DIY Home Improvement Guide

Cabinet Crown Molding

Cabinet crown molding is one of the easiest ways to bring those boring boxes on your walls to life.  Crown molding is more visually appealing because it adds depth, dimension, and new lines to anything.  In this post I want to show you how to get the most of your cabinet crown molding, as well as some uses that you might not have already though of.

There’s a strange optical illusion that happens when there is crown molding on cabinets.  Since the right angle is removed from the butt of the cabinet and the ceiling, the cabinet looks much larger than it did before.  Use this to your advantage in big and open kitchens, but keep in mind that in cramped kitchens and bathrooms it may make the rest of the room feel smaller.

Kitchen cabinet crown molding is the most common type.  It’s generally half the size of wall crown molding because the doors of the cabinet don’t permit larger sizes.  If there is a large space between your cabinet doors and the ceiling you have the option between the two.

As I discussed in another post, but feel it’s worth sharing here, one of the best and most creative uses I’ve seen with crown molding on kitchen cabinets was at the bottom of it, rather than at the top.  The home had a tile back splash that had molding on the top that led into the bottom of the cabinet.  This might sound strange at first, but it created a very smooth and natural transition from the wall into the cabinet.

Another creative use is to get narrow molding and install it below the lip of the counter.  You’re probably going to have to have custom molding made for this, but it is a really cool look.

Cabinet crown molding is an often overlooked home accessory that makes a huge difference in any room that it’s installed in.  I recommend getting a couple feet of scrap molding and play around with it in different places in your kitchen and bathroom.  You’re going to find some creative uses once you see it in different places!

Kitchen Crown Molding Makes A Huge Impact

Kitchen crown molding is a simple way to make a huge impact in any kitchen.  Why does it make a big impact?  Because most people don’t do it!  Kitchen cabinet crown molding is one of the best ways to set your home apart from everyone else.  In this post I want to share with you how to use it and how to avoid some common installation problems.

Compared to traditional molding, most cabinet crown molding is thinner, but if you have large cabinets you can use either size.  The space between the top of your cabinet door and the ceiling will determine which size you use, but either way it looks great.

It will normally be installed at the butt of the cabinet and the ceiling, but there are other creative uses.  One of my favorite installations that I’ve seen was in a house on the East Coast that had dark mahogany cabinets with crown molding on the underside against the wall, essentially the top of the tile back splash.   It looked very cool and took away some of the hard angles that the kitchen originally had.

Installing crown molding on kitchen cabinets is easy, but getting it to look right can be challenging.  When you install molding on walls, most times the ceiling and the walls are white, so you paint the molding white and it looks awesome.  Most kitchen cabinets are stained, which fades over time, so when you stain your kitchen crown molding it’s going to end up a different color than the cabinet!

How do you solve this problem?  The difficult way is to redo the stain on the cabinets as well, the lazy way is to leave it and let it fade over time, but the smart way is to stain the molding in steps over time.  Stain the molding until it’s a few shades lighter than your cabinets, let it dry, add another coat of stain the next day and check to see how close it is.  Repeat until you get it right.  This obviously takes longer, but it’s well worth it when your cabinets look fantastic.

Kitchen crown molding is an excellent way to bring your kitchen to life.  It’s a fairly easy project that can be done with simple tools and a bit of patience.

Mistakes People Make When Buying A Conservatory

There are a lot of people that have bought conservatories onto their home in recent years and no doubt, this year there will be many more who will do so.  However, if you do not take the correct approach when buying a conservatory, it could end up costing you a lot more money than it should.  In this article, we will discuss some of the most common mistakes that people make when purchasing a conservatory.  You can also find out more at http://conservatories-for-all.com.

1.    They do not find out whether or not the need planning permission.

It is not difficult to find out from your local council or planning authority if you need planning permission for the conservatory that you are planning to purchase and erect on your property.  Either phone up or write to them, giving them an idea of ehat you are propsosing and requesting that they reply to you in writing.  In this way you will be able to proceed with an easy mind if they give you the green light.

2.    They go for the lowest quote they receive.

This may not always be a mistake, but it very often is.  If you get a low quote for building a conservatory, make sure that the builder is providing the same level of detail in his quote as the other builders.  Also be sure that the materials being used are of good quality and up to standard.

