Canux : Home Sweet Home

Archive for January, 2010

If you are looking to renovate your kitchen and remodel its old style, one of the obstacles you may come across is how to refit your new kitchen range hood into your old kitchen.

The problem is largest in an old house that may not have any type of exhaust system in the kitchen let alone a modern range hood. Many years ago, range hoods were not common so in an older home you may have more work to renovate.

It’s safest to just pull out whatever old system exists and install your modern appliance and range hood. You’ll need to know where you want your new range to go in your kitchen. If you have ample space then you may want an island range in which case you’ll need to consider the different island range hoods available. The most popular of types for an island are stand alone hoods that are stylish and functional.

If there is already a cabinet above where you want your range to be located then your solution is to either have a carpenter shorten the cabinet or replace it with a shorter cabinet that will give more breathing space to the range underneath it. Wiring is a consideration as well. A ductless range hood would require that you shorten the cabinet and do the required wiring before you install your range. Ducted kitchen range hoods are different and require an opening in the cabinet’s bottom to accommodate the ducting. Another hole will be needed for the exhaust.

“Hollywood” is a brand name for a metal frame system with legs into which a box spring may be set and to which a headboard may be attached.

Modern ceiling fans come in many different shapes and sizes. They are also made by many different companies for a lot of different price ranges. You have so many choices that it would be hard to list them all. We will take a look at a few guidelines of what you should know before you purchase a new ceiling fan.

Before you buy your new ceiling fan or before you build or remodel a new house you need to ask yourself what you want in your fan. Do you need to go for a certain style or d

With rising gas prices, good hard working folks like you and I are looking for ways to increase gas mileage and cut our fuel bills. I found a way to create a burnable gas out of water by building my own hydrogen generator, and I did it for less than $65.

In order to make your own hydrogen generator to run your car on water you must first understand that you do not run your car on water alone, rather you create a hybrid by injecting the gas you have created in your hydrogen generator into the gas/air fuel source you currently use, drastically increasing the efficiency at which it burns.

HHO gas, or Brown’s gas can be created out of ordinary water by the means of electrolysis. You build a container which holds the water and then send a small amount of electricity from your car’s battery through a set of submersed electrodes and the process pulls apart the water molecule into two bonded hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom.

The resulting HHO burns cleanly and allows your engine to run quieter, smoother and with more power. I know it sounds impossible but it’s not. Thousands of people all across the globe are running their cars on water with hydrogen generators they built themselves.

One of the best things about this proven technology is the fact that you can build the generator with easy to find parts, assemble it over the course of a single weekend and all for less than a typical fill-up.

If a country girl like me can buck the system and build her own hydrogen generator, anyone can… it really is that simple.

This technology is proven and very safe but you are producing a gas that burns, but it is not explosive like pure hydrogen and you produce it on demand and in small quantities, and I have never heard of anyone hurting themselves using a home built hydrogen generator.

There are kits you can buy and install yourself but they go for $1000 or more and basically do the same thing as the generator you can build yourself. If you want to increase your mileage by 30% or more, I suggest you start with a model you can build that is easy and inexpensive to do.

Once you are familiar with the technology you can expand upon the generator by adding pulse modulation to increase the gas producing process, but it isn’t necessary.

If you have a single bedroom, you can give it a brand new look by purchasing a single headboard. The kind of headboard you buy will depend on the style you are trying to achieve as well as your budget. When you are ready to purchase one, there are a few things that you will need to keep in mind before you start shopping.

First, how big is your room? If your bedroom is relative small, most likely you will want to stick with the single sized headboard. Your headboard will also have to match the size of your mattress and footboard, so be sure to measure it if you have any doubts about what size you have. Most retailers consider a full sized bed to be the same as the single size, so if you have a double sized mattress and box spring, you will need to buy a double headboard. You may also find that single headboards are sold in your area as full size headboards. Take your bed measurements with you to be on the safe side.

You can also select from headboards made of different materials. For example, some manufacturers use plain wood for a basic look while others offer headboards that are made of metal or that are covered in fabric or leather. Padded headboards are a good option if you like to lounge or read in bed, since they offer a soft surface to lean against. When you are browsing, be sure to compare prices at various stores. You will also want to watch for sales and collect sales flyers as they come in the mail. Some retailers will match sale prices at other stores.

