Carpeting installed on your hardwood stairwell can give this part of your interior a cozy, comfortable feel. Furthermore, stairs that are carpeted are less hazardous and less given to cause a slip and fall where somebody could become hurt.
Even though many people assume that putting in carpet on the stairwell is a complex task, it is in truth rather basic and you need have only primary skills to do it yourself. And even though laying carpet on the stairs may not be as energizing as shopping for tropical wall hangings or wall decor art, doing so can save you a ton of money over paying a professional contractor.
The key to appropriately putting in carpet on the stairs is to take the precise measurements. Measuring is the first step when installing carpet. No matter what style you wish to use for this job, you want to start with the correct set of measurements to get you on the correct track. The following is a effortless step by step set of directions for the “waterfall” procedure of installation. The waterfall technique is perfect for common steps that have uniform width and general height. Let's look at how to take correct measurements when utilizing this technique of carpet installation.
Take measurements of the width of the whole stairway
The very first task you want to do is to measure the breadth of the total staircase. Staircases that are uniformly sized will only need that you measure the width at the stair's widest portion. Set one tip of a basic measuring tape at one end, and next measure across the breadth of the step to the other end. Make a note of the measurement and keep in mind that adding two to four inches of carpeting as a margin is ideal.
Measure the breadth of every riser
When we ascend up the steps, what we step on is called the “riser”. For the waterfall method, you essentially need one long piece of carpeting to encompass the whole set of stairs. Thus it is important to measure how wide every riser is. To take this measure, measure from the top of the riser up to the joint where the riser ends. Take a note of this measurement.
Take measurements of the "fall" of each step
The length between one riser and the next is the "fall". To measure the fall, start out at the end of one riser and stretch your measuring tape to the start of the next one. For stairs that have "nosing", the fall stops beneath the jutted out section. Write down this measurement.
Combine the dimensions for the fall and the riser
To do this, just sum up the two former measurements, and to this sum add a few inches for margin. This will allow you to neatly disguise the edges and the corners with enough carpet during the installation. Once you have determined the length of each step, including the allowance, you will only want to multiply this figure by the amount of stairs that you plan to cover. This will give you the total length of carpeting you need for the stairs.
Lastly, take these dimensions of entire length and width with you when shopping for carpet, and allow a pro to assist you in selecting the carpet for the job.
Other Home Decorating Articles:
Why You Should Look At Metal Wall Art
Changing The Paint To Change Your Room
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Economical Home Suggestion: Reinvigorate Your Kitchen Cabinets
Frequently an aging kitchen only needs to accent its underlying charm. If you just bought a new home with an older kitchen or you want to make the kitchen you've been living with a bit more charming and picturesque, you can do it without replacing the cabinets or getting bogged down in stripping and refinishing. The following tips will help you create the look you want in your kitchen, without the hard work that is oftentimes needed in refurbishing kitchen cabinets.
Vintage Cabinets Makeover
Many older kitchen feature the retro charm of all white cabinets and black and white checkered counter tile. Brighten up the scheme with cheery yellow wall paint. For kitchens with curved corner shelves, outlining the edge of them in a perky blue shade is another great way to add color. You can add an open shelf trimmed in the same blue above the kitchen sink to display collectibles, coffee tins, vintage vases, and the addition of blue and white checkered curtains on kitchen windows adds retro polish. Brightly patterned ceramic canisters on the counter work to keep the color and the retro feel going. Add a spice rack or wooden shelf painted in blue on a bare wall to add a pop of color and a little extra storage. This color scheme is ideal for a number of themes, from Tuscan accents and sunflowers to roosters and cherries.
Effortless Fixes
- When cabinets must have a facelift, it's much easier to paint than to strip and refinish. To paint cabinets, you just need to lightly sand the existing surface. It's easiest if you remove doors and drawers, remove all hardware and work on a flat surface. Use a paint roller to make things go more quickly.
- Replace old cabinet fronts with glass for a quick facelift. Simply paint the interior of the cabinets with a deep shade that will allow you to showcase the contents of the cabinets.
