How To Choose The Perfect Granite Work Surface

By Edward Green

My Grandmother used to say to me “Nothing cheap is good and nothing good is cheap”. This ring true when dealing with the purchase especially on the internet of Granite Work Surfaces. In fact of all stone so read carefully.

Natural stone is graded as to it’s suitability for a given task. It is also graded regarding the region of the world it originated from. This is a grade for general use but more for stone professionals to advise architects, surveyors etc which products to use for maximum efficiency in the building or home.

When buying on the internet you are usually shown samples of the very best, Granite, Marble, Limestone etc. You must be aware that this stone is probably not what you will receive. Firstly, the stone is batched. You need batched stone to get the consistent pattern throughout the surface. If you were to buy stone today and return for stone a month later to complete your project you will invariably get a mismatch that can look horrendous especially with the larger crystals such as blue pearl granite.

Always make sure you are receiving the same batch and have it itemised on your order. Also if the installer chips a corner or scratches the surface you will generally need a replacement piece. If the batch isn’t available you may have a problem.

I have received numerous calls lately concerning the fading of black granite counter tops. Black granite should not fade. Black granite imported from Asia is sometimes doctored with dyes and oils to darken the surface. The fading is nothing more than the dyes and oils being removed. Unfortunately, the only fix is to re-polish the top. This can be costly.

Before purchasing a granite top perform the following test to find out if it has been doctored.

Get a clean white cloth and apply some acetone (nail varnish remover) to the surface of the granite. If any residue or black color is observed on the top, do not accept it, it has been dyed.

Take a piece of the "granite" you want to test and spill a few drops of lemon juice onto it. If you see that under the drops of lemon it develops very quickly dark spots, it means that it's a very absorbent stone and I would advise you against it. If it takes, say, a minute or so to be absorbed, then you're dealing with a level of absorbency that's easily controllable with the application of a good quality impregnating sealer.

So, in short be careful where you place your order and always seek specialist advice. The void between a good stone and a bad stone is huge, the price between a good stone and a bad stone is smaller than you think but can be costlier.

About the author:

Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd Company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers. http://www.marblemasteruk.com

Protecting Your Limestone Floor Investment

by: Edward Green

There are many types of limestone. These vary a great deal in terms of porosity and hardness, as well as in colour and texture. However limestone, although very hard wearing and durable is porous and therefore prone to staining. Limestone is also not resistant to acid and harsh cleaning products, as well as spillages of acidic soft drinks, fruit juices, wine and vinegar etc can all damage the stone. The Limestone Treatment System protects limestone against such damage and ensures that it stays looking its best with the least possible effort.

Method

All new porous limestone floors need to be sealed either before fixing or before grouting with a suitable Impregnator. Our product offers a free 15 year performance warranty which means if the sealer doesn't stop staining we will come back free of charge and apply more sealant to stop staining. We have only had 1 callback for more protection out of literally hundreds of projects. The coverage is around 4 - 8 m2 per litre. We offer the application process but you can apply it yourself if you want to. Apply as many coats as can absorbed. These will reduce the porosity which not only helps protect against staining, but also enhances the natural beauty of the material and acts as the foundation for the surface finish.

If you decide to go the DIY route please make sure you evenly cover the tile with the impregnator. Once it becomes nearly dry you will need to wipe the tile with a clean white terry cloth to get an even texture across the tile, this is very important. Always work in one direction and not in a haphazard fashion as streaks will appear.

It is possible to purchase Limestone tiles that have been "dipped". Dipping means that a tile has been submerged into a tank containing an impregnator of sorts and thus has a protection element attached to it. This method is costly and before anyone tells you it has been "dipped" ask to test the porosity by taking some of the tile you are purchasing and scrutinize it with whatever liquids you generally use and or spill at home.

Once the flooring has been impregnated and allowed to dry it can be easily maintained with our Limestone dressing that cleans, maintains and offers some protective properties every time it is used, it is also an environmentally friendly product that is fully biodegradable.

