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Carpet is a practical, fashionable, and versatile choice of flooring. Carpet offers you several advantages that other flooring options can’t compete with such as the following:-

Warmth – Carpet is the best choice you can make for your bedroom, family room, and other areas where you need warmth underfoot.

Safety – Carpet offers a slip resistant surface that will prevent accidents along with a natural cushion in the event of someone falling. For young children and the elderly, this is very important.

Reduction in sound – Carpet will also reduce noise better than any other type of flooring. Carpet works to dampen noise in three ways:
– Reduces surface noise from foot traffic
– Absorbs airborne sound
– Blocks transmission of sound
These qualities are valuable in apartments as well as semi-detached homes.

Surface – Adding carpet to a room can also disguise any existing damage to the floor and also hide any other problems such as warped floors.

Easy to care for – The carpets of today are more stain resistant than they have ever been in the past, which makes cleaning even the worst possible spills easier than ever.

Clean air – Research has proven that carpet can indeed improve the quality of air by trapping allergy causing dust and allergens if it is properly cleaned and maintained.

Variety of use – Carpets aren’t only for floors anymore, which is a really great thing. You can easily add carpet to steps, stairs, walls, posts, and other non level surfaces, without having to worry about it slipping, lifting, or buckling.

Flexibility – Carpet is the primary foundation in almost any room. Because it is available in a variety of different colors and textures, it helps to create an unlimited number of possibilities for decorating. From the neutral tones to rich solids, carpet is the first step you can take to make your home look better than ever.

Low cost – Carpet doesn’t cost a lot of money, as it offers an economical alternative to the other types of expensive flooring. Even with professional installation, you won’t pay near as much as you would for hard surfaces. Unlike hard surfaces, carpet can keep you comfortable if you decide to lay down on it.

Life span – The carpets of today are very durable and can outlast most other types of flooring available on the market. All you have to do is select a type of carpet that has a life span of 5 – 30 years or more, which is very common now a days.

We are indoors and using the kitchenette. The term “kitchenette” describes a small cooking area in an apartment or hotel that gives users some of the flexibility of a kitchen without using nearly as much space. Kitchenettes typically take up no more than a single wall, and often occupy only a corner. They are designed for efficiency and space conservation. Most of the time, a kitchenette will have a small refrigerator, a microwave, and a sink. Larger kitchenettes may also have one or two burners, or even a small oven.

A kitchenette may also be referred to as a small kitchen, a compact kitchen, or a mini kitchen. The idea behind most kitchenettes is to give users the ability to cook, prepare, and store food without impeding on an otherwise limited space. Traditional kitchens can take up an entire room, but that simply is not practical when space is at a premium. Kitchenettes are very popular in studio apartments, particularly in dense urban areas where every square foot matters — and is expensive. Hotels may also feature kitchenettes. A full kitchen would not usually be practical in a hotel room, but a kitchenette is often a desirable amenity for guests who plan to stay for a few days. This hotel feel amenity has been transferred to bedrooms in private homes to make it convenient for a bedtime snack or romantic dinners and drinks.

They are useful for large homes, particularly those with live-in arrangements for child care or housekeepers, or when several families share a single space. Multiple full kitchens could be excessive, but smaller spaces in which to cook may be quite useful. An upstairs kitchenette, for instance, can be a place for a nanny to prepare meals away from the main kitchen. A kitchenette located in a bar area or television room can also be a convenient place to store and fix snacks.

Depending on the location and primary function, kitchenettes can be built into a space, or can be pre-made elsewhere and simply installed. Many commercial kitchen supply stores offer pre-manufactured kitchenette units, often sold as a single piece with many parts. Kitchenette design can range from the truly elaborate to the starkly efficient. However, builders must generally check the governing codes before deciding to add a kitchenette.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and it needs to be well-organized. A kitchen with things out of place gives a feeling of discomfort and may slow down your activities.  So let’s see how we can clear out and clean up.

Get started:-

Stand back and take a long look at your kitchen. Would a helpful guest know where, logically, to locate a spatula, frying pan, blender or serving tray? Is there enough counter space for prep work? Is there wasted space – above wall cabinets or in the corners of base cabinets, for example – that can be used to add more storage?

Clear the kitchen in stages. Start with your wall cabinets then empty base cabinets, pantry and refrigerator.

Examine every item; get rid of anything you don’t use regularly or haven’t touched in a year(s). Usable items that you don’t want should be given away to a local charity; toss anything opened, damaged or past its use-by date.

Clean the refrigerator and storage cabinets thoroughly. Consider painting cabinet and drawer interiors in a high-gloss tone or giving them a coat of polyurethane if made of wood so they can be wiped clean easily.