- Perhaps the fastest and easiest update for kitchen cabinets is a quick and thoughtful change out of the cabinet hardware. This one small and simple change can work to provide inspiration for an entirely fresh and different color scheme and style that you can reinforce with the use of wall art, chair cushions, curtains and other accents. Glass knobs are ideal for hardware changes when you want to add some sparkle to a kitchen that is lifeless.
- A new backsplash can brighten up the kitchen inexpensively. Green and white tiles add cheer to a dark kitchen. Open up the entire area and reflect light by making a backsplash from mirrors. A glass store can cut mirrors for a perfect fit.
- Get rid of your upper cabinets and opt for open shelving instead. Shelving is much cheaper than new cabinets and you can paint them or choose hardware, like elegantly scrolled wrought iron brackets, to tie in with a theme. Open plate racks and storage let you introduce color and charm into a kitchen while also opening up the space. Hang cups or cooking utensils below the shelving for convenience and decorative appeal.
- Be a bit more risque and try a totally unanticipated theme in the aged kitchen: Try bold colors like yellow and mango as a backdrop for a tropical theme kitchen complete with palm tree wall art and tropical wall hangings.
Before rushing to replace or refinish cabinets look for other ways to bring color and brightness to the kitchen. Stylish wall art, wall paint, collectibles situated in different areas on the top of upper kitchen cabinets, and improved lighting can really make a huge difference in the overall aesthetic enjoyment of your kitchen.
Other Interior Decorating Articles:
Guide to Decorating with Wall Sculptures
Installing Carpet on the Stairway
Guide to Using Metal as Home Decor
Vintage Cabinets Makeover
Many older kitchen feature the retro charm of all white cabinets and black and white checkered counter tile. Brighten up the scheme with cheery yellow wall paint. For kitchens with curved corner shelves, outlining the edge of them in a perky blue shade is another great way to add color. You can add an open shelf trimmed in the same blue above the kitchen sink to display collectibles, coffee tins, vintage vases, and the addition of blue and white checkered curtains on kitchen windows adds retro polish. Brightly patterned ceramic canisters on the counter work to keep the color and the retro feel going. Add a spice rack or wooden shelf painted in blue on a bare wall to add a pop of color and a little extra storage. This color scheme is ideal for a number of themes, from Tuscan accents and sunflowers to roosters and cherries.
Effortless Fixes
- When cabinets must have a facelift, it's much easier to paint than to strip and refinish. To paint cabinets, you just need to lightly sand the existing surface. It's easiest if you remove doors and drawers, remove all hardware and work on a flat surface. Use a paint roller to make things go more quickly.
- Replace old cabinet fronts with glass for a quick facelift. Simply paint the interior of the cabinets with a deep shade that will allow you to showcase the contents of the cabinets.
- Perhaps the fastest and easiest update for kitchen cabinets is a quick and thoughtful change out of the cabinet hardware. This one small and simple change can work to provide inspiration for an entirely fresh and different color scheme and style that you can reinforce with the use of wall art, chair cushions, curtains and other accents. Glass knobs are ideal for hardware changes when you want to add some sparkle to a kitchen that is lifeless.
- A new backsplash can brighten up the kitchen inexpensively. Green and white tiles add cheer to a dark kitchen. Open up the entire area and reflect light by making a backsplash from mirrors. A glass store can cut mirrors for a perfect fit.
- Get rid of your upper cabinets and opt for open shelving instead. Shelving is much cheaper than new cabinets and you can paint them or choose hardware, like elegantly scrolled wrought iron brackets, to tie in with a theme. Open plate racks and storage let you introduce color and charm into a kitchen while also opening up the space. Hang cups or cooking utensils below the shelving for convenience and decorative appeal.
- Be a bit more risque and try a totally unanticipated theme in the aged kitchen: Try bold colors like yellow and mango as a backdrop for a tropical theme kitchen complete with palm tree wall art and tropical wall hangings.
Before rushing to replace or refinish cabinets look for other ways to bring color and brightness to the kitchen. Stylish wall art, wall paint, collectibles situated in different areas on the top of upper kitchen cabinets, and improved lighting can really make a huge difference in the overall aesthetic enjoyment of your kitchen.
