Customize Office Furniture

Office furniture has a reputation for being cold, stark and simple looking. Even some very fine pieces of office furniture that are well crafted do not have that touch of individuality. There are many things you can do to spruce up your drab office desk and chairs to make them fit with the room. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Imagine how you want your furniture to look once it is finished. Plan the color palette and determine what style you will use for decorating the desk. Be sure your design will complement the space. Sketch out your look and use colored pencils, if it helps you with designing.

2. Prime your desk or chair by stripping off the old paint and sanding it or painting over it if the finish is not too glossy. Use a base coat to get your desk ready for the paint color.

3. Paint your desk or chair in the color and style of your choosing. Add texture if you want to be bold; sponge paint or stencil some designs anywhere you want. Finish your look with a coat of varnish for added protection.

4. Add a custom look to a chair by sewing a fabric cushion cover. Add details like throw pillows using the same fabric used to cover the cushion. Use a complementary fabric on the back side of the pillow so you have two different looks. Flip the pillow over for a quick change.

5. Allow any paint or varnish to dry before customizing your newly revamped desk. Use accessories to complete your look. Opt for an embellished pencil holder that goes with the decor. Use little trays and cover them in fabric to match your chair. Use anything else you need in order to create a truly custom look for the room.

Tags: your desk, your look, custom look, desk chair, your desk chair

Open A Drug Rehabilitation Center

Public and private drug rehabilitation facilities are a big growth industry these days as men and women find solace in a variety of legal and illegal substances. If you're considering opening a facility to treat this population, you'll need as much business sense as experience in the fields of addiction and detoxification to succeed. Great preparation and research plus an eye for great medical and support staffers will get you off to the right start.

Instructions

1. Compare the types, sizes, philosophies and approaches used by drug rehab centers in your region to determine whether the geographic area is large enough to support another facility. Contact state and local authorities to ascertain which licenses and permits you'll be required to get before you can open. Approach city and/or county boards to make certain the area you've chosen is zoned for this type of treatment center. Appear at hearings to get permission to build or refurbish your site.

2. Write a business plan, work with a financial professional to draft a budget, and then seek federal, state and local funds. Locate, complete and submit (with backup documentation) grant applications to obtain government funding. Turn also to private institutions and foundations with missions focused on substance abuse abatement and treatment.

3. Expect to mix and match a variety funding sources as grantors often provide funds only for specific expenditures (e.g., start-up only or construction only). Seek in-kind donations of furniture and equipment from medical companies and furniture wholesalers to lessen the number of items you'll have to purchase to equip and furnish the drug rehab center.

4. Begin construction or refurbishing efforts on the site you've chosen for your rehab center once you have secured start-up funds. Meet with several general contractors and hire the one you feel is best qualified to oversee construction or remodeling. Meet all deadlines for occupational permits, building inspections and other checks and balances on the project's schedule.

5. Start interviewing job candidates as construction nears completion. Plan on hiring medical staff as well as clerical help, janitorial workers, managers, case workers and administrators trained in the art of processing insurance claims. Work with medical staff to draw up policies, protocols, guidelines and other directives that will serve as your center's legal backbone. Evaluate cost estimates as submitted by insurance agents or brokers to buy comprehensive insurance coverage on the center's structure and contents plus health and liability coverage for staff.

6. Contact substance abuse- and drug rehab-focused professional associations to apply for accreditations and certifications so your facility meets a variety of industry, patient, personnel and other requirements necessary to apply for funding and benefits available only to drug rehabilitation centers in good standing.

7. Advertise your services to attract clients via physicians, area self-help entities, print ads and a website devoted to helping abusers find detox and treatment services in their geographic area. Make personal appearances at community groups to inform people of your entry into the drug rehabilitation business so you can put word of mouth marketing to work for your center.

Tags: drug rehabilitation, drug rehab, geographic area, medical staff, rehab center

Organize A Trip To Europe

If you're planning on taking a trip to Europe, you have a few options to make this happen. You could go through a tour company, who puts together your itinerary and even has a tour guide. Everything is arranged by them in advance, such as the plane flight, what sights you will see, where you will go and how much time you will have at each place. The only problem with this is that your family may not want to see The Gothic Cathedral in Germany, or visit an Eastern European country on your way to Switzerland from the Netherlands. If you organize the trip yourself, there will be more involved in your planning. However, you can decide how long to stay each place, and only go places you and your family wish to go. This article will show you organize a trip to Europe.

Instructions

1. Have everyone traveling on this trip apply for a passport. This is the first and most important step. Without this, you aren't going to be able to go to Europe. You must apply in person at any of the passport acceptance locations, which can be found on the United States Department of State website, listed in the resources.

2. Get together with the family or group, and discuss options for the trip. Talk about how long everyone is able to go, and what the budget is like. Figure out places you would like to see and what countries you will visit. Get an idea of everyone's health status and age to discover whether there are any limitations you should be aware of. For example, you don't want to schedule an all day beer session at Oktoberfest in Germany if you are traveling with young children and no one could watch them during this time.

3. Map out the different countries and places. You may find a common theme of one or two countries, and many of the same interests in places to visit. You can then narrow down the choices and decide on what countries to visit and what places to see. When making this decision, plan on no more than one or two countries in a week. Plan one major event each day, or maybe two small ones. Once you go beyond this, you risk being overwhelmed and not having time to enjoy things.

4. Make up a tentative plan of the course of events. Determine a starting place that you will fly into and a place you will leave from, such as flying into Munich, Germany and leaving from Zurich, Switzerland. Figure out what things you want to see starting with Munich and ending in Zurich. Determine how long you will spend at each location, and in each country.

5. Book your plane tickets. You can use a site called Yahoo! Farechase (site listed in the resources) that will give you the best prices for many airlines located on the internet. Once you find your fight, you are directed to the airline or site such as Expedia to directly book the flight. Try to take nonstop flights. This will lessen your time in the air and traveling, and will also decrease the chance of your luggage getting lost.

6. Decide on your mode of transportation once you arrive. It is generally easiest to travel by train through Europe. If you rent a car, you have to worry about directions to get from one place to the next, reading road signs in a foreign language, and the cost of gas. If you go by train, you can actually go onto the Rail Europe website (listed in the resources) and map out what trains you will need to take at each place along the way, and obtain a rail pass in advance. You can even book specific tickets (although you may want to wait until the day of at the train station, since your times may change).

7. Book sleeping accommodations for each part of your trip. Try to stay the least amount of places possible, since this requires moving all of your things to the new location. For example, if you are going to visit Switzerland and spend three days in the Alps at different locations, you could choose a hotel at the base of the Alps, such as in Interlaken, and just take day trips up to your destination by train each day. Your things can stay put in one place while you enjoy the scenery. You can use Yahoo! Farechase to find the best prices on hotels as well.

8. Determine if you need tickets in advance for any of the attractions you will visit. You may get a discount for buying tickets ahead of time to an attraction, but then if you change the days, you could end up having to pay penalties or have to buy a new ticket. Consider this when making the decision.

9. Once you arrive in Europe, plan to be the 'tour guide.' Since you made all the plans and have all the itineraries, you're going to need to know when to go where, and make sure it happens. You'll have to make sure no one misses the flight, the train, the show. Be sure to have all the information you need, including phone numbers of the hotels, the rental car pickup location and drop off location, the train station and other important details. If you would get delayed or lost, you may need to call them for help. It wouldn't hurt to know a bit of the local language as well.

Tags: each place, listed resources, best prices, each place only, make sure

Decorate Your Office In A Professional Way

A lamp gives an office a warm feel.

First impressions are difficult to undo, and how you decorate your office reflects on you both as an individual and as a professional. Decorate and personalize your office in a welcoming and professional way so that both you and your visitors will feel comfortable. It's worth spending a bit of time and money to get right---after all, during the workweek, you likely spend almost as much time at the office as you spend at home.

Instructions

1. Display diplomas, prestigious awards or a tasteful photograph of your family in a frame. Hang two or three items on the wall, and place the photo on your desk or credenza. Artwork has its place in the office, although it is not meant for self-expression. Choose artwork that is non-controversial and that matches your décor.

2. Decide on a color scheme and stick to it. Purchase office supplies such as staplers and organizers in this color. If you have a bulletin board, paint the trim in this color as well. Choose a professional color, though, such as red, navy blue or forest green. Pastels or fluorescents do not give off an aura of professionalism.

3. Purchase a small rug to add an accent to your office. Place it to the side of your desk or underneath a coffee table so that visitors won't trip on it. The primary color should go with the color scheme you picked out.

4. Select a desk lamp that has a sleek design. The lamp will give your office a warmer look, as the light will offset florescent bulbs. Stay away from lamps with frilly shades.

5. Put an item on your desk that attracts visual interest, is a puzzle or is interesting in some other way. Help people to feel at ease by choosing something that they can pick up and examine or play with.

6. Bring books that are related to your field and place them on a bookshelf. You may want to add a couple of unrelated non-fiction titles to the mix, as long as they are not political in nature. A well-stocked bookshelf appears professional, and the books can be good conversation starters. Leave plenty of room on the bookshelf for a knick-knack or two. An overcrowded bookshelf says "sloppy" rather than "professional" in the work environment.

