Clawfoot bathtubs add a vintage feel to a bathroom.
Clawfoot bathtubs were once the go-to option for bathing, but today the distinctive tubs are an unexpected addition to a bathroom. Clawfoot tubs are stand-alone bathtubs that don't include the more standard bathtub surround. The elegant tubs typically perch atop short pedestal feet that elevate the tub off the floor and transform the simple fixture into a bathroom centerpiece. Though clawfoot tubs are usually employed as soaking tubs, shower fixtures add another layer of versatility to the tubs.
Hand-held Showerheads
Clawfoot bathtubs do not come with a traditional shower surround that would otherwise provide a space for mounting a shower head. One way to combat this obstacle is to employ a hand-held shower head that attaches directly to the tub faucet. Hand-held shower head attachments include an attachment valve and a length of hose or tubing so that the head is easily maneuverable around the tube. The simplest hand-held shower heads include just the head and the hose, while more complex versions include a mounting pipe that attaches to the back of the faucet so that you can hang your shower head when you aren't using it.
Shower Enclosures
If you want a hands-free option that allows you to stand in the tub while you shower, a clawfoot tub shower enclosure is an option for your needs. Unlike traditional shower enclosures, clawfoot tub shower enclosures are metal frames that mount into either your wall or ceiling. The frames are the same shape of your tub but slightly larger. A wrap-around shower curtain hangs from the suspending frame to encase your tub. The shower head fixture is mounted into a single pipe that attaches to the tub faucet, and some versions bracket to your wall for extra support.
Ceiling Mounted
If you want to keep your plumbing out of sight, consider ceiling mounted shower heads that direct spray into the center of the clawfoot tub. Ceiling mounted shower heads are either flush mounted or suspended from a short pipe. Flush mounted shower heads are low-profile, contemporary options, while suspending fittings are available in a range of more rustic-looking finishes. Ceiling-mounted create a rainlike spray rather than a forced directional spray.
Considerations
Consider your preferences and your budget when choosing a shower option for your clawfoot tub. Hand-held shower heads are the least expensive choice, but you're movement is limited based on the length of the hose, and you have to hold the shower head throughout the duration of the shower. Ceiling-mounted shower heads are hands-free, but they require professional installation to route the plumbing through the ceiling. Professional installation translates to higher cost, and not all homes have the existing plumbing needed to ceiling mount a shower head. Another consideration is splashing. Clawfoot tubs tend to have higher walls than standard showers, but flush mounted shower heads increase splashing due to the height of the mount. A mounted shower curtain limits the effects of splashing from a shower head.
In some cases a computer projector in the classroom is set on a desk or table in the front of the room. But when a projector is in the front of the classroom, it can sometimes give off a back light that distracts from the presentation. The way to solve the problem is to mount the projector somewhere towards the back of the classroom. There are a couple of ways to mount a computer projector in a classroom, but one of the popular ways is to mount it overhead.
Instructions
1. Lower the screen that you will be using. Do not worry about trying to find the right spot in the ceiling to install the mounting kit, as the kit can adjust to wherever you want to put the projector. You will need a helper who can assist you in aiming the projector and holding the projector in place while you determine the installation point of the mounting bracket. Make sure the projector is easily accessible for maintenance, repair or replacement.
2. Install the mounting bracket in the spot you have determined. Make sure that the projector is installed as far to the back of the classroom as possible and as high as possible to keep it clear of traffic. Mounting it in the back of the room near the wall also allows you to run cables in a place where they will not become a tripping hazard. Follow the installation instructions on your mounting kit closely and be very careful during this installation. Have the helper to assist you.
3. Secure the bracket in place and position the projector in place on the bracket.
4. Run VGA cables from the back of the projector, up through the drop ceiling and down the back wall. If you do not have a drop ceiling in your classroom, attach the cables to the back wall with a small cable loop to be sure that they are out of the way.
5. Be certain to coil your cables and keep them out of the way when the projector is not in use.
Tags: back classroom, back wall, computer projector, computer projector classroom, drop ceiling
Decorate your patio ceiling to make the space visually appealing.
Covered patios provide a comfortable outdoor living area that can be used rain or shine. Patio ceilings, however, are often more functional than they are visually appealing. To add interest and design to your patio, decorate the ceiling with graphic images, bright colors, or repeated patterns. Not only does this eliminate the unattractive look of the typical patio ceiling, it makes the space a focal point for outdoor entertaining.
Stencil Patterns
Get the look of wall paper with paint by stenciling a repeating design onto your patio's ceiling. After cleaning and sanding the ceiling, paint several coats of a solid color. Once all signs of the old paint color are gone, stencil a pattern using spray paint. Find stencils at a home improvement store or design your own using a craft knife and card stock. Measure the space between each stencil so that the ceiling has a uniform look, or add designs at random.
Wall Decals
Apply a wall decal to the ceiling. Purchase wall decals at home improvement stores and through online retailers. A decal functions like a giant sticker, so application takes less time than painting an image onto the ceiling. Large decals resemble a mural, while smaller decals in a repeating pattern resemble stenciling. Some wall decals are made for one-time use, while others can be reapplied.
Paint and Paper Lanterns
Make your patio ceiling stand out with a bright color and decorative paper lanterns. Paint the ceiling a vibrant monochromatic color that compliments your patio furniture and decor. After the paint dries, hang a cluster of lanterns at varying heights in the center of the ceiling. Use lighted lanterns or cluster them around an overhead light so that they glow at night.
Tags: your patio, patio ceiling, your patio ceiling, design your, home improvement, visually appealing
Suspended ceilings are common in areas where a good looking ceiling is desired at a reasonable cost. Made of lightweight fiber tiles, they are designed to sit down into a metal support frame mounted to the upper rafters of a building. Wet tiles are easily damaged, prone to discoloration and more susceptible to mold formation. In order to dry the ceiling it is first necessary to remove the individual wet tiles.
Instructions
1. Push up gently on one end of a wet suspended ceiling panel and angle it so it comes down through the support grid. Remove all wet tiles in this manner, and use care so as not to damage the more delicate wet tiles at all during removal.
2. Lay plastic sheeting out on a level surface. A warm location but not in direct sunlight is ideal, preferably a sturdy wood table or concrete floor.
3. Place the tiles onto the plastic so the exposed face during installation is face up, with at least 1 inch between to allow airflow between the tiles. Don't have the tiles touching any part of another tile and ensure that they are completely flat.
4. Fill a spray bottle half full with liquid bleach and the other half with clean water. Shake the bottle vigorously and then spray the surface of each ceiling tile just enough to moisten the face. This helps eliminate the chances of mold forming.
5. Set an electric hair dryer on a medium hot setting and hold it roughly 6 inches from the tile face. Move it slowly back and forth over the surface repeatedly until it begins to dry out. When the tile is mostly dry, flip it over and dry the other side.
6. Lift the tiles back into place vertically through the opening in the suspension frame. Turn the tile horizontally and suspend it with the tips of your fingers as you slowly lower it into place on the grid.
Modern recessed lights are designed for installation in finished homes.
Adding recessed lights in a finished room is not as difficult as it may seem. For the most part, light kits are designed to be installed in finished spaces, so the amount of cutting required for the wiring process is minimized. The most difficult parts of the project are making sure the lights are properly aligned and running the cable above the ceiling.
Instructions
1. Locate an available branch circuit to use as a power source. It is easier to tap into an existing circuit via a receptacle than to run wires from the circuit breaker box to the new fixtures.
2. Mark the locations of the recessed lights on the ceiling. Use chalk lines to ensure that the lights are aligned.
3. Make the cuts in the wall and ceiling. Follow the manufacturer's directions regarding the size of the holes for the recessed lights. You'll need enough room to affix the fixture boxes to a ceiling joist. Directly above the hole for the wall switch, where the ceiling and wall meet, cut an access hole for running electrical cable.
