Why Buy a Home Elevator?

If you're wondering why buy a home elevator, here are some reasons that could convince you.

Why the home elevator makes sense

The elevator facilitates better mobility between the floors of your home or mansion, enabling you and the elderly members of your family to be independent while also helping transport stuff such as laundry or heavy items up and down the floors. Beyond the utility factor, the home elevator adds value to your home and even accentuates the interiors.

An elevator just for your home

ThyssenKrupp Access, Savaria Concord and Federal Elevator are some of the leading names in the business, offering a wide range of reliable and user-friendly elevators. They have high end models with customized interiors with materials including glass, wood and stone available, models incorporating state-of-the-art technologies including gearless traction and variable speed, models requiring no machine room and only a shallow pit or no pit at all, cost efficient budget elevators, and basic but elegant and space saving mini-elevators ("vanishing" or "through-the-floor" elevators) that require no hoistway, pit or machine room and hence no significant structural modifications to the home.

Great features and reliable performance

The Panorama residential elevator from Federal Elevator is one of the models that offer customization options as well as deliver efficient and reliable performance. Other features of the Panorama include:

• Loading capacity of 1000 lbs (454 kg)
• Maximum speed of 50 fpm (0.15 m/s)
• Manual or automatic swing entrances
• 1:2 cable hydraulic drives
• Emergency battery lowering & car lights
• Compact hydraulic pump unit
• Stainless steel trim
• Stainless steel control panel
• Number of maximum stops-8
• Accordion or scissor style car gates
• Automatic controls CSA/UL listed

The customer friendly service of leading elevator suppliers who undertake professional installation of these elevators as well as maintenance tasks would also go a long way in eliminating the question of why buy a home elevator from your mind.

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Reviews of the Top 4 Plantation Shutters For Your Home

Contrary to popular opinion, there exists a wide ranging world of shutters for home windows that serve a variety of different purposes. One specific type of window shutter is the plantation shutter that is available in a variety of different components. When picking plantation shutters for your home, choose between wooden ones, vinyl ones, and other composite materials to match with a home.

One of the most expensive, but best types of shutters to buy is called the designer Alder wooden shutters. These shutters, obviously made of wood, can run a person up to seven hundred dollars per set but are some of the most durable shutters on the market. They can come pre-painted and stained to promote a better look for the home but should be installed by professionals to ensure their longevity.

Another type of wooden plantation shutter that is good fit for most homes is the traditional designer wooden shutter. These shutters, produced by the same company as the designer shutter, sport the common look of shutters but are guaranteed to have a long lasting life. These shutters serve as the first line of defense when dealing with inclement weather and can be purchased for about $750.

There are two major types of composite shutters that can be found on the market and serve to be much more durable than just about any other product on the market. These two varieties of shutters are called Polydesign shutters and MDF shutters. These window apparatus can be bought at a much cheaper price than the best wooden ones because they are much easier to mass produce.

Finally, the last variety of shutter to look into is the polyvinyl or vinyl type. These shutters are best suited for windows only and can be built to any size for just about any home. Polyvinyl shutters are the cheapest out of these four major designs as they exist in the $200 price range. They provide adequate protection from the elements as well as from theft and unwanted cold and heat, depending on the season.

Four plantation shutters styles that can be purchased are the designer Alder shutters, traditional wooden shutters, vinyl shutters, and composite models. Each has their own price range due to color, stain, size, and base material. Choosing one of these types of window apparatus can improve the décor of the exterior found around the home as well as serve as protection from the elements.

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Be Prepared For Your Next Event Emergency

Whether you've planned one event or hundreds it's happened to you: someone runs up in a panic because they need _______ and they think you'll have it because you're the event planner. That's right, __blank__, they'll ask you for anything and everything and they need it NOW! Thumb tacks, scissors, glue, a hammer, needle and thread, batteries, or Tylenol - you name it and as far as they're concerned their crisis is far more important than anything you could be dealing with at the registration table or backstage. Well, after a few instances like this I decided to make sure the next "ask" would be met with an assuring "yes". So I created THE EVENT KIT. It's an emergency kit that has everything anyone could ever ask for while at an event. Exhibitors, performers, caterers, attendees, limo drivers, and volunteers - I'm ready for all their 9-1-1's.

This was the most fun I have had shopping in a long time. I went on a shopping frenzy to Staples, Home Depot, and a few other stores (spent about $1,000 in total) and prepared the most amazing emergency event kit that I've every seen. We're talkin' the grand daddy of event kits here. I started off with a Pelican Case because I wanted something durable (I also have a bit of gear envy and this was my way of trying to be cool like my photographer and A/V friends). I bought some small organizers to make sense out of the little bits, and then I tackled the extremely difficult task of making it all fit. Now, when I show up on event day I feel armed and prepared to help everyone with their mini-emergencies.

Someone asked me the other day if I got the idea from watching The Wedding Planner (Jennifer Lopez) and I laughed out loud right in their face. I felt bad. Nope, I didn't steal it from a movie. I don't really remember any sort of brain wave - inspiration didn't really come into play on this one. I've seen other planners with kits before but they've always been small tool boxes or sewing kits and I just wanted to take it over the top.