Other Interior Decorating Articles:
Guide to Decorating with Wall Sculptures
Installing Carpet on the Stairway
Guide to Using Metal as Home Decor
Invite Into Your Home with Lighthearted Front Porch Decor
The first thing your guests see when calling is in all likelihood the front porch; the best way to create a lively welcome during the springtime is with a playful presentation of spring accents. After a long gloomy wintertime, impart a little color to your porch and supply a warm welcome to anyone who comes to your door.
Begin by Hanging a Wreath
A wreath bestows a fun and sunny springtime element for your front door. You will find umpteen spring themes on wreaths in your local craft or home store, including those featuring whimsical bunny rabbits, springtime flowers, and brilliantly colored eggs.
Or depending on how "crafty" you are, you can create your own extraordinary spring wreath. Start with a grape vine wreath, floral picks, vines and flowers that say spring, and your choice of accessories and a bow.
Magical Antique Elements
You can transform items like antiquated ash bins, water cans, and old buckets or other metallic containers into one-of-a-kind spring planters. Simple galvanized pails can be spruced up with bright yellow hues on the outside of the pail. Any container that will be loaded with live plants must have drain holes, so start by boring drain holes in the bottom of your metal container of choice, and then supply potting soil and granular fertilizer corresponding to package directions. A terrific option for a spring container is the cold-hardy pansy with their bright little "faces" that seem to bestow cheerfulness to even the dreariest wet day. Pansies can be exchanged with blooming annuals for summer color, like impatiens, petunia, lobelia, and geraniums.
More Ideas for A Spring Porch
When it comes to getting stunning and light-hearted accents for the porch, there are literally thousands of alternatives. From the home improvement store and garden center to a throng of online retail stores, there are truckloads of ornamental accents and wall decor art that may discover a
spot on your springtime porch.
- Use an old used seat to hold baskets of flowing springtime blooms and vines, producing a unique plant stand.
- Turkish Boxwood topiary make the ideal accent for filling a footed urn. Try a fleur-de-lis planter with a lightly distressed finish for a feeling of Old World style.
- Opt for individual concrete, metal, or ceramic decorative figurines and statues to lend a fun to the porch. Select from bunny rabbits, frogs, ladybugs, snails, porcupines, birds, dogs and cats. The list goes on eternally.
- Lend a decorative flag to your porch that invites spring with robins and tulips or chicks and Easter eggs. A fast online query will divulge a good number of retail merchants selling flags for all seasons.
- A tricycle or bicycle planter makes old-fashioned panache fresh once again with handbaskets that will hold pots of fresh blossoms. Mini garden carts are another captivating alternative.
- Lend country charm that can change with the times of year by setting up flower boxes under your windows or upon a porch railing.
- Plant stands and ladders for displaying pots of flowers, water cans, or small statues are ideal.
- Invite friends and guests to stay awhile with a couple of timeless rocking chairs, a traditional bench, or a classic porch swing.
- Nothing says spring like a welcome mat that features the blooms and colors of springtime.
- Bestow the sounds of springtime to your porch with frolicky wind chimes.
- Adorn the walls of your porch with a whimsical sun wall art that welcomes the hot days ahead.
Other Home Decorating Articles:
Economical Home Suggestion: Reinvigorate Your Kitchen Cabinets
Adding Candlelight to a Room Design
Decorating Walls Adds Interest to Any Room
Begin by Hanging a Wreath
A wreath bestows a fun and sunny springtime element for your front door. You will find umpteen spring themes on wreaths in your local craft or home store, including those featuring whimsical bunny rabbits, springtime flowers, and brilliantly colored eggs.
Or depending on how "crafty" you are, you can create your own extraordinary spring wreath. Start with a grape vine wreath, floral picks, vines and flowers that say spring, and your choice of accessories and a bow.
Magical Antique Elements
You can transform items like antiquated ash bins, water cans, and old buckets or other metallic containers into one-of-a-kind spring planters. Simple galvanized pails can be spruced up with bright yellow hues on the outside of the pail. Any container that will be loaded with live plants must have drain holes, so start by boring drain holes in the bottom of your metal container of choice, and then supply potting soil and granular fertilizer corresponding to package directions. A terrific option for a spring container is the cold-hardy pansy with their bright little "faces" that seem to bestow cheerfulness to even the dreariest wet day. Pansies can be exchanged with blooming annuals for summer color, like impatiens, petunia, lobelia, and geraniums.
