Month: November 2019

November 29, 2019 Tropical Style

The Way to Germinate a Fuchsia Magellanica Seed

Fuchsia magellanica can also be known as the fuchsia, which grows well in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 to 9. This number does well when planted in full and watered. Mature fuchsias reach 10 feet in height and width and produce little winged blossoms that hang back. This plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the landscape. Seed germination is erratic and requires 21 to 28 days.

Mix equal parts of potting soil, vermiculite and peat moss. When there are no holes, poke holes in a seed tray with an ice pick. Fill out the seed tray with the potting media and gently firm it down. Don’t compact the soil, which will make it impossible for the seedlings to root. Place the tray in a container of water until the surface of the ground is damp.

Spread the fuchsia seeds. Cover the seeds with a layer of potting soil and press the ground down. This ensures good contact between the seeds and soil. Mist the soil with room temperature water in a spray bottle.

Cover the seed tray with clear plastic to create a greenhouse. Place the tray in a hot place Fahrenheit, in bright, indirect light. The tray the soil on top looks dry.

Remove for two hours a day after the seeds sprout. Loosely cover the tray leaving room. Keep repeating this process. Transplant the seedlings after the fuchsia plants are 2 to 3 inches tall.

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November 27, 2019 Tropical Style

How to Plant Lavender Beneath Citrus Trees

Lavender (Lavendula) and citrus trees grow well together due to the protection every plant offers the other. Lavender loves sunshine but suffers from too much rain or high humidity. The canopy of a citrus tree keeps the rain and allows the sunlight. The oils in lavender oil act as a natural repellant such as flies, that may harm the fruit of the trees, for insects.

Growing Conditions

Lavender develops in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. A lavender cultivar that does in the warmer climate is Spanish or yellow lavender. Trees, such as mandarin oranges, limes and lemons should be emptied to allow the sunlight to penetrate the canopy to the ground below. Trimming the branches of the tree permits space for your own lavender to grow. Lavender demands sunshine in the cooler climates, however the direct sunshine of a warmer or subtropical climate can damage the plant; so that the lavender isn’t damaged, the leaves of the trees filter the light.

Soil Preparation

Lavender demands a well drained soil with a pH level between 6.4 to 8.2 for optimum growth. The pH level is adjusted by adding lime to raise or sulfur to reduce the level. The inclusion of sand improves drainage, benefiting the lavender in addition to the tree. Lavender does not benefit from the inclusion of fertilizers, but it is possible to improve soil quality with compost or other organic matter. It’s likely to work the soil to a depth of four to six inches, letting the roots of the lavender although citrus trees have a root system.

Planting Lavender

The thickness of the lavender plants should stay exactly the same as when the plant was from the container. Placed approximately 12 to 14 inches away from the tree’s base, the plants get the sun and rain. Until the plant is established the roots of the lavender should stay moist. When the plant has established itself at the growing 14, lavender is drought tolerant. Undergrowth and weeds deplete the nutrients and moisture required by the lavender throughout the growing season.

Care

Lavender plants stay in bloom. If transplanted further from the base of the tree, the plant shows signs of wilting when there is not enough sunlight reaching the lavender and might benefit. The citrus trees defy pruning in the winter months to allow more sun to penetrate the canopy. Yellowing leaves means water is being received by the plant. Sand raises drainage. Lavender plants stay full when pruned back to a height of six to eight inches each two or three decades.

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November 25, 2019 Tropical Style

The Way to Grow Orchids in Low Humidity

If you’re selling your home, orchids can add color and elegance and might add allure. The species thrive in states and have temperature and humidity requirements. The University of Nebraska in Lincoln states that depending on the species, orchids prefer temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees and relative humidity between 80 percent and 40 percent. In dry conditions, moisture is lost by these crops through pores. If your home has a low relative humidity, you can easily maintain humidity levels for your orchid.

Prepare a humidity tray by putting pebbles and water in a tray, making sure that the water doesn’t reach the top of the pebbles. Place the container . To reduce root rot, the water must not touch.

Keep a humidifier. Use a humidifier that generates a mist so that the temperature will stay cool enough. A steam can make the air too warm for the plant.