7. Buy a plant or two. According to WebMd, researchers have found that red ivy, English ivy, variegated wax plants, asparagus ferns and purple hearts are capable of removing contaminants from the air. This is especially important in an office, where employees can be exposed to carpet and copy machine fumes in a recycled air environment. Limit your plants to one or two, however, as an office that resembles a jungle is not perceived as professional.

Tags: your office, your desk, color scheme, professional Decorate, this color

Build A Wood Patio Awning

A patio can add much visual appeal and architectural elegance to your home, and with a wood patio awning your home will look even better. There are other types of patio awning materials available, such as vinyl and aluminum, but a wood patio awning has its own unique and ageless, charm, and is therefore much sought after by homeowners today. You can learn build a wood patio awning with some basic, carpentry skills and the determination and patience to do so. A wood patio awning is primarily built with a set of overhead wooden beams that are securely attached together, and to your home. Here are a few simple steps to build a wood patio awning. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Visit a Lumber Store and purchase 4 foot by 4 foot wood for posts. There are several types of wood materials available that your can work with. However, select wood that is lightweight, sturdy and durable, as it will be easy to handle and install.

Also purchase thick wooden sheets to cover the beams, depending on size of the awning you wish to have. Paint or varnish the wooden sheets.

2. Decide on the height you wish to have your wood patio awning. The use the circular saw to cut the 4-foot by 4-foot wood pieces into equal lengths for the support posts so that the level of the awning will be accurately maintained. Ensure that the cut ends of each post is adequately, planed. Drill appropriately, sized holes at one end of the post for inserting the bolts.

3. Cut the 4 by 4 wood pieces into exactly equal lengths, using the circular saw for the overhead beams. Again, plane the cut ends of each beam for smoothness. Drill appropriate sized holes at one end of each beam for attaching the posts.

4. Affix a post cap, or beam-to-post, corner bracket to the upper part of each post. Test each connection to ensure that the corner brackets are securely fastened to each post.

5. Use the step ladder to lift one end of the beam and insert it into the corner bracket installed at the top of each support post earlier. Repeat the process for the second beam at the opposite end.

6. Insert nuts and bolts to secure each of the beams into place with the corner brackets or post caps.

7. Attach knee braces on the outer part of the two support posts for connecting the beams, ensuring that the connections are secure.

8. Place the thick, wooden sheets on top of the beams and screw or nail down both together. Make sure that the screws or nails are equally spaced along the length of the beams.

Tags: patio awning, wood patio, wood patio awning, each post, wooden sheets

Prune Olive Trees In California

Olive trees take many years to mature and begin providing olives, so it is vital that olive growers understand prune their trees for the long haul. Olive trees are susceptible to a wide range of diseases, including many fungal varieties. It's important that the tools used to prune your olive tree be free from any disease-bearing infections before pruning begins. Olive trees should not be pruned from the "outside in," but rather from the "inside out." The rounded canopy of leaves on an olive tree should be left intact; pruning should take place inside the canopy of the tree, allowing air and sunlight easy access to the interior branches of the tree. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Sterilize all pruning shears and saws with bleach and water.

2. Remove all dead branches, as well as any branches that show signs of disease. Signs can include swelling, wet spots, dark patches, fungus growth, dead or curling leaves or leaves of an odd color.

3. Climb up inside the tree and prune branches that do not reach the outside canopy of the tree. Make the inside portion of the canopy open and airy. From a distance, the outside canopy of the tree should be rounded and fairly even.

4. Pick up all cut branches and leaves and remove them from the area of any olive trees.

Tags: canopy tree, branches that, olive tree, Olive trees, outside canopy

Restore An Antique Bronze Headboard

Polishing your bronze headboard may take a lot of elbow grease.

There's a reason you can occasionally find antiques at a bargain basement price -- they may almost take more work than they're worth. If you've ever restored a piece of brass, copper or bronze furniture, then you may understand. While the materials it takes to restore an antique bronze headboard may be simple, the job does take a daunting amount of elbow grease. However, if your headboard is free of major rust or structural damage, you should be able to show off your hard work within a week or two. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Clean the entire piece using a cloth soaked in vinegar. If the piece is really grimy, you can soak the entire thing in a vinegar bath for up to two hours.

2. Remove any rust. If your piece is old enough, you may encounter some parts that have accumulated some rust. If the rust is flaky and appears to only be on the surface, rub the area with a cotton cloth dipped in paraffin oil. Rub the area gently until the flakes start to come off. Use a toothbrush to brush away the gray flakes. When the rust is gone, wipe the area clean with white spirits and allow to completely dry. If you're in a wetter climate, drying could take 12 hours or more.

3. Replace any hardware and assess the headboard-bed connection. Over the years, the original hardware in your headboard may have been stripped out or may not exist at all. Take a look at the holes that would attach the bed frame to the headboard. If you have a bed frame already, hold it up to the headboard to determine where screw holes would need to be to secure them together. If you don't have a bed frame, buy one now or get measurements for the one you would like.

If the screw holes on your headboard are misshapen, drill new holes into the headboard at a location that will work with your headboard.

4. Polish the headboard. Use a soft cotton cloth or diaper cloth and a bronze polish to polish all parts of the bed. This is when you start to see the "true colors" of your bronze piece. Rub an area of a few inches square at a time. When you begin to see a darkness in the area, experts recommend rubbing the darkness into the area, as opposed to wiping it away with a clean portion of your towel, since the darkness helps further polish the area. After a time, you will begin to see a shiny area. When one area is shining, move on to another small area until you've polished the entire piece.

5. Set up the bed. Attach the bed frame to the headboard with the screw assembly.

6. Touch up the polish. Some metal polishes have an accompanying "finish polish" that fine-tunes the polishing you've already done. After you've had the headboard attached to the bed and placed it in its final location, do this fine-tuning so you can see the bed in all its glory.

Tags: your headboard, bronze headboard, cotton cloth, elbow grease, entire piece

Assemble A Wooden Futon Frame

Futons are a basic piece of furniture in many college dorm rooms and first apartments. The sliding wooden frame we know today as a futon was developed by William Brouwer in 1982 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Having lived in Japan and slept on the thick mattresses commonly used there, he developed a convertible oak frame that allowed the bed to morph into a seating unit. Wooden futons typically arrive unassembled and two people can put one together. Allen wrenches are the most common tool for assembly and are usually part of the hardware package. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Unpack the wooden futon from its packaging materials. Match the futon pieces and hardware with the assembly instructions, ensuring all pieces are accounted for.

2. Place the front and back stretcher pieces on the floor. Place one arm section at either end of the stretchers with the grooves facing toward the inside of the frame.

3. Insert one barrel nut into each opening on the front and back stretcher bars. Barrel nuts have a groove; place the nut with the groove facing outward and visible, and running horizontally.

4. Position the stretcher bars so the barrel nuts face the inside of the frame. Insert one long screw through each hole in the arm sections, from the outside of the section into the matching holes in the stretcher bars and into the barrel nut placed in Step 3. Tighten the screws enough to hold the frame together, but do not over-tighten.

5. Place the seat and back decks on the floor. Insert one long clevis pin through each hinge point where the deck pieces meet. Secure the clevis pin in the frame by inserting a cotter pin through the hole at the end of the clevis pin.

6. Attach the slide rollers to the back deck frame with a clevis pin. Secure the clevis pin to the deck frame with a cotter pin inserted through the end of the clevis pin.

7. Place the deck on the frame assembled in Step 1, with the back deck frame slide rollers aligned with the grooves in the frame. Lay the deck assembly flat. Tighten the long screws with the Allen wrench, being careful not to over-tighten the screws.

8. Fold the frame into the upright position and place the mattress on the frame.

Tags: deck frame, stretcher bars, back deck, back deck frame, back stretcher

Start A Music Production Business From Home

Music is medicine for the soul.

If you have a love for music and want to make money showcasing your talent, enjoy exploring your creativity through music and want to become an entrepreneur and work from home, then you have a foundation for starting your own music production company. It may prove a fulfilling way to turn your talent into revenue and create the lifestyle you've always dreamed of. If you aren't familiar with use the technology that is needed for music production, you should seek training from local music schools, an established producer or online training sources.

Instructions

1. Draft your business plan. Your plan should detail exactly what you envision your business to be. Include your legal structure, types of employees and positions, type of music to be produced, your mission for starting the company, location, how much the start-up costs are and your plan to get the money, etc.

2. Choose a spacious room in your house, away from the main part of the house. It should be convenient, accessible and private. Adding on a separate room or building one in the backyard is also an option. It should have its own entrance to avoid excessive traffic throughout your home. Soundproofing the room is also important. This keeps outside noise out and inside noise in so that recording---and the rest of the household---is not disturbed. Also, consider the setup and decor of your studio. You want to make your artists feel comfortable and have the feeling that they are in a professional environment. Include a closed-off section as your office.

3. Choose your legal structure. If you decide to be a sole proprietor of your company, all debts are your responsibility. If you get sued, your personal and business assets will be liquidated. As a corporation, your personal and business assets will remain separate.

4. Get a music production business license. You must have a license in order to use music legally. Search the Internet for sites that legally process and supply authentic licenses. Fill out and submit the application online. Pay the fee that is stated in the text. Fees depend on the type of business you have and its location.

5. Choose a business name and register it. Make sure the name is easy to remember and is relevant to what the company is and provides. Do a business name search to ensure the name you "created" isn't already in use. You can register at the Internal Revenue Service website.

