Archive for July, 2010


How to Choose a Competent Home Builder Or General Contractor

Filed Under: New Construction
Jul.30, 2010

With interest rates historically low, if you’ve been thinking about building a new home or remodeling your present one, now may be just the time! Consider these important points before you make a decision.


1) WARRANTY – A reputable builder will have a written warranty and stand behind it. If defects should arise in the time period covered, the warranty would protect the home owner.


2) PERMIT – The licensed builder should obtain all necessary permits. If you choose an unlicensed builder and they choose not to obtain a permit; you may save money initially, but it may end up costing you money because your homeowners insurance may not cover any damages and you may be required to pay large municipal fines. This may not surface until you are ready to sell your home sometime in the future.


3) LICENSED – Always do business with a licensed builder. In this economy, there are many unlicensed contractors doing business. Check out your potential builder on the state government website that lists LICENSED builders.


4) INSURED SUBCONTRACTORS – It is important to have insured subcontractors in case something goes wrong with/on your property. It is also necessary that all subcontractors have legal employees. Subcontractors should be skilled in their field. It is not a good practice to hire a subcontractor that has one “jack-of-all trades” person. It is definitely desirable to have trustworthy subcontractors that have proven track records on, in, and around your property.


5) SCHEDULE – A savvy builder will have scheduling software that can show you what is scheduled daily for your project. You will know who will be on site and what they will be doing. You will know your projected completion date. A reputable builder will follow this schedule and complete your project on or close to the projected date.


6) PROJECT THOROUGHLY EVALUATED – The builder you need will have evaluated your project thoroughly so there are no monetary surprises. You will have complete information about the costs of your entire project and contracted amenities.


7) CLEANLINESS OF SITE – The best builder will keep the site generally cleaned up, in order for the site to be safe for all that work or visit the property.


8) QUALITY – Don’t confuse best price with value. If a builder can build for so much less, there is a reason. In home building, you definitely get what you pay for. The bitterness of poor quality lasts long after the sweetness of the price!


9) INSURANCE – A reputable builder will have liability and worker’s compensation insurance and require that subcontractors have worker’s compensation and liability insurance. If a worker were hurt or killed on your property, you don’t want a claim on your homeowner’s policy or a lawsuit.


10) LIENS – Hire a builder that participates in the state Construction Registry. Many builders do not participate in this. It is an added, documented protection for the home owner, should lien status or questions arise.


11) SUFFICIENT JOB SITE SUPERVISION – An excellent builder is on site or has a reliable supervisor to daily check the work and specifications being done. This will insure your home or remodeling project will be done the way you have specified.


12) REFERENCES – Always obtain and check out the builder’s reputation. Ask for a list of customer references from the builder and call three or four references.


Shopping for a home builder / general contracting company demands consideration for these aforementioned areas. If you are building a new home, it will probably be your biggest lifetime investment. If you’ve chosen to remodel, it is important that the end result is what you expected.


It is important to spend time gathering information and choosing the home builder that can provide you with a pleasant building experience and a home/remodeling built with utmost quality. Your decision can give you many years of grief or hopefully, many years of fulfillment and happiness.


If you are considering remodeling or building a new home in the Salt Lake City area, Gustin Construction is committed to providing you with a top-notch building experience and a quality home or remodeling project. For more information, check out our website and give us a call.


Also, check out ldsjunction.com for more home & family related articles.

Visit our website, http://www.gustinconstruction.com, for more information and give us a call today.


Visit http://www.ldsjunction.com, for more home and family related articles and resources. We also have great advertising stores with all types of products and services. Join our Blog and comment. We would be happy for you to check out our Facebook page, ldsjunction.com, and click on “like” if you are happy with our site.

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Southwest Door Mats Help Keep Your Floors Clean

Filed Under: Interior Design
Jul.30, 2010

Bold and colorful, a southwest door mat or welcome mat will impart a spirit of the independence of the old west to your doorway. Calling up the time of the Indian and cowboy, the bright colors of these mats will add a bit of the southwest to any home. It won’t even matter if your southwest door mat is waiting outside your door in Ohio, Maine or Oregon, wherever it is, it will add a bit of the rugged southwest to your home.


