Carter Hardware

Carter Hardware is the pre-eminent showroom on the west coast.

Best products and original designs

We have the widest variety of products and services in the western U.S., specializing in the best products and original designs.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Enhance Your Environment With These Home Improvement Ideas

When you choose to start a home improvement project, you are probably imagining what that new carpet or new room will look like, but it’s even more important to clearly lay out how you will get from here to that goal. The following advice will help you complete your projects with ease.


During the summer, use all the fans that you can. Ceiling fans can be particularly great at cooling down a room because they improve a room’s circulation. Using floor fans and ceiling fans will also help to lessen the energy you utilize, as you won’t need to run the air conditioner as hard. This will help you to save money.


You should put windows in the bathroom for more ventilation. You do not want to get stuck with unnecessary mold growth due to the humidity from the hot showers. Repainting the walls in your bathroom won’t get rid of the mold. Try using preventative measures to keep it from growing. Add a window or some type of ventilation in order to cut down the humidity.


Planning for home maintenance expenses when setting up a household budget makes it much easier to keep up with projects as they are needed. By dedicating a reasonable amount of your income to home maintenance and upgrades, it will help keep your house in much better shape. If there is anything leftover at year’s end, it can be focused towards bigger and better projects the year after.


Clogged gutters can cause serious water damage to a home. If you have a leak in your basement the first thing you should do is check your gutters, they could be clogged. Make it a priority to clean your gutters every season.


Home improvement projects need to have a goal and they require meticulous planning in order to do them properly. You can make use of the suggestions you’ve just read to do all of the proper advanced planning before you start your next home improvement job. Following this advice will ensure wonderful results.



Enhance Your Environment With These Home Improvement Ideas

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Ever Wanted A Home Like The Ones You See On TV? These Interior Design Tips Can Help!

Did you ever want to make your house more attractive but did not know how? Do you feel dread when thinking of interior design? Well, there really is no need to be worried. Using this advice, you can decorate your home with ease.


An investment in quality art is a good idea. You may not think so, but one good piece of artwork can take a room to an entirely new level. A nice painting can give your room a focal point where you can begin to decorate around it.


The color scheme you choose can make or break your next interior design project. Make sure you choose colors that will go together to give your room an overall great look. Keep bold colors separated, you shouldn’t use more than one or two in a single room or it will get too busy looking.


For the best way to display your art in any room, remember to hang the art at eye level. If the art piece is too low or too high it can throw off the balance of the room and make the room seem disorganized.


Many professionals have many things to say when it comes to interior design, in which you must listen to with an open-mind so you can discard the unnecessary information. Trusting in your own design judgement is key because it is essential that you feel comfortable in your own home.


Sometimes, redesigning a kitchen is as simple as replacing a few cabinet doors. Try to use glass doors as opposed to traditional wood in order to make your kitchen look brighter. You could place some accent pieces inside those cabinets in order to add visual appeal to your space.


If you have felt fear about interior design, you should learn some things here that will calm you. Once you know a little bit about the basics of interior design, it is easy to get started. Just use the advice in the article above to make you home look more homey.



Ever Wanted A Home Like The Ones You See On TV? These Interior Design Tips Can Help!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Home Improvement Tips And Advice That Will Help

Every homeowner wants to make minor, or even major, improvements to their home. This piece has many tips to assist you with just that. As you move forward with your improvements, you will build a great sense of accomplishment and confidence as you go. You can learn more by simply reading on.


Lampshades that are plain add no personality and are boring. With stencils, you can brighten them up. Use paint or an ink pad to add designs that be taken from a template, then add them to your boring lampshades. You could literally create any design you can think of and give more personality to your home.


Utilizing drywall mud to texture walls can add some visual interest and hide many imperfections. It is not hard to do. Put the drywall mud on. Use tools to give it texture. A stiff brush will work, as will a sponge, a fork and even a plastic bag. Anything that gives an interesting texture.


