Soapstone Countertops - Decidedly Magnificent!

By Carlo Morelli

Soapstone countertops may be just the thing youre looking for in a decorators dream of a kitchen! Not only do these type countertops look wonderful, theyre also one of the most durable and maintenance-free countertops you can choose. Read on to find out more about soapstone countertops and what makes them so wonderfully appealing.

The mineral used to make soapstone countertops, steatite, comes from metamorphic rock. This non-porous material offers an ideal medium for applications such as kitchen countertops because it does not absorb liquids. Unlike other materials often used for kitchen countertops, including granite, soapstone countertops do not stain because of this unusual characteristic.

Another exceptional quality about soapstone countertops lies in its unique thermal properties. Nearly heatproof, placing a hot pot or pan directly from the stovetop or oven on it causes no damage whatsoever. Because of its excellent ability to withstand heat, this mineral is used not only in soapstone countertops, but also in a number of other applications including laboratory counters, oven interiors, grills, and many more.

One of the most remarkable and attractive properties of soapstone countertops stems from its upkeep. Maintaining soapstone countertops means nothing more than regularly applying mineral oil to it with a rag. By keeping the same rag sealed in a zip-locked plastic bag and reusing it, one maintains the beauty and luster of soapstone countertops indefinitely. The oiling of soapstone countertops also creates the added benefit of it darkening over time to a dark gray and eventually to a rich, deep black color. Sometimes soapstone countertops develop deep green markings that come from natural-occurring shadings of the stone.

Scratches or marring inevitably occurs in soapstone countertops that receive heavy use. To remedy this, first sand with 120-grit sandpaper, then go over the mark with 220-grit sandpaper and water. Rub mineral oil into the area, wait a few hours and apply more mineral oil. Continue to apply mineral oil over the course of several days until the soapstone that has been repaired matches its surrounding areas.

Now that you know more about soapstone countertops, why not do some research yourself? You may find this unusually appropriate material just the thing for which youve been looking in a kitchen countertop. Youll never know, though, til you check it out. The wave of the future in kitchen design may very well be soapstone countertops. Dont miss out!

Carlo Morelli writees for Onlinetips.Org, where you can read tips on Tuscan kitchen design.

Design Ideas For Decorating A Small Teens Bedroom

By Lee Dobbins

For your teenager to have their own special sanctuary, there's nothing like your teens bedroom so it's not a surprise you want it to have top notch decorating style. However when you room is very small, it might be an arduous task to get it to looking fabulous. Thankfully, there are a lot of interior decorating methods you can use to make decorating a small teens bedroom easy!

One thing you should do is be positive to find a room design that makes the most out of tiny spaces. Too much clutter will make your teens bedroom seem tiny so hold off adding a lot of accessories and make sure you have sufficient storage to put stuff away.

Another consideration for decorating a small teens bedroom is to be mindful of where the pieces are going to be arranged in the room. You could consider the ideas of Feng Shui when arranging the furniture in your teens bedroom. Easy access into a room can make it look more spacious, so try and keep your furniture away from the doorways. Also, if you do choose a larger piece of furniture, such as a chair or loft bed, for example, it will be able to help to divert guests attention that way hence making the room seem larger in the bargain.

Think of furniture and accessories you could add to your decorating theme which will help to maximize space in the teens bedroom. A modernized design could be ideal, since this tends to highlight space and living area, in lieu of many accessories fighting to occupy the same area. Only be sure you decorate with a decorating theme you can live with as this is an important room for both you and your teen.

Pick the color palette for the teens bedroom wisely since various colors could help make it appear more open. If you always believed that you had to paint your spacially challenged rooms white, then here is some colorful news for you. If you don't want drab paint that is boring, go for having a monochromatic decorating scheme in a beautiful color, or match a few colors which all give off equal intensity. You might go subtle with a blue color palette, or if you wish more color consider brown and pumpkin that all have identical intensity and tone. Painting the wall opposite the entrance a deep hue will cause it to feel further away, thus adding depth to the room. Pale tones will recede, thus making the room feel bigger and blueish gray is a great general hue for a small room. But if that sounds too dull, don't worry as cool colors such as greens, blues and purples also recede so you can have your gorgeous colors without making the room feel smaller.

When it comes to putting furniture in the room, stick to small or medium sized pieces. Using a loft bed with desk underneath, rather than separate bed and desk, might make a lot of difference in space, yet still allow your teen to sleep and do homework. All small scaled pieces could be monotonous and you may want to add interest by using a couple of bigger pieces, so even though you might choose to go with the small bureaus, match it with a large poster or chair, it could also add bit of zip to the room.