4. Remove the baseboards between the source power receptacle and the light switch hole and cut small access holes at the base of the wall below the receptacle and switch.
5. Install the hardware. Most recessed lighting kits come with the fixture box affixed to the light, which makes hanging the fixture easier. Attach the box--this is where the wires will be connected and from which the light will be hung--to a ceiling joist. Do not rely on the ceiling to support the weight of the light. Affix the switch box to the drywall. Remove the source power receptacle from its box to access the wires.
6. Run the electrical wires from the power source to the switch. Run two-wire BX cable from the source receptacle down through the access hole, in the gap between the drywall and the floor, up through the switch access hole and into the switch box. You may have to drill holes or cut channels through the wall studs to allow the wires to pass by. Metal-sheathed (BX) cable is used to protect the wires from damage by the baseboard finishing nails.
7. Run the electrical wires from the switch to the lights. Feed fish tape through the ceiling access hole across the ceiling to the first fixture box. Attach two-wire NM electric cable to the fish tape and pull it back toward you. Drop the wire down to the switch box. Use fish tape to thread the wire from the first fixture box to the second, and so on. When you are finished, each fixture box except the last will have two black, two white and two ground wires.
8. Cut the power to the circuit.
9. Make the connections at the and switch. Connect the black wire to the brass terminal of the source receptacle and the white wire to the silver terminal. At the switch connect the two white wires together and connect the two black wires to the terminals on the switch. Connect the ground wires together and ground the circuit to the switch box.
10. Make the lighting connections. Connect the white wires in the fixture box to the white wire on the light unit. Do the same for the black wires. At each light except the last there will be three wires of each color connected together. Ground each light at its fixture box.
11. Patch the access holes with the drywall patch kit.
Tags: access hole, recessed lights, wires from, fish tape, power source
Ceiling lighting is particularly important in kitchens.
For reasons of aesthetics or heat retention, some kitchens have dropped ceilings. These are ceilings that consist of a series of panels that are held in a metal grid suspended by wires from the original ceiling above. Lighting is usually provided by bulbs or fluorescent rods that are suspended behind translucent panels within the grid.
Translucent Panels
The advantage of translucent panels that are inset into the dropped ceiling is that they can be used in conjunction with the original ceiling light fixture in the kitchen. The lights simply shine down through the translucent panel and illuminate the kitchen. While this is usually effective, it is not always the most aesthetically pleasing method. The light from the fluorescent rods behind the panel can be harsh, and doesn't always diffuse effectively throughout the entire kitchen. This type of lighting is used most effectively as ambient lighting that is augmented by spotlights mounted above work counters.
Pot Lights
Pot lights are small round spotlights that are recessed into ceilings and provide focused light on specific locations in the kitchen. In order to mount pot lights into a lowered ceiling, you will have to cut holes into the panels at the right size for the lights. Try to position the lights in the center of the panels in order to make the ceiling look symmetrical. If there are pot lights in the existing ceiling that will be obscured by a new dropped ceiling, you will need to take the pot lights out of the existing ceiling and remount them into the dropped ceiling.
Track Lighting
Track lighting is probably the easiest option to install onto a dropped ceiling. Track lighting consists of metal tracks three or four feet long with a series of small, movable spotlights mounted onto the tracks. The spotlights can be directed to the areas of the kitchen that require the most light. The advantage of track lighting is that it can be mounted onto the face of a dropped ceiling without needing to cut into the panels. All you need to do is run the wire from the track lighting above the panels and wire it into the lighting outlet that is in the original ceiling.
Tags: dropped ceiling, original ceiling, ceiling that, ceiling Track, ceiling will
Adding glitter to clear-coat varnish is the easiest way to apply it to the ceiling of a room.
Every little girl goes through a princess phase. She'll want to dress up like a princess, watch princess movies, hear princess stories, and act out princess scenes. She may even ask to decorate her room in honor of her favorite princess and might want to glam it up with a little touch of glitter. Because glitter can be messy, it is best used in a place that won't be touched. The ceiling is a perfect spot for glitter in a room and can be easily added to clear-coat varnish for quick application.
Instructions
1. Visit your local craft store to pick up the items you'll need. When selecting glitter, choose a color that will coordinate well with the existing colors in your room. For example, if your room's walls are white and the carpet is pink, choose a pink glitter that will best match the floor.
2. Mix the glitter into the clear-coat varnish. Sometimes glitter is simply tossed onto the ceiling while the ceiling paint is still wet. While that method works, it is terribly messy. Mixing glitter into a clear-coat varnish will allow the color of the glitter to shine through against your ceiling's paint color. Mix your glitter varnish creation using one part glitter to three parts varnish and combine using a paint stirrer.
3. Apply the glittery varnish to the ceiling. Pour the varnish into a paint tray just as you would traditional paint. Use your paint roller attached to the extension rod to apply the mixture to the ceiling, and use a paint brush for applying the mixture to corners of the ceiling. Fill in any splotchy areas.
Tags: , ceiling paint, , glitter into clear-coat, into clear-coat, into clear-coat varnish, that will
Ceiling medallions decorate the ceiling, pulling the eye upward and creating a sense of elegance.
Ceiling medallions have adorned public buildings and elegant homes for centuries. Traditionally, ceiling medallions were carved from wood or molded from plaster of Paris, paper mache or plaster. Today, modern, lightweight materials such as urethane and polymers are used to produce beautiful, easily installed medallions to provide a focal point for chandeliers and ceiling fans. Medallions may be painted the same color as the ceiling or a deeper shade of the same color. However, hand-painted medallions using rich colors are more in keeping with the original style of ceiling medallions.
Instructions
1. Protect your garage or porch floor with a sheet of plastic with newspapers on top. Lay your ceiling medallion face up on the newspapers.
2. Lay down an undercoat of terra cotta or espresso-colored spray paint by covering the medallion with a very thin coat of paint. Allow this coat to dry and apply a second coat for good coverage.
3. Apply paint with brushes to medallion design elements, using colors of your choice. Allow to dry thoroughly.
4. Dip just the tip of a clean art brush into the metallic paint. Lightly touch high points of the ceiling medallion design elements with the tip of the brush. If desired, use a dry brush to spread the metallic paint lightly, creating a burnished look.
Visually lower ceilings with a darker shade of paint than surrounding walls.
Interior designers refer to the ceiling as the "fifth wall" of a room, requiring the same consideration as the four walls that are always at eye level. Use paint to visually lower the height of a tall ceiling, move a shade or two lighter without going plain white or add brightness to balance a large room.
Lower the Ceiling
The Creative Home website advises painting the ceiling a darker color than the walls to give the visual effect of lowering the ceiling. A warm color also appears to bring a living room ceiling closer to the rest of the room. Paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore points out that while furniture and decorations occupy the lower part of a room, the top half is bare. The company recommends a deeper color on the ceiling with a soft sheen, such as eggshell or pearl to balance a large open space.
Use Flat or Glossy Paint
Flat paint hides imperfections better than other paints. If you have a popcorn ceiling, a flat sheen ceiling paint gives an ultra-flat finish and absorbs light. At the other extreme is high gloss. If the ceiling is a very even plaster or other smooth uniform surface without blemishes, a House Beautiful article featuring New York designer Todd Klein provides guidance when using high gloss. According to Klein, high-gloss paints create a room that is "totally glamorous, especially with the candlelight shimmering off the walls and ceilings."
Eliminate Ceiling Streaks
When painting a ceiling, regardless of height, the website Painting and Decorating Concourse recommends using paints designed for ceiling applications. Unlike wall paints, ceiling paints are manufactured to reduce spattering from overhead painting. The website also notes two common problems with painting a ceiling are missed spots and uneven appearance. To avoid missing a spot, some ceiling paint rolls on violet and dries to white, eliminating white blindness. Lap marks and uneven appearance show up when paint dries quickly, the result of numerous coats of flat ceiling paint. Prime the ceiling with a universal primer, and seal the ceiling before applying new paint.
