Bathroom Glass: Invisible Opportunities.

Glass is very ancient material. Now it's very difficult to invent something new in glass making. Though we can still enhance the strength of the glass and vary the bathroom design.

The main methods of enhancing the strength of glass and its safety are based on the latest production technologies. Today glass is used to produce virtually all products, that's why glass objects are widely applied in the interiors of living and non-living premises. But mainly it is found in the bathroom interiors: it makes these rooms spacious and airy.

Quite often in the new bathroom design ideas there are lots of design projects where we come across the combination of a bathroom and a bedroom, where the doors are replaced with the glass walls, movable panels or shields made of transparent or matte glass. This bathroom and bedroom combination creates an illusion of one common room which is very important if the bathroom space is not big enough.

Tinted, transparent or matte glass walls, open glass shelves can become an "invisible" zoning element in a large bathroom, where the bath area is rather remote from the wash stand. Even the low decorative walls will make the bathroom interior look heavy, but the glass walls will make it more functional and cozy.

Among a variety of glass types presented in the bathroom design projects (transparent, matte, tinted), a new product - variable-transparency glass appeared recently in the bathroom stores. It does not break, it is absolutely safe and adds an air of some mystery in the bathroom aura: when the lights are on - it is transparent, but it becomes matte when the lights go down. Such glass is widely used in design of the interiors including bathrooms.

New bathroom installation or old bathroom remodeling would give you an opportunity to make the interiors of your bathroom bright and airy. You may use colour (bent, fused, roasted, sintered) glass, it will shine with all the colours of the rainbow under the bathroom halogen waterproof spotlights. This glass is used to produce not only washbasins, bathtubs and bathroom worktops of the bizarre form, but also bathroom glass furniture: it does not overload the area and it does not make even the smallest bathroom look narrow. 

Shower cubicles with the glass doors can be both a bathroom accessory and attire of the interiors. Various types of fit-outs and colour glass create additional opportunities to set your interiors apart.

Glass floor in the new bathroom design (a special kind of glass with anti-slip surface is used for it) is a very original idea, it is also comfortable and functional - when the upper lights are off such floor becomes a magic source of light. Besides, there is such a great variety of glass floors. The bathroom floor can be made of color glass with or without highlighting, it can have illuminated elements in the form of still-life of shells, sand and pebble.

When the bathroom has several zones, you can arrange them at different levels. Glass edges of the stairs with illumination can be a perfect decorative component in such large bathroom. Their light combined with the water flows reflecting in the mirrors will create inimitable sense of the magic palace.

Stained glass is a fashionable element of the bathroom interiors now. It can decorate the wall adjoining the hall. Then on turning the lights in the bathroom, you can enjoy the view of the stained glass from the hall and on the contrary: the light in the hall will be enough to take the bathroom in the romantic atmosphere. The translucent ceiling in the bathroom as well as decorative illuminated alcoves will turn the usual ritual of taking bath or shower into a more pleasant procedure, in the aesthetic sense.

The more glass you have in your bathroom, the more attractive it is, with the illusion of mystery and you will unravel it every time you expose your body to the warm sprays of the shower or taking aroma bath.

The exclusive bathroom glass interior is able to work wonders: leaving your bathroom, every time you will feel full of energy you cannot do without.
  

in Home Improvement

Growing Beautiful Flowers From Bulbs

When most people think of bulbs they often think of daffodils or other similar flowers. However, the bulbous variey of flowers goes well beyond that.

While tulips, hyacinths and snowdrops also belong with the 'true' bulb family, there are many flowers that have corms, rhizomes or tubers. These include agapanthus and hippeastrums, dahlias, cannas and other lilies, irises, begonias, anemones and amaryllis, to name just a few.

Not only do bulbs do the work of reproducing the plant, they store food for those months when the leaves die and the plant is dormant. Thus, when the conditions are right the new plant has all it needs to thrust new shoots up into the sunlight.

Most bulbs need moist, rich, free draining soil and a sunny position to grow happily. Many flower in the spring, but such is their diversity, it is possible to have bulbs flowering in every month of the year.

