There are some words in the English language that are helpful in thinking about the function of a living room. A room in which guests are greeted and entertained might be referred to as a parlor. A cozy retreat might be a withdrawing room (or drawing room). A multi-functional space might be a living room. The first decision you must make in designing the new space will be the function of the room. This will help you determine the appropriate size of the space.

The second group of questions concern decisions about how the space will be created.

* Will you remodel part of your home to create your new living room?

* Will you add the room to the existing house?

* Will you divide a large existing room to create two separate spaces?

* How much space do you need in your new room? Will it be the primary family living space? Will it be a small formal room for entertaining? Will it be a relatively small but comfortable place to escape and relax? What does your lifestyle require of the space? Formal living rooms built today tend to be much smaller than those designed fifty years ago.

If your needs dictate an addition to your home, there are many considerations before you begin to demolish walls. The list below will get you started, but a successful remodel requires organization. To help make your project a success, consider getting The Complete Remodeling Workbook and Organizer, click here for more information.

* Where will you place the addition? What location seems to be indicated by the architectural style of your home? What location is best to conform with the contours of your lot?

* How will the addition affect the existing home? How will you provide access to the new room? How will you move from the new room to other parts of the home? How will an addition look in terms of the proportions of the existing structure? Will the roofline negatively affect the view from other rooms of the house?

* Is there enough usable space on your lot in the proposed area? What are the local building regulations about how close you can build to the property line? Are you willing to give up the necessary amount of your yard?

A home addition is not a weekend project. You will want to schedule the work to cause the least disruption to your family’s life. If you will be making structural changes, you may want to consult an architect. You will need to work with roof and wall supports, know which walls bear the weight of the roof or other walls. You will want to design your addition so it enhances the exterior appearance of your home. Working from a blueprint will also help you to avoid costly oversights.

You will need to check local building codes for specific requirements for exterior building materials or design elements, requirements that licensed professionals perform certain types of work (such as electrical or plumbing). Click here to find the best contractors that specialize in working in your neighborhood.

Here are some of the things you will need to include in your remodeling plan:

* Excavation for the footings and foundation

* Removal of walls

* Construction and installation of supporting beams or columns

* Framing

* Placement and installation of doors and windows

* Insulation

* Installation of a fireplace

* Construction of partitions, customized cabinets, shelving or storage areas

* Upgrading existing electrical circuits

* Positioning and installing electrical outlets, switches, lights, fans, etc.

* Heating and cooling flow

* Flooring selection and installation

* Installation of home technology features

* Exterior wall construction – do you need a bricklayer or a stone mason?

* Interior wall construction – will you use drywall or paneling or some specialty materials like glass bricks?

* Painting or wallpapering

Once you have planned for each phase of creating your new living room, you will need to decide if you need professional assistance. If you have the skills, the experience, and the time to do all the work yourself, and conform to local building code regulations, you are ready to get started. But if local government requires that some work be done by licensed professionals or if you don’t have the skills to do all of the work yourself, it is time to bring in the professionals and schedule the work. You may decide that the project is too extensive for you to handle due to limited skills or time restrictions. If you plan to have the entire job professionally done, you might want to save yourself the risks and the headaches of managing schedules and subcontractors by hiring a general contractor to oversee the entire job.

Then, at last, you can turn your attention to decorating and furnishing your new living room. The function of the room will provide some guidance for you in choosing colors and materials for floor, walls, ceiling, and window treatments. You might choose cooler colors for a more formal room and warmer colors for a retreat. You might choose colors, carpeting styles, and wallpaper to carry the style of your house into the new addition. A very modern home, for example might indicate ceramic tile on the floor with an accent area rug. A traditional home might seem to call for hardwood floors. A Queen Anne style home might lead you to select a particular style of wallpaper. And, don’t forget to include that one, special accent or conversation piece that will make the room truly special.

With careful planning and design you can create a living room addition that will meet the lifestyle needs of your family. You can enhance the curb appeal of your existing home with the addition and increase the resale value of your home. A living room addition is the perfect opportunity to create the perfect space for your needs.

Adding a room to a home is fun and exciting! Once you understand any restrictions placed on the project by local building codes and the architecture of your existing structure, you can create the room of your dreams.

Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing

The mosaic medallions can be set on walls, floors, backsplash, and tabletops. Moreover they are easy to maintain. You can use a clean cloth to wipe the dirt and dust off the table. As for the colors, sizes and patterns, you are in liberty to choose from the wide range. Some of them are known for their intricate motifs while exude a warm classic design. Mosaics are made from a number of materials like slate, glass, marble and a combination of different other materials. Many pieces are joined together to bring out a design. However the clarity of the design depends on the expertize of the artists. Nonetheless it enhances the house ambience and can be a worthy choice if you are planning to revamp your house.

There are a number of designers who prefer the tiny hand-cut pieces made of marble to create a mosaic design. The kitchens will look exceptionally bright if you use the mosaic medallion on the floor. Apart from the mosaic medallion, you can also lay a marble carpet on the floor. The mosaic will look good if they are combined with hardwood flooring and ceramic tiles. Forget about rugs! Mosaics look good and they are easy to maintain and clean. Just like the area rug, mosaics on floors can delimit the concept of space.

Are you looking for a good company where you will get some of the most beautiful mosaic medallions? Most of these have novel designs and unique ideas that for sure add the much needed zing to the ambience and create a difference to the mundane look of the kitchen. The mosaic designs are made from semi-precious stones and natural marble. It is said that their motifs and designs are influenced by the Byzantine, Roman and Greek designs. They have combined the classic look with contemporary designs. The fusion is too breathtaking to be left alone. Moreover continuous experimentation with the motifs and designs has helped them to understand the taste and likings of their customers.

Some of the common designs include themes like animals, scenes, religious designs, geometrics and medallions. They can be used both for the indoors and the outdoors. Even in the house, you can install the mosaic medallions in the center of the floor of the living room, in kitchens and hallways and in archways which are cover the fireplaces. As for the outdoor mosaics they are common in gardens, sides of the pools, tables and on the path which cuts across the gardens. A landscape garden will look doubly beautiful with mosaic medallions.

The truth is bed-and-breakfast inns vary wildly from house to house and from inn to inn, and it makes good sense to do some research on the property you’ll be visiting. We all have our preferences and it’s not hard to find a bed-and-breakfast that will suit your particular tastes. In our case, we’ve always preferred the bed-and-breakfast that is more inn than house, more private than communal. And here are a few of the bed-and-breakfast stays we have enjoyed the most:

Casa Tropicana Inn

If you want to tie in a beautiful Southern California beach with your bed-and-breakfast experience, the Casa Tropicana Inn in San Clemente is the place to go. Situated across the road from a gorgeous beach and San Clemente Pier, Casa Tropicana really couldn’t be in a better location if the main purpose of your getaway is relaxation.

Known as the beach community where former president Richard Nixon had his Western White House, San Clemente is an oceanfront city of red-tile-roof Spanish style homes built with commanding views of the Pacific on land that almost seems like it was created to provide homeowners the best panoramic views on the Southern California coast. Spanish-named streets wind and weave their way down to the waterfront below where one of the most charming areas is the tiny enclave of shops, restaurants and vacation properties next to the San Clemente Pier.

It’s there that you find the Casa Tropicana Inn, a five-story inn that is ideal for couples and fits right in with the Mediterranean motif of this quaint beachfront area. Each of the eight guest rooms is designed with many special attributes that include romantic touches like fireplaces, over-size Jacuzzi tubs, the highest quality linens and bed treatments and cozy robes, as well as more practical amenities such as refrigerators, flat screen televisions, DVD players and high-speed internet. Beyond that, the rooms each have individual amenities such as the ocean views and four-poster bed in the room we enjoyed called the Casita Arena.

We especially enjoyed the second-floor terrace just in front of our room that features tables where you can enjoy a cocktail or chairs where you can read a good book, all with the beach, pier and seemingly endless ocean horizon in full view.

Although the service in general was excellent, the Casa Tropicana is not where you go to have your innkeeper prepare a gourmet breakfast. In fact, the inn’s breakfast is continental style with pastries, yogurt, orange juice and various snacks available for you anytime in the room. Even wine and champagne were available for us anytime and, unlike most mini-bars, these came at no extra charge.

But gourmet food is not very far away: On the first floor of the inn you’ll find the White Horses Restaurant and Bar which boasts numerous dining awards, including being named the best gourmet restaurant in Orange County. Based on our dinner, we completely agree with the judges.

Our time spent in this beautiful beachfront environment was a feast for the senses – unbelievable views, small markets, sidewalk cafes, long beach walks and upscale shopping only minutes away in downtown San Clemente. Friends who joined us on this getaway also pronounced the Casa Tropicana the ideal couples getaway.