Architectural gems like this church show how adding color to a ceiling can create drama in a room.
Most people paint their ceilings an unobtrusive white. It's simple, timeless and--let's face it -- sometimes boring. Choosing a color for your ceilings not only gives your rooms a little extra flair, depending on the color you choose, but the right ceiling color can also give your room the illusion of being larger or, alternatively, more intimate. Carefully selected ceiling colors can also draw attention to architectural details such as coffered and tray ceilings.
Match the Walls
Using the same color of paint on the ceiling and walls can make your room seem larger. This is a trick many decorators suggest confining to small rooms, such as a bathroom or a small, eat-in kitchen. The idea is to disguise the ceiling so it blends in with the wall, tricking the eye in thinking the wall extends farther than it does. Ceilings and walls painted in the same color can also work well with modern designs, which often rely on monochromatic color schemes.
Light Ceilings
One reason white is the default color for most ceilings is because it tends to give rooms an airy feeling. This is especially important in older homes or rooms with low ceilings, where dark paint might produce a cave-like effect. But you can achieve a similar illusion of space in a room if you paint the ceiling a lighter shade of the color you use on the walls. This Old House recommends selecting a color in the middle of your sample card for your walls, then going two shades lighter for the ceilings. This trick might even make your room appear bigger than if you opted for traditional white because it decreases the contrast between the ceiling and the wall. Light blue ceilings will also appear higher, as long as you are also using pale colors on the walls, according to the house painting tutorials from AK painting.
Dark Ceilings
Painting your ceilings a dark color can create a feeling of intimacy, but reserve this option for rooms where you want a particularly dramatic effect. This Old House suggests using a color that makes a statement, such as a rich red, on a dining room ceiling to create a "welcome feeling of enclosure." Painting the ceiling in a bedroom a darker color than the walls can create a similar, soothing effect. Sherwin Williams also suggests using darker colors on ceilings in rooms where you want to draw the eye to head-level and bring the focus in your room to the walls, furnishings and accessories. Make sure the color you select for your ceiling coordinates with other colors you use in your room.
Tips and Caveats
If you have an open floor plan, make sure you paint the ceilings in connecting rooms the same color, or else you will risk creating a jarring break in what is meant to be a flowing layout. Avoid painting popcorn ceilings any color other than white or cream, because you don't want to draw attention to what is now considered a dated texture. And if you are using white elements in your decor, AK painting suggests matching your ceiling to the white you use elsewhere in the room rather than introducing a new color on the ceiling. Finally, if you do choose a color for your ceiling, remember that it will appear darker than the same color on the walls because the light reflects off the ceiling differently.
If you have high ceilings, you probably dread the thought of having to paint them. According to home improvement expert Bob Vila, higher ceilings add an air of elegance to a room that lower ceilings do not offer. When you are preparing to paint your , consider some tips to make the job easier.
Preparation
Painting a higher ceiling requires much of the same preparation work as a standard ceiling. You should move or cover your furniture, use painter's tape to protect the areas you do not want to paint and cover your rug or floor with plastic to protect it as well. According to MSN Real Estate, the extra step for a higher ceiling requires thoroughly cleaning it before you paint. A high ceiling can trap dust along the tops of any windows or molding, and cobwebs tend to form up high as well. If there are any fixtures hanging from the ceiling, like a fan or large lighting fixture, dust it to prevent knocking the dust off when you are painting. If you do not clean it and the dust starts flying, it can become trapped in the paint and give your ceiling texture you did not intend. Use a professional-grade telescoping cleaning handle with a lamb's wool duster for the best results.
Color
Bob Vila points out that while many ceilings are white and the walls are painted a different color, a high ceiling painted white can make a room feel much bigger than it is. It creates a cold and impersonal feeling to the room that is accented by the height of the ceiling. Use a softer earth tone in a room with a high ceiling, and paint the walls the same color as the ceiling to give the room a feeling of continuity to make the room more personable. Earth tones, such as beige, brown or even gray work well.
Equipment
According to the home improvement experts at Lowes, using the right equipment to paint a high ceiling is essential to the success of the project. Use rollers for the main portion of the ceiling, and use an edging pad to paint near any windows or fixtures. To reach the ceiling safely, put your paint applicator on a telescoping pole. Use a pole of no more than 15 feet. Anything longer is difficult to control. If you need to reach beyond the 15-foot pole, use a step ladder or foot stool to reach the ceiling safely.
Tags: high ceiling, According home, improvement, ceiling requires, ceiling safely, cover your, high ceilings
Special tongue-and-groove beaded ceiling boards are readily available from most lumber yards, and when installed on your ceiling they render a very attractive wooden ceiling. However, for a more rustic style of wood plank ceiling, you can use any stock of wood planking you feel will make for a sharp-looking finished job. The wood can be selected at a lumber yard or purchased from a local sawmill, but the wood supply needs to be completely dry (preferably kiln-dried) and of uniform dimensions.
Installing Straight Planking
Straight planking can be nailed directly to the ceiling joists with large casing nails, or you can even used ring-shanked flooring nails if you're concerned about the boards coming loose. Always butt the ends of different boards together in the center of a joist. And be sure to set the nails and cover each nail hole with wood putty. The key to a good-looking plank ceiling is checking each board before it is installed for defective (curved or twisted) edges. Good quality stock will make the task of installing the ceiling a lot easier. To ensure a straight line across the ceiling, you can chalk a line from one side to the other. Do this every few feet and your handiwork will look much better when the job is complete.
Rabbet Joints
For a tighter fit between ceiling boards you can use stock that has a rabbet joint on each edge of the plank. The wood can be custom milled with a rabbet cut on each edge, or you can make the edge yourself if you have a router or a table saw with a dado blade. Just make sure the rabbet cut is made at exactly half the thickness of the board. These specially milled boards will create tight lines and the ceiling will be airtight because of the overlapping nature of the rabbet joints. Once completed, a clear wood finish can be added to let the natural beauty of the wood come through.
Recycled Wood
Recycled wood can be used to create a very unique wooden ceiling. Again, uniform quality is a major concern; if the dimensions of your are constant, your task of putting up the ceiling will be much easier.
Tags: , ceiling will, each edge, plank ceiling, will make, wood supply, wooden ceiling
Belt-driven fans apply mechanical energy and use pulleys to turn the blades. These fans rotate slowly compared to direct-driven fans, but they offer better airflow. They tend to be more expensive but they also offer various benefits. These types of fans are more powerful, long-lasting and produce less noise. They are easy to repair and maintain. Choose the type of belt-driven fan that's best for you based on its intended purpose.
Size
The size of your house or office is important when choosing the size of a belt-driven fan. To determine the capacity of a belt-driven fan, calculate the square footage and ceiling height of your home or office. Multiply the ceiling height by the . Select fans that can offer adequate air circulation.
Two-Speed Fans
A two-speed fan allows you to ventilate a room more quickly when you set it on a high speed. It also allows you to reduce speed and save energy by switching to the lower speed. The lower-speed option provides a quieter and gentler air circulation. When you use two-speed fans, you can regulate air circulation in your office or home.
Sound Reduction Features
To obtain gentler air circulation, purchase belt-driven fans with sound-reduction features. These features include hard rubber hubs and air shrouds. The air shrouds are computer designed to offer enhanced and quieter air circulation in the fans.
Automatic Operation
A belt-driven fan that has a thermostat control and built-in timer allows the device to operate automatically. This is convenient because you do not have to keep regulating the speed and switching off the fans. When you choose an automatic fan, carefully read the instructions provided by the manufacturer to prevent the fan from turning on when it is not necessary.
Manufacturing Plants
Belt-driven axial fans can be used in manufacturing plants because their motors are not near the airstream. The motor is also easily accessible for maintenance. The fans can be mounted vertically or horizontally and they require less installation space. Fans used in manufacturing plants should have anti-vibration mountings and flexible connections. Axial fans produce large amounts of air at a low pressure without making a lot of noise.