To grow bulbs such as tulips in a temperate region, keep them in the refrigerator for four to eight weeks before planting out at the coldest time of year. In cold ares, plant in late autumn. Tulips like warm, dry summers alkaline soil. They may be affected by aphids, or a fungal condition called 'tulip fire' if there is too much moisture about. Their vibrant colors make them well worth a place in the garden.

Bulbs will usually do well if their natural habitat is approximated in the garden. For instance, daffodils are meadow flowers, so like plenty of sun. They will naturalize successfully in the lawn and flower early before the grass becomes too competitive. It's best not to mow for at least six weeks after the flowers die, because the leaves provide food to the bulb for next years' growth 

Woodland bulbs like bluebells and snowdrops will do better in a semi-shaded or a dappled sun position. They do well under deciduous trees. Spring-flowering bulbs may be planted near a well-used path or where they can be seen from a window to save trekking over soggy lawns to admire them.

Most bulbs can be grown successfully in containers, but need at least four inches ((10 cm)) of soil below them and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) above. It's a good idea to plant bulbs in a pot and bury it in the garden to prevent them from being accidentally hoed during a weeding session. If you have trouble with rodents eating your bulbs, plant them inside a wire cage buried in the garden.

Many bulbous varieties grow easily and are quite tolerant. Do your research, however. Some of the more unusual ones can be found via mail order or on the internet, so take the time to look for them. You'll be pleased with the result.
 

in Gardening

Home Security Systems - Best Way to Keep your House Safe

The number of burglaries and property violations are continuously increasing so an alarm monitoring system may be a perfect solution to prevent thefts. Recent research has proven that owning a home security system makes you 3 or 4 times less likely to be burglarized. Who knows, maybe acquiring a home alarm system may even save your life! Many times thieves and burglars prefer robbing a house without a home alarm system than a house that has one installed.

What can a home security system do? Well it can monitor a house 24 hours a day, and if something unusual occurs, it sends an alarm signal through the phone line. After the signal is received, a phone call is made to your house to see if everything is all right, and if no one answers or the incorrect password is provided then the local police is alarmed.

Setting a home alarm system up takes only one hour, and then it will work for months. It should be tested periodically however in order to make sure everything works just fine. In case a power failure occurs, the home security systems are equipped with a battery that can keep them running for 24 hours.

If you decide to purchase a home alarm system you should also follow some simple security rules. If you do so you can be sure that the chances that your house becomes the 'victim' of a burglary will be greatly reduced.

First of all you should always secure your windows and doors, because these are the places through which burglars enter the house. Their locks must be strong. Also, you should try not to keep things that may attract burglars outside, in order not to turn your house into a target. It would be advised to try to let people know that you own a home alarm system.

Furthermore, there are some other small things that can keep burglars away - always have outside lights turned on, so that burglars can't use darkness to hide, get a guard dog to watch over your yard, and talk to a neighbor to watch over your house while you are away.

But the home security system remains the best method to keep burglars away. It is a small investment that protects all the investments inside the house. 

in Home Security

How To Repair a Leaky Pipe

There is going to be one time in your life that you will need to either call a plumber to fix that leaky pipe or repair the leaking plumbing pipe yourself but before you do there is some information you should know before you attempt that plumbing repair.

Depending on what type of pipe is leaking will depend on what types of tools and fittings you will need to do the plumbing repair. Another thing to consider is the place that the pipe is in, the harder it is to reach or access the harder it will be to repair the pipe.

Most common types of plumbing found in households are pvc, steel, cast iron, and copper. Usually copper pipe and pvc pipe can be repaired by the home owner of the leak is small enough, and most hardware stores or home improvement stores will have what you need to get the job done.

If the pipe that is leaking id steel, lead ( Lead bend ) or cast iron you will want to call your local plumber because there types of repairs will require expensive plumbing tools and expert professional knowledge to do the job properly. 

in Gardening

Installing Hardwood Flooring - Tips To Make Your Job Go Smoother

Installing hardwood flooring can take place in several ways depending on the type of hardwood flooring that you have. If you have solid hardwood, you have to look at the type of wood you have. You can have parquet flooring, which usually comes in tiles of 6 inches by 6 inches or strips or planks that can be as much as 3 inches wide. If you have laminate wood flooring then you have to look at a different method of installing hardwood flooring.

