Spring Into Spring With a New Curtain Rod and Curtain Rod Hardware
When you are decorating a room, selecting the window treatments can be one of the most confusing and challenging aspects of accessorizing that room. There are so many different styles of curtains, valances, draperies, and panels. The perfect window treatment offers privacy, light control, and adds the finishing touch to your decorating scheme. After you have selected the window treatment that is right for the room, the next step is choosing the perfect curtain rod.
There are a few steps that need to be done to make hanging the window treatments easy and stress-free. First you need to measure the window so you can choose the correct size curtain rod. You can extend a few inches beyond the window casing depending on how much of the wall you may wish to cover. The weight of the fabric is very important. Lighter weight curtains can be hung on any type of curtain rod. A heavier drape needs a sizeable rod and curtain rod hardware that will hold the weight of the fabric. The curtain rod must also be the right diameter. The top hem of the curtain must accommodate the diameter of the curtain rod.
An adjustable curtain rod is a great choice because if you have not measured correctly, the rod can be extended. Selecting the curtain rod hardware is just as important since the hardware is what will hold the rod onto the wall.
Finding the style of curtain rod and curtain rod hardware may take some time. It is easy to research and shop is on-line to compare a wide variety of window treatments. So take the time to replace those ugly "dated" curtain rods. Replace them with the new and beautiful rods and hardware that will make a "fashion statement" at your windows! About the Author
J Zande is a freelance writer for Curtain Rod Store. If you are shopping for new curtain rod and curtain rod hardware this is the store to shop. The Curtain Rod Store has the largest selection of curtain rods and curtain rod hardware for all your window solutions. Quality curtain rods in styles from simple to elegant and in price ranges to suit your budget. Shop on line at Curtainrodstore.com and browse their huge inventory.
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A lot of us would love the luxury of working from home. Those of you who have it would know what it means: the flexible hours, the freedom, and a comfortable space to work from. The space in your home that you work from and the way it is designed plays a very important role in your productivity and performance. Even if you are a minimalist and would like to make your peace with your little requirements, your office still needs to inspire you to do well. To elicit this inspiration and productivity, take a look at the home office interior design ideas mentioned here.
Home Office Design Ideas
Whether it is modern home office interior design ideas, or one that is traditional, there are some important tips to keep in mind when designing a home office. You should know that interior decorating is the last aspect of interior designing, and that there is a lot that needs to be considered.
Location Before you get started on any home office design ideas, choose an appropriate location for your home office in your premises. It is very important to choose an area that is relatively less noisy, well lit and well ventilated. A room that allows you to cut yourself off from the ruckus outside will have you looking forward to spending time in your home office. Simply put, you have to concentrate, focus, plan, and achieve goals in this room, so ensure that it is located accordingly. A lot of you may want a room that is closer to the garden, allowing a beautiful break from the monotony of work. If you live in an apartment, the view of the cityscape may be of your choice. Choose an appropriate room and get started.
Furniture Basics With the location of your home office decided, it's time to get down to the furniture requirements of your home office. The following will have to be considered in this section.
First and foremost comes a desk. No matter what kind of work you are doing from your home office, you will require a desk to accommodate your desktop or laptop. Additionally you may need a printer and extra equipment with your computer. Ensure your desk has room for all these necessities. Depending on the kind of work you do, you may need a desk with drawers to accommodate your files and other office supplies. If possible, invest in a portable table that can be moved around ever once in a while when it gets monotonous. Do take a look at these desk design tips to get some useful tips in getting yourself the right kind of desk.
While deciding on a desk you will also have to consider if you will be entertaining clients in the office. In such a case, you will require a proper office desk that allows you to comfortably interact with your clients.
Among the requirements of home office furniture, additional cabinets will be needed to store all your materials. If you can, get wall mounted cabinets as these will free up floor space for other furniture. A lot of people who operate from home offices like elaborate book racks in the room. Not only does it fulfill your storage requirements, it also adds value to the room in terms of aesthetics. Consider CD storage if you have the necessity in your job.
Get yourself a memo board that you can put up just above your desk, to remind yourself of important events, things to do, or simply to put up an inspiring quote to keep you going. A notice board is also an interesting addition to your space, on which you can put up important information, photographs and other interesting artwork.
If you are a creative individual who makes crafts, an interior designer, or an artist, you will require an additional desk to make your products or sketch, paint, etc. Depending on the size of the room you will be able to accommodate these requirements.
Those of you who make crafts, are into professional gift wrapping, sewing, etc. can get yourself wall mounted racks to hold your rolls of ribbon, scissors and other tools that are necessary for your work. In such a case this would be more of a studio than an 'office'.