When you decide to buy a southwest style door mat or welcome mat, you will find that these are sturdy, made to last mats, that will stand up to a lot of abuse and still look great. Made of heavy coir fiber (coir is the tough fiber from the outside of the coconut, and is difficult to wear out when used in mats and rugs, besides being unaffected by salt water), which guarantees that you will not have to worry about replacing your door mat very often. These mats are wonderfully abrasive with strength to clean muddy shoes and boots, and also may be cleaned with the garden hose. A rubber bottom is usually found on southwest door mats to help keep them in place.


There are so many southwest designs to choose from that you may have a hard time making a decision. You will probably find just the right design, by choosing what really catches your eye from the start. The natural and original look of the welcome mats with a Native American design are sought by many. Recalling a time before the settlers arrived, these mats will feature such elements as Kokopelli or a roadrunner on a geometric background. Also available are Lizard, Sun Face, and the geometric designs so beloved from Navajo rugs and blankets. You can be assured that whichever Native American design you choose for your welcome mat, it is sure to get the attention and admiration it deserves.


Some people are more attracted to the lively and robust cowboy era and this still lives on in the many designs offered in this genre. When your visitors see a cowboy on a bucking bronco at their feet, the feeling of bunkhouses, corals, and rodeos is summoned up immediately. You will find that several different styles are available, many conveying the true feeling of the southwest with horses pictured. Running horses or horse heads in the bold, bright colors you expect can be found. Bringing you right back to the bunkhouse or coral, these rodeo and cowboy design mats are both lively and colorful. You’ll just about be able to hear the noise of the excited crowd and the neighing of the impatient horses. Allow these colorful, durable, and beautifully designed southwest door mats to lead the way into your home.

Author, Craig Chambers, offers more about Southwest Door Mats on his website. You should also get his monthly newsletter, online discounts and download his popular free ebook from http://www.missiondelrey.com.

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Mixer Grinder – Easy to Use

Filed Under: Home Appliances
Jul.28, 2010

In a country where homemade food is preferred, the kitchen must have a mixer grinder for all the various purposes loved by the family. In this place where all the family loves to have chutneys and different types of curries with spices that are finely grinded, you will find mixer machine which is of great help and assists you in all the kitchen chores within seconds. However before zeroing on a particular model or brand for your kitchen, you must consider some important aspects of the machine.


If your family consists of only two people or you are all alone then go for a small sized Mixer Grinder, because very less quality will be prepared in the kitchen and a big family with many people will need a larger Mixer Grinder with big jars. The other factors that need to be determined are the budget, the type of machine and the particular features which you need. If you have a low budget in mind, it will certainly affect the performance and the features of the Mixer Grinder. The more expensive the machine the more and better feature you will find. The mixer Machine prices may range from Rs. 995 to Rs. 4, 345 approximately.


The types that come in the machine are the mixer grinders or the juicer machine. The mixer grinder is used to mince, whip, beat or mix the food or reduce the food to a smaller size. Consider the speed of the machine before buying as the one with more speed option provides you with better control over various food ingredients. Look out for a circuit breaker in the machine that is used as a common fuse and provides protection from overloading of food which may cause burning of the motor. This overload protection is good as a safety measure and for maintenance.


Check out the number of jars that are available with the machine. The more the jars, the more chores would be carried out. The jars come in different sizes and volumes for a variety of food. The machine should also consist of a pulse mode to help chop the soft food like the hard boiled eggs, parsley and the onions. Even the whipping and the milkshakes can be very well done with this feature.


The locking system and the type of switches are also important while you choose the type of mixer and grinders. So do not overlook these points while purchasing the same.

Devika Rajpali is a well known author and has written articles on Electronic Appliences and mixer grinder, Hard Disk Drives, Bajaj Mixer, Orthopedic Equipments, online shop and many other subjects.

