Guest Post - Door Locks: Rekeying Vs. Replacing

If you’re experiencing any problems with your lock, it’s better not to risk your safety and the safety of your property. Simple rekeying or lock replacement can solve all of your lock issues in the blink of an eye, but how do you know which one you need? Here’s a guide that will clear your doubts.

Rekeying

If you decide to rekey your lock, here’s what you can expect. Your locksmith will open the lock, remove old pins and springs in the lock and install new ones that respond to a different key. Most locks can be rekeyed, unless you have a very specialized lock or some malfunctioning parts.

The most common reason why people opt for rekeying is to retire an old key if they moved in a new place and want to be the only key holders, if they lost a key and worry someone will find it or they want to prevent a key-holder from entering.

If you have several locks in your home that work with a different key and you want all of them to have one key, you might want to have your locks rekeyed. However, in order for the process to work, you must have locks of the same brand and lock that have the same type of keyholes. For instance, if your key won’t even fit into a lock (let alone unlock it), it means that the keyways are not the same and they can’t be matched.

Key pins that get replaced in the process of rekeying are super cheap, so rekeying is usually very affordable. Most experts only charge the labor when rekeying, but if you opt for lock replacing, expect to be billed both for the parts and the labor.

Another thing to keep in mind with rekeying is that it won’t improve your security. As long as your locksmith replaces your 5 old pins with 5 new pins, your lock will remain essentially the same, but it will work with a different key. If you want to boost your security, you’ll need to change your lock to a better and sturdier model.

In order to perform rekeying, your locksmith will need your current key. But, you can always ask your locksmith to pick the lock open in case you get locked out and most experts can do that very quickly. They can open all sorts of locks, from your regular door locks to restricted key systems and electronic locks, so don’t worry about any complications. This service is very useful if you really don’t want to replace your current lock, so it’s great to keep in mind.

Replacing

There are circumstances that can’t be solved with rekeying, but they require lock replacement. Like everything else, locks wear down and can’t be improved with simple rekeying.

If you want to improve the security of your property, you might want to replace your regular locks with high-quality locking hardware. But, other times, people just want to spice things up aesthetically and need a new lock design and color. For instance, if you just moved into a new place, you might want to invest in new, better-looking locks. Also, some locks are easier to operate (most people prefer lever handle locks over knobs.)Obviously, rekeying won’t help here.

Also, if you have various locks in your home and they all respond to a different key, you might want to improve the practicality and make them all work with one key. In that case, you might need to change some of the models and create a uniformed look before you can rekey them to one key. Lock replacement is also more expensive, because you’ll be paying for the lock itself and the labor.

AS you can see, each process has its advantages and disadvantages. Now you are much closer to knowing which solution will fit your needs before you contact your locksmith to get that problem solved.

Lillian Connors can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of green living/home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter.

Guest Post - Home Redecorating Tips & Advice for Empty Nesters

Your kids have spread their wings and flown, leaving you with an empty nest and plenty of mixed emotions. While you are probably happy to see your teens embarking on their own lives, seeing their empty bedrooms on a daily basis can leave you feeling quite lonely.

Look on the bright side, though. With your kids out of the house, you finally have the extra space for that study, home office, craft room, or guest bedroom you’ve been longing for. Transforming a no-longer-used childhood bedroom into a brand-new space makes it much easier to process your emotions and enjoy being an empty nester. Here are a helpful home redecorating tips and some advice on how to transform the spaces in your once-bustling home.

Reorganize

If your kids left their rooms behind as shrines to their teenage years, you will need to do a lot of organizing before you can transform the space. It may be too soon to pack up all of your kids’ belongings and donate them to charity if they have only recently left for college and still plan on coming home on vacations for school. In this case, your best bet is to reorganize their stuff to make room for yourself.

Tuck personal effects in baskets or boxes and store them in closets or dresser drawers for easy access. Consider installing a large shelving unit that can be used to display some of your child’s favorite possessions. This will allow you to maintain the personality of the room while giving yourself a bit more space.

When the kids are finished with college or have already moved into their own homes, feel free to pack up the things they left behind and either put them in storage, donate them, or throw them away. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with your kids before getting rid of things that may still have sentimental value.

Come Up with a New Purpose

How do you want to use the newly available extra space? Would you like to transform your teen’s former room into an elegant guest bedroom? Set up the craft room you’ve always dreamed of having? Put in a home office where you can pursue your own entrepreneurial dreams? Create a home gym? Deciding exactly how you want to use the space is the first step in figuring out exactly what you will need to do to redecorate.