6. Decide finance your company. Visit local banks and loan companies. Apply for a small-business loan. Ask reliable friends and family members if they want to contribute funds to build your business. If possible, save the money yourself or apply for a business credit card. There are also special grants for small businesses. Research every avenue and decide what is best for you. A combination of several options may also work.

7. Buy business insurance. Among the necessary coverage: studio liability insurance, tour liability insurance, travel accident insurance, health insurance, life insurance, long-term-care insurance, composer's liability insurance, homeowner's insurance, renter's insurance, automobile insurance and small-business insurance. Find an insurance company that can combine some or all of these policies into one monthly payment.

8. Purchase and set up your production equipment. Buy office equipment and supplies, too. To keep costs down, consider buying some of the equipment used. Go to websites like eBay and Amazon to find deals on equipment. Check various websites for discounted equipment. See if existing studios have any equipment to sell. Go to thrift stores for used office furniture and fix it up yourself.

9. Hire employees. Depending on the size and nature of your studio, you may need to hire several people, or people who are knowledgeable in more than one area. If you are a jack-of-all-trades, then you may need only a few employees. Check references, ask for samples of their work, do background checks, talk to their music school instructors, etc. Do a thorough investigation to ensure you are hiring qualified, licensed individuals.

10. Advertise your company. Create a web page and tell everyone you know to visit it and pass the word. Word-of-mouth is the best form of advertisement. Post fliers wherever you can and hand them out to talent agencies, music schools or random people you see in passing. Contact your local newspapers and place an ad. Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter are ways to reach the younger generation and to advertise your business. Network with people in the music industry. Attend a variety of music events, shows and conferences.

Tags: your business, liability insurance, your company, assets will, business assets, business assets will, business name

Build A Sofa From Scratch

example of a couch made

Building a rustic sofa from scratch is a great way to create a centerpiece for a living room or sitting room that will not only service as a conversation piece but will also function as a usable piece of furniture. You can take an elaborate approach and make something that looks like it cost a fortune, or go with a rustic approach and choose function over form. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Cut 10 pieces of 1 1/4-inch-thick by 3-inch-wide pine boards to a 6-foot length with a miter saw.

2. Cut grooves into each side of six of the boards with a biscuit jointer. Cut a groove into one edge on each of the remaining boards.

3. Apply wood glue to the grooves. Slide wood biscuits into each groove. Space the biscuits approximately 12 inches apart. Place five boards together end-to-end and clamp them together with the bar clamps. Place the other five board together end-to-end and clamp them together with bar clamps. Make sure you place the boards with only one groove at the ends of the board sections. Allow 24 hours drying. These two sections of boards will make the seat rest and the back rest.

4. Cut an L bracket out of 2-inch-thick furniture grade plywood. Make each leg of the L bracket 14 inches long. Cut the L bracket out with a band saw. Cut each leg so it is approximately 2 inches thick.

5. Drill five evenly spaced pilot holes through the back and bottom edges of the L brackets with a ¼-inch drill bit. Position the L brackets approximately 5 feet apart, then place the back rest against the vertical portion of the L bracket.

6. Secure the brackets to the back rest by driving 3-inch wood screws through the holes in the back of the L brackets and into the back rest. Repeat the process with the seat rest on the bottom of the L bracket. This secures the back and seat rest together.

7. Cut four pieces of 2-inch-thick furniture grade plywood to a length of 15 inches and a height of 24 inches. Cut two pieces of 2-inch-thick furniture grade plywood to a length of 15 inches and a height of 22 inches.

8. Glue a piece of the 15-by-24-inch board to the 15-by-22-inch board and then glue a second 15-by-24-inch board to the 15-by-22-inch board. Clamp the boards together with the bar clamp and allow 24 hours drying time. Repeat this with the second set of boards. These glued boards will comprise the legs.

9. Apply glue to the L bracket on the bottom of the seat rest and then slide the lengths in place. The center of the leg is recessed to-inches to accommodate the thickness and the depth of the L bracket. Secure the legs to the L brackets with 3-inch wood screws.

10. Sand the surface of the wood with 600-grit, 800-grit and then 1000-grit sandpaper and then wipe the surface of the wood down with a tack cloth.

11. Stain the surface of the wood with a wood stain and a cotton rag. Wipe off the excess stain after approximately 30 minutes. Allow 24 hours drying time.

12. Cut two pieces of 2-inch thick furniture-grade foam to a length of 5 ½ feet and a width of 14 inches.

13. Apply spray adhesive to the surface of the foam and then place upholstery fabric over the foam. Wrap the fabric over the edges and under the foam. Do this with both piece of foam.

14. Spay the bottom of the foam with the spray adhesive and then place the foam onto the seat rest. Center the foam from front to back and left to right. Spray the second piece of foam and place it on the seat back. Again, center from top to bottom and left to right.

Tags: seat rest, back rest, 2-inch-thick furniture, 2-inch-thick furniture grade, furniture grade, furniture grade plywood

Discount Country Decor Catalogs

Discount Country Decor Catalogs

If you are thinking about redecorating your home soon, order some of the great discount country decor catalogs that are available. Flipping through these free catalogs will give you some great ideas and tips, while helping you make the perfect decorating choices. Choose furniture, window treatments, rugs, bedding and accessories from the comfort of your home. You could redecorate your whole house and never step foot outside the front door, except to pick up your free decorating catalogs from the mailbox. Does this Spark an idea?

History

Americans have been decorating their homes from catalogs ever since the introduction of the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog in the late 1890s, which declared on it's cover, "Book of Bargains: A Money Saver for Everyone." Today men and women can still decorate from the comfort of their own homes by subscribing to the many discount country decor catalogs available. You can also save a few trees and view these same catalogs online. The country decor catalogs are much like walking into an old general store where you will find antiques, antique reproductions, furnishings, accessories and wall decor.

Types

The term "country decor" has a number of different meanings. There is Americana country decor which incorporates the farm house look of our grandmother's and great grandmother's. This style is portrayed by simple American traditions, such as the United States flag, hearts, roosters and antiques from rural America. One of the discount country decor catalogs available that features Americana decor is Country Style Home.

Another version of country decor is the "primative" style. Primitive is relaxing, warm and comfortable, and evokes life the way it was during more simple times. Vintage tin and metal items, as well as woven rugs and wood accessories, are features of this decorating style. Kim's Primitives is a nice place to start for ideas.

If you love French country, try the free online catalog for Layla Grayce. It is full of beautiful white furnishings and shabby chic linens, lamps and country decor accessories.

For the more rustic country look, like that of a lodge, mountain home or fishing cabin, enjoy the fantastic array of decorating items available at Country Critter. If you are looking for antelope chandeliers, log furniture or the more masculine outdoorsy look, this is a great place to start.

Effects

Customizing your window treatments for your country decor is easy at Country Curtains. With over 50 years in business, this free catalog can provide curtains, rods, finials and just about anything you could need for your window decorating needs. They also offer other home accessories such as rugs, lamps, wall decor and bedding. Curtains are the finishing touch to any room and guarantee that warm, cozy feeling that country decor always evokes.

Warning

Typically, country decor will incorporate antiques. While it is possible to purchase antiques online or by catalog, make sure you receive a certificate of authenticity, as reproductions can often easily be passed off as vintage if you are not careful.

Misconceptions

Some people might cringe at the thought of country decor, as it may seem cluttered or too old fashioned. But, it doesn't have to be this way at all. If you prefer a minimalist look in your home, but still want the warmth of some older primitive pieces, you can use Mission furniture with clean straight lines and simply add one or two very unusual antiques to the room as objects of art. A few rustic pieces also combine well with contemporary furnishings, giving a more eclectic look.

Tags: country decor, country decor, country decor catalogs, decor catalogs, your home

Design A Rectangular Living Room

Design a Rectangular Living Room

When designing any room, it's important to first consider its main function. A living room is a place for people to gather, watch television, or just relax. When you have a rectangular living room, shaped similarly to a short hallway, you have to arrange your furniture so that you can move around your living room efficiently while enjoying the space.

Instructions

1. Decide on the central element of the room. For instance, some people choose to use the living room as a television viewing room; in that case, the television is your central element because everyone looks in that direction. Other choices may include artwork or a fireplace.

2. Position the central element first, then design the rest of your furniture and d cor around the item. Place the central item (such as a television) against a short wall that's opposite the entrance of the room.

3. Place your long sofa against one of the longest walls of the rectangular room. If possible, choose a wall opposite the window so that people sitting on the couch can look out the window if they'd like. Position your other shorter sofa (if applicable) adjacent to the longer sofa so that it looks like the letter L. Make sure the short sofa faces the television or other central element. It's fine if the size or setup of the room require you to place both sofas up against walls.

4. Place your recliner or living chair (if applicable) on the opposite wall of the rectangular room. You can turn it diagonally in to face the television or other central element.

5. Put a long rectangular coffee table in front of the longest sofa if there's room. If placing a table there will make it difficult to walk through the middle of the rectangular living room, just place an end table at the side of each sofa or recliner for cups, plates, and other items. You should have at least a 2- to 3-foot wide walking space in your living room.

