Kitchens often take the most abuse and wear of any room in our homes. They are also often the last room we think about redecorating because it’s "only" seen by you. Your kitchen should be as fabulous as you are and encourage culinary creativity, great conversation and express your personality. Here are a few of my tips for quick and easy "fresheners" that will transform your kitchen from blah to hurrah for under $100. Paint —the essential ingredient in a clean and fresh kitchen.

If your walls are dingy and stained you’re not going to feel fabulous cooking or conversing in the kitchen. Plainly speaking, paint is the most versatile decorating tool available that can so easily transform a space while being so affordable. Paint your walls in an exquisite new colour; my favorites right now are saffron yellows, celery greens and rich warm egg creams for the kitchen. A new colour will do a lot to lighten and brighten your kitchen. When you’re finished the walls, ceilings and trim, don’t forget about your cabinets. Give them a completely new look. Try painting your island or peninsula one colour (maybe a rich chocolate) and your wall cabinetry another colour (a warm cream). Melamine paint is best for kitchen cabinets, since it’s so durable and easy to clean. Don’t feel limited; nearly everything can be painted with the right primer and some prep work. Backsplash.

Think of your backsplash like the finishing touch to a really great outfit. It needs to be sexy and stylish, yet functional and easy to maintain. By changing or upgrading your backsplash you will completely elevate the look and feel of your kitchen. For a fresh and retro look try using white ceramic subway tiles, they are readily available, very inexpensive and easy to install. Another of my favorites (albeit a bit more expensive) is to use stone tile with a pillow edge. This will give your kitchen a grand and stately feeling. Or if you’re feeling sexy and sleek pop out to a metal wholesaler (with your exact measurements) and try using some brushed stainless steel panels, you will be the talk of your neighbourhood. Cabinet Hardware.

By changing your hardware you can transform a dull kitchen into something sexy and eye catching. I recommend making a statement—try using oversized (12" or 16") stainless steel rod pulls on all your cabinetry to give you a sleek and sexy designer look. Other options might be to go to a salvage shop and find authentic retro glass knobs or bone pulls. You can literally get hundreds of great designs, just go on the prowl and find something that captures your imagination. Accessories and Furnishings.

The biggest culprit in thwarting a fresh kitchen makeover is clutter, or as I so very often say, edit-edit-edit. Chances are if you haven’t touched the bread machine in three years, you don’t need it! Put away all the junky clutter, bad gifts and design mish-mash. Take everything off your counters and then only put back the things you most often use and find a home for the rest. Then add just a few design elements to the space such as an oversized glass lid jar filled with fresh ingredients and where possible upgrade a few of your counter appliances to sleek new stainless steel models.

Window Treatments.

With the incredible variety and availability of sexy new window treatments you can find the perfect accompaniment to any décor. Try Zen-feeling burnt matchstick to classic wood shutters, or my favourite, clean and crisp Roman blinds. Spend a weekend and clean, prep, paint and style your fresh new kitchen. You will be amazed at the difference it makes not only to your enjoyment of your home but in how it makes you feel — Isn’t time to feel sexy, fresh and new?

Great Design in essence is about the creation of an exquisite stage for the beauty and quality of life we all desire. From ultra urban to ornate opulence, Robin and his team have passionately and successfully designed it all. Robin’s interiors have graced the pages of magazines Worldwide. Robin has designed interiors for feature films, major retailers such as Home Depot (Style Ideas Magazine) and the Designer Showhouse. From smaller scale interior projects to full scale restorations and developments, Robin’s passionate and creative eye overseas all aspects. While fluent in all design trends and philosophies, Robin is most passionate about historic preservation and the creation of elegant, functional and memorable spaces that convey the best attributes of each owner while respecting and celebrating the architecture that encompasses them. Visit http://www.robindegroot.ca

Roman shades are a simple and elegant window treatment to block the sun or prying neighbors. Nicer than plain plastic shades, but less expensive than ornate window shades, Roman shades provide the perfect start to a beginning home decorator.

Roman shades can be purchased from home improvement or department stores, or they can be custom made by in interior designer. The cheapest way to decorate your home with Roman shades is to make them yourself. Get ready to refresh your math skills!

