Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. With more heater use and wood fires in the fireplace, it is especially important during winter to make sure those smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Use the test button on each device, and change batteries as needed. Protect pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes can burst, leading to costly repairs. Insulate any exposed outdoor pipes. And if you’re planning to be away from home, ask a friend or neighbor to turn on your water to a trickle. Locate your home’s water shut-off valve so you can cut off the water quickly if a pipe does burst — and be sure to show your house sitter where it is. If you do nothing else in fall to get ready for winter, clean your gutters. Take steps to prevent ice dams. Ice dams are areas of built-up ice that can accumulate around your roof line, causing leaks when the backed-up snow behind them begins to melt. Remove snow after each storm. If your windows and doors are set flush with your home's facade, and there are no large roof overhangs to keep rain away, then you will be depending on proper installation and caulk to keep the water out. Proper installation depends a lot on the type of window and siding, but generally it includes head flashing that directs any water that gets behind the siding around the window, and weep holes at the bottom of the window wherever water could be trapped. The type of caulk you use will depend on whether it will need to be painted and what materials it will need to bond to, but a few tips are universal. Remove old caulk that is not well bonded and make sure the surface is clean and dry before caulking. #dreamlandinteriors #frozenpipes #caulking #gutters #insulation #smokedetector #carbonmonoxide
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*Even though a design is crafted and planned out, a designer knows that the client must be open to changes. *A designer knows it is key to keep the big picture at the forefront while tailoring the details around the big picture to achieve the goal. *To achieve a good design, a designer must learn how their clients use their personal spaces. This requires much discussion and observation. A designer is than able to steer the clients away from mistakes. *Designers are like your personal cheerleader encouraging you to be brave and go for the perfect plan, piece, counter surface, appliance, painting, etc. while always keeping your budget in mind. *Designers are great visualizers. They know your desires and what your priorities are. They know how to shift the balance of space accordingly to achieve the desired effect. *They also look out for your interests by making the best use your spaces keeping your future home resale value in mind. #dreamlandinteriors #interiordesigner #spaceplanning
I just discovered an easy to use, free app for local chains and higher-end mall stores--Shopular. It is available for both Apple and Android devices. It is a free download. It sorts deals based on the malls closest to you (must turn on your location). It allows you to review the weekly circulars for each store you visit allowing you to make a link to a weekly ad. It can do a search based on the name of the store. You can clock on the "heart" symbol on any deal and it will be added to your personal deals list. You can have the app ping you whenever one of your preferred stores have a sale. You can text a deal to a friend. Some of the stores that listed discount offers were Ulta, The Limited, Neiman-Marcus, Michael Kors, Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc. Happy Shopping! #dreamlandinteriors #Shopular #shoppingcoupons #mallshopping
Designers and Ergonomic Specialists advise their clients to not install their flat screen tvs above eye level. The angle puts stress on the viewer's neck and shoulders. If installed above a fireplace, you may also be voiding the tv's warranty. Experts recommend installing the television only 15 to 30 degrees above your eye level, 15 degrees being the ideal. There are also suggested distances to sit from the tv for optimal seeing and hearing of the content. In addition, eye level viewing along with centering yourself in front of the screen will allow you to experience a perfect picture, with perfect contrast, and color accuracy. 35 inch tv sit 3.5 to 5 feet away from the screen 40 inch tv sit 4 to 6 feet away from the screen 50 inch tv sit 5 to 7.5 feet away from the screen 60 inch tv sit 6 to 9 feet away from the screen #dreamlandinteriors #tv #fireplaces
Here are some facts you might not have known about the cozy Nottingham cottage at the grounds of Kensington Palace that soon will be home to one of the world's most famous couples:
Prince Harry, who moved in approximately four years ago, did the same thing last spring, sparking rumors of Markle's impending move-in.
