Archive for February 2008


Got Decorative Concrete? It’s not Just for Driveways Anymore!

February 27th, 2008 — 11:37 pm
decorating
It used to be that when we thought of concrete, we thought of just a few things, such as sidewalks, driveways and cement slab house foundations. Most of the time the concrete used has been a pretty dull gray. Once in a while, for instance, in some southwestern towns, we could find some sidewalks that were various shades of rust and orange that mimic the beautiful mountains in their midst.

In the past decade, however, concrete has changed from a basic utility to a decorative enhancement, a creative and artistic essential in creating the

mood of resorts and homes throughout the world. Decorative concrete has become an integral part of the planning for many building plans – whether

commercial or private. The colors and textures of decorative concrete have become so important that often they are the centerpiece or focal point of a floor plan.

This phenomenon has changed the way that homes are created and office buildings, malls and other buildings are created. Imagine your basement

floors being the color of your choice, sealed to keep out mold and setting the tone for everything from the color and texture on your walls and the

furniture you buy.

Think about your kitchen counters being custom poured and cured right in your home in the color and texture you want – at about the same cost as a

pre-made countertop. Think of the hundreds of ways you could plan your decor around your custom countertop and matching or complementing floors.

Decorative concrete can do all this and more.

If you are planning to build or remodel a home, office, mall or any other type of structure, landscape, patio or pool, take the time to look into decorative concrete. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.



By: Decorative Concrete

About the Author:

AnaLise is a professional writer and blogger. Currently, AnaLise is blogging for multiple sites including www.concreteideas.com. To view the entire list of sites and gather more information please visit Majestic Help on the web at www.majestichelp.com.



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Comment » | Home Improvement

Home cake decorating business: Illegal in many states, but people seem to still do it? How, why?

February 27th, 2008 — 06:40 pm
decorating
JackieInABottle asked:


I would love to start a home-based cake decorating/bakery out of my home since I can’t afford a store. I discovered running one is illegal here. But I come across a few people who whip out their cake portfolios and try to sell you their services anyway. I’d like to make birthday cakes for maybe friends of friends and just have them pass the word around that I can bake custom cakes. Would you still do it and try to keep it low-key or just forget your dream?
The reason it’s illegal in GA is because it is food, and that they will then require a seperate building w/ a commercial kitchen, then inspect it. But I have ran across several women in the past who just do this out of their own home anyway.

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2 comments » | Small Business

Finding the Perfect Building Plot

February 11th, 2008 — 02:04 pm
building
If you have been contemplating on building your dream home, the first thing you ought to do is to decide on your budget and then begin the task of looking through suitable residential building plots on which to build it. If you are interested in making Kent your new home, then you will be searching for building plots Kent.

Although there is always a lot of land available for purchase, most of it might be in some far-flung area or it might not have the approval of the planning authorities. It might not always be easy to find building land just the way you might want it. The rise in property rates over the last decade has led to a large number of people opting to build their homes on their own. As a result, land is getting to be scarce when clubbed with the normal residential developments. So rather than go in for building land, it would be wiser to go in for building plots.

Building plots Kent are comparatively smaller pieces of land obtained by dividing a big garden or compound. Permission has been obtained from the planning authorities for a pre-determined number of properties. These house building plots are normally sold one plot at a time and although they are smaller in size as compared to the building land, they tend to be cheaper and are normally centrally located.

It is extremely important that one of the building plots that you purchase already has a planning permission or the probability of it getting the approval is very high. It would be futile to spend several thousands of pounds on a building plots Kent only to find that you will never be able to build your home there. Sometimes building plots come with what is called outline planning permission if there is a house or building close by. Talk to your estate agent or to the planning authorities to make sure that you will be able to build your house there when you choose to.

The building plots Kent that you shortlist should be in the perfect location where you have access to it by road, besides easy access to electricity, gas, phone and water. If you don’t take care to check out all this stuff in the beginning, you can end up buying one of the building plots Kent which could cause you a lot of pain once you start on your project and selling a bad piece of land will not be easy either.

For good advice you can go one the Net or else speak to some estate agents. Most plots in the UK are sold be estate agents though not all of them might deal in building plots. Visit some agents in your locality and register wit them giving details of the building plots Kent that you would be interested in. Often plots are sold at auctions by the real estate agents; so they will keep you informed if you register with them. Or check out the advertisements in property magazines or your local newspapers.

Self-build companies also have a list of building plots along with the agents’ names. If you have decided to purchase your home from a self-build company, they will be very eager to help you in your search for the right plot. Real estate developers or builders too might have a plot of land for sale on which they would rather not build. But all said and done, the Net is your best bet. You even get an email in your box when building plots Kent as per your specification become available.



By: Clint Jhonson

About the Author:

All you have to do is register at building plots and you can browse through building plots Kent or any other county to find a place to build your dream home.



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Comment » | Real Estate

Home Decorating Magazines – a Useful Resource for Home Decorating

February 4th, 2008 — 06:55 am
decorating
Is your house in need of improvements? Do you need ideas for redecorating your home? Do you need inspiration for decorating your home? Not to worry, help is already here. One great source of home decorating ideas and inspiration is home decorating magazines. These publications provide a look into the world of home decorating and offer suggestions and tips to help you decorate your home. Home decorating magazines provide pictures of homes and rooms that were remodelled which may inspire you to recreate that space in your very own home.