It really isn’t that more expensive to have professional sealant company such as Marble Master Ltd perform the sealing of the stone for you and you would qualify for the 15 year performance warranty. It is almost like having a free maintenance company on hand for the spillages you can’t remove. The warranty is a guarantee from the sealant manufacturer.

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it's entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to: support@marblemasteruk.com

About the author:

Edward Green owns and operates the highly successful Marble Master Ltd Company. Marble Master specializes in Restoration and Refinishing of all types of natural stone and consultancy services to Architects, Restoration Companies and Interior Designers. http://www.marblemasteruk.com

The Oriental Vs. Contemporary Bedroom Design Theory

by: Shrinivas Vaidya

Dear friends,

If you have read any interior design books/articles, visited
a few websites on the internet, you will find the word theme used
quite often.

What exactly is a theme-based design?

A theme according to me is a collection of various parameters of
design of an interior space. So a theme may include a certain set
colors, materials, repetition of a certain element, such as
a decorative item, etc...

Primarily there are two basic themes under which a design can
be categorized, 1)Oriental 2)Contemporary.

Oriental Bedroom Design Theme:

These kind of themes have a still drilled down niche design
themes, such as country, rustic, vintage, elegant, etc...
One of the major thing about these kind of themes is that much
emphasis is given on the natural beauty of any material.
These designs are close to nature or are shown to be close to
nature.

These kind of design styles are very rarely found in the urban
city interiors. Mostly the countryside homes adopt these kind if
themes, to replicate the flora and fauna of the outside environment.

The designer tries to include the patters seen in nature, such as
leaves, flowers, plants. All these natural patterns are seen on
wallpaper patterns, decorative lamps, curtains, furniture
upholstery, wall paintings, etc...

Homes which are build on country side such as farm houses, the scarcity
of space is not an issue, but this creates another problem as far as
designing interiors is concerned.

A bedroom, no matter of what size it is, requires some basic
furniture elements as functional needs, such as a double bed,
dressing table, wardrobes, study tables, a book shelf etc..

It is sometimes possible that because of the large spaces, the
bedroom looks empty after the furniture is arranged. At such
times "decoration" plays a major role. During ancient years
the palaces and castles had such large built spaces, where
extensive use of decoration was used in the form of paintings,
heavy decorative flooring patterns, carvings, moldings as a
decorative architectural elements.

So in this oriental design trend, decoration of the space using
various accessories plays a major role.

Contemporary design Theme:

These kind of design themes are very new as compared to the
previously mentioned oriental design theme. But how did the
designers came along using these kind of designs?

During the starting years of the 20th century, the "Industrial
Revolution" in Europe changed the face of our planet. It
was easy to design and manufacture goods on a mass scale
with amazing speed and efficiency.

This created a flood of industries in and around the cities.
These cities attracted large amount of people to migrate from
rural areas to city centers in search of a living.

Because of this migratory effect there was a sudden need of
housing requirement for the workers. This is where the concept of
an "apartment" was introduced. Because of the pressure of demand,
a school of thoughts emerged within the architects, who
believed that "simplicity" is the need of today's era.

They thought that, the design of the building has to be simple
and easy to build, then only we can compete with the growing
demand of housing needs in cities. That's why simple designs with mostly plane and square faces with square or rectangular openings
were used. These forms and masses were easy to build and still
beautiful. If everything from "safety pins" to "space ships"
could be built on a mass scale, why not "buildings".

The school of thought believed that a plane rectangular form
is in itself beautiful and they proved this using infinite
permutations and combinations of the basic square form. That's
why decoration was given a second preference. Today we call this
school of thought as "contemporary". In contemporary design
every element has an order.

That's why in today's modern interior design, simplicity is the
key to an efficient design. Unlike the previous oriental design
theme, the contemporary design theme states that any kind of
architectural decoration is always dependent on the basic form
of the building. The form itself is so beautiful, that the need
to further decorate it is not required. Today's modern interiors
spaces are simple to understand, simple to construct, and
project a kind of simplicity.

By reading the above paragraphs some of you might say that,
decoration is no more needed. But this is not true. I am not trying
to force some ideas here. But most people confuse the whole
concept of "Interior Design" and "Interior Decoration". Both
are quite different and both have a unique value in today's
complex society.

