How can an Interior Decorator get a Designer or Trade Discount?

Q. I am curious if it is possible to get a Designer or Trade Discount from home furnishing stores as an Interior Decorator (not an Interior Designer). Does anyone know if this is possible, and if so- what kind of proof (certificate/professional membership/etc.) must an Interior Decorator show to the stores in order to receive the discount? In general, do most home furnishing stores offer discounts if you are an Interior Decorator versus and Interior Designer? Thanks for any info.

A. You can register at big box stores ( Home Depot, Rona, Lowes etc.) as a contractor, with a business licence and business cards showing proof that you are a designer. Wallcovering, paint, furniture and flooring stores will also do the same if you are an acknowledged professional. Smaller operations will have their own system of passing on discounts, or not, to designers who frequently purchase product from them. They will then subsequent mark it up realistically to their client, as designers do have to earn a living, and the client will still probably benefit by a somewhat discounted product, better than what they would have gotten.
If you are in business, I don't believe the difference between a decorator or a designer effects your discount. Keep in mind though that retailer's are wary of people posing as such to simply get a deal. Hope this helps.

How can i sell goods to the large builders?

Q. HI i work at a Home furnishing manufacturer company and i wanted to see if anyone know how does the building process work and how can i get into the big builders business to sell them my goods.
For example we sell moldings. Is it stupid to approach the builder with my moldings or the architects are the one who i have to tackle?

A. start with construction supply companies. your nearest supplier. give them good prices to stock your materials so they can resell them at a good profit margin is a place to start and build quality rating from there,then others will look to get your products in there supply stores also.

How should I arrange my comforter set so that it looks picture perfect?

Q. I have various comforter sets. I want to acheive a look that makes my bed look like those in home furnishing magazines. Does anyone have any ideas and tips?

A. Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns, as long as colors coordinate with one another.

Buy Euro pillows and shams, along with small pillows in various shapes.

I have a king bed and use king pillows, euro pillows and standard size pillows. I like the contrast of sizes.

Browse websites that sell bedding for inspiration. Also watch and go online and look at HGTV. Lots of inspiration there.

Good luck!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Can the Canadian Home Renovation Tax Credit be deferred to 2010?

Q. Can the Canadian Home Renovation Tax Credit be deferred to the 2010 tax year instead of declaring it as part of the 2009 tax year? Thank you! Sources please!

A. I'm afraid not, it has to be claimed on 2009 tax return.

who pays on the home renovation shows?

Q. Who pays for the costs on these home renovation shows?

A. A lot of them follow the show by saying thanks to the companies that provided low cost or free samples of their products (like paint, lumber, sinks, etc) just for the publicity on the show. If not it comes out of the show's budget. On some shows they will say "we spend our $1000 budget and the selling homeowner paid the cost of the new carpeting to complete that beautiful room."

It is never a secret and it is always less than you would spend for the same stuff.

I am starting a new business in home renovations and need a name for it.?

Q. I will be doing total home renovations, interior and exterior. I also do custom painting and concrete texturing. Any suggestions would be great.

Thank You
I will be doing total home renovations, interior and exterior. I also do custom painting and concrete texturing. Any suggestions would be great. I live in Jacksonville, FL.

Thank You

A. This is a great article about - How to Select a Company or Product Name - http://www.developer-resource.com/how-to-select-a-company-name.htm

The article has some good advice on how to research names, and what to becareful of.

Here are some tips on selecting a domain name http://www.small-business-software.net/choose-a-domain.htm

Should get you started!
Best of luck

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What are 2 colours that look good for a girls teen bedroom?

Q. teen bedroom, girl, already tried brown and blue .

A. try painting it black and then splatter neon colors[: or light blue and lime green is always nice, or if your more girly then try light pink and paint hot pink hearts on the wall[: be creative. im a teen girl too and these are some that i would think of using. hope i helped!

How to make my bedrrom more like a teen bedroom!?

Q. Hi everyone! So im 14 and I want to make my room alot more like a teen bedroom, but i dont mean like posters of bands and all that stuff, i want like bright colors and cool stuff like that, somewhere where me and my friends can just hang out, right now my room is soo broing, the walls are a light pale purple white yellowish-white carpet and white furniture and my bed doesnt have a headboard, it has one of those white net-canopy things, I;v tried re arranging the furniture and everythign but it still doesnt work. Is there any way I could make a huge difference without having to paint the walls or buy a bunch of new stuff, I can buy some new stuff just not paint and new bed sets and stuff. Anyway, any help would be appreciated, Thanks! And by the way if anybody knows any sites with good tips for teen bedrooms that would help alot too! Thanks!By the way, my room isnt very big and the furniture is pretty outdated.