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Asian Inspired Decorating

Filed Under: Interior Design
Jul.28, 2010

Elegance, beauty and boldness are all attributes of Asian décor. For anyone looking to make a great impression with a home that exudes style and demands attention, this is the perfect style. This is a style that is not for those seeking a relaxed atmosphere, but for those that want to delve into the bold and dramatic! Using the tips in this article will allow you to create an atmosphere that will entice all that enter.

Though it may sound surprising, Asian décor actually offers simplicity. The use of furniture and accessories is kept to a minimum in order to eliminate clutter. Visual impact comes greatly relies on the use of bold and dramatic colors in the separate pieces.

Use of Bold, Dramatic Color
The use of the colors red, black, gold and shades of tan, brown and grey is prevalent in Asian décor; this is especially true in Japanese style decorating. Black lacquer is usually used on furniture for that glass like shine. Gold is a good choice for walls and trim.

Incorporating Texture
Natural texture is customary in Asian décor. The use of bamboo is common in conjunction with furnishings, window coverings and containers for plants. Using natural rock adds to the drama of the décor, and wall prints can contain paper surfaces. Red and gold tones are usually used on containers which hold bamboo plants.

Oriental Rugs are a Must
What is an essential part of completing the look of this style? Using oriental rugs! The floors are the basis of the Asian style, unlike other styles of decorating. Whether you have covered the floor with a floral rug or tatami mat, furnishings are chosen to complement and draw out the colors on the floor.

Other elements that are important to this style of décor are window accents and screens. A Shoji screen is a piece of décor that can be used for the simple task of dividing a room or for covering less appealing spaces. The screen can also be used to block the views for a window. Lavishly decorated, screens are an essential aspect of the oriental theme.

The windows themselves are kept basic and plain in order to provide a balance to the unique flooring and furnishings. Simple accents, bamboo and wooden blinds; these are all typical characteristics of windows. Tan, grey or neutral furnishings can be complimented with golden window accents; and for a more Chinese approach, window accents often include tassels.

Serenity and peace are just as important when decorating in the Asian style as drama and bold colors are. Always keep clutter to a minimum, and use bold accents along with the natural elements. This way, your rooms will be more appealing and will grab more attention while keeping a simple and serene tone.

Take note of the décor the next time you find yourself in an oriental style restaurant. Finding more examples for this exquisite style of décor is as easy as going online, and like this you will have more ideas on how to use this look in your own home! There is no better way to make a simple home look elegant and bold than by using the Asian style of décor.

About the Writer…
For over forty years Leon Tuberman has helped people with their home furnishings and interior decorating needs. He owns and manages his family owned furniture store. They have a huge inventory of handcrafted Amish built solid wood furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Whether you’re looking for bookcases for your study room or a oak dresser for your guest bedroom then they carry everything you need.

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What is the Difference Between Hurricane Shutters and Standard Shutters?

Filed Under: Windows
Jul.27, 2010

Window shutters are pieces of the overall window that serve as protective instruments keeping the glass of a window safe. When shutters are locked from the inside, they can also protect a home from burglary. However, for people who live in highly volatile weather areas, new hurricane shutters are much better to own and use then standard shutters to protect a home from damage.


To begin, standard shutters are the most basic form of window shutter on the market. They are often made of wood and come in a variety of different designs. The main goal of these kinds of shutters is to add a dimension of décor to the exterior of someone’s property. In many cases, these shutters are fixed to the side of a home and don’t move to cover a window. This makes them pretty much useless when trying to defend a house’s windows from the high winds and debris of a hurricane.


For this reason, manufacturers and scientists alike have developed a new style of shutter that aids in protecting the glass makeup of a window. By adding these types of window apparatus to a home, people not only protect the individual window panes they cover, they protect the inside of a home as well. When wind and rain penetrate a home, it is never good for the integrity of the home when standing up to one of these mega storms.