If you are the one who works in the wee hours of the night, keeping a couch in your home office would be a good idea. Even if not a couch, having a single seat by the window where you can take a break from work and simply unwind for a bit will be very refreshing. This could even be a bean bag, nothing specifically elaborate.
For additional information, you may take a look at this piece on home office furniture buying tips. Remember, the placement of the furniture should be such that it is not crammed. There has to be enough space for you to comfortably walk around. Do not place any furniture in the doorway. Preferably, all furniture should be against a wall to avoid any bumps.
Light and Ventilation These two factors are very, very important when you consider any home office interior designing ideas. To keep the mind fresh and working, getting adequate ventilation in the room is necessary. While artificial ventilation is naturally provided for, a breath of fresh air is always needed to keep the mind active. Similar is the case with light. You don't want to switch on a light in the day when you have the ability to make the most of the natural light available. An important tip is never to place your desk against light. Whether you have to write, work on the computer, or make things manually, sitting against light always poses a major hindrance. Keep a lamp on your desk for additional focus, and ensure proper lighting in the rest of the room. Floor mounted lamps can not only fulfill the light requirements but also serve as unique accessories in the home office.
Finishing Touches This aspect of home office interior design probably takes more time than any of the aforementioned requirements. Just because it is an office space, it doesn't mean it has to look drab. In fact, your home office should be the most vibrant, and designed in such a way so as to elicit your best.
If you like minimal home office decorating ideas keep it minimal. If you like bright colors around you, then have your walls painted accordingly. Now an important tip when it comes to choosing color is that it shouldn't be over done. Because painting is something you won't do so often, apply bright colored paints in limited amounts, and keep the underlying color subtle and soothing.
Color is not necessarily added by paint, but also by the furniture and accessories you use. For instance, the chair for your desk could be in a vibrant color, the curtains and drapes you use for your windows could add color to the room, the books you keep in your book rack, or the ribbons in your ribbon rack are all sources of color for your room. All these home office decoration ideas can be utilized to personalize your space.
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San Diego Travel: Exploring the Waterfront and a Tour of the Historic Sofia Hotel
Today was our relocation day: we moved from our vacation apartment in Solana Beach in San Diego to the chic Sofia Hotel in downtown San Diego. On another brilliant day we arrived at the hotel at about 10 am, but our room was not ready yet, so we decided to embark on some brief local explorations.
Seaport Village's Victorian, Mexican and East Coast style architecture and its four miles of meandering cobble-stoned walkways create an inviting waterfront environment for shopping and dining. The assortment of merchandise includes souvenirs, clothing, kites, wind chimes and unique gift ideas. Galleries and art retailers round out the offering, and live music is offered frequently throughout the year. An original 1895 carousel with hand carved animals enchants adults and children. Culinary options include four fine dining restaurants and thirteen casual eateries.
An outdoor exhibit of oversized globes currently adds extra interest to Seaport Village. "Cool Globes – Hot ideas for a cooler planet" features 40 inspiring globes that depict simple solutions to global warming. The globes were designed by local, national and international artists and have been traveling on the road in places such as Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco and will be on display in Los Angeles and London in 2009.
Further north of Seaport Village is the Embarcadero which features the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier that was in operation between 1945 and 1992. It was donated as a museum ship and has been moored on San Diego's Navy Pier since 2004. Visitors can tour the ship's flight deck, mess hall, bridge, flight control area, officers' quarters, sickbay and portions of the engine room. Evening events are frequently held on this massive ship and a café adorns the rear of the ship. A portion of the ship overlooking San Diego Harbor can be accessed free of charge while admission to the rest of the ship is $17.00.
San Diego has long been a centre for the US Navy and the area around the USS Midway features many reminders of military history including the Battle of Leyte Gulf Memorial, dedicated to a historic naval battle in 1944. The Bob Hope Tribute, also called the National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military, is an impressive collection of larger than life-size bronze figures that commemorate Bob Hope's five decades of support in entertaining soldiers, airmen and sailors, starting in 1943.
The National Salute consists of 16 figures on a circular plaza that surround a sculpture of Bob Hope, entertaining the crowd in front of a microphone. The surrounding figures are authentic depictions of military personnel from different eras including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War era and the first Persian Gulf War.
Among the many pieces of public art along this waterfront walk, one of the most stunning is "Unconditional Surrender", a 25-foot sculpture of a sailor kissing a young nurse. The sculpture commemorates the moment when World War II was finally over, and joy and euphoria swept the world. Inspired by a famous photo of the V-J Day Celebrations on Times Square, this sculpture by Seward J. Johnson is on loan to the San Diego port until the end of February of 2009.
Further north along the waterfront is the Cruise Terminal, located at the B Street Pier along North Harbour Drive. San Diego is a port of call for many major cruise lines including Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Carribean and Princess Cruises. Almost 620,000 cruise passengers arrived in San Diego in 2006. Local harbour cruises can also be accessed in this area, and a central office of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau is located right across the street from the cruise terminal.