3.    They work off external measurements when considering floor space.

This is an easy mistake to make. When a manufacturer is talking up his product, he will quote external measurements.  However, if you are trying to work out how much room you are going to have in the new conservatory, you should be working from internal measurements which will be considerably smaller, especially if you are building dwarf walls at the base of the conservatory.

Choose The Brass Door Knob That Fits Your Home

There are thousands of different brass door knob choices on the market, so it can be hard to navigate through them all to get the one that is perfect for your door.  The shopping choices are different based on whether or not you’re looking for exterior or interior brass door knobs, but finding the right one is the same.

The first step is to figure out what style you want.  Brass door knobs come in every shape, style, and finish you can imagine so figuring out what you need before you start shopping will make everything much easier.  I usually help people start with the finish (ironic, huh?).  Brass comes in its regular color, silver, brushed, oil rubbed, and chrome so determining which is right for its application isn’t too tough.

After the finish is figured out, it’s time to look into the style.  The stuff around it will usually determine the style, this is especially true for exterior knobs where things like light fixtures, hinges, address numbers, and even the mailbox will influence the door knob’s style.

If you’re looking for something plain and easy, you can go shopping right now and just buy whatever catches your eye, but if you’re looking for something that doesn’t look like every other house in the neighborhood, start researching different styles.  I like using the internet to see all of the available styles.  It’s really easy to see a few hundred different options in a few minutes, which really gets the brain going with ideas.  If your home has a common theme throughout, use that theme as your guide to make sure that your choice makes sense.

Buying brass door knobs that are different than the cookie cutter style is an excellent way to make a big improvement in your home.  Just make sure that you have the ones that make sense and compliment every thing else, rather than just the cheapest ones!

Antique Brass Door Knobs

Antique brass door knobs are a class addition to any home, whether inside or out.  Most homes have some variation of the “generic door knob” that was installed when the house was built.  Any improvement on those will make a huge difference on the home’s style, but antique brass ones will also make a statement.  In this post I want to show you where to get these without spending a lot of money on them.

Before you go shopping, it’s important that you know how to clean them up.  You can save a ton of cash by buying the ones that don’t look like they’re in great condition.  Don’t forget that brass lasts forever, and as long as there aren’t any major dings, dents, or broken pieces you can bring an antique brass door knob back to life.  To learn more, see our post on cleaning brass door knobs.

You will have the best luck finding these knobs at antique stores.  The problem that you’re going to run into is finding enough of the same knobs to fill your entire home.  Matching door knobs certainly isn’t necessary, but some people prefer it.  I helped design a home that had the exterior door knob of each bedroom and bathroom match the style of the room’s inside.  It was very creative and looked great.  You may be able to save more money by getting the mismatched door knobs.

Finding matching vintage door knobs online is much easier.  There are door knob dealers that specialize in the shopping and hunting of these.  You’ll pay a premium by shopping with these specialized dealers, but they have everything you need.  Some knob stores have an antique section where you can shop from.  This is helpful because many of the larger online retailers will offer free shipping and brass is very heavy, so free shipping will save you a ton of money.

You can also check eBay and Craigslist to see if there are good deals.  Craigslist is helpful for finding salvage sales, which is when they sell all of the stuff from a house being gutted or torn down.

Antique brass door knobs are easy to find, just be patient and shop around and you’re going to find a good deal on exactly what you want.  The prices on these range from free to hundreds of dollars apiece, so check everywhere you can to get what you need.

Cleaning Brass Door Knobs

Cleaning brass door knobs is an easy and important project, especially when you have vintage door knobs.  Keeping vintage knobs looking somewhat new will help make sure that they stay in good condition and last another hundred years.

This project will be divided into two camps.  First, we’ll go through the steps of cleaning newer knobs that have just built up grime and goo from normal use, and after that we’ll talk about deep cleaning and brass polishing.  The steps from the basic cleaning can also be used for the deep cleaning to remove any gunk and junk that are on them.