6. Place your smaller decorative items in the room after you're finished placing the large furniture. For instance, you can hang a large rectangular framed picture over the largest sofa or place a plant by the end of one of the sofas. Make sure the placement of the smaller items doesn’t interfere with the central element or walkway of the rectangular room.

Tags: central element, living room, Place your, rectangular room, Design Rectangular

Make Office Furniture

An old door makes an interesting desk.

A DIY desk made out of a visually-pleasing vintage door covered in glass is easy to make and will give your office a cozy feel. The glass highlights the architectural design of your door, and gives you a flat surface to work on. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Choose a door that has raised panels or some other design that you would like to showcase. Remove any hardware. Measure one third of the way down one long edge and twelve inches toward the other long edge and mark this spot. Use the drill to make a hole to accommodate your computer cords. Measure and the note the exact measurements to your marked spot so that you can give them to the glassier when you are having your glass cut.

2. Have a piece of glass professionally cut to the measurements of the door. Ask the glassier to bevel the edges and to drill a hole that matches the hole you drilled in the door.

3. Sand the door and the filing cabinets. Prime and paint as desired.

4. Cut felt to fit the top of each file cabinet and glue in place.

5. Set the file cabinets so that the door will lay across them, forming your desk. Lay the door in place. Make sure that the door's short edges are even with the outside edges of the cabinets. The felt will help keep the door from sliding.

6. Set the glass on top of the door, lining up the cord holes.

Tags: long edge, that door

Grants For Emerging Artists

Emerging artists are young artists that have studied their craft and are pursuing a professional career in the arts, which can be the most economically challenging time in an artist's career. Grants are funded to emerging artists by organizations that believe advancement in the arts will happen through the support of young artists.

Art Emerging

ArtEmerging.com is a great place for emerging artists to find grants for education, studio space and exhibitions. There are also links and information to many valuable resources such as fellowships and internships.

The Puffin Foundation Ltd.

The Puffin Foundation supplies grants to emerging artists in visual arts, theatre, music, film and public interest. Grants range from $1,000 to $2,500. Find more information at puffinfoundation.org.

American Craft Council

The American Craft Council offers the Emerging Artist Grant Program to artists who work in all areas of crafts. Find information at craftcoucil.org.

The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts

The NFAA supports and assists young artists working in any art form. Winners will share $500,000 in awards and grants, and $3 million in scholarships. Visit nfaa.org to apply.

Public Art Fund

The Public Art Fund offers grants for the creation of public artworks in New York City to give emerging artists the opportunity to create public sculptures while also engaging the community in contemporary art. Find information at publicartfund.org.

The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation

This organization gives grants to nominated emerging artists working in visual arts, film and crafts every two years. Grants are given to artists of merit who have not been recognized commercially. Visit louiscomforttiffanyfoundation.org for information.

Tags: emerging artists, young artists, American Craft, American Craft Council, artists working, Craft Council

Free Woodworking Plans On The Internet

There are thousands of free woodworking plans online.

For the novice and skilled woodworker alike, finding a woodworking plan that strikes one's fancy is often the first step toward completing a new project. While one may not instantly associate the Internet with woodworking, the fact is the Internet is a viable source for free woodworking plans if you know where to look.

FreeWoodworkingPlan.com

From beds and bedroom furniture to chicken coops, freewoodworking.com offers a large variety of free woodworking patterns with step-by-step instructions complete with photos. Freewoodworkingplan.com claims to be the Internet's original and largest source for free woodworking plans and projects.

WoodProjects.com

WoodProjects.com offers more than 9,000 woodworking projects from which to choose. Although the site offers free woodworking plans and projects, it also offers woodworking plans for purchase. WoodProjects.com offers a free membership that allows users to customize browsing preferences and save projects for later use.

Minwax.com

Minwax is well known for its line of wood stains. The Minwax website also offers woodworking plans for the beginner, intermediate and advanced woodworking craftsman. The projects are grouped by skill level and the plans are downloadable. Plans range from basic shelves and magazine racks to tables and desks.

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What Financing Is Needed To Start A Nonprofit Organization

The first step in starting a non-profit organization is to create a mission statement. This outlines the overall purpose of the organization. The mission statement should state why the organization exists. A non-profit organization can be an informal group made up of a group of friends. Or, the organization can incorporate to become a legal entity that owns property and has a bank account. If your organization incorporates, then you will need to find financing to continue to feed and grow your operation.

Financing

Initial financing for your non-profit organization will require money for fees to file the organization's charter. A charter must be filed with the state office and with the IRS to receive its 501(c)(3) -- the organization tax-exempt status. While planning the financial future of your organization, you will have to think about daily operating costs. An office location will cost rent and utilities. Will your organization be run by volunteers or will you hire employees? If you hire employees, then you will have to think about payroll and other benefits such as health care, business and unemployment insurance.

Sources of Income

In order to tailor your non-profit organization's need to fit your individual mission, you have to find the appropriate mix of income to benefits. Income can come from a variety of sources, including: earned income, membership fees, gifts and grants, donations (from individuals, foundations, and corporations), government funding, investment income and trading of services. Now that you have identified the sources, who will pay and who will benefit from your organization?

Who Benefits

Those who can benefit from you organization fall into four categories: private, group, public, and trade. Private benefits are received by the individual consumer. Group benefits are for identifiable groups. Public benefits are bestowed on society. Trade benefits can be given to individuals or institutional partners. In order to design the best financial strategy, a non-profit organization has to understand the benefits it can produce. It also must consider the income it can generate, and how the organization can properly finance and maintain its profit goals.

Assistance

If your organization does not have sufficient resources to handle its start-up cost, you can get a fiscal sponsorship. You can join with another non-profit organization that is already established and running. This type of sponsorship is especially good if your idea can address a community need that is short lived and will no longer exist in the future.

Non-profit incubators are designed to help businesses share resources as a low-cost means to start up your non-profit organization. For assistance, contact the National Council of Non-profit Organizations to get advice on get financing for your non-profit organization.

Expert Insight

The best way to get financing for a non-profit organization is to first plan a budget. The organization needs to know its expenses -- how much will be spent and the expected revenue over a certain period of time. Seeking advice from a lawyer who has experience with non-profit organizations can be beneficial. An experienced non-profit attorney may already know ways that your organization can obtain financing to start-up your organization.

Tags: non-profit organization, your organization, your non-profit, your non-profit organization, benefit from

Mexican Style Interior Paint Ideas

Mexican decor is an increasingly popular style, particularly in the southwestern region of the United States and in California. You can opt to add some simple Mexican touches with paint and accessories for a little Mexican flair, or do a full-on home makeover in brilliant colors. Does this Spark an idea?

Style Options

Mexican style is actually a rainbow of styles, some of them regional. The beach style features a lighter palette and echoes the blues and greens of the sea and the whites and yellows of sand. The colonial hacienda style is earthier, with reddish brown tile floors and splashes of intense color on the walls. The rustic style often features paint treatments to make walls and furniture look aged.

Principle Colors and Accents

Mexican interior paint often features yellow or antique white walls. Sponge-painted walls may feature stronger yellows. Principle colors are typically warm tones, but accent colors include indigo, intense orange, rusty red and deep green. Kitchens sometimes feature busy tile work in multiple patterns contrasted with bright splashes of yellow, green or blue paint. Contrasts are welcome in Mexican decor--just look at a painting by Frida Kahlo or a Mexican vinyl tablecloth for inspiration.

Details

Mexican decor is all about the homemade and the handmade. Painting is no exception. Rather than create a slick, glossy look, go for matte tones. Distress surfaces by painting one tone, covering it with another, and lightly sanding the surface to allow bits of color to show through. Add to the rustic element by using stencils to create simple decorative borders. You can also try freehand painting details, especially around door frames and window frames. Hand-painted tiles are another great accent to personalize a Mexican-style painted room.

Tags: Mexican decor, often features

Donate Furniture For Pick Up In Miami

Donate Furniture for Pick Up in Miami

If you have some furniture that you no longer need or want to keep in Miami, you don't have to try to sell it on your own. Instead, you can donate your furniture to a local charitable organization in Miami. You don't even need to have a pickup truck to take your furniture to a donation center; organizations exist in Miami that will come pick up any furniture that you want to donate. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Contact a charitable organization, once you have selected one, to set up an appointment for your furniture to be picked up. Some Miami organizations that pick up furniture donations include the Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Miami Rescue Mission and the With Causes Charitable Network (see Resources).

2. Clean the furniture before the charity arrives to pick it up. Typically you can only donate furniture that is in good, clean condition.

3. Set your furniture out by the curb or in an easy-to-access place on the day of the scheduled pickup. If you have some especially heavy furniture that you cannot move on your own, you can leave it in your home if you will be present when the driver arrives to pick up the furniture.

4. Ask for your donation receipt from the driver who picks up the furniture. If you're not going to be home for the pickup, leave a note for the driver, requesting the receipt.