Having a complete house speaker system is perfect for someone who throws large parties.
A house speaker system is a home audio system with speakers throughout the entire house and possibly even outdoors. Such an installation can be expensive and hiring an expert to do the installation may not be a bad idea. Some electronic or audio stores will even install the system for free if all the components are bought at that store. Something to consider and at least inquire about.
Instructions
1. Map the house. Determine which rooms need speakers and decide what type of sound the room needs. Does it need a full concert experience or does it just need to have some music coming in? Determine the placement of the speakers. Most home speaker systems are mounted into the house itself, in the ceiling or walls. This can work for some speakers, but larger subwoofers demand more space. After locations for the speakers have been selected, use a stud finder to check if the speakers can be mounted in the ceiling or walls. Outdoor speakers are easier to mount as they can easily be put under an awning or concealed in the garden.
2. Buy the equipment. Make a list of all the rooms and type of sound that each room needs to have. Go to a high end audio store and speak with a sales representative, outline your goals for the home speaker system and listen to their recommendations for speaker choices. It may be a good idea to visit several stores to compare price and options. Most rooms in the house will likely need full range speakers and only some areas will need an independent subwoofer, meaning most rooms should be able to handle having the speakers hidden in the walls and ceiling.
3. Purchase an amplifier that complements the speakers and can handle the power load and outputs needed to reach all the speakers. This is something the sales representative will help with. Estimate the amount of speaker wire that will be needed by measuring the distance from the speaker to where the main amplifier will be. Purchase at least 25% more speaker wire than estimated, in case there is a mistake (speaker wire is not expensive). Purchase any other additional components that might be necessary, like a mixer, which can determine which speakers play what music. This is good for isolating the sound in only some of the rooms.
4. Install the speakers. Drill holes into the mounting locations according to the speakers size, mount the speakers and run the speaker wire to the main amplifier through the walls, ceiling or floor boards, use a wire snake to make the job easier. Different speakers will need to be installed differently and the specifications and instructions provided with the speaker should always be followed. The amount of lip the speaker requires to be mounted will be depend on the speaker's size, however most speakers require at least half an inch of material to mount into. Connect all the wires to the main amplifier and test the speakers.
Tags: speaker wire, main amplifier, amount speaker, ceiling walls, home speaker, house speaker
A trey ceiling is cut higher than the rest of the ceiling.
A trey ceiling (also tray ceiling) is an architectural feature in which the center of the ceiling is raised higher than the rest and is trimmed in molding. The result resembles an inverted tray with sides that are either straight or angled. Because of its cost and visual impact in a room, a trey ceiling deserves special consideration in the way it is painted. Use paint to give your trey ceiling a look and style to suit your taste and the decor of your home.
Paint the Ceiling the Same Color as the Walls
Painting the ceiling the same color as the main walls and portions of walls between lines of molding is a way to call attention to the molding. The greater the difference in color tone between walls and molding, the more attention the molding will receive and the more detailed your trey ceiling will look. Any paint color that works with your and reflects enough light in your room is appropriate. This treatment lends a traditional feel, especially when a rich color such as burgundy is used.
Paint the Ceiling the Same Color as the Molding
If the molding is painted rather than stained, matching the ceiling to it instead of to the walls will call attention to the ceiling and any light fixture or ceiling fan installed there. Painting the ceiling white to match white molding creates a clean look that is highly light reflective. This look is good for contemporary style. If the molding is medium or dark in tone and is darker than the walls, painting the ceiling to match will create drama.
Paint Molding and Sections of Wall Between Them the Same Color
By painting the sections of wall between lines of molding the same color as the molding, you create the illusion that those sections of wall are part of the molding. This makes the molding look more substantial in your trey ceiling. The wall paint in these areas should have the same finish as the molding paint, whether semigloss or another finish. Paint the ceiling to match the main walls or the rest of the trey.
Paint the Ceiling a Lighter Tint of the Wall Color
Use a lighter tint of the color from your walls to paint the inside of your trey ceiling for a look of sophistication. This type of subtle contrast works well for both traditional and contemporary spaces. Be sure that both shades of color will satisfy your color scheme. Light with medium or dark beige or taupe are easy to work with. So are tints and shades of most greens and blues. A tint of burgundy will be mauve or pink.
Paint the Ceiling in a Different Color or Pattern
Draw more attention to the inside of your trey ceiling by painting it a different color from the rest of the ceiling, molding or walls. Or, give it a faux finish or pattern for even more interest. Pale blue or yellow can give the illusion of sky or sunlight by contrasting within a carefully planned color scheme. Visual texture in a faux finish complements an Old World look. Tone-on-tone checks, or stripes that radiate from the center, create a daring focal point.
Tags: trey ceiling, your trey, your trey ceiling, Paint Ceiling, color scheme, attention molding, between lines
One way to protect several windows in one room is to use a glass-breaking sensor. Also called an audio discriminator, this device is designed to detect the sound of breaking glass.
Instructions
Selecting the Sensor Location
1. Survey your home and determine which windows you wish to monitor. Keep in mind that all windows need not be covered. For example, you might not need a sensor for windows on the second floor, where access can only be achieved with a ladder.
2. Notice the groupings of the windows in each room. For example, a room may have windows on two walls relatively close to one another. Because this type of sensor detects the sound of the breaking glass, you will only need one sensor per room in that case.
3. Determine how many rooms you wish to cover with a glass-breaking sensor.
4. Purchase the number of sensors you will need. Keep in mind, like other sensors offered for home security, glass-breaking detectors come wired and wireless. The type you choose will depend on whether your security system is a wired or wireless system.
Installing the Sensor
5. Gather the following tools: drill, screwdriver, screws, tools to fish wires through walls.
6. Read the installation instructions that come with the sensor.
7. Mount the sensor to the ceiling or wall in a location that allows it to cover all the windows.
8. Be certain that it is not mounted near insulation.
9. Use the drill and screws to secure it to its mount.
10. Route the wire from the sensor across the ceiling and down a corner to the base board.
11. Continue routing the wire along the base board and/or through walls to the control panel if you are using a hard wired version of the sensor. If you are using a wireless sensor, of course, there will be no wires to route.
12. Connect the wire to the proper input on the control panel.
Tags: base board, breaking glass, control panel, glass-breaking sensor, Keep mind
Ceiling fans can add a decorative accent to your child's room.
If you're in the process of decorating or remodeling your child's room, you may want to include a ceiling fan as the main source of lighting. There are a number of ways to feature a theme-appropriate ceiling fan in the space so the lighting becomes part of the decor.
Size
If you're decorating a small room, a ceiling fan that doesn't take up too much ceiling space is ideal. A more noticeable ceiling fan is better for a child's room that is much larger. Regardless of the size of the fan, it's always best to position it in the center of the ceiling so air distribution and lighting are even throughout the room.
Function
The function of a ceiling fan is to illuminate the room and change its temperature when necessary. One with large wooden or plastic extensions will cool the room faster. Electrical wiring should be connected to the ceiling fan so you can install a light bulb and your child can use the switch on the wall to turn the light on and off.
Significance
Before installing the ceiling fan, design or decorate the light fixture with your child so that the fan will have specific significance. You can paint the fan extensions in your child's favorite color or adorn the ceiling fan with stickers. You may also want to use the bills of the ceiling fan to feature your child's initials to completely customize the fan.
The beautiful bones of a cathedral-height exposed deserve special treatment when it comes to lighting. After all, one of the benefits of exposed beams is the dramatic look the beams present, so giving time and effort to equally dramatic lighting makes sense. There are several ways both to light the beams themselves and to install lighting in the beams so as to provide lighting for the room in general.