Cleaning Brass Door Knobs

  1. Determine whether or not you have to take off the knob to get all of the grime off.  Look around the plate of the knob to see if the dirt has penetrated behind it.
  2. The severity of dirt will determine the cleaning solution that you’ll use.  Soap and water will work for mild jobs, but degreaser might be needed for the heavier jobs.  Follow the instructions on the degreaser to make sure that it doesn’t affect the finish on the door knob.
  3. Use a cloth, sponge, or soft plastic brush to work out all of the dirt and grime.
  4. You may see know that your door knobs really need to be polished or have unwanted tarnish.  If that’s the case, move onto the next section.  If not, nice job!  Enjoy the rest of your afternoon!

Deeper cleaning and tarnish removal requires a different process and solution.  This is more for vintage door knobs, but will obviously work for any really dirty brass door knob.

Materials: Screwdrivers to get door knobs off, ammonia, Brasso or other brass polish, rubber gloves, cloth towels that you have no problem throwing away later.

  1. Remove the door knob and plate from the door.  If you’re doing multiple doors, only stick to three or four knobs at a time.  Doing more at a time will turn into a big undertaking.
  2. Glove up and use ammonia with a cloth towel to get the tarnish off.  You can also use the scour side of a sponge if the tarnish is really bad.
  3. Change or wash your gloves and use the brass polish to make everything look great.  The amount of elbow grease that you put into the polish, the more junk and impurities will come out.  A problem that you’ll run into here is that your first knobs and plates are going to look better than the later ones because your arms will get tired as you go.  Pay close attention to how shiny each one is, and do your best to get the other ones looking the same.
  4. Reinstall the door knobs, and you’re finished.

Some people will spray a lacquer finish on the door knob after it’s clean to keep it clean and tarnish-free longer.  Personally, I’m not a fan of this because I can never get the lacquer to dry smooth.  If you’re good with a spray can, you may want to consider this step.

Vintage Glass Door Knobs

Vintage glass door knobs are the perfect addition to homes of any age.  Finding enough of them at affordable prices can be tough, but in this post I want to share some different ways to find vintage door knobs and crystal door knobs at decent prices.

The key to finding door knobs that fit your budget is to be patient and shop around.  There are millions of these floating around vintage and antique shops all around the country/world, as well as online.  If you buy the first ones that you see, odds are that you aren’t going to find the best ones for your home and you’ll probably pay too much for them.  Saving money is important when shopping for these because there are a lot of doors in your home, and changing out all of them could potentially be a very large expense.

Vintage glass door knobs are easily found in antique shops.  They collect them because they look cool, and will assign a price based on that “coolness”.  There isn’t a price guide for antique door knobs, so you can find them in every price range imaginable.  Heading out to different shops will give you an idea of what’s out there and easily found.  If you aren’t seeing what you want, turn to the internet.

There are stores on the web that specialize in going to antique stores and finding these door knobs for you.  eBay is also popular, but you’ll rarely find any sort of shipping deals on eBay.  Vintage glass door knobs are much heavier than they look (especially brass door knobs), so shipping costs can be extraordinary when you’re buying an entire home’s worth of knobs.  The trick is to shop around until you find the one that’s offering free shipping (it’s common).  This will save you at least a hundred bucks!

Some of the offsets on vintage door knobs are different than what current homes have.  This is rare, and the older the door knob is, the more likely it is that it won’t fit.  Professional online stores will have these dimensions listed for you so that you can measure your doors ahead of time.

Vintage glass door knobs can be very affordable when you take the time to shop around.  I don’t know many easier ways to make a huge improvement in a home than by adding the class that comes with crystal door knobs.

Personality and Your Window Curtains

Window curtains are not just a way of covering windows, keeping in warmth in winter and providing a degree of privacy in the evening. They are also a means of expressing our personal taste and they allow us to stamp our personality on a room by choosing things we love (and which hopefully our fellow occupants love too). However they may also demonstrate more about your personality than you thought.

If we look at what your curtains say about you, you might be surprised at how much can be told from the fabric you have hanging at your windows. (And it may just make you pay more attention when you choose window curtains in future).

For example, if you have just not got around to getting curtains at all you might be seen as someone who does not care about appearances (or, more worryingly, as someone who is too bone idle or poverty stricken to go out and buy window curtains!)

If you have played it safe with very simple neutral curtains you may be seen as someone who is calm and unruffled (or someone who is too timid to show their true personality). Only you can decide which one you are and whether you want to change your curtain choices as a result.