To make Roman shades, first measure the window you’d like to put them in. Measure the height and width of the window from inside its frame. Or, if you want the shade to cover more than the window, measure the height and width of the surface the shade will cover. Your shade will probably need to be between 45 and 54 inches wide.

Before you shop for your fabric, you’ll need to calculate the number of dowels and the amount of fabric you’ll need. To figure out how many dowels you will need, divide the window height by six to nine inches, which will be the space between each dowel fold. You’ll need to find a number that goes evenly into your window height. For example, if your window height is 64 inches, divide by six. You’ll then need eight dowels for eight pleats. Each dowel needs 1.5 inches, so multiplied by eight, you’ll need an extra 12 inches of fabric. You’ll also need an extra six inches of fabric to mount the shade, meaning you’ll need 18 extra inches for this example. Add this to your window height to get your final height. Add two inches of fabric to your window width. Now you have the size of the fabric you need. Whew!

Next, the fun part: selecting the fabric of your shade. Shades without busy patterns are the easiest to work with because you won’t need to make sure the pattern blends seamlessly with each fold. If your window gets southern light, consider picking a near-shear fabric. This will produce a warm, soothing light in your room. Take a picture or your room, fabric swatches of your furniture, and a paint sample of your room when you shop. You don’t want to finish making your Roman shade to discover it clashes with the rest of your room!

While you are out buying your fabric, buy the rest of your supplies:

Drapery-lining fabric. You’ll need an extra 0.25 inches to cover the mounting board.

Blind cord

Window cleat

Quarter-inch diameter window dowels, 0.25 inches smaller than the window width

A wooden mounting board, 0.25 inches smaller than the window width that’s 1×2 inches.

Half-inch diameter shade rings

Screw eyes

Staple gun

Chalk or air-soluble marker

Yardstick

The easiest way to make a shade uses lots of pictures and few words. Find instructions at a home improvement store or for free online to make your own Roman shade. Find patterns that make the type of Roman shade you want, whether it is flat, pleated, or with a sunburst. You’ll probably need a sewing machine to make the Roman shade quickly, especially to attach the lining to the fabric. With patience you can make your own Roman shade.

Roman Shades Info provides detailed information about bamboo, fabric, discount, and custom Roman shades, as well as advice on how to make Roman shades, and more. Roman Shades Info is the sister site of Shutters Web.

Feng Shui is a process that affects your internal landscape just as much as it affects your physical environment. In order for your spirit to be nourished by the enhancements you make to your home, you must start the entire process by looking inward, and this is an important Feng Shui tip that most Feng Shui consultants like me would offer to all Feng Shui beginners. This in fact is the essence of spiritual Feng Shui which looks at the Feng Shui at a higher level than the other types of Feng Shui which mostly aim at improving at a niche level; be it your office, home or bedroom.

The Spiritual Feng Shui sees the whole concept of Feng Shui at the universal level, the level to which your soul belongs and relates. If you practice spiritual Feng Shui you can never think of improving your life at the expanse of harming your neighbor or your environment. The Feng Shui tips that are offered in the article not only aim to highlight the important points one has to remember before practicing it; it also introduces the Feng Shui beginners to the new horizons that the spiritual Feng Shui can open up for them.

Though the spiritual Feng Shui communicates to your environment, your home, your office through the bodily objects, it heals your soul — to know how it works it is important for you to remember the following Feng Shui tips. All these free Feng Shui tips have valuable advice contained in them so try to imbibe them before you start your practice.

There is nothing religious about the Spiritual Feng Shui. It talks about purifying your soul, not only the empty or occupied spaces in your house. The purified soul has the radiations that are reflected from you to have strong positive energies; in Feng Shui practice, these positive energies referred to as Chi, which is the universal energy and the guiding principle.

As one would never build a new home on a rotting foundation; likewise, it is essential to clear away the debris of negativity before you create your new Feng Shui space. Only then can your spirits soar with true energy and vitality.

As you come to recognize the importance of cleansing your old attitude and beginning anew, what ever Feng Shui enhancements that you use for a Feng Shui home design seem to be working for you.

