EigenGraphs

Venetian blinds, or as they’re sometimes called, window blinds, are composed of thin slats of aluminum, plastic or other material that overlap when closed to block out light.

The dry definition of Venetian blinds doesn’t even hint at the history and utility - not to mention subtle drama - of these versatile window coverings. Venetian blinds are, as the definition states, thin slats of material that are strung on a string ‘ladder’ and fitted with an adjuster that allows you to vary the tilt and angle of the slats. It’s this adjustment mechanism more than anything else that makes window blinds ‘Venetian’ blinds.

The use of slatted blinds can be traced back to Roman and Greek times. In Pompeii, for instance, archaeologists have uncovered homes that have fixed marble slats in the window openings. It wasn’t till about 1760, though, that window blinds that could be adjusted by tilting the slats came into more popular use. These were probably a variation on window shutters, with wooden slats that could be adjusted by virtue of a thin strip of wood affixed to each slat. In 1841, John Hampson of New Orleans patented a method of adjusting the tilt of Venetian blind slats that is still the most used method of stringing Venetian blinds in use today.

Did I say ’subtle drama’ above? Venetian blinds have been used in art since they first became popular, though their presence in a composition might be so subtle that it goes unnoticed. Venetian blinds are a staple in film noir to suggest drama, tension and secrecy. The patterned shadows cast by light through half-opened Venetian blinds has been part of the composition of award-winning photos in both color and black and white, and used by painters to add interest to portraits and abstracts. In your rooms, those same shadow patterns can cast a subliminally noticed ’spell’ over the room.

Those patterns are a function of the way that the Venetian blind slats are tilted. Typically, we think of Venetian blinds as being open - with the slats fully horizontal to allow in the most light - or closed, with the slats tightly overlapping to block out the light. But various angles of tilt serve different purposes, many of which have been lost in the years since Venetian blinds were a means of heat control as well as light and privacy control. Tilt your Venetian blinds up to reflect light toward the ceilings in summer, for instance, and you’ll find your rooms are up to ten degrees cooler than if you had the blinds completely closed. Tilt them down toward to conserve heat by aiming the light toward the floor and the heat will warm the room as it rises.

Venetian blinds are available today in a wide variety of colors and materials. You can choose vinyl or PVC blinds to accent or contrast with your walls and furnishings, plain white aluminum Venetian blinds for a classic ‘office’ look, or faux wood Venetian blinds to warm any room with the natural ambience of wood grains and patterns.

Whatever patterns and styles you choose, though, when you choose Venetian blinds (which are traditionally less expensive than many other window blinds), you are choosing a window covering with a long and varied history. Enjoy adding that subtle touch of drama to your home.

About the Author

Garry John has written many pieces on blinds and other home improvement themes such as awnings.

In the summer, the sun is shining and everything is vibrant.
Even the summer flowers are brighter and bolder. No meek pastels
or pasty whites here; summer flower bulbs are vivacious. While
less hardy plants are dried, brown, and dying, summer flowers
are bright, alive, and thriving. Summer flower bulbs are flowers
that bloom in the summer. Some examples are daylilies, lilies,
gladiolus, dahlia, begonia, and caladium.

Summer flower bulbs should be planted in early spring. They need
to be planted in an area with adequate drainage. Flower bulbs
will rot in standing water. For this reason, they should never
be planted at the bottom of a hill.

Summer flower bulbs vary in their sun requirements. Dahlias,
lilies, and daylilies, for example, thrive in full sun to
partial shade. Gladiolus, on the other hand, requires full sun
and iris prefer partial shade. When planning your arrangement,
pay special attention to the amount of sun your garden or
flowerbed receives and pick your flower bulbs accordingly.

All summer flower bulbs require loose, workable soil. If the
area has never been used for growing, add some compost or peat
moss. Most bulbs will not require any special fertilization, but
follow your package directions carefully.

These flowers work best in masses. For the best effect, do not
plant a single bulb or a thin line of bulbs. They look best when
they are clumped as in the wild.

