Category: Fireplaces

A home’s duct work, though sometimes overlooked, is part of a critical system responsible for distributing air throughout the structure so that all rooms stay at a comfortable temperature. Properly sealing and insulating the ducts in your house, particularly where they pass through potentially unconditioned spaces like the attic or basement, is important for avoiding unnecessary energy loss and ensuring that the duct system serves its intended purpose well. Wipe down the ducts so they are dust free, clean and dry. Inspect the ducts carefully for any hole or sections which should be joined together but have split. Fit the joints back together, if necessary, then cover the joints along with any holes with foil tape, butyl tape or a different heat-approved tape. Measure the circumference of the duct and also the length of each part of duct if you’ll have to cut the insulation into smaller lengths to match…

A fitted bedspread is just like sewing a part of a box with an open end; it is not hard to sew, as long as you take accurate measurements and keep your seams to 1/2 inch. You can sew a fabric-covered welting cord to the very top seams of the bed to protect it from wear and also add a neat finish. This touch also provides the bedspread a finished, tailored look. Assess the width across the top of the bed from edge to edge, and also write down the measurement. Repeat this step for the amount of the bed, edge to edge. Have a measurement from the top edge down the side of the bed to where you want the bedspread to hang. Insert 1/2 inch to every sewed edge. On the very top, add a total of 1 inch to your bed span, and also add a 1/2…

The outer ends of a roof’s rafters — the sloped members that give the roof its toss — supply shade, divert rain and make soffit space for attic ventilation. If your roof’s overhang is substandard, you can stretch the rafters to your level, depending on the pitch of the roof. Extending the rafters with the existing roof sheathing in place is doable, but you’ll get better results if you add extensions during a complete reroofing project. Selecting Rafter Length To get a visual idea of what the newest overhang will look like, take a picture of the house from the side, then make a photocopy, and sketch the desired extension in precisely the same angle as the roof pitch. A steep roof extensions will likely angle downward more than the usual low-sloped roof. The more the extensions, the lower the outer ends of the rafters will function, creating mind clearance…

We have all been there: wake up late, scarf down breakfast and quickly head for the door, only to find that those damn auto keys are nowhere in sight. Nothing like a frantic search to ruin! Instead of spending your precious minutes dumping out your handbag or scouring a messy kitchen counter tops, eliminate the guesswork with a go-to key spot close to your front door. Whether you use a tray, a hook or an integrated cubby, these great solutions show you how it’s done. Rakuten Duo Sparrow Key Ring – $24 Your storage may be pretty and functional at the exact same moment. This cute, practical birdhouse will give your keys a suitable home (and looks good next to a front doorway). M.J. Whelan Construction For people who have space for built-ins, your storage options are infinite (lucky you). Although you can install hooks — since the programmer did…

Homes aren’t always equipped with office area. Sometimes we find ourselves retrofitting a corner in the kitchen or a spot in the hallway for a workspace. This remedy is smart, but it might not offer you the solitude or quiet you want to keep productive. Whether this scenario feels comfortable to you, consider looking north to get a new workplace: The loft might be just the spot. Tucked away in the chaos of the regular, the loft can be transformed to a quaint and tranquil area, perfect for attaining a day’s job. Does just the thought get you motivated? These skilled tips can get your loft transformation. Diederich & Kim Architects Consider obtaining an expert’s opinion. If you are about to change a currently unused area, get the room correctly assessed before taking action. The last thing you want to do is begin a new job before ensuring that everything…

I’ve heard some war stories of shoppers who have braved the opening day of Target popular designer collaborations. (Dare I bring up the mayhem Missoni for Target wreaked on quiet searching strips the country above, or is it still too soon?) But Target’s upcoming capsule sets imply the corporation might have eventually figured out how to work a cooperation whilst maintaining everyone’s sanity. The Shops at Target, opening May 6, veers away from the version employed previously of a single big-name designer and rather features goods from five handpicked boutiques throughout the country. Contained are a clothing collection in Miami luxury shop The Webster, beauty resources in Aspen’s Cos Bar and colorful sweet treats from San Francisco’s Chocolate Store. But let’s get down to brass tacks? Target Privet House Placemat and Napkin – $3.99 The bulk of the home things in The Shops comes in Privet House, a Greenwich, Connecticut,…

One of my favorite means of creating a dynamic visual experience within a room is by simply replicating a layout piece over and over again. The result is a sculptural and participating installment that rewards with both simplicity and creativity. Therefore, in case you like a decorative piece and can afford it, why not get several? Here are a couple of examples of several very powerful designs shared by fellow ers that exemplify the power of multiples. HUISSTYLING The installation of random lights fits so perfectly in this attic. And even though those pendants are absolutely stunning in their own, they make a much bolder statement in multiples. Their translucent texture readily allows grouping them together without obstructing any natural light or town views. Erika Bierman Photography You don’t have to restrict yourself to replicating just one item. Instead, since this interior reveals, you can double or triple a whole…

Many varieties of ivy (Hedera spp.) Grow throughout the USA, and a few varieties are thought to be invasive trousers. English ivy (Hedera helix), for example, which is hardy at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, is considered invasive throughout the Pacific Northwest and at other places. Roots and the other parts of unwanted ivy and additional garden weeds can be killed using a plastic covering to smother the plants. More environmentally friendly techniques of smothering ivy exist, however. These procedures ultimately require less labor since they remove the need to reposition the plastic following weather and animals transfer and/or tear it. Covering Weeds The easiest way to kill ivy and other unwanted crops will be to cover them with a 12-inch-thick layer of coarse, wood chip mulch. Most covered ivy dies entirely after about three months. Another option is to cover ivy with paper, arranged…

Bottle brush trees and shrubs (Callistemon spp.) Suffer few problems, so dry or dead leaves are a cause for concern. Most varieties of those flowering plants grow at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, though some forms grow in USDA zone 8. The causes of foliage damage are treatable, so that you may quickly assist your bottle brush recover it prior glory. Site Concerns Wind and cold may result in foliage, which results in the ends of the leaves turn brown to dry and die back. Wind desiccates the leaves, causing any moisture to evaporate more quickly. Even though most bottle brushes are drought-tolerant and scorch will not kill the tree, planting in an area with wind protection can continue to keep the plant equally healthy and attractive. Bottle brushes suffer damage if temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so in moderate climates some leaf damage…

Lighting designer and Louisiana native Brandon Morrison favors quality craftsmanship and bringing the manufacturing process back to the fundamentals. The creator of furniture and lighting company whyrHymer, Morrison designs the porcelain lampshades and shapes the wooden bases available in his Los Angeles studio; all the remaining components are sourced from local providers within a 3-mile radius. Someone who will find design inspiration anywhere, from Oreos to power towers, Morrison attempts to deconstruct the typical lamp shape with custom designs in advanced new types. I recently had an opportunity to stop by the whyrHymer studio and watch Morrison prepare a new version of his Manhattan Series No. 8 lamp for Palm Springs Modernism Week. Marcia Prentice Photography It’s easy to fall in love with all the craftsmanship of whyrHymer’s designs, but their appeal also lies in how this is a family business. The title whyrHymer came from Morrison’s friend’s problem in…