The Safe, Easy Way to Hang Things on Your Vinyl Siding

(ARA) - Homeowners love to decorate their houses - inside and out. But hanging pictures on the wall in your living room is a lot easier than hanging a planter on your siding.

"Putting a nail or a screw into your siding can cause water seepage or buckling, and it will void your warranty protection," says Derek Diss, owner of Creative Vinyl Products. Diss owned a construction company for 16 years and he found that his customers were always asking him how they could hang flower pots and other decorative items on their siding. "I really didn't have a good answer for them," he says. So he invented one.

Diss manufactures and sells the siding hook (www.sidinghook.com), a simple stainless steel hook that holds up to 12 pounds and attaches to vinyl siding simply by wiggling it in between the slats until it clicks into place - no tools or sharp objects necessary. Because the hook is stainless steel, it won't rust or stain the siding.

Use the hook for flower pots, wreaths, holiday decorations and more. When you no longer need it, simply lift it out from between the slats.

The hooks have been so popular that Diss has branched out into other products that attach to vinyl siding, such as planters that attach directly to the exterior of your home using siding hooks. He soon plans to introduce an "S" hook version of his siding hook that can be used to attach items that need to hang flush against a wall, such as thermometers, and house numbers.

All of Diss' products are made in the United States. To see a video of how the hook works, visit (www.sidinghook.com).

Copyright © 2005, ARA Content

An Easy Way to Spruce Up Your Home in the New Year

(ARA) - Relax. The frenzy of last-minute holiday shopping is passed. The flurry of visits with friends and family has finally come to a halt. Glistening twinkle lights are stowed away for next year and any traces of chocolates or sugar cookies vanished with the start of post-holiday diets. But hopefully the sizzle of your new year hasn't completely fizzled out. Are you wondering how best to spruce up your home during the winter lull before spring? Here's how to recapture the kindling spirit of the holidays…sans stress.  

This post-holiday season count on the warmth and radiance of candles to make your home comfy-cozy. You can revive your centerpieces and add unique flare to your mantel with these easy entertaining and decorating ideas from Zippo.

* Keep is simple but dramatic with mirrors. On a coffee table or atop the mantel, position a candle in front of or on top of a mirror to multiply the light and double the effect of the candle and color.

* Nothing says, "Come on in!" better than a lovely scent to greet your guests at the door. Try combining your favorite scents or adding an unusual twist to an everyday scent. Dust off your vanilla candle and burn it alongside an orange-scented candle. Try an apple candle with sugar cookie and cinnamon. Create a colorful 'candlescape' using multiple scented candles to welcome your guests.

* Utilize the champagne flutes you toasted with at New Year's to create a guest-flocking centerpiece. For a festive arrangement, drop a votive in wine, champagne or martini glasses. In lieu of votives, top off the glass with water, a few pebbles or marbles, and decorative floating candle.  

* Keep safety in mind. Never leave lighted candle displays unattended. Use a specially designed lighter, like the Zippo Multi-Purpose Lighter (MPL), instead of matches to light your decorations. With a patented child-resistant safety button, the MPL is perfect for the job.

Utility lighters are great gadgets for candles-lovers, hostesses and outdoor grillers alike. Look for the lighters at candle stores, fireplace shops, home centers, gift shops and other retailers.  

Save a few bucks on a utility lighter by visiting www.zippoholiday.com to download a $2 rebate on any Zippo MPL now through the end of the month. The Zippo rebate is redeemable at any retail store including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Linens & Things and Yankee Candle Co. If you're in a rush, you can purchase the Zippo MPL directly online; the rebate doesn't apply to online purchases.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content

Master Suites Make Your Bedroom Your Castle

(ARA) - When is a bedroom not a bedroom? When it's a combination den, meditation room, wet bar, home theater, and spa. Today's homes boast expansive master suites that are oases of comfort and luxury, including extras like mini refrigerators, coffee makers, state-of-the-art televisions, whirlpool tubs, and European-style towel radiators. Oh, and of course, a bed.

