GoGoKitty’s Do-It-Yourself Secrets

Finding relief from high cost energy consumption is something that most people would find appealing, and if one were able to find an inexpensive solar power source, chances are that it would be grabbed without any second thoughts. The need for inexpensive solar power is great and is not constrained to just the developed world, but has many takers in far flung corners of the earth.

Allow Enough Sunlight Into The Home

So, how does one find a cheap and inexpensive solar power means? In the cold of the winter, allowing enough sunlight into the home is perhaps the most inexpensive method of conserving energy and reducing high energy bills. It should be done after ensuring that there is no possibility of a draft that would make the heat dissipate, and thus cracks and crevices around windows should be weather stripped.

Another inexpensive solar energy means is to create a simple windbreak on the north side of the home that should help in increasing the heating capabilities of the home as well as conserves solar heating. Most of the times, it is from the north that cold winter winds enter a home and a simple windbreak will make for more efficient solar heating of the home.

One may even consider the rather messy concrete planter ring as an alternative inexpensive solar power means, which in spite of its messiness, is not hard to work with.
In the summer, one can construct a planter ring around the home’s entire perimeter, which will make the home a lot more energy friendly besides adding to the general appeal of the building. During winters, the planter rings will eliminate the possibility of drafts as well as soak up heat from the sun.

One can also find another inexpensive solar power source through heating mulch from an outbuilding. In an unheated outbuilding, one can get solar power from harnessing the power of a mulch pile as mulch, when it decomposes, will raise temperatures to above 100 degrees, which by inserting pipes into the mulch, can pull natural heat into the home.

The World Wide Web is a great place to source inexpensive solar power means as there are plenty of designs that can be used to save on high electricity and gas bills, especially during the winter. Using simple inexpensive solar power ideas one should reduce the amount one has to pay for staying warm, and also gain comfort from the fact that one is contributing positively towards keeping the environment clean.

It’s not hard to transform the appearance of a room in a number of ways. You can give it a paint job, recover your furniture, install new flooring, or simply change the wall decor. It can run to a lot of money depending on what you decide to do. Obviously a major renovation will be much more expensive than a few decorator touches. A fireplace update is one of the less expensive ways that you can change the appearance of a room. It can be a dramatic change or just a subtle difference giving the whole atmosphere a new feel. This can be easily done by changing a few or all of your fireplace accessories. Anything from a new mantel to a small change like adding a remote control or a hearth rug can make a difference.

Your fireplace can look as elegant or as cozy as you like simply through your choice of accessories. Accessories like a fireplace mantel surround can make a drastic change and have a huge impact on a room. Mantels come in a variety of materials and looks. Some people decide that they like the mantel they have and just want to add some special touches to make it look new. Or you could choose to switch it up to a different material with sleek lines to give it a more modern look. Anything goes if it suits your personal style. If you’re looking for a more rustic look, consider installing a wooden mantel. It also provides a great centerpiece to decorate for the holiday seasons.

Fireplace grates are an essential fireplace accessory. They’re important for protecting the interior of your firebox, making it last longer. Maybe you haven’t used your fireplace on a regular basis and are now planning on using it as part of a functional heating component of your home. If that is the case, you will want to make sure you have the right fireplace grate for the job. Occasional wood burning use of a fireplace will do fine with either a cast iron or steel grate. However, when you use your fireplace on a regular basis you should always use the thickest steel grate you can find that fits your fireplace.

Other accessories can accent or alter the whole appearance of your fireplace as well. Take a look at glass doors and fireplace screens, an elegant firewood basket, or even a fan kit. Just some simple changes like a new fireplace tool set can make your fireplace more of a focal point, and also make tending to your fire a little easier. Your fireplace doesn’t have to limit you in regards to the overall appearance of your decor. There are many fireplace accessories that can give you just the look you desire.

In the world of interior designing there are a few key things which will either make or break a design. One is the overall color scheme and another one is the wall and ceiling colors. Sometimes without even realizing it you can have these three things in such clashing proximity to each other that a person can barely stay and look at the room. So one thing that you absolutely must look at when you’re redecorating your house is the interior paint colors.