Here are some free Feng Shui tips for everyone:

Look deep into yourself and don’t be afraid to do so! That is the only way to develop and change in a beneficial way. Be honest with yourself – you deserve truth and awareness.

Open your palms, close your eyes and reach your arms up and out, as though you are waiting to be picked up or embraced. (This is necessary for unifying your soul with the universe).

Imagine the energy radiating from your heart, your lungs, your palms and that the energy is touching everything in its path.

Beam the energy away from you, sending it into the farthest corners of the universe.

Repeat this mantra: “I am open to positive change in any form it takes.”

Before you start feng shui decorating with various Feng Shui elements, my sincere Feng Shui advice to all the Feng Shui beginners is to strictly follow the spiritual Feng Shui tips.

May be as your Feng Shui study goes deeper and deeper you would not mind spending some money for buying e books on Feng Shui, but the absolutely free Feng Shui tips that you just now have are the like the foundation stones for the spiritual Feng Shui practice. Remember that these free Feng Shui tips are going to help you a great deal in your long Feng Shui journey.

Once you are positive about accepting changes in your life the Feng Shui is there to help you in what ever you do; remember that Feng Shui is about focusing intentions, rather than just coasting on auto-pilot. Feng Shui is about getting you back into the driver’s seat of your life, it is about accepting responsibility for yourself and your actions not only in this materialist world but also the metaphysical or spiritual world.

Nurturing yourself with Feng Shui practice and making use of the philosophy of Feng Shui in the home design will help you regain your own sense of destiny and purpose within the universe. Before you start any Feng Shui practice, whether it is about understanding Feng Shui Bagua or knowing Feng Shui Elements remember that Feng Shui is a spiritual discipline. It is just not about doing furniture placement using Feng Shui interior design but knowing yourself and your universe better so can get the positive energies from the universe and its objects. Feng Shui elements are nothing different from the elements of universe. If you follow this important piece of Feng Shui advice and bring to practice the above mentioned free Feng Shui nothing can stop you from deriving benefits of Feng Shui.

The Feng Shui masters have provided you with the technical know-how and valuable Feng Shui tips for evaluating your home and implementing Feng Shui techniques and cures. But it is up to you, and only you, to envision and bring about the specific environment and quality of life that you desire.

If you integrate all the above home design tips into your Feng Shui practice you would soon start noticing the positive changes it is having on your life.

Andrew Jones is an expert author on Feng Shui related topics - Feng Shui tips, Feng Shui home design

Roman shades are a simple and practical window treatment to accent a room or to provide privacy from bright sun or noisy neighbors. A Roman shade is a piece of fabric that is mounted at the top of a window. The fabric is pleated such that when the Roman shade’s string is pulled, the fabric folds up in regular intervals. Not only does it look better than a boring plastic shade, it uses less fabric than other window treatments making it a cheaper alternative to ornate window treatments.

Classic Roman shades have overlapping folds when the shade is lowered, but more different treatments do exist. Flat Roman shades have no folds when the shade is lowered. These shades, when made with sheer or light fabric, can soften bright southern lighting into a subtle, soothing light. A more elaborate sunburst Roman shade has extra fabric at the bottom, which is folded into a half-sunburst. These cheerful shades are perfect for breakfast nooks, in the kitchen, or in a young girl’s room.

Roman shades can be made at home or purchased. Making your own Roman shade will be an exercise in mathematical patience. The fabric must be fitted to the window, and the hooks to draw the Roman shade up must be placed at regular intervals. Patterned fabrics are more challenging because the patterns should not clash when the Roman shade is raised. Roman shades for sale only need to be installed and come in varieties an amateur may find to difficult to make. For example, some stores like JC Penney, sell cordless Roman shades perfect for houses with small children. Roman shades for sale come in hundreds of fabrics or even made of wood. The least expensive Roman shades start at around $30. Interior designers can also make Roman shades just for you, but these will be more expensive than store-bought or homemade Roman shades.

Visit home improvement stores or search online for Roman shade ideas, instructions, or even to purchase Roman shades perfect for your home.