"The master suite is a retreat for homeowners," says Paula Bush of Zehnder, a company that manufactures towel radiators, zehnderamerica.com. "Homeowners can relax after a hard day at the office, and parents can have private time without the kids."

Whether your tastes run more toward Old World-inspired décor that features heavy, opulent furniture or more a more modern, eclectic style, it's the details that make it special.

While the master suites featured in home magazines tend to be huge spaces that may even include multiple rooms, you can turn your bedroom into a mini-master suite with some special touches.

If you can afford it, consider replacing your old tub with a whirlpool style tub; if that's not in the budget, something as simple as adding a new showerhead to your shower can make a big difference.

For the ultimate indulgence, add a towel radiator to your bathroom. Not only will you always have luxurious, warm towels after a bath or shower, but the radiator will help heat the bathroom as well. Zehnder's popular Janda model is available in three sizes to fit any room and add a dash of European flair.

Many master suites feature a complete dinette setup, with microwave, refrigerator and espresso machine. Get the effect for less by setting up a coffee station in one corner of your room. Cover an inexpensive particle board table with a beautiful tablecloth, a couple of pretty china cups and a personal-size coffee maker.

Instead of an entertainment center that you might find in a designer master suite, you can put a television in a free-standing armoire, and add a portable CD player so you can relax with your favorite music.

Add a comfortable chair where you can read or just contemplate your day wrapped in a cozy throw. Cashmere is nice, but fleece works just as well.

Even if you don't have a million-dollar home, you can have a master suite retreat that gives you refuge from the stresses of daily life.

To see the Janda towel radiator, visit zehnderamerica.com.

Copyright © 2005, ARA Content

Real or Not, Fireplaces Add Warmth, Personality to Rooms

(ARA) - Realtors know that fireplaces are one of the most popular amenities buyers look for in a home, whether that fireplace is wood-burning or gas powered. They add a homey touch and are a perfect place to display family photos and holiday decorations. But adding a fireplace can be expensive. And if you rent, chances are your landlord wouldn't be too excited about you doing major construction.

Luckily, there is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to add the charm and architectural interest of a fireplace to your home. Milestone Architectural Ornamentation www.milestoneltd.com specializes in custom cast limestone fireplace surrounds. While these surrounds are intended to enhance the look of existing fireplaces, they work equally as well to create the illusion of a fireplace where none exists.

"Many of our smaller fireplaces would fit perfectly into an apartment," says company CEO Melody Brenna. "Simply attach the fireplace to the wall, add some decorative accents and you have a new focal point for your room for around $500."

Here are some suggestions to help you get the most mileage out of your faux fireplace.

1. "Make sure the fireplace is in scale with the room," advises Brenna. She recommends her company's Seattle, Capri and Boston models for smaller spaces.

2. The fireplace style should complement the architectural style of the building or room it is in. For example, the neoclassic elements of the Boston make it a good fit for traditional homes, while the clean lines of the Seattle model adapt to many different styles.

3. Enhance the effect of your fireplace by adding a candelabra where the logs would go in a real fireplace. Adding a decorative fire screen takes the illusion a step further. Or, find an artistic friend to paint the illusion of firebrick and stacked wood in the opening.

4. Accessorize your fireplace - hang a piece of art or a mirror over the fireplace, create a tableaux of photos or display your collection of blown glass on the mantel.

5. For the holidays, drape greenery across the mantel and hang sparkling ornaments from it for a festive effect. You can also use the mantel or the floor in front of the fireplace to set up a snow village. And of course, where else would you hang your stockings?

"Thanks to our patented lightweight masonry, these fireplaces are easy to install. Our ornamental stone rivals the beauty of natural stone in texture and touch, without the weight" says Brenna. Milestone's natural veining is simple to glaze, creating an antique patina that will enhance any décor.

