Monday, March 10, 2008

Get The Lighting Fixtures In The Bathroom Right - You Will Not Regret It!

They always say it’s the little things that count. Well when it comes to things like bathroom lighting fixtures, it is absolutely true, especially a few months or even years after you have moved into your home you will begin to realize how much the little things make your home livable and comfortable.

Where lighting is concerned, many people tend to overlook the importance of a good lighting scheme. Good lighting isn’t only done for concerts or theater productions, but it is an essential part of making your space functional and comfortable.

Lighting in your home should be functional, adequate, comfortable and soothing; it should make your place inviting and it should be easy on the eyes as well. This is particularly true where the bathroom is concerned.

The bathroom serves multiple purposes from being the place where makeup is applied to an all purpose grooming salon. And in many bathrooms the lighting tends to be inadequate for executing these tasks. For these tasks natural light is perfect and with all the fixtures available on the market, it won’t be hard to find a fixture that gives a soft but effective glow. Large, beaming florescent lights are never a good idea for the bathroom since they tend to give off a very bright, unnaturally harsh light.

The sun is always the best option for lighting in any house so a good lighting foundation starts with a good house design where your home itself is designed in such a way as to let as much sunlight in as possible. This can also be done in the bathroom, only it is a tad more strategic since the bathroom is a very private place. The trick is designing a private yet naturally lit bathroom.

Natural light in this way isn’t always feasible so the next best thing is to get a large fixture that can hold many bulbs. This gives off a more even glow of light instead of a beam. This type of bathroom lighting fixture is commonly seen in public bathrooms, or on television. To get a more concentrated glow of light in areas that may need it, for instance the bathroom mirror a great addition is a row of small bulbs along the top of the mirror and down the sides depending of how large the area is.

This is particularly useful when applying makeup or shaving. This sort of lighting allows you to see everything and to see things naturally. These lights may not offer a lot of light individually but when added together a great source of natural looking light comes from all directions. And it is a great addition to your overhead lighting or wall fixtures.

There are many different types of lighting available on the market and there are fixtures that you probably didn’t even know existed. Home improvement outlets offer the largest range of bathroom lighting fixtures since they have lights specifically for the bathroom. It’s always a good idea to consider fixtures you hadn’t thought about since new models are always coming on the market to fit different needs. And to be extra prepared it’s a wise idea to jump online and review these models before you head out to buy.

One Final Piece Of Advice: Get as many ideas as you can before starting any project so do visit home improvement tips a site offering resources on issues like home bar designs, bedroom decorating and even home library designs to suit any budget.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Antique Plumbing Fixtures: For The Inside of Your Home

When you think of antique plumbing fixtures, you are probably thinking about pipes, and fittings that go under your home that are antique. However, there are so much more to fixtures than just what will go under your home, and lay in the ground. Sinks, bath tubs, faucets, and toilets can all be referred to as fixtures as well. There are so many different kinds as well as brands, you should be glad that you know of a great brand to choose from for your fixtures. You will find many styles to choose from, that will suit all different decor that you might have in your home. Choosing your fixtures will be a lot of fun, and you will have lots to choose from, but where are the best places that you should look to purchase these?

The first place that you can look for antique plumbing fixtures would be your local home improvement store. You will find that they sell fixtures in all shapes and sizes, no matter what it is that you might be looking for. You will get a great variety to choose from, and the color choices as well as finishes will blow you away. You should make sure that you know what you are looking for as far as design and colors when you go shopping sop that you will not feel over whelmed, and have to much to choose from.

Another great place to look for antique plumbing fixtures will be your local plumbing supply store. You will see that they will have the fixtures as well as the pipes and the fittings that you might need. You will find that there are many for you to choose from, and the variety here will be nice as well to choose from. You might even find that the prices are a little cheaper because a plumbing supply store does specialize in everything that you need for plumbing. This will mean that you might even come out with a great deal, and that would be nice to be able to cut some corners on your fixtures as well as the pipes and the fittings.