More Ideas for A Spring Porch
When it comes to getting stunning and light-hearted accents for the porch, there are literally thousands of alternatives. From the home improvement store and garden center to a throng of online retail stores, there are truckloads of ornamental accents and wall decor art that may discover a
spot on your springtime porch.
- Use an old used seat to hold baskets of flowing springtime blooms and vines, producing a unique plant stand.
- Turkish Boxwood topiary make the ideal accent for filling a footed urn. Try a fleur-de-lis planter with a lightly distressed finish for a feeling of Old World style.
- Opt for individual concrete, metal, or ceramic decorative figurines and statues to lend a fun to the porch. Select from bunny rabbits, frogs, ladybugs, snails, porcupines, birds, dogs and cats. The list goes on eternally.
- Lend a decorative flag to your porch that invites spring with robins and tulips or chicks and Easter eggs. A fast online query will divulge a good number of retail merchants selling flags for all seasons.
- A tricycle or bicycle planter makes old-fashioned panache fresh once again with handbaskets that will hold pots of fresh blossoms. Mini garden carts are another captivating alternative.
- Lend country charm that can change with the times of year by setting up flower boxes under your windows or upon a porch railing.
- Plant stands and ladders for displaying pots of flowers, water cans, or small statues are ideal.
- Invite friends and guests to stay awhile with a couple of timeless rocking chairs, a traditional bench, or a classic porch swing.
- Nothing says spring like a welcome mat that features the blooms and colors of springtime.
- Bestow the sounds of springtime to your porch with frolicky wind chimes.
- Adorn the walls of your porch with a whimsical sun wall art that welcomes the hot days ahead.
Other Home Decorating Articles:
Economical Home Suggestion: Reinvigorate Your Kitchen Cabinets
Adding Candlelight to a Room Design
Decorating Walls Adds Interest to Any Room
Putting In Integral Pad Carpet
One of the most popular types of carpeting on the market is integral pad carpeting, which is carpeting that has its own cushiony padding that is attached to the back side of the carpeting and that rules out the need to lay down extra carpeting padding. Integral pad carpeting is also referred to as cushion-backed carpet and is the ideal flooring solution for concrete flooring because you do not need to apply nails or tacks to secure it to the floor. Integral pad carpeting is also ideal for smaller spaces such as bathrooms and closets as they can be placed and fitted on the flooring without the requirement for carpet tape. It is a good idea, however, to anchor larger sections of this kind of carpeting with double-sided tape, which precludes curling along the edges. There are different styles of integral pad carpeting, including Berber and cut-pile, and it comes in a smorgasbord of grains and colors.
Preparing the space to be carpeted
Just like installing any other type of carpeting, you have to make certain that the floor is completely clean and dried, is structurally complete, and has a relatively smooth or straight surface. Make sure that there is no dust, dirt, sticky residue or debris on the flooring. If the floor is not properly made ready, the double-sided tape will not stick properly. The materials that you will require for this task (other than the integral pad carpet and double-sided tape) include a measuring tape, carpet cutter, and chalk that will be essential for marking the carpeting for cutting. If the installation necessitates seams, buy a seam adhesive that is recommended for your type of carpeting material, as well as five-inch carpeting tape to use under the seam.
Measuring and cutting
Take accurate measurements of the perimeter of the space where the carpet will be put in, including the length and width of the area; add an inch to every side of the dimensions that you write down. This means that if the width is 60 inches, you must cut the carpet 62 inches, which allows for an extra inch on both sides. Do likewise for the length. Apply the chalk line to mark the line where you will cut the carpeting. Position the carpet on the flooring so that it covers the total area.