For more ideas on how a fireplace can enhance your home, visit www.milestoneltd.com.

Copyright © 2005, ARA Content

A Custom Room without the Custom Price Tag

(ARA) - Since the first cave dwellers put pigment on the stone walls of their homes, people have used murals to decorate, enhance and make a statement about their living space. Throughout history, muralists have used their talents to tell a story, express religious devotion, beautify their environment and even visualize political protest.

There is almost certainly a spot in your home where you could envision a mural - perhaps a Tuscan-inspired garden scene in your dining room, or a fairytale castle or undersea adventure in a child's room. "Murals stimulate the imagination and can really define the atmosphere of a room," says Ohio-based artist Nicollete Capuano, owner of Beyond the Wall Mural Design. "A mural has the ability to break through and go beyond a flat wall, opening a space to any scene imaginable."

One way to get a mural in your home is to have an artist like Capuano paint a custom design. But if practical concerns - like the amount of time the artist will need to be in your home working (often hundreds of hours), or the cost of a custom mural - have you thinking a mural just isn't right for your home, think again.

"Today's technology can turn virtually any image or work of art into a mural," says Todd Imholte, president of Environmental Graphics, a company that specializes in manufacturing wall murals. "In fact, many artists now create murals specifically for the purpose of being translated into a wallpaper mural."

Capuano was commissioned by www.MuralsYourWay.com to create three fanciful murals appropriate for a child's room www.muralsyourway.com. Each mural - Dragon Kingdom, Fairy Tale Castle and Princess Castle - took over 100 hours to create, and is a unique piece of art.  Murals Your Way has turned these masterpieces into wallpaper murals available only through the Web site. Capuano drew from a range of real and fanciful influences to design each mural. For example, the Princess Castle incorporates architectural elements from mosques, Italian Renaissance structures and even buildings in Red Square in Moscow.

Installation of the wallpaper murals is a matter of an hour or two, as opposed to days for an artist to work in your home. Costs range from just under $200 for a small 6-by-4-foot mural to a little over $760 for a giant 11-by-11 masterpiece. In contrast, to have an artist hand-paint the same size mural could cost thousands of dollars.

"Wallpaper murals are also more durable," says Imholte. "While an actual painted surface may require some special care in terms of temperature, moisture and touch-ability, wallpaper tends to be a more durable medium. Plus, when the time comes to move, or if you just get tired of it, you'll feel a lot better about pulling down a $300 mural that you would painting over a $3,000 custom painted mural."

Where you place a mural, and the painting's theme, is limited only by imagination and budget, Capuano notes. "To have a life-size painting in a room really makes a statement," she says. But you can also use murals as an accent to enhance small places, such as an architectural niche or the landing of a staircase. Murals Your Way offers a range of sizes, from small (4 feet by 6 feet) to large (10 feet by 7 feet) and even custom murals with no limit to the size or design.

"Any mural on our Web site can be made in a custom size and shape," says Imholte. "And you will find works by artists for every taste, from classical to impressionist to modern."

To browse the range of artists whose work is available as a wallpaper mural, visit www.muralsyourway.com. Or, call the Murals Your Way hotline at (888) 295-9764.

Copyright © 2005, ARA Content

Create the Perfect Kid's Room

(ARA) - Redecorating your child's room is more than a way to bring their space up to date. It can also be a great way for you to spend some time with your child, to see how their personal tastes have developed and to teach them some valuable lessons about negotiation as well.

You may be surprised to know that the first step in the room redecorating process doesn't begin with picking out a princess theme or figuring out the right shade of rocket blue. Knowing when your child is ready for the change can be more important than the decorating process itself.

According to Dr. Steve O'Brien, assistant professor of child psychology for Argosy University/Tampa, knowing where your child is at in their development is the key. "When your child's interests begin to expand to the world around them and become more personal, your child may be ready and excited for a new room." Changes in television viewing from animated cartoons to "real" shows like those on Animal Planet and Nickelodeon, interest in different types of music and a move towards more mature toys are indicators as well.