Whether you choose laminate flooring or solid hardwood flooring, the directions for installing both of them are printed on the inside of the packaging. If you have previously installed hardwood floors and now you want to install glueless laminate flooring, you do need to read the directions for installing laminate flooring. When you are installing hardwood flooring made of solid wood, you have to open the packages and let the wood become acclimatized to the humidity and temperature of your home. With laminate flooring, you have to do the exact opposite. You should not take this flooring out of the package until you are ready to start installing.

Successful installation of hardwood or laminate flooring depends upon careful planning. Even if you are installing hardwood flooring over an existing concrete or vinyl floor, you do have to sweep and vacuum the floor to remove all the dust and dirt. If you are not sure of exactly how much laminate flooring you will need, the directions for installing laminate flooring also include directions for measuring the room to calculate the amount of flooring that you need. When you intend to install glueless laminate flooring, you can also bring your measurements into your local flooring store and have the experts do the calculations for you. 

If you are wondering how to install glueless laminate flooring and be able to keep it on the floor, each of the planks lock together with the tongue and groove design. When installing hardwood flooring like this, you cannot glue, nail or staple it in any way. When you start installing always consider the way the light shines into the room. Begin laying the planks toward the light and in a hallway always install glueless laminate flooring lengthwise.

The directions for installing laminate flooring will tell you that you lay the first plank with the grooves against the wall. Place spacers where they are needed when installing hardwood flooring between the wall and the plank to maintain ½ inch extension gap. You will have to mark and cut the planks as you are installing the flooring because they are of random lengths. Always begin in a corner when installing hardwood flooring and the first board in the row should be a full plank.  

in Home Improvement

Patio Umbrellas and Beach Umbrellas. Practical and Appealing.

The warmer months of spring and summer are well on their way and the cry of the outdoors is calling. There are many ways to enjoy seating outdoors. No matter the setting, a patio umbrella is a perfect choice and an essential element. A quality patio umbrella improves enjoyment and safety in a patio or beach setting.

Home Patio. For a home patio or outdoor seating area, a patio umbrella is an excellent addition to the overall design of the patio. When a patio umbrella is added to a patio furniture set, such as an aluminum cushion patio furniture set, it creates an intimate ambiance. Most patio furniture tables are equipped with an umbrella hole ready for the addition of a complimentary patio umbrella.

Beach Patio. An umbrella is a necessity for beach goers. Beach umbrellas are designed with beach safety and durability in mind. Beach umbrellas are manufactured with UV repelling fibers in the fabric to protect from the suns rays. Beach umbrellas are also constructed with aerodynamic engineering technology to provide ultimate wind resistance. A quality beach umbrella can resist the strongest of wind gusts that come off the coast. Beach umbrella fabric is also resistant to fading and harsh salt water air. These resistance qualities keep the beach umbrella for ripping or tattering and keep the umbrella looking beautiful.

Patio umbrellas are available for any type of outdoor setting at any level of design. Whether it is casual patio or a luxury resort, there are patio umbrellas and beach umbrellas for any budget. Patio umbrellas can be purchased in either aluminum, fiberglass or wooden components. They can be free standing or be added to an existing patio furniture set. Most patio and beach umbrellas come with replaceable parts so they are easy to maintain with prolonged outdoor use. Umbrella fabrics can always be ordered to coordinate with any decor.

Patio Umbrellas are a beautiful and elegant way to enhance a patio or beach setting. They are also especially practical to protect from any outdoor elements which might otherwise ruin a patio gathering. If you want your guests to enjoy their visit outdoors, a patio umbrella is an accessory that should be included in any patio furniture collection. 

in Landscaping

History of the Barber Dime

In 1887, Mint Director James P. Kimball noted in his annual report the "inferiority of our coinage" compared to other advanced nations and that in his opinion, the coinage of the U.S. was out of date and should be changed. At the request of Kimball, Senator Justin S. Morill introduced a bill authorizing the Treasury Department to redesign coins without first obtaining the permission of Congress, as long as the current design had been in use for at least 25 years. The bill passed on September 26, 1890 and the dime, quarter and half dollar were targeted for change. The decision of who should redesign the coins eventually fell to his successor, Edward O. Leech.