Here's what's inside my emergency event kit:

Electrical Supplies
15' Extension Cord
5-spot Power Strip
Cables

• Mac Book Power Extension
• Firewire
• Ethernet
• USB
• 1/8' to 1/4'
• 1/4' to 1/4'
• S-Video
• Phone
• RCA Dual to 1/4'

Adapters:

• iPod to Computer
• Mac Display Output; Various
• RCA to 1/4'

USB Splitter
USB Flash Drive
SD Memory Cad (16m)
Headphones
Flashlight
Laptop printer
Inkjet cartridges (B&W, colour)
Emergency Equipment

First Aid Kit; Including:

• Tylenol
• Benadryl
• Sunscreen SPF 45
• Visine Eye Drops
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hand Cream
• Wet Wipes
• Granola Bar
• Frisk Breath Mints

Stationary
Accordion File Folder

• Clip Boards (3)
• Receipt Book
• CD-R (2)
• Card Stock; Multi-colour (40)
• Note Pad (1)
• Lined Paper (10)
• File Folders (3)
• Stickers; 1" Dots
• Labels; #5160; Multi-colour (8)

Accordion Pouch
Envelopes

• 10"x14" Padded (1)
• 9"x12 Tyvek (2)
• Catalogue (3)
• CD Mailer (2)
• CD Mailer Padded (1)
• #10 (20)
• #8 (10)

Writing Utensils
Highlighters; Yellow (2)
Permanent Markers; Black (2)
Medium+Fine Point; Black (4)
Dry Ease Markers; (4)
Pens (15)
Mechanical Pencils (2)
HB2 Pencils (2)
Pencil Sharpener
Eraser
Correction Tape
6" Ruler
Stapler+Extra Staplers
Post-it Notes
Elastic Bands; Various Sizes (50)
Lens Cleaner
Name Badges; Clip (10), Lanyard+Sleeve (10), Cards (15)
Calculator
Fasters
Binder Clips; Various Sizes (30)
Push Pins (100)
#1 Paper Clips (100)
Velcro loops (3)
Velcro Peel Strips (6)
Adhesive Puddy
Glue Stick
String (100')
Zip Ties (8)
Bungee Cords (4)
Removable Double-Coated Tape
Magic Scotch Tape
Gaffer Tape; black, red (2)
Miscellaneous
Garbage Bags; Big (2), Small (2)
Zip-Lock Bags; Big (2); Med. (2)
Twist Ties
J-Clothes (2)
Rubber Gloves
Lint Roller
Tide-To-Go Stain Stick
Sewing Kit
Food Thermometer
Lighter
Razor Blade
Multi-bit Screwdriver
Hammer
Batteries

• 9-volt (2)
• Triple-A (4)
• Double-A (4)

Ticker Tape; Various Colours (2)
Scissors
Hands Stamps (5)
Click Counter
Digital Camera
Hole Punch; Single
Hole Punch; Full Sheet
Wrist Bands; Various (10)
Coat Check Tags (125)
Raffle Tickets (125)

**Set-Your-Own Master Lock (for the case)
**Stanley Organizers; various sizes

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Accordion Album - The Best Choice For Scrapbooking!

Everyone has some good and some bitter memories. The good ones paint smiles on the faces wherein the bad ones makes you dull. However, they are things that happen when you do not expect them.

A way of keeping memories alive is by keeping photographs of the person who was with you in each occasion. People love taking photographs during field trips, excursions, get togethers, vacations, birthdays, graduations, holidays, weddings and occasions of the like. These photos keep the memory alive in all the eyes that have had the glimpse of it. However, instead of having the photographs in a traditional album or something of that sort, it would be better if you worked on scrapbooks and spice them up a bit.

Creation of scrap books does not need skill or expertise in photography. You just ought to be able to design the layout for your scrapbook for which you must know the concept of design and also must select the photographs you wish to include in the scrapbook.

Have you heard of accordion albums? These might have been encountered by you or you keep one of them in your room. It is not the regular photo album. It is smaller in size and are ones that are meant for keeping the memories of loved ones alive. Accordion albums for love relations is the most common as being lovers people would have spent a lot of quality time together, which they wish to retain forever. For such instances, scrapbooking is the best, for which you may have to create an accordion album, which would be the best thing to do.

The layout, design and size of the scrapbook depends completely on the total number of photographs that are to be included. To increase the liveliness of the memories stored, captions like quotes and poems can be employed as captions or tag-lines for the photos, which will manifest the intimate feeling in the album and also augment the feel of the memories while taking a second glance.

While writing the journal, memorable or funny incidents can be recalled about the photo which will make it more alive and also expressive. Also, the colours will play a very important role in the scrap book. Soft colours like gold, silver blue and cream are used, which makes the scrapbook look lively and attractive too.

Accordion Album - Worthy topics:

Some of the topics that are used widely for accordion album, "10 things i love i you" and "Our relationship's history" are very common. Any other title can be employed, so long as it expresses the intimacy of your scrapbook and the more personal the title is, the better title it would be in the future when you look at it.