Remember that your child's room is not your own. While your furniture, collections and possessions spread over the entire home, theirs are usually confined to one room. Their bedrooms are multifunctional spaces that need to meet a variety of needs. "The space needs to be a place where your child can sleep, store their things, socialize with friends, play and even study," says LeAnn Baier, interior design instructor for The Art Institute of Las Vegas. According to O'Brien, "It should be both comfortable and comforting to them and designed in a way that is conducive to their development."

Weed through the contents of your child's room and help them prioritize what they need in the space and what they don't." Identify what items should be in open storage where your child can access them easily, which ones can be placed in closets, which need to be convenient to access and which can be stored elsewhere or simply thrown away.

The best way to maximize space in any bedroom, according to Baier, is with a closet system. According to Steven Mann, managing partner of Crowne Closets & Cabinetry in Las Vegas, "If you have a single shelf and pole in your closet, installing a closet system can increase hanging space by two thirds and give the customer needed shelving as well."  If you can't afford a custom system, there are other options as well. Your local do-it-yourself warehouse can also help when it comes to closet systems and storage solutions, as can a little ingenuity.

Go to the organization aisle of your favorite store, look at the various storage items there and find ways to use them in your child's room. Baier uses canvas shoe holders that hang from a traditional closet pole to store games, puzzles and art materials for her daughter. Remember that children's clothes are shorter so you can often fit a bookcase or toy organizer under them in the closet. Consider under-the-bed storage as well. Wall shelves and other off-the-floor storage can be a great way to allow children to display their collections in an organized fashion. Bookcases are another storage solution for kid items but can take up vital floor space in the room.

The primary pieces in your child's bedroom should be the furniture. "The best case scenario," says Baier, "is that parents have planned ahead of time for the transition and avoided furniture and items that are age-specific." Whether you have them already or will need to purchase them now, opt for classic pieces that will grow with your child.

Walls should be handled in a similar manner.  Baier encourages her clients to opt for strong architectural lines and neutral colors in a room. Bead board, moldings and other architectural elements can give a room the character you are looking for without overwhelming the space. When it comes to color, a light periwinkle is a great way to inject color into the room and appease your daughter's demand for an all-purple space. "Kids generally don't have a concept of color shades until they are 8 or 9," says O'Brien. "Look at different shades of purple with them and come to an agreement on what shade of purple they can use for the walls, assuring them they can inject more vibrant shades in other places."

So where is the fun, the color and the Spongebob that your child wanted in their space? It's in the accents. Bed linens, artwork, table lamps and even window coverings are less expensive ways to bring your child's personality into the space and help their "cool" factor. Keep window shades and light control elements neutral but experiment with a fun valance. Bring your child's favorite character or animal into the room in the bedding or as art accents on the walls. Most importantly, know that every good design has classic elements that will stand the test of time. Creating a good base for your growing child's room allows you to make changes at every stage of their life and with reasonable or nominal cost.

Courtesy of ARA Content

How to Combine Styles After You Say 'I Do'

(ARA) - In the days leading up to your wedding, you can pretty much count on complications.  The caterer calls you up and says he doesn't think he'll be able to find enough lobster tails to fill your order; or all of a sudden your uncle and his family will be coming after all and the priest just got called out of town on a family emergency.

It's no wonder all of your time has been spent worrying about the main event, not focusing on yourself, your new husband-to-be, and how to build a life together.  But if you want to return home from the honeymoon to a life of wedded bliss rather than confusion, you need to take the time to "set up house."

If you and the groom are already living together, combining stuff and styles is something you've probably already gone through.  But if you'll be moving in together for the first time, you need to give it some serious thought.  You're going to need furniture, appliances, dishes, linens, etc.  You'll also need to come up with a mutually acceptable decorating plan.  

