Monday, March 22, 2010

Home Security Systems - Protecting against more than just break-ins

When most people think of monitoring their home security system they think primarily about its ability to alert the police of a break-in. What they aren't aware of is the lesser know capabilities of the modern alarm system, which is environmental monitoring

For example: you can monitor the amount of carbon monoxide that is present in your home. Smoke Detectors, water level sensors and low temperature devices
can also be monitored by home security systems. Although monitoring of these devices is becoming more popular it will be some time before it becomes a regular feature of every system.

News accounts have helped push the awareness of these capabilities. Every time there focus is placed on the effects of radon gas or other dangers such as fires in the home there is an increase demand for this type of monitoring.

Unfortunately it takes a tragedy to motivate most people to take action. Adding environmental monitoring devices to a new security system or existing ones is relatively simple. Once installed, the alarm system is programmed to make an audible sound or silent alarm depending on what type of device is being monitored.

If you have a low temperature sensor to prevent freezing pipes you wouldn't want the siren blasting you out of bed in the middle of the night but you would want to know if there is too much carbon monoxide in your home.

For those who are aware of the full capabilities of an alarm system it may come down to the cost issue whether or not to add extra equipment. Although cost is a valid concern one should also consider all the risks involved.

A break-in takes a human and a conscience decision to target a particular house. Where as fires and other acts of nature are not so discriminating. Think about all of the things that run on electric in a home. Any one of them has the potential for starting a fire.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not talking about spontaneous combustion but normal wear and tear to the electrical cords etc. A fire or a flooding basement can damage an entire house costing many thousands of dollars. A break-in on the other hand is less likely to reach the same level of damage

When put into this perspective it’s not as hard to justify the cost of the equipment versus the potential risk you can avoid. Check with your insurance agent to see what discounts they give for monitoring your home security system.

Antique Wood Cook Stove - Uses and Advantages

Antique wood cook stoves can be found in many specialist stove restoration stores both online and offline, and are surprisingly popular even now in the early 21st century. Many stoves originally built in the 1800s or early 1900s are still used today having been fully restored and refurbished. The question is, why use an antique stove?

Firstly, we should explain exactly what a wood cook stove actually is. A wood burning cook stove is a traditional cooking appliance which requires no external electricity supply and which rather than using gas, electricity or other fossil fuels can operate purely by burning natural wood. This wood for your wood burning cook stove can be bought from a hardwood supplier or even chopped yourself from your own timber supplies.

An antique wood cook stove could be defined as one which is not just a piece designed for show or created simply to look historically accurate, but something which is original, did once work and preferably is still in working order today. Again though we are left with the question, why use an antique wood cook stove in preference to more convenient modern stove and cooking systems?

Firstly many antique stoves are bought by working farms, country and historic houses or simply to complete a period home or kitchen. In many cases antique stoves are used because they match the period during which the home or kitchen was first constructed, or because the absolute authenticity of all the fixtures and fittings in the building is a key selling point for a particular business. Many antiques are of course bought by museums for display purposes only, and many of these are not in working order.

Alternatively there may be practical reasons for using a wood cook stove, for example living in a remote location with no electricity supply but an abundance of natural resources to use as fuel. In this case some may prefer a more modern stove but many who choose to live in such locations will also choose to cook using the type of stove they have used all their lives, so should their stove need replacing they will actively seek out something similar. In addition some people say there is a particular taste to food cooked using a wood stove which would be difficult to replicate using modern methods.

Whatever the reason for buying an antique wood cook stove, the buyer must make sure they buy from a reputable company to ensure the stove meets all safety codes and regulations, unless it is simply to be used as a display piece. There are many government and local laws and regulations which must be adhered to when installing and using home appliances.

Bedroom Decorating Ideas Can Be Simple Or Elaborate

For bedroom decorating ideas, there is a very large number of different themes from which you can choose. Naturally, your decision for bedroom decorating will be based not only on your personal taste, but will also have to do with the budget you have available.

Beyond that, when you’re decorating a bedroom, you also need to think about the amount of space the bedroom permits you. This will help to decide the type and amount of furniture and other items that you will be able to use without making the space too cramped or uncomfortable. Remember, a bedroom should be a calm and inviting space, not an obstacle course!

Therefore, your first step in decorating bedroom is to measure your space, and then come up with the theme or style that you like the best. Among the more popular decorating bedroom ideas are:

* Modern
* Mediterranean
* Cottage
* Southwestern
* Victorian

With your style chosen, you can look into bedroom decorating tips that will allow you to reach that final image. For example, if you were thinking of bedroom decorating ideas that are Victorian, you may consider the following tips:

* The Victorian style has a rather feminine feel about it, so bedroom decorating in this style will primarily be enjoyed by women. If you are considering making the master bedroom a Victorian style room, you will want to make sure that your spouse or partner shares this particular taste.

* Decorating a bedroom in this style is quite showy and dramatic. The bed will typically consist of a heavy four-poster of wood or cast iron. It may have a canopy, curtains, throw pillows and blankets, and a bedspread that is well embellished with patterns, fringe, bows, and ribbons.