Moreover, accordion album, used for scrapbooking, may serve also as memorabilia of items like love letters, cards, concerts attended, restaurant dined at, dried flowers and other things that were exchanged between the two of you. You can even have a question answer session between each other and include it. The questions may be about the traditions, ambitions, pastimes, personal favourites, pet peeves and so on. It may even be on the things that you disagree on.

Accordion Album - Important for Scrapbooking

The accordion album is the easiest way in which special memories, shared by you and your special one can be recorded. Creation of a scrapbook is real fun and you may laugh your heart out when you remember certain incidents that were behind the scenes shown by the pictures. When it is shown to your partner, your output will please him or her too.

Valuable Steps to be Followed

Before scrapbooking is started, the pictures should be obtained that will be included in your scrapbook. They must be sorted in a chronological order and before pasting the photographs, you ought to make sure that they occur in the same order you conceptualised. Add embellishments that are artistic to the pages and include captions for as many photos as possible. This process should be done for the whole of the scrapbook and if you follow properly the in and out of it, you will be able to make an adorable album for your scrapbook.

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The Original Accordion Style Baby Gates - A Safety Hazard

Looking back and comparing our childhood to that of our children, it becomes apparent that there were many devices used by children that turned out to be very unsafe. When you consider things like lawn darts, it often begs the questions, "What were they thinking?" However, there are many things that seemed like a good idea at the time and were used with the best intentions. One of these devices that turned out to be unsafe is the accordion styled baby gate.

The accordion style baby gate was very popular for many years. Most children growing up prior to the eighties probably remember them. They featured two pieces of wood on either side, which would be attached to the wall or between a doorway. The middle of the device used many smaller strips of wood, which were hinged, so that the two ends could be brought together or spread apart. This gave it flexibility, because it could be fit into different sized areas.

These gates characterized by the diamond shape that the slats would form when it was spread out. At the top of the gate, a series of half diamonds would create a V-shaped zig-zag pattern.

These gates presented several dangers to the child and were a major safety hazard. The child could easily become entrapped in the gate if they stuck their head in one of the diamonds or on the top. If the gate became dislodged or even slightly moved, the diamond could close, catching the child and potentially pinching or causing strangulation.

By February of 1985, companies in the United States had stopped manufacturing these gates. Some gates are still around that use this design though, so it is important to always avoid using these types of gates.

Federal regulations now require that the distance between two sections of a V-shaped gate not exceed 1.5 inches and the diamonds must be smaller than the head of a six month old child.

One of the reasons the accordion gate was popular is because one gate could be used in different areas of the home that had different widths. Today, pressure gates are available, which offer similar functionality.

These usually are made of two pieces of plastic or wood. Some sort of tensioner, commonly a spring, causes the two pieces to be pressed into the edges of the door or the wall. Unlike the earlier version, these usually have a solid edge on top. While a pressure gate is much safer than the diamond shaped accordion gates, they are fairly easy to break free. Even the most well designed pressure gate is going to come loose eventually and an adventurous toddler can knock it down.

You should never rely only on a gate to protect your child from dangers like the stairs, but a pressure gate requires more attention, since they can be knocked down rather easily. Usually a hardware mounted gate is recommended. These come with mounting brackets that are physically secured to the wall. The gate can then be snapped into the brackets where it will be held in place. Most of these will wing open, to provide temporary access or taken down, while leaving the brackets in place.

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Choosing the Right Storm Shutters

Choosing the right storm protection can be a challenging task, especially when you have got new products being released just about every 6 months. There are quite a few aspects of these products that you need to consider before making the final decision or signing any installation contracts.

Price - In an economy like ours this is always an important thing to look for. With storm shutters you don't want to limit yourself by price, however. I suggest considering all of the products and their performance beforehand. There are quite a few cheap products which do perform well though. One perfect example of these would be corrugated hurricane panels. Something important to keep in the back of your mind is that the less you pay for your shutters, the more work there will most likely be when it comes time to apply your protection.
Performance - This, in my opinion, is the most important factor. At the end of the day a shutters performance is what's going to protect your home. One of the tried and true products are the accordion shutters. They are easy to apply and don't have any motorized or hard-to-repair components. It is always best to review the actual product engineering of a shutter (these include their max pressure etc.)
Value - It all depends on exactly what you're looking for. If you're unable to do any labor such as installing panels then it would be best (if financially possible) to get motorized roll down hurricane shutters. Obviously if this is the case, roll downs are going to be your best value. If you're young and physically able to install products, you're going to find panels to be much more affordable and usually just as effective when it comes to storm time.

In all honesty, you should not be too worried about what you're spending protecting your home from hurricanes. These are very powerful natural wonders and they can completely destroy your home and investments. When a terrible storm is heading towards your town it is usually suggested that you leave your home behind to fend for itself. If you value your property, I suggest protecting it with shutters of some sort. If you decide to stay home for the storm it's even more imperative that you have strong protection, as your family is going to be depending on it.

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Dryer Safety

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there are 15,000 clothes dryer fires per year. The result of these fires are material losses, injuries and even death. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.