These methods allow decorating a small teens bedroom to be easy as well as effortless. Use your imagination and you'll have a small teens bedroom which is big on charm in no time.

Lee Dobbins writes for decorating tips.

How to Choose the Right Wood for Your Deck - Color of the Wood

By Malcolm Kay

In choosing the species of lumber for exterior deking, one of the important considerations is the initial colour of the wood. Maybe you have solid wood hardwood flooring indoors and wish to create a smooth transition to the exterior space. In this case you would probably want to use a similar colour species on you deck. Or maybe you have a particular theme in mind for your deck which requires a bold statement and dark timber color. Or maybe its a small courtyard where a light timber color is required so as not to overwhelm the proportions or make the space look even smaller.

Fortunately theres a wide range of suitable timber species available with excellent durability characteristics that span the entire colour spectrum - from light straw, to pinks, to light browns, chocolate browns, dark brown, orange red and dark red/brown - even purple. Just some of the hardwood species in these various color ranges that could be considered include:

Light straw Tallowwood, Blackbutt Light/mid brown Teak, Selangan batu, Cumaru, Spotted gum. Merbau Olive brown Ipe, Grey Ironbark Chocolate brown - Bongossi Red brown , Jarrah, Karri Dark red River red Gum, Red Ironbark, Forest Red Gum, Jatoba Purple - Purpleheart

Note however that for some species the colour of the timber can vary quite significantly, even along a single plank Spotted Gum is one such example. In other species such as Jatoba for example, the colour variation is not so great. And other species may have grain flecked with yellow, such a Cumaru for example. And the source of the timber can have bearing on the timber color as well as the age of the actual trees. Jarrah from young trees for example is generally a salmon pink color compared with a darker red brown from more mature trees.

Remember also that several of the species can change color quite rapidly on exposure to sunlight - generally turning darker in color. Whilst Purpleheart for example is initially purple in color, it will change to a brown colour on extended exposure to sunlight.

And of course no lumber species will retain its original color forever. Without a regular regime of coating with a good quality decking oil, the UV in sunlight will gradually cause the timber to fade to a soft grey colour; some species more rapidly than others.

But even with the application of a good quality decking oil at regular intervals, you can only slow down this fading process. The only way to restore the colour of your decking is to sand back the surface to remove the weathered top layer of the wood. Some chemical based restoration preparations are available, but generally they will be unable to bring the wood color back to its original brightness, but leave a somewhat grey undertone.

About the author: Malcolm Kay is the CEO of Intex Pacific Pty. Ltd. an international supplier of landscape materials including modular decking tiles. For more information see http://www.swiftdeck.com.

Vacation Home Rental Success

By Kent Krueger

You love having a second home but the mortgage is putting a crater in your wallet. Many second home owners turn to renting their property as a vacation rental to help defray the costs of ownership. How do you price a vacation home rental without overcharging but making enough to cover your costs? Do your research.

Find out what other owners of, similar sized homes in the area are charging. You can ask a local real estate agent for a price range, scan local papers or go online. There are also vacation rental sites like Rentals2Remember or eVaca.com. These types of sites have advertisements from owners around the world and weekly rates for the properties are listed.

The time of year you rent out a property is important as well. If you want to rent out a ski lodge in Vermont, August is not going to be your high time of year, but January will. If you are going to rent the property in an off time of year you will not be able to charge as much as if you were renting the property in a peak time.

You also want to figure out what lengths you want to rent your property for. A Florida property in July near the beach will go for top dollar for a week. However, that same property in January you might only attract the snowbirds who want to rent at a lower price and rent it out on a monthly basis. You have to answer questions like, do I want to mess around with weekend or nightly rentals and is it worth the hassle.

Figure out how many weeks you need to rent your property in order to make a profit or at least pay the bills. Say you need to make $12000 a year in rental income. If, after looking at other rentals, a rate of maybe $1,000 a week seems reasonable than you know you need to rent the property out for at least 12 weeks a year. But you might have to rent for a few more weeks at a lower rate to make up for off peak times of the year or if you do not get someone to fill every vacant period.

Most important, do not forget to spend time in your own vacation home. Owning the property and not being able to enjoy it defeats the purpose of having that second home!