Ironically, new designs were submitted by Mint engravers throughout the early 1880's but the only change that occurred was a new nickel designed by Charles E. Barber in 1883. In 1891, when there was discussion of a public competition for new designs. Barber reported to Mint director Kimball that there was no one in the country capable in assisting him in preparing original designs. Augustus Saint-Gaudens confided to Kimball there were only four men in the world competent do to such a redesign: three were in France and he was the fourth. It did not matter. Kimball insisted that rather than going abroad to find the best design talent available, it would be possible to find able designers in America. Against the advice of Barber, the Treasury Department organized a competition to produce new designs. A panel of 10 of the leading artist and sculptors of the day were commissioned to judge which would be the best designs for new coinage. The panel met and instead of discussing the competition, they instead rejected the terms of the competition as proposed by Mint officials on the ground that the preparation time was too short and the compensation woeful. The Mint director rejected the panels' suggestions and threw the competition out to the public. The results were disastrous. Of the more than 300 drawings submitted, only two received an honorable mention by a smaller judging panel. It is interesting to note that two of the judges were Barber and Saint-Gaudens.

When Leech took over as Mint director, he was well aware of the problems his predecessor had experienced. In order to get new designs into production and avoid another disaster of a competition, he simply directed Barber to draw up new designs. This is what Barber had wanted all along has he felt as Chief Engraver, he, and he alone was responsible for coin design.
The result was not much in the way of originality. That would have to wait for more than another 25 years. What Barber did was to modify the large head used on the Morgan dollar by adding a Liberty cap and cropping Liberty's hair shorter in back. He then placed his initial B on the truncation of the neck. This was the design used not only on the dime, but the new quarter and the new half dollar as well.

The reverse did not go through much of an overhaul either as it uses almost the exact same reverse of its predecessor, the Seated Liberty Dime. While many do not credit Barber with much artistic ability, what he lacked in design capabilities he made up for in knowledge in regards to designing a coin that would withstand a modern high-speed coin press. On January 2, 1892, the first of over half a billion Barber dimes were struck.

Collectibility
General

The Barber dime series consists of 74 regular issues, plus the super-rare 1894-S. While half a billion dimes for an entire series pales in comparison to today's coin production, it was big numbers back in the 1800's. With a low relief, Barber dimes faired well and although there are a few semi-key issues (not including 1894-s), an entire set in circulated condition can be assembled for under $1500.00 in G4 or so condition. As is common with many series of this time period, Philadelphia was the main producer of coinage. The San Francisco and New Orleans mint typically produced far few examples in almost all years of production making earlier years more difficult to obtain. Denver did not begin producing Barber dimes until 1906.

Key/Semi Key Dates

While most Barber Dimes are obtainable, one of the rarest of all coins came from this series. The 1894-S dime had a total mintage of 24 and only 10 can now be accounted for which presents one of the great numismatic mysteries of the time. Allegedly, 24 pieces were struck at the order of San Francisco Mint Superintendent J. Daggett. Of the ten known, all were struck from the same set of dies. The best known story is that Daggett gave three to his daughter Hallie and told her to keep them until she was as old as he was, when they would be worth a lot of money. On her way home from the mint, her newfound riches got the best of her and she spent one of the dimes on a dish of ice cream. Today that coin is known as the ice cream specimen. Although there is no to prove it was the one that a young Hallie spent, one of the known specimens is heavily circulated. It has been graded as a G4 while all other coins are MS/PR60+ condition. Robert Freidberg bought this coin over the counter for $2.40 (24 times face value) at Gimbels Department Store, NY, in 1957. If it is the "Ice Cream Specimen", it certainly got around 