Finishing touches
Once the carpet is smoothly in place, start with a corner section and be careful not to slide the carpet out of place. Pull back or lift one segment of the carpeting and put a margin of carpeting tape underneath, directly onto the exposed floor. Smooth out the tape in its place, taking away any air bubbles, and then peel off the backing of the tape. Allow the carpet to fall onto the tape below, applying pressure that will cause it to stick steadfastly, and then smooth it out using your hands. A rolling pin might be used at this point to help smooth the carpet out nicely. This process should be replicated around the perimeter for all leftover carpet sides. After you have attached all sides to the floor, trim excess carpet from the edges. To finish, push the edges of the carpet below the mopboard. You might also consider placing a shoe molding on the carpet edges and then securely nail it to the mopboard.
For carpets that must be seamed, use five-inch carpet tape beneath the two segments and push the carpeting into the tape; go by the instructions printed on the product label exactly.
The best advantage of installing carpeting over a hard, concrete floor is that a once useful space can be turned into a snug, inviting place suitable for living. Once your carpet has been installed and the space feels more snug, you might consider hanging informal accents like palm tree wall art and metal or ceramic sun wall art. Whatever you select, make the most of your fresh room with touches of individual style.
Additional Home Improvement Articles:
Invite Into Your Home with Lighthearted Front Porch Decor
Interesting Accents for the Walls
Adding Interest to a Space with Texture
How to Accurately Measure Stairs for Carpet
Preparing the space to be carpeted
Just like installing any other type of carpeting, you have to make certain that the floor is completely clean and dried, is structurally complete, and has a relatively smooth or straight surface. Make sure that there is no dust, dirt, sticky residue or debris on the flooring. If the floor is not properly made ready, the double-sided tape will not stick properly. The materials that you will require for this task (other than the integral pad carpet and double-sided tape) include a measuring tape, carpet cutter, and chalk that will be essential for marking the carpeting for cutting. If the installation necessitates seams, buy a seam adhesive that is recommended for your type of carpeting material, as well as five-inch carpeting tape to use under the seam.
Measuring and cutting
Take accurate measurements of the perimeter of the space where the carpet will be put in, including the length and width of the area; add an inch to every side of the dimensions that you write down. This means that if the width is 60 inches, you must cut the carpet 62 inches, which allows for an extra inch on both sides. Do likewise for the length. Apply the chalk line to mark the line where you will cut the carpeting. Position the carpet on the flooring so that it covers the total area.
Finishing touches
Once the carpet is smoothly in place, start with a corner section and be careful not to slide the carpet out of place. Pull back or lift one segment of the carpeting and put a margin of carpeting tape underneath, directly onto the exposed floor. Smooth out the tape in its place, taking away any air bubbles, and then peel off the backing of the tape. Allow the carpet to fall onto the tape below, applying pressure that will cause it to stick steadfastly, and then smooth it out using your hands. A rolling pin might be used at this point to help smooth the carpet out nicely. This process should be replicated around the perimeter for all leftover carpet sides. After you have attached all sides to the floor, trim excess carpet from the edges. To finish, push the edges of the carpet below the mopboard. You might also consider placing a shoe molding on the carpet edges and then securely nail it to the mopboard.
For carpets that must be seamed, use five-inch carpet tape beneath the two segments and push the carpeting into the tape; go by the instructions printed on the product label exactly.
The best advantage of installing carpeting over a hard, concrete floor is that a once useful space can be turned into a snug, inviting place suitable for living. Once your carpet has been installed and the space feels more snug, you might consider hanging informal accents like palm tree wall art and metal or ceramic sun wall art. Whatever you select, make the most of your fresh room with touches of individual style.
Additional Home Improvement Articles:
Invite Into Your Home with Lighthearted Front Porch Decor
Interesting Accents for the Walls
Adding Interest to a Space with Texture
How to Accurately Measure Stairs for Carpet
Decorative Wall Mounted Wine Racks
The function of a wine rack is to appropriately store your cherished vintage so that the cork remains in sustained contact with the wine inside the bottle instead of becoming mildewed or drying up. But far from the functional wood racks used by winemakers and proprietors of expansive wine cellars, wine racks in beautiful wrought iron or wood can add flair to the décor of a kitchen, dining room or entertainment room. It does not matter if you love streamlined modern-day style, or the romanticism of Old World French Country or Tuscan style, there is a wine rack that will enhance your decor.
