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Home decorating is one of the keys to making the most out of a home. Do it right and you can turn a pedestrian home into a castle.

Really good interior designers interview family members prior to making a plan and recommendations for changes in a home’s interior design and decoration. You and your family can benefit if you take the same approach when you’re in a do it yourself mode. It doesn’t matter whether you are moving to a new home and have a big project or are just freshening up one room. Family interviews are the place to start.

What Activities Need to be Accommodated?

Large project or small, begin by figuring out how your family is going to use the space. Let’s assume we’re talking about a whole house. Meet with each family member and ask them how they feel about an array of things. Don’t forget to answer for yourself, too.

Consider the following issues with family members:

1. Will reading be a popular activity?

2. TV and movie viewing?

3. Playing electronic games?

4. Computer use for homework or business?

5. Sleepovers for the younger generation?

6. Sewing?

7. Furniture refinishing?

8. Carpentry and wood working projects?

9. Dinner parties?

10. Is there something new a family member would like to try if there were a decent spot for it? (I do hope your son doesn’t tell you he’d like to learn to play the drums! The violin was bad enough.)

11. Will the activities be done by someone alone or will a group be involved?

12. Do you or your husband need to be nearby to oversee the activity?

13. Is having it occur within view of (or out of site of) something else important?

Obviously, there are going to be unique questions per the circumstances of your family. If you make a list and ask appropriate questions, the improvements on your home will lead to happy family living.

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our “sell my home” page at http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to sell your own home yourself with a free 1 month listing.

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Adding a ceiling medallion is the easiest thing you can do to change the look and feel of any room in your home. Installing small ceiling medallions, up to approximately 24 inches or so, is a simple job for the average home handyman. As long as you are comfortable with changing a light fixture you should have no problem. If you are uncomfortable with removing your fixture take a look at installing a 2-piece ceiling medallion.

Safety is so important we would like to address it briefly. Always follow approved safety practices. Use hearing and eye protection. When you need to use a dust mask or respirator, be sure to use the right one for the job. Last, but not least, when working in electrical boxes, always make sure the power is turned off.

Plan the Installation-Before You Order

This is probably the most neglected step in any installation, but the most important. It is what makes the difference between a quick and efficient installation or massive frustration and numerous interruptions to run to the hardware store. The first step is to select the ceiling medallion you want to use. If you are using it in conjunction with a light fixture or a ceiling fan, you should note whether the ceiling medallion’s center hole matches the fixture’s trim. If they don’t match you will also need to order a ceiling medallion center or a new fixture trim ring. Now is also a good time to see if the lighting fixture hardware is going to be long enough. Check the building code to make sure that there are no conflicts with your installation plans. In case of conflict, always follow local building codes. NOTE: Most building codes require you to leave access to the electrical box. Using a ceiling medallion with a 3.5-4 inch center hole provides this. Permanently mount the ceiling medallion to the ceiling and use either the fixture’s trim ring or a removable ceiling medallion center to cover the electrical box. Also, make sure that the existing electrical, plumbing and framing will not interfere with your installation.

Order Materials

Now that you have planned your installation, its time to order your materials. When you order your ceiling medallion, don’t forget to order the ceiling medallion center, if you are going to be using one. Order construction adhesive, caulk, fasteners and extra length light fixture hardware. Order your hardware with your ceiling medallion and save yourself a trip to the store.

Assemble Materials

Before you start, assemble all the materials near where you are going to install the ceiling medallion. Double check to see that you have everything you need before you start. Now is the time to prefinish the ceiling medallion if you want to. If you plan on doing anything more than just painting it flat white, prefinishing is recommended.

Remove Existing Fixture

TURN OFF POWER !!! Turn off electrical power at the breaker box and mark the circuit breaker so someone doesn’t accidentally turn it on while you are working. Now you can safely remove the existing fixture.