To help prevent fires follow these helpful tips:

· Clean the lint screen/filter before each load of clothes. It is so easy to forget to do this each time. A small reminder sign near or on the dryer itself is a good idea. Be aware of clothing that is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked. Your high utility bill can be an additional signal.· Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically - A good rule of thumb is once a year.

Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. Many times the damper is actually stuck. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer.

· Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Also clean the interior of the dryer chassis to prevent lint build up. Always use a qualified service person to clean the dryer's interior vent system.

· Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with an approved fire resistant duct. Flexible plastic and foil type ducts are susceptible to kinks and can trap lint causing heat build up - A potential fire hazard! Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow.

· Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals. Clothes that have come in contact with gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning products, or paint solvents can be combustible. If possible, wash the clothing several times to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.

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Deciding on Modern Patio Doors

Looking at modern patio doors can be overwhelming if you don't have some sort of idea of what you are looking for. This is why it is important to think about your investment before making the purchase. For instance decide whether you want sliding glass, out swing, French, a pet door in them, bifold or accordion doors. Decide on a style such as contemporary or modern patio doors and then decide on whether you want the same finish on the interior as you get on the exterior. All of this can make a difference when you begin shopping.

Some of these choices may be simple to make but others will require some deep consideration. One decision that may require deep consideration is whether you want a pet door. Most of us have to physically take our dogs outside because they can't jump up and open the doors for themselves. We live very busy lives and this can sometimes be a problem. With sliding glass doors that have pet doors in them, you no longer have to worry about that. The doors can be locked for security when they are not in use and they are generally sealed to keep the weather out.

Another major consideration is whether to use sliding glass, French, bifold, outswing or accordion doors. Each one has their own special features but which ones will give you the better return on your money when it comes time to resell your home? French doors add a style all of their own to your home. They allow diffused light to enter while keeping prying eyes from seeing in. They can be either outswing or in swing doors depending on your preferences. Accordion doors allow you to open your home up to your family and guests. They generally fold up neatly against one side leaving your patio free of obstacles.

Consider whether you will use your modern patio doors as a replacement for an existing door or whether this will be a brand new doorway. Sometimes installing new doors means more expense. Using new doors as a replacement for existing doors can be relatively inexpensive. Most of them come with all of the hardware that is needed for installation so there is nothing else to buy, no added expense. Sometimes additional window treatments such as blinds or curtains may be necessary to conceal the interior of your home from passersby. This may require extra hardware such as curtain rods but they too are relatively inexpensive.

Whether you are looking for patio doors that are contemporary, modern or new age, you can always find what you need from the various retailers online. They can match the exterior colors of your home with your new doors as well as give you ideas for window treatments. You should check with local retailers to see what is readily available in your area and what is popular. You may find the bargain you are looking for in your own backyard.

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Residential Closet Doors - Traditional to Modern in an Instant

Your home can benefit from the installation of residential closet doors. This is because the modern design are such that they fit into any existing home décor. And they are also inexpensive which means that you get to enhance or improve the look of your interior home without running to the bank.

And what is great, today's doors are available in different attractive styles and designs, with many of them easy and quick to install. If you have limited room space, you may opt for the sliding, bifold, according or folding style. Small spaces also benefit from mirrored or glass closet doors because they bring in additional light as well as create a visual illusion of a larger area.

Louvered interior doors are great decorative options as well as to enhance the flow of air in your room. The French models are perfect to bring affordable elegance and sophistication into your home.

Another notable feature in today's versions is their flexibility. They are designed in such a way that you can install them anywhere in your home-bathroom, bedroom, laundry, utility, pantry, dining room, hallway and linen room to name a few. Plus, their contemporary design makes them the best replacement for your old, bulky walk in closet or wardrobe. Here are some residential closet door ideas available from different online retailers (pineshutters.com, homedepot.com, etc).

Wooden Decorative Room Door with 0.6mm-thick Steel Plate Inside:

A dream of any designer, this door features leaf thickness of 4 centimeters or 3 and ½ centimeters, 06 millimeter thick cold rolled steel, wooden frame and hinges and lock. The standard frame is 830 millimeter by 2,022 millimeter.

The Amherst Café Door:

This café-style door has a traditional design and is constructed from clear Ponderosa pine, smoothly sanded. It has 2-inch full stiles, 6-inch top rail and 2-inch bottom rail. It is delivered to you ready to be painted or stained.

Spectrum 24 In. - 36 In. x 80 In. Via Fruitwood Folding Door:

This door is one of the perfect choices to make if you are looking for value for your money. It brings durability in it solid vinyl panel and flexible vinyl hinges. What is more, this door is maintenance-free and fits openings from 24 inches to 36 inches wide by 80 inches high. This door comes fully assembled with model number HVS3280F.

Pinecroft 735 Series 30 In. x 80-1/2 In. Unfinished Optique Bifold Door:

This decorative glass door in bifold style is constructed from pine croft and designed for quick and easy installation. Any designer would love the glass design of this door as it brings additional light, class and elegance to any home. The assembled dimensions are 1.38 inches deep by 80.5 inches high by 30 inches wide.