For more information on the Casa Tropicana Inn, phone 800-492-1245 or visit www.casatropicana.com.

MacCallum House

When you visit Mendocino for the first time, this Northern California seascape just reaches out and touches your spirit. Perched high on a bluff overlooking the vast Pacific, Mendocino is not a big town – it’s just what you might imagine a New England fishing village to look like. The town has a mixture of Cape Code homes and historic buildings, making it almost look like a theme town. Windswept trees, rolling grassy hills and steep cliffs are footsteps from the Village by way of several miles of coastal trails that are perfect for hiking and photography. Down below are remote beaches and the cragged, rocky shoreline.

In the Village you’ll find a variety of eclectic shops – unusual records, one-of-a-kind musical instruments, vintage toys, you name it — mingled with historic homes, inns and fine restaurants. One of those homes is the popular MacCallum House bed-and-breakfast inn, which has a strong connection with Mendocino history. The house was built in 1882 by Alexander MacCallum, a relative of one of the town’s first settlers. Eventually the house was turned into a bed-and-breakfast inn

Our stay at MacCallum House was quiet and restful, and gave us a great chance to just walk down the block to visit the local merchants or to hike on over to the headlands where the trails offer breathtaking views of the coastline and the town itself. We stayed in the “Upper Barn Suite,” a second-floor unit in a building across the lawn from the main house. This is the largest room on the MacCallum property and enjoys views of the ocean. The unit features a private deck as well as a stone fireplace, wet bar, refrigerator and a large living room in addition to the bed, bath and kitchen areas. Furnishings are generally antique ‘ or approaching antique.

Of course, dining at MacCallum House is a big part of the treat and, fortunately, we elected to have dinner there in addition to the breakfast that normally comes with your room. Both meals were well up to expectations. Breakfast might include a Butternut Squash Omelet or Red Potatoes with Cremini Mushrooms or, the entree we tried, Lupe’s Breakfast Burrito, a delicious combination of apple-turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, white cheddar, onions, peppers and salsa on a fresh tortilla. Most of the dinner menu items highlight entrees that are regional and fresh.

You’ll want to walk off those ample portions and there is no shortage of places in and near Mendocino to get some exercise. In addition to the previously mentioned trails, there are lots of areas where you can walk by rivers and streams and even enjoy Redwood forests.

For more information on MacCallum House, phone 800-609-0492 or visit www.maccallumhouse.com.

Whispering Pines Lodge

Those people raised on TV westerns like Bonanza will feel like they’ve stepped right onto the Ponderosa when they take the one-hour drive northeast from Bakersfield to the town of Kernville. There’s good reason: dozens of TV and movie westerns have been filmed in the immediate vicinity.

We spent a couple of nights in Kernville at a place that we would consider a “find.” While most lodgings in town seem to be rather typical motel units, we stayed at one of three bed-and-breakfasts in town, the Whispering Pines Lodge. The Whispering Pines is a series of wood-frame buildings, each with several separate units. Our room was nicely appointed for a lodge that felt like it was out in the wilderness ‘ modern cedar and oak furniture, a king bed, double vanities in the bathroom, hardwood floors, framed paintings and flowers strategically positioned throughout the over-size room. The curtains opened to reveal a woodsy view of the riverfront, a deck with table and chairs and, of course, a panoramic view of the churning Kern River.

The constant sound of the river reminded us of a riverfront cabin we once owned and this just bolstered the feeling that we had truly escaped from the city. Downtown Kernville was perhaps just a quarter mile away but we felt like we were holed up in our own remote mountain cabin. It was ideal for relaxation — or just reading a good book — and we also loved walking the local trails.

After a restful night’s sleep, we discovered one more reason that the Whispering Pines fills up quickly on weekends for the full breakfast that is served, buffet style, every day of the week. Bed-and-breakfasts seem to run the gamut from those offering a roll and some coffee to those priding themselves on both the quality and quantity of food they present. The Whispering Pines falls into the latter category with its bacon, sausages, eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, quiche, fruit, rolls, juices and coffee all served up tasty and fresh in an atmosphere that encourages you to go back and fill your plate again.

For more information on the Whispering Pines Lodge, phone 877-376-3733 or visit www.kernvalley.com/whisperingpines.

