HomesandGardens.net

Conservatory At Sea | The MV Queen Victoria Winter Garden

The MV Queen Victoria - launched December 2007 has the ultimate conservatory at sea.

Gaze across to the sun-dappled horizon in almost every direction from this grand conservatory, filled with greenery. A retractable glass roof even allows you to feel the warm sunshine on your face without setting foot outside.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Queen Victoria’s exterior design closely resembles other Vista class ships built for the Holland America Line, like the MS Oosterdam, with a wrap-around promenade deck, private balconies, and a retractable glass magrodome over the mid-ship pool.

The hull has been built to meet the demands of the Atlantic Ocean, with extra steel added to strengthen key decks and bulkheads, and reinforced, thicker bow plating.

Of note is that the QV’s theatre is the first at sea to have private boxes. As well, she has a Winter Garden lounge with a retractable glass roof and water fountain, and a two storey library with a connecting spiral staircase.

DIY Conservatories

Kitchen Buying – How To Plan for Satisfaction

Before you buy a new kitchen you need to:

>> Work out – and stick to – a budget
>> Compare styles and prices
>> Check supplier credentials

‘Dream’ kitchens are everywhere you turn – glossy magazines, television adverts, shops and DIY stores.

Your particular dream kitchen might be out of reach for financial or logistical reasons. But even if you have to compromise you can still have a kitchen that will make your heart race. The key to satisfaction is careful planning.

The first thing to consider is how your kitchen will be used – for food preparation, eating, homework, socialising, etc. Think also about how much storage space you will need, then add a bit more – you’ll always need more than you think!

Next calculate your budget. Work out what you can afford to spend and list absolutely everything you will need to buy so that you can make your purchasing decisions in accordance with your finances. Keep a 10% contingency to cover unexpected problems or expenses.

A major consideration is how your kitchen will be fitted. Will it be a flat pack or a rigid construction? Off-the-shelf or custom-built? DIY? Perhaps even non-fitted units? Look for companies that specialise in the construction you choose. If you plump for flat pack units, check whether the company offers a fitting service.

Ask friends and family for supplier recommendations and visit several showrooms to compare styles and prices.

Before you make your final choice, find out if the company is a member of a trade body such as the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA). This will give you the reassurance that the business has been checked and approved.

Also establish whether the supplier offers an inspection when fitting is completed as well as a full after-sales service. Satisfy yourself that any queries or problems will be dealt with promptly and check out supplier guarantees.

Before you make a final decision, look at showroom cabinets and inspect areas that receive the heaviest wear, such as around the edges, hinges and seams, to spot any possible signs of weakness in the materials. Fully-fitted showroom kitchens also give you the opportunity to compare different finishes, materials, colours and door handles.

Unless money is no object, choose a style you won’t tire of as you’ll have to live with it for some years – although you can always ring the changes with new handles or a coat of paint.

Once you make your decision, ask for a fully itemised costing so that you know what you will be expected to pay, and when. Never hand over the full amount when you place your order. Buy from a source that offers reasonable payment terms and make sure you know the terms and conditions.

Whatever you do, don’t buy on impulse. Meticulous planning and careful purchasing decisions are vital if you are to end up with that kitchen of your dreams.

How to ensure it’s ‘safety first’ in the kitchen

Need to know

>> Careful design minimises risks
>> Particular care needed with power sources
>> Know where to turn off power and water supplies

The ‘heart of the home’ it may be, but the kitchen is also the room with the greatest number of potential hazards.

However, careful design and planning, combined with common sense usage, will ensure that this particular heart continues to beat safely.
Two basic essentials at the design stage are a non-slip, easy-to-clean floor and good lighting. In addition, arrange storage so that you can easily reach the items you use most often. Bear in mind, too, that it is safer to store heavy items lower down.