Why did the mint only produce 24 dimes that year? There are two stories. The first is that the coins were struck to provide a balance of forty cents needed to close a bullion account at the San Francisco Mint by June 30, 1894 - the end of the fiscal year. Since any even numbered (2, 4, 6, 8) dollar amount ending in forty cents was acceptable, the employees were said to have struck 24 pieces, or $2.40. The expectation was that the Mint would receive orders for more dimes before the end of the calendar year. December 31 passed without a request for further production. According to the story, two or three pieces were obtained by Mint employees "just to have a new dime," and when they realized the coins were now rare, they sold them to collectors for $25 or more apiece. The remaining 1894-S dimes went into a bag with other dimes and into circulation. The more widely accept story is that the dimes were minted as a special request for some visiting bankers. According to an account from California dealer Earl Parker, who bought the two remaining dimes that Hallie Daggett had, Hallie told Parker that her father minted the coins and presented 3 to each of the 7 visitors and gave the remaining three to her which has previously mentioned, she spent one dime on ice cream.

Most experts believe the "visiting bankers" theory as the likely reason. Of the known high grade coins, they all seem to be proof strikes. It is unlikely that such care would have taken place to produce a few dimes to even out the books but it quite likely for coins made for presentation.
Putting the 1894-S aside, most, if not all dimes are readily available in low grades. Collecting the series in higher grades is still achievable but certainly more challenging. Recall that this coin was heavily circulated. Assembling a collecting of all MS65 or better, while no doubt out of the financial reach of most collectors, is possible, as there is at least 1 coin graded in MS65 by PCGS for each mint and year. For the rest of us, collecting this series in average circulated grades is without a doubt doable. Back during the days of this coin, a dime was real money and as such, this series is heavily circulated. While many dates had mintages in the millions, there are a few dates where the total mintage is around 500,000 thereby making the acquisition of these a little more challenging and painful to the wallet/purse. For example, the 1895-O had a mintage of 440,000. Obtaining this coin in a grade of G to VG could cost you between $400-$600. It only gets worse from there as an XF-40 will cost you over $2000. The 1901-S had a mintage of 593,022 and is not quite as expensive and can be had for less than $100 in G condition and for around $500 in XF-40 condition. The 1903-S had a mintage of 613,300 and is similar priced on lower grades but is higher priced than the 1901-S in higher grades suggesting the 1903-S did not fair as well in circulation. The second lowest mintage dime was the 1913-S with a mintage of 510,000. While having the second lowest mintage, it is not in the top 10 as far as price and can be had for around $20 in G4 and $35 for VG8. Earlier coins, even those with mintages over a million pieces, will cost you more than the 1913-S suggesting that earlier dates, even those with high mintages may be tough to acquire.

If the cost of an entire set is too much, a year set could prove to be a much more frugal approach. As mentioned earlier, the Philadelphia mint generally produced the majority of Barber dimes. The only year that a branch-mint exceeded production of Philadelphia was in 1895 when Philadelphia produced only 690,880 pieces while San Francisco produced 1,120,000. With the expectation of a few earlier dates, most Philadelphia examples can be obtained for a few dollars in G4 and for less than $10.00 per coin in F to VF condition.

If you are into collecting Barber type coins, the Barber dime may be just the ticket for the budget conscience collector.

Errors
The Barber dime series consists two major varieties (1893/2-P and 1905-O micro-O).

Proofs
There are 24 coins in the proof Barber dime series, not counting the branch mint proof 1894-S. The mintages range from 425 for the 1914 to 1,245 for the first-year-of-issue 1892. A grand total of 17,353 proof coins were produced for the whole series. While extremely low, the rarest of proofs in MS-65 is the 1908 with 12 pieces certified at PCGS.

Vital Statistics Summary
Key Coin Info
Designed by: Charles E. Barber
Issue dates: 1892-1916
Composition: 0.900 part silver, 0.100 part copper
Diameter: 17.9 mm.
Weight: 38.58 grains
Edge: Reeded
Business strike mintage: 504,317,075
Proof mintage: 17,353
  

in Hobbies