Outdoor Chandelier FAQ

Posted on June 15, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

Outdoor lighting is a unique field in the world of lighting fixtures. Lighting includes everything from single pull string lights to recessed lighting, chandeliers to table lamps. But an outdoor chandelier is a type of light which many are not familiar with. So let’s look at the most frequently asked questions about an outdoor chandelier.

Question: What defines a chandelier?

Answer: A chandelier is a light which is suspended from the ceiling. It typically has from anywhere from one light unit to five or more.

Question: What is an outdoor chandelier?

Answer: An outdoor chandelier is a chandelier which is rated for outdoor use. It is UL approved for damp/ wet locations. The cord is heavy duty. The plug is also grounded to make it safer out of doors. It has a rubber coated switch to prevent water damage. The circuitry is sealed preventing moisture from penetrating inside the outdoor chandelier.

Question: Can any chandelier be used for outside spaces?

Answer: No. The only chandeliers that should be used for anywhere out side of the home are the outdoor chandeliers. With the UL rating, the light had to pass certain criteria to even be rated for outside use. It should be noted that the UL rating is only for wet/damp locations. Even though rated for outdoors, it is best not to use the chandelier where it would have no outdoor protection such as a roof. Since outdoor chandeliers must be hung, the vast majority of them are placed in places such as porches and gazebos.

Question: What types of places are best for an outdoor chandelier?

Answer: Outdoor chandeliers are good for covered decks, porches, and gazebos. Also outdoor chandelier lights are used for sunrooms, and covered entry ways.

Question: Are there different types of outdoor chandeliers?

Answer: Yes, there are several different kinds of outdoor chandeliers. Not only are their one to three light units, there are also many styles to match different home décors.

Question: Are there some outdoor chandeliers that offer alternative energy sources?

Anwers: Yes. Chandeliers can come solar powered and also for use with candles. Low-voltage fixtures are also available. Though still using electricity, the low-voltage gives a consistent light that does not dim over time or burn out such as the candle and the solar options.

With so many to choose from, an outdoor chandelier can be chosen for almost any style of home. The main fact when selecting one is the safety issue. The UL rating does much to satisfy this concern.

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The Beauty of Oak Dining Chairs

Posted on June 15, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

Every kitchen needs a table to eat on and enough chairs for everyone to sit and share good food and good conversation. An oak dining table and chairs are an excellent choice because of the durability and strength of oak. Another reason oak furniture is a good choice is that it is highly rot resistant.

There are a lot of things to think about when looking for dining room furniture. Functionality and style are both important issues. Deciding among the many options available can seem overwhelming.  Table widths and lengths can be adjusted.  Chairs come with high backs and low backs, with arms and without arms.  It is important to look at all these variations to make sure that you find the dining table and chairs that are right for you.

Oak is found in great abundance in many parts of the world.  It is very popular for making all kinds of furniture. It is especially suited for family dining room furniture because it is such a hard wood.  When a protective coating of lacquer has been applied to it, it will be able to stand up to all the knocks and spills that are part of family life. Its beauty and strength will not be marred. The tannin content of oak is very high which makes it resistant to disease and rot.

Oak in its natural state has a rich beautiful color and is often left that way.  Some people prefer to have it stained or painted to give it a different appearance.  Oak furniture might, for example, be stained a darker color to make it resemble mahogany, a much more expensive wood.  If a more modern look is desired, a smooth coat of dark brown or black paint can be applied. Oak furniture, because of its versatile properties can fit into any style of home.

The first thing you want to think about in order to choose the perfect oak dining set for your home is the type of chair that will suit you.  Oak dining chairs come in many shapes and styles.  Each one will have a slightly different feel when you sit in it.  Typical dining room furniture consists of a table and four chairs. Depending on the size of your family and your entertaining habits you may want to buy more than four chairs.  There are oak dining chairs that come with seats that are padded to make them more comfortable.  There are “high back” styles which are very comfortable for taller people who need the extra height in the back section of the chair.  Sometime casters are added to the bottom of the chair legs to make them easier to slide under the table.  Dining chairs that have wheels are less likely to scratch the floor.  Children find the wheeled chairs easier to manipulate also.