If your curtains are dusty or otherwise grubby, then that says a lot about your standards of hygiene and to present your best face to the world, you need to get your curtains cleaned or replaced pretty quickly unless you want the world to think the worst of you.

There is no one right set of curtains however, in the same way that there is not a perfect personality. There is only a perfect set of curtains for the room you are decorating which match the style of the room, the style of your home and your own personal taste. If you pay attention to all three however and don’t just pick up the first set of curtains that “will do” because the price is right then you will get on a lot better than the majority of folks buying curtains.

Ceramic Toilet Paper Holders – Versatile And Stylish

Whether you are looking to completely upgrade your bathroom, just give it a quick face lift, or simply replace a worn out fixture, ceramic toilet paper holders are one option you don’t want to ignore.  It might be that final piece to the puzzle when you are looking to give your bathroom just the right look.  Among the many benefits of ceramic is the fact that it cleans very easily and is durable enough to hold up well in even the busiest of bathrooms.  Furthermore, there are many interesting styles available so that just about any taste and preference can be accommodated.  Finally, ceramic is a perfect complement to metals like brass and chrome that are commonly found in most bathrooms.

As I noted above, ceramic is the perfect material of construction for a high traffic bathroom.  Not only is it designed to be long-lasting, but it has a stain resistant quality as well, which makes cleaning a breeze.

Depending upon how a ceramic fixture is combined with metals like brass and chrome, it can take on a real modern, sleek look, or it can lend a more old fashioned or traditional feel to the bathroom.  The various color choices that are available, which include white, black, and a marble design, add to its versatility.  So whether you bathroom is contemporary in design, or more vintage in its look, a ceramic toilet paper holderjust might bet the right choice for your needs.

Among the designs commonly in use, the most popular are the  European style and the traditional design.  The traditional toilet paper holder is usually attached directly on the wall.  The European holder looks more like one of the many toilet paper stands that are common today.  The primary advantage of the traditional style is that it saves much needed space, whereas the main benefit of the European  variation is thatit’s not only functional, but it also is very decorative all by itself.

Uses For Rattan

The wonderful, light-weight wood known as rattan has been used for centuries for furniture, room dividers and as accents in interior design. A lanai just wouldn’t be complete without at least several rattan chairs and matching side and coffee tables. Rattan is a reminder of simplicity that, while understated, maintains a classic look in decor. Rattan may be dark or lighter in color. Natural rattan is environmentally safe. Yet, it is still long-wearing. A rattan chair can last, with proper care, for years and years.  Rattan furniture can be used outdoors or indoors, but look for furniture that has been weather sealed if it is to withstand regular rain.

Other uses for rattan include use as table mats, lamp bases and headboards for beds. In fact, rattan is a great way to compliment the look of a bedroom. It’s light enough to create an airy decor and strong enough for daily use. Rattan also compliments other types of wood materials when used in contrast. It’s also sold in colors that coordinate with most color schemes indoors or out.

Rattan – A Multitude of Uses
Rattan can be used outdoors. Simulated rattan is made of polyvinyl or PVC and can withstand moisture and sun whereas natural rattan should be covered to avoid deterioration of the wood. Rattan makes a wonderful photograph frame. It can also serve as a base for indoor planters or as a planter. On the patio, rattan planters really add style. Foot stools of rattan provide a comfortable addition to a chair or settee. Rattan shutters are light enough to allow air circulation and yet provide protection from extreme sunlight. A rattan room divider is a graceful way to create privacy or sectionalize a large room into two areas.

Do-It-Yourself Rattan Creations
Rattan is available online or wherever hardwares are sold. Choose rattan for do-it-yourself creations like scrapbook covers, decorative trivets or placemats.

Metal Sheds For Your Home

Sheds can be constructed from a wide variety of materials, but one of the best materials to choose is metal.  Metal sheds are such a great choice because they are easy to build and also because metal is a material that is strong, durable and low maintenance, so you will be able to use your shed for a long time to come.  For those that want to build a shed on their own, there are metal building kits available that make putting the shed together a breeze.

Why is metal such a good choice when it comes to sheds?  For one, it is strong and durable.  Metal will hold up to everyday use, is strong enough to withstand all types of weather elements and is also durable enough to house all types of items.  Another benefit is that it is easy to construct a shed out of metal in just about any size.  Whether you are looking for a large or small shed, you can purchase or build a metal one that will easily fit your needs.