Hurricane shutters are also known as storm shutters because they protect the home’s windows from the storm surges, wind, rain, and airborne debris. What makes storm shutters different from other kinds of shutters is the fact they are usually made from aluminum. Aluminum is a metal alloy that is very strong and holds up better against the elements than their wood predecessors.


Another difference between standard and storm shutters is the general layout of the shutters themselves. Aluminum shutters come in more than one basic type of fold in shutter like most standards. They can be roll up and down shutters that hang over the top of the windows while still coming in fold in and out form too. The major difference between the two is the level of protection offered.


Storm shutters or hurricane shutters are much better than standard shutters for the protection of windows around the home. People from all over the country are using these items in areas of high winds, like tornado alley in the Midwest and in hurricane alley around the Gulf and Southeastern part of the United States.

If you need storm shutters, aluminum shutters can provide great protection against storms. In addition, another option is installing an accordion shutter, which can help protect the windows and also be rolled out of the way after the storm passes. Click on the previous links to find out more about these options.

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How to Become Certified in AC Repair

Filed Under: Heating & Air Conditioning
Jul.27, 2010

One of the best professions to consider is AC repair. There are always going to be air conditioning systems that need repaired or replaced. Learning the very latest in how to do this will provide you with a good clientele if you provide great service, they will recommend you to others.


The first thing you should do if you are interested in this type of work is to find out what type of training you will need to be licensed in the state in which you live. Many states require certification for installing air conditioners as well as repairing them.


The classes you take will include the basic types of refrigeration, the components that are used, evacuation and recycling. The voltage used in AC and DC circuits; resistance and power will all be covered. Some prerequisites are required before actually taking the courses. The course that will teach about the piping used in HVAC system may require a class on Construction Industry Standards. The best way to find out what type of prerequisite classes will be needed is by looking at the admissions book at the school you will be attending.


Learning how to maintain the heating and cooling systems is an essential part of this learning process. From motors and compressors to ducts and pipes, learning how all the components in these systems work and relate to each other is one of the main aspects to learning this trade. The design of the systems, building codes, safety when using refrigerants as well as the different classifications, air quality for indoors and out and technology as it relates to this field will all be courses that are required. The importance of keeping up with new technologies will be stressed also because most states require HVAC technicians to renew their licenses from time to time.


One of the licenses the HVAC technician will be required to have is for working with refrigerants. This is a must to be able to purchase the refrigerant as well. Learning about the three types – low pressure, high pressure and small appliance – will be taught and then an exam will have to be taken to receive the license.


Working as an apprentice will help the learning process. Working with a certified technician will give you the experience and hands on training that is needed to advance in this career. When you are ready to become certified, taking the Technician Certification exams that are required by the Environmental Protection Agency will be the next step.


The type of certification that you get will be according to the size of the appliances you will be working on. As mentioned above there are three types. AC repair is a great career choice and the demand for certified technicians is expected to increase.

AirZero offer the most reliable AC Repair Clearwater services around. We also offer our services at prices you can afford. If you are in need of any ac repairs or installation services just contact our Clearwater Air Conditioning Repair Team today. We look forward to serving you. Be sure to visit our website to take advantage of special discounts.

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Learn to Decorate on a Budget

Filed Under: Interior Design
Jul.26, 2010

Believe it or not, you can decorate any room in the house on a budget and a small budget at that. Style, and a new look can be added to any room in many in expensive ways. Here are some tips to help you decorate a room in your home while sticking to your budget.

1. One of the best ways to decorate on a budget is by using paint.
You can give your room a totally different look with a couple gallons of paint which can be bought for under $50. Using neutral colors will give the room a more natural tone, while bright or bold colors will add drama to the room. Paint allows you to get really creative. Painting one wall an accent color will make that wall the room’s focal point. Stripes or other textured painting techniques can really help add interest to the walls.

2. You can also change the look of a room without spending too much money if you work on the windows.
Every type of room can have a variety of different window coverings. You can simply add a valance to the top of a window to add more drama to the area if you have blinds that you don’t want to get rid of.