Selecting the right oak table will be your next step. Rectangular tables are able to seat more people in the same space.  One advantage to a circular table is that all the diners are facing each other making conversation more natural and comfortable.  Some circular tables have a central pillar or pedestal instead of legs to support them. This makes it easier to arrange the chairs evenly around the table.

Oak dining room furniture is affordable for people of all economic levels.  Its beauty and durability make it an excellent choice for family dining as well as for elegant entertaining.

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Growing Tea Herbs

Posted on June 14, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

Many different herbs can be combined to make tea including culinary herbs such as mint, sage and thyme. Bee balm, scented geranium leaves, rose hips and rose petals also make a tasty addition to herbal teas. Most of these plants are quite easy to grow, but in this article we’ll discuss growing two classic tea herbs – lemon verbena and chamomile. The key to producing high-quality herbs is choosing the correct planting location and making sure to meet the plant’s basic needs. Before you know it, you’ll be harvesting leaves and flowers for use in your own herbal teas.

Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena, a tender perennial herb, produces lance-shaped leaves that provide a strong lemony scent and flavor. The leaves are used in cooking, teas, beverages, desserts and even potpourri. In the garden, the plant bears sprays of small white to lavender flowers in the late summer months. In USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11, lemon verbena performs as a perennial. In cooler areas, gardeners can grow the herb as an annual or overwinter indoors in a container. As a perennial lemon verbena reaches up to 10 feet high, but typically grows much shorter as an annual. Even as perennials, deciduous lemon verbena plants will lose their leaves over winter.

Plant lemon verbena in average, well-drained soil in an area that receives full sunlight. Water once or twice a week, as needed. If the leaves begin to droop, this is usually a sign that the plant needs water quickly. There is no need to fertilize lemon verbena and it actually prefers soil that isn’t too fertile. Too much fertilizer may reduce the flavor and aroma of the leaves.

To overwinter, trim plants back and bring them indoors in early fall. Place in a cool, bright place with a temperature consistently above 45 degrees F. Water sparingly during winter, keeping the soil only barely moist at all times. Never allow it to become completely dry for more than a day or two, but never soak the soil or allow standing water to accumulate. Prune away any undesirable or damaged growth, and move plants back outdoors in spring. Propagate from cuttings taken during the summer.

Chamomile

Chamomile, a widely used medicinal herb, makes a fantastic herbal tea. It’s one of the best herbal remedies to relax the body and mind, fights insomnia and reduces anxiety. Even if you don’t suffer from these disorders, you’ll still benefit from the herb’s relaxing properties. Chamomile bears fragrant, fern-like leaves and white to yellow daisy-like flowers. Each plant can reach up to 9 inches in height. The foliage has a scent similar to apples when crushed, and can be dried to use in potpourri. Fresh and dried chamomile flowers are used in herbal tea.

Plant chamomile in a location that receives full sunlight or light shade, and that has loose, well-drained soil slightly on the dry side. It can be used as a ground cover, as the plant tolerates light foot traffic. If using as a tea herb, however, it’s probably best to avoid stepping on the plants. Hardy in zones 4 through 8, chamomile requires only basic care. Water about once a week and harvest flowers during the summer morning hours for the best results. There’s no need to fertilize or mulch. Propagate by division in late fall or plant seeds in early spring according to the package directions.

Making Herbal Tea

To make herbal tea from your tea herbs, steep 1 tsp. dried or 1 tbsp. fresh herbs in 1 cup boiling water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the spent herbs from the liquid, sweeten with honey if you like, and then drink immediately. Chamomile is best served hot, but lemon verbena makes a great iced tea. These two herbs also blend well with others, especially lemon verbena. Try adding it to teas to mask the taste of bitter herbs.

