The beauty of bamboo flooring is much more than it is a unique design and color. Like cork bamboo is a completely renewable resource that is not made from the wood of trees. Maturing in two to four years bamboo is actually a grass that grows in warm, humid climates including the southeast United States.

Bamboo flooring is usually made in two ways: planks and engineered slabs.  I also comes in different grade and textures that are determined by the age, moisture of the climate and harvesting procedures. Both the planks and engineered flooring are similar to regular flooring made of wood having the tongue-and-groove edges for installation. Engineered bamboo can be installed on concrete with adhesives or as a floating floor while the solid planks are nailed to wooden subfloor like oak or maple planks.

Supreme Prefinished Bamboo Flooring is is available in natural coloring that shows off the grain and growth patterns of natural bamboo or with a darker, caramel tone. The carmel tone is achieved by steaming the bamboo stalks until the sugars within cause the darkening of the canes. The canes of all bamboo stalks are steamed and flattened into planks and then finished with a hard coating just like hardwood flooring.

The engineered bamboo floors are assembled much like laminate flooring and do not require any specials skills and few specialized tools for the job. This makes it a great do-it-yourself job for anyone with handy skills.

Supreme Prefinished Bamboo Flooring can also be used in kitchens and bathrooms with proper sealing of the cracks and the ends.

Almost everyone likes tile flooring. It comes in hundreds, and even thousands, of styles, designs and colors so that there is a tile for almost every home interior and can also be found on outside on patios.

The rub against tile is that, although inexpensive to buy, it is costly to install. As a do-it-yourself job tile takes up to a week to put down and can be a messy job. In addition, mistakes are hard to fix once the tile adhesive has set and replacing broken or cracked tile is a difficult process.

There are now products on the market that imitate the color and texture of tile but are easy to install and form a similar waterproof bond. This makes them ideal for bathrooms and kitchens where moisture is a concern. Corfu Resilient Vinyl Plank Flooring from Trafficmaster has the the look and feel of real tile without the cold, hardness associated with the ceramic products. Easy to install, it goes right over top of your old flooring and forms a waterproof bond through unique, interlocking edges. This makes it perfect for bathrooms, kitchens and basements where moisture is a concern.

Unlike laminate flooring products Corfu Resilient Vinyl Plank Flooring from Trafficmaster has a warm feel and does not make that irritating cracking sound that some laminate floors emit.

So if you want to lay down a great, tile-looking floor in a day choose the Trafficmaster brands. For less than $3.00 a square foot you can have a floor that will fool your friends into thinking its tile. And once they know the truth they will be begging you for information on how they can create their own exquisite floors without the fuss and mess of tile installation

Until the 20th Century what we know as the common bedroom closet or closet organizer never existed. People had other ways of storing clothes: armoirs, exposed shelves and hooks on the wall.

When home designers began putting in closets in their designs they were usually a narrow space with a clothes hanger and one shelf. Everything else was stored on the floor of the closet that, more often than not, became a nightmare for finding shoes and anything else that dropped from the hangars onto the floor. So unless you had a walk-in closet, where space was not a factor, finding clothes could be a problem.

Closet organization for these small units began with compartments that allowed the homeowner to separate shoes, suits, ties and other clothing. Because all clothing was not the same length these compartments could be stacked for easy identification and sorting.  And not only that, the best part is that you will be able to fit almost twice as many items in your closet.

The John Louis Home Closet Organizer is designed for small closets and can be used throughout the home as well. Because of its distinctive styling and pure mahogany construction it requires no finishing.

Adjustable for most standard closets the John Louis Home Closet Organizer measures 12″ deep fits wall spaces up to 10 feet long. All the pieces needed for storage are included into one package that can give you up to 24 linear feet of shelf space and 18 feet for hanging clothes. And because it has interweaving shelves the combinations of shelving and hanging space can be designed for you to get at the clothes that used the most: everyday work apparel and leisure clothes.

So when it is installed you can open your closet doors to the rich look of mahogany right in your bedroom.

One of the visions that comes to mind when thinking of a cool, mountain setting is a large log home with a stone fireplace.  The rustic look of polished logs begs for a river rock hearth as well as features like backsplashes, feature walls and whole fireplaces. Patios and pathways are also very striking with this type of look.