Tags: furniture that, your furniture, pick furniture, arrives pick, charitable organization

Build A Mission Style Wood Chair

Build a Mission Style Wood Chair

Mission style chairs are simple pieces suitable for filling various needs. They are known for their craftsmanship and simplistic design and are typically built using oak. Free of decorative details, they are simple yet sturdy and will blend in nicely in any setting. This makes them ideal for dining or office chairs. Mission style furniture is easy to build and is a suitable project for novices. Mission style chairs with a dark stain are suitable replacement chairs for antique dining tables. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Using a saw to cut the oak lumber into 2 pieces that are 1 ½ inches by 1 ½ inches by 18 ½ inches for the front posts, two pieces that are 1 ½ inches by 5 ½ inches by 38 ½ inches for the back posts. Then cut four pieces that are 1 inch by 2 inches by 17 inches for the seat rails, four pieces that are 5/8 inch by 1 ¼ inch by 17 inches for the lower side rails. Cut two pieces that are 5/8 inch by 2 ½ inches by 17 inches for the lower front and back rails, two pieces that are ¾ inch by 2 inches by 17 inches for the back rails, one piece that is 3/8 inch by 3 inches by 13 ½ inches for the center slat and two pieces that are 3/8 inch by 1 ½ inch by 13 ½ inches for the side slats. You need to also cut a 16 inch by 16 inch piece of ½ inch plywood for the seat.

2. Attach the lower front rail to the two front posts. Use a tape measure and measure 7 ¾ inches from the bottom of each post. Mark with a pencil. Place the bottom edge of the lower rail on the mark on the front post. Use a screwdriver to secure the post with a wood screw. Repeat to attach the lower rail to the second post.

3. Attach the side rails to the front and back posts. Measure 4 inches from the bottom of the front post and back post and mark with a pencil. Place the lower side rail on the mark on the front post and secure with a wood screw. Place the lower rail on the mark on the back post and secure with a wood screw. Measure 6 inches from the top of the front post and make a mark. Measure 12 inches from the bottom of the back post and make a mark. Place the ends of the lower side rails on the marks and secure with wood screws. Repeat to attach the lower side rails to the other front and back posts.

4. Attach the lower back rail to the back posts. Measure 7 ¾ inches from the bottom of each back post and mark with a pencil. Place the back rail on each mark and secure with wood screws.

5. Attach the seat rails. Place one seat rail between the two front posts and secure with wood screws. The top of the seat rail should be flush with the front posts. Place one seat rail between a front post and a back post. The front post and the seat rail should be flush. Attach the front post to the seat rail with a wood screw. Use a level to level the seat rail and secure to the back post with a wood screw. Repeat for the other side. Place the top edge of the level flush with the top of a side seat rail. The end of the level should be over the back post. Mark with a pencil and repeat for the other side. Place the back seat rail on the marks and secure with wood screws.

6. Assemble the back rails and slats. Measure 8 ½ inches on both back rails and mark with a pencil. Measure 1 ½ inches on both ends of the 3 inch wide slat and mark with a pencil. Align the mark on the end of the wide slat with the mark on one of the back rails and secure with a wood screw. Repeat for the other end. Measure 2 inches from the outer edge of the wide slat and mark with a pencil. Repeat for the other side and the other back rail. Place the outer edge of the smaller slat on the mark and secure with a wood screw. Attach the other end to the other back rail with a wood screw. Repeat to attach the other slat on the other side of the wide slat.

7. Measure 1 ¾ inches from the top of each back post and mark with a pencil. Slide the assembled back rails and slats between the back posts. Place the top edge of the back rail on the mark and secure with a wood screw. Repeat for the other side. Secure the bottom back rail with a wood screw on each side.

8. Select the desired color stain and apply as directed. Allow to dry and seal with a thin coat of shellac. Allow to dry overnight.

9. Add a seat to the chair. Cover the top of the plywood seat with three layers of polyester quilt batting. Cover the plywood and batting with a thick canvas or leather. Place the seat upside down on a flat surface. Pull the canvas or leather over the plywood and use three evenly spaced tacks to secure it. On the opposite side, pull the canvas or leather as tight as possible. Use a hammer to secure the canvas or leather to the plywood with three tacks. Repeat for the ends. Attach the seat to the chair with ornamental nails or tacks.

Tags: with wood, with wood screw, wood screw, secure with, secure with wood, back post

About Antique Nickel Cabinet Hardware

Antique nickel hardware works with almost any cabinet finish.

Antique nickel hardware has a lustrous sheen that adds a rich, Old World flair to cabinets. An antique nickel finish complements most cabinet styles and materials, and its durability and classic look means you won't have to worry about replacing your cabinet hardware for a long time. Does this Spark an idea?

Maintenance

Antique nickel cabinet hardware hides scratches and fingerprints better than many other finishes, such as brass. Clean cabinet knobs and pulls regularly with a commercial metal cleanser and buff them with a clean jewelry cloth to maintain the antique nickel sheen.

Replacement Options

It is easy to find matching replacement pieces in an antique nickel finish, especially if you stick with the same manufacturer. Other finishes, such as oil-rubbed bronze or lacquered brass, are more likely to vary in color between production cycles.

Refurbishment

If your antique nickel hardware is severely tarnished or is covered with built-up dirt, you don't have to replace it. Soak the knobs and pulls overnight in a mixture of four parts water to one part vinegar. Rinse the pieces with clean water, dry completely and buff with a clean jewelry cloth.

Tags: nickel hardware, with clean, Antique nickel, antique nickel finish, Antique nickel hardware, clean jewelry, clean jewelry cloth

Build A Mission Bed

Elaborate looking, a mission bed frame is also among the easiest to build. Since a mission bed has many parts, it is advisable to apply the finish prior to assembly. This article describes the process of building a twin bed. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Place the 4-by-4-by-36-inch posts on a worktable. Measure up from one end and make a mark at 6 and 8 inches centered on the width.

2. Drill a countersink hole 1/2-inch deep with 1-inch paddle bit. Next, drill a hole through the posts in the center of the countersink holes with the 3/8-inch drill bit.

3. Place the two 2-by-6-by-75-inch pieces on the worktable. Drill two holes 3/4-inch from the edge on both ends of the lumber and two in the center, the first hole at 2 inches from the long edge and the other at 4 inches.

4. Place the three 2-by-6-by-33-inch lumber between the two 75-inch pieces and secure them with the 4-inch lag screws. Next, secure the four 2-by-6-by-10-inch lumber to the outside of the 33-inch lumber 10 inches from the ends with the deck screws.

5. Set the fence of the table saw at 3/8-inch, the height of the 3/4-inch dado blades at 1/2 inch and cut a groove in the 1-1/2-inch edge of the four 2-by-6-by-29-inch lumber. Insert the 1-by-4-by-21-inch lumber into the grooves, space them out evenly and secure them with the 4d finish nails.

6. Secure four of the 2-by-4-by-5-inch lumber to the posts with the deck screws so that when the assembly from Step 5 is placed on them, the holes drilled in the 4-by-4s in Step 1 are facing you. Secure the other four pieces of 5-inch lumber on the side of the posts for the bed frame to rest on and secure the frame to the posts with the 6-inch lag screws.

7. Place the head and footboard of the mission bed on the 5-inch lumber and secure it to the bed frame through the 2-by-6s into the 10-inch pieces installed in Step 4. Place the 1-by-4-by-36-inch lumber on top of the posts, center the head and footboards on them and secure it the mission bed with the 4d finish nails.

Tags: 5-inch lumber, deck screws, finish nails, inches from, lumber posts, posts center

Styles Of Bassett Dining Chairs

Founded in 1902, Bassett Furniture is a mass-market furniture manufacturer based in Bassett, Virginia. The company is one of the state's oldest furniture makers and has design collections and sets for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and other home decor. It also sells lighting, rugs, bedding and other home decor accessories. Customers can find their products at Bassett Furniture stores, as well as at larger retailers throughout the country. Does this Spark an idea?

Contemporary

Bassett Furniture offers dining chairs in a variety of modern styles that feature a sleek, sophisticated appearance. They're available in a range of materials, including dark stained wood, fabric upholstery and leather. Urban-inspired upholstered styles include the Wilson line, a straight-backed dining chair available in dark leather, and the Avery Parsons, which has neatly tailored slipcovers that fit tightly on the back and seat, with a slightly flared skirt. Contemporary wood options include the Fifth Avenue collection, available in dark java and cherry finishes, and the Studio line, which is scaled down in size for apartments and condos and comes in a range of finishes.

Classic

Bassett Furniture features a range of dining chairs inspired by classic furniture styles that are suitable for today's modern homes. For an elegant look, consider the Olympia Bay line, with a slightly rolled back and slender silhouette. The upholstered dining chairs come in taupe or a wide taupe and cream stripe and are elegant enough for the living room or bedroom. The Covington collection has an heirloom feel and features two dining chair options. The Covington side chair features dark ebonized oak and a cutout back, while the Harper is a cream-colored upholstered option with turned seats and a stretcher bar. Other options include the Bellewood, a medium wood with a gracefully curved seat back, and the elegant Louis-Philippe collection.

Rustic

Bassett has a variety of rustic, country looks for casual kitchens and decor styles. The Continental or Rustic Sketchbook lines both feature ladder-back chairs in darker woods. Another wood chair option is the Windsor style, available in a lighter oak color, which has an Americana look suitable for a country farmhouse-style kitchen. The Sonoma line features a medium-stained pine wood chair with a tall upholstered back that would complement Mediterranean or colonial Spanish decor. The Reef Bay collection has an attractive dining chair with a curved cross-back that evokes British Colonialism style, but also would be perfect if you're in search of a French or Tuscan country look.