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Eradicate Molds before they Destroy Your Home

Posted on June 13, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

Molds are those rampant pests posing hazards not only to your home but to your whole family’s health as well. Even though eliminating them is such a difficult and quite costly task, doing so still incurs several benefits for you. Eradicate molds in your home now and prevent the diseases it could cause. Follow these steps for mold removal:

  1. Research on the different methods used for mold removal. Refer to various references such as the Internet, books or guides. They will provide you with all the information you need regarding molds.
  2. Locate the place or room in your home where molds grow profusely. This could be an area where frequent flooding and plumbing leaks take place. Also, check for rooms with isolated condensation lines and high humidity. They are the conditions that aid in the development of molds.
  3. After that, seal the area or room you’re going to clean. Use plastic sheets to cover the first area or room you will clean. While doing this, make sure that you have the proper ventilation. Remember, you will use bleaches and other solutions to eradicate black mold. Inadequate air circulation may suffocate you.
  4. Prepare the necessary equipment and protective clothing for your task. Don’t forget to use gloves, aprons, goggles and respirators in removing molds in your home. They will protect you from mold spores released during the cleaning process.
  5. Wet the area. The room or area of the house where you will perform the mold removal should be dampened first before you can apply bleach and other cleaning solutions. Doing this reduces the amount of spores released by the molds.
  6. Clean the infested part. You can either use bleach or ordinary soap in cleaning the moldy surface of your house. While soap and water works well, it is better to use bleach particularly in areas where mold buildup is huge. To remove molds using bleach, dissolve one part of bleach to four parts of water. Use this solution to clean the area. Never add ammonium or other chemicals to this solution as it may emit harmful chlorine gas.
  7. Let the solution stay for about 20 minutes, to ensure that it will effectively remove the molds completely.
  8. Household materials like carpets, fabrics and wallpapers infected with molds should be disposed. Molds in these kinds of materials can’t be cleaned anymore.
  9. Rinse the cleaned area properly, making sure that no traces of molds and bleach are left.
  10. Dry the area immediately after the black mold removal process.. Use fans to dry it. This way, possible remnants of toxins are removed.
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Where Can You Find Deep Pocket Sheets?

Posted on June 13, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

If you’ve come to the realization that you are never going to need sheets for a standard size mattress, then now is the time for you. There are tremendous deals for deep pocket sheets in many places online. This isn’t the only place to shop for them. However, since you are here already, why not skip over to Amazon or JCPenny.com and see what is available. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by both selection and price.

Since we’re assuming you already know why you need sheets made for a thicker mattress, we can skip that brief lesson here. However, you may be surprised to learn that these sheets are not that all different from what was required years ago with waterbeds. Yes, it’s true. Waterbeds had thicker profiles than standard mattresses and had other unique features like rounded corners and the need to have them clipped or otherwise secured beneath the waterbed mattress itself. Today, waterbeds are not as popular, but they are still around. In fact, there are some newer styles that are quite a bit different than the ones you probably know. It is much more common now to use a waterbed mattress pad also.

Maybe you have a futon and you are looking for new sheets. While the standard futon may be 8”-10” thick, this doesn’t necessarily require a deeper pocket sheet. You see, these special sheets are designed for the more modern thick mattress. These mattresses can be in the range of 20”-22” high! That is quite a bit taller than a futon or waterbed.

What Styles of Deep Pocket Sheets Are Available?

Aside from the standard cotton sheet, you can also find these made of more luxurious materials and qualities. You can find them in a range of high thread count sheets of Egyptian cotton or other Percale sheet styles. Percale simply refers to the way that the fabric is woven, not to the type of material itself. In other words, Percale is a term used to describe the tightly woven nature of the fabric, often over 300 thread counts per inch. While this isn’t too high, it does beat a standard, lesser quality sheet.

In terms of cost, you can expect to pay anywhere from the $20 USD range up to $50 USD or more for luxurious sheets and larger mattress sizes. The lower end of that price range is more for twin or full size sheets. Good luck with your search for deep pocket sheets and enjoy a great night’s sleep!

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Some Great Uses For Sideboard Furniture

Posted on June 13, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

You may look at the title of this article and wonder what the heck you would do with sideboard furniture besides place it in your dining room. Well, there are a lot of uses that have been developed by owners of this furniture over the years. Sideboards can be used for any number of things, but there are a few that have made it to the top of the list of the uses of this furniture other than that for which it was originally intended.

Perhaps the most popular use other than in the dining room is for the unit to be used as a television stand in the living room. That’s right, your dining room furniture makes for a perfect TV stand! If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Most sideboards are a perfect height for the popular flat screened televisions that are so popular nowadays. In addition to being the right height, sideboards have internal storage that lends itself to hiding wires and cable boxes, enhancing the overall look of your living room or den. The only downside of using a sideboard is the signal from the remote control may not work through the front door of the unit. If you have a remote control that uses a radio signal rather than a line of site beam, this is not a problem. But if you can find a unit with glass doors, your remote will work through the glass so that problem is solved.