A major winter storm can be lethal. A major winter storm can last for several days and be accompanied by high winds, freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall, and cold temperatures. People can become trapped at home, without utilities or other services. Heavy snowfall and blizzards can trap motorists in their cars. Attempting to walk for help in a blizzard can be a deadly decision.

Winter storms are considered deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. The leading cause of death during winter storms is from automobile or other transportation accidents. Exhaustion and heart attacks caused by overexertion are the two most likely causes of winter storm-related deaths.

House fires occur more frequently in the winter due to lack of proper safety precautions when using alternate heating sources. Fire during winter storms presents a great danger because water supplies may freeze and it may be difficult for firefighting equipment to get to the fire.

Preparing for all types of cold weather conditions and disasters, and responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms. To prepare for natural or man-made disasters go to http://www.survivalkitsonline.com.

BEFORE

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a winter storm hazard:

Freezing Rain

Rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees, and power lines.

Sleet

Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.

Winter Storm Watch

A winter storm is possible in your area. Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for more information.

Winter Storm Warning

A winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area.

Blizzard Warning

Sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.

 Frost/Freeze Warning

Below freezing temperatures are expected.

Have survival kits and emergency supplies on hand at home:

 Flashlight and extra batteries

Suggestions and Reminders: Store your supplies in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the emergency supplies in the trunk of your car. At least once a year replace batteries, update clothes, etc. Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications, and your veterinarian about veterinary medications.

Learn about winter storm risk in your area.

Contact your local emergency management office, National Weather Service office, or American Red Cross chapter for information.

Familiarize yourself with winter storm and blizzard WATCHES and WARNINGS.

A National Weather Service (NWS) winter storm watch means a winter storm is possible in your area.

A NWS winter storm warning means a winter storm is occurring, or will soon occur, in your area.

Freezing Rain is rain that freezes when it hits the ground, creating a coating of ice on roads, walkways, trees, and power lines.

Sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes moisture on roads to freeze and become slippery.

A NWS Blizzard Warning occurs when there are sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 miles per hour or greater and considerable amounts of falling or blowing snow (reducing visibility to less than a quarter mile) are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer.

Frost/Freeze Warnings occur when below freezing temperatures are expected.

Understand the hazards of wind chill, which combines the cooling effect of wind and cold temperatures on exposed skin.

As the wind increases, heat is carried away from a person’s body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. “Wind chill” is a calculation of how cold it feels when the effects of wind speed and temperature are combined. A strong wind combined with a temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air temperature about 35 degrees colder.

Frostbite

Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can cause permanent damage. Symptoms of frostbite are the loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, nose, and ear lobes.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops below normal due to prolonged exposure to temperatures less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion.

If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected

Warm the victim and seek immediate medical assistance. Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it (like coffee) or alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.

 Have some type of safe, emergency heating equipment available.

 Keep pipes from freezing

 Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers.

 Use a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone-alert feature to keep you informed of watches and warnings issued in your area.

 Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross for information on designated public shelters in case you lose power or heat.

DURING

If symptoms of hypothermia are detected:

 Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car or walking in deep snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack – a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.

 If you have a cell phone or two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling in winter weather.

 If you need to drive, let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.

Consider the following:

IF YOU GET STRANDED IN YOUR VEHICLE

  AFTER: 

ANIMALS AFTER A WINTER STORM

The behavior of animals may change dramatically after any disruption in their routine. Normally quiet and friendly animals may become irritable. Monitor animals closely and only release them in safe and secure enclosures.

 Animals may not be allowed in Red Cross shelters for health and space reasons. Prepare an emergency plan and know where you will take all of your animals in the event of a disaster. Temporary animal shelters may be set-up, however, these will fill rapidly. An ideal situation during disasters is to have pre-determined friend or family member that will provide a living space for your whole family, including your animals. Make sure all animals have a current identification tag, license, and vaccinations.

Ice storms and improv When a winter storm causes an electricity outage, people improvise. They break out the flashlights and light the candles. They hook up gas space heaters and crank up kerosene stoves.  And thatâ??s when things get dangerous. Safety factors should always be considered before operating any of these home-heating appliances. While chances of freezing to death in your home are small, there’s a greater risk of death by fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. So exercise caution.

Safety first All it takes is a little common sense. By following the safety tips outlined below, you can learn to identify potential hazards associated with the use of home-heating equipment during a power outage.

Exercising caution and using common sense will keep you and your family safeâ??â??even in a storm.