Layout

We recommend having the product on hand to ensure exact measurements. Layout the area on the ceiling where you want to mount your ceiling medallion. For a small ceiling medallion, you should be able to hold it up with one hand while tracing around it with a pencil. Larger ceiling medallions may require an assistant. If you need to orient a round ceiling medallion use a single register mark at the junction of the ceiling/medallion. Mark both pieces. For oval and diamond shaped ceiling medallions, start by drawing centerlines parallel to the walls and 90 degrees apart on the ceiling. Then make register marks 90 degrees apart on the perimeter of the ceiling medallion. Locate and mark ceiling joists on the ceiling and on the medallion if you are using screws to mount (required on all plaster ceiling medallions and also on polyurethane ceiling medallions over 20 inches). Mark and/or protect wiring and plumbing if necessary to avoid fasteners penetrating them during installation.

Drill

Drill and countersink (1/8 inch deep max.) screw holes for mounting screws. Also, drill the center hole or ceiling medallion’s center hole if necessary. If you don’t have a hole saw of the proper size, polyurethane is easily cut with a razor knife.

Apply Adhesive

Apply adhesive according to the adhesive manufacturer’s directions. Small ceiling medallions may be installed using only adhesive. Temporary clamps or fasteners may still be necessary until the adhesive sets.

Fasten

Fasten the ceiling medallion to the ceiling using coated screws in the predrilled countersunk holes. If you are unable to screw directly into the ceiling joists, the use of toggle bolts is permitted. Ceiling medallions over 20 inches in diameter and all plaster ceiling medallions require mechanical fastening.

Finish up

After the adhesive has dried, usually 24 hours, caulk the perimeter ( if needed ). Use no-shrink spackle, joint compound or plaster to patch screw holes. Feather edge or sand repairs and touch up paint. Hang up your fixture and you are done.

One final step: sit back and enjoy the simple beauty you have created.

copyright 2005 goceilingmedallion.com

Patricia Tomaskovic is the owner of http://www.goceilingmedallion.com. Copyright2005. Visit us soon and register for the monthly drawing. We look forward to serving you.

We are an on-line store offering home decorating products, specializing in ceiling medallions and crown molding, as well as numerous other decorative ceiling items, including tools and supplies for creating your own custom ceilings.

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There is a particular paneling style that works best for different types of decor. You can choose from rustic boards, frame-and-panel designs with or without moulding, and elaborate raised panels. In terms of material, paneling can be made from fine hardwoods or inexpensive pine while finishes may be either clear, painted, stained or coated with a wide variety of decorative choices.

There are two types of paneling sold in the market today: sheets and boards. Sheets are typically 4 feet by 8 feet while boards come in widths ranging from 3 and 10 inches and thickness ranging from 3/8 to 7/8 inch thick. Most boards are usually between 1/2 and 3/4 inch thick.

The first step in paneling is to place your materials in the room where they will be installed for two to five days. This will help the paneling wood adjust to the room’s humidity level and eliminate any shrinkage or expansion problems once the panels are secured to the wall.

The next step is preparing the wall. If the wall has a finished wood-frame, you may be able to attach the board panel through the wallboard or plaster to the wall studs. If it does not have a finished wood frame, you will have to attach furring strips to the studs as a base for securing the panels. Make sure the furring strips are plumb and flat so that the sliding will sit evenly and be flat against the wall.

Before installing the paneling, cut each panel 1/4 inch shorter than the distance from the floor to the ceiling. Apply adhesive then start by positioning the panel on the wall, leaving a 1/4 inch space at the bottom, then driving the four nails partway into the wall. Once done, pull the bottom edge of the panel about six inches from the wall. push a block behind the sheet and wait for the adhesive to take hold. Then remove the block, press the panel firmly into place by using a rubber mallet. You can now drive the top-edge nails all the way in and nail the bottom of the panel. Cover the nail heads and the 1/4 inch gap at the bottom with moulding.

Do the same thing with the rest of the panels until all the walls are done.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including
Home Improvement, Real Estate, and Business

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