Another great use for sideboard furniture is in the bedroom or hallway as an extra storage cabinet. If you place the unit in the hallway, it makes a great hall table. Place a mirror on the wall above the unit and you and your guests have a great place to stop off and check your look in the mirror one more time before heading back to the main gathering area of the home.

If you use the sideboard in a bedroom, it makes a great place to store extra linens, or a place for your guests to store their clothes when they visit. Here again, put a mirror on the wall above the unit and you have a great dressing table!

As you can see, there are a lot of different uses for this type of furniture. It looks good and offers multiple kinds of storage, making it a perfect addition to any room in the house.

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How To Care For and Clean Your Silver Tea Set

Posted on June 12, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

A silver tea set is expensive to buy and even more costly if it is actually an antique tea set. It can also often be a centerpiece, something that is on display.  For these reasons it is important to properly care for your silver tea set.

Silver tends to tarnish fairly quickly and some consider it to be a nuisance to have to care for it.  I think that a properly cared for and maintained silver tea set and tea accessories are well worth owning. It actually does not take that much care to keep the set in good shape providing you care for it on a regular basis.  Problems, such as a lot of tarnishing of the silver, occur when you put your tea set away and forget about it. For that reason alone it is often a good idea to have your tea set prominently placed so that all, including you, can see it. You will be constantly reminded to give it a quick polish if it is in plain view.

If you polish your silverware regularly with a soft cloth you will most likely find that it does not tarnish at all.  If it does become slightly tarnished it is a good idea to clean it right away, before the problem spreads. Keep some silver polish on hand with your other cleaning supplies so that it is readily accessible.

If tarnish appears, spread some silver polish on a soft, non abrasive cloth, and gently apply it to the tarnished area. Once you have sufficiently covered the area that needs cleaning dampen your cloth with a little water and rub the silver polish into the silver pieces. You may have to apply a little pressure to get it to soak in, which is another good reason why it is best to tackle polishing your silver before it becomes too tarnished. When you have rubbed all the polish in and your silver pieces are shining, rinse them off with warm water and then dry them off with a soft drying cloth. It is important to note that you should only use soft cloths and silver polish or water when cleaning your tea set. Hard abrasives will scratch the silver and permanently damage your silver tea set.  If one polishing does not get rid of all of the tarnish you may need to do it again—just keep polishing until it is bright and shining.

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Setting Up Your Personalized Bistro Bar At Home

Posted on June 12, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

Different people have different ways of leading their modern lifestyles. Some may enjoy indulging in a wide variety of activities, while others may choose to hang out at bistro bars that they think may provide them with their desired relaxing sensations. Many often wonder how bistro bars are different from the other bars around. In fact, bistro bars are actually well known for their ambience. It provides customers with a refreshing ambience that involves the surroundings, furniture, location as well as the food served.

With such relaxing ambiance, have you ever imagined what are the benefits you will get to enjoy for investing in a bistro bar within your home? Setting up such bars at home certainly allows you to enjoy high levels of comfort and relaxation on top of cutting down on expenses that you will have to spend when you head out. However, getting the furniture for bistro bars could be expensive so a good alternative would be to replace the bistro chairs with swivel wooden bar stool which is cheaper and yet more durable. In addition, for those who prefer staying home and spending quality and heartwarming time with your family, a bistro bar ensures that you will be able to do so while relaxing at the outdoor garden or in your cozy kitchen. A bistro bar also adds on to the areas where your guests could hang around when they attend home parties.

However, despite the several advantages of a bistro bar, setting up the ideal bar for your home can be a challenge. One of the toughest steps is to choose suitable materials and style of bars. Many bar owners have a clear understanding of how they want their bistro bars to look like. However, for bistro sets to be placed at home, the furniture’s style and design should be taken into account. Although placing a bistro table coupled with a few bistro chairs may create bistro bars, it is essential that they match the existing furniture and settings of the surroundings. For instance, a Victorian themed home should be paired with Victorian styled bistro bars such as one that has tables and chairs made of aluminum with legs designed in elaborate beautiful patterns. Most bistro bars have concepts that place emphasis on the bistro chairs. This is because as compared to the bistro tables, bistro chairs have much greater varieties and styles. For example, there are bistro chairs with or without back rests and arm rests, or those that come in swivel or non-swivel designs. By setting up a carefully selected bistro set in your home, you will be able to make a difference to your home.

