The translation of Feng Shui is “wind and water,” and it considers the intangible and tangible aspects of life, their interaction, and their influences. The goal is to find a harmonious balance between them. The Feng Shui basics are:

• the Bagua Map – directives to summon positive change;

• Five Elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water; and
• Ch’i — vital energy that is animated and alive all around us.

Feng Shui principles have been applied to offices, and some business people pay thousands of dollars for a Feng Shui consultant. There are certain Feng Shui principles that you can apply to your home office and make it your place of power. According to the Feng Shui principles, the way your home office is organized and arranged will impact your prosperity and success.

Color, décor, and equipment are important, but one of the most important things to consider is where you place your desk. It should be the central focus of the room, and it should face the door. If your desk cannot face the door, then install a mirror that gives you a view of the door. There should be a solid wall behind your desk. This concept is supposed to create strong support for you and your business.

If you work better at a conference table, then set up a conference table in your office. This is your office, and you can furnish and equip it however you want. Your desk or conference table should be rectangular or oval. Whenever possible, your office furniture should have rounded corners and sharp corners should be turned so they will not be in the traffic area.

If possible, you should have a pleasant view out a window when you sit at your desk. If you cannot look out the window, then install a mirror that gives you a view through the window. Your desk chair is considered to be your throne, and it must be very comfortable. You will not be productive if your chair is uncomfortable.

You must get and stay organized, because chaos and clutter interfere with the flow of productive Ch’i. There are many other things to consider if you want to your home office to be guided by Feng Shui principles. You can find many books about office arrangements according to Feng Shui if you want the positive elements to be part of your home office. The Feng Shui concepts seem practical and appropriate, and we all want to increase our productivity and prosperity.

Copyright 2006 Indigo Business Solutions. All rights reserved

About the author

Jo Ann Joy is the CEO and owner of Indigo Business Solutions, a legal and business consulting firm. Indigo Business Solutions is a “one stop shop” for small businesses. We differ from other business consulting firms, because we offer comprehensive legal and business counseling. We can offer most of the professional services that a business requires. We work with our clients to develop strategies that create value and competitive advantage. Our goal is your success.

Jo Ann has a law degree, an MBA, and a degree in Economics, but she is not a traditional attorney. Rather, she is a strategic business attorney who works closely with clients to create and implement strategies that will greatly improve their performance and chance of success. Her background includes commercial and real estate law, accounting, financial planning, mortgages, marketing, product development, banking, and business strategies. She ran a successful business for 10 years, and she has written and given presentations on many different legal and business subjects.

You may contact Jo Ann by phone at (602) 663-7007, by fax at (602) 324-7582, by email at mailto:joannjoy@Indigo joannjoy@Indigo Business Solutions.net, and by mail at 2313 East Ocotillo Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016

For more information about these and other important business topics and for legal consultation, please visit our website at IndigoBusinessSolutions.net IndigoBusinessSolutions.net

The future of your business starts here.

When it comes time to start buying furnishings, the hardest step is often figuring out how to go about it. This guide to buying furnishings solves the problem nicely!

When buying furnishings there is much you need to take into consideration. Your furnishings are something that you will have for many years to come, and picking the right piece can be an overwhelming experience. Taking this guide to buying furnishings into consideration before you head to the store will aid you in finding the perfect piece for your home.

Make sure you are prepared. Thinking of your long-term goals is extremely important. Before you visit your first store, make a floor plan of the room you are buying furnishings for to determine how a piece will fit and whether it will look right. Dimensions are equally as important. Know the exact square footage of the room, as well as the dimensions of each piece. You may see a couch that will look like it will fit but after you return home, you find out it is too large. This can all be avoided by traveling to all stores with a tape measure.

When buying upholstered furnishings, never buy a piece when you first see it without taking home a piece of fabric to test against your other pieces. Also, fabric looks different under various lights, so you want to make sure you try the fabric during both day and night to make sure you truly love it.

Testing the furnishings is probably the most valuable tip you should take from this guide. Make sure that it is comfortable for a long period of time. It may seem strange to be stretching out on a couch in the middle of a showroom, but furnishings are something that you can’t change your mind about later. Take your shoes off and get comfortable, and stay on it for a while before deciding. You’ll notice soon if the dining room table chairs you are sitting on put a strain on your back, or the couch you are sitting on becomes stiff.