Cooking appliances in general have the most potential for danger, and chip pans in particular are a major cause of kitchen fires. The safest way to cook chips is in an electric deep fat fryer which has an inbuilt temperature regulator so that the fat doesn’t get too hot. NEVER leave a chip pan unattended. In fact, you should never leave the hob or the grill unattended, either.

It’s important to have a clear, heat-resistant surface next to the hob where you can put hot, heavy dishes as soon as you remove them from the heat.

And make sure ou keep the oven, grill, hob and toaster clean because a build-up of grease and food remains can – and does! – catch fire.

Power sources need particular care and attention:

Electricity

>> Ensure that you have plenty of electrical sockets. Don’t be tempted to overload them – too many appliances drawing power from one socket can lead to overheating.
>> If you have to use an adaptor, choose the bar type over the block adaptor.
>> Position appliances close to a socket – don’t have electrical flexes trailing across the floor or over hot or wet areas.
>> Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water.
>> Don’t run cables under mats or carpets as the cable can wear through without being noticed.
>> Throw away damaged cables – NEVER mend them with tape
>> Turn off electrical appliances when they are not being used and service them regularly.

Gas

>> If you have your central heating boiler in the kitchen, make sure there is adequate ventilation for it.
>> Check that vents and flues have not been blocked.
>> Make sure that you get your boiler checked annually by a CORGI-registered engineer to keep yourself safe from the dangers of carbon monoxide.
>> Take the ‘belt and braces’ approach and fit a BS-approved audible carbon monoxide detector if you have gas appliances in the kitchen.

The safest form of fire protection in the kitchen is a fire blanket. Fire extinguishers are not encouraged for use in the kitchen but if you do have one, remember that water extinguishers should never be used on fat, oil or electrical fires.

Last but not least, make sure you know where to turn off electricity, gas and water supplies in the case of emergency.

Condensation, Convection and Other Glass and Glazing Terms Explained

Condensation
When water vapour from the air comes into contact with cold surfaces, the vapour condenses on the cooler surface of the glass forming a foggy effect.

Convection
A transfer of heat by movement of air.

Came
A narrow flat bar of lead, zinc or copper, which holds together the pieces of glass in copper light glazing or leaded lights.

Caulk
A term used to describe a void filled with sealant.

Clear Glass
Mostly composed of soda, lime and silica to obtain a very clear type of glass.

Compound
A substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions.

Conduction
The transmission of heat through, along or from glass to another material in contact with it.

Cullet
Recycled glass used in the manufacture of clear float glass.

Cutting
A process in which glass is trimmed, also for decorative purposes.

Celsius
Temperatures expressed with the Celsius scale are based on a division of one hundred degrees between the freezing point and boiling point of water.

Chemical Strengthening
A process in which glass is covered by a chemical solution thus producing a higher mechanical resistance.

Cold End
A term which describes operation performed on glass when it is already formed and cooled, such as cutting, grinding, acid etching, engraving, etc.

CNC
Stands for computer numerical control.

Coating
A thin layer or covering which changes the basic composition of glass.

Cavity
The cavity formed by the spacer bar between the two panes of glass in double-glazed units. It is generally filled with air.

I just stumbled across The hilarious $1000 Break In challenge. If you haven’t heard of this, you will soon…. how about right now?

Here is the deal… The crazy crew at Conservatory TV are so confident that their windows can survive anything you can throw at them (literally), that they are putting them to the ultimate test.

I have compiled four of the best videos so far:

Here is the best bit: They are offering $1000 for the best idea for future videos. So get your thinking caps on, and the $1000 could be yours.

My $1000 idea: I would use Mentos and Diet Coke. Everyone knows that there is no force more powerful on the planet.

I recently read an amusing but true story of a home that had been ambushed by 6 deer.

Somethings have to be read to be believed, so here is the full story from the home owner:

How come the 6 deer that have permanently taken residence in our backyard angrily charge us any time we approach them to ask nicely if they might consider sharing our (now their) jungle gym with us and our kids at a time only, of course, when it’s convenient for them . . . .