However, having an entire fireplace built from rock is very expensive. In addition, it takes a skilled artisan to place the round, river rock so that it looks natural but also is structurally sound. But what if you could find a product that is easy to place, cutting down on installation expenses in the process?

Solistone River Rock is a unique placement of stones on a mesh that comes in 12″ X 12″ squares. It not only makes the rustic settings look more authentic it fits all settings from natural to modern, and both indoors and outdoors. This unique way to achieve a stone look is perfect for floors, walkways, ceilings, walls, fireplaces, borders and other decorative uses.

Not only that, these river rock tiles work well with water features and any other water areas. this includes: bathrooms,  kitchens,  spas,  gardens, pools, fountains and kitchens. This stone tile is an all-natural product and not molded concrete look-a-likes. therefore you get the variation in color and textures just like you would get in nature: striations, flaws, shapes and textures.

So get the look and feel of natural stone without the cost and the mess. Solistone River Rock will spruce up your home and garden in the natural way.

When it comes to lighting a room many home owners are stuck between an overhead wash light on the ceiling or lamps. Even in the kitchen, lighting from the ceiling provides either direct light on the work area, or washes the room, but does little to bring out the beauty of the most expensive area of the home.

Sconces are wall-mounted lights than can be placed at mid-level on the wall to project light above the fixture onto the wall. Light is also projected through the diffuser but it provides a warm glow while the exposed vertical light gives the illumination.  The LuminAria Wall Sconce adds decorative beauty to a room rather than a washed-out luminescence that comes with having a ceiling light as your single source of light for the room.

Sconces work well with the other levels of lighting. For example, the overhead fixture could be toned down to spread light on the ceiling while lamps provide the lighting for the floor and furniture. Then the light intensity of the wall sconces can be brought up or down to blend in with the other two sources. The LuminAria Wall Sconce come in many shapes an sizes to compliment almost any room.

One of the key things to remember when installing wall sconces is make sure that they are not placed too low on the wall. If this happens then they are more of a nuisance because your eyes are exposed to the brightness of the light source within the sconce. A quick way to see how sconces would work in your room is to tape a flashlight pointing at the ceiling and then turn out the lights. It is a crude demonstration but you will see how the light plays on the wall.

There is no part of your home’s interior that takes as much constant wear than the floors. Throughout the seasons floors take punishment from grit, scuffing and constant foot traffic. This is why carpets and hardwood in well-traveled areas begin to look haggard after a while. To replace either carpet or hardwood floors is a very expensive proposition.

Tile lasts a long time but it is very hard on the feet and back. In addition, to have it installed is an expensive job.

Originating in Europe laminate floor planks changed the way we looked at flooring. They were strips of compressed wood product with a hard finish that resisted heavy punishment. In a few short years this amazing flooring was a mainstay in the floor covering with thousands of designs like Simple Floors Cherry Brazil laminate planks.

Laminate floors are less expensive than wood or natural stone floors, and some products can be purchased for under a $1.00 a square foot. It is also a great do-it-yourself job for almost any homeowner to install. Laminate flooring becomes a monolithic sheet once each plank is snapped into one another. Once installed a laminate floor lays on top of a foam underlayment. This film is meant to provide moisture and sound-reducing properties. With Simple Floors Cherry Brazil planks there is no need for glue, nails or staples.The special edges allow them to click together.

So why go to all the expense of hardwood when you can have a great design for a weekend’s work?

Before sinks were invented water was carried inside in buckets and a sink was a wooden wash bucket. The indoor well pump made it necessary to have a more permanent arrangement for holding water and the kitchen sink was born. It was a self-contained unit called an apron sink because of the front piece. These sinks, also called “farmer’s sinks” were made of wood and then porcelain-coated steel and went out of fashion when the modern stainless-steel, drop-in sinks became popular.

Today apron sinks are making a comeback made like the Kohler Verity Apron Front Stainless Steel Single Bowl Undermount Sink and models made of a variety of materials. Some high-end sinks are made from copper and even polished wood while other materials include acrylic and composite stone, which is crushed rock mixed with epoxy. They are the crowing touch for natural stone or composite countertops and modern cabinets and appliances.

A stainless-steel model is the most popular apron sink because it is inexpensive, easy to clean and can take a beating and still look great. The Kohler Verity Apron Front Stainless Steel Single Bowl Undermount Sink is made of heavy-gauge stainless-steel, foam insulation and rubber mountings and the best quality fittings for easy installation. In fact, with its timeless beauty it will be the last kitchen sink you will ever need.