So where do you start? By determining your style.  If you're happy with what would be considered "the norm," you'll probably want to go with a traditional look -- furniture with soft, smooth edges; paint and accessories with mid-range tones and fabrics that are neither too shiny nor too textured.  A contemporary look, with its bold lines and colors, is often appreciated by couples who enjoy the arts and love to entertain.  French Country is the way to go if you want a home with that "lived in" look.

"Once you pick out the furniture, you can really make the 'look' come alive by choosing the right bed and bath linens," says Virginia Peale of Yves Delorme, a French purveyor of fine bed linens and matching accessories.  "I especially like the options our Olivier Desforges collection has to offer.  It features contemporary French design with a young, urban sensibility."  Log on to www.olivierdesforge.com to sample color swatches or look at design and grouping ideas.

If you want a look that's simple and sophisticated, Peale recommends you consider Newport, a simple geometric design that features the interaction of stripes and dots and the addition of a discreet line in ultramarine. The reverse of the duvet cover, the fitted sheet and boudoir shams have a navy background; European shams are engineered with a navy center.

If you want the bedroom to be all about romance, you may want to go with Manade.  The design features elegant mini lianas and tiny flowers surround a large, classic Indian paisley in shades of pink and red. This pattern is paired with a tone-on-tone paisley design in strong red on the reverse side of the duvet cover, the fitted sheet, and the boudoir shams.

To transform your bedroom into a whimsical getaway spot, day or night, consider the Ciragan design.  It features a dreamlike Oriental garden with daring colors --  a blend of Indian rose, orange, turquoise, and absinthe green.

"The fashionable style and high quality of the line ensures its broad appeal -- from those who love to decorate in vogue to those who value lasting design," says Peale.  

For more decorating ideas, log on to www.olivierdesforges.com.

Copyright © 2005, ARA Content

How to Choose a Style You Will Love to Live In

(ARA) - When you go home at the end of the day, your apartment, condo or house should be your sanctuary; but be honest, is it a place that really feels comfortable and welcomes you?  If not, it's time to do something about it.

Your home should not only be a place to rest your weary head at night, it should be a reflection of you.  If your home has plain white walls, a lack of decorative accents and what could be called generic furniture, it's time to make a change.  

So where do you start?  By determining your style - and it probably falls into one of these three categories: traditional, contemporary or French country.  If you're happy with what would be considered "the norm," you'll probably want to go with a traditional look featuring furniture with soft, smooth edges, paint and accessories that offer a mix of mid-range tones and fabrics that are neither too shiny nor too textured.   A contemporary look, with its bold lines and colors is popular among people with a worldly view, who love the arts and entertain often.  If you want your home to have that "lived in" look, French Country is the way to go.

Once you know what look you want, the real fun begins. Start thumbing through design magazines for ideas about color combinations, furniture and fabrics; then pick a room to work on and get started.  A good place to begin is in the rooms where you spend the most time: the master bedroom and bath.   These days, most interior decorators go out of their way to make sure the rooms complement each other and so should you.

Begin with the bed, which is the centerpiece of the room.  Rather than just throwing down a bedspread and moving on, look for linens that will really dress it up.   Mixing and matching colors, designs and textures will make a bold statement.

If your goal is to achieve a designer look without actually bringing a designer in, check out the affordable yet luxurious line of bed and bath linens offered by Olivier Desforges.  To sample color swatches or look at design grouping ideas, visit www.olivierdesforges.com.

One of their most popular traditional designs is Madere, inspired by the traditional shawls from Eastern Europe.  The bedspread features richly colored boughs of large roses on a warm, red background. The background color switches to linen on the complementary shams, fitted sheets and duvet cover, then goes back to red for the matching towel and robe set available for the bathroom.  Colors that go great with this design include red, linen, yellow, green and black.  Accessorize with any or all of them.

If your goal is to create a more contemporary or French country look, Olivier Desforges has a design that will work for you too.  Log on to www.olivierdesforges.com for more decorating ideas.

Copyright © 2005, ARA Content