There are many home decorating magazines available. Most of these magazines not only provide pictures and ideas but also offers the customer an opportunity to buy directly from them items you like in their magazine. Many magazines are advertised on the Internet. With websites displaying their ideas and pictures, you can browse these sites in your search for a decorating style. These online magazines will likely offer you a chance to buy directly from them via the Internet.

Home decorating magazines are constantly in circulation. Some of the popular home decorating magazines are:

* Traditional Home – This magazine has its main focus on traditional décor and historical homes. Articles are written that allow you to visit historic places, gathering ideas and tips for decorating a traditional home. This home decorating magazine offers information on furniture, window treatments and colour schemes.

* Country Living – This magazine is published on a monthly basis and offers ideas about country décor, crafts, and antiques. It also provides tips for traditional cooking. This home decorating magazine provides details regarding furniture, window treatments, fireplaces and historic colours.

* Elle Décor – This home decorating magazine is published semi-monthly. It is a magazine dedicated to modern design with a French influence. Focus is on luxury living, furniture style and planning your room, this magazine intends to offer the average homeowner ideas and tips to achieve this terrific style for their homes.

* Better Homes & Gardens – This popular magazine provides the reader with information about various subjects relating to the homeowner and their family. This information includes ideas for home décor as well as garden decorating. Better Homes & Gardens also publishes a seasonal magazine which focuses on décor with a lot of information regarding specific projects.

* Metropolitan Home – Published six times a year, this home decorating magazine provides details about renovating and designing modern urban homes. This magazine focuses on contemporary design and current trends. It offers the reader information regarding transforming a traditional home or space into a modern, contemporary environment.

These home decorating magazines are great sources of inspiration if you are having difficulty coming up with ideas and techniques for your home. Providing detailed information and vivid photos, these home decorating magazines offer you instructions and often step-by-step directions to achieve the desired look. Each of these magazines also offers you, the customer an opportunity to buy directly from them. This can make your job so much easier if you see a room or space in the magazine that you like. Buying directly from them, you have a chance to recreate that beautiful space in your home.



By: Bernard Emojevbe

About the Author:

Bernard Emojevbe is versatile in skills. He writes on home decorating tips and occasionally on success motivation. His blog; http://www.tophomedecoratingsecrets.com was specifically created to provide insight on how to make home space and immediate environment beautify.



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Comment » | Interior Design

How Shapes of Buildings Implicate Feng Shui

February 2nd, 2008 — 07:27 am
building
There is something about shapes of buildings, which in feng shui are associated with one of the five elements. Basically, these shapes are; square or cube, rectangle, the circle or sphere, the wave or curve liner, and the pyramid or triangle. Each of this shape represents or associate with five of the elements; earth, wood, metal, water and fire. It is possible to use these shapes to incorporate subtle yet effective feng shui harmony into buildings. Beside the shapes, elements, direction where the building sits also plays a important part in feng shui. Element Shapes can also be used as a means of enhancing or exhausting certain sectors based on either Flying Star combinations or the 8 Mansions formula.

The five elements of feng shui and shapes:

EARTH – Square

FIRE – Triangle

METAL – Circle

WATER – Curve liner

WOOD – Rectangle

Five Elements and Shapes of Building

Square Shape building represents the element of earth. It will be auspicious if a square building faced or sits in the direction of SW/NE. It is said that square shape building command authoritative with dominance, therefore, it will be suitable for a corporate offices and bank. Enhanced the building with an earth element base, using material such as granite and marble will offer strong earth energy which benefits the luck of the building. SW and NE are the direction for earth element.

Triangle shape building signifies the fire element. The ideal sitting location should be south, the sector of fire. Building with the shape of triangle, the best orientation would be a North-South axis, with the building facing north and sitting south.

To enhance the luck of the triangle building, the alternative location would be for the building to sit East or Southeast, in this way, the wood element would then feed the building’s fire element.

A circle or Sphere shape building signifies the metal element. So long there is a curve within the overall building in concept, it suggests that the building is a circle shape. It needs not to be overall circle in shape. To enhance the luck of the building, the use of glass and steel are beneficial. Such buildings are excellent sitting West or Northwest, so facing East and Southeast.

A curve liner building symbolizes the element of water. Water is an element that is constant movement. Curve liner buildings adopt a prominent curve form that extends throughout the building design. The curve liner gives a powerful statement of visual ‘wave’. Shopping malls or exhibition centres will benefit from this design concept. Curve liner building forms are efficient for creating the flow of speed. It is advisable to avoid building with such shape for office or residential locations. The direction

for a water element building should be to face South and sit North. Use full steel-base “look” material for the base of the building to enhance the water element of the building.

A rectangle shape building is associated with the element of wood. Many popular of high-rise building shapes is the rectangle. It will be beneficial if the building can incorporate wood or water elements energy. Avoid glass and concrete dominate the building. Blue-tinted glass, which represents water energy, is a good ideal for the building. Once can also provide the building with a “wood’ look as enhancements.

The best directions for this type of building, is to sit East, Southeast or North.

Read more on Feng Shui@Feng Shui Tips



By: ApexLim

About the Author:

Apex Lim will soon be a publisher of ebook for Feng Shui. He is current taking up research on Feng Shui.
I would like to invite you to take a look at blogGood Feng Shui Tips



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Comment » | Self Help