Dress your windows in new and creative ways. Taking sheer material and draping it over a decorative curtain rod is a simple way to decorate your windows. Another way to go is by tying back long curtain panels with thick ribbon or velvet.

3. A room can truly be changed by adding simple accessories that tie the room together.
Sometimes, when decorating a room, it’s the small things that will count.

Candles, photos, flowers, and baskets are accessories that can add a lot to a room when used correctly. A row of candles added to a coffee table will give off a more intimate tone. By simply adding a vase of flowers to a kitchen it can feel more welcoming than before. Even something as small as changing the towels in a bathroom can truly change a room.

Getting the most from your budget can be as easy as shopping at flea markets and consignment stores. Even though it will take more shopping, you can save a ton of money this way. Especially if you have your whole house to decorate.

4.Rearrange furniture or take items from one room and use them in another.
If the budget you are working with is small, you will need to work with what you have. Refurbish items that you can add your own style to and reuse them.

This can mean using the old vase that had flowers in the family room as a centerpiece for your dining room table by simply spray painting it with a metallic color. You can change your current items to fit the style you want for your home.

Thousands of dollar don’t need to be spent decorating your home. You’ll be amazed as to how far you can go on a tight budget of only a couple hundred dollars.

Avo Barsoumian has been in the interior flooring and interior decorating industry for over 25 years. He is the owner of Carpet Wagon, a family owned carpet installation company in Southern California. The offer the largest selection of elegant hardwood flooring, beautiful laminate flooring and plush carpeting under one roof. Searching for carpet sales for your new town home or discount laminate flooring to remodel your older home? Then Carpet Wagon carries everything you need.

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Deck Cleaning the Right Way – Five Reasons to Hire a Professional

Filed Under: Patios & Decks
Jul.26, 2010

Summer, winter, spring or fall, Americans continue to enjoy the great outdoors from their decks, patios, pool areas, or gazebos. And some of those areas of pleasure have definitely seen better days. Are you thinking about restoring the surfaces inside or outside your home to their former glory? Will pressure cleaning and deck staining alone do the trick on your deck that’s seen better days? Is there a right way or a wrong way to restore a deck for beauty and endurance?


Doing it yourself home improvement may sound like the way to go, but in spite of long-standing home improvement do-it-yourself trends, there are extremely compelling reasons to hire a professional surface reconstruction/ maintenance firm to achieve the results you want with less of your own sweat and tears and at less cost to you.


As you know, bringing the surfaces of your home or commercial space back to beauty involves an accepted process that involves time, money and the expenditure of a lot of energy. You must clean, restore, beautify and finally protect porous and non-porous surfaces in order to assure successful restoration and to guarantee enduring results.


Here are 5 reasons to consider hiring a professional surface restoration company – using your Deck as an example:


Cleaning Your Deck Takes Time, Money, and Energy


Obviously, you have to clean your wood deck thoroughly before anything else can be done to restore it to its’ former beauty. Sounds easy! But, on second look, if your outdoor deck has been relatively unattended for a number of years, you’ll see embedded dirt, mildew stains, and weathering you may never have noticed before. You knew things were bad – but this bad? Will pressure washing alone do the trick? Perhaps not, so to begin, go to your local home improvement center and purchase a deck cleaner that will restore your wood to its natural beauty without yellowing or bleaching. Which deck cleaner will you choose? Maybe the sales help can give you a clue, but maybe not. How much work is involved in cleaning your deck, even with the help of a power washer and the deck cleaner you have just purchased?


Stripping Your Deck Takes Time, Money and Energy


Stripping an old deck to prepare it for beautification is the second necessary step in the restoration process. You see, you have to strip any deteriorating wood or unwanted finish from the surface to make way for the application of more products. So, now, head back to the home improvement center to buy another product – a deck stripping product with stain and finish remover. Be sure and corral the sales person again for help in deciding which one will most effectively remove old oil and latex stains from your deck. Does he really know what he’s talking about? It’s a must to prepare the wood for any new finish or stain. How much work is involved in stripping your deck, even with the help of the deck stripping product you have just purchased?


