Sensa Granite with SenGuard product review

When doing kitchen and bathroom renovations, it is important to check out any product reviews on any major investments. Making large purchases like cabinetry, appliances and counter tops need to be done wisely and with as much consumer research as possible. This product review is for Sensa Granite with SenGuard. This brand of granite is currently offered all over the country and in South Carolina is readily available from home improvement stores like Lowes. If you live in South Carolina, see : Lowes locations in South Carolina.

Continue reading here: Sensa Granite with SenGuard product review 

For more product reviews, see: Product Dudz

Related articles

• Renovation points to ponder
• July the 4th menu
• The importance of home accessories
• Color trends that date a home

Painting green for a healthier home

Image by Moosicorn via Flickr

A few decades ago, painting a room involved a major process of opening windows and doors, sleeping in other rooms, and hours and hours of dry time. Little did the consumer know, the walls they were painting were laden with lead, and high concentrations of VOC's.
Now the homeowner has options like never before to make their home beautiful, healthier and Eco friendly. Why go low or no voc? Volatile organic compounds, release a breathable gas into the air that is filled with cancer-linked carcinogens. It is safe to assume any paint that has a strong odor is probably harboring a high concentration of this volatile organic compound. The higher the level of volatile organic compounds, the more likely one is to experience headaches, health problems in the very old, the very young and in those with chronic illnesses or allergies. Always check the voc levels on all paint you purchase and if you hire a paint contractor, insist on low voc or no voc paints to be used.
Good News- Due to the wave of new environmentally conscious consumers emerging, low or no v-o-c paints are now being sold all over the country. Paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore, have these great choices readily available. Be prepared though, the cost is higher per gallon. Depending on what manufacturer you chose, the cost could vary as much as 20 dollars per gallon. As with any varying degree of cost, there are also varying degrees of quality, so a smart approach for the homeowner is to do some research if following a budget.

For the truly Eco minded- Strict green enthusiasts need not worry,  there are  a few companies also offering recycled, post consumer paints. The Kelly Moore Company offers brand E Coat and it is available in flat latex as well as semi gloss finishes. It is comprised of a minimum of 50 percent post consumer waste paint. Research on this type of paint is also recommended to find the best price versus quality offered. As with all home projects done by the home owner, make sure to use every safety precaution, and make sure you know all the facts and warnings associated with any home renovation project, small or large.

Creating space and harmony in your home

Image via Wikipedia

 

Most  homeowners do not realize that some of the chaos around their lives start right in their own home.
Many problems that seem to have no known cause can be tracked down to a home that is not well set up with regards to space, furniture, layout and decor. In extreme cases, it can be a case of hoarding.  A commitment for the New Year to get your home in workable and live-able order may very well free up some of the negative feelings that you are experiencing.

Change your mentality- Remember, removing things that are of no decorative or immediate use in your home is not a loss. Instead of constantly believing you are giving something up, remind yourself that you are in fact, gaining something. Space for what is yet to come. Objects may remind you of a moment in your life that you cherish. Perhaps the reminder is of a person. Your memories are already intact, why do you need objects to bolster them? Old energy is stored in objects. Even if you believe the energy is good, sometimes the constant presence of reminders of the past, trap us, and keep us from moving forward and anticipating the future.

The Beauty beyond the objects- Things in a home are there to add to the visual beauty. If you can not see the visual presence and beauty of a room, because you have so many things in it, you have robbed your home of the beauty it offers. You may be under the impression that you have filled your home with things that bring you happiness, but you have also offered a safe haven for a myriad of pests, rodents, bugs. The windows are the key to light, and are the eyes of the room. Can you look out of them? More importantly, if you are on the outside, what can you see through them? Would it shame you to have someone peer inside?

Recycle, Re-Purpose, Relocate, Replace- Things that have no function, decorative or otherwise are energy sapping items and by definition fall into the refuse category. For everything you may go through on the journey to reclaim your home from the prison of "things", ask what is its purpose today? Not what it may serve as tomorrow. If it is plastic and can be recycled, this is a good time to place it in a bin for recycling. Things that can be recycled are usually not decorative, and if they fail to serve a function or purpose in your home they are robbing you of a free mind, and free space. Re-purse potential? Can the item be used for something other than a space hog? Does it have a dual purpose? Can you utilize it for that today? If not, it should be discarded. If the item once served as a useful thing in your life that you would use right now, discard it and write down on a list to have it replaced, let this be your encouragement.

Many times one can accept the loss of something easier when they realize something better will result from it. Things that you can not bear to get rid of should at least be relocated. The idea is to remove it from the living space it is consuming. Whether that means repackaging and storing in an attic, basement or a rented storage unit, this must be done. The best time to mentally commit to this idea is a few weeks prior to the New Year. Start mentally preparing for a life of freedom from the visually negative energy in your home a few weeks ahead of the day you plan to tackle the job.

Start thinking of the beautiful home you will have for the next year. Hope is all about eagerly anticipating the future without guilt or fear. Look forward to a new happier life and work on forming bonds with the people in your life, not inanimate objects, they are no replacement.

 

 

 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Gray, the new beige in home decor
• Decorating a small space