Summer flower bulbs should be planted when the soil is dry and
free-flowing. Did the hole six to eight inches deep, and place
the bulb in with the pointed side facing up. Cover the hole with
dirt and pack firmly. Water thoroughly.

If you plant your summer flower bulbs in an appropriate location
and give them the most basic attention, you will be abundantly
rewarded. When all the other plants and flowers are dying, you
will have a bed of bright, vibrant flowers.

There is a variety of elements used throughout a Japanese garden, but the three most important and basic ones that you will find in every garden design are: rocks, plants and water features. In this article, we are going to focus on rocks, a very visible and useful Japanese garden element that has many viable and practical applications, along with its aesthetic qualities.

1) Large boulders can block unsightly views. For example, perhaps your water hoses and water connection are near an area of your garden and you don’t want it visible to visitors. A large boulder and complimentary bush would hide the out-of-place items, yet allow you access to use them as needed.

2) Interesting rocks can be placed where plants are hard to grow. Sometimes you will find one particular area in your garden where plants just don’t seem to do well, no matter what you plant or what you do to the soil. Maybe it’s too wet or maybe it’s too clay based. Whatever the problem, a nice rock arrangement might do the trick.

3) Use rocks to enhance a water feature. Place near ponds to make the area more natural looking and visually appealing. Next to a water basin, a smooth, flat stone could be used for kneeling down to the basin. A larger stone could be used as a place to sit for a bit.

4) Stones and boulders can help define a pathway. A rock grouping set along a turn in a path provides visual interest and guides the stroller along the proper course. It also encourages them to slow down and contemplate the arrangement, making the walk more enjoyable.

5) Block off a portion of the garden or path. You can use stones to block off an area which you don’t want people to enter. They form a natural barrier, but be sure to make the arrangement interesting as well.

6) Rocks are a wonderful backdrop for plants. An angular, vertical rock makes a unique backdrop for a plant grouping. Place the rock a bit farther back from the plants, so as to provide depth perception and allow the plants to be the focus (or vice versa).

7) Secure slopes and use as retaining walls. Boulders and good-size stones make excellent, natural materials for use in low retaining walls. On slopes, flat rocks work beautifully as steps.

Defining a stream. As in nature, rocks are always found along a streambed. Secure rocks within the banks to help prevent erosion of the earth by the water.

About the Author

(c) 2005 Rose Smith own Gardens From Japan where you will find that there’s more to planning a Japanese garden than planting a few trees and arranging a few rocks. We provide free articles and resources on all aspects of Japanese garden design - from plants to stones to water features and more. Visit www.GardensFromJapan.com today for more information.

If you’ve ever seen Frank’s decorations on TLC’s Trading Spaces, then you know all about the country style of design. From stenciled drawings to wooden cows to ruffled curtains, country design has all the frills you might expect from our dear friend, Frank. When I was a little girl, my grandparents sold woodwork at the flea markets all over Tennessee and Kentucky. We had wooden calendars with dolls or bears painted on them. We had quilt racks with hearts. We had every crafty country decoration imaginable. Although I thought at one time that you could just toss all these things into a room and have style, I’ve learned since that there are very definite ways to create crafty country rooms that men are still willing to enter.

Crafty country is great, but if you are not careful, your husband may be ready to kick you out of the house. Country design tends to be frilly and a bit girly, and your husband may not approve. One way to create a home that is comfortable for everyone is to use wooden flea market items and ruffled curtains sparingly. Not every room in your home needs to have a cow or duck in it. You can create a beautiful country sitting room with a comfortable plaid couch, slightly ruffled curtains, and a couple of stencils on the wall; the room is still definitely country, but at the same time your wooden coffee tables may have somewhat modern lines so that the males in your home enjoy the room too.

