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Concept, lifestyle, design and creativity are at the heart of Spacify collection. Displaying a stunning range of modern bar stools, Wine storage racks, Wine bars, carefully blending innovation and sophisticated with ‘thoughtful’ designs—take a look at the vibrant collection ranging from popular European, Turkish and US brands. A look at some of the original creations that caught attention this week… Kiss barstool Bar stools, a concept right from the womb of innovation…the Kiss barstool needs no foreword to brow its inspirational romance. A kiss wrapped with great poise and comfort—the design of this ultra-modern bar furniture has the power to set your heart on fire. Swivel in style with this Italian tour de force by the famed Cattelan Italia. Enhancing bar experience with its soft leather upholstery, the bar stool has a great deal of elegance and composure. Cattelan Italia, a company fathered by Giorgio and Silvia Cattelan, has more than 4000 showrooms in 90 countries around the world.

Cattelan is world- acclaimed for its break-through ideas and modern designs that add ‘life and soul’ to modern day living. Another eye-catching bar furniture that not only looks dazzling but is also affordable, it’s what I call ‘beauty with brains’…. check out this classy bar stool.. Curve Stool Curve Stool–Curvatures that engulf and stun at the same time—the chromed Denmark beauty has an air about itself. The creative bends and curves craft a spectacular design with distinct pattern. The designer curve stool has a chromed-steel legs and glossy bent-plywood seat and back that look like two impervious petals of rose. An impressive offbeat design with an affordable price—all points for originality. Wine rack have traditionally known as bar-essential. This week, I drooled over some interesting designs of racks, mugs and dining ware.. Acrylic wine rack A whiff of fresh air, the Acrylic wine rack makes a cute space-savior. A Gus design with signature brushed aluminum in a range of square and round finishing appears classy with its up-market matt looks. The rack has a fine, detailed weld with greatest precision on each joint.

Trendy, eager and completely imaginative…mark it as a piece of great accuracy and utility. Emotions underline this animated creation by Kenny Scharf. The Happy- Snappy Mug and Saucer set is a master-sculpt displaying two popular shades of human emotions. Leap gracefully from the yellow smiling happy face to blue stern face arranged in style on a chic saucer. “Happy/Snappy” has an edition of 2500. 20-piece dinnerware The 20-piece dinnerware is a classic in black & white, conceived right in the heart of Poland. The prominent whites and black motif carries the symbol and essence of universe. The impressive set has two contrasting colors, black and brown and includes four 12″ Serving plate, four 11″ Dinner plate, four 9″ Rim bowl and four 6″ Cup and saucer. Embracing space with style, the smart Profil Bar deserves a pat for innovation offering great value for money… Profil Bar is A mobile bar with attitude—the Italian Trolley bar is a Ca’ Nova design by Cattelan Italia. The silver-framed beauty has frosted glass shelves and the upper top smartly converts into a tray. Now this is a creation that fulfills ‘space and value for money’.

Many homeowners in Houston Texas are using window treatments as a way to add color to their home decor. Choosing a pattern with multiple colors will give you flexibility and options without having to change your window treatments each time you want another color. For example, you can’t decide between a solid green treatment and one that has a mixture of tan, green, gold, and rust.

The solid green treatment only gives you one shade of color choice, limiting your decorating options and usually requiring you to purchase another window treatment when you’re ready for a change. By selecting the multicolor window treatment you can select the gold color and purchase additional accents like decorative pillows, throws, vases, or other items.

Strategically placing the accent items in three areas of the space, it will draw your eye to the color in the room. When you’re tired of gold, you can select another color utilizing the same concept and so on. Solid or multicolor window treatments are both great ways to add color to your decor. Decide what works best for you and go for it!

Why have modern platform bed sets graced the covers of so many home magazines as of late? Because they are both functional and sexy! Not only do people love the space saving design of modern platform bed frames, but the low profile also makes for a very contemporary and hip look.

Modern platform beds owe their low profile not just too short legs, but to the fact that they do not require the use of a box spring. Without a box spring your mattress relies on the platform bed frame itself for support, eliminating the need for ugly cumbersome box springs. Eliminating a box spring from the equation not only means less things to buy, but a more hygienic bed as box springs notoriously harbor both dust and dust might.