And how come they look at us with such complete disdain when we quickly back away from them, afraid they’re going to ram us, which they will (we’re positive), because they’ve tried before (sort of), in fact tried to get into our house last week by crashing into our thankfully unexpectedly strong reinforced screen door.

We embrace our deer; all we wish is that we could co-exist, that they could be a little more flexible, a little more sensitive and understanding, a little more in touch with the concept of sharing.

If they’re holding out for us to transfer our house deed to them, they’re barking crashing through the wrong screen door. It’ll never happen. Never! At least not now, with their current hostile attitude and possessiveness. If they come halfway, act less belligerent, who knows, maybe (maybe) we’d consider it, explore how they might take more formal ownership of the property, as long as we retained some right to use it also, at least sometimes, not all the time, sometimes, when they’re not around, for example, or hibernating (do deers hibernate?) or when it wouldn’t interfere in any way with their recreational and living needs.

source

The Ultimate Homeowner’s Toolbox

Buying tools for your home improvement escapades can often be a daunting and expensive experience. So we have compiled a list of the must have tools for ANY toolbox.

Note: You should be able to get everything on this list for a max of $270

Hammer – Generally a 16 ounce hammer should do the job. Ideally it should also have a curved claw to assist with the pulling of nails.

Tape measure – Knowing the best size is always a tricky choice. I would go for a 25-foot one.

Screwdrivers – This is easy! Just get a package that has assorted heads (Phillips etc), and you are sorted.

Level – New political correctness laws prevent us from saying that everything should be straight. So all we can say is go out and get yourself a 9 inch torpedo level.

A power drill

Circular saw

There you have it… the ultimate homeowner’s toolbox.

I was asked to write an article to show you the hidden dangers that lurk in your kitchen. “Oh great”, I thought, a piece about un-plugging toasters before you put a knife in, and a warning to not put metal in the microwave.

However, I was doing some research and was amazed to learn that a kitchen may actually cause cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and can kill caged animals.

To be more precise it is the pans/cookware in your kitchen that are the deadly killer.

Here is a section that I found at iVillage:

Teflon-Coated Cookware
“Fumes from overheated Teflon-coated cookware have been known to kill caged birds. Studies conducted by the Environmental Working Group have shown overheated nonstick pans emit a toxic mixture of chemicals that may cause cancer, birth defects, immune system suppression and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The chemical culprits are fluorine compounds, which are used in water-and stain-repellent coatings on carpets, clothing, ironing boards, ovens and pots and pans.”

Source

So using Teflon may kill our caged animals… oh, and there is also the small matter of cancer. Brilliant! So let’s all just avoid Teflon then? Ah, but before you run off to make some bacon and eggs, I forgot to mention Alzheimer’s

Aluminum Pots and Pans
“You just ruled out Teflon, now you need to get rid of any aluminum pots and pans because aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. These pans are light, often cheap and are reactive. Storing salty or acidic food in an aluminum pot will pit the surface of the metal and contaminate the food with aluminum. Instead, use clay, stainless steel, ceramic, glass, porcelain or cast-iron cookware. One of the advantages of cast-iron is that it can actually provide small amounts of iron, a necessary nutrient.”

Source

Maybe that explains why I can’t find my car keys.

Seriously though, there is a real issue here: If it wasn’t for the fact that I was researching the dangers of a kitchen, I would never have known about these dangers. In fact, neither would you. If cigarettes have to have a warning on the label, maybe Teflon pans should also come with a warning:

WARNING: THIS PAN IS NON-STICK…. OH, AND IT WILL KILL YOUR PETS!

I am not a morning person. So I need to get my hands… well… feet, on this new alarm clock:

You HAVE to get out of bed to turn it off, very clever.

However, you could just save yourself some money and put your alarm clock at the other end of your bedroom

This is one of the most amazing videos I have EVER seen on Youtube.

I think every home and office should have one of these:

How on earth do they do that?