Roman Shades Info provides detailed information about bamboo, fabric, discount, and custom Roman shades, as well as advice on how to make Roman shades, and more. Roman Shades Info is the sister site of Shutters Web.

Daahling, do you smile each time you walk through your front door? Does your living room sparkle, your bathroom shine, and your bedroom sizzle? If not, Ms. BB will show you how a little bling can turn your home into a castle where you will surely feel like a beautiful princess.

How many years have you looked at that same old furniture in your living/family room? Day in, day out - is it simply boring you, Daahling? It is easy to bling it up with colorful, beaded throw pillows on the couch, in the chair, and even on the floor. Are you on a tight budget? Try this quick fix. Buy two brightly colored fabric placemats, put one on each side of your old pillow, tie each corner with a jeweled pony tail ring ~ Bling, Bling, you instantly have a sparkling new look!

Please do not let your bathroom look like a dungeon, Daahling. After all, you spend a lot of time in there, so add some bling. Buy jeweled garland at a craft store and drape around the shower curtain rod and/or towel bars. It is easy to accent with several functional pieces that are already blinged up with jeweled or shiny designs that add color and gleam. Look for beads and rhinestones on soap dishes, toothbrush holders, tissue box covers, and candle holders. If you can not find the perfect piece, simply glue on a few rhinestones and colorful beads from the craft store to create an original work of art! These are fun to coordinate in bright colors and patterns to match your color scheme. Don’t forget to add a beautifully jeweled hand held mirror to your vanity for a touch of elegance.

For a sophisticated touch that is always in style, make Swarovski your new best friend, Daahling. Accent all of the rooms in your castle with colorful crystals. From jeweled napkin holders in the dining room to colorful crystal surrounding your favorite photo on the mantel, go all around your house and let your imagination run wild. These Austrian crystals are optically pure, highly polished, precisely cut, and simply beautiful. They shimmer with grace on the rims of picture frames, tea lights, vases, and bowls in every color of the rainbow.

For a simply maavelous accent piece, choose a collectible egg Cinderella Carriage that even your prince will love. The natural beauty of crystals will add instant elegance to any room, and they are sure to make you smile each time you look at them!

Daahling, please visit Ms. BB at http://BlingSpa.com for suggestions on Bling for your home, more Bling Makeovers, and Bling Therapy with healing gemstones. Ms. BB can also be found at http://BlingBlingMarketplace.com where the In-Crowd shops for home decor, handbags, jewelry, fashion, and Bling for everything!

Mini-blinds are very convenient and attractive window treatments. They typically have either vertical or horizontal slats, and are woven either from natural or synthetic reeds.

The only disadvantage they have is that they cannot be cleaned easily. Cleaning mini blinds doesn’t require strength – it requires delicate handling. The following instructions should help clarify how to clean them.

As a first step, you should vacuum-clean them while the mini blinds are still hanging on your window. This process will help to remove excess dust. Next, you should remove the mini-blinds from the window and take them either outside or to the bathroom for a wet wash.

For the liquid washing component, you will need a hose, a clothesline, a bucket and a sponge. Make a mixture of one-part water, to one-part ammonia in the bucket. Gently apply the mixture on the mini-blinds, front and back. Allow the mixture to stand on the blinds for about five minutes, after which you just hose them. Wipe the mini-blinds with a soft cloth and hang them on the clothesline to dry.

To help prevent dust buildup, rub down the mini-blinds with an anti-static dryer sheet.

The above instructions are most relevant for cleaning cloth mini blinds. However, on the other hand, if your mini blinds are made of wood, clean them like you clean any of your wood furniture.

Mini Blinds Info provides detailed information about vinyl, discount, wood, faux wood, custom, and aluminum mini blinds, plus advice on cleaning mini blinds. Mini Blinds Info is the sister site of Wood Blinds Web.

A Tiki bar creates an amazing atmosphere that must somehow conjure up the lost spirits of ancient man, which these days ends up in - a party! When people see a Tiki hut bar, they just somehow shift into instant party mode, the conversation flows and the great times begin.