Decoration was something the primitive man learned, looking at
the nature around him. He saw plants, flowers, birds, animals
and tried to copy these elements. We still use "embroidery" on
our dresses. But the modern design theory says that any sort
of decoration can only "enhance" the existing form, but can not
be an element of design.

What does this mean?

In the above said example the "embroidery" pattern can certainly
add to the beauty of the cloth, but the modern theory denies to
accept the cloth to be of a cheap quality. It states that every form, texture, material, shape is in itself beautiful and must be
accepted as it is. Because of this the need to further decorate it
does not arise.

Thus decoration whether used in architecture or elsewhere is always
dependant on the form on which it is used, but design is
an independent entity which does not need any justification from the
external factors.

The two design themes mentioned above are still widely used today.
The user must look upon them from a point of view of what best suits
his/her likes and dislikes. Only then can you give yourself and
your family the best quality of living.

I hope this article was informative to everyone.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

About the author:
Shrinivas Vaidya is the webmaster of Bedroom-Design-And-Decorating-Ideas.com .Visit TODAY to get an in-depth knowledge of master bedrooms, teen bedrooms and child bedrooms.

A Guide to Fireplace Mantels

by: Eric Morris

Fireplace mantels are functional design elements that add character and depth to your room while displaying your unique taste and style. A rustic fireplace mantel can transform a living room. A mantel, whether you choose to have an entire surround or just the shelf mantel, could be just what the interior designer ordered for a dull living room.

Inspired by Greek and Roman architecture, mantels made their debut during the Italian Renaissance in Italy. Fireplaces were commonly accompanied by elaborate columns, pilasters, carved figures and architectural molding. By the advent of the Edwardian era, mantels were streamlined to accommodate more subtle designs. Modern mantel shelves, on the other hand, originated with the use of the high density construction fiberboard.

As for mantel materials, mahogany has always been a popular choice, as well as walnut and elm. Indeed, the materials used for mantel designs vary greatly, ranging from concrete to wood, metal, gypsum, plaster and glass. For a more sophisticated look, many designers prefer a marble and tile frame surrounding a fireplace.

Creating a mantel can be a costly engagement, especially when shopping for a custom-made model. Some cost savings are available for those interested in constructing from a mantel kit, complete with shelves and ornamental designs.

For ready-made models, relatively inexpensive mantles tend to be made from fiberboard, and range from $250-300. Pre-cast concrete and plaster are somewhat costlier, though certainly still affordable for most homeowners. Stone and wood are considerably more expensive, starting at about $700 and reaching several thousand dollars.

If you’re looking to eliminate the contractor, you can build a fireplace mantel using a do-it-yourself kit. These are not always easy to assemble, but can be durable and detailed. You also have the satisfaction of having added to the beauty of your home.

About the author:
Fireplace Mantels Info provides detailed information about wood, stone, custom, antique, and discount fireplace mantels, as well as fireplace mantel shelves, surrounds, and more. Fireplace Mantels Info is the sister site of Gas Fireplaces Web.

The art of home decoration

by: Marjan Zemljic

If you would have your rooms interesting as well as beautiful, make
them say something, give them a spinal column by keeping all
ornamentation subservient to line.

Before you buy anything, try to imagine how you want each room to look
when completed; get the picture well in your mind, as a painter would;
think out the main features, for the details all depend upon these and
will quickly suggest themselves. This is, in the long run, the
quickest and the most economical method of furnishing.

There is a theory that no room can be created all at once, that it
must grow gradually. In a sense this is a fact, so far as it refers to
the amateur. The professional is always occupied with creating and
recreating rooms and can instantly summon to mind complete schemes of
decoration. The amateur can also learn to mentally furnish rooms. It
is a fascinating pastime when one gets the knack of it.

Beautiful things can be obtained anywhere and for the minimum price,
if one has a feeling for line and colour, or for either. If the lover
of the beautiful was not born with this art instinct, it may be
quickly acquired. A decorator creates or rearranges one room; the
owner does the next, alone, or with assistance, and in a season or two
has spread his or her own wings and worked out legitimate schemes,
teeming with individuality. One observes, is pleased with results and
asks oneself why. This is the birth of good taste.