A. Don't worry, Mine is the same way...only i'm redoing everything.
Why can't you paint it? New paint is one of the best ways to make a room cool-looking.
I'll share what i'm doing, and you can take any ideas that could work for you :)
I'm painting my walls, three grey ones and a silver one. Taking out my carpet and putting in that wood stuff. I'm also getting plants, like bonsais and cool little ones for my desk. I'm getting a navy bedspread and navy curtains with lime green beads. Stereo, and pictures of all my friends and pets and family in cute picture frames, and all my old Tshirts that either got holes or too big/small I'm turning into pillows, in addition to buying some new pillows. lamps are also a great way of lighting up a place and making it look cool. I also need to get a cute little chest for my dog's toys.
Good Luck ffrom a fellow 14 year old! :)

What are some good furniture stores for teen bedrooms?

Q. Im looking to get a room makeover. And was looking for white wood or metal (perferably wood) furniture for a teen bedroom. Pls and thanks:) Will vote for best answer

A. ikea!!!! My old room at my moms house is done all in ikea furniture. We're definitely an ikea family, they have so many great pieces

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

I want to start building a miniature house, how should I get started?

Q. I'm a psych major but have a guilty pleasure in designing homes and architecture. I have many sketches that I want to bring to life. How do I get started? Not only have I sketched homes but I've also dobe the interior layout. What type of wood should I use? Not anything super huge just a decent size and I plan on doing all this by hand and from scratch.

A. All my experience says to first have a good complete set of plans and secondly have a good complete set of plans. I honestly believe an arcetec is a good investment in this venture to finalize the plans and bring everything into conformity with building codes When it comes to wood you can save a small fortune by getting green or partially seasoned (recommended) wood from a small independent sawmill in fact many small mills can take the materials list from your complete set of plans and cut out your house for you at a tremendous discount over what a building supply will charge. Pneumatic nailers will also save you a great bundle of time

Photos/ideas for cottage or country themed landscaping?

Q. I want to do work on landscaping the and lawn and need to get ideas that would complemtnt with home architecture. links to websites, additional tips/ideas would be really helpful. thanks

A. Add a picture of the area that you want to work on please, and I will tell you, One set up won't work in two different places.

describe how mature boulevard trees add curb appeal to residential neighborhoods?

Q. how do they work together with old homes and architecture to make a neighborhood 'appealing' to a homebuyer?

A. A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appealâthe view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing.
Trees add value to a home as well as being essential to a healthy community. The well-placed tree can:
Cut utility costs in half
Protect a home from wind
Cause people to spend more time outside
Act as a sound barrier/buffer
Add dimension to a home's landscape
Contribute to a lower rate of neighborhood crime,it's actually been proven that adding trees to a streetscape lowers crime!

Also, trees in front of an older home evoke a snese of nostalgia...summer days spent playing, the lemonade stand you were sure was going to make enough to buy that bike. They give a sense of the amount of time the house has been there, and the family that must have grown there. People want to feel that the home they are buying has a history, that it has been lived and loved in. Trees do this.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

The security light is on my 2001 buick regal LS wont start how do I fix this?

Q. I have a 2001 buick regal LS. I recently had to change the steering column out and now the care will not start. I am thinking its because the security light is on. Does anyone know how to reset the code to make the security light go off so the car will start? Or if maybe it could be something else?

A. Try this to reset the pass-lock security system.

This is free and all it takes is about 35 minutes of your time. If it doesn't work, all you are out is a little bit of your time.

First. make sure the battery is fully charged. If you have automatic headlights or daytime running lights disable them and it will help save your battery power. You should find instructions for this in your owner's manual. You could park the car in the sunlight which would not activate your head lights on most models.

Turn off all of the vehicle accessories. Roll down the windows. You roll down the windows just in case your doors lock while resetting your pass-lock security system.

Place the key in the ignition. Turn the key to the run position but don't start the engine. Don't use the accessories position as this will not work.

Leave the ignition in the on position for 10 minutes. At the 10 minute mark the security light will flash.

When the security light flashes turn the ignition off.

Wait a minute

Repeat these steps two more times. Do not start the engine or place the ignition in the accessories position or you will need to start over from the beginning.

After the third time of doing this your security system should be reset.

You say you changed the steering column. If this procedure does not work you may need to take the car to your nearest GM service department and get that "Great GM Feeling". If you did not install the original ignition switch with the new steering column it is very possible that the new ignition switch needs to be matched with the Pass Lock security system. This can only be done by a GM dealer because this process requires the use of a special scan tool connected to the diagnostic port. Most likely the only person that you will find with this scan tool is a GM dealer.

And no, the Pass Lock 2 security system can not be disabled. It is integrated into the car's computer systems and can not be bypassed or disabled.

What size wire would I need for a 450 foot run to my gate for a Mercury Vapor security light?