Have you ever seen these "grass huts"? They’re often found at resorts, in the Carribean islands, at restaurants and occasionally, in people’s own back yards. They’re catching on in popularity, and for good reason. They provide a great addition to any poolside venue, and create a distinctive, island type atmosphere that most people only get to experience when on vacations.

There are a couple of kinds of Tiki bars. The "portable" Tiki bar is a smaller version, whereas the "Tiki hut" is the larger house-like structure, which often contains both a bar, seating areas, tables and decking. The unmistakable element of both types is the thatched roofing, a type of roofing that goes back many centuries and that’s been used by cultures across the world.

A Tiki bar has that rustic feel of the islands, and looks like something the natives should be hovering around any minute. That’s usually true - it’s the party animals that just can wait to turn on some classic Jimmy Buffet music, crank up the blenders and let the good times flow!

A quality custom Tiki bar costs many thousands of dollars, due to its quality construction and workmanship. These bars have the telltale thatched roofing, made of palm leaves and other special materials. This roof is what really gives the Tiki bar and Tiki hut its distinctive appearance and feeling of being in the wild days of yesteryear.

Nowadays, it’s certainly possible to readily find the materials you’ll need to build your own Tiki bar. Of couse, you’ll need some good plans and instructions to build one, because even though these structures look simple enough on the surface, there’s a lot to know to build one properly so it will last for years. It’s also important to ensure that it’ll be safe for you and your guests.

A Tiki bar attracts and somehow conjures up the parties, and with the party often comes the alchohol, and invariably, some smokers. Since a Tiki bar is made of flammable materials, it’s critical to use proper fire-proofing techniques when building it; otherwise, the whole thing could suddenly go up in a blaze - an abrupt end to a good time for all.

So, how do you build a Tiki bar? First of all, get some good plans from an experienced, reputable builder. Make sure these plans are complete, well-illustrated and include step-by-step how-to instructions that are easy to follow. It’s a good idea to ensure you’ll have access to assistance and consulting advice, especially if this is your first Tiki bar, or you want to customize it to your own liking.

Also, you’ll need a few materials that may not be obvious or available in your area, so you’ll need to know where to find these authentic materials. You’ll also want a few specialty decor items to finish up your Tiki bar and make it your own.

A quality Tiki bar will weigh over 1,000 pounds, when you include its wood construction, shelving, support structure and the thatched roofing materials. You’ll want to ensure this structure is properly designed, so it can safely hold the roof’s weight, not blow over easily in high winds and be safe for people to lean upon (in whatever state of mind and body they may be in

Fortunately, there are good plans available today on the Internet that enable an average do-it-yourself type of person to build their own Tiki bar. The specialty materials can be readily ordered over the Internet. A quality, custom Tiki bar can typically be built in just a few days by an average do-it-yourselfer by following good plans and instructions.

There are also various options, like ceiling fans and controls, electrical hookups, shelving, glass holders and other options to consider in your own Tiki bar’s design. Have a look around at several Tiki bars and Tiki huts to get some ideas of what’s possible or contact an experienced builder and learn more.

So, if you’ve been wanting to host parties and give your back yard, poolside area or lakeside that island atmosphere, a Tiki bar could be just what you’ve been looking for. Crank up the music and the blenders and let the good times roll!

One question - when’s the party?

Rick Braddy is an avid writer, professional software developer and Internet marketer, and Tiki bar enthusiast. If you’re interested in a Tiki bar, or you’d like to learn more about how to build a Tiki bar, you can visit http://www.tikikev.com to learn more and see lots of pictures of both Tiki bars and huts.

Aluminum blinds are a low-cost and durable solution as a window treatment. They remain durable and easy to maintain regardless of humidity. Hence, aluminum blinds have remained a popular choice among shoppers.

They are available in a wide array of colors and are normally available in micro, mini, and other slat sizes up to 2 inches. Quality of aluminum window blinds can be measured by the thickness or gauge of the aluminum, with larger gauges being better and/or more durable.