Last, but definitely not least, never buy on impulse. You may see an item marked down 50 percent, but before you buy make sure that it is the exact color and shape you want. A sale makes you feel good about buying, but when you get home and realize that it doesn’t match or fit in, you will find yourself spending even more money to find a perfect piece later on.

Buying furnishings takes time, and should never be rushed. Quality furnishings may take months to find at the price you want. Just be patient and you soon you will have furnishings that can be handed down for generations.

Stephan Teak is with FurnitureStoresforYou.com - a directory of

Window or door wooden blinds are an integral part of decoration in any office or house. Many interior designers use customized wood blinds prepared of wood or some other blinds which showcase a wood-like appearance to create an air of relaxation and comfort. Also, wood comes first in the priority list f those who wish to decorate their office or home.

These blinds create an inviting air in and around the room where they are used. They also enhance the beauty of the other furniture present in the room. In addition to these, they also give privacy to your family as well as you.

You can always select a customized wood blind to enhance the interior decoration of your place. Its rest assured that such blinds would not only increase the beauty of your place manifolds but it will also create a very comfortable atmosphere.

Maintenance of wood blinds is much easier as compared to other kind of blinds. You can clean and maintain them easily without putting in a lot of effort. All that you would need is a wood cleaner and a piece of dry cloth in order to clean and make the blinds tidy.

In case the blinds on your doors as well as windows are in tune with the furnishing of you room, the beauty and style-quotient of your room will get a huge boost. You can get such customized wood blinds in various texture, shade and colors to gel well with your taste. These wood blinds can open on the side or middle, can be horizontal or vertical, or even bottom-up or top-down.

Custom wood blinds which are vertical give much more protection from extreme climatic conditions in comparison to horizontal wood blinds. This is due to the fact that you can open or close such blinds either from any side or the middle. These blinds are most suitable for square windows. They also give your room very contemporary and stylish look. In certain aspects, they are a far better choice than the commonly used curtains or shutters. These blinds can be designed according to the customer’s wish and can be set into position easily. They can also be cleaned and maintained easily. Various materials like metal, plastic, wood and fabric are used to make vertical blinds.

Custom wood blinds of horizontal nature give your room a very warm and improved appearance. In case of windows having a length more than that of its breadth, such blinds are the perfect choice. These blinds are the best bet for any category of room. These blinds are available in stain woods or paints, can gel easily with any kind of style and have the capability of getting noticed by the people present around. If you are considering purchasing a horizontal wood blind, you should first decide what your priority is – to get more light or more privacy. E.g. you can invest in a horizontal blind made of bamboo having a privacy lining or without it. In case you opt for a blind with privacy lining, the blind will make your room darker and thus provide you the required privacy.

Haneef Sidique is involved with an online wood blinds project that informs and educates the wood blinds enthusiast through well-written articles. Discover articles geared towards wood blinds, faux, window, levolor blinds, and much more. wood-blind-reviews.com/ wood-blind-reviews.com/

Landscaping is an art. Houses and all other buildings can show their best with them. Plants can beautify your yard and will give you the more rewarding result. But if you need to start out, you can consider getting a cheap mulching option for your garden.

When you are moving to a new property, there is a high probability that there are weeds. You need to weed them out or just mulch them properly. Mulching is any material with loose properties to control weed growth and save soil moisture. They can compose of things like leaves, bark, clippings and other commercial materials such as plastic sheeting.

So if you need a cheap mulching alternative, you can opt to get the same effect with lesser materials. They can be done with some basic items such as rags, papers, barks and sugar cane mulch. They are the basic items you need to get your garden to the best condition. Here are some steps to prepare:

Organize the garden by weeding it first. Then rake the soil to make a smooth texture. You may now apply the papers, thicker is better. They must be usually 6 sheets thick. Water them down to be soaked so they won’t be easily blown away by the wind.