So next time you’re considering a bedroom makeover give a modern platform bed frame a try. The low profile of a platform bed makes rooms feel more open and larger. You can get rid of that ugly bed skirt and you’ll save money by avoiding a box spring while giving your bedroom a clean contemporary look. All around it’s easy to see why modern platform beds have made it from the covers of home magazines and into homes around America.

Do you have back pain that you just can’t explain? You’ve worked on your posture, maybe tried Pilates or yoga, and even visit a chiropractor or get a weekly massage. Still, you wake up every morning in pain. The wrong mattress is the leading cause of back pain for most people, contributing to thousands of people suffering each year.

If this sounds like you, you may want to explore the benefits of a different type of mattress – one that’s designed with your specific body in mind. Memory foam mattresses and pillows conform to your body’s unique shape and needs, supporting your spine, back, and neck exactly where you need it. It won’t matter if you sleep on your back or on your side – memory foam mattresses provide the correct amount of firmness, support, and softness to ensure that you will have a comfortable night’s sleep.

Advanced memory foam technology features visco elastic, a firmer material that provides more resistance to pressure and thus more support. It also includes an open-cell structure that circulates air flow to actually keep you cooler at night. But not all visco elastic memory foam mattresses are the same! You will want to make sure that yours is manufactured in the United States, where it will meet high domestic standards for quality and freedom from harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde.

Also keep an eye out for vacuum-sealed chambers that guarantee the density you’ve invested in – you don’t want a memory foam mattress that will deflate after only a few months of use. So what are the benefits you can expect to experience from your memory foam mattress? Imagine sleeping better and waking up refreshed and pain-free. Because your body remains comfortable and well supported the whole night long, you will toss and turn less, experience less discomfort, poor circulation, or numbness that forces you to change your position, and receive the support where you need it most.

All this means better quality sleep, including longer periods of REM, which contributes to more productive and energized waking hours. Because of their high-quality design, good memory foam mattresses are designed to last up to twice as long as standard mattresses (some with a guaranteed 20-year lifespan), making them an investment that’s well worth the money. Put your mattress to the test today and experience the luxury of a restful, revitalizing night’s sleep.

Asphalt shingles are economical and versatile, which may be why they represent more than 80 percent of the roofing market. They’re relatively inexpensive to buy and install, are suited to roof pitches from 4-in-12 to vertical, and are available across a wide range of quality, cost, and style.

Easy to cut, fit, and fasten, asphalt shingles are compatible with many different kinds of flashing and edging products, and don’t require specialized accessories for roof edges, wall terminations, chimney or vent flashings.

Choosing Shingles

There are two kinds of asphalt shingles on the market: Fiberglass shingles and organic-mat shingles. Both are made with asphalt, but fiberglass shingles use a fiberglass reinforcing mat, while the organic kind use a cellulose-fiber mat derived from wood. The organic mat of traditional shingles has to be saturated with soft asphalt, then coated with a harder asphalt for protection; the fiberglass shingles need only the hard asphalt coating.

Fiberglass shingles are thinner, lighter, easier to lug around, and carry a better fire rating than organic shingles, but organic-mat shingles are tougher and stay more flexible in cold weather. Fiberglass shingles predominate in southern and central regions, but organic shingles are still popular in the North and are almost the universal choice in Canada.

Be Aware Of The Warranties

When it comes to shingles, the drawbacks center on service life. While asphalt shingles come with warranties ranging from 20 to as long as 45 years, Fayetteville roofers and builders remain skeptical of those warranties. Since warranties are a marketing device, they are not a reliable predictor of lifespan.

In the past decade, there have been many complaints of asphalt shingle failure long before warranties expired. Many homeowners have been dissatisfied with warranty payouts that didn’t cover all the costs of repair or replacement, as well.

So rather than compare warranties, it’s wise to demand shingles that meet industry manufacturing standards. Fiberglass asphalt shingles are covered by a standard called ASTM D-3462, which requires products to pass tear-strength and nail-withdrawal tests.

Until recently, few shingles on the market actually passed the tests. But codes have been upgraded to permit only fiberglass shingles labeled as complying with this standard to be installed. Today some manufacturers even have the independent Underwriters Laboratory certify that they measure up. To check for compliance, look for the familiar UL logo on the label next to the ASTM D-3462 certification.

Organic-mat shingles are covered by their own standard, ASTM D-225. In practice, organic shingles have a much higher tear strength and nail-pull resistance than fiberglass shingles.