Shadows
Although it is possible to "up-light" exposed beams with a general wash of light from below, providing too much general wash will only illuminate the beams and cross beams in an even and rather bland manner. A much more dramatic treatment is to light the overhead beams intentionally unevenly, producing bold shadows and contrasts. Dramatic lighting is, after all, a game of producing strong contrasts between light and dark, hot and cold. The only time a general wash is desirable for an outstanding ceiling is when the ceiling has been painted or decorated with stencils or mosaics.
Key-and-Fill Spots
You can achieve this bold contrast by installing spotlights around the perimeter of the room at the highest point of the side walls and shooting spots up and across the beams at an angle. Provide brighter highlight or "key" lighting with spotlight lamps of a higher wattage than weaker "fill" lamps that are perhaps half the wattage of the "key" lamps. For example, use 100-watt halogen lamps for "key" spots and 50-watt lamps for the "fills." Make sure the "key" lights are placed on one side of the room and that "fill" lights are situated on the opposite wall to get the most out of this "key-and-fill" contrast scheme. Install such up-light spots in covered cans or spotlight fixtures to shield guests from harmful glare.
Spots Mounted on Beams
If mounting spotlight cans on the walls isn't possible, or if the spotlight cans produce an unattractive result, you can mount adjustable-focus cans on the beams themselves, positioning them at the far edges, where the beams meet the walls. Because these spotlights must be mounted so close to the beams, they can only be focused to deliver glancing shafts of light across the beams. Glancing lights produce a much different look than full up-lights but can be just as dramatic in terms of the shadows produced. "Key-and-fill" techniques can work in this situation just as well. Make every effort to avoid shining these bright lights in the eyes of guests below, however.
Shadow Projections
If your beamed ceiling is not architecturally spectacular or lacks larger beams for casting deeper contrast shadows, give it some dramatic punch nonetheless by arranging shadow-casting objects such as urns filled with sticks or silk plant fronds in front of up-light cans. Make sure the objects do not make contact with any hot spotlights. The shadows cast by these objects across the ceiling will give the beams more depth and character.
Recessed Lights Between Beams
You can install recessed cans or pot lights in the ceiling between beams to produce nice lighting for the room below without seriously marring the look of the beams. Avoid placing pot lights so close to beams that "flares" or "hot spots" are produced on the beams when the pot lights are illuminated.
Tags: general wash, across beams, Beam Ceiling, beams themselves, , exposed beams
Modern ceiling fans are generally made with the do-it-yourself homeowner in mind. They come with special mounting brackets that make it easy to secure the fan unit to an existing electrical box in the ceiling. The fan can be installed in place of any existing electrical ceiling fixture, including an existing ceiling fan. It’s controlled from the same wall switch that controlled the previous fixture.
Instructions
1. Turn off power to the existing ceiling fan. Remove the screws that are holding the fan to the ceiling and lower it carefully down, enough to get at the wiring above it. Disconnect the wires, leaving wire ends hanging out of the electrical box in the ceiling. If there is a mounting bracket attached to the electrical box, unscrew and remove that as well. (A mounting bracket is a circular ring of metal that attaches directly to the ceiling electrical box and then holds the fan.)
2. Locate the mounting bracket that came with your new fan unit. Hold the bracket up to the electrical box and line up the screw holes from the bracket to the screw holes on the box. The holes are standard, and should line up. Install the screws that came with the bracket to secure it there. The wires from the ceiling electrical box should hang down through the middle of the bracket.
3. Walk your new ceiling fan unit up the ladder (without the blades attached yet), and position it near the electrical box, so you can connect the wires from the fan to the wires from the box. There should be one white and one black wire coming out of both the fan and the ceiling box. Connect the like-colored wires to each other by twisting a wire nut over the ends of both wires are once and them wrapping it in electrician’s tape.
4. Twist the copper grounding wire from the ceiling electrical box around the grounding screw inside the fan unit. (The screw will be green.) Completely tighten the screw.
5. Raise the fan unit to the bracket and secure it there with the screws that came with the kit.
6. Attach the fan blades after the fan housing is installed and wired. Attach them by holding each blade up to one of the blade stems and inserting the mounting screws that came with it.
Tags: came with, , that came, that came with, ceiling electrical, electrical ceiling
OpenOffice Math is the formula editor for the OpenOffice suite of productivity software. Use OpenOffice Math to create math objects and insert them into text documents or presentations.
Does Not Calculate
Before starting, understand that OpenOffice Math does no math. A math teacher can use OpenOffice Math to write a test, with beautifully formatted complex equations, but a math student cannot use OpenOffice Math to solve those same equations.
Opening and Closing
OpenOffice Math is called from within an OpenOffice text document by choosing "Insert -> Object -> Formula." This opens a Math window at the bottom of the text document. The user produces a Math object in this window, then clicks outside of the Math window, in the text portion of the document. This closes the Math window and inserts the Math object into the text document.
Create an Object
A markup language is used to create Math objects. Learn the most common expressions in this markup language. The fraction five fourths is written as "5 over 4" (without quotation marks) inside the Math window.
Selection Window
If you do not know or forget the markup language for a certain expression, click on the corresponding symbol in the selection window. You can also right click inside the Math window and choose symbols from a menu.
In the case of a fraction, the corresponding symbol is "a over b." This inserts the text "{} over {}" in the math window. Replace the first {} with 5 and the second {} with 4 and you get the same result as you got by typing in the markup language in the first place.
In the symbol {}, the curly braces are used for grouping, and the produces a small empty box, which is used to indicate that a result is needed. The is unnecessary in this context. It is a cute way of reminding us to enter the two parts of the fraction, producing an empty box over an empty box in the text part of the document. The curly braces, though, are useful. The only way to produce 6/(x + y) is to type "6 over {x + y}".
Resizing Objects
If you want larger or smaller math objects in your text document, you need to produce them as such in the Math window.
There are two ways to do this. One is by choosing "Format -> Font Size," which allows you to choose the base font size, as well as the relative font sizes of text, indexes, functions, operators and limits.
The second is by modifying the size in the Math window, by typing "Size * 2 {}", and then entering your formula within the braces. Any number can be used instead of 2, including 3 or even .75.
Teach Yourself
Save time by memorizing the markup language for the formulas you use most. The less you have to use the selection window, the faster you will edit Math objects.
Tags: OpenOffice Math, markup language, Math window, text document, Math window, base font
Adding a ceiling fan light fixture to your room will add beauty and an additional light source for your convenience. This procedure is not hard and well worth the effort. Make sure the power is off before you begin your project and observe all safety precautions listed in your light fixture kit.
Instructions
1. Adding a CEILING FAN LIGHT fixture is an easy project that should take no longer than thirty minutes to one hour at most. This is an easy procedure for anyone. Before working on anything electrical turn off the power at the switch or at the breaker box.
Looking at the ceiling fan where the light fixture should be installed there is a cover plate. This plate is called a canopy. The canopy is mounted with screws on the side. Generally there will be two or three screws. This canopy also has a plastic cover in the center.
Remove the side screws to release the canopy.
2. If your new light fixture comes assembled, remove all glass. The center of the light fixture should have a tube with a nut and washers. Remove both the nut and washers and set aside.
Remove the plastic cover on the center of the canopy and place the canopy on top of the light fixture where the little tube is located. The canopy should thread downward or slide down.
Replace the washers and nuts back on the tube and tighten the canopy onto the light fixture. Tighten snugly, but do not over tighten. The new should be prewired with a switch and two loose wires, one black and one white with protective wire nuts at each end. The light fixture with the center tube should be hollow. Pass the two wires through this hollow tube and pull gently.
On the ceiling fan where the canopy was attached you should be able to see the inner workings of the ceiling fan wires. There should be two wires, one black, and one white, that are loose and sometimes marked for light fixture. Pull these wires down. These wires should be insulated at the end. Remove the insulation cap. If there is no bare wire showing, use the wire strippers to remove 1/2 inch of insulation on each wire. Connect the white wires together and the black wires together. Twist the exposed wires and cap both sets of wires.