These are just some of residential closet doors that you can find on the Internet. More choices are offered by Ikea, Home Depot and Lowes. Keep in mind that prices vary depending on options and retailers so take your time browsing through myriad replacement closet door options.

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Make the Most of Storage-Starved Kitchens With Collapsible Bowls, Colanders and Measuring Tools

Cooks everywhere, especially those of you navigating tight kitchens, prepare to rejoice. A new generation of space-saving collapsible kitchen tools has arrived to make even the stingiest kitchen cabinet seem downright expansive.

Leading kitchen goods brands like Progressive and Chef'n listened to cooks' storage woes and responded beautifully with a new breed of cleverly designed colanders, bowls and measuring tools that flatten for easy storage. Combining rigid rims and bases for stability together with flexible sides, collapsibles fold accordion-style from full height down to about an inch tall -- or less. So, instead of nesting or wedging bulky full-sized items into tight spaces, busy cooks can simply collapse them down to store wherever convenient.

Even better, collapsible bowls and colanders are designed to fit in the dishwasher in their flattened state, making space-wasting bulky loads and hand-washing large items things of the past.

I must admit that flexible-sided mixing bowls and measuring cups sounded a bit flimsy to me when first introduced. So, when testing collapsible tools for product reviews, I gave them a thorough run in our kitchens, subjecting them to plenty of boiling pasta, thick batters, and of course, my assistant chef, age 9.

My inner skeptic was quickly silenced when, in use, these items stood up to any mixing, pouring or dumping we dished out. Though the walls of the collapsible bowls, colanders and measuring cups we tested are flexible, they're formed in rigid, high-heat food-grade polypropylene plastic which makes them very sturdy and self-supporting when expanded. Plus, it's fun to pop collapsible bowls and colanders up and down, making them a perfect lure to get kids into the kitchen to help out.

Needless to say, I was a quick convert to collapsible kitchen tools, especially since my home's kitchen is anything but spacious. Collapsible colanders, bowls and measuring tools are a great solution for any cook looking to save a lot space or simply add convenience in any kitchen.

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Beautify Your Room With Replacement Closet Doors

You can save significantly in your home remodeling if you install replacement closet doors. They come in various styles and designs that you could find one that would match or compliment your room or home decor.

You have a choice of sliding, mirrored, glass, louvered, bifold or accordion. All these designs would fit any modern home decor. When choosing a replacement door, keep in mind that your choice of materials, styles and designs will greatly determine prices. That is why it would be a wise move on your part if you compare the different offerings from online retailers, like dunbarton.com and accordion-doors.com. For starter, here are some that may interest you.

Series 240 Accordion Folding Doors:

This Woodfold accordion folding door creates instant doors and walls when needed. It features an exclusive top and bottom steel hardware hinge to provide durability and strength and long-lasting performance. You can have a custom-built Woodfold door to meet your specified needs and requirements.

Series 2700 Heavy-Duty Steel Bifold Door with Mirror Laminate:

This model is designed for heavy-duty use and long term performance. It features laminated mirror on 24-gauge steel panel, patented Slimfold hardware system and hat, self-aligning spring loaded guide rods, safety-backed mirror measuring 3.0mm, prefinished steel track with polished chrome option, polished chrome handle and mylar mirror edging and top and bottom track in polished brass steel. It boosts with smooth, easy and quiet operation. The door breaks over the center to allow maximum opening. Panel color options are bright white, black and ivory.

Series 4550 Aluminum Framed Sliding Mirror Door with Bottom Roller:

This sliding door has adjustable L-guides on the top for smooth, easy and quiet operation. It also features a jump-resistant roller at the bottom, out-of-square opening that is easy to adjust, one piece 1 and 3/4 inches deep top track, low bottom track to reduce floor obstruction and safety-backed mirror measuring 3.0 and 4.0mm for heights higher than 9 feet. Both its top and bottom track are prefinished to match the door design. Its stiles and rails come in satin brass, satin chrome, bright brass and bright chrome.

Louver II:

This louvered door is a perfect replacement to match a contemporary, colonial or traditional home decor. It is designed to withstand impact of daily use, thus allowing the possibility of a long term performance. It can be installed easily, with no tools needed. It comes with pre-installed hardware system and patented Slimfold hat. It operates smoothly and quietly, breaks over the center to allow for maximum opening and comes with spring loaded, self-aligned guide rods. The prefinished steel track option is mill or polished finished aluminum. You have an option of bottomless track bracket.

Flush Door:

This door is wallpapered, painted or stenciled. You also have the option to use the pre-finished color allowing you an avenue to express your own style. It is heavy duty to withstand impact and can be installed easily and quickly, with no tools required. Optional features are jump-proof track mechanism and bottomless track bracket. It breaks over the center to provide maximum opening, operates smoothly, easily and quietly and has guide rods with spring or self-alignment. It comes pre-installed with hardware and Slimfold hat.

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Vince Gill Next Big Thing Contemporary Country Music CD Review

Richly talented Contemporary Country artist Vince Gill has released him latest album titled Next Big Thing and Wow! It's really a good one.

Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Next Big Thing. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

One of the nicer things about a CD like this is with this level of talent even if Contemporary Country isn't your favorite style you still can't help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.

If you're a Vince Gill fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don't even have to be a fan of Gill, or even Contemporary Country to know is good. It's just good music. Period.

While the entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are track 2 - She Never Makes Me Cry, track 7 - Young Mans Town, and track 17 - In These Last Few Days

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is 12 - You Aint Foolin Nobody. Outstanding!

Next Big Thing Release Notes:

Vince Gill originally released Next Big Thing on February 11, 2003 on the MCA Nashville label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Next Big Thing

2. She Never Makes Me Cry

3. Don't Let Her Get Away

4. Someday

5. These Broken Hearts

6. We Had It All

7. Young Man's Town

8. Real Mean Bottle

9. Whippoorwill River

10. Sun's Gonna Shine On You, The

11. From Where I Stand

12. You Ain't Foolin' Nobody

13. Old Time Fiddle

14. Without You

15. Two Hearts

16. This Old Guitar And Me

17. In These Last Few Days

Personnel: Vince Gill (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin); Al Anderson (acoustic & electric guitars); Mac McAnally (acoustic guitar); Dean Parks (electric guitar); Tom Britt (slide guitar); John Hughley (steel guitar); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Jim Hoke (autoharp, harmonica, accordion); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Kirk Whalam (alto saxophone); Jim Horn (baritone saxophone); Charles Rose (trumpet); Steve Herrman (trombone); Pete Wasner, John Hobbs (keyboards); Willie Weeks (bass); Chad Cromwell (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Amy Grany, Lee Ann Womack, Dawn Sears, Leslie Satcher, Billy Thomas, Harry Stinson, Bekka Bramlett, Kim Keyes, Jenny Gill, Emmylou Harris, Michael McDonald, Andrea Zonn, Jeff White (background vocals).

Recorded at Ocean Way, Seventeen Grand and Sound Kitchen Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.

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Lonestar Lonely Grill Contemporary Country Music CD Review

Not sure what's happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Lonely Grill gets. Lonely Grill put simply is one of their best CDs to date.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

These days it's a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

If you're a Lonestar fan, or just a fan of Contemporary Country music this is a CD your collection simply should not be without.

While the entire album is really very good some of my favorites are track 2 - Simple As That, track 4 - What About Now, and track 8 - You Don't Know What Love Is

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 12 - Everything's Changed. Great track!

Lonely Grill Release Notes:

Lonestar originally released Lonely Grill on June 1, 1999 on the Bna Entertainment label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Saturday Night

2. Simple As That

3. Amazed

4. What About Now

5. Tell Her

6. Don't Let's Talk About Lisa

7. I've Gotta Find You

8. You Don't Know What Love Is

9. All The Way

10. Smile

11. Lonely Grill

12. Everything's Changed - (acoustic version, bonus track)

Lonestar: Michael Britt (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars); Dean Sams (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, piano, keyboards); Richie McDonald (vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards); Keech Rainwater (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel includes: Gary Burnette (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Dan Huff (electric guitar); Bruce Bouton (steel & lap steel guitars); Paul Franklin (steel guitar); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Jonathan Yudkin (mandolin); Tim Lauer (accordion); Matt Rollings (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Steve Nathan (piano, synthesizer); Robbie Cheuvront (bass, background vocals); Mike Brignardello (bass); Paul Leim (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Russell Terrell (background vocals).

Principally recorded at The Tracking Room and Iliad Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.

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Modern Room Dividers Serve Dual Purposes

Choosing a room divider for your home is not a choice to be taken likely. This divider will become a new piece of furniture in your home and an addition to your interior decorating scheme, as well as potentially becoming a piece of art, just like the framed art on your walls. Make some decisions about exactly what you would like that divider to do you for you before beginning to shop. If it is simply a privacy screen, you will look for different attributes than if you would like to serve a dual purpose of some kind.

Also be sure to know your budget. Prices on room dividers vary widely, so there is a room divider available to suit any pocketbook. If your budget is tight, those partitions and privacy screens made of particle board and veneer might be ideal, although there some reasonable prices to be found on solid wood ones as well. A company that manufactures room dividers may sell their product more cheaply than suppliers might. This is not always the case, but it is worth looking around.

Understand what kind of a divider you need for the area you are wishing to furnish. A folding free standing divider is ideal for many because it is not permanent. It can be moved when you change the furniture around, and in the event that you do not wish to use it for a period of time, it folds like an accordion and stores easily. On the other hand, you may want something more permanent, in which case you can install tracks on your ceiling and floor, and install your room divider as a rolling or sliding partition. Be sure to know the dimensions of the area before making a purchase.

Finally, to choose the style you would prefer, think about the area. If it is small or you would like to have more space, consider a mirror room divider. Obviously, a mirror divider will not actually make a room bigger, but it will add depth and a sense of space. Another divider for a room with limited space is the accordion divider, which needs no space for a door to swing open and closed; it opens by compressing against the edge of the doorway and closes by sliding into place. A modern style divider that serves a dual role is the bookcase divider that will provide storage and decorating space to a room while acting as a partition as well. Bookcase dividers are less mobile than some others, especially once you have arranged your books and/or belongings on the shelves, and obviously, accordion dividers are not mobile at all.

