Window blinds have been around for a long time, close to two centuries to be specific. They add to the décor of the room and they are very useful. They cover your windows and you can modify them in line with your needs. The most prominent need is the amount of heat or air you require in the room.
Choices are so good when they are available but they can also lead to a bit of confusion. Generally, window blinds are confused with other types of window covers such as shutters.
This leaves us with a necessity to know the different types of window blinds that are available.
These window blinds are a choice for many homeowners. Unlike the typical blinds which use slats, roller blinds use fabric and it is a fabric cut out into a single piece. They use a metal rod to wrap the fabric and a cord for their operation. They can fit in any window size and they add a lot of style to the environment. You can choose from a wide range of colors, fabrics, and designs that fits your expectation. Motorized blinds make things easy.
Known as one of the oldest window blinds in the world, the Persian blinds use horizontal slats. You may find some old houses that have windows with the traditional wooden Persian slats. If you are one of those people who like to have old-style houses, you may choose the traditional Persian blinds.
These window blinds have their modern version as well and they are quite popular. Made out of vinyl, these are joined to each other using strings, but with an equal amount of space between. These strings that connect the slats are connected together and they are suspended from one of the ends. The suspended strings are used to rotate the slats to any degree that you want. 170 degrees is the greatest angle to which they rotate.
Another popular form of blinds, they are often confused with Persian blinds as they look similar. The similarity is the result of identical structures, operation and make. Some argue that they are both the same.
As the name suggests, these window blinds use verticals slats. The method of operation remains similar to a Venetian or Persian model. The vertical blinds are good for windows and doors as they come in good heights. Many corporate settings use these blinds as many offices have transparent walls. Privacy can be attained when vertical blinds are attached.
Though the looks of a pleated blind may be familiar to a Persian and Venetian one, they are definitely different. Unlike the slats which rotate in a Persian or Venetian, pleated blinds cannot do that. They can be either raised or lowered. The covering is made of fabric and it has pleats, hence the name. Though not as popular as the rest of the blinds, pleated blinds are still demanded by few homeowners.
Roman blinds are always followed by the word elegant because they are very beautiful and artistic. They use fabrics which have a lining connected to cords. These cords are used for raising and lowering. With a little similarity to a pleated blind, Roman blinds can either close your window completely or they can be raised to a particular level. The fabric does not let any sunshine or air through it.
These are some of the types of window blinds that are available.
However, you must be careful as there have been unfortunate incidents. Blinds (especially the ones that use strings or cords) have resulted in the deaths of many children in the US. It is extremely important to have blinds which do not cause serious damage to your little ones when they are not under your supervision.
Make sure to consider all this information before you make the final choice.
Secondhand smoke is actually one of the passive health effects of smoking; you might not do it, but you might get affected by someone who does. Moreover, if you smoke or know someone who does, you must have noticed the unpleasant smell and seen people wave off the smoke or cover their nose and mouth around you. But the unpleasantness of the smoke goes beyond the smell.
Secondhand smoke is the smoke released [exhaled] by a smoker or by the cigarette into the air. There are about 4000 chemicals in the secondhand smoke, 50 of which can cause cancer. In some, the carcinogenic products found are greater in secondhand smoke than the smoke inhaled by the smokers. There is also twice the amount of nicotine and tar in the secondhand smoke.
Cigarette smoke remains in the room for several hours. No amount of ventilation, air-filtration, or opening a window is effective in removing smoke from a building. The best way is to prevent secondhand smoking effects is to make it a rule to not smoke indoors.
The toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke remains in the air much longer after you stub the cigarette. It settles on walls, fabrics, carpets, furniture, and toys. Anyone close to these objects may experience effects of secondhand smoke/passive smoking. If you are in a room or vehicle where people usually smoke, then you are exposed to secondhand smoke, even if no one smokes in your presence.
Effects of secondhand smoking on health
There are many secondhand smoking effects on the health. A slight exposure could cause serious problems. Children are the most affected as they breathe more rapidly and their immune system is vulnerable. Those exposed to secondhand smoke develop bronchitis, tonsillitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems.
Seniors, pregnant women and people who have cardiac or respiratory problems are at a greater risk.
Prominent secondhand smoking effects include irritation to the eyes, in the nose, and throat. It can also cause a headache, coughing, and nausea. It may increase the risk of asthma, lung infections, and even lung cancer. It can result in heart problems, damage reproduction system, and reduce fertility; it also leads to breast cancer, if exposed prior to menopause.