Put back only items you know you will use, and organize according to where you are likely to use them – spices, utensils and cookware near your stove or cooktop, for example.

Here are some useful organizing tips:-

-Insert or add additional shelves to cabinets to increase storage capacity.

-Use drawer dividers or in-drawer trays to organize silverware and other eating utensils.

-Designate a place for every category of item so you know ahead of time where something is going so it does not spend time taking up needed counter space.

-Utilize any wasted/unused space above wall cabinets or in the corners of base cabinets.

-Only leave those appliances that are generally used on a daily basis on the counter unless if they have dedicated storage space in a location which is convenient for their use.

-Ensure that a practical method of refuse, disposal and storage is being used.

-Make sure nothing is placed in a position where it blocks electrical outlets.

A vegetable garden in the yard does not only provide savings on your food bill; it increases the appeal of your property and may just set your home apart from the competition.

Not only is vegetable gardening a great way to get fresh organically grown vegetables, but it is also a great way to get fresh air and exercise. Below you will find some great vegetable gardening tips and vegetable gardening basics that can help you get started.

– Choose the location of a vegetable garden

4 things to consider when choosing the location for a vegetable garden: – Convenience – Sun – Drainage – Soil type

– Choose the vegetables to grow

The most popular vegetables in vegetable gardening are: Cabbage, Radishes, Winter squash, Carrots, Lettuce, Beans, Summer squash, Cucumbers, Peppers and Tomatoes.

There are many, many more. If you are just starting out with backyard vegetable gardening, you may want to choose 2 or 3 and grow those until you get the hang of keeping a vegetable garden.

– Make your vegetable garden layout

For most vegetables, there is no set spot you need to put them in the garden but many vegetables do need a certain amount of space to do well. It is helpful to make a plan/layout that will help you make sure that you have enough space for all the vegetables you have chosen.

– Prepare the soil in your vegetable garden

Probably the most important piece of vegetable gardening advice is before you plant a single thing in the ground; make sure that the soil in your chosen vegetable garden location is as good as it can be.

If you have clay soil, then spend some time amending clay soil. Have your soil tested. Make sure that the soil’s pH is correct, and if you need to lower the pH or raise the pH, take time to do that. Fix any deficiencies with:
• Nitrogen
• Potassium
• Phosphorus

And anything else that the soil test indicates that you may need in the soil.

Backyard vegetable gardening is not scary. You can do it! In no time at all, you will be proudly serving your own home grown vegetables.

The 2017 Atlantic Hurricane season has been described as a hyperactive and catastrophic season, ending with seventeen (17) named storms, ten (10) hurricanes and six (6) major hurricanes causing damage and destruction to several countries including Dominica. This year’s hurricane season is also expected to be above average estimating between one to four major hurricanes.

While we may not have the power to guarantee the safety of our homes and loved ones during a storm or hurricane there are measures we can take to help.

1) Build a strong roof. Losing the roof exposes the interior of the home to hurricane force winds, rain and flying debris and in certain circumstances the structure of the home may be affected once the roof has been detached so it is extremely important that proper building codes and guidelines are followed during the construction process. While there is no 100% guarantee that the roof will remain intact, following the right guidelines increases the likelihood that it will. Metal tie-down straps can also be used to keep roof rafters tied to the top wall of your home and make it more difficult for them to be uplifted.

2) Protect your windows against strong winds and flying debris. Consider investing in hurricane-resistant windows made of impact resistant glass. Similar to car windows, hurricane-resistant windows has two layers with a tough inter layer in the center which holds glass in place in case it breaks. Although they are very costly they offer greater protection and as an added bonus block out 99% of transmitted ultraviolet light. A more cost effective measure that can be taken is the installation of shutters that can be locked to protect glass window panes.

3) Strong, stable, doors are essential to protecting your home against high winds. You need to be certain that the doors will remain closed, and that they are able to handle direct impact of flying debris. Consider upgrading your external doors to impact resistant fiberglass doors that will not rot or split like wooden doors or dent or rust or like steel doors. To protect glass doors you should consider using impact resistant glass. Protection boards can also be added for reinforcement.

4) Keep your yard free of debris that may become potential projectiles. Prior to a hurricane or tropical storm ensure that nearby trees are pruned and that cut / fallen branches are nowhere near the home. Trimming tree branches also helps prevent trees from being uprooted by allowing strong winds to flow through with ease. If you have any outdoor furniture in your backyard, porch, etc. place them inside the home or in a cellar where they cannot be blown away.

While there is no guarantee that the home will be fully protected after implementing these or any other methods of protection, it is wise to do whatever is possible to improve the chance of safeguarding your home and the lives of your family.