Maintenance is another big factor in why metal is such a popular choice when it comes to sheds.  Unlike wood structures, metal needs no maintenance except for maybe an occasional hosing off.  There is no painting, staining or sealing required.  Also, unlike wood, there is no worry about insect damage or water damage.  The only way that metal is adversely affected by water is if there is a dent or scratch in the metal and then exposure to water can cause rust to form.  This is easily avoided by covering the exposed area with a sealant so that rust does not have a chance to form.

So, although there are many options to consider when it comes to sheds, you may want to consider metal because there are many benefits and few drawbacks.

The Uses of Pop Up Gazebos

Pop up gazebos are extremely versatile pieces of equipment that can be used effectively in many different situations. Weather you are planning to host a small garden party or a large wedding reception or corporate event, one of these temporary outdoor structures can add a spacious and easy to install, covered area. Most pop up gazebos are suitable for use in a variety of weather conditions. Whether you require shade to protect you from the scorching summer sun, or effective shelter that keeps out rain and strong winds during the winter, there will be a wide range of gazebos for you to choose from.

Pop up gazebos are particularly useful during events where food may need to be presented outdoors, such as buffets or barbeques. A common concern is contamination of unprotected food caused by insects or bugs. A sheltered area can help to reduce the chances of this happening. Gazebos are also great for protecting children from the sun. We all know the dangers that can arise from children being exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Many gazebo designs will be the perfect size to place over a paddling pool or a sand pit.

By design, these gazebos are very easy to assemble and erect. Models such as the EZ pop up gazebo make it possible for one person working alone to install a small to medium sized gazebo, with no troubles at all. Most designs can also be purchased very cheaply, with prices starting from around $50 for a good quality product. As always, the internet is the best place to begin looking for the very best deals and lowest prices. Online retailers will stock more products than many home and garden centres. Just be sure to check the delivery costs are reasonable and you should be able to make some easy savings when purchasing a new pop up gazebo over the internet.

Where To Find Vintage Door Knobs

Vintage door knobs work perfectly in any home, but can be hard to find. This post is dedicated to showing you where to find them without having to spend a fortune.

It’s been said many times that the classics never go out of style, and that holds true for door knobs.  It’s these small details in the home that some people skip over, but are missing an easy way to make a big impact in their home.  Upgrading to something as simple as ceramic or crystal door knobs is one of the best ways to help your home stand out from the pack, which is awesome when you live there and a great selling point when it’s time to move.

How To Find The Perfect Vintage Door Knob

There aren’t any catalogs or websites that have all of the vintage door knob options, instead you have to have a general idea of what you want before you go on the hunt.  You’re going to come across lots of them, and if you have a fairly good vision of the one that’s perfect for your home, you’ll know it when you see it.  If you’re wandering around without a clue, you’ll either pass the best one or end up with something that doesn’t look right.

The easiest place to start your search is in antique stores.  Here you’ll find a huge assortment of knobs, but finding any that match is going to be tough.  If matching door knobs is important to you don’t have too high of expectations for the antique store.  What’s really good about these stores is that you can buy vintage door knobs at very low prices, not all of them will be cheap but some will surprise you.

Another great place to find vintage door knobs is salvage sales.  These are when they sell off all of a home’s stuff after its been demolished or gutted for improvements.  I usually find them in the classified section of the newspaper, but there can be long spells between sales.  Living in or around a big city will greatly improve your odds of finding a sale.  I’ve been able to pick up enough vintage knobs from the demolition of one huge home that would suffice to fill two regular size houses.

There are also stores all over the web that collect and sell vintage knobs.  Prices vary an incredible amount from one site to the next, so it’s a good idea to shop around.  The key to saving as much money as possible is to shop at the places that offer free shipping.  Door knobs are deceivingly heavy, and when you’re buying enough for your entire home you can expect to pay over a hundred bucks just to ship them!  Shop with free (or discounted) shipping and you’ll get what you want without breaking the bank.

Vintage door knobs are perfect in almost any home.  They’ve already lasted this long and will probably last as long as your current home does.  Shop around to save money, look locally, and don’t worry about having matching knobs!

Why Are Pink Crystal Door Knobs So Hard To Find?