Tags: Bassett Furniture, dining chair, dining chairs, available dark, chair with, home decor

Build A King Size Captain'S Bed

Tall king size captain's bed

Is there a problem with lack of space in your bedroom? Perhaps you have your heart set on a king size bed, but there is not enough room for this large bed and the dressers and chests for storage. The answer to this dilemma can be a king size captain's bed that you can build yourself with medium carpentry skills. In this article the steps will be given to create your own one of a kind king size captain's bed with plenty of storage space underneath. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Build a King Size Captain's Bed

1. A standard king size mattress measures 76 inches wide by 80 inches long, the bed will be built 78 inches wide by 82 inches long by 32 inches high.

2. Cut eight two inch by four inch lumber at 82 inches long. For the ends cut four two inch by four inch pieces 78 inches long. Cut eight two inch by four inch pieces at 32 inches long. Cut four sheets of the ¾ inch plywood at 82 inches long. Trim two of these sheets to 30 inches wide. Cut two pieces of plywood 78 inches by 32 inches for the ends of the bed platform. For the sides of the bed cut four 12 inch by 32 and two 10 inch by 32 inch plywood pieces.

3. Make two frames using two of the 82 inch pieces and two of the 78 inch pieces, forming a box. Attach at the corners with screws. Square the box up and install corner brackets in each interior corner. Place two of the 82 inch pieces, evenly spaced inside each box. Attach to the end sections with screws and install corner brackets.

4. Attach the 32 inches pieces to each interior corner of one of the boxes using carriage bolts. Attach the second box frame to the other ends of the 32 inch pieces with carriage bolts. Install two of the 32 inch pieces on each long side, evenly spaced to form the center supports. Attach with carriage bolts.

5. Attach one of the four foot wide pieces of plywood and one of the 30 inch wide pieces to the top and bottom of the frame.

6. Using screws attach the plywood ends to the bed framework. Attach (one) 12 inch by 32 inch plywood sections at each corner (long side). Then attach one of the 10 inch sections to the center of each long side. This will leave openings for the drawer installations.

7. Install the drawers (two) in each opening following manufacturer's directions to install slides.

8. Apply corner trim to the outside corners and install casters to the bottom four corners. Attach drawer face panels to the foot section of the bed.

9. The finished projected is now ready to paint or stain.

Tags: inch pieces, inches long, four inch, king size, carriage bolts

Build A Help Desk

Help desk

A help desk is a little more than what it sounds like. The help desk is generally referred to as the department that takes care of computer and computer-related problems for a company or organization. As as result, the help desk is often the busiest department in an organization. The best way to build a help desk is one employee at a time rather than hiring a whole team at once. Building a help desk is really just a matter of understanding the company's problems and needs and building and applying a system of rules and techniques to solve those needs on a regular basis.

Instructions

1. Build a team. This depends on the size of the company or department the help desk will be supporting. You may need one person to several hundred people. A good rule is to have one person for every 50 to 75 people who are supported. With a small team or just a one-person help desk, you will need someone who can do a variety of jobs as well as have administrative abilities. The first person will have to be able to do things such as hardware repair, network support and software troubleshooting. When you add another person, regardless of where they belong on the organizational chart, they should have varied experience and abilities The second person, for example, might need to be someone who specializes in networks.

2. Get or make a reporting system. You need a way for users to report the problems or requests they have. If it is a small organization, the system can be just filling out a note and dropping it in a request box or making a phone call or sending an email. For larger help desks, there is help desk software that can be deployed to accept help requests from a website or by email or manually by an analyst.

3. Develop procedures that everyone can follow. Create procedures for special requests that are urgent or different in nature from regular help desk requests. Such a request might be to borrow a laptop or a request to set up an online meeting that will need to happen right away. Make it known what the procedures are to all on the help desk and to the users it supports.

4. Create FAQ lists and other "self help" documents to hand out or to put on the website or Intranet. Make these help sheets for common issues that can be resolved by the users with a little guidance. This will cut down on requests and save time.

5. Communicate effectively with the users about upcoming changes. Word of mouth is good, but a website explaining common procedures as well as upcoming changes is essential.

6. Determine your limits. Make it clear what kind of help you can provide and what you are unable or unwilling to do. Mission creep can easily slow down a help desk. You don't want to support every application a user buys, and you may not want to be making house calls for users who have problems at home.

Tags: help desk, help desk, desk will, help desk, help desk will, need someone, upcoming changes

About Pottery Barn

About Pottery Barn

Just say "Pottery Barn," and women (and men) everywhere get out their credit cards. With its affordable style and huge collection of goods, Pottery Barn has got something for everyone. Whether you shop at the retail stores or online, you are sure to find something to get your heart racing. A thriving business and well-known brand, Pottery Barn is a success story. Does this Spark an idea?

History

Part of the Williams-Sonoma company of California, Pottery Barn continues the tradition of fine home furnishings at various price points. Williams began his business in the mid 1950s as an offshoot of his own passion for cooking. His travels to Paris showed him many cooking devices and tools not available to the common American population, and he wanted to change that. He opened his first cooking equipment shop and it was a success. Since then the company changed hands in the late 1970s and the new owners began branching off the original Williams-Sonoma experience. Catalogs are what really grew the business, and Pottery Barn was introduced as a classy yet affordable home decor store. Since its original conception, the Pottery Barn franchise has grown to include Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Bed and Bath.

Significance

Pottery Barn has over 200 stores and a very profitable website, so it has become a household name in American culture. With references in TV shows like "Friends" and "Seinfeld," Pottery Barn is known for its trademark style and affordability.

Features

Pottery Barn has got something for everyone, including furnishings and holiday decor. They also carry extensive collections of glass and dinnerware, candles and candle holders, and pretty much anything you'd need or want to entertain friends for an evening. Accessories include mirrors and pillows as well as architectural statues and organizational units. If you need something for the bedroom, look no further. Pottery Barn has beautiful bedding and pillows as well as bed frames to choose from.

Considerations

Although prices can be high depending on what you are looking at, there are always sale items and holiday discounts that can be found in stores or online. Working at Pottery Barn can be enjoyable and profitable, as you can get both an employee discount and access to discontinued items at markedly reduced prices.

Expert Insight

Pottery Barns style and finishes may not be your personal favorites, but the stores and catalog can really help people see how a room can be layered and how a home can be decorated for a holiday season. Shoppers on a budget can take the ideas they see at Pottery Barn and find similar items elsewhere for less, or shop the bargains and sale items at Pottery Barn to get the exact look they desire.

Keep checking the stores or website for deals on your favorite items as there are always mark downs and you can get holiday decorations at reduced prices after the holiday for the next year.

If you are stuck on decorate a room, a trip to Pottery Barn may inspire and supply you with the tools and ideas you need to get started.

Tags: Pottery Barn, About Pottery, About Pottery Barn, Barn something, Barn something everyone, pillows well, Pottery Barn something

Diy Wooden Stairs

Building your own stairs can give them craftsman appeal.

If it's time to replace your squeaky basement stairs or build a flight up to a new addition, you can order fabricated stairs milled in a shop, or you can build them yourself. Do-it-yourself wooden stairs can save you money and give you more options for customization. If you can complete accurate calculations and own some common tools, then you can build wooden stairs. Before you start, make sure to familiarize yourself with the local building codes on stairs and to purchase high-quality lumber. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Calculate your risers. Risers are the vertical portion of each stair and are typically about 7.5 inches. You may decide that you would like shorter steps, but your local building code will usually set a maximum height. Measure the distance between the lower floor and the upper floor. Divide that measurement by the desired height of each riser, and that number will be your number of steps. You might need to adjust your riser heights slightly so that they perfectly match the distance between finished floors.

2. Calculate your treads. Treads are the horizontal portion of each stair. Find their size by dividing the horizontal span of the staircase (total run) by the number of steps. You may need to adjust this number based on building-code minimums (usually 10 inches) and needed headroom. Headroom allowance makes sure there is enough distance between the ceiling and the stairs for people to use them safely (typically 6 feet, 8 inches). If the number you calculate does not meet code or allow for enough headroom, you might need to lengthen the entire staircase and increase the size of your treads.

3. Cut your stringers. Carriage stringers are the notched boards that support the steps from underneath. You will need to cut three identical stringers based on your calculations from Steps 1 and 2. Mark off the riser and tread measurements on your framing square and draw corresponding triangles onto your stringer board, one for each step. Once you have drawn all of your lines and compared your board to the area where the stairs will go, cut out the triangles. Repeat the process for the other two boards and make sure that you have three identical stringers.

4. Attach your stringers. Orient them so that one support is under each side of the steps and one extends down the center. Your method of attachment will vary. One or two of the stringers may be nailed into the drywall of an adjoining wall, or the entire structure may be freestanding. If the stairs are freestanding, consider adding support beams under all three stringers and intervals.

5. Build your steps. Cut all of your risers to size and affix them to the vertical portion of the stringers with nails and glue. Cut your treads but adjust your measurements by subtracting the depth of the riser boards and adding the length of overhang (nosing) that you want on each stair. You may want to round the nose of each tread. Nail and glue each of your treads into place.

6. Add extras and get the stairs inspected. Your local building code will probably call for the installation of a handrail along your stairs. You may also want to install a piece of lumber along the stringers (called a skirt board) as trim. Get your stairs inspected to make sure it meets the building code, especially before you add any floor coverings such as carpet or laminate.