A great bonus for the wall mounted wine rack choices on the market is that they do not take up valuable counter space but they are highly ornamental for the wall. And since these wine racks can be displayed in any upright space, including narrow walls and generally unused areas of the wall, they make effective use of otherwise empty space.
Below are two style ideas on how to enhance your décor and make a focal point with wall mounted wine racks.
Home Bar Focal Point Created with Wall Mounted Wine Rack.
If you have a media room, complete with a bar for entertaining friends and family, why not take your wall décor art from standard beer prints and race car posters, to a fresh level of elegance and sophistication? A bigger wall is a remarkable space upon which to display three wall mounted wine racks. Place them in a triangular manner with the middle rack being hung the highest, and the other two parallel with each other and off to the side. Then position another piece of wall art below the center wine rack. Produce a Tuscan vibe by picking out wrought iron Tuscan sun wall art, or a exquisite framed print of a trattoria. Or create a decoupage using labels from your preferred wines, mounted on foam board and then stylishly framed. Wine makers oftentimes stock large posters of unique or yearly released vintages. These can be stylishly framed as well. Add hanging pendant lights that complement your style to light your presentation.
Dining Room in French Country Style.
Transform your dining room into a quaint bungalow on the French countryside by adding basic French toile patterns and an attractive wrought iron wall mounted wine rack. Walls that are finished or papered in cool shades of lively yellow or sky blue and trimmed in buttery cream offer a perfect backdrop. A black wrought iron wall mounted wine rack makes an outstanding focal point. Individual plates with a rooster or sunflower motif are perfect for displaying next to the wine rack to reinforce the French rural motif. A black wrought iron chandelier that is equipped with individual bulb shades in a black and white checkered pattern carries the theme upward. Bestow unique elegance by choosing black and white toile chair cushions. Finish off the look by adding white pottery on a black hutch and positioning a bowl of grapes and other fruits on a sideboard.
Related Interesting Articles:
Putting In Integral Pad Carpet
How to Decorate Hallway Walls
Artists who have Shaped the Development of Modern Sculpture
A great bonus for the wall mounted wine rack choices on the market is that they do not take up valuable counter space but they are highly ornamental for the wall. And since these wine racks can be displayed in any upright space, including narrow walls and generally unused areas of the wall, they make effective use of otherwise empty space.
Below are two style ideas on how to enhance your décor and make a focal point with wall mounted wine racks.
Home Bar Focal Point Created with Wall Mounted Wine Rack.
If you have a media room, complete with a bar for entertaining friends and family, why not take your wall décor art from standard beer prints and race car posters, to a fresh level of elegance and sophistication? A bigger wall is a remarkable space upon which to display three wall mounted wine racks. Place them in a triangular manner with the middle rack being hung the highest, and the other two parallel with each other and off to the side. Then position another piece of wall art below the center wine rack. Produce a Tuscan vibe by picking out wrought iron Tuscan sun wall art, or a exquisite framed print of a trattoria. Or create a decoupage using labels from your preferred wines, mounted on foam board and then stylishly framed. Wine makers oftentimes stock large posters of unique or yearly released vintages. These can be stylishly framed as well. Add hanging pendant lights that complement your style to light your presentation.
Dining Room in French Country Style.
Transform your dining room into a quaint bungalow on the French countryside by adding basic French toile patterns and an attractive wrought iron wall mounted wine rack. Walls that are finished or papered in cool shades of lively yellow or sky blue and trimmed in buttery cream offer a perfect backdrop. A black wrought iron wall mounted wine rack makes an outstanding focal point. Individual plates with a rooster or sunflower motif are perfect for displaying next to the wine rack to reinforce the French rural motif. A black wrought iron chandelier that is equipped with individual bulb shades in a black and white checkered pattern carries the theme upward. Bestow unique elegance by choosing black and white toile chair cushions. Finish off the look by adding white pottery on a black hutch and positioning a bowl of grapes and other fruits on a sideboard.
Related Interesting Articles:
Putting In Integral Pad Carpet
How to Decorate Hallway Walls
Artists who have Shaped the Development of Modern Sculpture
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