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Those of us who work in the home construction and design industry tend to forget how many little things there are that go into the creation of a new home or a redesign. There are design elements that have to be decided upon, from the big picture such as the overall architectural style of the home, down to the simplest things such as the type of kitchen hardware or the balusters for the staircase or deck. Recently in helping some new friends with their home project I was reminded how much there is to take into consideration in even just one area as basic as staircase design.

5. Cleaning agent for crystal chandeliers - Cleaning crystal chandeliers may not be as easy as it sounds. You have to be really careful and hand-wash every individual crystal with a cleaning solution composed of 25% Isopropyl alcohol and 75% distilled water.SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICEI firmly believe that everything is better with food. So I like to spoil my guests with yummy treats. When visitors arrive, revive them with a coffee bar. Dress up your dining room buffet, kitchen island or a foyer console table with silver pitchers of steaming coffee and tea. Set out some interesting confections, like peppermint sticks dipped in dark chocolate.While your guests are resting after an exhausting day of touring, surprise them with a tempting spread of appetizers and drinks, set up in their room or on a table just outside its door.You want visitors to feel at home, not like intruders. One way to do this is to anticipate their needs. For instance, one of my guest rooms has a small writing desk next to the bed that I stock with a crystal pitcher filled with fresh water, a roll of stamps for correspondence and a china cup holding pens. A friend of mine often puts together welcome baskets for her guests, filling them with an itinerary of activities, key phone numbers, services they might need, a street map and pamphlets from interesting sites such as art museums.

Although these three tips may seem to oversimplify the process you are sitting in the middle of or are about to embark upon, by applying them over and over to all of your different home design decisions, particularly those you aren�t sure of, you�ll be able to focus your energy one step at a time and break down what might at times seem a daunting task. Your home is important and should reflect your style and desires. The project at hand may take time and energy, but the end result should and will be one you love and treasure for years to come, from the kitchen hardware to the iron balusters, if you just relax and take it step by step and enjoy the process as much as possible.

Author: Shawn Capell