Carefully tuck these wires back into the ceiling fan. Attach the canopy back on the fan and insert the screws. Gently tighten the screws, do not over tighten.
3. Replace all glass covers on the light fixture and insert light bulbs of 60 watts or less. Be sure that all screws that tighten the glass covers are snug. Tighten only by hand. Connect an extension chain to the light switch and turn on the electricity. Restore power to the light switch or breaker and your ceiling fan be fully functional.
Tags: light fixture, light fixture, fixture should, light fixture should, ceiling light, ceiling light fixture, black white
Drop ceilings or suspended ceilings are commonly used as a ceiling finish in basements and home theaters. Installing recessed lights has become a popular lighting option for rooms with a drop ceiling. Whether installing a new drop ceiling or mounting the recessed lights in an existing ceiling, you need to address the electrical requirements of the lights and the additional support that each recessed light fixture will require.
Instructions
1. Determine the locations for the recessed lights. Use the graph paper to make a scale drawing of the room and layout each recessed light location on the drawing. Remove one tile from the drop ceiling and measure the distance from the ceiling grid to the floor joists, multiply the distance by four. Each recessed light will require four additional support points. Multiplying by four will give you a rough idea of the amount of suspension wire needed for each recessed light.
2. Remove the ceiling tile at each recessed light location. Run the wire to each location or hire an electrician if you do not have electrical experience. Screw four suspension wire clips to the floor joists above the ceiling tile where the light will be located. Two clips are needed per side, located 7 inches off the center of the recessed light location.
3. Cut the suspension wire to the distance between the mounting clip and the main T-bar plus 24 inches. An additional 6 inches for a top wrap and 18 inches for the bottom wrap are required to properly secure the suspension wire. Place a 90 degree bend on one end of each wire using the linemen's pliers.
4. Feed the bent end of the wire through the wire suspension clip. Bend the wire down and over the length of wire hanging towards the ceiling grid. Grasp both pieces of wire with the linemen's pliers and twist clockwise three or four times to lock the wires together. Hang all the wires from the clips.
5. Bend the loose end of the suspension wire and feed it through the main T-bar. Bend the wire over itself, keeping the wire taunt, care needs to be taken not to pull the main out of level. If the suspension wires around you start to get slack, release tension on the you are installing.
6. Mark the center-line for the recessed hole on the finished face of the ceiling tile. Set the dividers to scribe a circle that is sized per the installation instructions. Scribe the circle using the center-line that you marked on the tile.
7. Cut out the hole using the keyhole saw. Insert the keyhole saw by applying pressure into the ceiling tile and moving the saw from side to side. Support the tile while you make the cut to reduce the chances that the tile will break. Lightly move the keyhole saw back and forth with light pressure to cut the hole. Run your hand around the cut to remove loose particles from the tile. Set each tile back into its opening.
8. Remove a ceiling tile next to the cut tile. Slide a C channel into each side of the recessed light can and clip the channels onto the T-bar main. Wire each light or have an electrician perform the task.
9. Replace the ceiling tile and move onto the next recessed light. Install the light bulbs and snap the trim ring onto the recessed light housing. Turn on the power to the circuit for the lights. Turn on the light switch to ensure that the lights are wired properly.
Tags: recessed light, ceiling tile, suspension wire, each recessed light, each recessed
A free-standing outdoor fan adds quality and beauty to any patio, deck or porch area. Sit back, relax and dine in comfort as your outdoor fan sweeps a lovely cool and soft breeze through you and your guests. Selecting a free-standing outdoor fan requires these steps.
Instructions
1. Measure the perimeters of the area the free-standing fan will be used to cool. Note the colors and style of the area as well. You want the fan to create enough cool, soft breeze while blending with the decor.
2. Determine what size outdoor fan you should get by going to Home Depot or Lowe's or even shopping on line at PatioandPlay, Rittenhouse and Absolutehome sites.
3. Look over the brand names like Liberty Garden, Pharos and Fanimation. Get a good idea of what is available. Check the different features like remote control or silent motors.
4. Decide which size, 16 inches or 18 inches, is best for your area by your dimensions.
5. Pick out the style and color that best fits your decor. Mediterranean or Continental are the common choices. Art deco practically doesn't exist.
6. Order your free-standing outdoor fan or buy it on the spot and bring it home to enjoy. Most likely you will need to assemble it.
See the classic architecture of New York City from the inside.
New York City is home to many historically significant buildings and incredible works of architecture. Many of the older and more ornate buildings in the city boast high vaulted ceilings that give a feeling of space and airiness in an otherwise crowded place. Grand Central Station's interior sports vaulted ceilings that are 125 feet high with 60-foot high arched windows and Tennessee marble floors. The classic New York Public Library's Astor Hall features an abundance of white marble and 37-foot-high . Restaurants in New York City, both old and new, are increasingly moving into spaces with vaulted ceilings to give their customers a feeling of elegance and space.
Butter
Butter made its debut on New York's culinary scene in 2002. The restaurant's design is sleek and modern with nods to Mother Nature throughout. The Great Room is located on the main floor of the restaurant and offers a sophisticated dining environment. The expansive vaulted ceiling carved in western red cedar frames a mural of a birch forest at the far end of the room. The Birch Room is situated on the lower level of the restaurant and offers a more casual dining environment in a space with a ski-chalet feel.
Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli uses organic, seasonal and sustainable seafood in her menu that offers dishes such as ceviche of Long Island fluke and butter-poached Maine lobster. A five-course tasting menu is available upon request. Butter serves lunch and dinner Monday through Friday, dinner only on Saturday and they are closed on Sundays.
Butter
415 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-2828
butterrestaurant.com
Brasserie
Brasserie is located in the historic Seagram building and has been in operation there since 1959. The restaurant underwent a complete renovation in 1995 after the space was destroyed by fire. Designers Diller and Scofidio gave the restaurant a new, futuristic look utilizing many natural materials. The focal point in the main dining is now a tiered, pearwood vaulted ceiling. Since the restaurant has no windows, Diller & Scofidio incorporated unique lighting, a 48-foot glass wall and a bank of 15 monitors displaying video snapshots of entering diners.
Although lamb, poultry and beef are available on the menu, Executive Chef Luc Dimnet highlights seafood in the appetizers, entrees and chef selections. In addition to a raw bar serving up fresh oysters, clams and shrimp, dishes such as grilled Scottish salmon with royal trumpet mushrooms and sea scallops with morels, cippolini onions and a champagne beurre blanc are offered. The dessert menu reflects the chef's French heritage, offering up several brasserie cheese plates and chocolate beignets. Reservations are suggested at this upscale eatery, which serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, brunch on the weekends and dinner 7 nights per week.
Brasserie
100 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 751-4840
patinagroup.com
Matsuri
Chef and owner Tadashi Ono opened Japanese restaurant Matsuri in 2003 after having already had success with his fine dining restaurant Sono. Matsuri's main dining room is on the lower level, keeping any noise from the ground-level bar at bay. The cavernous space is marked by barrel-vaulted ceilings from which giant white paper lanterns are hung. Matsuri is the only restaurant in New York City with a sake sommelier; hundreds of bottles of sake line shelves above the sushi bar, providing a focal point in the large space.
The menu has an extensive variety of sushi, sashimi, cut rolls and hand rolls. "Small plate" main dishes include calamari tempura, tuna yamaimo and kobe tartare. "Large plate" entrees include grilled black cod marinated in sake paste and whole lobster saut ed with yuzu butter sauce. The dessert menu hosts an impressive collection of brandy, cognac and bourbon and offers up treats such as yuzu cheesecake and kabocha pumpkin pie. Reservations are suggested. Matsuri is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and is closed on Sundays.
