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The 20 Most Expensive Homes For Sale In California

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Despite the collapse of real estate prices in parts of California, some homes in the Golden State are still on the market for mindblowing amounts.

We've compiled a list of the most expensive homes for sale in California from sources including Sotheby's International Realty, Christie's Real Estate, Realtor.com, Redfin, Trulia, and local luxury real estate agencies.

Meredith Galante



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Choosing Between Roman or Roller Blinds


By
Hunter Douglas Designer Roller Shades

Having blinds for your property is a great move in a vast majority of cases. Blinds give you many advantages over other kinds of curtains and shade, and this is largely because they are so versatile. The main great advantage of using blinds is that they give you a huge number of different 'settings' that can let in variable amounts of light. In other words you can opt to have your blinds completely open and let in a lot of light, you can decide to have your blinds partially open and to let in half the light you want, or you can opt to have the blinds drawn and shut out all the light. If you have netting behind them then this will give you even more options and allow you to have combinations of blinds and netting at various levels.

However even once you've decided that blinds might be right for you, there is still then the matter of choosing what kind of blinds you need. On the one hand you can choose 'roller blinds' and on the other you can choose to install 'Roman blinds' - but what's the difference?

Essentially roller blinds work on a kind of wheel - this allows you to roll the blind up so that it wraps around the reel at the top and thereby removes itself from your window and lets in the light. On the other hand, if you use Roman blinds then this will mean that the blinds fold themselves up as you pull the chord and that way disappear. When you pull up Roman blinds they will almost seem to 'crumple' in a pattern and this will have a similar effect.

Choosing between the two largely comes down to preference and there is little difference between them other than aesthetics. One thing that is worth bearing in mind however is that Roman blinds will not be able to be opened quite as wide (or more accurately 'tall') as roller blinds. This is because they have crumpled up at the top, but will likely still be too thick and thereby cover a small portion of the top of your window.

At the same time you might find that Roman blinds bulge out a little farther than roller blinds, meaning that they will need more space on the windowsill in order to work. They do however have the pleasant bonus of being quite aesthetically pleasing and perhaps a little more interesting to look at than the ore flat-looking roller blinds. This does make Roman blinds slightly more suited to perhaps a slightly more ornate or 'traditional' looking property, whereas roller blinds are possibly better suited to more modern flats and apartments.

Ultimately this decision is likely to come down less to whether you want Roman or roller blinds, and more to whether the pattern you want is available in that particular style. If you choose based on the pattern you like then you will find that for most uses it doesn't make too much difference whether the blinds are roller blinds or Roman blinds.

Both roller blinds and roman blinds are effective at blocking light and the view. In some cases though, you can get a more stylish look with roman blinds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_C_Denham


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How to Decorate for Day to Day Living


By
Expert Author Autumn Lockwood


The greatest decorating ideas and themes will not work if you fail to take into account your family and how it functions at your house. You need to consider the everyday wear that will be put on all of your furnishings if you've got little kids. There are some obvious choices that should be made, such as chenille rather than silk. Also, darker colors, or at least medium tones, would be wiser choices than lighter ones as they are more "family friendly" than, say, white.

Floor coverings also must be considered. Even if you might like the style and texture of a rustic sisal rug, you'll soon realize that it isn't very friendly to the sensitive knees of crawling babies. If you choose to go with carpeting, then it's worth investing a little extra cash for stain-resistant carpets to protect against grime, spilled drinks, and other mishaps that kids and pets may bring about.

Needless to say, if you don't have any kids or you live by yourself, you can pick any luxuries you would like, from expensive fabrics to marble flooring. The important thing is to always consider your tastes and preferences in combination with how and who will be dwelling in the house, as well.

Making Redecorating Decisions
When it comes to decorating, there really are no hard and fast regulations, just guidelines that will help your space to look put together and coordinating. The options available for decorating may be intimidating since there are so many, both online and off.

If you are not really sure exactly what your specific tastes are, then it might help you to go through a few magazines and locate some pictures of rooms that really grab your interest. Your room doesn't have to look exactly like the room in your picture- just find a few things that you like from different rooms now and then, and incorporate those aspects into your room.

Make Yourself a Room with Harmony
For a room's layout to be harmonious there ought to be some sort of unifying theme that runs throughout it that will help to blend it all together. When you have got that, you have harmony. Maybe you want to have the simple theme of "family", which may include small details like photos of your family in special family picture frames, and big things like comfy furniture.

One method for making sure your room is unified is to make sure the scale is proportionate. You would not want to use low seating in a room with vaulted ceilings, nor would a large bulky armoire look right in a room with standard height ceilings. The fabrics you include are important to consider as well. Chenille may be a great choice for the couch, but would probably look out of place on a vintage Louis XVI chairs.

The colors you use are another very significant thing to consider in the design of your room. Try to avoid using an excessive number of colors in your room, perhaps two or so, and patterns should be used only when they connect with the theme. Think about putting together an outfit and use the same "rules" when selecting shades and patterns for your space.