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Are You Still Searching For Dining Table And Chairs?

Posted on June 12, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

There are many different aspects to be considered when making a decision to furnish your dining room with a dining table set, comprising of a dining table and chairs. If you’re still searching for these important pieces of home furniture, here’s what you should know.

The size of the dining table is the first aspect that must be decided on, as this can impact significantly on the budget you need to buy one.  Moreover, the size must be compatible with the space your dining room permits, as well as with the number of people it is meant to accommodate.

The next aspect would be the material of the table, which should match the color and décor of your room where it will be placed. If you have a room with light-colored walls and furniture, a white marble or white wooden table would be just nice. The dining room chairs, too should match everything in your room, and in this case, for a light-colored table, light brown wood or bamboo chairs, or black leather chairs would be the best match.

Other materials used for table tops are veneer which has a wood-like finish, and is more durable, being resistant to spills and warping. However, some people may not desire a table top with veneer, in which case, you can cover it with a fancy tablecloth to give it that classy look. Apart from wooden tables, you will also find options, among many others, including plastic, glass and wrought iron.

Although generally perceived by many to be cheap, plastic tables are quite the opposite, as the plastic materials involved offer a high level of strength and durability, apart from the many designs and colors in the wide range on offer. Being all-weather resistant and easily maintainable, these tables and chairs are ideal for outdoor spaces at your home. In fact a simple, plastic round dining table is often all you need for the outdoors.

Glass has its own sophistication and classy look. Being transparent, it creates an illusion of spaciousness of a room, and although prone to dust, it is easily cleaned with a dry or damp cloth, and more efficiently, with a glass cleaner. Wrought iron table and chair sets are certainly, heavier than most others, but offer a wider choice of intricate designs and styles.

Choosing dining table and chairs involve a number of factors to consider, most important of which, is durability. After all, you’ll be spending a considerable amount of money and you’ll want the ones you choose to last a lifetime.

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Eco-Friendly Outdoor Pathway Light

Posted on June 10, 2010 by The Home and Garden Guru

In some parts of the United states, home lighting that is eco-friendly is popular. Eco-friendly lighting consumes less electricity than standard lighting. Eco-friendly lighting may also consume no electricity. However, within the eco-friendly lighting designs available for consumers to enjoy and install on their property, options are available in size, motif, and finish, among other choices. However, this brief article does not focus on the appearance of the lights. Instead, the information presented focuses on the energy source of the lighting fixtures. More specifically, information about outdoor pathway lighting that is ecologically friendly is presented.

One type of ecologically friendly pathway light is the type that uses low voltage. Low voltage path light uses less voltage than the standard home lighting voltage. Consequently, this design tends to use less electricity. Given that the lights use less electricity, they tend to be better for the natural environment than lights that use more electricity to operate. Low voltage path lights usually use a transformer in their design to reduce the voltage. However, even though these lights use less voltage, they still use electricity, and consequently, will work in both sunny and not sunny locations.

By comparison, pathway lights that use no electricity are the ones that are powered with the sun’s energy. Solar path lights harness the sun’s energy during the day for night time illumination. Unlike low voltage pathway lights, solar lights must be installed in sunny locations to function as designed. In other words, the solar panel component of the light fixture must be installed in sunny locations. Therefore, if the solar path light is designed with one solar panel, with all the lamps connecting to the solar panel, then only the one solar panel needs to be installed in a sunny location for the lights to operate. With the design that has a solar panel built-into each lamp, then each lamp must be placed in the direct sun for the lighting to function as designed, given the current technology used with solar path lights. Consumers may want to keep this design factor in mind, as whether the solar lights have one solar panel or several solar panels may have implications for the type that may work better for the homeowner.

Thus, if consumers wish to install eco-friendly path lights on their property, solar path lights may be a good choice if the location where they plan to install the lights is abundantly sunny. Otherwise, consumers may wish to consider low voltage path lights, if they wish to install lighting on the walkways of their homes that tend to be eco-friendly.

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