Believe it or not, you can actually fix the bubbles in the old vinyl tiles in your floor. If there is a bubble in one of these floors, you can slice it open and let the air out. This will deflate the bubble temporarily. After that, though, you must put in a bit of glue to keep things the way you want them to be. Purchase the type of glue that fills a syringe to complete your project.


Do you want to fix a leak or maybe do a total home remodel? You are in good company! As we have stated in this guide, there are some tricks that you could do to make home improvement project easier to accomplish. Hopefully, you’ve learned what you needed to know. It is now time for you to start your next project!



Home Improvement Tips And Advice That Will Help

Interior Design Tips Tricks And Techniques For Any Home

If you’re interested in redesigning your home, but are unsure of where to begin, you’re in the right spot! Consulting and planning with design experts can help, especially for people on a limited budget. Use this article to get more ideas on how to decorate.


Keep up with the latest trends in home design and make sure your home hasn’t become dated. You wouldn’t want to be known to have a home that is out of date. Look at other people’s homes to get decorating ideas.


Even the most seemingly minor details can have a major impact on the look and feel of a room. You can create a very interesting look by using small elements of decors or creating color patterns with different small items. For example, it is possible to create a unified decorative theme by selecting and coordinating elements like hardware, lighting fixtures or window treatments.


You should purchase high-quality paint in order to get the job done right. The cheap stuff will simply fade away over time and can even damage your walls. As a result, you’ll end up spending more money over the long term. Buy paint that will last in your rooms.


When designing a room. pick a style that suits you. If you want to have a room that will be a nice place to have a visitor, remember you have to live with it. If you want to use frilly pillows or nautical elements, get to it! Nothing prevents you from changing things around later if you find you dislike something.


Interior design could be a daunting task and it may feel as if you need to use a lot of money. This is not true. With patience and planning, you can design a great look for your home, no matter what your budget may be. Remember these tips to create your dream home!



Interior Design Tips Tricks And Techniques For Any Home

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Exceptional Advice On Any Home Improvement Project

Whether you are a novice or have experience in home improvements, there is always new information and resources available. Many resources, such as videos, books, and other materials, are available to help you out. The tips in this piece are among the best methods for successfully undertaking home-improvement projects.


If you want to save money, wait for sales on material or installation in home improvement stores. Many places will offer free basic installation or discounted installation at certain times of the year. When you encounter a sale such as this, take advantage of it since full-priced installation often costs more than the carpet itself.


Think about getting a washer that also functions as a dryer if you do not have much room. A combo unit will take up about the same amount of space that a dishwasher would. A combo unit will work to wash your clothes and dry them.


Get references of anyone that will be working on a home improvement job on your behalf. Think of it in terms of hiring an employee for your business. You want to look into their background as much as possible and make sure that other people have been pleased with their service.


If you have clear glass in your windows, your home could lose 20% of its heating and cooling. By glazing your large, picture windows, you can significantly cut back on the loss of heat and cold air. Your home will be more comfortable inside, and your energy bills will decrease.


If you have no shower in your home, you might want to consider adding one. Not only is a shower more convenient than a tub, but it also more cost effective. Compared side-by-side, you will find that a shower used for five minutes will use less than a quarter of the water that a tub full of bathwater does.


You should have a better idea of how to prepare yourself for a successful home improvement project. Apply the tips from this article to begin your home improvement tasks. Keeping this in mind, it is possible to improve your own methods and get the house you always wanted.



Exceptional Advice On Any Home Improvement Project

Things You Can Do To Be A Better Interior Designer

If you’re in the mood to do some interior design, you’ve landed on the right article. Some planning and consulting with those that are familiar with design can go a long way, especially for those on a budget. Read this guide for more tips about this subject.


The color scheme is imperative when beginning a project on a room in your home. Make sure you know what colors go with what so as to avoid clashing; this will result in a well balanced look for the entire room. It is also important to stay away from using several bold colors in a single room.


Lower the costs of your interior design projects by seeking out the same high quality designs from mass merchants. Try not to always purchase a designer brand, as these can set you back a lot of money. If you find something you simply adore that you cannot buy anywhere else, it may be time to splurge, however.


