All posts in Home Improvement Category

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Start your virtual engines in US$116,650 F1 racing simulator
May 18, 2013 //

Players of the Forza and Gran Turismo race series understand that every little advantage counts when working to trim lap times. In game, details like tires, camber angles, damper settings, plus engine mods are just a few of the tuning tricks to enhance a racer’s performance. But deep down, budding racers know that such sops to realism are nothing compared to a full-scale F1 simulator. Luckily for them Costco UK and FMCG International have a solution – a US$116,650 full-scale F1 simulator.

Available in your color of choice as long as its red, black or silver, the F1 simulator will not only make your basement the coolest on the block, but is also designed to ensure an inflated ego and quicker laps. Delivery from Costco UK takes between 12 and 18 weeks, because like Shumacher’s F1 vehicle, simulators are made to order.

The in-home model carries over certain traits from the circuit. The floor plan for instance is of a composite nature, finished with carbon fiber detailing, while the main tub area where racers reside is comprised of a woven composite. Sid

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Floor Plans of Famous Television Show Homes
May 12, 2013 //

Growing up, I was raised on television. Many evenings were spent watching characters such as Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show and I was captivated by the comical antics of The Brady Bunch. Today I still find myself drawn to television because it allows me to build a relationship with the characters.  As I watch these shows I tend to note things like home furnishings, architectural styles and floor plan layouts.

Today you can easily find floor plans to build houses that look exactly like the ones you’ve seen in your favorite television shows and movies.  Everything from the San Fernando Brady Bunch house to The Cosby Show’s Manhattan dwelling can be found online. Designers are even making sketches for layouts of modern shows like Two and a Half Men, The Simpsons and How I Met Your Mother, classic suburban homes from I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Happy Days and The Golden Girls to sprawling mansions from Dallas and Dynasty.

4222 Clinton Way was the (fictitious) address of Bob and Carol Brady and their six children. Today th

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The Importance of Outdoor Accessories
May 09, 2013 //

Youre anxious to start using your new patio. Your new furniture is in place, the weather is warming up, and you’re ready to start enjoying the area. You settle down to read a book or watch the kids play, but something is still missing. You need the right accessories to take your patio from boring to spectacular. Consider these important outdoor accessories when setting up the patio of your dreams.

You’re going to get thirsty when you’re relaxing outside, and you need a place to set down your drink. Choose a few end tables so you and your guests will have a flat, raised surface to put drinks, your favorite book and your sunglasses. It will help you relax and unwind when you’re spending time on the patio.

Even sun lovers need the shade sometimes. Make sure your patio can be protected from the sun with umbrellas, shade sails or even a canopy draped over an arbor. Include shade to protect your family from the sun, keep the patio cooler and make it more enjoyable. If poss

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Iron Man 3 in Smell-O-Vision: 4DX hits Japanese theaters
Apr 22, 2013 //

Iron Man 3 will become the first film in Japan to be screened in the new 4DX format when it opens in movie theaters next week, according to Hollywood Reporter. A sort of Smell-O-Vision plus, the 4DX format supplements moving pictures and sound with an array of effects, including smells, wobbly seats, strobe lighting and bubbles.

Perhaps wobbly seats is a little unfair. Chairs geared for 4DX roll, pitch and yaw, to reflect the onscreen action, though I rather like the idea of being thrown wildly about through Pride and Prejudice or some other talky period drama.

Aquaphobes are advised to steer clear: 4DX-equipped theaters can apparently blast jets of air and water at the heads of unsuspecting film-goers. Surely, then, special editions of Singin’ in the Rain and The Poseidon Adventure are crying out to be made, though I, for one, would’ve paid good money to be distracted by an arcing jet of ice-cold water in my face for the full 136 minutes of The Phantom Menace.

Strobe lighting, smoke, bubbles and aromas round out the effects, the format supposedly capable of emitting 1,000 different scents.

As with 3D, Japanese audiences will be asked to pay more for the privilege of sensory overload, to the tune of an extra ¥1,300 (US$13) for 3D versions of the films (and about $10 more in 2D).

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The House Designers’ Design House Plans for New Home Market
Apr 18, 2013 //

As the housing market moves into recovery, the demand for newly built homes is increasing and online stock house plan companies like The House Designers are reporting an increase in home plan sales, particularly innovative small to mid-size floor plans with high-end amenities and green features.

“Our smaller house plans are becoming our best-selling as the demand from consumers for more affordable, energy efficient designs increases,” said Tammy Crosby, Chief Operating Officer of  The House Designers, America’s leading house plan provider. “We’re selling more and more home plans averaging 2,200 to 2,500 square feet that feature the latest in high end amenities and details.”

One of the newest small house plans from The House Designers is the Pleasant Cove House Plan.

Customizing house plans is another popular trend as builders and homeowners look to add personal touches like garden tubs and spa showers, outdoor kitchens and living spaces, and finished basements with entertainment and media rooms. The House De

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