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Rock your walls with some creativity |
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 (ARA) - Every few years we paint them, and they sure do make a convenient spot on which to hang our flat panel TVs. But how much do we really think about our walls?
Walls are, arguably, the largest decorator element in your home. Many of us, however, rarely venture beyond using them as background for our furniture and accessories. With a little courage and creativity, walls can be turned into a bold design statement in your home. And you don't need the advice of a designer or the budget of a home-improvement show to look at your walls in a whole new light.
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The best tech products to keep you outdoors this spring |
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 (ARA) - If you've spent the winter glued to the Internet, watching YouTube videos, it's time to get outdoors. Fortunately, you don't have to disconnect from your online life. Many of the latest wireless gadgets and high-tech items allow - and even encourage you - to spend time outdoors. Here's a roundup of the best outdoor-ready products for spring.
Enjoy the scenery with a durable camera
Don't let spring showers slow down your photography habits. The latest water-resistant digital cameras can endure even the biggest afternoon storm. The must-have camera for photography aficionados? The Lumix DMC-TS2 from Panasonic.
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The kitchen of the future at your fingertips |
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One hundred fifty reasons a day to take a closer look  (ARA) - We turn to technology to make many aspects of our lives easier - from traveling with a GPS to staying connected with loved ones via social networking Web sites. It's no surprise, then, that our kitchens, the most-used room in the home, are becoming increasingly high tech.
A study commissioned by a leading kitchen appliance manufacturer showed that a third of respondents spend three to four hours in the kitchen each day, and 20 percent spend five or more hours. The survey also showed that Americans are embracing technologies in this room, with nearly half of the respondents reporting they want a state-of-the-art kitchen.
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Dramatically update your kitchen in six hours or less with six projects |
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 (ARA) - With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, why settle for out-of-date features and decor - especially since it is easy to give your kitchen a 180-degree makeover? Try these six simple projects, and in no time at all you'll have a kitchen where you will want to spend more time.
Home sweet kitchen
One of the easiest ways to make your kitchen feel warm and inviting is with updated lighting. And, luckily it can be an easy and quick project with the many conversion kits and lighting fixtures available today. Start by swapping any cold and unstylish fluorescent tube lighting with more decorative chandeliers or flush-mount lighting to flood your kitchen with ambient light. Next, fill in shadowy areas - or highlight objects you admire - with spot lights, such as recessed cans or dangling pendant lamps. Soon your kitchen - and your mood - will be glowing.
Time: Two to six hours depending on the number of fixtures.
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Home, safe home, with some simple updates |
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 (ARA) - Ninety percent of homeowners plan to stay in their homes for as long as their health permits, according to "Kitchen and Bath Business" magazine. And, as the place that you spend a majority of your time, your home can play a big role in your health and happiness.
Follow these simple hints to ensure you are living a happy and healthy lifestyle.
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How to make today's smaller bathrooms live larger and work better |
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 (ARA) - This is the decade of right-sizing. The economic reset triggered by the excesses of the last decade is forcing our society to rethink its definition of "enough." One area under enormous scrutiny is housing. How much space does it really take to house the average American family of 2.61 people?
Our definition of "enough space" is changing, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The year 2008 saw the first annual decrease in average new-home size since 1994. During the intervening 15 years, the average rose by 21 percent - from 2,050 square feet in 1994 to a peak of 2,507 square feet in 2007 - before slipping to 2,392 square feet in 2008. The 2008 decrease in home size was also the largest annual drop since 1980.
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Get organized, save money, be happy |
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 (ARA) - A disorganized home wastes time, and time is money. It can be frustrating if you're constantly misplacing items, throwing out spoiled food that went missing in the kitchen and paying surcharges for unpaid bills that got lost in the shuffle. But it's easy to put a little happiness back into your life if you just get organized. Here are some tips for getting your home - and your life - back in order.
Get organized
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Show your holiday hospitality with a sleep-friendly guest room |
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 (ARA) - The holidays bring a lot of happiness - and a lot of company.
With so much going on this season, the one thing you shouldn't have to worry about is your guest room. You want to feel confident that your company will have a comfortable and pleasant stay at your house.
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Give holiday house guests the gift of a 5-star hotel experience |
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 (ARA) - Like mistletoe and eggnog, overnight house guests go hand-in-hand with the holidays. Whether visitors are spending just one night or an entire week in your home, the situation can be stressful for everyone involved. Never fear. You can do a few simple things long before your company arrives to ensure their stay is a comfortable one. In fact, they might even mistake your guest bedroom for a luxury hotel room.
First, remember that less is definitely more when it comes to guest bedroom clutter. While you might enjoy your vintage doll collection that sits on top of the dresser, visitors might not share that sentiment. Remove all unnecessary items in the room, other than some stylish accent pieces, to give your guests a restful, clutter-free home away from home.
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