright color and getting rid of old curtains. One modern trend is natural light so if you have windows, use them to the best of your ability. If you don't have much window light, consider natural lighting in combination with track lighting. This will allow you to accentuate your kitchen's space and make it more inviting to guests.

The basics to creating modern kitchens are not out of reach, no matter how much you have to spend. You can get a beautiful, updated kitchen that renews your joy of cooking and entertaining. Just know where to start, what to replace and how to go about doing it. Start planning a dinner party!

Bathroom Lighting

Bathroom lighting is extremely important. How you light your bathroom determines the mood of the room, and certain types of lighting work better for certain bathroom designs. You don't want overly bright lights in a rustic designed bathroom. Just as certain types of vanity lights are better for certain types of bathrooms, your bathroom's ideal lighting will depend on room design, set up, and personal taste.

There are several different "types" of lighting that you can use in a bathroom. The light makes a difference in mood, and what type of light you want will also partially depend on function. Here is a brief run down of some of the options:

1) Accent bathroom lighting. This style of light is exactly what it sounds like: used to accentuate a bathroom's lighting. It can be added for a dramatic and decorative touch but is not necessary.

2) Ambient bathroom lighting. This type of lighting should act as the general lighting of the room. Recessed light fixtures are popular, because then you can have light in the little nooks and crannies of the room without a big glass cover sticking out.

3) Task bathroom lighting. Task lighting is designed to be around a mirror and provides an abundance of light so you can check the smallest details while grooming.

4) Natural bathroom lighting. This isn't always an option, but for small bathrooms located in the right part of the house, you can create a row of small windows above, which lets the light come into the bathroom.

These are only four of the types of possible bathroom lighting that individuals can use, but they are among the most popular choices. Based on how you want your bathroom to look, and what your needs are, most likely one of these types of bathroom lighting will work perfectly for your needs.

Garden Lighting

Garden design is the art of creating beautiful landscapes for your outdoor retreat. Alluring garden design can be accomplished with the help of professionals or even by talented garden owners themselves. Thankfully with today's advanced technology, it's easy and affordable to illuminate your growing garden. Whether you have a quaint patio garden or a couple acre plots, you can find decorative and fun garden lighting that will enhance the beauty of any sized space.

One of the more unique and visually-pleasing lighting techniques in decorative garden lighting is the use of fiber optics. Fiber optics is the science of transmitting light via optical fibers. Optical fibers are extruded cylinders of plastic or glass used to transmit light. All that is required to illuminate the optic fibers is a single light bulb; making fiber optic lighting an affordable garden lighting choice. Another great advantage of fiber optic lighting is that it uses no electrical current; therefore it is safe to place in and around water without danger of electrocution. Therefore, fiber optic lighting can be used to illuminate a garden pond, tree trunks and branches, shrubs, plant containers and even a patio deck.

Another fun idea to add to your outdoor oasis is solar-powered fiber optic gazing balls. These unique ornaments add loveliness to your garden at night and even in the day. The solar collector gathers energy during the day to power the fiber optics in the gazing ball at night. At dusk, the fiber optics illuminates the gazing ball and adds instant ambiance to any garden. These typically will remain running for 4-6 hours a night.

Another simple and fun idea to add to your garden lighting is sting lights. String lights that use fiber optic lighting can be added to decks or used to decorate trees, shrubs and plants. A variety of adorable styles are available including butterflies, toads, flowers and dragonflies. These delicate lights add subtle lighting to drab areas while also adding attractive decor.

Solar garden lighting is another cost-effective way to bring light to your flowering garden. Solar lights use a single battery composed of Nicam (nickel and cadmium) which is charged throughout the day by sunlight. At dusk, solar garden lights automatically turn on and at dawn, they automatically turn off. Again, solar garden lighting is available in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Colorful stings of lanterns, butterflies, stars, hummingbirds, and many other shapes can be found easily. Also solar statues, stakes, rocks and poles can be used to illuminate garden pathways.

With so many options available today it's simple and easy to transform your beautiful garden into an enjoyable place to spend your evenings. Under twinkling lights and magical glowing shapes it will be hard to decipher between actual stars and fireflies from the beautiful luminous additions in your glowing garden.