Now it was time to head back into the head hotel and finally check in. Within less than ten minutes I had arrived at the Sofia Hotel. The front office staff was very friendly, and our suitcases had already been brought up to Suite 602, a Deluxe Studio Suite. Our sleek modern bedroom was enhanced by a sitting room with a second flat screen television and an ergonomic desk. Our bathroom featured a full bath with a luxurious shower head, and a vanity area complete with fresh orchids in the bedroom area.
Always driven by my curiosity, I managed to convince two of the hotel's employees to give me a tour of the entire hotel a few minutes later. Brian Wells from the front desk and Danny Miranda, a bellboy, graciously agreed and started by explaining the history of the Hotel Sofia to me. Two of the hotel's towers were built in 1926 and opened a year later as the Pickwick Hotel. The property was part of the Pickwick Corporation, a company that provided 22 stage coach routes in California. The design was Neo Gothic and in 1928 two additional hotel towers were added.
From 1928 to 1944 the hotel even became the location of a broadcasting station called KGB (no association with the former Russian secret service agency). In 1929 Pickwick Stages merged with the Greyhound Corporation. During the 1940s and 1950s the Pickwick Hotel remained a popular tourist and entertainment location, and locals and guests alike enjoyed the Piccadilly Lounge. During the 1950s city council required the decorative architectural elements to be removed from the façade, to prevent potential injuries during an earthquake.
From the mid 1950s to the mid 1980s downtown San Diego experienced a protracted decline and lost its luster as a retail and entertainment destination. Now under new ownership, the Pickwick Hotel started to show its age as well.
New owners Ken Winslow and Harki Parekh purchased the property in 1986 and systematically started to repair the hotel over the next 20 years. With the opening of the immensely successful Horton Plaza retail mall, the rejuvenation of the historic Gaslamp District and the construction of Petco Park, downtown San Diego became a desirable destination again. The location of this hotel was absolutely ideal for us in our discoveries of downtown San Diego.
After this brief introduction of the hotel's history, we stepped outside the hotel, which is located at the intersection of West Broadway and First Avenue. The statue of the businessman outside the entrance was dedicated to the Center City Development Corporation and City Council as a way of thanking the city for revitalizing this entire district. Brian pointed out that Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp District are literally just a 10 minute walk away. The Sofia is also just seven blocks from the waterfront and the Port area.
Talking about history, the Sofia Hotel became a member of the Historic Hotels of America last year and is the only historic hotel in downtown San Diego. A photo in the entrance area shows the radio towers that used to adorn the hotel in 1934 where 50,000 Watts of airwaves were beamed out all over San Diego.
In a hallway to the left of the lobby we stopped to admire some pictures of the renovation. Brass pictures of the designer, the architects and the owners adorn the wall. One of the pictures shows the renovation, and the unique thing about the entire remodeling process was that the owners kept 12 housekeepers as well as Brian and Danny on staff to help with the demolition. The team removed carpets, ceiling fans, sinks and toilets from 242 hotel rooms, and 720 old doors were ripped out. Danny and Brian said it was great to keep their jobs during the renovation phase and to participate in the transformation of this hotel. Their sense of ownership and pride of the newly restored and glamorous Sofia Hotel was obvious.
Less than three weeks away from Christmas, the lobby was aglow with holiday decorations. Brian added that the hotel currently features a total of 14 Christmas trees, all decorated by the owners. Real orchids adorn the common areas as well as all the hotel rooms. At the back of the lobby facing the entrance is a painting of a young girl on the beaches of Coronado. This girl, Ken Winslow's granddaughter, is named Sofia and was the inspiration for the new name of the completely remodeled hotel. A cozy sitting area invites guests to sit down and relax by the fireplace.
To the left of the lobby is the business centre which features three brand-new desktop computers, high-speed fibre-optic Internet, colour and black & white printers and fax capabilities. This business centre is available to the guests 24 hours a day.
Strolling back out into the lobby we turned right into "Currant", the sleek modern 120-seat restaurant on the- main floor of the Hotel Sofia. Established in 2007, Currant offers upscale American-French cuisine and is open every day for hotel guests and the public. High ceilings, graphic tiles, elaborate chandeliers, uniquely-styled furniture and a private room secluded with sheer curtains, offer a sophisticated ambience.
Heading upstairs now we were on the mezzanine level where several of the Sofia's awards are proudly on display. Within less than two years since its reopening, the Sofia Hotel has won two Best of Citysearch awards as well as an Expedia Insider's Select Award. This distinction is only granted to the top 1% of hotels. The restaurant has also won some awards, and the Sofia has also garnered an ASID Design Excellence Award.