If you’re having a hard time tracking down a pink crystal door knob for your home, you would think that it wouldn’t be that hard to find something so simple, but options are rare.  In this post I’ll show you how to increase your odds of finding them by searching in your town and online.  I can’t guarantee success, but you’ll at least have a shot at finding the exact on that you want!

A trick that I wrote about in another post about finding crystal door knobs cheap involves trading with someone that you know.  If you know someone that has pink crystal knobs in their home, offer to buy them a set of brand new knobs in exchange for theirs.  This is usually cheaper than trying to buy vintage door knobs from an antique store.  I think the key with pulling this off is to be upfront about your intentions and really setting them up with a nice door knob set.  You’ll have to hear about how nice their pink door knob looks in your home in the future, so you really don’t want to burn any bridges trying to do this!

Shopping For Pink Door Knobs Online

One reliable source for pink knobs that I’ve been able to find online is Amazon.com.  They have a small, but consistent selection of them, all of which vary in price from affordable to high-end.  Here are the four most popular choices that they have.

There are other places online to find pink crystal door knobs, but they seem to be very inconsistent with their inventory.

What Makes An Emtek Crystal Door Knob So Expensive?

If you’re comparing prices between other brands and an Emtek crystal door knob you’re probably scratching your head trying to figure out why they cost so much more.  Don’t worry, you’re not alone which is why I’ve written this post.  To answer the question simply, Emtek crystal door knobs are the highest quality around (disclosure: I have nothing to do with Emtek, just calling it how I see it!).

What Makes Them High Quality?

Their door knobs start with the highest quality internal mechanisms that make the knob function perfectly every time.  To quote their website:

Emtek locks have heavy duty mechanisms designed to provide trouble free service.

Knobs and lever handles are supported by springs mounted behind the rosettes and sideplates. These springs return the handles back to the “rest” position and prevent lever sag.

Latches are heavy duty diecast construction, with strong internal springs, solid brass nose bolts and sintered metal cams.

A plastic bushing located in the joint between handle and rosette ensures a friction free wear surface. This prevents metal from bearing on metal and provides smooth long-lasting operation.

This is technical nerdspeak for “everything inside our door knobs is awesome!”  The problem that most people have with their knobs is what they call above “lever sag” where the part that makes the door stay shut doesn’t pop out.  This is from low quality or really old springs inside the door that don’t function properly.  You don’t get that with Emtek.

Another important thing to note is that most of their knobs are leaded glass, which is incredibly clearer and more flawless than non-leaded glass.  Obviously, if you catch your kids licking your door knobs you may want to consider  non-leaded ones, but otherwise this is the highest quality you can get.

Why Should I Get An Emtek Crystal Door Knob?

These door knobs obviously aren’t for everyone.  If you’re operating on a tight budget you may want to look at other brands that will align closer to what you can spend, but if quality and class is what you’re looking for, Emtek is the choice.  They are brilliant and high quality door knobs that showcase your eye for style and detail.

With all of the door knob options, it’s important to know your options.  Emtek crystal door knobs are the highest quality knobs around, and if that’s the style and feel you want in your home they’re a great choice.

Where To Find Antique Crystal Door Knobs

There are other places to find antique crystal door knobs than just the antique store!  An antique store is great, and I’ll share some tips for that place, but there are some other options that you might not have thought of yet.  This post is dedicated to the classics that never go out of style, crystal door knobs and where to get them for your home!

Antiques At The Antiques Store?

The obvious place that people look when shopping for vintage door knobs is the antique store.  This makes total sense and you can usually find them there, but be ready for a roller coaster of prices.  You’ll see some that are well over $200, while another that looks just like it costs only $15.  I have no idea why this happens, but I see it all the time!  Most people want matching door knobs in their home, and the antique store isn’t the place to find that.  You’ll be lucky if you can find two or three matching knobs, but rarely an entire set.  Remember that your door knobs don’t have to match in your house, and it creates a more fun and lively feel when they don’t.  Just be sure that they are all at least similar (like all crystal, not a blend of chrome, nickel, and ceramic).