Japanese dividers, while not appearing particularly modern, are wonderful privacy screens because they block out one side of the room from the other, but, if made with rice paper, they continue to let sunlight stream through. Louvered partitions can be solid, when the louvers are closed, but, for most dividers, the louvers can be opened. While it is still doing its job, it will then also allow light to show from the other side.

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Coming to Terms With the Death of a Loved One

Grieving isn't cut and dried; everyone will respond a little differently. For those of us who have lost a loved one either because of age or unexpectedly through accident or disease, grieving manifests itself in different ways and can take months to years to finally come to terms with their death.

While you may think that you can insulate yourself from feelings surrounding the death of a loved one or that of a very close friend, sooner or later the impact of this death will affect you. And, it isn't enough to console oneself with the fact that the person may have suffered through a devastating illness where death could be viewed as a blessing in disguise. In this vein, I speak about my own father who languished for several years with Alzheimer's.

My father was a man of many talents. He not only was an accomplished musician, playing the Hawaiian and Spanish guitar, the accordion and fiddle, he also wrote music, and he taught music lessons for over forty years always enthusiastic about helping young and old enjoy and develop their talent. Some of his students went on to international acclaim giving him a real sense of contributing to a special talent shared worldwide. He was also a man who was able to make a vegetable garden come alive, who had an ability to make any run down house he owned turn into a charming and comfortable home. In fact, I learned the majority of my 'handyman skills' from him over the years.

Yes, there will always be a special place for Dad in my heart, and I will always have those wonderful memories of countless trips into the countryside, those special days of exploring old forts, or abandoned run down farm houses or old one room schools. Even with all these memories, there was always a nagging feeling that I needed to have something more tangible to keep his presence with me alive. So, what could I do?

While my Dad did not have a lot of money, he did leave a small inheritance to me and my brothers and sisters. Now, I had several options to explore of purchasing something that would symbolize my father, or taking something he loved and framing it to add to my home. But, what I decided instead was to erect a flag of our province in tribute to him at the entrance to our country property. Now, every time I come home, walk outside on a winter or summer day, Dad is there waving at me standing proud. It doesn't matter whether it rains or shines, is sunny or snowing, Dad is always there looking out over the countryside that he so much loved to explore.

Memories of a dear loved one need not be closeted in the recesses of your mind. Memories can live with you in many different ways. You see, it's not that you can't or shouldn't move forward with life. You should. But, there are unique or special tributes that can pay homage to a loved one, special ways that they can always be there with you as you also continue on with life just as your loved one would want.

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Carriage Garage Doors

Carriage garage doors could be the true carriage doors that open in the middle and swing out like they did in barns and horse carriage house buildings long ago; or they could be look-alike carriage garage doors which are very similar to the true carriage garage doors, only they are a facade and generally open like a real garage door, upwards.

Carriage doors are very popular in larger, newer homes and are typically wood or wood finish to make them appear more authentic. Most of these carriage garage doors are insulated to help keep out the elements and general noises which is helpful because a lot of the larger houses they are installed in have two or three garages and sometimes the homeowners transform one or more of the garages into a rec-room, office space or workout area.

If a homeowner is considering the traditional carriage garage doors that swing out, one to each side, but think they have to get out of the car to open the doors, think again, many of these traditional carriage garage doors are automatic and with a simple touch of a button on a key fob, will swing open; just make sure the car is stopped back far enough not to get hit by a swinging carriage door.

Some of the doors swing out with two doors, one to each side; others are made like an accordion, sliding to one side while others are made to life up in one piece. These doors could be stained a deep rich mahogany wood color, cherry wood, white wood-look with wearing on it (a sort of buffing or white-washing that makes the white wood look older than it is) or they could be made of heavy-duty steel. The typical doors have windows at the top and some have a diagonal cross of wood at the bottom; although there are different designs to the wood 'planks' at the bottom of the doors, some have small squares or rectangles; others have raised pieces of wood or trim which could be painted a contrasting color and other carriage garage doors offer a unique pattern that spans the length of several doors.

The styles of them are varied from traditional English carriage house to medieval looking arched doors and matching hardware. Homeowner can choose from a variety of styles that will match or complement their house, some of the door manufacturers also make carriage doors for the front, side and back doors in addition to the doors for a full house match of carriage doors.

And wood is not the only material carriage doors come in, there are steel doors that are made to look like wood, but are durable and easier to maintain. All of the doors have high quality springs, rollers and tracks for smooth opening and closing of the doors, no matter if they go up, to one side like an accordion or open like a traditional door.

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Wood Blinds

Wood blinds are comparable to accordion pleats when raised, so the superior texture is not at all stiff or difficult to manage. Discount wood blinds bring the beauty of the outdoor world into a person's home. Along with beauty, these bring durability and improved functionality to homeowners. These woven creations work just like ordinary blinds and can be raised and lowered with ease.