Around the corner Brian and Danny took me to two state-of-the-art conference rooms that are equipped for video conferencing and projection. The larger boardroom holds 32 people while the smaller 20-seat boardroom is anchored by a massive antique wooden table. Down the corridor we stepped into the Yoga and Fitness Centre, an amenity that is open 24 hours a day. The hotel even has its own yoga trainer and offers guests TVs, DVD players, fresh towels, bottled water, and infused orange water. The Sofia Hotel has even produced its own yoga DVD!
After the common facilities Brian and Danny took me to room 633, a corner room. A standard room with a queen bed, this room offers an excellent view towards the Port of San Diego. A smaller-size but well-designed room, it features high-quality beds, therapeutic queen pillow tops and luxurious down comforters. A flat-panel TV, digital safe, ironing board and iron, and blow dryer add to the amenities. A coffee maker and a microwave allow guests to look after their most basic needs. Ice machines on different floors provide the necessary cooling power for a private evening retreat with champagne.
The hallways are decorated in a sophisticated sage green colour scheme and the carpet is of upscale quality. After the renovation, the number of rooms was reduced to 211 guest rooms, down from the original 242 rooms. The extra space was taken up by the conference rooms and the yoga / fitness studio.
Steps away in suite 601, Brian illustrated the conveniences of a private bedroom featuring a queen size bed and a sofa pullout bed in the sitting room. A queen-size suite can therefore accommodate up to four people. High-tech reading lights can be angled in any direction, and the alarm clock radio comes with an Ipod / MP3 docking station. Flat panel TVs are available in the bedroom and the sitting room. All the vanity areas feature attractive dark wood cabinets, all adorned with real orchids. Upscale soaps and toiletries pamper the guests, and bottled water is complimentary.
To conclude the tour, Brian and Danny gave me a few tips for exploring San Diego: Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, Old Town, Seaport Village and Coronado are among the most popular local tourist attractions. The upscale area of La Jolla and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography are a little further afield. I was already looking forward to joining tomorrow morning's tour through the Gaslamp District, offered free by the Sofia Hotel. A visit to Balboa Park would round out our adventures in San Diego.
Not only had we found a great central location in San Diego; by staying at the Sofia Hotel we had also connected with local history and discovered a unique place that has tastefully preserved a 1920s property and brought it into the new millennium with top-notch modern amenities.
About the Author
Susanne Pacher is a Travel Journalist specializing in Unconventional Travel you can get tons of great unconventional and unique travel information and tips if you Click Here
Choosing curtains is an important step in creating a unique but stylish look for your home. Though to some, curtains may seem like an inconsequential piece of the entire puzzle that is your house. There are so many other, more important things to look at, details that must be ironed out in order for a house to come together. While there are indeed many things that need to be done before curtains are eventually chosen, it is definitely the attention to detail that is important when the final touches are put into place on your home. There are several reasons to pay close attention to choosing your curtains. First, there are several types of curtains. Second, color has to be an issue. The third thing you must consider when purchasing curtains is price.
One of the first things to consider when choosing curtains for your house is the type of curtain you will put up. There are many types of curtains available. Different textures and materials offer uniquely different looks and can add a different texture to a room. There are also materials that offer shade and have heat reducing properties to make a room retain heat or coolness and can make a room darker. This can be something that is helpful when living in a particularly hot or humid area, or if the area you live in gets very cold. Having curtains that block light and heat in the summer, or keep the chill out in the winter can make a heater or air conditioner work much more efficiently.
Another important thing to consider when you are choosing decorative curtains to place in your house is color. Color scheme plays a very important role in picking out a decorating scheme for your house. You will want your curtains to blend, match, or complement the color scheme you have picked out for your home. Clashing colors, textures, or patterns do not make for an attractive design scheme. Neon green curtains with polka dots most certainly would not look good with neon orange striped carpet. Just be sure to keep your overall color scheme in mind when you choose your curtains.
One final thing you might want to consider when choosing curtains for your house is price. Just as there is a wide range of textures, colors, and types of curtains, that variety of curtains has a wide range of prices to go along with them. You should keep in mind the cost of other decorations and furniture in your house to give you a scale of how much you should spend on curtains. If you live in a house with lots of expensive brands and décor, you might not hesitate to put a pretty large amount of money into your curtains. However, if you are like most of the population of the United States who don't have millions of dollars, curtains that cost more than your furniture is definitely not a realistic plan to move forward with. Price is a very important aspect of decorating that must be considered carefully.
No matter what curtains you choose, the three main things to consider when purchasing them are types, colors, and prices. These will help you to select the most appropriate style of curtain for your home, your budget, and you. Choosing curtains may not be the first thing you do when remodeling a home, but it is one of those finishing touches that makes a big difference in the overall look of the home.
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