Tags: your treads, building code, distance between, each stair, local building, make sure, your stairs

Convert A Bookcase To A Craft Workstation

Convert a Bookcase to a Craft Workstation

Converting a bookcase into a craft station provides a dedicated workspace for craft projects, with everything organized and convenient. Arranging craft supplies into separate containers and storing them for easy access makes creative projects more efficient, so you spend more time creating things and less time locating supplies, getting them out and putting them away in various locations. With a workstation, your productivity increases and you can take more pleasure in the creative process, with everything you need to make your crafts at hand.

Instructions

1. Plan for what you need. List items you need containers for and whether you need a work surface (if you don't already have a table, counter or desk set up for crafts).

2. Measure the interior dimensions of the bookcase. Note the width, height and depth (from the back of the shelf to the front). Measure the clearance between the shelves. Place the tape measure on the shelf and extend the tape to the bottom of the shelf above it.

3. Create your workstation plan. For example, if the shelves have a clearance of 12 inches (from the surface of the shelf to the bottom of the one above it) and the interior width from inside one wall of the book case to the inside surface of the other wall is 36 inches, you can fit two bins under 11-1/2 inches tall by 17-1/2 inches wide. If you need small bins, you might prefer to put three in a row, each 11-1/2 inches wide. (Allow 1 to 2 inches clearance so the containers will be easy to get in and out of the shelves). Draw the bookcase with the number of shelves and use your measurements to plan the sizes and numbers of containers. If you need a tabletop surface to project from the bookcase, use the interior width of the bookcase for the width of the work shelf.

4. Locate or buy containers that will fit on the shelves to hold your supplies. Look at available storage bins. There are small units with multiple drawers to store little items, bins and individual storage drawers. Pick the ones that fit your supplies and that have the appearance you want.

5. Buy a ready-made shelf in the dimensions needed or have plywood cut to order at a hardware store. Get extra-strength adhesive designed for wood. Cover the plywood with vinyl or other easy-to-clean self-adhesive shelf paper. Remove the backing and apply the shelf paper to the top and sides and front edge of the shelf. Don't cover the underside of the shelf where it will make contact with the bookshelf.

6. Assemble the workstation. Place the work shelf on the bookcase shelf that will put the work area at the best height. For a seated work station, bring a chair over and check which shelf will be the most comfortable height. Apply the glue to the underside of the shelf. Put the work shelf in place. Press down firmly. Add weight (books, full boxes) and allow it to dry according to product directions.

7. Put the containers and organizers with the items you use most often in the central area of the bookcase, and items you rarely use on the top.

Tags: work shelf, 11-1 inches, Bookcase Craft, Bookcase Craft Workstation, Convert Bookcase, Convert Bookcase Craft, Craft Workstation

Start A Cat Rescue

Starting a cat rescue requires more than sympathy for cats in need.

You love cats, and you want to help those in need. But starting a cat rescue takes more than a love of everything feline. To operate a rescue successfully, you'll need business savvy and good organizational, accounting and marketing skills. You should be good at fundraising and know network effectively too.

Instructions

1. Think about your community's needs. You might be able to do more good by volunteering or fostering cats for an existing cat rescue.

2. Join rescue email lists and talk with other cat rescuers. Knowing what's involved in running a cat rescue will help you decide whether you want to start one of your own.

3. Write a mission statement. Do you want to concentrate on trap/neuter/return? Will you rescue cats from kill shelters? Do you plan on having a network of foster homes or do you dream of opening a cat shelter? Knowing your mission and putting it in writing will help you stay focused and avoid burnout.

4. Invite people you know and trust to join your board of directors. They should be committed to your mission, enthusiastic and have the community connections necessary to help you with fundraising. Try to include an accountant, experienced grant writer and veterinarian or veterinary technician.

5. Register with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The forms you'll need are on the IRS's website. As a registered nonprofit, you'll be able to apply for grants, and your donors will receive a tax deduction when they contribute to your cat rescue.

6. Investigate sources of funding. Ask local businesses to partner with you and research charitable foundations that give grants to groups with missions similar to yours.

7. Establish a relationship with a veterinarian who will give you a rescue discount and advise you on medical issues.

8. Create a website where you can list your adoption and intake policies and post your cats for adoption. Also register with such pet adoption websites as Petfinder.com and Adoptapet.com.

9. Establish policies and procedures for people who will foster cats for you.

10. Write a volunteer handbook and prepare a press release to use when recruiting volunteers and fosters. Also post your volunteer opportunities on such websites as VolunteerMatch.com. You'll need volunteers to assist at adoption and fundraising events, photograph cats and post their pictures and stories online and write grant proposals. If you're planning to have a shelter, you'll also need volunteers to care for the cats.

Tags: more than, need volunteers, post your, will help, your mission

Find Free And Printable Home Bar Plans

Home Bar Design

Home bars plans are a great way to begin your indoor, on the patio, or a poolside bar. A home bar is a place where friends and family gather to socialize and enjoy each others company and having the proper size and style for your home is important. Here are a selection of free home bar plans you can print and use to start your home bar project. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Fina a Classic Home Bar Plan - Six Foot Long Home Bar

This home bar plan is for a 72" x 42 ½" x 24" home bar. It looks like a raised panel front and has an armrest and a brass foot rail. Behind the classic exterior there is a work shelf, sliding wine racks, drawers and storage shelves. This free home bar plan is made with ¾" plywood. Go to the bottom of this website and click on the download button to receive this 26 page free assembly instruction manual.

www.bobsplans.com/FreePlans/6FtBar/HomeBarPlans.htm

2. Use a Step by Step Guide for Your Home Bar Design

This 10 page instruction guide provides information to build a free-standing, six foot long, home bar. This free home bar plan guide provides a materials list and step by step instructions (with pictures), along with construction notes and advice.

www.canply.org/pdf/main/plyplans/plywoodplans_bar.pdf

3. Entertain Outside with a Tiki Bar

When you want to entertain outside or add ambiance to your poolside bar then this bar design is what you are looking for. The Tiki bar design is not made with the typical bamboo and thatched roof. This home bar design uses more conventional materials, which are listed in a materials needed list. This is a step by step guide, accompanied by pictures, is a great home bar design to build a Tiki bar.

www.lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/Tiki_Bar_0509.aspx

4. Get a Materials Supply List with Bar Plans Online

This website offers home bar plans if you sign up for their mailing list. The plans take you through supplies needed, framing, bar top and rail, and finishing information.

www.barplansonline.com/Printable_Free_Home_Bar_Plans.html

Tags: free home, home plan, free home plan, guide provides, home design, Home Design

Decorate A Craftsmanstyle Living Room

Modern pieces brighten a Craftsman living room.

Some people embrace the architectural features of a Craftsman-style living room, echoing the dark wood trim, clean lines and extensive metal and glass accents. Others find the interior decorating scheme too heavy and seek to lighten the space with simple, modern accents. Either way, your living room decor can reflect the basic philosophy of the Arts and Crafts movement that inspired it by striking a harmonious balance between form and function. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Paint your living room to set the tone. A new neutral such as stone gray, warmer rosy gray, pale yellow, sage green or faded robin's egg blue complements the dark wood tones of Craftsman molding and trim well. Some people like a two-tone effect in a Craftsman, painting the top half of the room and the ceiling a lighter hue to brighten the space and give the feeling of volume.

2. Furnish your living room with functional, simple pieces. The Arts and Crafts movement eschewed the rococo fussiness of the Victorian era in favor of a more streamlined look. Wooden, mission-style furnishings with simple frames and tailored upholstery fit the look. For a more updated feeling, consider the slimmer, more angular frames characteristic of mid-century modern and contemporary furnishings.

3. Incorporate textiles with natural materials. Craftsman design favors basic, natural materials. A silk or woolen throw rug has a touch of elegance, while a sisal rug lends the space an organic feeling. Keep window treatments light and tailored to let natural light enter the living room.

4. Illuminate your Craftsman living room decor. Art Deco-inspired sconces reflect the era, while sleek, pendant-style lamps give the space a modern accent. Floor lamps and table lamps in brass or copper and with glass shades provide task lighting.

5. Hang artwork to personalize the space. The Arts and Crafts era produced artists who extended their creative vision to the frames of the artwork, so consider using large wooden frames with eye-catching trim or carvings. If you want a more streamlined look, stick to coordinated black gallery-style frames.

Tags: living room, your living room, Arts Crafts, your living, Arts Crafts movement, Crafts movement, Craftsman living

Upholster A Stool

How Do I Upholster a Stool?

Reupholstering a stool is an easy way to make it look like new. Relatively straightforward to disassemble and requiring only a small amount of fabric, stools of all kinds are ideal candidates for inexpensive reupholstery projects. Does this Spark an idea?

Remove the Seat

Examine the stool to see how it's constructed. A good way to do this is to take it to a counter or table at a convenient height and turn it upside down. There will be bolts with nuts or fly nuts (or screws) holding the upholstered seat onto the frame. A homemade or old stool may have nails. Remove the hardware and take the seat off. If there are upholstery tacks, remove those also, and pull the upholstery off the seat. Check the condition of the cushioning underneath. You may want to replace or upgrade the cushion before putting on the new upholstery.