The next thing to do is apply the sugar cane mulch. But if you really are short of this material, you can try organic straw; just make sure there are no seeds with them. They will now cover the paper you used to apply earlier. It doesn’t need to be deep, you need to put them enough just to cover the paper. Then, you need to apply water again to dampen the mulch, this gives out a lovely color of gold.

Now you can apply the bark materials. A good amount is just handfuls within your reach to cover the golden colored mulch; they will give color and contrast to the project.

This can be the most effective mulch to prevent the growth of weeks. You can notice that after a few weeks, only some of the weeds can get through. A nuisance weed can be nut grass, just weed them out by hand. The golden color can fade due to the sun, but you can now grow your flowers or plants to your garden.

This can be one of the cost effective ways to prevent weeding. As with saving time and probably making your garden more beautiful, there are always cheap landscaping ideas which you can use to your garden.

To learn more

When looking for interior window shutters, keep the following guidelines in mind. First, it is important to look for the right louver tension. Shutter louvers should have smooth operation and should remain in a selected position, guaranteed for the shutters’ lifetime.

Next, it is important to select quality in materials. Remember that wood is the preferred material for interior window shutters. Basswood and alder are the most popular choices. Cedar may also be used, but that wood is more fitted for exterior window shutters.

Third, shutters need to be mortised for hinges to be assured of a tight fit within the window. It is mortised to prevent gaps from appearing on the hanging side. These gaps will allow light to come in between the window jamb and the panel.

Also, check for stiles in between panels. Shutter panels should not be packed together since this creates a gap in between.

Be sure to ask for a finished sample from the manufacturer. You can check the quality of the construction at once. Also, you can visualize how the shutters will look once installed in your home.

Do not forget to check the quality of the finish. Remember that a quality paint finish has to be thick and smooth. For durability, there must be several coats of paint and you must not be able to feel the wood grain. On the other hand, a stain finish should have enough glossy or satin protective top coating.

Lastly, you might want to inquire about custom building since there is no standard size for windows. It is important for each window to be individually measured. The interior shutter should also be custom-made to fit the opening of the window by one and one-sixteenth of an inch to prevent gaps.

Remember these tips as you look for interior window shutters to fit your lifestyle and budget.

e-windowshutters.com Window Shutters provides detailed information on Arch Window Shutters, Custom Window Shutters, Exterior Window Shutters, Hurricane Window Shutters and more. Window Shutters is affiliated with i-WindowShades.com Window Roller Shades.

Installing a dimmer switch in place of a standard on-off type switch can save you considerable money on your electric bills. In addition, a dimmer switch can add ambience to any room’s environment by giving you precise control over the lighting level. Lower light levels are great for setting a dramatic mood. Dining rooms typically call for lower light levels, while brighter levels are more common for kitchens. Family rooms must often serve multiple functions as places to gather, read, and watch TV. A dimly lit room is best for TV viewing, while higher light levels are required for reading. In these areas, a dimmer switch can help you set the perfect tone.

Dimmer switches are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. They come in many different styles and colors that will enhance the appearance of your room. The simplest and most common type of dimmer switch is a rotary dial. By turning the dial, you can increase or decrease the light level. Slide dimmers have a switch that you slide up and down to vary the light level. More expensive and stylish dimmers are available to suit varying tastes and budgets. One such type of dimmer is the touch dimmer, which responds to the touch of your finger and has no moving parts. Some ultra high end dimmer switches even have infra-red remote controls so you can adjust the light level from your couch or bed. These are especially handy for use in home theater rooms.

When shopping for a dimmer, it is important to know the total wattage that the dimmer will control. Dimmer switches are rated for certain wattages, so be sure to get a dimmer switch that is capable of handling the proper load.

Dimmer switches are readily available at your local home center, however, you will be restricted to the three most popular colors (white, ivory, and almond). If you desire to choose from a larger selection, try shopping online. You can easily beat the prices of the large home centers, while selecting from the full range of style and color pallets available.

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For additional information please visit: lightswitchesonline.com lightswitchesonline.com

This article may be freely reproduced so long as the above resource box is included in its entirety.