When you go to the trouble of installing tile flooring, you expect it to last for some time, and you don’t want human or animal carelessness to ruin it. Tile adds a great look to any home, and it can be pricey to put in, especially if you have to pay someone to tackle this job for you. When showing a home for sale, dirty or defaced tiles decrease the appeal of any room.

That’s why you may want to institute a few ground rules at home so everyone will know what is expected with regards to the floor.

1. Remove or wipe shoes at the entrance to your home. Some people keep socks, slippers, or house shoes near the door so family members can remove outdoor shoes or boots and help protect the flooring. At the very least, they should expect to thoroughly wipe or scrape their footwear before proceeding into the house. Lay out a front door mat on the porch or stoop as the first line of defense. Then place another indoor mat on the floor just inside the entrance. After two wipes, the shoes should carry considerably less dirt into the house.

2. Keep pets elsewhere. If your dog or cat enjoys free run of the house, try to keep them off the tile as much as possible. Their nails can scratch the tile surface, depending on how hard it is, and if the pets go outside at all, they can track in mud, dirt, excrement, or dust that is hard to catch with a doormat. Many pets like to hang around the kitchen, which is where many people use floor tile, due to the warmth and food odors that entice them. Find ways to entertain your pets in other areas when they first enter the house to help minimize the amount of traffic on the tile flooring.

3. Keep potential stain-causing substances in check. Don’t let the kids paint, glue, or carve hobbies in rooms that have tile flooring. These substances can drip or spill onto the floor, sometimes leaving permanent stains. Set up an area where they can safely work under your watchful eye in another area that doesn’t have tile flooring. Or at least cover the floor with newspapers in the area where the kids will be working.

4. Be careful when cooking. Many people put down kitchen throw rugs to catch drips and spills from cooking or cleaning. If you do use throw rugs, put down those with a non-skid backing. If you don’t use rugs, use care when mixing, processing, or cooking foods to reduce the likelihood of an accident.

5. Insist that smokers use ashtrays. If someone in your home smokes tobacco products, or you have visitors that do, be sure to set out ashtrays or ask them to smoke in designated areas (like the front porch). This may help to minimize the risk of someone spilling cigarette ash on the floor, which could cause burn marks.

In general, ask family members to use caution when walking on the tile floors. While you don’t want to be hypersensitive, a little thoughtfulness on everyone’s part will go a long way to keep your tiled floor tidy and in good condition.

Choosing house paint may be just another errand for some while for others it is a terrifying experience.  The colour of a house can make it very welcoming while it can also make it equally uneasy.  Choosing the right colour will add luster to your home.  Below are some tips when choosing paint colour for the exterior of your home:

1. Balance the Roof – The colour of the roof is most times already established. You’ll want to choose paint colour that complement your roof or roof shingles.  The paint colour doesn’t have to match the roof colour but it should harmonize. Some ideas:

• Green roof – Gray, green, or white house colors
• Black roof – Gray, blue, or white house colors
• Brown roof – Brown, tan, yellow, or white house colors
• Gray roof – Gray, blue, green, black, or white house colors
• Red roof – Gray, black, or brown house colors

2. Look for things that won’t be painted – Choose a colour scheme that will complement objects with colours that are unlikely to be changed e.g colour of steps and wooden doors.

3. Tips from your neighbours – You can get ideas from the neighbour’s house, not necessarily to paint your house similar to it but by choosing different colours that will make your home look very different and stand out.

4. Make use of environment – Say, in areas like Giraudel, which is decorated with beautiful flowers, ideas can be developed from the natural environment. Colour ideas can also be inspired by looking at other present natural resources like the sea, sky, sun etc.

5. Use of different colours for different finishings – You may want to make your house look more interesting, by using more than one colour but not too many. The window sashes, brackets, columns etc could be painted in a different colour from your wall.

1. Paint to compensate for poor architectural details – On occasions where there is a lack in your architecture, use bold colours to create a pleasant diversion. White and beige tend to bring out architectural faults on surfaces.

7. Effects of light colours – Light colours tend to make things seem large while dark colours do the opposite. White or pale cream colours are also used to create a sense of class.

8. Dark colours – Dark colours don’t easily show stains and dust. It can also add a sense of drama, however much consideration and control must be applied when painting in dark colours since they are more likely to fade, and attract heat.

9. Use a colour wheel to choose paint – Know the rule that saying “opposite attracts”? Pairs can be found at opposite ends. When put together, they bring out the best in each other, making both colours look clean and bright.

10. Paint Color Deceptions – Paint colour looks different depending on circumstances or areas, therefore it’s advisable to test your selected colour in one area before buying gallons e.g. colours look very different when they are brought out of the store and viewed in natural sunlight.