Select Material

Most stools require less than a yard of fabric, including the area that gets tucked under the seat. Measure the old upholstery. You can use it as a guide for the amount of fabric to buy. Purchase upholstery fabric, or choose a remnant (fabric from the end of a bolt of yardage sold at a discount) for upholstering the stool. Choose fabric designed for upholstery, as many other fabrics won't stand up to much wear. Consider colors to coordinate with the room. If you have a sofa or easy chair near the stool, consider purchasing extra fabric and a pillow form to make throw pillows to match the new stool upholstery.

Cover the Seat

For best results, use newspaper to make a pattern of the old upholstery. Newspaper (or any large paper you have) is clean and easy to pin. Pin the pattern to the new material, and cut along the pattern. Center the seat on the fabric, and pull the fabric up evenly around the seat. Tack the fabric in four places, so it will stay in place as you work your way around. Fold and gather the fabric around the seat. Tack the fabric all the way around. If the fabric is thick and the folds bunch too much, make some pie slice-shaped cuts to reduce the amount of fabric, then overlap the edges of the cuts, and tack. Put the seat back on the frame and replace the hardware. Use new screws or nails for best results. It's fine to re-use bolts as long as they're straight and free of corrosion. Put the stool right side up.

Tags: amount fabric, around seat, around seat Tack, best results, fabric around, seat Tack, seat Tack fabric

Diy Missionstyle Kitchen Table

Mission style furniture is appropriate in a variety of settings.

The Mission style of furniture design brings particular attention to the simplicity of the design, drawing focus to the quality and color of the wood rather than the artistry of the design or shape. For this reason, a great Mission table should be made of high quality wood or lower quality wood that has been stained and sealed to present an attractive wood finish. This project can be completed in just a few hours with basic materials and tools, with an additional few days for the finishing work. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Set four 3-by-3-by-36 inch posts upright using an assistant for help. Place a 1/2-by-36-by-48 inch plywood board on top of these posts, which should help them remain upright. Adjust the positioning of each post so they are in the absolute corner of the plywood board, which is the tabletop support board. Straighten each post so the edges are even with the edges of the tabletop support board.

2. Drill two holes down through the tabletop support board and into each of the upward-facing post ends. Set 2-inch wood screws within the holes that have just been made and use a drill to screw them in place tightly.

3. Arrange a 1/2-by-3-by-30 inch board between a pair of the posts that are closer together. Center the board between the posts so there is equal space on either side of this board, which is a table side board. Drill down through the tabletop support board and into the side board, making four evenly spaced holes. Set 2-inch wood screws in the holes and tighten them securely. Repeat for another 1/2-by-3-by-30 inch board on the opposite side.

4. Follow the same procedure to install a 1/2-by-3-by-42 inch board between each set of posts that are further apart.

5. Flip a 1-by-42-by-54 inch tabletop board upside down and set the assembled tabletop support board and posts upside down on top of it. Center the tabletop support board on the tabletop and drill eight holes through the tabletop support board and into the tabletop. Take great care not to drill through the tabletop completely and mar the visible surface. Put 1-inch screws in each hole and tighten them completely to securely attach the tabletop to the tabletop support board. Flip the table back over for use.

Tags: support board, tabletop support, tabletop support board, through tabletop, board between, board into

Build A Bed End Bench

Build a Bed End Bench

Building a bench for the end of your bed is a project that should take no longer than 2 hours. This piece of furniture adds storage space for shoes or bags under the bench and creates a staging area on the bench seat itself. This project calls for pine wood and metal hardware but can easily be modified for fancier woods if your bedroom requires it.

Instructions

Preparing the Lumber

1. Cut five 2 x 4 beams to a length matching the width of your bed. Generally, twin and full beds are 39 inches wide, queen beds are 50 inches wide, and king beds are 60 inches wide. Measure your personal bed to be sure. If making a bench for a twin or full bed, you may want to buy beams you can cut into two sections, each long enough for the job.

2. Cut six 2 x 4 beams to a length matching the height of your bed, as measured with your measuring tape. In most cases, you'll be able to get two or more lengths out of a single store-bought beam.

3. Using a drill bit 1/8 inch narrower than the diameter of your wood screws, drill three pilot holes on center in each of the beams you cut to match the width of your bed. Place one hole 2 inches from each end of the beam and the third hole in the middle of the beam.

4. Using a drill bit the same diameter as the head of your wood screws, widen each pilot hole to a depth of about 1/8 inch. This will allow you to countersink the screws in your bench so that they don't snag.

5. Sand all the faces of your lumber.

6. Put on your face mask, and move to a ventilated area.

7. Apply wood stain to all the surfaces of your lumber. Allow it to dry before continuing.

Building the Legs

8. Select two 15 1/4 inch beams and two of the beams cut to match the height of your bed.

9. Arrange the four pieces in a rectangle with the 15 1/4 inch beams inside the other beams. All the beams should lie on their narrow (2-inch-wide) faces.

10. Connect the rectangle with two wood screws at each corner. Drill the screws in through the faces of the outside beams and into the ends of the 15 1/4-inch beams.

11. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 to build a total of three rectangles.

Mounting the Bench

12. Lay your three rectangles on theirs sides (the beams cut to match the bed height), spaced apart to match the distance between the holes you predrilled in the longer beams.

13. Set one of the beams you cut to match the bed width on the floor, flush against the supports. The face with the widened part of the pilot hole should be away from the support frames.

14. Attach the beam to the support frames with one wood screw per support, drilled down through the pilot hole and into the top of the frame. Drill down until the head of the screw is entirely below the level of the beam.

15. Repeat Steps 1 through 3, arranging the beams so that they form a sitting surface across the top of the support frames.

16. Reinforce the outermost support frames with three L-braces on the angle formed between the frame and the beams on top. Put an L-brace on the two outermost beams and on the center beam.

17.Reinforce the center frame with two L-braces. Put one L-brace on either side of the support frame, attached to the center beam.

Tags: beams match, support frames, beams beams, beds inches, beds inches wide, inches wide

Halloween Haunted Houses In Maryland

Maryland has a variety of choices for a good scare.

If you're a fan of fright, there's no better time of the year than Halloween. With the macabre and spooky running rampant in haunted houses, haunted forests, and mazes, Maryland has a variety of choices for the thrill-seeker looking for some good fun and a good scare. Does this Spark an idea?

Creekside Manor

Located in Williamsport, Maryland, Creekside Manor is a 16-room haunted house which opens in September and closes the weekend after Halloween. Visitors from around the state come to visit "Mabel," a spirit of a woman who was allegedly murdered in the house. Each year, a different plotline is created to provide a fresh and exciting scare each time you visit. Although the haunted house is not recommended for young children, "Mabel's Fun House" is also located on the property and provides fun for the whole family.

Creekside Manor

11759 Snug Harbor Lane

Williamsport, MD 21795

301-223-6663

creeksidemanor.com

Fort Howard Dungeons

With a mission to provide a scare that visitors won't soon forget, the Fort Howard Dungeons do indeed provide a memorable Halloween experience. Open on weekends through October, this historic fort used to house soldiers during the War of 1812 and later during the Civil War. It is said to be haunted with actual spirits who occupy the dungeons. Visitors may also run into the likes of Hannibal Lecter, Freddy Krueger, and other famous frightening figures. Located on the peninsula of Sparrows Point in Baltimore County, Fort Howard's one hour walking tour of the dungeons and surrounding grounds is sure to put a scare in even the bravest of ghost hunters.

Fort Howard Dungeons

Fort Howard, Maryland 21219

haunteddungeons.com/forthoward.htm

The House of Screams

Although it is located in Baltimore's Eastpoint Mall, the House of Screams is Maryland's largest haunted house. This two-story fright factory provides ample opportunity to be scared out of your mind. Boasting over 80,000 square feet of room for an intensely frightening experience, the House of Screams is allegedly haunted by the spirit of a woman who practiced voodoo and lured unsuspecting visitors into her house. While most never lived to tell, a couple is said to have escaped the house and now share the tales of torture and despair.

The House of Screams

7857 Eastpoint Mall

Baltimore, MD 21224

443-618-2332

thehouseofscreams.com

The Asylum

For 23 years, Prince George's Stadium has been transformed into an extreme haunted house. Every Friday and Saturday night in October, the Asylum is open and provides non-stop excitement for visitors from all over Maryland. Although normally used as a baseball stadium for the Bowie Baysox, the haunted house hires professional actors to raise the scare factor, and the production team transforms the stadium into a heart-stopping fright fest for all.

The Asylum

4101 NE Crain Highway

Bowie, MD 20716

301-805-6000

baysox.com/events/house

Markoff's Haunted Forest

One of Maryland's most popular Halloween attractions, Markoff's Haunted Forest provides two different trails to enhance your experience. Located on a farm in Montgomery County, the land is transformed each fall into an extremely scary haunted forest, including several different scenes and a large cast of characters. While the forest itself is the main attraction, Markoff's has expanded the attraction yearly, and it has become one of the largest Halloween destinations in the state. With a zip line, hay rides, food, drink, ghost hunts, and a wide variety of other activities, it is easy to find something that interests everybody.

Markoff's Haunted Forest

19120 Martinsburg Road

Dickerson, MD 20842

301-216-1248

markoffshauntedforest.com

Tags: Fort Howard, haunted house, House Screams, Creekside Manor, Fort Howard Dungeons, Howard Dungeons