Metal roofs are starting to be a popular choice for homeowners and home builders. This is because the prices of metal roofing are seen to be more practical in the long run. Sheet metal roofs are mostly used in residential homes, although a lot of industrial and commercial edifices are looking into using them as well.

Metal roofing can also be considered as the best replacement for any existing roofs, should you need to renovate your house at one point or another. Metal roofing comes in various types and forms. Its composition may also vary too, depending upon the manufacturer’s specifics.

The main selling point of metal roofing would be its durability. While other roofing materials, such as asphalt shingle may last for an average of 15 years only, metal roofs have the capability to withstand the weather anywhere from 50 years and above. If longevity is of utmost importance to you as a homeowner, then metal roofing is the perfect the answer to your needs.

Metal roofing prices are varied. And much of it depends upon the exact composition of the metal, the installation costs, and of course, the quality of the materials used. And since metal roofs come in different shapes, colors, and styles too, this may also be a factor in terms of costing.

Another good point about metal roofing would be the fact that its design can be patterned to resemble the more sophisticated styles of roofs today. Some metal sheets can be installed to look like that of a Spanish tile, a wooden shake, or a Vermont slate, among many others. And since a metal roof comes in a variety of colors, it is possible to choose the perfect shade to match your taste.

A metal sheet roofing material is normally priced per square foot. While it is true that the price may vary greatly from one reseller to another, there are types which sell for as low as $1.50 per square foot. The costliest metal roof is currently priced at about $6 for every square foot.

Metal roofing prices usually include all that is needed to install the whole system. Included in the package would be the panels, caps, fastening clips, and all the trims and flashings. But then again, some manufacturers don’t add these to the total cost. And so to be sure, try to ask all about it before making a purchase.

Although the cost of installation is not included in the prices stated above, metal roofing still is the better choice in the end. The installation of other roofing system costs money too, so in essence, you are bound to pay for that anyway. Like the metal roofing itself, the cost of installing a metal roofing system may also vary depending upon the expertise of the people who will do the job. And more often than not, the more experienced metal roofing installers charge higher than those who are just starting to make a name in the industry.

When you really look at it, the price of metal roofing is somehow costlier than that of the regular asphalt shingle roofs available today. But when you compare them side by side, asphalt shingle roofs would require you to change roofing after 15 years or so. And that would mean that you are bound to spend the same amount as you did the first time you installed it come the time it maxes out its life span.

Metal roofing lasts longer than asphalt roofing and other roof types. It is more durable and could even look better than its counterparts. If you choose to use metal for your roofing system, then you will have peace of mind that your roof won’t need renovation anytime soon. As a result, your total cost in time, money, and effort will actually come out ower over the years.

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit his website, where he discusses various subjects such as

The wood is widely considered the healthiest building material in the world. The solid wood represents a reliable, sturdy material that can last very long without requiring excessive protection. However, wood is a natural living material and, unlike man-made materials, it reacts to different environments in specific ways. We would like to draw your attention to the basic maintenance instructions for the solid wood countertops, island tops or butcher blocks. Following these directions will result in having a great looking, easy to maintain custom countertop that will last for many years.

Tops with a Mineral Oil Finish

The panel must be oiled carefully on top, bottom and sides, giving a special attention to the end-grain area, as the section that the wood is most likely to absorb humidity through. Each cut or drill you make in the panel (either for size adjustment, sink cutout or other purposes) must also be oiled thoroughly. Proterra mineral oil (Hesse, Germany) is a product that we recommend for kitchen tops applications given that it was specially designed to come in contact with foods. For situations where there is a great deal of humidity involved (like sinks, water faucets, etc) the mineral oil only will not assure the best protection and it is advisable to use polyurethane or any other similar finishing instead.

With a soft brush, oil the wood generously on all sides or simply pour a small quantity of oil on the wood and then spread it with the brush. Let the wood soak the oil for about 20-30 minutes and then remove the excess with an absorbent paper towel. When the top is first installed, it is advisable to apply 2-3 successive coats of oil, after which, the oil can be applied once several months or whenever needed. Every time you sand the area to remove scratches or cut marks, a new coat of oil must applied.