If you would like to make your own single headboard, you can do so fairly simply. Just purchase a sheet of plywood the size you need for your bed. You can have it sanded to round off the corners if you like or you can leave it as a rectangle. Then you can paint it the color you would like or you can select your own fabric to cover it with. If you like, you can even vary the color and fabric occasionally to reflect your changing tastes.

Buying a single headboard is a nice way to add décor to your home without spending a lot of money. It is also an easy way to change your style. If you make use of the above information, you can select one for your bedroom that you will enjoy for years to come.

You see beautiful potted plant designs in yards, at businesses and along city streets and wish that you had that kind of green thumb. Wouldn’t such a pot with those colors and that texture be beautiful in your yard or on your deck? How do those gardeners create such wonderful potted plant designs? They follow the ten basics of container planter creativity and then they let their imaginations run wild. As you begin to dream about you container planter design, it is good for you to know the basics of container planting so that your decision produces the effects you desire.

Style
Generally you will see two styles of design with some variations among those styles. The most common style for upright containers uses the focal point, the filler and the trailer. A focal point plant stands out above the rest by being taller and/or more colorful. The focal point is the first to attract your attention. The filler plants are use to compliment the focal plant. They are good for providing the color and texture and are used to cover the bare parts of the pot. The trailer plants hang over the edge of the pot and add softness to the design. A second style of design is to use the same type of plant, in bulk, with variations to create the difference in look. It is best to use plants that are dense and will cover or fill the entire pot.

Type of Pot
Your design choice will be greatly affected by the size and type of pot that you are working with. Almost anything can be used for a container planter. First choose your plants with the size of pot in mind. A simple pot may use more exciting plants as an emphasis while simple plants may leave the emphasis on an ornate pot. Another consideration is whether your pot is an upright planter or a hanging planter. The hanging planter will require plants that have genetics for hanging rather than growing upright.

Size
Determine the size of pot that you are planting and from that choose plants that will fit the pot. A beginning rule is to choose plants that will be two times the height for the focal plant and one and one half times the width of the pot for the filler plants. This is not a rule set in stone, but a guideline. For a quicker, complete look of your planter design, choose plants that are not too young (immature) but may be closer to the size desired for the design.

Desired Effect
Decide if your container planter will be a focal point of your landscape design or a compliment to the rest of your landscaping and choose accordingly. This may affect your choice of size and desire to blend or stand out.

Color
The color selection is wide open. A good starting point is to choose colors to either match or compliment a landscape or home. For a mixture of colors, pick colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel. For a more monochromatic design, pick one color and use different variations of the same color.

Texture
Some plants are chosen for their texture rather than their color. Texture is generally a factor of the plant leaves and can add an alternative option to creating a different style. Choose plants with a variety of texture and sizes of leaves for added effect to your design.

Sun vs Shade
It is important to choose plants that are adapted to the area that the container will be located. Plants are generally labeled as to whether they are able to thrive in full sun, light sun or shade. If you have a container that you can move with the seasons, you can be more flexible with your choices.

Wet vs Dry
It is also important to know whether a plant needs a lot of moisture or is adapted to a more dry soil. Do not combine plants that have considerable differences in moisture needs or your plant design will suffer from loss of plants.

Season
Choosing plant designs can also be influenced by the season. If you are choosing a planter design with flowers, you will need to determine when the plants flower and how long. Also, some plants thrive better in cooler weather and others prefer warm or hot weather. This will determine how long your design will perform for you.

Plants
Lastly, choose plants that are available in your area or that you have access to. Also, choose plants that, from your experience, you will be able to take care of. Some are easy to grow and others may require a more a green thumb with more expertise.

The ten basics of container planting can help you get started in creating beautiful container plant designs. Fortunately for us, many master container gardeners are willing to share their ideas and recipes and with a little searching, you may find just the one to suit you. Keep the basics in mind when choosing a pre-designed pattern for your pot or planter so that you will obtain your desired results. Even if you don’t use a pre-designed pattern, you have the tools to let your imagination create a piece of enjoyment and beauty. Plant away.