Another way to bring country design to the whole family is to let your husband add his own touches to the decoration. I’m not saying you should let him put antlers on every part of the walls, but if he hunts, you should allow him to have at least one or two rooms (maybe in the back of the house) where he can display his animals. If he doesn’t hunt, you could simulate the more manly country style by integrating rustic decor items such as an antler chandelier or floor lamp. Another option is to bring in old farming tools or hunting traps to display on the walls. Old items like these bring a manly air to the house, and they are interesting pieces that will give your guests something to talk about. They can also give the room a settled, sturdy feeling; something about the tools makes a room seem safe and secure. Using a few of these tools or items throughout your home can really make your crafty country them come to life.

Crafty country is a great way to design as long as you remember one word: moderation. The frills and flowery stencils of this design are not the only parts of it. Another part of country is simply that you are crafty and you create your own unique items. Make a desk out of an old door; make screens out of window shutters; use an old window with berries and holly glued on to make a beautiful Christmas decoration. Being creative is really the most wonderful part of the crafty country style. Your friends will marvel at your ingenuity as you create a style that is yours and yours alone.

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. This article is provided courtesy of The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - a large and growing decorating and decor website featuring articles, tips, advice, and popular decor shopping.

About the Author

This article may be freely published on any website, as long as the author, copyright, website address and link, and this notice are left intact.

While many people own an outdoor spa, few have considered a spa gazebo. With a spa gazebo, a nice, hot, outdoor jet bath is available anytime, rain or shine, in partial or total privacy. These spa gazebos come in a variety of styles to suit any taste, and with any number of additions - such as spa-side bars and barstools - for total relaxation accommodation.

Most spa gazebos are designed to extend the lip of a spa tub for added lounging mobility. They often include walls or trellises for increased privacy. Other spa gazebos are simply built over and around the spa area. These are perfect for the economically minded bather.

For those planning to use an outdoor spa on a blustery autumn Sunday afternoon, a spa gazebo featuring total wall enclosures is ideal. Screens, tinted windows, French shutters, and other features can be used to allow for a 360 view of your surroundings. Some spa gazebo screens are regular, see-through screens, but there are screens available that are tinted black and block out 92% of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays.

Tinted windows are coated with a brown acrylic compound, allowing you to see out with no one else seeing in. Consider a spa gazebo that features tinted windows if you live in an area where neighbors or strangers are nearby.

For maximum visibility of nature’s vistas, there are spa gazebos available that feature transparent polymer roofs and/or walls. These are freestanding geodesic domes that cut all wind and precipitation, as well as block 98% of the sun’s UV rays.

While a spa gazebo can run you anywhere from $3000 to $20,000 or more, depending on building materials, sizes and extras, and overall quality, for many it is a worthwhile investment.

Gazebos Info provides detailed information about spa, garden, patio, canopy, screened, metal, and vinyl gazebos, as well as gazebo plans and kits. Gazebos Info is the sister site of Awnings Web.

(NC) - Have you recently purchased a product that doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do? Do you feel like you were deceived? Here’s what the Canadian Consumer Handbook and Consumer Connection suggest you do in such a situation:

• First of all, don’t be afraid to complain. The majority of businesses will be pleased to set matters right. They realize that customer goodwill is still the best form of advertising.

• Keep a file of important information. Include copies of sales receipts, repair orders, warranties, cancelled cheques, contracts, and any letters to or from the company.

• DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. If a product is defective, it is important that you return it quickly so that you do not lose the right to get your money back, as well as damages in some cases.

Consumer Connection (located at http://consumer.ic.gc.ca) has information not only on complaining effectively but also advice on consumer rights, making informed decisions, and protecting yourself from unscrupulous dealers. The Canadian Consumer Handbook gives vital information on the differences between proper and improper business procedures, on how to approach banks, insurance companies, utility companies, landlords and many others.

Consumer Connection is an award-winning Web site developed by the Office of Consumer Affairs of Industry Canada. It provides rapid access to consumer information, powerful tools to cut research time, and many useful links to consumer and other organizations. Canadians can access Consumer Connection from home, the public library, community access points or from Government of Canada, provincial and territorial service outlets. For a variety of information on everything from bank fees, to privacy rights, to the latest scams or frauds, this is the place to go.

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial “fill” items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.