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Here are the best paint colors for each zodiac sign that are sourced from our new paint line.

Here are six good options for flooring in spaces that see a lot of use by active pets. Grout joints, which are filled with porous cementitious material, can be susceptible to staining unless they are sealed. It is important to reseal the grout joints every year or two to keep the surface impervious to liquids. If there are any drawbacks to ceramic tile for animal spaces, it is that the surface can be slippery and cold....

Air purifiers offer a practical solution for cleaning the air in your home, removing a number of allergens and pollutants including pollen, mold spores, pet hair, smoke, and dust. We put the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier through its paces at home for a few weeks so we could see how it performed in real-world environments and situations. After a thorough evaluation, we found it to be a powerful and effective option with extensive features, earning an impressive 4....

Some key elements to look for in a craftsman kitchen are heavier wooden cabinets, clean lines with detailing, vintage or sturdy hardware like brass cabinet pulls, deep sinks and prairie-style overhead lighting. Focus on the Cabinetry The best craftsman kitchens have stunning cabinetry made of real wood rather than artificial materials. Hardwood veneer is an option, but try to focus on styles that have authentic details (such as shaker cabinets) for an elevated look....

And I hate to break it to you, it’s a lot of responsibility. The good news is you might find it easier to take care of plants in the spring and summer because it’s easier to tell what your plants want. In the winter you can overwater a lot more or get stumped by plants looking a little bit sad (most of the time—most likely—the plants are just sleeping). But spring can be daunting, too....

Spending time outside during the summer is one of my favorite pastimes. Between backyard cookouts, gardening, and just playing with my kids, I often spend more time outside than inside during the summer months. But the overhead sun can wear us out, make things uncomfortable, and even cause real damage like sunburn. Hot, sunny days call for a sturdy, large patio umbrella that enables extra hours of fresh air and fun outside....

But how do you find out which soil type you have? Although there are more sophisticated ways to acquire this information, here is the simplest way to find out. It literally involves taking matters into your own hands. Test by Trying to Form a Ball of Soil Two Other Kinds of Soil Note also that what I have provided is just a thumbnail sketch, so to speak, suitable for the general gardening public....

How to Wash White Lab Coats Working with patients or in a lab can be messy, and stains happen. The key to keeping a lab coat clean and white is to treat the stains as soon as possible. Regular washing will help to remove stains as well as body oil and soil. It is important to have several clean coats handy and rotate them throughout the week. Always wash the white items separately from colors and use a heavy-duty detergent (Persil and Tide are top-rated detergents) and the hottest water recommended on the care label....

We may not all have the space for a dedicated guest room but with a sleeper sofa, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you can always accommodate a couple of overnight guests. The Sarah Sofa Bed from Wayfair was designed to provide a modern sitting area during the day and a cozy place to rest at night. Over the course of a month and a half, we tested the sofa to see how it held up to regular daily use as well as overnight guests....

What Chimney Flues Are A chimney flue is a vertical passage or duct that runs from the firebox (where the fire burns) to the top of the chimney. Technically, a flue is any open vertical space in a chimney that allows smoke to escape the home from the firebox. But because every chimney’s flue must be lined, a chimney liner is usually referred to as the flue, as well. Every wood-burning or gas fireplace has a flue....

But laminate floors have even moved into higher-end homes that once would have installed nothing but solid hardwood or engineered wood flooring. With innovations like deeper embossing and sharper image layers, laminate floors look better, perform better, and feel better underfoot than ever before. All of this popularity may beg the question: What are laminate floors in the first place? Basics of Laminate Floors Laminate floors are a hybrid floor covering consisting of a particleboard wood base topped by an image layer and a transparent wear layer....

Although there is a lot of variety among plants that form basal rosettes, plants that maintain their rosettes tend to look tidy all season since their resources are so focused on their minimal growth. Why Plants Grow Basal Leaves There are several reasons why plants grow basal leaves. The cluster of low-sitting leaves can serve as protection for the roots of the plant when the top of the plant dies back in winter....

The strips hold the carpet in place and also keep it stretched and free of wrinkles. How Tack Strips Are Used In a normal installation, the tack strips are installed around the perimeter of the room before the padding is laid down. The procedure usually goes like this: Where to Purchase Tack Strips Tack strips are available at carpet specialty stores but are also commonly available at most hardware stores and home improvement centers....

So, what is a French drain, and how does it work? Basically, a French drain is a simple trench dug in the ground in the most problematic areas of the yard. The trench is filled with a perforated pipe wrapped in water-permeable fabric, and the pipe is covered with several layers of stone or gravel. French drain systems work because gravity causes the water to flow downhill, and water will always follow the path of least resistance, so it is naturally drawn down through the stones into the hollow pipe where the water can flow freely on a downward slope towards a municipal drain, a rain barrel, or any other suitable location for water drainage....

History of Rowhouses Rowhouses first appeared in the Netherlands and Belgium in the 16th century. In the 17th century, the Place des Vosges in Paris’ fashionable Marais district was built by Henri IV between 1605 and 1612. This historic square is lined with elegant red brick and stone rowhouses, with storefronts on the ground floor and living spaces above. The rowhouses lend the square a pleasing symmetry and are a particularly glamorous example of this type of urban planning housing development, inspiring Haussmann’s 19th century renovation of Paris and making a case for urban rowhouses the world over....

What Tools Are Needed to Create a Shrub Topiary? The gardener’s work can be simplified by a structure called a “topiary frame.” This frame is installed in such a way that, as the shrub grows, it fills in the topiary frame. Branches that breech this framework and stick out through the openings are simply pruned off. Guided by the topiary frame, the shearing work to achieve the shape that you want is pretty straightforward....

Sip and See vs. Baby Shower Most baby showers and sprinkles occur before the baby comes, while a sip and see occurs afterward. It’s often for parents who didn’t have a baby shower, no matter what the reason. The sip and see is typically a much more casual event than a shower. It may be structured in an open house format, rather than a party with everyone present at the same time....

Cork flooring is environmentally friendly and cork is considered a renewable and sustainable natural resource. These floors can be a little expensive and their installed cost per square foot can be close to a good quality ceramic tile floor. However, they are definitely worth the cost when used in smaller areas such as a kitchen, den or Ddning room but can be used in just about any flooring application, like a basement....

The absorption takes place through their stomata and their epidermis. Transport is usually faster through the stomata, but total absorption may be as great through the epidermis. Plants are also able to absorb nutrients through their bark. The purpose of foliar feeding is not to replace soil fertilization. Supplying a plant’s major nutrient needs (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) is the most effective and economic via soil application. However, a foliar application has proven to be an excellent method of supplying plant requirements for secondary nutrients (calcium, magnesium, and sulfur) and micronutrients (zinc, manganese, iron, copper, boron, and molybdenum), while supplementing N-P-K needs for short or critical growth three-stage periods....

Most plants prefer a somewhat neutral pH, anything from 6.2 to 7.0. However there are many plants that are more specific in their pH needs, such as blueberries and azaleas, which like a very acidic soil, and lilacs and clematis, that prefer a more alkaline soil. There are even some, like hydrangeas, that change flower color depending on the soil’s pH. Generally speaking, if your plants are growing healthy, with no signs of problems, your soil pH is probably in an acceptable range....