Searching online will bring you to many antique plumbing fixtures. However, when you buy something such as fixtures online, you will need to be sure to that sizes that you need. This will ensure that you get the right sizes that will fit your water works, and when you get the fixtures or parts in the mail from buying online, you will be able to use them.

As you can see, there are many places that you can find antique plumbing fixtures. Whatever kind you might be looking for, you are going to see that there are plenty to choose from and you should have no problems at all finding what it is that you will need.

Carl has been a professional plumber in a company he owns for more than 10 years not only is he experience in unclogging just about anything but also an expert in installing plumbing fixtures and installing new water lines. Carl will give you some helpful tips on plumbing installation when you visit http://www.alliedesolutions.com

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Saturday, January 19, 2008

Environmentally Friendly Low Flow Bathroom Fixtures

Most of us want to be more conscious about the environment and what we can do to protect it. It can be difficult to know what to do though, especially when you don't want to give up comfort or safety to do so. Fortunately, there are ways that we can be environmentally friendly and make you feel good about our lifestyle, too.

You may have heard from friends or family that low flow fixtures don't work, but that isn't always true if you know what you're looking for. The choices available for low flow toilets actually can provide you with a great toilet at a relatively low cost. And the best part is that you could save up to $100 a year on your water bill. Some cities such as Albuquerque, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas are even offering a rebate to those willing to install the toilets. So check with your city's water utility division to find out if it is offered in your area.

Don't let what you've heard about low flow toilets in the past scare you. Things have changed a lot over the years, and low flow toilets are better than ever. When looking for a low flow toilet, consider a pressure-assist flush toilet, which will relieve the fear of plumbing problems because of a poor flush. TOTO USA is a great place to begin as they carry quite a few good low flow picks from under $200.00. But even though you may be able to get a low flow toilet for as low as $100, remember that you do get what you pay for. This is not the place to skimp on price. A higher quality toilet will cost you more money, but it should pay off in your utility bills in the long run.

Terry Love, a low flow toilet guru, knows all about low flow toilets and recommends TOTO's UltraMax. And anyone wanting a low flow toilet should consider reading his report for Consumer Reports as Love is considered to be the most authoritative word on leading low flow toilets.

Saving money and protecting the environment aren't the only piece of good news. Most low flow items apart from a toilet are very easy for the average homeowner to install. In fact, it can be as simple as changing your light bulbs. Replacing your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLS) will only take you a couple of minutes, but will save energy in your home. If you are replacing the whole light fixture in your bathroom, look for energy efficient fixtures, as well.

Change your other fixtures in your bathroom, such as the showerhead and sink faucet to low flow versions, too. Many people worry that low flow fixtures will not provide enough water pressure. Try faucet aerators that provide pressure with velocity and can run as low as $1.50. Just because there is less water, doesn't mean there has to be less water pressure. Think about getting controls installed that will allow you to adjust the pressure so that you don't feel as if you can't get enough pressure from your showerhead. But many good showerheads on the market today will give you enough pressure while saving water.

Being environmentally friendly is easier than it seems. And once you know what products are out there, you can have a beautiful and comfortable bathroom that saves you money and protects the environment.

Chris Brown is a regular contributor to Home Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling and Kitchen Remodeling websites. Chris also takes pride in many of his own do-it-yourself projects around his own home.

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Thursday, January 3, 2008

An Introduction to Store Fixtures

Everybody is familiar with the old retail chant, “Location, location, location!” It speaks volumes about making the right decisions from the start to make your retail establishment a success. Once you’ve decided what it is your store is offering to the general public, the next step you’ll take is finding the right location. Once you’ve found it, the next step is to decide how to dress up your establishment; you’ll need to decide what retail store fixtures will properly display your product. At this stage another invaluable cliché applies, “Presentation is everything!”

It’s true that how you present your products for sale is as important as the location, the timing of your venture and the pricing of your merchandise. On one hand, you wouldn’t display expensive wares in cheap, shoddy or dirty store display fixtures. An appearance that turns people off the minute they walk into your store isn’t going to help sales and, in fact, it will probably hurt them. On the other hand, you don’t want your display choices to completely overwhelm the merchandise. Dazzling displays that distract from the sales appeal of your merchandise won’t help business either.