Matsuri
369 W. 16th Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 243-6400
matsurinyc.com
Tags: York City, Monday through, Street York, vaulted ceilings, ceilings that
Raised ceiling tiles have an embossed design or border which lends a formal look to the room in which they're installed. They're typically made of aluminum, fiberglass or other durable material. Since you install these ceiling tiles starting from the center of the room, you must cut the outer ones to fit the ceiling. Cutting raised ceiling tiles is a quick process that requires only manually-powered hand tools.
Instructions
1. Place a straight edge or a tape measure against the raised ceiling tile at the spot where it must be cut.
2. Draw a line along the straight edge or tape measure using a marker.
3. Hold the raised ceiling panel in one hand and use a pair of tin snips to cut along the marker line until the tile is the proper size.
4. Cut circular openings by drawing the circle on the tile and laying it on a piece of plywood. Insert a 3/8-inch bit into a drill and create a hole in the middle of the circle. Insert the tip of the tin snips into the hole and cut out the circular marker shape.
Add oil to a ceiling fan if it is making strange noises.
Harbor Breezeceiling fans are sold at Lowe's in a variety of styles, colors and designs. After installed, a ceiling fan generally requires minimal maintenance and only occasional cleaning. One maintenance task that may be required is adding oil to the bearings of the ceiling fan. Many are designed not to need oil as the bearings are sealed. If your fan is making grinding or rubbing noises, however, it may require some oil to avoid damage to the ceiling fan.
Instructions
1. Climb the ladder, if necessary, and locate the oil reservoir for your ceiling fan.
2. Add oil to the reservoir. Test the operation of the fan to ensure the noise has stopped. If your fan does not have an oil reservoir, continue to the next step.
3. Rotate the blades slowly by hand. Locate the area where the rotating parts connect to the stationary parts. This place is the location of the bearings.
4. Add a small amount of oil to the seam where the bearings are located. Allow it time to soak into the seam. Repeat the process every few inches around the seam, allowing time for the oil to soak in. Start the fan to test whether the noise has been fixed.
Potential buyers love to see spacious master bedrooms that give them a serene, peaceful feeling. Whatever your space looks like now, there are several simple and often inexpensive techniques to improve it and appeal to the most buyers possible. Use as many as your time and budget allows, and you'll soon have a beautiful master bedroom that will help sell your home.
Instructions
1. Declutter and depersonalize. Clear off the nightstands, dressers, and any other flat surface in the room. Get rid of any piles of clothes or shoes. The more clutter you get rid of, the bigger and more welcoming the room will be to potential buyers. Pack up your personal photos and other items. Buyers need to imagine themselves in the space, and can't do this while they're looking at your wedding photos.
2. Clean everything. This is an inexpensive process that can instantly improve a room. Dust the furniture, even the tops of bedposts and canopies, high shelves and ceiling fans. Polish the furniture and make your windows sparkle. Clean the mirrors and shine up any fixtures, including the doorknobs. Steam clean the rugs. The cleaner the room is, the brighter it looks, and buyers get the impression of a well-kept home they can move right in to.
3. Make necessary repairs. A crack in the ceiling might be something you've gotten used to, but to potential buyers, it can be a sign of trouble. Do the maintenance work you've been putting off and fix ceiling and wall cracks or stains, caulk the windows, and nail in that loose floorboard. Don't give realtors any ammunition to talk down the price of your home.
4. Finish projects. You may have new crown molding in your bedroom, but there's a huge gap in the corner where you ran out of material. You may have gotten new blinds for the windows, but only installed one set. These upgrades can transfer to more money on the sale of your home, but only if they're completed. Unfinished projects make the buyer question what other things have been neglected in your home.
5. Freshen up the room with paint. Paint is a relatively inexpensive decorating material that can make a huge difference in a room's look. Make repairs to the wall surface and paint in a nice, light neutral color. You can go for warm tones if it works with your furniture, but stay in the neutrals and don't go too dark. If you have older walls with lots of imperfections, choose a lighter color and go with a flat or eggshell paint. Glossy paints show every flaw. Consider doing a textured wall surface to better hide uneven walls. Take down old wallpaper if it's peeling and separating at the seams. If your walls are in good shape, think about painting all the trim, baseboards and windowsills. Fresh, glossy painted trim will make a dramatic, positive difference in the appearance of the room.
6. Fix flooring. Repair any damages to your hardwood floor. If possible budget-wise, consider sanding and refinishing them--this is a project you can do yourself to save money. If carpet is worn, stained or dated, you should replace it. You can replace it with inexpensive carpeting in a neutral color. Buy remnant pieces or shop at discount stores that sell overstock, discontinued or remainder items. Don't worry about how long the carpet will last or if you like it. New carpet makes the room look and even smell brand new, and this is a great impression on buyers.
7. Reduce the amount of furniture. Experts that decorate model homes always take the minimal approach to furniture, and some will even employ tricks like using beds that are shorter than normal or smaller-than-standard chairs. The less furniture there is, the larger the room looks to potential buyers. It's especially important to have a clear pathway for visitors to view the bedroom. If they have to turn sideways and sidle between furniture pieces, they're going to leave with the impression that the room is too small. Take the excess furniture and put it in storage until you move into your new home, where you can design the room however you want.
8. Give the room a single purpose. It may work for your lifestyle to have exercise equipment or an office setup in your bedroom, but this doesn't work for buyers. The bedroom should have a tranquil, restful appearance and be easily identifiable as the master bedroom. Take out any other furniture or equipment that confuses the room's purpose.
9. Highlight the room's best features. If you have large windows, dress them with minimal window treatments to show them off. Clean and freshen up your fireplace--if the brick surround is stained, consider a heat-resistant paint to make it look brand new. Polish the hardwood floor until it shines, and if it's in good shape, don't hide it with a room-size area rug.
10. Buy new, neutral bedding. The spa look is always popular, with pale, cool colors and simple lines. You can decorate your bed simply with new sheets and a smooth comforter. A clean room and fresh bedding makes your bedroom look instantly more inviting. Here's where spending a little more money can also go a long way. Elegant bedding draws the eye and can distract buyers from less desirable elements of the room.
11. Clean out the closet. Closets and storage are an important feature to buyers. Get rid of everything but the essential items you'll need until you sell your house. You need to pack anyway, so this is a good way to start. Take your cue from store and catalog displays of closet organizers. Make sure everything is neatly folded and that there is space between hanging items. Leave some shelf space open. You want to give the impression that there is plenty of storage space in the closet.
12. Add a few neutral, tasteful accessories to dress up the space. Keep it simple and pleasant and room appropriate--a clock radio, peaceful landscape photos and art, a few simple vases and a small jewelry box on the dresser. (Don't leave any valuables in there, though.) Professionals who stage homes also like to give the buyer a fantasy version of the room. You might want to add a simple wooden breakfast tray at the end of the bed, and place a small vase of flowers, a tea cup, and an attractive classic novel on it. This look says "breakfast in bed" and gives buyers a positive feeling about this master bedroom.
13. Visitors to your home are just as affected by scents as by sight. Put some scented sachets in the dressers and closets. Use a light linen spray to freshen up the bedding and curtains. Use pleasant scents like lavender, ocean and vanilla. Don't use anything that's too heavy or cloying, as this can turn off buyers as well. Think of the pleasant aromatherapy scents when you go to the spa, and incorporate that feeling into your master bedroom.
Tags: your home, master bedroom, potential buyers, your bedroom, good shape
An exposed light bulb isn't the most stylish light fixture style available. Instead of leaving an exposed light bulb in the room, choose a pretty glass to hide the bulb. Glass still allows the light from the bulb to shine through, but the colors and designs of a glass light shade cover the unappealing shape and style of the bare bulb. Frosted glass light shades can even approve your appearance when you look in the mirror.
Instructions
1. Loosen the small screws around the lip of the light fixture base that help hold the glass light shade in place. Loosening the screws allows room for the glass light cover to slide into the lip. The screws are small, so adjusting them with your fingers is easy.
2. Hold the glass light shade up towards the light fixture. It should be obvious which side of the fits on the base of the light fixture because it is open and is the same size as the light fixture base opening.