When the topic of flooring comes up these days carpet is not usually the first choice of homeowners wanting flooring. There are the visions of old, musty-smelling shag weaves come to mind and the hassle of cleaning it.

But on the other hand there are a lot of advantages to carpet. It is relatively inexpensive, looks great and has good insulation value for heat retention. Not only that, people with back problems like that it is easy on the feet and back, unlike hardwood, tile or laminate flooring. So with all these advantages, what if you could get a carpet product for the basement or hallway, places that need heat retention, that you could install yourself?

Carpet tiles can be a great way to do a small room or walk way, or even a feature room. Also known as ”carpet squares” they usually are bought in 12 x 12 inches square pieces in various thicknesses and in a wide variety patterns and colors like Shaw Berber Sand 12 In. x 12 In. Carpet Tiles.

When you install carpet tile you can either follow a pattern or go create your own look. Some of  the plusher, one-color carpet squares can be placed for a seamless look like regular, wall-to-wall carpet.

In addition to being extremely durable  Shaw Berber Sand 12 In. x 12 In. Carpet Tiles have the advantage of being easily replaced. This is especially useful for high-traffic areas or in incidences where a one or more carpet tiles gets a stain that can’t be removed. You simply lift out the damaged carpet tile and swap it with either a new one or one from an area that doesn’t get seen like under a sofa, desk or another less visible area.This versatility means that this may be the last utility flooring you’ll ever need.

It’s also a great do-it-yourself project as the the only tools you’ll need are are a carpenter’s square, a chalked line, utility knife and measuring tape. When the measuring has been done just take out the squares, peel the protective backing off and press into place. In one or two hours you have a beautiful floor!

Much of the wasted energy in most homes goes through the roof. Why? Because the roofs of  homes are designed to protect the living are from the elements not from heat or cold.

For protection against heat loss or unwanted heat gain homes are insulated on top of the ceiling between the ceiling joists. This works well in northern climates but in southern areas of the country an attic can get hot enough to melt wax, or160 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. For these homes the idea is to prevent heat from getting into the attic and this is accomplished with a foil-faced radiant barrier.

Radiant barriers utilize layers of aluminum foil to reduce radiant heat coming through the roof and into the attic space. This barrier can either be placed on top of the regular insulation or, in hotter places, attached to up on the roof deck. To reflect the heat before it gets into the attic space. With proper insulation a protection like the  Ultra Touch Radiant Barrier will deflect up to 97% of the heat and this means a 30% decrease the temperature or a savings up to 12% in air conditioning costs. In one year you can get back every penny spent on the installation.

If keeping in the heat is your concern Ultra Touch Radiant Barrier can be rolled right on top of the existing insulation. Not only will the product keep heat in the home it has superior acoustical performance and Class A fire retardant capability.

And Ultra Touch products are made from recycled materials so you are not only saving energy but also re-using materials that would ordinarily be headed for a landfill!

One of the main drawbacks of many air conditioning and heating systems is poor distribution. This is because many of the vents for HVAC systems in older homes are under windows, and an old window will transfer heat and/or cool air outside raining the load on the HVAC unit and your wallet. The reason for this is that windows have poor energy retention and even double-sealed windows are rated at only R-1.5.

Rather than doing a major renovation like spending thousands of dollars in windows try installing a fan with a slow-running option like the Minka-Aire Minka Air Ceiling Fan White F574-WH. With revolutionary blade designs and a power-miser motor the Minka prevents heat from staying up on the ceiling in pockets and moves it around for even heat. By reversing the direction it will moderate the coolness on a hot summer days.

When you buy a fan make sure you have know the room dimensions as all fans are not the same size. If the ceiling is eight feet or less try a flush-mounted fan but higher ceilings get one with a down-rod. Here are a few tips for size:

1) Fan Width: 29″ – 36″ : 100 square feet or less

2) Fan Width: 36″ – 42″: 100 – 150 square feet

3) Fan Width: 44″: 150 – 225 square feet

4) Fan Width: 50″ – 55″: 225 to 400 square feet

Another tip that can have a big effect on your heating bill in older homes is to open up the the home by reducing walls. Old styles like walls between galley kitchens and dining rooms can be opened up and then one  Minka-Aire Minka Air Ceiling Fan White F574-WH can service several rooms without added fuel bills.