In order to maximize your sales potential you need to decide what look and feel of the store will appeal to your target customer. Remember, no sale is complete until the customer leaves the store satisfied with his purchase, and a crucial part of that process is the way in which your products are displayed. There are many choices to make. It can be helpful to visit other stores selling similar merchandise even if your product is so unique that you have to travel to another city to find them. Even if you are selling an invention of your own that doesn’t exist anywhere else, it will still fall into a category of stores that you should investigate before setting up shop. Art stores have one look, plumbing supply stores another and clothing boutiques still another. Even if your investigation helps you decide which display perspectives don’t work for you, that knowledge can save you time and money in the long run.

Store Fixtures Info provides detailed information on metal, antique, wholesale, and used store fixtures and store fixture parts. Store Fixtures Info is the sister site of Mannequins Web.

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Bathroom Lighting Fixtures

A house is more than just rooms. It has various living spaces where diverse activities are performed. Each living space has objects that serve functional requirements for the specific tasks performed there, as well as for aesthetic appeal. Utility objects like lighting fixtures also reflect a certain mood and create a certain ambience which complements and reflects the individual’s taste and attitude, as well as the personality of the dwellers.

A bathroom is a living space where daily ablutions are carried out. People spend time in the bathroom not just to take a hurried wash. It is a place to rinse away a day’s tiredness and groom one’s self. Proper lighting in the bathroom is as essential as in any other place. The right kind of lighting fixtures for bathroom lighting ensures one doesn’t struggle to find things or look at one’s self in the mirror and find a monster reflected instead.

Suitable lighting fixtures in bathrooms enable one to get the right shave for that important executive meeting or the right make-up for a date. Apart from their aesthetic significance, bathroom lighting fixtures ensure that the bulbs are held in the right position. A bathroom is a place with lots of moisture and condensed soapy deposits, and hence it is vital to choose the right kind of material for bathroom lighting fixtures.

Ideally, the light should be directed at the person and not reflected off the mirror. This can be achieved by positioning the two lighting fixtures in opposite directions so that light is reflected on the face from both sides. Lighting fixtures can also be placed on the wall directly over the sink, at a distance of at least 2 feet from the sink.

To avoid severe shadows it is best to steer clear of reflectors. Bathroom fixtures can also be used inside cabinets or on the ceiling over bathtubs or bath enclosures. The right lighting fixture is essential achieving the desired light effect and avoiding a glare or shadow.

There are various kinds of bathroom lighting fixtures. Bar lights house tiny trochees mounted on metal bars, of various designs and shape. These bars are fixed to the walls or counters. They provide for either up lighting (to allow light to gush down on mirror cabinets) or down lighting (to bounce light off the ceiling).

Certain bar lights with two to six shades can be used above double sinks. Long bar lights eliminate the requirement for separate fixtures. The lampshades can be of white frosted glass or glass which is translucent. The metal portion can be chrome-plated, polished brass, or some antique finish. Vanity bulbs are another type of bathroom lighting with rounded white glass enclosures for encasing light bulbs. These lights are used for providing a strong diffused lighting effect appropriate for close-up jobs. These lighting fixtures should be ideally placed over narrow sinks.

Wall sconces can also be used as bathroom lighting fixture. They are generally not fixed near sinks and can be put up to light closets or in a different room for a commode. Recessed lights are most suitable as bathroom lighting fixtures. These bathroom lighting fixtures give respite from deposited moisture and soapy condensations deposited on bathroom fixtures, as the actual fixtures are recessed inside the ceiling. However, their installation and wiring is expensive, as they are embedded inside the ceiling.

Lighting Fixtures provides detailed information on Lighting Fixtures, Bathroom Lighting Fixtures, Ceiling Lighting Fixtures, Outdoor Lighting Fixtures and more. Lighting Fixtures is affiliated with Outdoor Lighting.

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