While redesigning or remodeling your house, the kitchen is perhaps the one place that can leave you flummoxed. This is because the kitchen has a lot of intricacies that are missing in the bedroom or the drawing room. For instance, all the pipe fittings and drainage layouts for the kitchen can be quite confusing to figure out. However, this never means that you will have to sacrifice your dream of getting a lovely kitchen straight out of those classic magazine covers.
Tips for designing kitchen cabinets
The first factor to keep in mind while designing a kitchen is to have the right amount of storage space. When it comes to storage, the perfect options would be kitchen cabinets. Designing a kitchen cabinet will require precision, understanding of your storage needs, and finally a proper budget. You will have to decide where exactly to position your kitchen cabinet. This is because your kitchen cabinet cannot be removed once it is built. It is better to avoid any experimentation and affix the same to an area of your choice. Decide on what material you will be employing in your kitchen cabinets. You will also have to make sure that it is waterproof and heat resistant. Make an inventory of all your kitchen wares and see how much would fit in the cabinet, with the planned dimensions of your kitchen cabinet. Even though you have picked the design from a magazine or a TV show, you have to make sure that proper customizations are in place for the kitchen cabinet at home. This is because what could be suitable in one kitchen will not be perfect for yours. Moving on, you will have to decide what kind of finish would you like to render to the kitchen cabinet. From polish to plywood to even sheet pasting, there are a lot of options available in the market today.
Budget with care
Formulate a perfect budget for your kitchen cabinet and discuss the possibilities with your woodwork contractor. Many things, which you would want to go forward with, might be difficult to afford. There’s no need to feel bad about it since the design is an endless stream of ideas; the best of what you originally have in mind and can afford. Designing kitchen cabinets must also be based on the kind of ideas that are not harmful to the environment. Materials that are certified green and safe for use are best to be used for making kitchen cabinets.
One thing to keep in mind is not to employ a very light colored material for your kitchen cabinet. You could be doing this only when you are very much prepared to put in long hours of maintenance. Kitchen cabinets can make or break the entire look of the kitchen. Make sure you put in some time in the design with options open for innovation as well as classic designs. The bottom line is that designing kitchen cabinets need a little bit of understanding and a lot of planning. Choose a design that does not have too many corners and nooks as this eases up the maintenance process. Remember, prices of kitchen cabinets are high, and it is not very often that you can change them.
Google’s latest offering, Pixel, is making the right noise. Say goodbye to complicated phones that make you miserable with unnecessary apps and say hello to Google Pixel.
Interesting features
Pixel has its own personal assistant that can be engaged with the words “OK Google.” Google Assistant is at your service when it comes to performing any task on your phone. One thing is assured with the Google Pixel; you will never run out of space as it offers unlimited cloud storage for videos and photos, unlike other smartphones. Pixel comes with a The SmartBurst camera feature that enhances the images and gives clear and crisp photos any time of the day, under any light conditions. What’s more, even video calling is made simpler with the new Google Duo app.
Network compatibility
Google Pixel is equipped with CDMA technology. So Verizon is the official carrier of Pixel and Pixel XL. It is available at Verizon or the Google Store. If the buyer is already on the Verizon network, they may get some credit when purchasing from the Verizon store in exchange for the old phone. However, if the buyer is not on Verizon, then they may buy an unlocked Google Pixel from Google store or online retail sites, and choose the carrier of his choice, like AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint.
Best place to buy it from
Buyers are especially curious as to which is the right place to purchase the Pixel. Google has released Pixel and Pixel XL. So what are the best bets for a better deal? Since it is a Google phone, the best and first choice would be to grab it from the official Google store. One advantage of purchasing from the Google store is the easy finance option, which may not be available elsewhere.
Pricing and payment options
The Pixel starts at USD 650 for 32GB. Both Google and Verizon offer financing at USD 24 per month for 24 months. Google has a special promotional offer for pre-ordering the Pixel. The buyer gets Daydream View Virtual reality headset worth $79 for free. Pixel 32GB is available in silver, black, and blue color, while the 128GB model is available in silver and black only.
The availability of unlocked Google Pixels may vary from one retailer to another. Before making a decision about buying the Pixel, it is always better to check out any deals or promotional offer available online or in stores.