Kent Krueger has been in the travel industry over 3 years. He has advised individuals and corporations on travel ideas, savings and marketing vacation rentals. Kent is President of The Rental Network (Vacation Home Rental)

Thinking About Starting a Home Party Plan Business?

By Lily Chin

Quite a few brand new home-based businesses are started every day by stay at home parents who want to earn an income. One popular type of business is the so-called "home party plan" business. Some people equate the home party plan business model as multi-level marketing or even "pyramid schemes" or cults. Do a search online and you're likely to see certain names pop up as having been investigated by the authorities at one time or another or as the subject of critical review by former participants.

Before you shrug off this business model, you may want to know that several well-known companies either started as home party plan businesses or are now just getting into this lucrative arena. As an early pioneer of home party plans, many of us are familiar with Tupperware. What do you call your re-useable plastic food storage containers?

At its most basic, the home party plan type of business is a form of product distribution through means of independent contractors or "consultants". Also referred to as "Direct Sales" companies or businesses, most of today's home party plans are set up so that the individuals who participate in the program have access to the company's products that they then market to their circle of family, friends or other associates. The consultant then gets a certain percentage or a commission on any sales.

Typically presented as a "fun" way to have your own business, the idea is to have someone "host a party" for his or her friends where you, as the consultant, can show off your company's products and hopefully make some sales and secure future bookings for more parties. A number of popular and successful direct sales companies offer perks such as paid cruises or other prizes for their top consultants. Some companies grant prizes or discounts to "hostesses" to encourage more sales.

The other part of the home party equation is to expand your sales by recruiting others to sell the product line and earning a further, albeit smaller commission on your downline's sales. If you have access to a large network of friends or people you can market to, the income potential can be quite good. Not every direct sales company requires this, but most companies do encourage recruiting new consultants.

The range of products or services that have been sold using the home party plan system is amazing. Almost everything from artwork, jewelry, coffee to shoes and purses can be and has been sold using the home party plan business model. Despite the appeal of home parties, direct-selling is not a sure thing. Not every one is good at selling and not every one likes to have products pitched at them. So it's helpful to have a product that everyone wants or uses.

A home party or direct sales business is just that, a business. The Internal Revenue Service recognizes that home-based direct selling businesses are legitimate businesses and has rules for reporting revenue and expenses. You need to maintain proper records, pay taxes on income earned, provide customer service where needed and maintain a constant customer base.

A home party business requires discipline and effort on the part of the consultant. However, many people have thriving and successful home party business. You are your own boss and you can set the pace that you are comfortable with in building your business.

Lily Chin is the webmaster for Mommy's Work at Home Place. Did you know that Suzanne Somers recently entered the multi-million dollar home business market with her own http://www.mommyswahmplace.com to learn more.

Accessing Home Equity: How to Choose the Best Way to Access the Equity In Your Home

By Albert Soong

Over the past several years, many fortunate homeowners experienced huge gains in equity as home prices skyrocketed. In less than five years (since the beginning of 2002), the median sales price of a home in California has more than doubled, increasing over $300,000 in price.

How does a homeowner access this equity? You could sell your home, but for most people, that isn't going to cut it. Where are you going to live? If you are keeping your house, the only way to get at the equity in it is to borrow against it.

In this today's article, I'm going to discuss four ways to borrow against your home's equity and how to choose the best way.

Cash-Out Refinance

In a cash-out refinance, your old mortgage is paid off with a larger, new mortgage. The difference between the old balance and the new balance is the "cash out" and is money sent to you.

When interest rates were falling several years ago, it was a boon to homeowners who were simultaneously seeing large increases in their home equity. They could refinance their mortgage, take some cash out, get a lower interest rate and get a lower payment.

These days, the story is a bit different. If you have, say, a 5.25% 30-year fixed mortgage, you aren't going to be able to refinance it at the same rate. While still low by historical standards, rates are a bit higher today, so it's important to understand the full costs of using a cash-out refinance.

Scenario A. Let's assume your current balance is $300,000 on the 5.25% mortgage ($1,312.50 interest per month). You need $75,000, and I help you obtain a new $375,000 mortgage at 6% ($1,875.00 interest per month). The $75,000 does not cost just 6% because you end up paying more interest on the original $300,000. You pay an additional $562.50 per month on $75,000 cash out, equivalent to a 9% interest rate.

Scenario B. If your current mortgage has a 5.75% rate ($1,437.50 interest per month) and you cash-out refinance to a 6% loan, the $75,000 costs an additional $437.50 per month, or a 7% equivalent interest rate. You need to use these equivalent rates to compare to other options.

