eHow.com Video: Ideas For Painting Flat & Imperfect Walls

Anjie Cho April 17, 2014

The type of paint as well as the treatment of the wall can greatly improve any wall imperfections!

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Video Transcript

I'm Anjie Cho, and these are some ideas for painting flat and imperfect walls.

Imperfections and blemishes on your walls can definitely be an eye sore, but there are ways that you can improve the appearance of paints. The finish of the paint, as well as the treatment of the walls before you paint, are very important.

Before you start, make sure to fill the imperfections with Spackle, like so. You can get Spackle along with a putty knife at any hardware store. Let it dry, then make sure to sand the surface smooth with sandpaper.

Second, the type of paint is very important. Matte or flat finish paints will hide the imperfections the most effectively because they are not as reflective as egg shell, semi-gloss or glossy finishes. The more reflective the paint, the more it will accentuate the imperfections, 'cause the light will hit, will reflect off the uneven surfaces. I'm painting here with the zero VOC eco-friendly paint, which I recommend for a non-toxic holistic home.

Preparing the wall with Spackle and using a flat or matte finish paint is a fairly easy and inexpensive way to improve the look of your flat and imperfect walls.

by Anjie Cho

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eHow.com Video: How To Keep Picture Frames Hanging Straight

Anjie Cho April 9, 2014

Did you know in feng shui, crooked picture frames can represent a home that needs some balancing?

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Video Transcript

I'm Anjie Cho, and this is how to keep picture frames hanging straight.

A crooked picture frame can make even the most beautiful piece of art or stylish room look unkempt and in disarray. In feng shui, this can represent a lopsided home or household. It's easy to keep your picture frames hanging straight with a few tools and tips.

You will need a level, as well as appropriate nails or screws for the weight of the frame and for your type of wall. We have drywall here with a fairly light picture frame so I have some small nails and a hammer. You also need some self adhesive felt pads. The self adhesive felt pads can be found at the local hardware store.

Be sure to locate your nail in the correct position using a measuring tape and level to determine the right place. Put the self adhesive felt pads on all four corners of the back of the frame. The pads provide friction between the wall and the picture frame so it won't as easily move. After you have hung up the picture frame, take the level again and make sure it's straight and level.

Keeping your picture frames hanging straight creates an orderly and finished look to any space. Just a few extra steps will keep them hanging straight and looking sharp.

by Anjie Cho

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Starphire vs. Standard Glass

Anjie Cho April 2, 2014

Learn about the differences between Starphire and standard glass. Although it seems like glass is just glass, there are differences and there may be a type that's more appropriate for your home.

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Video Transcript:

I'm Anjie Cho, and this is about Starphire versus standard glass. When selecting what kind of glass you want in your home, most people don't know that there are few options to choose from.

Starphire is the brand name of a type of low iron glass also sometimes called water clear glass. So what does low iron glass mean? When standard glass is produced they use iron oxide which leaves a greenish tint to the glass. It's difficult to see the difference between low iron glass and standard glass until you compare them to a background or look at the edge. Here you can see how they look virtually the same until you look at them against a background. You can also look at the edges where the green is always very apparent.

The low iron glass has more clarity and is very clear, hence the name water clear. Low iron glass is slightly more expensive than standard glass. Since you can't really see a major difference except on the edges, there are some home applications that I would recommend you consider going low iron for. Low iron might be considered for any frameless glass applications like shower enclosures, tabletops and glass doors. Also if the glass is a quarter inch thick or more you will really start to see the green.

Low iron glass works exactly the same as standard glass. It can be tempered, textured and laminated. Although it seems like glass is just glass, there are differences and there may be a type that's more appropriate for your home. You might want to opt for Starphire, low iron, water clear glass over the standard green tinted option.

by Anjie Cho