Discount wood blinds also come in a variety of patterns and colors. As all professional and amateur interior decorators know, blinds must match the overall décor of the room. These are sturdy and masterfully crafted. Buyers can choose them to match an elegant room tone, a casual one, or something in between. In addition to the genuine ones there are also faux wood blinds, which sell for less and look like real wood products. The best quality ones have very rich stains, which bring out the true grain of the wood. They also have UV coating that prevents harmful solar rays from damaging the product. These may also have a palette of painted colors that bring a very smooth, silk-like finish.

People who are looking for discount wood blinds can find them on the Internet. There are several online retailers specializing in blinds and window décor. Not only can these blinds add personality and elegance to any home, they can also increase a home's value. People can visit PaylessDecor.com for more information on choosing wood blinds, pricing different styles and customizing them before installation. Payless Décor is a company that uses high quality polymers to create these blinds, which come with a guaranteed lifetime warranty.

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Remarkable Business Card Designs

A good marketing campaign is a crucial aspect of any business, regardless of type, nature, and size. When a business is able to carry out an effective marketing strategy, it can easily create demand for the products or services it offers. This in turn will gather profitable customers who are likely to stay loyal throughout the duration of the business.

One good marketing tool to use is business cards. As the tool that creates the first and last impression to prospective customers, a well designed card is important to any business. But because every other business is trying to stand out in the market with their cards, it is important that you create your own creative and distinctive card.

There are actually several ways to make a business card more captivating and interesting. Some of them are the following:

Double sided business card. It's important to make use of both sides of your card. Not only does it provide you greater space to put your information, but it also allows you to make a good impression with the extra design you can put in your cards. Double sided cards also allow you to offer added value in your cards such as printing a discount coupon or free gift item at the back.

Using shard or rounded edges. When designing your card, focus should not only be on the color, images, and texts, but also on the shape of the card. If you want to convey a warm, relaxed, and friendly feeling to your target customers, then go for rounded edges. But if you want to project a structured, firm, and serious images, then stick with the sharp edges.

Brochure business card. You can always turn your business card into a mini brochure. Fold the card into two to give you ample space with which to print you contact details and list your products and services. A brochure card will do more than just provide contact details to your prospects to easily encourage them to keep your card.

Accordion card. This type of card provides you a lot of space to print your contact details. With enough room in the design, you can put as much information as you want in the card. This type of design though requires careful consideration on the thickness of the paper used as a heavy paper stock will be too thick to fold and put in a card holder. The accordion style is also quite expensive to produce, so be sure you budget can afford it before doing the design.

Folded business card. When your contact details don't fit into your standard business card printing, you can always use a folded card. This type of card folds into half to give you more space to print your contact information and allow you to put something unique in your card. This is a bit affordable than accordion business card, so you can easily fit it into your budget.

These are just some of the ways to design your business card. There are other ways you can do to make an impact through your cards. You can try using different materials, paper type, and shape. Whatever design you choose, just make sure that it will effectively convey the message and image you want your customers to have of you.

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Alternatives to Bridesmaid Bouquets

When you begin planning your wedding, probably one of the first things that comes to mind is flowers. As you order the bridal bouquet, you might simply order smaller versions of the same design for your bridesmaids to carry. But before you do, take the time to look into your options for alternatives to the standard bridesmaid bouquets.

If you definitely want to have your attendants carry flowers, but also want something unique, consider kissing balls. They are made of flowers arranged into a round ball, and are usually hung from a pretty satin or organza ribbon. Kissing balls have a very romantic look, and also add a pleasing architectural element to the wedding procession.

A bridesmaid accessory that is making a comeback is the parasol. They are most often done in a shade of white (as opposed to the bright pastel parasols that were popular in the 1970s). Some brides will have their attendants carry the parasols down the aisle for an outdoor garden wedding. In other cases, the bridesmaids will have bouquets, and will use the parasols as props for the photos.

If you choose to use a prop like a parasol, the bride should pay for it, just as she would the bridesmaid's bouquets. After all of the other expenses associated with being a bridesmaid, it would not be kind to force them to buy a parasol as well. Please do not consider the parasols to count as bridesmaid gifts, either. Bridesmaid gifts should be something that your friends would choose for themselves, like a beautiful pair of earrings, not a prop for your wedding.

Another alternative to the standard bouquets is to have your bridesmaids carry fans. This trend can go a couple of ways. If you are having an Asian inspired wedding, choose accordion fans that are handpainted with lovely cherry blossoms. For a more Southern plantation look, fans made from raffia would be a great choice.

Fans, like parasols, are popular for a prop in the wedding photos. They can add a nice repetitive element that the photographer can style into some very striking images. This is the kind of detail that can make your wedding photos very unique.

For very religious ceremonies, some brides will choose to carry a small white Bible or other book of prayers instead of a bouquet. Often the book is decorated with white ribbons and perhaps a small spray of flowers. If the bride has made this choice for herself, she could also have her bridesmaids carry prayer books, as long as there are no religious conflicts.

Each bride wants to find a way to make her wedding distinctive. Choosing an alternative to the traditional bridesmaid bouquets is certainly one way to put your own personal stamp on your day. Having unique details is what will make your wedding even more memorable.

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