For our favorite Bachelor alumni, Tyler Cameron, his dream vibe can be described as “Popcorn and PJs, Please”—a cool and collected space perfect for entertaining. And with the help of HomeGoods’ new virtual experience, HomeGoods Dream Vibes, he created just that at his sunny Jupiter, Florida home. “I’ve neglected my house for a little while," Cameron admits. “It’s a little bare-bones and not much to it, so I wanted to up my game here....

Concrete Contraction Joints The purpose of contraction joints is to create a weakened area in the concrete and regulate where cracks will occur, normally in a straight line. Contraction joints should be placed to produce panels that are as square as possible and never exceed a length to width ratio of 1 1/2 to 1. Joints are commonly spaced at distances equal to 24 to 30 times the slab thickness. Joint spacing that is greater than 15 feet requires the use of load transfer devices....

The kitchen triangle is one such shortcut that has been used for decades and still holds true for many kitchen design projects. Applying the kitchen triangle design concept means that you have automatically solved a host of kitchen design problems relating to ergonomics, workflow, and aesthetics. What Is the Kitchen Triangle? The kitchen triangle is a design concept that regulates activity in the kitchen by placing key services in prescribed areas....

Vinyl Flooring Manufacture Definition: Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is the technical name for the vinyl found in flooring materials. Dioxins and Vinyl Flooring Dioxins are carcinogenic bioaccumulative toxins that can persist in the environment for a prolonged period. These harmful chemicals are created during the manufacture of chloride in PVC. These substances pose a health risk to anyone who is exposed to them. In some cases, these toxins can persist long enough to travel several hundred miles causing harm across a broad swathe of territory....

When we’re shopping for garden hoses, our primary consideration is ease of use and leak prevention. Made of heavy-duty rubber, the Continental ContiTech Commercial Premium Rubber Hose claims to resist abrasions and kinks and withstand high water pressure, meaning no twisting, bending, leaking, splitting, or bursting. We wanted to see if the product delivered on these promises, so we hooked it up to the spigot in our Portland, Oregon, backyard and went about watering our vegetable garden and lawn....

Parts of a Portable Compressed Air Tank The components of a portable compressed air tank provide all the features you need for easy and safe use. You’ll typically find the following components on these tools: Air fill valve: the valve that you connect to when filling the tank with a compressorAir shutoff valve: a knob that turns to prevent air from leaking out of the tank when it’s not in useAir pressure gauge: indicates the air pressure inside the tank as well as how full the tank is....

The Determinate/Indeterminate Distinction The two types of tomato plant growth habits are: Determinate tomatoes grow to a predetermined height (approximately four feet tall). The plant stops growing when fruit sets on the top bud, and all fruit ripens at or near the same time (usually over a two-week period), and then the plant stops producing fruit and dies. Most sauce tomato varieties are determinate so that the entire crop ripens at once for making sauce, canning, and jarring in large batches....

Fruit trees often set more flowers than needed for a full crop. Fruit drop offsets the possibility of sudden loss due to inclement weather or other hardship. According to Purdue University’s Consumer Horticulture website, “Only one bloom in 20 is needed for a good crop on a full-blossoming apple tree.” So fruit drop is simply your tree telling you it’s healthy, while also ensuring it can sustain every fruit that ripens to maturity....

Depending on the region or culture, a gazebo might also be referred to as an alhambra, belvedere, kiosk, pagoda, pavilion, pergola, rotunda, shed, summerhouse, or tea house. Design Considerations Adding a gazebo to your outdoor space should be carefully thought out because it can often look contrived and awkward or out of place. When planning any garden structure, try to incorporate architectural elements or features of your house for harmony and continuity....

Hummingbird Species There are more than 300 hummingbird species in the world, though the exact count varies depending on different classification systems and accepted divisions of subspecies and closely related birds. “Hummers” are unique and distinct. With such a large family, however, there is still great variation among hummingbirds, but birders can quickly learn how to recognize these tiny, distinctive birds. Hummingbird Geography Raptors, shorebirds, gulls, songbirds, and other bird species are found throughout the world, but hummingbirds are only located in the Western Hemisphere, from Alaska and northern Canada to the southern tip of South America....

Kitchen Bump Outs vs. Full Additions One obvious solution is to build an addition. But full-size additions often include more area and more rooms than are needed. Plus, full-size additions are often so expensive that they easily reach into the six figures for even modestly sized homes. Another solution is one that applies to the kitchen only, not the entire house, and it is usually less expensive to build than a full addition....

Characteristics of a Semi Above-Ground Pool A broad definition of a semi above-ground pool would be a contained body of water where the water extends above and below ground level. This can consist of a repurposed above-ground pool that is partially submerged only a few feet deep or a specially constructed pool designed to be partially submerged. With a semi above-ground pool you would not see most of the supporting structure as it would be buried making this type of pool more attractive than its above ground counterpart....

Most people have some concept of the Scandinavian aesthetic and design style. It is both simple and comfortable, modern and historic. Homebuilders who incorporate this style are pros at blending traditional vernacular styles with modern technology to create a space that is beautiful and aims to make your life better. There are several groundbreaking and unique concepts about Scandinavian architecture that might change the way you look at a building or structure....

Instead of resorting to the brute force of pressure washing to try and get the job done, you could soft wash the roof, siding, deck, fence, paving stones, and driveway without the risk of damage. Once the home has been treated with a soft wash solution, the surface will be protected against mold, mildew, algae, and more. Soft washing also removes leaves, dirt, and other debris at a surface level....

The Purpose of a Thermal Protector This overheating generally occurs when the motor is overloaded, when a bearing seizes up, when something locks the motor shaft and prevents it from turning, or when the motor simply fails to start properly. A failure to start may be caused by faulty start windings in the motor. The thermal protector consists of one or more heat-sensing elements built into the motor or motor-compressor, plus an external control device....

Pronounced “twall,” toile has a long, varied history across Europe and the United States. The fabric originated in Ireland sometime during the mid-1700s, but became an extremely popular decorating element across Britain and France. Despite its Irish origins, the term “Toile de Jouy,” meaning “cloth from Jouy-en-Josas”—a suburb of Paris—originated in France during the late 18th century. After several hundred years’ of history, toile has a reputation as being a “stuffy” or outdated decorating element....

How Large Should It Be? A chandelier should be sized in proportion to the room. In a dining room that’s 12 feet by 12 feet, for example, an 18" to 24" chandelier might be appropriate. In an entry hall with a very high ceiling and minimal furniture, you might prefer one that’s 2 or even 3 feet across. Bear in mind that, in general, the height of the chandelier will increase with the room diameter....

Foods for Winter Birds Birds are clever and resourceful, and winter birds can find abundant food sources even when the snow is deep and the temperatures are below freezing. The foods available for winter birds include: Seeds: Many plants and flowers keep their mature seed heads well into winter, and birds can cling to or perch on the plants to reach the seeds. Seeds that fall can also be found in leaf litter or under plants where the snow is not as deep....

Gray is beginning to move away and be replaced by a softer, more homey neutral tone—beige. But beige is coming back in a more modern, sophisticated way this time around, and we spoke to some experts to find out how. Is Gray Really Out? “Design trends usually come and go every ten years. We were just on the eighth or ninth year of the gray trend, and something had to give,” says Jil McDonald, Founder of Jil Sonia Interior Designs....