For one thing they should really match with the overall color scheme you’re giving to the rest of the room, and for another thing even if the interior paint colors match your color scheme, they might be a few (dozen) shades lighter or darker than it really should be. This holds especially true when choosing the proper interior paint colors to go on, not only your walls but your ceiling as well.

The ceiling is always a tricky subject where painting is concerned, and unless you have large spaces or have frescoes on your ceiling, then you’ll want to stay away from anything too elaborate. Many people go wrong in this step of their interior designing process because they also try to give their ceilings some character. I have one word for you: don’t.

Unless you're absolutely certain of the effect you're going to achieve by applying interior paint colors to your ceilings as well, colors that also match your whole house, then I would strongly recommend that you either leave it as it is or just whitewash it.

Using the same shade or even lighter shade of the interior paint colors you’re using for the room can be a big mistake as it may tend to lower the height of the room by bringing the visual height of the ceiling further down. In other words, no matter how light a variation you go on your chosen interior paint colors, unless you choose a soft pastel color, you will make the room seem smaller.

If you really do want to have bold interior paint colors then I would suggest going with the walls. Even here you need to be careful not to overpower the room, and use the boldest colors only sparingly. Otherwise the same thing will happen with the walls as they did with the ceiling and you’ll find that the room closes in on itself. Unless of course you have big airy spaces that are just begging to be coated in bright bold colors, and where the rooms won’t suffer for it.

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Did you know that granite comes in literally hundreds of colors? From neutrals like black to vibrant colors like red, your color choices even vary within a particular shade (like black)! So what are the basic options and how can they fit in with your design? Read on to find out.

The Granite Rainbow

Black. You may think black is well…black. But not when it comes to granite. Choosing color black actually means selecting between more options. There is what’s referred to as absolute black, which is basically solid black. But other black granites have various color flecks in them, including whites and browns. Either way, black is a classic and goes with any design taste and will coordinate with any color scheme. Black granite is rarer than other varieties and may cost more because of that.

Brown. Brown is another color that comes in many shades, including chocolates, tans, and beiges. Some colors may also have more of a gold tint to them. Brown, like black, is a terrific neutral but brown has the advantage of warmth. So if your kitchen includes a lot of warmer undertones (present in reds, oranges, red purples, and pinks), brown may be the better neutral for you. You may think that brown is boring, but remember that granite includes flecks of other colors.

Green. You will be able to find shades of green granite from sea foam to emerald. If your budget is tight, green may be a good color choice as many of its shades can be relatively affordable. Green is not as versatile a color as black and brown but it will bring in some color and produce a calming effect. A deep, shimmering emerald green can be quite stunning against a neutral background.

Blue. Blue granite may not be the first color that comes to mind, but it can work well with a variety of kitchen settings. The shades of blue available range from light to dark, from very blue to more purple blue. It would work well in a cottage-style kitchen against all white, or coordinate in a modern kitchen against flat-front espresso cabinets. Like green, the cool tone of blue has a calming effect and will contrast well with warmer tones.

Red. Red is an excellent accent color for any room. Its spicy undertones are perfect for a kitchen countertop. You won’t find any flat reds in granite but you will find rich, wine-colored reds and more orange-based reds. If you want your countertop to really take center-stage, then red is your color. This is especially true if the rest of the kitchen is white or beige. However, red can also add color in a darker kitchen, lending itself to a warmer atmosphere.

This is just a taste of the variety of granite colors available. They will vary in availability, as well as the exact shade and pattern. Keep in mind as you shop that granite is a natural product and as a stone will never just be a flat, solid color. So no matter what color or shade you choose, your kitchen countertops will surely be a favorite feature of yours and your guests.

During the spring and summer pests such as ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes can easily become a real nuisance. Most of us react to this inconvenience by stocking up on pesticides and using them to do battle. Unfortunately the chemicals in insecticides can be quite dangerous, especially if they absorbed onto the skin while they are still wet. Insecticides are particularly hazardous to small children, old folks and pets. Therefore if you happen to have children and pets or if you care for your elderly parents then you should probably avoid using chemical pesticides if at all possible. Fortunately there are a number of viable options when it comes to natural pest control.