The Museum of Modern Art has a store dedicated to promoting good design in modern art. A new product sold in their store must pass 8 criteria. They want good designed items to be available to the public whether it be a butter knife or a rowing machine. The store includes furniture, office items, jewelry, kitchen items, books, art, etc. The items purchased help support the Museum's Art Education Program. Visit the store at store.moma.org. #dreamlandinteriors #MuseumofModernArt #art
Use "the sock trick" to clean blinds. For those hard-to-dust mini-blinds, slide your hand into a sock and dip it into a solution that is 50 percent water, 50 percent vinegar. With your hand still in the sock, make a "puppet mouth" and then "bite" the blinds between your fingers and thumb, sliding your hand from one side to the other. #dreamlandinteriors #miniblinds #cleaningtips
Make these 10 rideshare safety tips part of your routine, whether you’re traveling around your hometown or in a new and unfamiliar destination. 1) Share Your Trip When traveling alone, especially at night, always share your trip with others. I always make sure to do this. It’s the easiest and quickest way to let someone track your ride and know your whereabouts in case something happens during your ride. The person you share your trip with will get a notification to his or her phone and will be able to follow along via GPS. To do so, hit the “Share My ETA” option with Uber and “Send ETA” with Lyft. 2) Give Feedback This is an often overlooked part of rideshare safety, but an important step to take once your ride is complete. Post-trip, make sure to rate your driver and leave helpful feedback so you can keep good drivers on the road, and bad ones off. 3) Keep Your Personal Info Confidential There’s no harm in exchanging pleasantries with your driver, but avoid giving him or her any personal information, like how long you’re traveling for, where you live, or your phone number or any other contact information. 4) Request Your Ride While Inside If you can, request your ride while indoors to avoid lingering outside too long with your phone out, which may attract thieves or pickpockets. 5) Confirm Your Driver and Car Before Getting In There are some reported cases of scammers posing as rideshare drivers, so always confirm the license plate and name of your driver before getting in. Both of these pieces of information are clearly presented in the app. And, if you’re getting picked up in a popular area, like an airport, this will also avoid accidentally taking someone else’s ride. Pro Tip: Always ask a driver for the name of the passenger before you get in the car instead of saying your name first. This way, you can be 100 percent sure that person is your driver. 6) Wear Your Seatbelt Just because you’re in someone else’s car or riding in the back seat doesn’t mean you’re at less of a risk of being in an accident. Always buckle up—drivers appreciate it. Under Uber’s description of “Your Rating” you’ll find that wearing your seatbelt is listed as an item that helps your passenger rating. 7) Sit in the Back Seat If you’re traveling alone, always choose the back seat. According to Dave Sutton, spokesperson for Who’s Driving You?, a public safety campaign from the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association that promotes for-hire vehicle safety, “Many of the incidents that we’ve seen … have happened to passengers riding up front.” 8) Check Your Driver’s Rating While both Uber and Lyft monitor a driver’s rating, always double-check that your driver has prior experience and a rating over 4.5. If it’s anything below that, drivers can get fired or deactivated from Uber. 9) Never Pay Cash A driver should never ask you to pay cash for your ride. Now both Uber and Lyft give you an option to tip after your trip, so there’s no need to have your wallet out during a rideshare. 10) Know Your Surroundings If you’re in an unfamiliar city or area, make sure to track your route on your own maps app to ensure the driver is following the correct route. And, if you’re getting picked up from the airport, always be sure to follow the prompted instructions when you open the rideshare app. This also goes for the neighborhood and time of day you’re requesting a ride. Be smart and aware of open businesses around you and avoid calling rideshares alone late at night. If you’re getting picked up from a bar or restaurant, pay extra attention to these tips. From SmarterTravel, written by Ashley Rossi #dreamlandinteriors #Uber #Lyft #Travel
Internet News-- Use Honey to save money on Amazon purchases. This popular browser extension has a new trick up its sleeve, and it's all about Amazon.
Or, in this case, the right browser extension. Honey is a popular tool that can automatically dig up and apply coupon codes for thousands of online stores. But now it offers another feature, one that has the potential to save Amazon shoppers big bucks. See, it's not uncommon to think that Amazon proper always has the lower price. And when you see that little "Prime" badge next to the price, you know you're getting free two-day shipping to boot. But consider this: any given product might be available from other vendors that sell through Amazon and might actually offer a lower price. That's where Honey comes in. Once installed, it displays another little badge alongside the price, this one indicating whether or not you're seeing the best price. They call this Cart Protection, but the idea is to catch you before you add a product to your cart and present you with a cheaper alternative. More ways to save money online
I looked at a lot of products and found very few instances where Honey was able to find a better deal. Granted, Amazon very often does have the lowest price, so it's not like Honey will save me money on every single thing I buy. However, I did notice something interesting. I was looking at the Pebble Time Steel, the silver version of which was listed at $230.46 -- plus $13.83 in sales tax. But Honey found it for the same price without tax, ostensibly from a vendor that doesn't charge it. It would still be fulfilled by Amazon and even eligible for Prime shipping. But no tax. Even if Honey just saves you sales tax, it's worth using. Honey is available for all major browsers (except Edge and Internet Explorer), and there's no charge to use it. Even if it saves you only a few bucks here and there, it does so quickly and easily. Seems like a no-brainer add-on to me! #dreamlandinteriors #Amazon #AmazonPrime #HoneyApp
Home Advisor recently completed a study that determined the average cost for some major renovation projects.
Kitchen Remodel ......................................................... $19,900 Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawer Replacement .....$6,700 Bathroom Remodel ....................................................... $9,300 Deck Addition .................................................................$6,900 New Roof ..........................................................................$6,600 New AC .............................................................................$5,200 New Windows ..................................................................$4,800 #dreamlandinteriors #HomeAdvisor |
Natalie A. GauciLicensed Interior Designer working in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. Archives
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