Once you’ve decided on a purpose, consider what furniture you will need. In many spaces, large furniture pieces serve as the main focal point. Selecting furniture like living room sofas, desks, and bedrooms sets early in the redecorating process will help you determine a color scheme. Look for high-quality furniture that you love that will withstand the test of time. With no more kids running around destroying everything, now is the time to invest in that classic leather recliner or sofa you’ve always dreamed of having!

Upgrade the Lighting

Changing the lighting in a room can change the entire feel of a space. If your son had a sports-themed ceiling fan or your daughter had a Hello Kitty bedside lamp, replace them with more elegant, mature fixtures. You may also want to upgrade basic fixtures and ceiling fans to more elegant styles that are better suited to your personal taste.

Add a nice floor lamp or some wall sconces. If you plan on spending a lot of time in the room, think about investing in a lamp that mimics natural sunlight to create a comfortable, inviting space. Choose lights that are appropriate for the type of room you are trying to create. A chandelier may be an amazing touch if you are converting a room into an elegant walk-in closet, but it may look out of place if you are converting the room into a home gym.

Replace the Flooring

Kids are messy, and there is a good chance that the floors in their old bedrooms aren’t in the greatest shape. Whether it’s nail polish in the carpet, water stains on the hardwood, or any other type of problem, a damaged floor can really detract from a space.

If it is in your budget, replacing damaged flooring gives any room an instant facelift. Even if the carpet is in good condition, getting rid of the baby pink and replacing it with carpet in a more grown-up color or hardwood will help you make the space your own. If completely redoing your floor doesn’t quite fit into your budget, pick up a nice rug to hide the damage. Also, arrange your furniture strategically to keep spots and stains out of sight.

Conclusion

For parents, living in an empty nest brings a lot of mixed emotions. While they are happy to see their kids starting at college, beginning their careers, and exploring the world on their own for the first time, the sudden emptiness in the home can bring sadness. By redecorating your kids’ old bedrooms, though, you can eliminate the depression that can come from staring at a shrine to their teenage years day after day. Redecorating also allows you to reclaim the space and transform it into something you will enjoy.

Your kids’ old bedrooms aren’t the only places you can redecorate. With the kids out of the house, you are now free to purchase higher-end furniture pieces and décor without fear of it being ruined by careless children or teens. You can decorate with your own style preferences in mind to create a beautiful home that feels less like an empty nest.

About the author: Jeff King serves as Vice President of Club Furniture (One Source Plus, Inc.). Jeff oversees all marketing related functions from the Charlotte, NC headquarters. When not busy playing bass guitar... Jeff enjoys reading, playing tennis, and spending time with his wife and two children.

Guest Post - How Virtual Reality is Going to Change the Interior Designing Industry

Ours is the age of technology, its fashion, food, construction or interior design. Virtual reality has begun to change the way interior designers work. Designers feel more confident in presenting their ideas with the help of virtual tools and software because they make the ideas come alive before they actually come alive. To get more insight into the virtual reality software and their impact, we had a little chat with Westbrook Interiors, Office Interior Design Head. Our expert associated the satisfaction of customers with productive and efficient processing that virtual reality provides in these words:

“We ensure that our clients get the feel of their desired space before the execution that satisfies them and makes us more confident to pursue each process with more efficient and productive manner. It is only possible with great quality Virtual Reality software."

Walking a client through a digital room filled with your design and all the little details makes the entire process more meaningful. The accurate estimation of details was never possible before this technology. Virtual reality is also a highly customizable phenomenon. With digital performance and the instruments like glasses and headsets, it constructs an interactive experience. Therefore we hear the designers say, it makes individual participation more engaging and enables individual variations in creation in an immersive way giving an edge on other interior designers.

Efficient use of space has always been the prime focus of interior practices, and VR has made it easier for designers to achieve the goal of efficient space use with a more functional design that confirms user well-being. For example, TrueScale is user-friendly software that allows constructing, edit and explore the designed spaces in 2D, 3D or real scale of superior design experience. It provides a more precise sense of scale and depth that was not possible with traditional graphics and pen performance.

The greatest thing about virtual reality is that many great and advanced software is available to designers that help them to bring the projects and designs to life before execution. It immensely helps the composition, designer and customer as everything can be thoroughly assessed before breaking the ground. It allows to make changes at initial steps minimizing risk factors and finalize all the major and minor details for once, resulting in efficient and effective planning that promise superior consolidated results.

The visual conceptualization not only determines project visibility way earlier in the process but the explicit details can be communicated more accurately to contractors and construction teams. Virtual technology not only replaces the pen and paper drafting technique but enhances each process involved in building a space that can achieve operational efficiency.