Antique Crystal Door Knobs At Salvage Sales

If you’re striking out at the antique store, flip open your newspaper to the classified section and look for salvage sales.  This is the ideal place to get antique crystal door knobs.  They tear down or gut old homes and have all of the stuff that was inside for sale.  I’ve been able to pick up an entire home’s worth of crystal knobs for $30!  It takes some digging and getting dirty, but if you find what you’re looking for it’s well worth it.

Bartering, Like Crystal Door Knobs, Never Goes Out Of Style

Another idea is trading.  I’ve never done this, but I know people that have with success.  If you know someone with really cool door knobs, offer to buy new ones for their entire home in exchange for the antique crystal ones.  This works well with the elderly and those in rough neighborhoods since you can use the safety angle to help your sell.  Be up front with your intentions though, and let them know that you really want their door knobs, not just to do them a favor.

The Internets?

Another great place to find antique knobs is online.  There are tons of dealers online that specialize in antique, or at least antique looking, knobs.  You can shop eBay if you like the bidding process, or cruise the web looking for what you want with cheap shipping.  Saving money on shipping is incredibly important because crystal door knobs are freakin’ heavy and cost a ton to ship!  This is even more true when you’re buying an entire home’s worth of them (think over $100 to ship if you don’t get a deal).

There are probably millions of antique crystal door knobs around the world just waiting for you to find them.  Use these three resources to get started, and if you have any hot leads please drop us a line in the comments section.

Save Money With A Crystal Door Knob Set

Let’s face it, crystal door knobs are expensive!  Buying a crystal door knob set can help you save money though, rather than buying them individually.  There are a lot of doors in most houses, and when you consider the fact that these knobs usually cost $60 or $70 each, you need to do everything you can to reduce the cost!  Also, vintage door knobs are hard to find in sets.

I have noticed that when you get into shopping for sets, rather than single knobs, the choices seem to become more generic.  I don’t mean generic in a negative sense, but you don’t see many of the really creative and stylish designs in sets.  It’s normally the simple fluted or round crystal glass knobs.  Unless you’re shopping for glass in crazy colors or designs, this works out very well to your advantage.  With the simpler knob designs you can get sets, rather than knobs, for around $70 or $80.  Effectively cutting your cost in half!

If you want the fancier or edgier designs, you may be best off waiting for a sale, rather than a set.  These are almost exclusively sold individually, so your options are fairly limited.

Crystal door knob sets include the knobs for both sides of the door.  I’ve never done this, but I assume it would work, I have a hunch that if you are particularly crafty you could mash up different door knob sets to have one set be on one side of two doors.  For example, if you wanted crystal knobs on the outsides of the doors in your hallway you could take apart a set and make a hybrid of the inside knobs that are already there and the new crystal ones.  I’m not totally sure how this would work, but if you know or know that it wouldn’t work please leave a comment below.

It’s really easy to save money with a crystal door knob set over buying individual ones.  Your choices are a bit more limited, but it’s not difficult to find something that will look great in your home.

Transform the Look of Your Futon with a Futon Cover

Buying a futon is a great way to save space and money, though a standard futon cover isn’t necessarily the most interesting thing in the world. Fortunately, a new futon cover is an easy and affordable way to revise the look of your futon, which is a far better option than buying an entirely new futon bed. Futon covers aren’t just a great option for changing the color of your futon, but they can also change the feel of your futon. There are many different types of materials available, each of which offers a unique feel and texture.

Thanks to the power of the internet, there are several specialty retailers that offer a variety of futon covers at great prices. Online retailers really are your best bet if you’re looking for a futon cover, particularly if you’re looking for something different than the norm. While you’re likely to find some basic covers at your local retailer of home products, you won’t find suede or animal print covers, for example. While it’s possible to simply drape a sheet over your futon, doing so won’t give you the look of a properly fitted futon cover. You want the cover to fit snugly over the futon mattress without bunching or hanging over the sides. Before ordering a new cover, it’s important to measure the length, width and thickness of your futon mattress to ensure that your cover will fit properly. Not all futons are the same, so you really shouldn’t skip this step.

Perhaps the greatest thing about futon covers is just how affordable they are. In fact, most online retailers charge between $20 and $40 for dozens of different offerings. When your only other alternative is to upgrade your entire futon, $20 is a downright steal. These covers are so cheap, in fact, that it may make sense to purchase a few different covers to change the look of your futon whenever the mood strikes.