Maintenance

In order to keep your wooden top clean, periodically scrape or brush away any food residues existing on its surface, wash with warm soapy water and dry it well using either a dry cloth or paper towels. Apply a new coat of oil any time needed. Alternatively, you can warm up a 1:4 combination of beeswax and mineral oil until the mixture becomes homogenized and then apply it uniformly on top’s surface, thus getting supplementary protection against both stains and humidity.

Avoid setting your wood top next to extreme heat sources like stoves unless there is appropriate insulation between the heat source and the top. Avoid spilling vinegar on a wood top having a mineral oil finishing, as it can cause cupping or cracking. Do not use corrosive chemicals or excessively harsh detergents on a wooden top having a mineral oil finishing, as they can cause irreversible depreciation.

Repairing

If properly installed and sealed and periodically oiled, there is no reason that your top won’t last a long period of time in the same good shape it was when new. Sometimes however, due to poor maintenance and improper environmental conditions, some problems might arise; it is our duty, therefore to inform about these problems and the way to solve them.

· Cupping and warping
Are prone to appear whenever there is a significant difference of moisture between the topside and the bottom side of the panel. If possible, place the top on a flat, hard surface, concave side facing down. On the convex side, uniformly place some fairly heavy objects. It will take up to 12 hours until the panel will straighten completely, after which, oil it abundantly on all sides.

If it is not possible to manipulate the top, simply apply generously mineral oil on the concave side until the panels straightens. In this case, however, you might need to repeat this operation several times to obtain the desired result.

· End splits
Will manifest whenever the panel is placed in an excessive dry environment without being properly sealed. To repair, mix wood sand with a small amount of water-based wood glue and fill the cracks thoroughly. Allow 15-20 minutes to cure, sand the area with a 120 grit sand paper and then oil the top freely.

· Scratches, cut marks and food stains
Can be removed by sanding uniformly the affected area, brushing away the resulting wood dust and applying a new coat of mineral oil. The finger-jointed panels can be sanded to a 3/8” depth, while for the continuous lamella panels and the end-grain butcher blocks, there are no such restrictions.

Tops with a Polyurethane Finishing

A solid wood surface finished with polyurethane based finishing requires no maintenance at all. However, scratches, cut marks and other damages will be difficult to repair; therefore extra care is required.

Adrian Laza,
Lafor Wood Products – 15 years expertise in the butchers block manufacturing field; supplier of butcher blocks, countertops, kitchen islands, bar tops and healthy wood finishing for butcher blocks.
hardwoodcountertops.com hardwoodcountertops.com
lafor.ro lafor.ro

Laminate floors have now become a very popular flooring option for American households.

Laminate floors are typically made of different layers fused together. The various layers are the wear layer, the pattern or the image layer, the processed wood core (mostly made of fiber boards) and a balancing layer. These are fused together using either high pressure or direct pressure. Apart from this, the top-balancing layer very often comes with a moisture barrier. This means that they are usually resistant to wear and tear, water and moisture, and other such apparent damages like scratches. It is primarily for this reason that laminate floors have become quite popular with Americans as of late. It is very easy to take care of a laminate floor and they generally retain their original shape and shine for years to come.

Installing a laminate floor is easy. Taking care of laminate floors is also quite easy. The main thing to keep in mind is to try and avoid scratches as much as possible. Apart from this, the surface being moisture and water resistant, all one needs to do is simply vacuum the floor or dust mop it regularly to remove the lose dirt and grit stuck to it.

When it comes to preventing scratching of the surface, one can apply glides or cushioned bottom protectors under the legs of chairs and tables to prevent possible scratching when moving furniture. Keeping floor mats and rubbing one?s feet or shoes on it also ensures that dirt is prevented from coming inside the laminate floors.

It is because of the major advantages like joint integrity, fade resistance, stain resistance, wear and tear resistance and water resistance that laminate floors are very popular. They have become the ideal choice for any type of living and lifestyle.

e-laminatefloors.com Laminate Floors provides detailed information on Discount Laminate Floors, Hardwood Laminate Floors, How To Clean Laminate Floors, How To Install Laminate Floors and more. Laminate Floors is affiliated with z-LaminateFlooring.com How To Install Laminate Flooring.