Protecting and Beautifying Your Deck Takes Time, Money and Energy


O.K. – Your deck is finally cleaned and stripped. You have prepared the wood for a new finish or a stain that will not only make it look beautiful and new, but will protect it from the elements. Has your finish seen better days? Do you want a different look this time around? You’ll need to go to the home improvement center again and look for a semitransparent stain – or a rich transparent oil finish – to enhance the beauty of your deck.


Don’t want to stain? It’s still important to saturate your newly cleaned wood surface with a clear water repellent. This will help protect it from rain that can cause swelling, shrinking, warping and cracking. Look for a water repellent with a mildewcide to slow the growth of mildew during warmer months. Do you have the right one? How much work is involved in that application?


Hiring a Professional Surface Restoration Company Can Save Time, Money and Energy


Finding a reputable deck restorer or deck construction company you can count on is as easy as asking for references. Many will even be happy to show you pictures of their work or to take you to homes of satisfied customers to see their patio decks first-hand. Once you have found a company to restore, rebuild, or even build a brand new deck for you, you’re on your way to getting the best results for the least effort and expenditure. Check deck builders on-line and comparison shop. Ask your neighbors and by all means, check with that sales professional at your local home improvement center. He or she knows the builders in your area and can really help you this time!


You Get What You Pay For


Remember – When you hire a professional, you are not doing the buying, agonizing over the decisions, renting equipment, or doing any of the heavy labor involved in the restoration process.


Here are some of the services you can expect to find when you hire a professional firm to work on projects in your home, office or commercial space:




  • Pressure washing services for your house, rooftop, patio, sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, pool area, pool deck, or any other exterior surface.
  • Cleaning, restoration, repair, resurfacing, staining, and preservation of decks, fences, cedar shake or gazebos.
  • Cleaning interior surfaces with proper drainage.
  • Grafitti removal on smooth or porous surfaces.
  • Deck repair, deck construction and reconstruction.
  • Installation of wood or composite decking.
  • Deck stripping.
  • Application of solid and semi-transparent stain or paint.
  • Seasonal and year-round protection of outdoor surfaces.


Doing it yourself sounds like a way to go when it comes to tackling surface restoration, and it may be the right choice for you. But, don’t overlook the experience, knowledge, up-to-date products, and manpower that professional restorers can provide, including numerous benefits and end-result quality you may not be able to achieve yourself. In addition, they can assist you in developing a long-term maintenance plan that will protect your investment by extending the life and appearance of your property.


There are ins and outs to surface reconstruction and preservation – a right way and a wrong way – a best way. The choice is yours.

For more information on interior and exterior surface restoration, visit Cope Exterior and Deck, a quality power washing and pressure cleaning maintenance firm serving the Northern Virginia area.

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How to Choose Rustic Entry Doors

Filed Under: Doors
Jul.24, 2010

It can be hard when deciding which kind of entry door to use due to the amount of types and styles available. Rustic entry doors can be made out of many different types of material. Oak, mahogany, and iron are three popular types of material that people like to use. There are also many different finishes to choose from. Doors can be purchased at home improvement stores, ordered online, salvaged from previous homes, or custom made. Because of the vast amount of replacement doors available, prices vary widely.


When planning to purchase rustic entry doors, it is important to consider the type of material which is best for the home. This may be based on the style, age, and location of the home. For example, it may not be a good idea to try to install modern French doors on a log cabin. As far as durability, making sure the door will last through weather conditions in the home’s geographical area, is a must.


Another thing to be careful of when planning to buy entry doors is your budget. Exterior doors can range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars. It is probably a good idea to set a concrete budget, before starting to look for a door. In order to have an idea of current prices for doors, search online. Looking online will allow you to get an idea of the different styles available. You will be able to find pictures of homes showcasing rustic entry doors in order to better tell which type would be better for your home. You can buy the doors online, if you find one that works well. However, please double check the listed measurements and the description to make sure you know exactly what you are ordering. It’s also a good idea to go in to home improvement stores and talk with store representatives who are knowledgeable about rustic entry doors. You can even bring in a picture of your entryway, let them know what you are considering, and ask them if they have any advice.