Home Equity Loan

Another way to access your equity is using a home equity loan, which is a traditional second mortgage. The home equity loan has a fixed loan amount, a fixed interest rate and is amortized over a set number of years, similar to your first mortgage. You continue to make payments on the first mortgage and also make payments on the second.

Home equity loans have slightly higher interest rates than first mortgages because, in the case of foreclosure, the debt is second in priority to the first mortgage, which means greater risk for the home equity lender. If you have good credit and decent equity in your home, you should expect to get a rate somewhere in the neighborhood of 7% today.

Compared to Scenario A, above, the home equity loan is more economical (7% versus 9%). Compared to Scenario B, the home equity loan costs about the same (both 7%). Your particular scenario will be different because of your particular current loan, the amount of cash needed, and the rates you can get on the refinance and the home equity loan (I will be glad to help you with this).

Home Equity Line Of Credit

A second kind of second mortgage is the home equity line of credit, or HELOC. It's a bit like a credit card in that it is a revolving line of credit that you can use, pay down and use again.

If you have good credit and decent equity in your home you can get a HELOC with a rate at prime (currently 8.25%) or less. Compared to Scenario A, the HELOC is a less expensive way to draw on your home's equity than the cash-out refinance, but it is more expensive compared to Scenario B. Your situation will, of course, vary.

The primary benefits of a HELOC are that you don't have to use (and hence pay interest on) the entire credit line, and the monthly payments are typically lower because minimum payments are interest-only for the first 10 or 15 years.

The primary drawback of a HELOC is that it has a variable interest rate, usually tied to the prime rate. Many HELOC holders saw their interest rates rise seemingly without end during the Fed's 17 straight rate increases.

HELOC with Fixed-Rate Lock

Recently, lenders have been offering HELOCs that incorporate the fixed-rate feature of home equity loans. You may lock part of the credit line at a fixed rate and amortization period and do this several times over the life of the HELOC. It's like being able to create your own home equity loans inside of your HELOC, just by writing a check.

The rate for a lock will depend on the amortization period you choose, with a longer period having a slightly higher rate, but lower payments. One nice program has a feature where you can lock for an interest-only period, giving you the lowest monthly payments. Another excellent program is a prime -.25% HELOC that you can currently lock at 6.99% over 5 years, perfect for buying a car.

And, should interest rates decline, you can unlock the lock and go back to paying the variable rate.

For indispensible tips on homebuying, real estate and saving money on your mortgage, please visit Crystal Funding.

Albert Soong is a California mortgage consultant for his company Crystal Funding, Inc., based in beautiful Orange County, California.

He believes that getting mortgage shouldn't be like shopping for a used car. Homeowners and homebuyers win, both financially and emotionally, by working with an experienced mortgage planner who cares more about a lasting, mutually-beneficial relationship than closing a single sale.

Crystal Funding, Inc. is an Orange County Mortgage Broker specializing in California home loans, California mortgages, California home equity loans, California home equity lines of credit, California refinances, California no-money-down purchases, and California 100% financing.

Heal Acne Quick with These Home Remedies

By Tim Gorman

Need to get rid of a pimple, and fast? Too late to go to the drugstore? Dont want to shell out big bucks for products that dont work? Follow these home remedies and heal your acne, fast!

Cure zits overnight by dabbing toothpaste on them just before bedtime. Toothpaste dries the oil and gets rid of the zit.

To get rid of redness and calm skin, first, take two Advil theyre anti-inflammatory. Then, apply Visine drops to remove redness quick.

Dab egg white onto pimples to draw impurities from the skin.

For softer skin, put a pot of water on the stove. Add a few drops of lavender or peppermint oil and bring to a rolling boil. Drape a towel over your head, and hold your face over the steam. The steam will draw out impurities, and the oils will have a calming effect.

Cook plain, old-fashioned oatmeal and cool it in the refrigerator. Rub it on your face for softer skin.

For those stubborn blackheads, mix cornstarch with vinegar and rub it on the area. Allow it to harden for 15-30 minutes, then wash off with warm water and a washcloth. This will draw out bacteria and clear pores.

To get rid of acne, spread a thin layer of Milk of Magnesia on your face. Let it dry, and wipe off with warm washcloth it works as well or better than expensive facial masks!

So now you can heal acne fast, with products you already have around the house. In a pinch, these home remedies are a lifesaver!

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of acne skin care products that you can research in your pajamas on his website.