We can see why virtual reality is the next big thing in the interior design world and it is almost impossible for any designer to work without virtual reality software who wishes to compete in this field. Nowadays, interior designers can use many advanced 2D/3D designs and BIM software solutions that enable them to advance their ideas from concept through to completion.

In this age, virtual reality enables a user to see the full picture of the final design beforehand as compared to traditional blueprints while future promises possibilities that are unlimited.

Authors Bio: Alex Tchablakian is COO at Letstango.com- leading online shopping destination, Alex is a die-hard lover of games and gadgets. His aim is to help customers to discover and choose the right product. You can reach him at alex@letstango.com.

Guest Post - 9 Clever Ideas to Make Your Compact Outdoor Space Feel Bigger

No matter how small it might be, a backyard area can be your stylish and comfortable outdoor sanctuary. Although there might be some design challenges, you can easily overcome them with a detailed approach and a creative plan. Here are several inspiring ideas that will help you bring your compact outdoor haven to a new level.

Create different zones

Organization is key to creating a comfortable outdoor space where you can easily move around. A simple way to organize your backyard layout is to divide it into different zones. You can set up a lounge area, a small dining spot or a kids’ play area with enough planning. Not only will this keep your backyard more organized, but it will also make it seem more spacious. You can also set up one or two versatile zones that you can easily adjust depending on your needs.

Keep it organized and clutter-free

A messy, cluttered area will seem even smaller and more cramped, so you need to tidy up your backyard. There’s no need for introducing unnecessary elements and embellishment. A few handpicked, impactful details can create a lovely look without overwhelming your space. Make sure to introduce enough storage solutions where you can keep your outdoor blankets and pillows. Your tools and other equipment should be stored in a shed or garage instead of cluttering up your backyard oasis.

Go vertical

A simple way to free up some space is to introduce vertical design solutions. If you’ve always wanted a lush garden, but you don’t have enough space to plant flowers and herbs, you can simply create a vertical garden. Not only is it a space-saving solution, but it will also work as a privacy screen and keep your tiny backyard sanctuary cozy and intimate. You can also try some other vertical solutions for your outdoor space, such as a decorative ladder, embellishments placed on your fence, etc.

Use a water feature as a focal point

Designing a beautiful focal point will refocus attention from the limited floor space to that stunning feature. And there’s no better solution than a water element. Introducing a cozy 2 person outdoor spa will turn your backyard into a lovely retreat. Its compact design is perfect for your small backyard and you can even move it to a balcony or porch if you want to. You can have your personal spot for relaxation and rejuvenation that will definitely dominate the entire backyard without making it feel cramped.

Bring out a mirror

Adding a mirror to your backyard lounge area can be quite an unusual and practical embellishment. You’ll be able to use it as an authentic décor statement, but make sure to pick a design that fits into the general style of your backyard haven. More importantly, a mirror will visually expand your backyard space and make it seem bigger and more open.

Merge the indoors and outdoors

If you have a really small backyard, you can expand it by creating a seamless transition from your house to your outdoor haven. You can use a similar flooring solution, use the same color scheme and keep the same style. You can also install a glass door that will open to your backyard and blend your exterior with interior. This will help you cozy up your outdoor space, make it a part of your home and even make it seem bigger.

Light it up properly

In the evening, lighting will play a crucial role in making your compact space more open and enjoyable. There are plenty of outdoor lighting ideas that won’t take up too much space in your backyard. Twinkle lights are a charming solution that you can place almost anywhere. Lovely lanterns can casually float in the air, keeping your haven bright and cozy.

Mind the scale

Scale is of the utmost importance in a small space, so you need to pay attention to it when furnishing and embellishing your backyard. Instead of planting a huge tree, you can choose small plants and bushes that can beautify your backyard, yet still keep it open. When it comes to furniture, take out all the measures in advance and pick pieces that will keep you comfortable and provide you with great traffic flow.

Introduce practical outdoor furniture

The furniture pieces you add to your backyard should be multi-functional, enabling you to easily adjust or move them. You should pick a patio sofa or table with storage compartments where you can keep some of your items. Built-in benches, tables with chairs that can be assembled into a single piece and other double-duty pieces can help you design a beautiful backyard where style and functionality merge.

With these creative and functional ideas, you can design the perfect backyard where you can relax, spend time with your family and entertain guests without feeling limited by its size.

About the author: Mike Johnston is a home improvement blogger and DIY enthusiast from Sydney. He is a regular writer at Smooth Decorator and contributor on several interior design, lifestyle, real estate and eco-friendly blogs. Mike’s goal is to create and share meaningful content that helps and inspires people.