Treat your rooms like "still life," see to it that each group, such as
a table, sofa, and one or two chairs make a "composition," suggesting
comfort as well as beauty. Never have an isolated chair, unless it is
placed against the wall, as part of the decorative scheme.

About the author:
Marjan Zemljic is owner of http://www.home-decorating-ideas-and-tips.com
and author of How to break into the interior design industry. In his book
you will find out how you can do exactly that. For more informaion on
home decorating ideas visithis website and learn how to create the home
of your dreams.

Buying Custom Wood Blinds

by: Jimmy Sturo

Window and door blinds on windows and doors are chief decorating elements in houses as well as in offices. Interior designers use window blinds made of wood or those that have a wooden look to offer a feeling of warmth and coziness to the atmosphere in the room. They not only offer privacy but also have an inviting look and add beauty to the rest of the furniture in the room. Their warmth, versatility, and durability are prized by professional decorators.

Wood blinds can be custom crafted suit the décor of the room. When the blinds at the doors and windows match the rest of the furnishings in the room, it adds a feeling of beauty and elegance to the whole room. Wood blinds are available in a very wide range of shades, colors, materials and textures to suit any design palate. They can be vertical or horizontal, side-opening or middle-opening, top-down or bottom-up.

For those not interested in working with professional decorators, many manufacturers today are offering custom-designed wood blinds for doors and windows. There are also various online websites that offer consultancy services for choosing wood blinds for the talented amateur. These sites contain exhaustive information for all kinds of decorative needs. Specialist advice is also available from home decorators and interior decorators. From measuring the windows, choosing the right kind of blinds, choosing the right kind of material for the blinds, choosing the right color, texture and shade to suit the rest of the room, size of the blind, a professional can share the tricks of the trade.

Many websites also offer customer service for maintenance of the wood blinds. With all the variety in the market, each and every detail can be addressed while ordering for the wood blinds. Most manufacturers are also willing to design the blinds as per the specifications of individual customers. It’s easy to see why custom wood blinds are becoming very popular these days for all kinds of designers, the professional ones and the talented beginners.

About the author:
Wood Blinds Info provides detailed information about custom, discount, woven, and faux wood blinds, as well as wood mini blinds, wood vertical blinds, and more. Wood Blinds Info is the sister site of Mini Blinds Web.

How to Decorate Your Home on EBay

by: Pamela Cole Harris

If you are on a budget (and who isn't?), a wonderful place for find home decorating accessories is auction sites like eBay. But before you go a'baying, here is some advice based on personal experience (make that major disasters!) to keep in mind:

1. Before you bid on anything, check the shipping cost. This cost varies greatly among vendors. That $2.99 artwork isn't such a great deal if you are charged $80 for shipping! And believe me, there are even higher shipping rates out there!

2. Try to buy color neutral. Never try to match a color in your room with the color on the screen. It simply does not translate well. Everyone's screen shows color a bit differently. Any you might end up with hot magenta when you wanted apple red. So stick with neutral accessories!

3. Check measurements! Don't assume because of how it looks in the picture! The mirror that looks so large on the dresser in the picture may look tiny in your room. That dresser may be very small in reality, making the mirror appear large (an old photographer's trick!). So ask for measurements if they are not included.

4. Choose to buy from a reliable seller. Check the feedback on every vendor you deal with. If there is a lot of negative feedback, take that as a warning and shop elsewhere! Don't set yourself up for a bad experience!


Ebay is fun and can be a great source of accessories, if you use your brain before you use your charge card. And if you buy something all wrong for your room - it can be a great place to get rid of it. Remember - one man's hideous eyesore is another man's chic treasure. Just make sure the eyesore doesn't end up in YOUR mailbox!

About the author:
Pamela Cole Harris has been a writer and designer for 35 years (Yikes, has it been that long?) Enjoy her tongue-in-cheek approach to inexpensive interior design at:
http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.comand http://www.diy-homedecor.com