Perhaps when you hear the term accent color, you think of a room with white walls and one dark blue wall. An accent color is not necessarily just a wall color that’s different than the rest of the walls in the room, though. The one blue wall certainly fits in the category of an accent color, but there is a lot more to it. Accent colors can exist in the form of wall colors but also in the form of accessories such as throw pillows or artwork and furniture....

Unless the plant is valuable, the best approach is to discard it, as the disease is highly contagious and will spread from plant to plant from splashing water. Black Rot A danger to orchids any time the weather is rainy or damp for extended periods, black rot can quickly destroy an entire plant if left unchecked. Caused by one or both of the fungi Pythium ultimum and Phytophthora cactorum, black rot affects a wide variety of orchids....

Debate About Feeding Wild Birds The issue of whether it is all right to feed ducks, geese, swans, and other waterfowl is a topic of controversy among bird enthusiasts, conservationists, and park officials. There are many myths about feeding wild birds: Some believe that feeding the birds will stop their migration. Whether they are hand-fed or not, some waterfowl species are already non-migrating birds that live in city parks and similar bird habitats....

A bunkie board provides support for a mattress, therefore prolonging its life. It is usually made from wood, plywood, particle board, or sometimes metal that is covered in fabric, and it’s generally only about 2 inches in height, as opposed to the much bulkier size of a box spring. A bunkie board prevents a mattress from sagging, which is what would happen to a traditional mattress if it were only being supported by slats, and it’s a great option for when you don’t want your mattress to sit too high....

HEPA vacuums are recommended for minimizing dust, dander, and other common allergens in homes. The fact that a filter or vacuum bag says “HEPA,” however, doesn’t mean you’re getting true HEPA performance. True or Absolute HEPA Filters True or absolute HEPA filters must be tested and meet a specific standard to be considered true HEPA filters. True HEPA filters have a serial number assigned to them and have been proven to trap at least 99....

Originally converted from disused industrial buildings, today developers have capitalized on the trend with new builds that attempt to appropriate the coveted industrial style. While loft apartments are similar to studio apartments, they tend to be larger in size and volume. History of Loft Apartments The history of loft apartments can be traced to cities like New York, where in the 1960s in lower Manhattan, artists turned former industrial buildings into live-work spaces, paying no or low rent in exchange for a place to create in the days when living in New York City was still affordable for artists....

Bungalows are extremely popular among homeowners, thanks to their charming curb appeal, large, open-concept interiors, and large, central living spaces that are ideal for entertaining. Although bungalows are usually on the smaller side—most are only one-and-a-half levels—some bungalows have been expanded to accommodate homeowners’ need for space, and they have remained a popular building style in the United States since the early 1900s. Read on to learn more about bungalow-style homes and bungalow architecture, including its history, must-have architectural elements, where to find bungalow homes, and more....

The Benefits of Not Migrating Migration is a perilous journey, and birds that don’t undertake a significant migration avoid the hazards that come with moving from one place to another, including predation, hunting, habitat loss, storms, and more. But other than just avoiding those risks, there are many good reasons birds have for not migrating, including: Saving EnergyBirds that don’t migrate don’t need to expend massive amounts of energy to travel....

White distilled vinegar, available on supermarket shelves, is a product of the alcohol distillation process on starchy grains such as corn, rice, and barley. Mildly acidic (5 to 6 percent), white vinegar will not only soften clothes, but also freshen the scent, and it is especially effective at removing and preventing mildew odors. The mild acid is just strong enough to dissolve the residue alkaline soap residue, which is where the softening action comes from....

So why should you be adding stools to your indoor garden? We’re here to tell you why. 1. Create Visual Interest The great thing about these small stools is that they don’t tend to take up much space. You can buy them in varying sizes and heights and most of them will fit really nicely under your plant’s pot. If you have a number of plants in a corner that you love to look at but they’re blending together, elevating them using different stool heights will help separate them out....

Where the Feed Comes From The electrical wiring to the disconnect is fed from the “load” side, or outgoing side, of the electric meter. The side of the meter that receives incoming power from the utility service lines is called the “line” side. There are two hot wires and a neutral wire. The hot wires each carry 120 volts and are different phases. These phases are normally called “A” and “B” phases....

Put your signature on one of these wood pallet garden ideas and upcycle them with a few tools and a little sweat equity. Many herbs, greens, and flowers grow well in a pallet garden, including micro greens, parsley, thyme, basil, rosemary, pansies, and petunias. Because pallet boards are thin and already weathered, a bit of preparation can help your path last beyond a few seasons. Rather than laying the pallet wood directly on the soil, excavate the area a few inches underneath the path and backfill with gravel....

Whether building a new shower or remodeling an existing shower, you have several types to choose from, categorized by the size or shape of the enclosure, or by the way in which water is delivered. Showers range from pre-fabricated units ideal for DIY installation on up to custom showers designed and built by professionals and costing many thousands of dollars. Shower enclosures can be rounded, square, rectangular, or neo-angle. Because showers are all about the water, the water delivery system is equally important....

Here are 11 DIY Murphy bed projects that won’t torpedo your bank account. Some of these projects use ordinary building materials available at any home center, while others feature mechanical hardware or other materials purchased from specialty retailers and used in various ways to create fold-up beds. Various IKEA product hacks make for especially ingenious DIY Murphy beds. Did you know? The fold-down Murphy bed is named after its inventor, William Murphy, who applied for the patent around 1900....

Here are 11 tips to follow to protect your home from freezing weather and all the problems that go with it. When indoor plumbing pipes run through exterior walls, take care to monitor them in the winter and make sure wall insulation is up to recommended standards. In regions with cold winters, checking the home’s exterior for cracks and gaps should be an annual routine. dpproductions / Getty Images Your local energy utility company may offer free in-home energy audits that can evaluate your energy usage and recommend the necessary steps to bring the R-value in walls and ceilings up to advised levels for your region....

While all types of ducks belong to the Anatidae bird family, the family is so diverse that it is possible to group certain duck species into smaller divisions by how they look and other common characteristics. By understanding the different types of duck groups and related species, duck identification becomes much easier. Here are the 12 types of ducks with pictures that every birder needs to know. Identifying Different Ducks Ducks differ widely in their appearance and their temperament....