They are also heavier because of the additional asphalt used to make them. Old-time roofers used to pick heavier shingles when they wanted a better brand; while this may not hold true for modern fiberglass shingles, it’s still a good rule for the organic kind.

Shingles that pass the standards cost more than low-grade shingles. However, installation is a big factor in total roof cost and, since it costs just as much to nail on poor shingles as first-rate ones, cheap shingles are rarely worth it.

Shingle Appearance

Asphalt shingles now come in all kinds of colors and profiles. The old 3-tab shingles are still around, but a wide range of “architectural” shingles, whose profiles suggest the random shadows and patterns of slate, wood shingles, or ceramic tile, are readily available.

These specialty shingles often carry a longer warranty but, once again, beware: Check to see that the shingle actually has two full layers, not a half-width of lower lamination. Also, make sure the package is labeled as complying with ASTM D-3462 or ASTM D-225.

Architectural shingles have a random pattern and, as a result, can be easier to lay out than the standard 3-tab kind. With a traditional shingle, you have to line up the tabs properly, or the roof will have a haphazard, wavy appearance.

The surface pattern of the architectural shingles, on the other hand, obscures the shape of the shingles themselves, and provides the desired appearance while saving effort on the layout. This savings in installation time may actually help offset the sticker price associated with specialty shingles.

Vinyl siding is the most effective way to protect your home from the elements, as well as, save on energy costs. Satisfaction comes from knowing you will never have to paint again! Years of testing and experience have proved the superiority of vinyl siding over wood; aluminum, and steel siding. Unlike these materials, vinyl will not scratch, dent, rust or rot!

Why Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl is now the number one of choice for nearly all homeowners. Builders, Realtors, Investors all say that vinyl siding is the smart choice. There are two simple reasons. Vinyl lasts longer than nearly every other material, endures against sun, wind, rain and hail, and it never has to be painted.

There are many different siding profiles to create different exterior looks. You can select traditional clapboard style, the beveled look of a dutchlap panel, or the old-fashioned charm of a beaded panel. Your home can have an exterior that is slick and modern or one that is rustic and comfortable.

Important Things to Know About Vinyl Siding

Panel Thickness - Gauge is the thickness of the panel. The higher the gauge (or panel thickness), the better the panel. Thicker panels offer greater impact and weather resistance. Thicker panels also are more rigid so they will hang straighter and flatter against the wall for a more attractive finish to your home.

Wood Grain - Vinyl siding is molded with different wood grains to offer different exterior looks. Smooth grains tend to work well with homes with more traditional designs, but also work well with contemporary architectural styles. More pronounced grains tend to give homes a more rustic appearance.

By the Square - Vinyl siding is sold by the “square”. Each square of siding covers 100 square feet, and shipping cartons from the manufacturer contain two squares. You can estimate how many squares you will need for your house - determine the square footage of each side of your home and divide by 100.

Don’t subtract windows and doorways from the measurements. Add 10 percent to account for cutting and waste.

Style, Performance and Value

You can select the right siding for your home by considering the architectural style, the environmental conditions such as wind, hail, and your budget.

Design and Style

However, the full benefits of vinyl siding come only to those who choose a superior company that uses the highest quality products. Make sure to choose a company that guarantees results on workmanship and the effectiveness of the vinyl siding they use.

Vinyl siding, when properly manufactured and expertly installed, should provide insulation in a few important ways:

* First, it should create structural integrity. Vinyl siding can be thought of as a protective shell for your home. In this way, it should be as seamless and durable as possible.

* Second, vinyl siding should increase R-value. R-value refers to thermal resistance, and is one way of measuring the insulating capacity of any given material.

* Third, vinyl siding should allow moisture to escape. By permitting the walls to “breathe,” the problems associated with mildew and rot can be effectively averted.

* Finally, vinyl siding should prevent air infiltration. In this way, the many unwanted elements carried by the air-such as noise or pollution-can be significantly reduced.

Not all vinyl sidings are created equally. Neither are the guarantees from the siding companies that install them! Most vinyl siding you will find today is made from recycled material. It can usually be recognized by its light bluish color on the back-side.

Vinyl siding produced by inferior companies is usually hollow-backed, with flat foam or drop-in contoured foam underlayments. Such options provide no structural integrity, and are either too thin to provide adequate insulation, or trap in moisture entirely.

Often such products are poorly installed. When improperly nailed, even the highest quality vinyl siding will lose its protective and insulating features. Such problems will only become worse over time and eventually resulting in a total loss of your investment!