Efficient Basement Waterproofing

Installing efficient basement waterproofing is essential to keep your basement and the rest of your home dry and warm. Any below grade concrete floors and basement walls are going to be prone to damp. In fact the vast majority of homes with basements will have a moisture problem at some time. It is calculated that among homes built in the past few years, over 85% will have a problem with water damage to the basement in the first three years after completion.

So if you are thinking about remodeling the basement so that you can use the area as functional extra space, then putting in some type of basement waterproofing system should be your first priority for protection. There are many different types of solutions to making your basement dry and waterproof and they range from very simple to much more heftier measures that require a good contracting service to handle. It may only be necessary to install a dehumidifier, or it could involve the installation of extra drains to take water away from the foundation of your home and keep it out of your below grade room.

There are numerous possible solutions and one is bound to be the ideal one for you and your home. If you have been looking into waterproofing your basement and you have done any research online, you might find the variety of systems available confusing. Each system will work in a different way and often it will be a combination of several ideas that will produce your desired result – a basement that is dry and comfortable and is going to stay that way for some time to come.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that your basement is not important simply because you are not going to use it as livable space. Even if you don’t intend on using it for that purpose and instead it’s for nothing more than storage, it is the basement that underpins the whole of the rest of your home. If there is a problem in the basement then your entire home could be affected.

Avoid Too Much Foam When Cleaning Carpets

One important thing to remember when you use a carpet shampoo machine to clean your carpet is that more carpet shampoo does not equal cleaner carpets. In fact, if you use too much shampoo you could end up with carpets that are dirtier than what you started with. Make sure that you read the instructions carefully when preparing your carpet shampoo mixture and when loading the machine. In fact, I usually like to use less than what is called for on the bottle. You want to avoid too much foaming and excess shampoo can cause a great deal of foaming.

The reason that foam is a problem is because soap residue is sticky. If there is any dirt left in your carpet after cleaning then that dirt will migrate toward the soap residue and the residue will move toward the top of the carpet. That is why it is possible for the carpet to look dirtier after cleaning than before. To avoid this problem it s a good practice to rinse your carpet with cold water after shampooing. Use the same carpet cleaning machine but fill the reservoir with only cold water. Keep running over the carpet until you cannot see any soap in the discharge. You need to use cold water and not hot because cold water attracts soap better.

Even though you can rinse your carpet, you should try to avoid extra soap and foam if possible. The first thing you can do is limit the amount of carpet shampoo you use. Some people recommend that you use as little as one third what is recommended on the shampoo instructions. You need to test different solutions in your carpet cleaner to find the right ratio. The next thing you can do is to mix your carpet cleaning solution correctly. You should add the shampoo to hot water rather than adding water to the shampoo. If you pour the shampoo in first and then run water over it, you will create suds. If you add the shampoo to the water then you can avoid extra suds. Finally, if you still are noticing too much foaming, you can use a defoamer. You can add these additives right to the carpet cleaning solution or some machines have special reservoirs for defoamer.

Table Lamp Shades : Your Problems Answered

Table lamp shades are not problematic in themselves. There is plenty of choice and you should not have too much difficulty in finding what you need once you know what you are looking for. The real problem lies in pinning down the kind of lamp shade that will go with your base. A lot of choice does not always make things easier.

The thing is, you need to consider not only your lamp base but also where you will place your lamp. There is no point buying a new shade without having any idea of the style and color scheme of the room where it will go. Many bases are neutral in color and will go with many different shades (although they are generally a definite style – either traditional or contemporary). It is the color of the shade which needs to tie in with the decoration of the room however even if the base could go anywhere.

You might think that it would be easy enough just by choosing a plain white shade but actually you would be better choosing a plain cream one if the lamp is going to be placed in a room with a warm color scheme. So you may as well wait until you know.

Once you have a range of colors you can work with, life will get much easier. There will be an optimum size shade to choose which will be no more than a third the height of the whole lamp so that is not too difficult to stick to. Then you need to choose a fabric. Cheaper shades are in plain cotton but silk shades have a nicer look even though they are little more expensive. As for the amount of embellishment to choose, go by the style of the room. A plain shade goes well with a formal or minimalist room (although texture always works well even in a simple room) whereas a beaded or fringed shade looks better in an informal room or bedroom.

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