Meddlesome Mosquitoes

You can control the number of mosquitoes and other bugs and flying insects in your yard with natural garden pest control.  The first thing you should do is remove any standing water. Furthermore plants such as lemon grass and marigolds are good for repelling mosquitoes because they hate the smell. If you want natural pest control to stop mosquitoes from biting at your skin try squeezing natural lemon juice on yourself since this is another odor they dislike. People who spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer month also claim that Avon Skin-So-Soft combined with rubbing alcohol is off-putting to mosquitoes. Other natural pest controls for mosquitoes include citronella and garlic. Burning sage or rosemary around your property helps too.

Awful Ants

There is something inexplicably disturbing about seeing a trail of ants on your kitchen floor but you can get rid of them without the use of harsh chemical pesticides. One of the best natural pest controls for ants is a simple spray bottle full of soapy water. Ants also have an aversion to certain spices such as mint, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. If you soak some paper in these herbs and put it where the ants usually enter your house it should be enough to deter them. Other natural pest controls for ants include lemon or citrus oil, cucumber, coffee grounds and vinegar. Of course you should also make a point of ensuring that there are no crumbs or open food sources in your home because these are an incentive for ants.

Contemptible Cockroaches

Cockroaches are perhaps the most revolting of all household pests. There is something particularly creepy about the way they move from A to B. Like ants, cockroaches are tempted by crumbs or packages of food that have not been properly sealed. Therefore it is important to store food correctly and clean up as you go. There are also many natural pest controls for cockroaches. For instance cat nip does no harm to humans or pets but cockroaches hate the stuff. They despise soapy water, bay leaves and cucumber slices too. Some people combine baking soda with sugar in the endeavor to get rid of cockroaches. Cockroaches love sugar but baking soda upsets their stomachs and eventually kills them.

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If you’re working on a kitchen remodel, you may be looking for ways to save money during the process. Depending on the experience and time you have this might be a tough challenge. If new granite countertops are part of the renovation you may want to think about removing your old countertops yourself. This project is do-it-yourself friendly.

What You’ll Need

A putty/utility knife

Pry bar

Screw driver

Drop cloths

Goggles

Gloves

Prepping for Countertop Removal

You’ll need to do some prep work before you start hacking away at your old countertop. Clear everything off the top of the countertops and remove cabinet drawers. (You may also want to go ahead and clear out the bottom cabinets.) Set down a drop cloth to protect your floors and to help with cleanup later. Disconnect the sink plumbing and take out the sink either by unscrewing it or using a putty knife to unseal it if the sink is glued down. If your cooktop is mounted to the countertop, remove that in a similar fashion. Disconnect the gas or electrical connections, unscrew the cooktop, and take it out.

One thing you will need to be careful of is the countertop backsplash. If you’re replacing the backsplash too, you’ll want to remove the old one before tackling the countertops. You don’t want to damage the wall while removing the countertops and taking down the backsplash first will prevent that. Use a utility knife to cut through the caulk or a putty knife to loosen it. Then take a pry bar, placing the putty knife or a piece of wood between the wall and the pry bar, and carefully pry the backsplash from the wall. You don’t want to hack away and damage the wall in the process. If you are not replacing the backsplash, you have to be extra cautious when removing the countertops.

Out With the Old

Now to get down to the actual countertop removal. This step can be exciting especially if you’re awaiting a beautiful granite countertop installation. Taking the plunge and tossing your old countertop brings you one step closer to a fabulous new kitchen. You'll need goggles and gloves at the ready for the actual removal.

Make sure you’ve removed everything from the surface, including any appliances (see above paragraphs). If you haven’t already, now is the time to remove cabinet drawers and probably anything in the bottom cabinets. You may want to look underneath the cabinets to see how the countertop is mounted. If it's screwed on, remove the screws and lift off the countertops. Sometimes kitchen countertops are glued. Loosen them with a putty knife first. Then carefully pry the countertops loose with a pry bar and remove.

Removing an old countertop can be messy. But as long as you protect appliances and other features of your kitchen that are staying, you shouldn’t have any major damage. Just work carefully so you don't damage the adjacent walls. Other than that, enjoy the demolition and your incoming granite countertops!