Keep your orchid in a space that is always humid, such as the bathroom. In which the plant could receive moisture from water that is warm, you can place the orchid near your kitchen sink.

Arrange several orchids in a bunch, but don’t crowd the plants. The orchids will create a humid microclimate as they discharge moisture. Allow sufficient space between the crops for air circulation, which helps prevent bacterial and fungal diseases.

Cover the orchid with a transparent plastic jar when the air is dry. The traps the moisture produces a humid environment and produced by the plant.

Mist the orchid’s foliage in the daytime when the plant remains in a hot environment. To minimize the probability of fungal or bacterial growth, don’t mist from the afternoon or day, and don’t allow standing water to stay in the container.

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November 22, 2019 Eclectic Homes

The Way to Install Tabs on Kitchen Cabinets With Glass Doors

Glass-door kitchen cabinets are a eye-appealing and lavish attribute in a room layout, but continual use can get noisy. Every single closing of these cabinets can be loud, inducing dishes to rattle and vibrate against each other since both the glass surface of the wood surface of the cabinet and this door are strong. Install self-adhesive felt, if you want to protect your dishes and cut back kitchen cabinet noise or rubber tabs on cabinetry in your kitchen.

Clean the cabinet’s frame. Put a few drops of alcohol on a soft cloth and wipe the framework. Use mild detergent and warm water to wash the surface, eliminating dirt, dust and greasy residue if you do not have denatured alcohol. The inside of the glass door with glass cleaner and wipe with a paper towel.

Close to the glass door where the inside cabinet framework rolls , usually at the bottom and top corners of the cabinet and observe. You may need to stand beside the cabinet and look from a angle where the two meet, to observe at the door. Mark the contact point of the cabinet corners using a pen or chalk. Do not mark on the glass. If you can not differentiate exactly where the door and cabinet touch, use the centerpoint of each corner as your contact point.

Remove the tape onto the rubber or felt tabs. These can be obtained at discount store, your regional hardware store or craft shop and are roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Opt for a shade that matches the colour of your kitchen cabinets. Press the side of the rubber or felt tab against the pen or chalk marking on each cabinet corner. Use light pressure to make certain that the tabs adhere to the cabinet.

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November 19, 2019 Eclectic Homes

The Way to Tile a Shower Over a Concrete Slab

Tiled shower flooring are visually appealing as well as hygienic. Tile flooring do not require as much cleaning and care as ceramic or ceramic pans and are also more resistant to the growth of mould and bacteria. Installing a tile floor is not so difficult and will only require one weekend to complete. Considering that the shower is a potentially hazardous area it is recommended to use only ceramic, glazed, or tiles specifically created for high moisture areas.

Use the level to check the entire concrete slab for any unlevel places. Fill in any low spots with leveling compound and abandon the compound to cure for 24 hours. Grind down high spots using a rounding stone. Sweep debris away from the concrete slab and wash the region with water. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Cut the membrane 18 to 24 inches wider and longer than the shower floor. Set in place and indicate the position of the drain hole. Cut out the hole for the drain.

Place the membrane back to the concrete slab, stretching the hole around the drain. Secure the membrane. The membrane should extend up the wall 9 to 12 inches on each side. Tuck the corners into the openings between the wall studs to lessen the bulk in the corners.

Tape around the borders of the watertight membrane with waterproof tape to fill out the seal and hold the membrane in place.

Pour a layer of mortar over top of this shower membrane and shape down the incline to the drain hole. Typical incline for a shower flooring is 1/8 to 3/16 inch per foot throughout. Leave the mortar to heal.

Mark a chalk line throughout the center of the floor in a north-south direction plus another line throughout the center within an east-west direction. This will form a large plus sign that meets at the exact centre of the shower. The lines will be your guide for setting the tile.

Lay a set of tiles along the lines without adhesive to dry match a row. Shift the tiles as needed to reduce the number of tiles that need to be trimmed for the borders of the wall.

Pick up the tile nearest the center of the floor and spread adhesive using the trowel above the bare floor. Use the notched edge of the trowel.

Press the tile back into place touching both lines. Twist the tile lightly forward 1/4-inch then back into place to create a bond with the adhesive. Continue setting tiles in this way along one line until you have completed a single row.

