Considering Family Areas in 5 “Big Picture” Steps

Whether you are designing a new home or remodeling your existing home, the amount of issues clamoring for attention can be mind-boggling. What types of wood will I use? How will I lay out my living room? Will the kitchen be a place for only cooking or for meals as well? Needless to say, you ought to think "big picture" first before tackling the little issues. Why worry about wood before you know where it's going?
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<br>The home is all about family harmony. For this reason, it is a great idea to start with the common areas. The living room, the dining room and the kitchen are the places where the family will most often be together. Sound family rooms, sound family, the saying goes. To try and solve the big questions first, look at these five issues surrounding common areas of the home.
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<br>1. How will the living room design pan out? As we all know, the living room often depends on the entertainment center. The big decisions revolve around the spacing and set-up of the television and stereo, and how this area flows toward the sofas and chairs. Most living rooms end up being home theaters in one way or another. The amount of electronics can become overwhelming. Tip: To discreetly house the many electronic components in your living room, go with a wooden wall unit.
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<br>2. Is the basement a fun room or a stately alternative? For many families, the basement is an ideal place to let the kids have fun and relax. It's out of sight, you don't have to worry about tripping over toys and it gives children a place of their own. However, if the children are grown up, it can morph into a room that adults and teenagers alike can use. Think of it as a secluded getaway within the home. What it lacks in sunlight can be made up for in artificial lighting and ambiance.
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<br>3. The office: to be or not to be. Like electronics in the living room, the modern lifestyle requires computers, printers, fax machines and scanners. Do you want these spread out among the house or tucked away in an all-business office? The office can be very attractive, as it will keep the "work" feeling away from the rest of the home. Laptop computers may still be on the loose, but at least you can confine the bulky electronics to a private room.
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<br>4. Do all meals take place in the dining room? Eating together is what establishes strong family bonds. As time goes by, limiting meals to one place can become tedious. Do you want to encourage a more relaxed atmosphere for lunch and breakfast? If you think mealtime should be sacred at all times, stick with the dining room and its formal feeling.
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<br>5. The kitchen: chefs only? Finally, setting up your kitchen for light meals can add a comfortable alternative to the dining room scenario. Quick breakfasts or lunch for just a few people can make your kitchen more than a chef's paradise. Consider setting up a kitchen wall unit to make all the space usable.
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<br>About the Author: Beyond Furniture caters for people with a refined taste in contemporary and modern furniture. We have one of the most outstanding <a href="http://www.beyondfurniture.com.au/" rel="nofollow">furniture stores in Sydney</a>. Visit our store: http://www.beyondfurniture.com.au
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How to Protect Furniture in 5 Easy Steps

The furniture in our homes often holds great value for us. It may be sentimental value, pieces that were passed on from previous generations, or expensive new or antique pieces that transformed your home from a house into the place you love spending your life. Whatever the source of your furniture's value, you should know how to protect it. The last thing you want to go through is unpacking to find your armoire in fragments. Likewise, the cat that seemed to make your children ecstatic might be the end of your family heirlooms. Here are five ways to make sure your furniture stays safe and sound.
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<br>1. When packing furniture for a move, you want to make sure you have enough padding to keep your pieces protected. No matter the finish on wooden chest of draws or armoires, you can personally make sure everything arrives safely. Use some thick blankets or padding you can buy in a furniture store and wrap the item until there are no hard spots anywhere. Using stretch wrap is an excellent move, but avoid direct contact with the wood. Also, as you are taping the padding into place, use the back side of the tape so it will not touch your furniture's finish, no matter what happens on the road.
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<br>2. If you have cats or kittens in your home, your prized furniture can be the object of some damaging scratches. To avoid this, give the cats a fun alternative. Most pet stores sell boards for cats to scratch. On top of that, make sure there are enough toys for them to play with. Trim your cat's nails to keep them from becoming too lethal (for people and furniture). If you are just starting out with a young cat, you should train it regarding where they can do their damage. Cats can be shown to avoid scratching by giving them a squirt with a water bottle when they attempt to maim your furniture.
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<br>3. Like Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, think "plastics." The chemical components in plastics eat away at your furniture over time, and in some cases very quickly. If you have lights or appliances in direct contact with wooden table tops, it is recommended to put a soft felt coating beneath the appliance. This way, your furniture only comes into contact with the felt coating, never the plastic.
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<br>4. Use table mats and coasters. Many of us have learned this the hard way. The amount of nick and stains on furniture from normal use can be staggering. Look for a way to elegantly cover areas where you put plates and glasses on a regular basis. It might take a little extra work, but it can give your home a touch of detail and will certainly offer protection.
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<br>5. Add protective coating to your prized pieces. Furniture can fall victim to normal events -- the scratch of a fingernail, the spill of a drink -- that could have been avoided with some protective finishing. Take the time to avoid unforeseen damage to your prized pieces.
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<br>About the Author: Beyond Furniture caters for people with a refined taste in contemporary and modern furniture. We have one of the most outstanding ranges of <a href="http://www.beyondfurniture.com.au/view/page/28/cat/21100.html" rel="nofollow">lounges in Sydney</a>. Visit our store: http://www.beyondfurniture.com.au
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