3. Slide your glass light shade up into the appropriate area on your light fixture base.
4. Tighten the small screws surrounding the lip where you will conduct your glass shade installation. Turn each screw to the right with your fingers until you feel a bit of pressure. Try not to tighten the screws too much or you could break the glass light shade.
5. Wiggle the glass light cover with the hand holding the shade to make sure it's firmly in place. Let go of the shade, but keep your hand close to make sure it stays put.
6. Turn on the light switch to test the appearance of your new glass .
Finding storage space in your garage can be challenging when you've used up the space on the walls for shelves and cabinets. But have you looked up? Building and hanging overhead garage shelves can add a whole new dimension of storage space to your garage. It only requires basic carpentry skills and some simple materials you can get at any lumber yard or home improvement store.
Instructions
1. Cut two crosspieces out of 2-by-4 inch lumber, using your circular saw. The cross pieces should be 48 .
2. Cut four vertical supports out of 2-by-4 lumber. The vertical supports are used for hanging the overhead shelves from the joists of . Make the vertical supports 30 inches long. Note that you can adjust the length of these, depending on the height of your garage ceiling.
3. Assemble the crosspieces and vertical supports. The two vertical supports will be placed at right angles on the end of the crosspiece. Nail them together. You'll end up with two hanger assemblies, each consisting of a crosspiece and two vertical supports.
4. Nail the two hanger assemblies in line with each other on two joists in the garage ceiling. Space the two hanger assemblies 48 inches apart.
5. Cut four 1-by-10 inch boards, each 52 inches long. Slide them onto the hanger assembly, parallel to each other, and nail them in place.
Tags: vertical supports, your garage, , inches long, each other
With the various types of light fixtures that fit on the ceiling, it is imperative to know the variations in the light fixture covers. Some fixture covers use a set of three screws to hold them in place, while others are held in place with clips. Recessed light fixtures that have covers use a ring to hold the cover in place. Unless you can bend your elbow while reaching up to the light fixture, use a small step stool to keep from dropping the cover.
Instructions
Flush Mount
1. Place the step stool directly beneath the ceiling light fixture. If the step stool has more than two steps, be certain that you can balance yourself easily before proceeding.
2. Locate the screws that hold the light cover in place and back them out. Do not remove them.
3. Set the light fixture cover in place. Next, began tightening the screws, alternating between the three so that they will each strike the light cover equally.
Fluorescent Light Fixtures
4. Place the step stool directly beneath the ceiling light fixture. If the step stool has more than two steps, be certain that you can balance yourself easily before proceeding.
5. Locate the clips that hold the light cover in place. Pull them back so the light fixture cover will fit where it goes.
6. Set the light cover in place and slide the clips in to hold the light cover secure to the fixture. You may need to use the needle nose pliers to move them in and out.
Recessed Lighting
7. Place the step stool directly beneath the ceiling light fixture. If the step stool has more than two steps, be certain that you can balance yourself easily before proceeding.
8. Insert the light fixture cover into the ring made to hold it in place. Next, slip the ring into the recessed lighting fixture until you feel it click into place.
9. Test the ring to make certain it is secure by gently pulling on it from different places around the ring. Next, wipe the ring and the cover with a soft cloth, as these types of fixtures tend to show fingerprints.
Renovate and decorate to make the most out of your low ceiling basement.
Refinishing your basement is a great way to get the most out of your house, but basements are often plagued by low ceilings. Excavating your floor is a possibility, but it is also a major undertaking. Fortunately, there are several decorating techniques and simple renovations that can help you enjoy your low-ceiling basement to the fullest.
Relocate Ducts
Many basements have ducts and pipes running through them, reducing available ceiling height. You can decorate the ducts to make them more attractive, but you'll still have to deal with an obstructed room and cramped ceiling. Fix the problem by rerouting the ducts so that they run along the outside of the room. Install shelves below the ducts to make good use of the cramped edges of the room. Alternately, build a closet along the edge of the room with the duct to hide it entirely and create more storage space.
Horizontal Decorating
Use horizontal objects and decorations to draw attention away from the low ceiling of the room. Wide landscape paintings, wallpaper with horizontal stripes and accent lighting in narrow, horizontal lines will pull the eyes along the vertical axis, making the ceiling seem less cramped. For your main light, use sconces arranged around the room in the middle of the wall rather than overhead lighting, which draws the eyes up to the ceiling. If you have a basement window, use a horizontal mirror on the opposite wall to reflect the sky from it. The image will create the illusion of extra daylight, making the room seem more open while helping to obscure the lowness of the ceiling.
Low Design
Use low furniture to create the feeling of a more spacious ceiling. Use coffee tables, low-backed chairs and squat table lamps instead of ceiling-to-floor lamps. Lower the height of doorways by a couple of inches to help reinforce the illusion of a higher ceiling.
Paint
Finish the basement ceiling to cover the joists and paint it with high-gloss paint. The ceiling will take on a vague, semi-reflective look that will make it harder to see and, consequently, less oppressively low. Use a bright color for molding and other trim, and pale colors or white for the rest of the wall. This will draw the viewer's attention away from the ceiling, since it will be the least bright and defined region of the room.
Tags: attention away, attention away from, away from, away from ceiling, ducts make, from ceiling
Learning to fly and control an RC helicopter requires an understanding of lift.
Radio-controlled helicopters function according to the same principles of flight as full-sized helicopters. The lift required to fly is generated by the blades of the main rotor spinning at high speed. The tail rotor provides stability and direction by rotating in a perpendicular direction and generating sideways thrust (lift that isn't pointed up) that works against the rotational momentum generated by the main rotor so the helicopter doesn't spin out of control.
Lift
The wing of a plane, the wing of a bird and the blade of a helicopter are all airfoils.
Lift is the upward force generated by an airfoil. An airfoil is anything that acts to change the flow of air over and under it to create an imbalance in air pressure so one side has more air pressure and one side has less. The area of greater air pressure will push against the airfoil and the area of less air pressure will offer less resistance to the pushing. Fixed-wing aircraft use the shape of the wing to create an airfoil so it is flat on the bottom and curved on the top, causing the air pressure to increase beneath the wing and push up through the decreased air pressure above the wing.
Pitch
Ceiling fan blades are pitched to push the air down (increasing the air pressure below them).
Helicopters use the pitch of the blades as they rotate to generate an airfoil. A slight angle to the blades on a helicopter produces a similar effect to the wing shape on an airplane causing the air pressure above to be less and below to be greater, and producing lift. The greater the angle of the pitch, the more lift is generated. However, the extra lift comes at the cost of added turbulence, which increases the power requirements needed to rotate the blades. Pitch can be positive (producing upward thrust) or negative (producing downward thrust) depending on whether the leading edge of the rotor blade is above (positive) the trailing edge or below (negative) the trailing edge.
Fixed Pitch
Fixed-pitch RC helicopters have rotor blades that cannot change pitch. They are set to the maximum lift ratio when the helicopter is built. This allows the helicopter to increase lift by increasing the speed of the main rotor and to decrease lift by decreasing the speed. Fixed-pitch helicopters are more simple to fly, cheaper to purchase, easier to set up and easier to repair than collective pitch helicopters. However they lack the capability to do inverted flying tricks or fly at high speed since the angle of the airfoil cannot be changed.
Collective Pitch
Collective-pitch RC helicopters mimic their full-size brethren by altering the angle of attack or the pitch of the rotors dynamically. This means the controller can increase the pitch to generate more lift at the same rotor speed, or decrease the pitch and increase the rotor speed to generate more forward speed at the same lift ratio. Collective-pitch helicopters also have the ability to fly inverted since the pitch can be adjusted to the negative region thereby producing lift in the opposite direction. Because of this, collective-pitch helicopters are more expensive and more difficult to learn to fly.
Tags: main rotor, causing pressure, , Collective-pitch helicopters, Fixed Pitch