Consider counter tops that aren’t traditional when you are redecorating your kitchen. Granite is the number one choice, but there are other great options including cork or concrete. These unique choices can cost less and add personality to your kitchen.


Don’t skimp on paint. Buy the best quality you can afford. Cheap paint wears away and damages walls. When you use a trusted brand of paint, you’ll be able to enjoy it for a long time.


You need to stay realistic when redecorating your home. Your home needs to feel like it is “yours,” but keep those personal touches to pieces that can be replaced. Consider the impact that this kind of look can have on a potential buyer. If you do insist on decorating in your own special way, make sure that whatever you decide to do is easily reversible.


You may think that interior design is an expensive and daunting task, but it is not. With proper planning and a bit of patience, you can really do much no matter your budget or time constraints. Ensure you get exactly the home you want by heeding this advice.



Things You Can Do To Be A Better Interior Designer

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Home Improvement Tips That Will saved You A Ton Of Money.

It’s difficult to figure out where to begin when it comes to home improvement, however, it does not need to be. As in so many other fields, educating yourself a little on the basics of home improvement will give you the confidence you need. In the following article, you will get the boost you need for whatever project you need to do.


If you are looking to tile a floor on the cheap, pass on stone or ceramic tiles, and use vinyl instead. Vinyl is very durable and strong. It is resistant to water and easy to put in. You can find vinyl flooring as individual tiles or in a complete sheet that will cover an entire room at once.


When in the process of searching for a home, there are several problems that you can visibly see, such as chipping paint, bad ceilings, and rotting decks. However, electrical issues, roof damage, foundation damage and other issues require an inspector to notice. When you invest in proper inspection in advance, you save money on potential repairs in the long run.


Bugs can wreak havoc on your home, and cracks in the wall or gaps in the window can cause bills to skyrocket. Make sure you seal all those little cracks and gaps in the house to save money and to avoid infestation. Use caulk around your home’s baseboards, windows and even electrical outlets. Once the caulk is dry, air will be sealed in, and bugs will be sealed out.


If a lock is having problems, you can change out the entire thing or look to change out only the cylinder. The cylinder being the lock’s mechanism that completes the lock action. If you don’t have a key and you need your lock to be changed to be more safe, you can replace the cylinder. On the other hand, you will need to change out the entire unit in order to change the look.


You should now see that home improvement does not need to be that difficult. Whatever the complexity of your project, learning about it will make it easier to do. Think about the information presented here as you begin your home improvement journey.



Home Improvement Tips That Will saved You A Ton Of Money.

Add Personality To Your Space With This Interior Design Advice

These things will make you feel satisfied to own your home. Whether adding new curtains or putting up some new pictures, there is a lot you can do to add a new look to your home. Continue reading to learn great advice that will help you make your home look like something that a professional did!


Before you start any interior design project, consider the mood of the room first. Moods are as varied as, well, your moods. They can swing from bold to relaxed, and anywhere in between. Choosing the mood of the room will help you choose more cohesive decorations in order to create a better room.


You can save money in your design budget by shopping at discount stores. Designer brand decor is very expensive, and there are always similar designs for less money available. Go with the designer brands only if you cannot find comparable quality offered at a lower price point.


Always remember to enhance lighting whenever possible in any room. Opt for a light or pastel shade of wallpaper or interior paint when decorating a room that has little natural light.


Many people have opinions with regards to interior design, but you shouldn’t listen to all of it. You won’t have the home you want unless you add your own personal tastes.


When redesigning the kitchen, be creative with counter tops. Granite is the number one choice, but there are other great options including cork or concrete. If granite will put you over your budget, consider wood, concrete or cork for your counter tops.


It does not matter how you start, after some redesigning and redecorating, any home could look fabulous. Interior design brings out the artist in each of us. The above article gave you tips to turn your home into your dream home.



Add Personality To Your Space With This Interior Design Advice