Now that Spring has arrived, homeowners are beginning to spruce up the outside of their homes, including maintenance to their decks and fences. A question that wood restoration companies get asked all the time – “What stain should we use on our deck?” With so many color choices and brands available, it can be overwhelming.

Because wood decks and fences are costly investments, it is important to protect and maintain them with a quality sealer – one that is both eye appealing to the homeowner as well as effective in preventing mold and mildew from forming and causing the wood to rot from the inside out. Deck cleaning professionals choose to use primarily oil-based, semi-transparent stains which penetrate deep into the wood to protect it from checking, splitting, warping, and graying. Most water based products do not get into the wood’s grain because they form a film on its surface, which is then subject to peeling from the natural dry/wet cycles of the wood.

After your deck is thoroughly cleaned and brightened, make sure that you apply a quality sealer such as Ready Seal or Wood Tux Wet. Both of these sealers get deep down into the wood and contain heavy fungicides and pigmentation, which will prevent mildew growth and the wood from graying due to UV exposure. These stains will last for 2-3 years and will only need to be lightly cleaned by a power washing company, with the re-application of the same product, versus a full restoration of the surface which includes stripping the existing stain followed by a large amount of sanding.

Deck cleaning and sealing can be a large investment. However, if you do not properly protect your wood surfaces with a quality sealer, you will quickly realize that replacing warped, cracked, or rotted wood will be even more expensive.

The primary function of a housewrap or building paper is rain penetration control. It is not air infiltration despite what the manufacturers say. The energy aspects of housewraps are vastly overstated.

They have been embraced by builders for this function as can be evidenced by their market penetration. Yet their critical role in building durability is under appreciated and not marketed. It has been a triumph of marketing over physics.

The problem with building papers in general and house wraps in particular is a loss of water repellency. Contaminants referred to as surfactants (”surface-active contaminants”) either raise the surface energy of the house wrap or building paper or lower the surface energy of the water allowing the “wetting” of the housewrap or building paper surface by water.

Once wetting of the house wrap or building paper surface occurs, material pores in the house wrap or building paper become filled allowing transport of liquid phase water across the house wrap or building paper via capillarity or hydrostatic pressure (gravity).

Water soluble extractives in wood such as tannins and wood sugars in redwood and cedar are a type of surfactant that contaminate the surface of house wraps and building papers raising their surface energy.

Detergents and soaps are another type of surfactant that contaminates the surface of water, lowering its surface energy. Both result in the liquid (in this instance “water”) being able to “wet” the surface (in this case the building paper or house wrap).

The surface energies of either the liquid or surface or both are altered so that the surface energy of the surface becomes greater than the surface energy of the liquid. Back-priming or back-coating wood clapboards and trim helps to isolate the surfactants in the wood from the house wrap or building paper surface.

Similarly, providing airspace between wood trim and clapboard vinyl siding using furring or some other spacer (”cedar-breather”) reduces the quantity and time liquid phase water is trapped in the exterior of the wall assembly thereby reducing the potential of surfactant movement.

Where wood is concerned, both back-priming and airspace are highly recommended. Where stucco is concerned, stucco should never be installed in direct contact with any of the plastic based house wraps.

Stucco can “bond” or adhere to the house wrap surface altering its surface energy thereby allowing house wrap pores to become “wetted” and subsequently establish capillary flow. Another issue with stuccos is many have additives that improve workability and freeze-thaw resistance. These additives are typically surfactants.

A drainage space between stucco and building papers or house wraps is essential to control liquid phase water penetration. Bonding typically does not happen between stucco and building papers.

However, with most stucco applications applied over building papers, insufficient drainage results. It is recommended to use at least two layers of building paper under stucco in order to allow some drainage between the two layers.

Even better is to provide a spacer between the two layers of building paper by using a textured building paper or a building paper with granules or cork adhered to its surface thereby creating a space.

Another analogy that might be useful in understanding some of the concepts involved is one of being inside of a tent during a rainstorm and pushing your finger against the inside of the tent surface creating a leak by both compressing and tensioning the fabric altering its surface energy.

Dirt and dust can also affect house wrap performance. Think of a fabric that is “Scotch Guarded” to be water repellent that subsequently becomes dirty. The fabric must be cleaned to remove the contaminants and retreated to reestablish water repellency. Don’t let you house wraps become muddy or dirty.