Aluminum mini blinds provide a low cost and durable solution to your window dressing problem. Slats are available in 6-, 8-, or 9-gauge aluminum. The higher gauge of the aluminum slat the more durable the slat. Aluminum blinds are easy to clean and maintain. The 1-inch aluminum slats are more stylish and sophisticated with textures ranging from a luxurious pearl finish to the richness of suede.

Aluminum blinds come in 1/2-inch, 1-inch, and 2-inch sized slats, with as many as 100 colors, including metallic, hammered, brushed, and a soft suede finish. The two-inch slats provide better sun control, and are less intrusive to the view outside.

Aluminum blinds are the most inexpensive way to put up blinds in your home or apartment. These are frequently called mini blinds because the slats are so narrow. Mini blinds are perfect if you are on a budget and need privacy. Duotone mini blinds allow you to select a color of your choice for the front side of the blinds with a neutral color facing the street.

Vertical blinds add height to a room and are perfect for a large picture window or a sliding door. Vertical blinds can have relatively wider slats in order to fill the larger space. When you select vertical blinds look for soft textures that complement your furniture.

Mini Blinds Info provides detailed information about vinyl, discount, wood, faux wood, custom, and aluminum mini blinds, plus advice on cleaning mini blinds. Mini Blinds Info is the sister site of Wood Blinds Web.

There’s more to shopping for curtain fabric than seeking out the perfect print of the weave those complements the color scheme to perfection. Furnishing fabrics are not all suitable for every situation. With the wide range of weaves and weighs of cloth available, make sure the one you buy will do the job you have in mind. The two most important factors to bear in mind when looking for curtain fabric are resistance to fading and the weight of the fabric.

Light resistance curtains, being so close to windows, take a lot of punishment from sunlight. Make sure to close fabrics that are resistant to fading and rotting by the sun’s rays, particularly for rooms which get the sun throughout most of the day. Look at the weight and quality of the fabric. In general, all but the lightest curtains are worth lining, and even some of the thinner softer cloths, which drape well look very limp unless they are lined.

The after-care of made-up curtains also needs some though when choosing fabric. Unless a fabric is labeled and sold as pre-shrunk of fixed-finished, shrinkage have between five and six per cent is considered normal. Fabric needs to be flexible enough to roll around a wooden dowel. All medium-weight fabrics can be used, but look for tightly woven cottons for really reliable results. If curtains are going to need regular washing it is sensible either to pre-wash the fabric, lining and tape, or to make curtain with detachable linings.

About The Author:

Roger King has been involved in home interior designs for several years, and has been helping people find and review the best value for interior design solutions. Visit his web site http://www.all-homeinteriordesigns.com to learn more about this service.

In the mini blind market, you have three types of options: You can buy what is ready-made and is widely available in retail stores; buy ready-made but cut to fit blinds; and one-inch slat mini blinds that can fit one-eighth of an inch near your required specifications.

In the first option, you get the general size of your window and find the blind that closely fits it. These blinds are massed produced and inexpensive. As for the cut-to-fit blind, you can find these blinds in home improvement stores. Some stores will cut the blinds for you at there location.

The custom-made mini blinds come with a lifetime warranty and are made with superior components. The custom mini blind is where you will find all the range of colors and most manufactures make them. Although the cost is higher, they are the best option if you choose mini blinds to put in your home.

You can also choose from two styles of lifting systems to raise your wood window coverings — standard lift and tilt features — and optional cordless systems that combine shade control while enhancing safety for children by eliminating dangling cords.

You can also select the route-less option that conceals the route holes through which the control cords run; or cloth tapes that not only cover route holes but can also add the finishing touch to your wood window’s decor. This will reduce glare and maximize light control.

If you like the look of a wood, consider a sheer horizontal or sheer vertical blind. For a refined, warm look, horizontal wood blinds are a handsome solution for any room. Available in either wood stains or paints, the 2-inch wood blinds can accentuate or blend to any style. They are great insulators, light blockers, and are one of the more low maintenance window coverings.

Mini Blinds Info provides detailed information about vinyl, discount, wood, faux wood, custom, and aluminum mini blinds, plus advice on cleaning mini blinds. Mini Blinds Info is the sister site of Wood Blinds Web.