Decide on another row of tiles in precisely the exact same method. Clean away any oozing adhesive on the surface of the tiles as you go. Set the tile leveler in addition to the tiles and tap with the mallet to place the tiles in place.

Continue lying rows of tiles and setting each other row until all the full-sized tiles have been placed. Leave the space round the drain available for now.

Measure the openings between the last full-size tile on every row and the wall. Use the tile cutter to reduce leftover tiles to match in the openings. Lay the tile pieces in precisely the exact same fashion as the complete size tiles and tap with the mallet and leveler to place. Leave the floor to heal in accordance with the adhesive manufacturer’s directions.

Draw a template for the tiles to go round the drain hole using a bit of paper. Place the paper over the drain and draw round the drain and summarize the borders of the tiles already set. Divide the region between the drain and the tiles into four pieces and cut the tiles to match. Use the round file to smooth the edges. Set the tiles in place.

Mix the grout a thick paste and use the rubber float to package it into the gaps between the tiles. Wipe away any grout on the face of the tiles as you go. Shape the grooves in the grout by dragging the grout line using a toothbrush. Leave the grout to sit down for 20 minutes.

Use a damp sponge to wipe away any excess grout to smooth rough edges. Leave the grout to cure in accordance with manufacturer’s directions.

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November 17, 2019 Decorating Guides

Spanish-Style Interior Home Design

The popular Spanish revival design theme originated at the turn of the 20th century through World War II, also gained fame with house builders in California, Florida and Texas. In an interview with CNN, California property agent Gerri Cragnotti said Spanish style continues to command the attention of buyers and a higher sale price, which makes it both a smart and sophisticated design choice when preparing your house for the resale market.

Walls & Ceilings

Spanish-style inside walls are usually completed with a smooth-touch stucco texture or a faux end –a paint method in which brush strokes, sponge patterns or varying colors of the same color are used to add measurement. Typical colors include Mediterranean-influenced warm and cool colors and earth tones such as taupe, burnt orange, chocolate brown, indigo blue, deep red and mustard yellow. Many conventional Spanish-style interiors have wood-framed windows and carved panels and ceilings decorated with wood beams and decorative tin tiles or made entirely of wood.

Flooring

Fully spaces are uncommon in interiors. Ordinarily, a uniform flooring surface is installed throughout the house and highlighted with area rugs and throw rugs. Spanish rugs have a knotted weave in staggered rows. Off-white or A beige generates a backdrop for linear-patterned layouts in yellows and soft greens. The most traditional flooring choice in a Spanish-style house is hardwood, though budget-conscious designers can select alternative flooring choices such as slate, a heavy, matte-finished ceramic or terracotta tile with black grout.

Accessories

Accessories include fabrics, wrought pottery and iron. Fabrics can be incorporated into the style with cotton throw rugs and window treatments made from cotton in muted colours. Wrought-iron sticks can be used to hang window treatments. To integrate more wrought iron in your design strategy, use an assortment of decorative pieces such as door knockers, cabinetry and door components, wall sconces, chandeliers, headboards and fireplace covers. Little groupings of massive and pottery vases, random add no-fuss styling.

Furniture

Spanish-style homes often have Mission-style and leather black wood furnishings. Some wood choices that are common include teak, walnut, ebony, butternut, walnut, cherry and rosewood. Conventional furniture provides a complementary contrast to some Spanish-style house’s soft arches and whimsical architectural components such as stained wood panels. Choose leather armchairs with straight backs, heavy wooden benches and wood chairs upholstered in woven cotton fabrics.

Veranda and Patio

A key part of interior design that is Spanish-style is the integration with the outdoor veranda and patio of the home. Floor plans open toward spacious outdoor dining and sitting areas. In some cases, a room’s walls are extended to include an outdoor spaceFrench doors and archways result in outdoor areas, adding visual interest and allowing natural light to saturate the room. These outdoor spaces, meant to be lived-in extensions of the home, bring a chance to decorate with wicker or wood furniture and accessories such as colorful pillows and wrought-iron wall sconces or a fire pit. Pottery can be used to plant greenery.