* Decorating bedroom styles such as Victorian will also include a great deal of accessorizing, such as with enormous, overstated rugs, flowering plants, and ornate gold frames surrounding paintings of flowers, birds, children, or maidens.

No matter the bedroom decorating ideas you use, as long as you remain focused and follow through, you’re certain to enjoy the final achievement.

Bamboo Window Blinds - For Style, Elegance and Ease

Window blinds made of bamboo were traditionally in use for centuries in Japan and other parts of Asia. Now days, these bamboo window binds have seen a revival and have become increasingly popular in rest of the world too.

The inspiration behind these classical bamboo window blinds is the desire to make our houses look more natural.

Bamboo window blinds are fast becoming a trend because bamboo is environment friendly, grows fast and is ready for use in a short duration of five to six years.

Bamboo window blinds come in a number of styles. They are colorful, natural and full of texture. Raw materials used in making bamboo window blinds are bamboo, grasses and reeds.

Bamboo window blinds are made from the fibrous part of the bamboo wood. This makes it much more easier to derive wood for the blinds without causing any harm to the bamboo plant.

Why Bamboo Window Blinds?

* Bamboo window blinds are natural, beautiful, easy and flexible to design.
* Are conventional, stylish and elegant.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to maintain.
* Bamboo window blinds can easily be adjusted to let the
amount of light that you want.
* Bamboo window blinds are very good at keeping light out.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to clean.
* Bamboo window blinds are durable and dense.
* Bamboo window blinds are environment friendly.
* Bamboo window blinds contract and expand comparatively
less than blinds made of hardwood.
* Bamboo window blinds offer good ventilation.
* Bamboo window blinds have a knotty pattern.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to blend with any decor.
* Bamboo window blinds offer diversity in appearance.
* Bamboo window blinds offer high quality at a
comparatively lower cost.
* Bamboo window blinds are easy to install.
* Bamboo window blinds require low maintenance as compared
to other blinds.
* Bamboo window blinds are a good insulator.


Versatile, graceful and durable bamboo window blinds

Bamboo window blinds are simply fun to use because of their versatility. They have a flair and grace of their own and come with different lifting abilities.

Do not go by the appearance of these bamboo blinds. They may look delicate but on the contrary are very resistant and durable. When treated with chemicals, bamboo window blinds become moisture and insect proof.

Elegant and stylish as they are, these bamboo window blinds come in different colors and styles. A number of bamboo window treatments available in the market, further help in giving blinds a distinct style and effect. They can be used in any room and setting with the same remarkable effect.

With proper lighting, bamboo window blinds have a glow and aura of their own. They are very good for exclusive and artistic upholstery decoration. They can be custom made to suit individual requirements. Infact bamboo window blinds are the flavor these days. They are being used with impunity for decoration in hotels, resorts, offices and homes alike.

You can find a variety of bamboo window blinds online. Companies like American, Hunter Douglas, Graber and Kirsch offer bamboo window blinds in different styles and colours online. There are discounts on offer as well as the
facility to compare prices. With so much to offer, these bamboo window blinds are a must to give our rooms a sophisticated and chic look.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Office Furniture






Furniture Slipcovers Can Transform Your Home In An Instant!

These days furniture slipcovers can be found for seats of all shapes and sizes, from wing backed chairs to sectional sofas, from loveseats to ottomans. Fitting a new slipcover to a favorite piece of furniture offers a simple yet effective way to instantly improve its appearance and give it a fresh lease of life. Ready made slipcovers for sofas and chairs are the cheapest option, but even having fitted slipcovers custom made can be relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the costs of re-upholstery or buying a whole new suite. A real benefit of a slipcover is that it can be easily replaced whenever you fancy a change, or if it needs to be washed.

Furniture in many rooms can be slipcovered. In the family room, sofa slipcovers, as well as looking pretty, have the practical function of protecting your existing fabric from everyday wear and tear. Why not buy a few sets of discount slipcovers if you've got pets of small children? That can be an affordable way to always ensure you have spare furniture covers in case of accidents! Most modern slipcover materials are designed to be easy to care for and are fully machine washable. It can be worth spending a bit more on hardwearing fabrics such as cotton, particularly for seats that get used regularly. Why not look for matching recliner chair covers for a stylish, coordinated look?

Stretch slipcovers are also available for other rooms. For example, dining chair slipcovers can be purchased to protect good quality upholstery from food or drink spills. They appear in assorted colors and patterns. Many humans like to accept a set of affluence covers to add a blow of breeding to banquet parties or appropriate occasions. Folding and kitchen coverings are broadly accessible too. If you're tired of the appearance of your home, fitting some new slipcovers is an easy way to give an entire room a makeover without the inconvenience of decorating.

A new slipcover can enhance the look and feel of a whole room, with minimal fuss, and can be changed whenever you fancy a new image!

kitchens