Salvaging an old door can be a good idea however, it may require more work for installation. Try to get a door as close to the same size as the current one as possible. Be aware that adjustments will probably be needed in order to make the door perfect for a new home.

Find more information about doors at: http://hubpages.com/hub/custom-hardwood-doors

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How to Use One Million Dollars to Attract More Wealth Into Your Life – Feng Shui Made Easy

Filed Under: Feng-shui
Jul.22, 2010

Come on, who would honestly say no to having more wealth in their life. I think it’s a given that all of us would really welcome having much more money at our disposal no matter how successful we consider ourselves to be. And at the present moment there are so many things on offer which claim to guide us towards increasing our wealth in various ways. But many of us don’t really feel open to learning lots of new skills. However the good news is that there is something that works beautifully without you having to do very much at all. And that’s to harness the flow of energy around your house in the good old Chinese style. So read on to find out how to use one million dollars to attract more wealth into your life.


Now you may think that this is a bit of a contradiction, however when you have finished reading this article, all will be clear to you and I’m sure you’ll agree with me that what has worked for the Chinese for centuries will surely work for you and me, too. The bottom line of this is that feng shui has an effect whether you do a little or a lot to help it along.


Okay, so let’s just take a moment or two to talk about what feng shui actually is. It literally means ‘wind and water’ and is the ancient Chinese art of harnessing the energy flow within your home or work space for maximum harmony which leads to enhanced well-being. A room is divided up into eight segments, each one representing a main area of your life. The ‘bagua’ is a special diagram that shows these areas and is shaped like an octogram (an 8-sided shape).


The areas of your life we are referring to here are: career, knowledge and education, family and health, finances and welfare, fame and recognition, marriage and relationships, children and creativity, mentors and networking. And feng shui teaches that if you have problems in any of these areas, you place an object or use colours in that space that will clear the blockage and allow the energy to blossom.


Okay, now back to the finances. What would be a great way to energise the finance corner of your home? A traditional way of doing this in China is to use images of money itself to enhance this area of your life. So if you want to attract large amounts of money and you live in the western hemisphere, a great way to do this would be to hang up a picture of money in any form, perhaps bank notes or a cascade of golden coins, or anything that excites your mind around the topic of riches. You might also think of placing some gold coloured coins there, a wad of Monopoly money or any other physical object that represents wealth in your mind. The colour red is very auspicious in China and linked with wealth together with the colour gold.


But just take this thought one step further. What if you wanted to attract one million dollars into your life? How would you go about doing this along feng shui principles? What better than to use a vibrant image of exactly that sum – a one million dollar painting. A picture representing this amount of money hanging in the area of your home that is associated with your finances can have a huge impact. It’s important to hang something that aesthetically pleases you as you have to live with this image in your home on a daily basis. Although there are no magical guarantees, I think you’d be really surprised to see what effect this has on your life when you bring focus and intention to increasing your wealth.


The south-east is where you want to hang it but if you get hold of a bagua diagram, that will give you more indication of what to do.


Now I can tell you all of this and how it works, but it’s only really personal experience that counts. We all have to try these things out for ourselves and see what brings the best results. Go on, activate your finances corner and see what happens.


If you’d like to see what creative, artistic solution I came up with for our finances corner, why not have a look at my website and see what you think. I’m sure you’ll love it as much as we do.

Fiona Stolze has been painting professionally on silk for many years and prefers to work with vibrant, powerful colours. She is also a qualified colour therapist and has spent much of her time creating beautiful silk cushions and pictures to uplift and enhance people’s homes worldwide. Her designer cushions and pictures add a touch of luxury and class to any home or workplace. She also offers greeting cards, wall hangings and feng shui silks to enhance various areas of your life. Please contact her to find out more. You can see a wide range of her silks at http://www.silkandart.com

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