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November 14, 2019 Eclectic Homes

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Pipes That Burst?

According to Insure.com, water damage is among the most common causes of homeowners’ insurance claims–and also one of the largest sources of confusion. If a flooding river inundates your own house, your insurance is unlikely to cover the damage. But if the flooding comes from inside the house itself, the result of a burst pipe, you can breathe easier: Your coverage probably will cover the damage.

Coverage

In general, water damage from a burst pipe inside your house will be covered by a standard homeowners’ insurance coverage. Whether an outside pipe bursts and causes damage, that ought to be coated, too, though you must have the ability to demonstrate the damage did indeed come from the burst pipe. In the event the insurer concludes that poor drainage–a non-covered maintenance problem–has been the real culprit, your claim could be denied.

Limitations

Your water-damage claim also might be denied if your insurer concludes that you are accountable for the pipe bursting in the first location. Most pipes that burst do so because they freeze. If you abandon your house during freezing weather, your insurer can cite your negligence as a cause of denying your claim. Even if your insurer does pay for the water damage, it may refuse to pay to fix the pipe . Insurance does not cover ordinary wear and tear on a house. If the pipe burst simply because it was old and corroded, or because it was attached to an appliance that malfunctioned, that might count as ordinary tear and wear.

Reporting

Connecticut insurance adjuster Allan Sabel, in an interview with Insure.com, warns that the way you report a water-damage claim to your insurer can make a difference. Do not use the word”flooding” under any conditions, ” he advises. Insurers have a specific definition of flooding –and floods are not covered. Utilizing the word in a casual circumstance when creating a call for your broker can cause you trouble later.

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November 11, 2019 Fireplaces

Studio Apartment Ideas

Renting a studio apartment may be cost-effective, but when you’re confronted with decorating your 500 square ft of home-sweet-home, the challenge can seem enormous. 1 room must become many–and all of it needs to fit logically together, or else it will look like a mash-up of fashions. Keep some fundamental notions in mind, and your studio apartment can develop into a comfy home that looks and feels more spacious than it is.

Proportion

Keep the size of furniture in line with the size of your room. If you’re purchasing a couch, make a love chair . Buy bookshelves which are waist-high instead of 7 ft tall. Purchase a small dining table and stools instead of a full size pair. Scale down the size of all your furniture so it will not overwhelm the space and make it look cramped.

Multifunction

Make each piece of furniture do double duty. The timeless studio apartment alternative is using a sofa bed or futon instead of a normal couch, but you can take this much further. Buy footstools with storage space inside to store bedding. Utilize your dining table for counter space for cooking and as a desk for working. Use the top of the refrigerator to store dry goods or kitchen appliances if you’re short on cupboard space.

Define Spaces

Decide on separate areas, and set them distinctively with furniture. Place bookshelves partly through the room to give the illusion of a wall or divider. Establish your futon or love chair at an angle to make a conversation area separate from the eating area. Use stand-up folding displays to make private spaces when they are required, and fold them up again when you would like to start up the studio.

Shade

Keep the color palette one continuous hue in the entire apartment. Add slightly different-colored accessories to separate different room works, but keep the main color scheme the same during. If the major color is beige and you’re adding blue and green, do the living room with mainly green by adding green and plants drapes, then bring more blue into the kitchen area when keeping a bit of green to take the theme.

Three-Dimensional Living

Think three-dimensional and use all the space in your apartment. Construct up to use wasted space. Produce a loft bed and use the area beneath to create an office. Hang the TV and bookshelves high on the wall to use floor area in other ways. Install wall-mounted lamps to avoid using floor area for light. Anything which you could increase up on a wall will free up space on the ground, giving you more space to use.

Embrace Minimalism

Whether it’s coffee cups, dolphin statues or sports memorabilia, most folks like to collect some thing. While adding your own personal touches can turn an impartial flat into more of a home, it’s easy to overdo it in a small studio. Designate a room for screen, and set two or three prime bits. Keep the rest of your set in storage, and then rotate the bits on screen every couple of weeks. You will enjoy your entire collection without overpowering your living area.

