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While some architects do a good job of producing modern interpretations, you won’t find many contemporary home tracts built to look like authentic Tudors or English cottages. The look has been romanticized through magazines like The Cottage Journal and films like The Holiday, in which two women swap houses at Christmas. The house that most people fell in love with: Kate Winslet’s fairytale-perfect Rosehill Cottage outside London, which was actually a specially built set....

However, the process of installing a basement bathroom consists of several steps that must be handled by a professional in order for the bathroom to pass an inspection and satisfy building permits. The cost of materials and hiring professionals to complete the work often deters homeowners from pursuing this upgrade, but there are many steps that can be completed by an experienced DIYer to help reduce the overall cost. Take a look at this guide to everything you need to know about installing a basement bathroom before deciding whether this upgrade is right for your home....

Whether you’re hoping to open up a dimly lit or tight space or you just want something that’ll make getting dressed in the morning easier, we spoke to a handful of design experts to get their insights on exactly what to consider when decorating with mirrors. Here’s what experts say you should focus on in order to ensure your mirrors will achieve the intended effect every time. Employ Mirrors in Small Spaces According to Beth Halpern Brown, founder and lead interior designer at Beth Brown Interiors, mirrors should always be used in smaller spaces....

In addition, colors connect us to metaphor and imagery. Humans are light lovers, as all living things yearn and grow towards the light. Therefore, we are strongly influenced by color because colors are literally vibrations of light. Keep in mind that different cultures look at colors differently. For instance, in China, a grieving family wears white, while Westerners typically wear black. In addition, you may have your own specific color associations, which you should honor!...

One area where there are a few different guidelines, depending on the school of feng shui you follow, is the topic of mirrors facing the bed. Some schools of feng shui don’t recommend this. The Commanding Position In some other schools of feng shui, like BTB Feng Shui, we actually suggest placing a mirror facing the bed in certain situations. One instance in which this is helpful is when you need to correct a bed that is not in the commanding position....

Whether you’re a Jedi master, a time lord, a mad scientist, a space enthusiast, or a wizard-in-training waiting for a letter from Hogwarts, these wonderfully geeky nursery ideas are sure to inspire your inner geek! When Elizabeth set out to “nerd up the nursery” she knew she wanted to geek-out with her little one while still creating a classic space that would grow with her in the future. Instead of choosing a single elaborate theme, she opted to infuse the room with little accents and accessories, introducing her “little nerd” to classics like Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek, and Harry Potter while maintaining ​simple, contemporary appeal....

While that may be the best thing to do, it is not always practical for some people — especially the many who are afraid of spiders and don’t want them anywhere around. Keep Spiders Out Spiders tend to spin their webs in quiet, secluded areas. To discourage these nests and around your home: Keep firewood and logs away from the home. Clean up leaves and other organic debris from around the yard....

What Is Germination and Its Process? Have you ever wondered how seeds sprout? You may have seen one of those time-lapse videos online or in a movie that shows a small seedling sprouting into a bigger plant. Or, you may have planted a seed yourself in a garden and watched it grow magically in front of you. Seeds first grow roots when they are planted, and a plant will begin to grow by breaking through the soil....

When the family gets together for a special holiday like Thanksgiving, there is often a blessing or special grace said before the meal begins. Why stop there? Add another tradition or two from the lists below that focuses on gratitude. Maybe this new tradition will become as special and anticipated as the pumpkin pie. To help you get started, here are a variety of ways you and your family can build on the tradition of showing gratitude during your Thanksgiving feast....

Glass Glass is beautiful but inefficient for heating (.95 R) and easily breakable. It needs to be double or triple strength to be practical. Some more negatives for glass: Doesn’t diffuse light and can burn plants.It’s heavy and requires a sturdier frame, foundation and smaller, more numerous panes.Can be drafty, because of the number of panes and joints.Framing needs to be perfectly square and rigid. May require a pro to install....

Growing Bamboo in the North To grow bamboo plants in northern climates, you need to find one of the cold-hardy bamboo plants. Some kinds will survive winter as far north as USDA cold-hardiness zone 5. The figures used below come courtesy of the Bamboo Garden website. Note that the inclusion of a plant on this list does not mean that the plant’s above-ground growth will necessarily survive the sub-zero temperatures of winter....

Latin Name This plant is classified as Shepherdia argentea and it is in the Elaeagnaceae (oleaster) family. The species name of argentea means “silvery” and is in reference to the foliage. The other species in this genus are the Canada buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) and the round-leaf buffaloberry (Shepherdia rotundifolia.) Common Names You may see this listed as silver buffaloberry, thorny buffaloberry, bull berry or just buffaloberry. Preferred USDA Hardiness Zones The best zones for this species are Zones 3 to 9....

Safety is at the heart of this. Pushing your limits may seem like a good idea at first, but you may find yourself in over your head. Never hesitate to stop work on any project that feels uncomfortable to you, and to call in a professional to complete the work. Precursor Knowledge As a beginner, you might be starting with no skill base at all. Generally, though, you already possess skills such as sawing wood by hand, using a cordless drill, painting both with a roller and with a brush, and hammering a nail by hand....

Ways to Kill Moss on Your Lawn Traditional ways of eliminating moss include spreading iron sulfate moss killer. You can also get rid of moss in your lawn by making it less acidic by adding lime to the soil. Or, you can use good old sweat equity and rake out the living moss from your lawn. But the simplest, safest method is to use dish soap. It’s easy to learn how to kill moss with this recipe that costs pennies to whip up....

Positive Ecological Factors of Bamboo Bamboo may look and feel like wood, but it’s not actually wood; it’s a woody grass. Much of its eco-friendliness comes from the plants’ rapid growth and the regenerative quality of the plants it is harvested from. Renewable: Bamboo can grow from seed to full harvest-ready maturity in as little as 3 to 5 years. (However, flooring harvested between 5 and 7 years tends to be harder....

So what does this mean when it comes to organization? Are you someone who has an entire system in your home as to how things should go, or do you tend to take things day by day and figure them out as you go along? Is your desire to keep things orderly more about having peace of mind for yourself, or to impress others? Take a look at your Enneagram type below to get a sense of what organization looks like for you....

To properly address an envelope, it’s important to put the intended recipient’s name and address and the sender’s name and address in the correct spots. Always double-check these elements to make sure you have the full name and correct address. How to Address an Envelope: The Basics Most of the time you can fall back on the general recommended rules of addressing your envelope, whether you are sending a thank you note or letter....

But what causes hems to curl and crease and how can you avoid the problem? How to Avoid Curled and Creased Edges on Clothes and Linens How to Correct Curled and Creased Hems on Clothes and Linens The best way to get rid of the creases on clothes and linens once they have happened is to use an iron on the proper setting. Until you correct the problem or change your laundry habits, the creases will reappear after every washing....