Using Accessories and Art in Your Design
In the very same way that you pick fun jewelry to help make your outfit really great, you should choose the ideal accessories to add that extra zest to your room that will make it really great. You can grace the walls with serious artwork in simple black picture frames if you are more traditional, or use more fun and funky accessories and picture frames - how about lavish decorative picture frames - if your approach is more fun and whimsical.

Your artwork and accessories don't have to be from the same time period; oftentimes it is much more intriguing to mix new and old accents - fine objects with flea market objects, new purchases with a few hand-me-downs.

You can even change the feel of your room every so often by simply rearranging your furniture and accents. "Shop" for accessories and artwork - even furniture - in your own house; simply moving one or two or more items from one area to another may be all it takes to revise your room. You may be surprised by the number of new treasures you discover that you had forgotten about, or just weren't noticed in its previous room.
You will find that when you put these tips into action, decorating can actually be not only fun but also practical and efficient.

Autumn Lockwood writes for Your Picture Frames. Looking for decorative picture frames for your home? Take a look at our website and explore our assortment of modern picture frames and other frames that we offer. Come see our contemporary bamboo picture frames now or give us a call at 800-780-0699.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Autumn_Lockwood



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(951) 924-9435


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Are Custom Wood Blinds Really Worth the Money?



Lillee McLoflin



Graber Wood Blinds
Changing out that dull drapery and putting in wood blinds is one of the simplest ways to add class and the look of elegance to any room. And with all the different types available, wood blinds can bring in a look of quality that other kinds of window treatments simply can’t do. You will be able to match any decor and make it look better by just adding wood blinds.

Taking down the drapes and putting up wood blinds also makes a lot of sense. To start with, the wood blinds keep the focus on the windows and gives the room a neater, classier feel that those bulky drapes don’t provide. Next, blinds are much easier to clean, thereby making them much simpler to maintain. Instead of having to fight with the vacuum cleaner and all those attachments to clean those pesky drapes of all the dust, you simply run a duster over the blinds and, voila, you are finished.

One of the best advantages with getting wood blinds, they can actually help you save money on the power bill. They help block out the cold and trap the heat inside to help keep the room warm during the cold winter months. And during the summer, they can keep the room cooler by blocking out the heat. So by helping you save money on your bills, they will actually be paying for themselves all year round.

You won’t be limited to the kind of wood blinds you can get either with them coming in different slat sizes. Thinner slats look great in a smaller room, while larger ones look better in a bigger, more open one. With wider slats, you control how the light is coming into the room and you get more light with the thinner slats. Closed or open, no matter which one you choose for your room, they will look fantastic.

When it comes time to update the look of your living room, den, office, kitchen or even the bathrooms, wood blinds are a great choice especially with all the reasons for having them, how great they will look, a lower power bill and how easy they are to clean and maintain. All you have to do is choose the best ones that will give your room the “wow” you want. You’ll be amazed at all the great choices of blinds available.

Adding wood blinds to your windows can be a great way to update any room in your house. The first thing Lillee McLoflin looked at when she wanted to add a bit of pizzazz to her room was seeing how using custom wood, mini or vertical blinds would help.



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Quality Blinds, Shutters, & Shades
Proudly Serving Southern California since 1994
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Why Select Wood Shutters?


Dressing your home’s windows is a very personal thing. The way you live contributes to the type of window dressings you select. For instance, someone who spends a lot of time outdoors would choose no window dressings or very versatile window dressings that allow for the entrance of light and air. You may enjoy having the flow of natural ventilation through your home and the heat that natural sun beams generate inside the home. Wood shutters are actually perfect for the person who likes to commune with nature all day long.

Many people are beginning to use wood as an affordable way to make their home more beautiful. Of course, we do not want to worry about destroying the environment in order to make our home more beautiful. Instead, we should find out whether or not the shutters that we are purchasing are made from real wood or a substitute.

Wood has a natural appeal. It is very strong and comes in various finishes as well. So this type of treatment is suitable for all kinds of home decor be it modern or traditional. You will be able to achieve the right kind of look by using the matching shades.

The look of a room with wood shutters is clean and crisp with traditional wood panels covering the windows. The shutters can be dark wood, or light wood and all shades in between. The shutters can be painted to be colored coordinated to match your dcor. If you don’t like shutters that open on the top or bottom, you can always choose plantation shutters which are one paneled shutters that fit the entire length of the window for a simpler look. You’ll have only one panel to adjust and when you want the panel completely open, open the panel like a door and let the sunlight and air into your home.

Another benefit is that you can even paint the shutters according to the colors you need to match. You need to take care of these shutters very carefully. If they are subject to moisture they may warp or expand. They may also fade when exposed to the sunlight for a long time. By using wood shutters on your windows you can be assured of safety. Try to use good quality wood if you want the shutters to last longer. Also, take care of them well for increasing the life span and functionality.



Blinds 4 Less

Quality Blinds, Shutters, & Shades
Proudly Serving Southern California since 1994
Free In-Home Shopping
(951) 924-9435



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