Q. Only going to run a SEcurity Light at the gate. Although may have an outlet, but it would not be used when the light is operational.

A. If you keep it at a Security light only...no outlet 12-2 with ground on a 20 amp breaker will work If you add an outlet for any reason then I would go wit 10-2 but keep it on a 20 amp breaker.

The security light is on in my car and the car wont start. BUICK?

Q. The security light is on in my car and the car wont start. Everything else seems ok, the radio and all lights work. Its just that the starter wont roll over. Its a Buick Lesabre 1998.

A. This is a common problem in GM vehicles. Gm has been putting an anti theft security system in cars since 1982. The system on your car is call VATS. The idea is that the ignition doesnt just use the key, but reads that little chip in your key also. The starter will not start until the theft deterrent module recieves the proper signal from your key/ignition. This prevents people hot wiring your vehicle and stealing it. The problem being that these system tend to get worn out or fail and then lock you out, thinking you are a theif. Your vehicle has gone into anti theft mode.

Luckily there are ways to beat this system now, and even to beat the system that came after VATS. The next failed system was called Passlock. It didnt work with a chip in the key, but rather a transponder in the key. We can beat those too. Check out this link for just about everything you need to know on the GM SECURITY LIGHT issue.

http://vatspasslockpasskeysecurityhelp.yolasite.com/

Remember for anybody else reading this. You can now fix many different makes yourself.
BUICK
CADILLAC
GMC
CHEVY
PONTIAC
OLDSMOBILE
ISUZU
SATURN

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Is there anything special I have to use to clean ceramic tile floors?

Q. We just had a house built and never had ceramic tiles in any houses before. Is there anything that keeps them looking good and not dull.

A. There are cleaners you can buy from specialist tile retailers. Also, unless you have very dark grout, it may be worthwhile buying a grout cleaner as well (or grout sealer, which stops stains penetrating). Bear in mind that the glaze of ceramic tiles does wear over time - the amount of wear depends on their rating (the hardness of the glaze).

How to letter on ceramic tiles?

Q. Our calligraphy guild would like to letter on ceramic tiles. What kind of paint should we use? What kind of sealer? We'd also like to do some kind of photo transfer process. Can we layer the two on the tile without it smearing? Should we seal with plain ol' polyurethane or use epoxy resin? Thanks!

A. Here are some good instructions
http://www.wallmurals123.com/how-to-paint-ceramic-tile.html

.

How long do ceramic tiles take to dry after washing?

Q. I heard that ceramic tiles absorb water and we have ceramic tile in the downstairs bedroom. After I wash the tile floor how long do I wait until I can move our dressers and furniture back on the tile? Because once I bring in the dressers I don't think the tiles will have a chance to dry because it is fully covered by the dressers, right?

A. Natural tile that is not sealed can take up to 24 hours to dry. I recently re sealed my tile floors, and had this same question. I called a few contractors, and asked some questions. If you are not putting down some type of sealer or something that requires it to be EXTREMELY dry, a few hours, or overnight is fine. If you want to speed up drying time, turn up the heat in the house, and put a box fan in the room to circulate air. Also, is there airflow under the dressers (do they have legs?). If so, you won't run into as many issues. Here's an article on sealing floors that has some cleaning info. too. Good luck!

http://hubpages.com/hub/Refinishing-a-Tile-Floor

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

Where can I find Commercial Lighting in Dallas, TX for a salon?

Q. We are building a salon and I was wondering if anyone knows where to buy commercial lighting in Dallas, TX. I would like to use those nice pendants and need to buy around 30 of them. Can lights are nice too. Thanks!

A. Call Direct Distributors at 817-581-1002
They are family owned and operated for over 20 years.

Commercial lighting fixtures - where to get reliable reviews?

Q. We are making a complete lighting plan for a new warehouse and we need a good site with reliable commercial lighting fixtures reviews. Any suggestions?

A. What kind of commercial lighting fixtures are you interested in? If you need a general review site, I would recommend http://www.commerciallightingfixtures.org/.

Does anyone know of a commercial lightset that can be raised on a flagpole to make it a Christmas tree?

Q. This is a 30' pole. I think that someone makes a commercial light "kit" that can be raised on the pole to make it look like a large Christmas tree at night.

A. Due to wind and tangeling the tree you want has to be secure.Here's what you have to do to make the tree, i use to do this for amusement parks in California. You have to make a small steel ring for the top and a larger steel ring for the bottom.Start at the center at bottom of large ring and pull up to small ring connecting each strand then towards the center again, then plug in to a power strip on the pole. Repeat with all strands, the rings must be secured to the pole either by cables or clamps. and to be safe a snorkle lift or cherry picker should be used for safty. Good luck

Powered by Yahoo! Answers