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November 7, 2019 Eclectic Homes

Real Estate Notes Definition

When you’re purchasing real estate, a real estate note is generally involved. A real estate note or promissory note is a promise to pay a particular sum of money to get a set time to obtain a bit of property. It essentially is a contract between the creditor and borrower to get a property transaction. These notes are also used when sellers provide seller financing to your buyer.

Identification

A real estate note is a legally binding agreement between a buyer and the lender. It is a promise to pay back a loan with specific terms. The terms include the sum of the debt, so the period you need to repay the debt, which is a series of payments or on demand, and the rate of interest. The holder of this note is the party that receives payment. The maker is the individual that promises to repay the debt.

Characteristics

A property note identifies the parties involved in this agreement. In addition, the note details the terms of the agreement. The note specifies the monthly payment, term of the loan, buy price, maturity date and rate of interest. Additionally, it spells out additional provisions of this agreement that include impacts of default. The note also includes the collateral used as security for the note and the signatures of those parties who have entered into the agreement.

Note Generation

Sellers appearing to supply financing to prospective buyers may have a real estate note created for the transaction. Place the note up correctly so that you can sell the note in the open market, if necessary. To begin with, get between a 5 and 10 percent down payment. Only enter into an agreement with a buyer with a FICO score of at least 625, so the note is significantly more secure. Also, be certain that the rate of interest on the note is comparable to what lending institutions are charging. Finally, the term of this note must be as brief as possible. The term someplace between 10 and 15 years is more preferable.

Investment

Real estate notes are all investments that both institutional and private investors will buy. These notes are usually bought at a discount, so purchasing the note at an amount less than the current balance of this note to cancel the buyer’s risk and meet investment yield requirements. The discount on the note is dependent on the charge of the debtor and the amount of equity in the property. A property note that has a buyer with a better credit profile and more equity in the property is more valuable.

Considerations

If you want to offer seller financing, it’s necessary to have your property note drawn up by a property attorney. Even though the note looks relatively straightforward, any wrong wording in the note could radically alter the expressions and your legal rights. It is likewise essential that the real estate note meet any state and federal laws that govern note creation. Additionally, prior to obligating yourself to land using a property note, make sure you completely understand the terms of the note. It is important that you can satisfy the terms because the effects of default are generally an acceleration of the debt and another loss of land.

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November 4, 2019 Eclectic Homes

What Are the Causes of Urban Sprawl?

Urban sprawl is loosely defined as low-density residential, and sometimes commercial, development that is outside the borders of higher density urban centers. Urban sprawl communities are usually automobile-oriented as opposed to pedestrian-friendly. Planners, scholars, community activists and public officials all offer numerous possibilities as to the causes of urban sprawl.

Lack of Comprehensive Planning

The Planners Web Sprawl Guide suggests that small to no regional planning is one of the major causes of urban sprawl. If authorities in densely populated urban centers plan in isolation without consulting local communities, the end result is sometimes poorly planned developments on the outskirts of urban centers. Rather than bridging the present infrastructure and amenities of surrounding communities, these less densely populated areas often incur new people expenditures for infrastructure enhancements without regard to a regional plan or pooled resources. A regional plan would anticipate the increase of new areas and slowly execute the necessary planning initiatives to make a cohesive neighborhood.

Quick Population Growth

The Sierra Club notes that although population growth is only one cause of urban sprawl, it’s a major element. Rapid population growth is an especially large contributor to urban sprawl in the Western and Southern areas of the United States. A sharp increase in residents beyond the potential of nearby urban centers necessitates the introduction of new communities. As the regional population continues to increase, communities start to spread further and further away from town centers.

Subsidized Infrastructure Improvements

1 condition that encourages urban sprawl, in accordance with Towson University Center for Geographic Information Sciences, occurs when municipalities subsidize the cost of infrastructure such as streets and sewers to un- or under-developed places. Such an action incentivizes the production of communities out city centers without needing comprehensive plans or suggesting alternative development options.

Client Preferences

1 cause of urban sprawl that is hard to quantify is taste. Useful Community Development, a site dedicated to progressive urban planning, cites the desire for larger houses, more bedrooms and bigger lawns as among the causes of urban sprawl. Some people just prefer more space or more house square footage than what’s available or affordable in more crowded town centers.

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