Decorating doesn’t have to be expensive. A few cost-effective tips from an expert can save time, money and frustration while giving your home a whole new feel.This weekend Russell Hemmis, experienced house flipper and well-known carpenter, will reveal some of those priceless hints at the Inland Empire Home Show in the Ontario Mills parking lot.

In a phone interview, Hemmis, seen on HGTV’s “24 Hour Design” and “Design on a Dime,” shared some of the money-saving topics he’ll be presenting.

“The biggest change you can make for the least amount of money is paint,” Hemmis said. “It can completely change a room and make your furniture pop.”

Hemmis likes to use good quality paint with a flat finish, usually from a national brand.

“Don’t go with cheap paint,” he said. “It doesn’t go on as well, and walls end up needing more coats of paint.”

Painting is a room change where the homeowner doesn’t have to play it safe.

“Avoid white,” he said. “Go looking for a nice color.”

Hemmis admits that choosing a color isn’t easy, but what might make it a little less stressful is perusing the designer samples. After choosing a designer color, be thrifty by matching it to a national brand paint.

A great way to revamp a bedroom is to replace the linens, Hemmis said.

“Change the duvet cover, get new pillow shams, add a bed skirt,” he continued. “You can get them at a discount store or on clearance, and it will make a big difference; completely change the mood of the room.”

Economical bathroom overhauls can include changing old knobs, towel bars, toilet paper holder, rugs, towels, shower curtain and counter accessories.

Flooring might be moving into a pricier area, but with modern laminates, it’s getting more affordable.

“They’re not only economical, they’re easy to put down and look great,” he said.

Forget the myth of years ago that the house needs to have the same wall-to-wall floor covering.

“You wouldn’t want green carpet down the hall leading into bright pink carpet in the bedroom, but the same flooring doesn’t have to run throughout the house,” Hemmis said. “You can mix carpeting with flooring.”

Before starting a project, Hemmis strongly suggests being prepared.

“A lot of people underestimate a project,” he said. “Know what you’re getting into. Things take longer than you think and usually cost more than you think.”

Measure things twice, make sure you have the right tools and materials. If there’s new furniture involved, think about the route it needs to take. Is the stairway wide enough? Can it fit through the door? Will the existing television fit on the new shelf?

A well-considered design plan is worth the time and effort.

No matter how great the end result, nothing kills the look of a room like clutter, Hemmis said.

“Simplify,” he said. “I walk into a new house every week, and too many times one of the biggest problems is too much stuff,” he said. “Take out what you don’t need and organize what you do. Rooms will feel larger and you’ll feel less stress.”

These ideas and so much more can be found at home shows. They are good places to learn about the latest tips, techniques and products for home improvement, Hemmis said.

“By attending shows you can pick up decorating concepts, designer ideas and how to incorporate your existing furniture into a new design,” he said. “There will be new innovations in home products, new tools that allow you to do a lot of simple projects yourself and save money.”

Source: http://www.sbsun.com/living/ci_10584435

Some people use the term “yoga pilates” to refer to a yoga or a Pilates exercise class, or to a unique class that combines elements of both activities. In fact, yoga and pilates are two distinct, though similar, forms of exercise. Both are easy on the joints, and they can improve your flexibility and strength. But Pilates is a form of exercise developed in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates as a way to build strength and prevent injuries, while yoga is a traditional exercise dating back thousands of years.

There’s no reason why you can’t practice both Pilates and yoga. When comparing Pilates vs. yoga, you’ll find that many of the exercises are similar. For example, pigeon pose (eka pada rajakapotasana), a yoga pose that opens the hips, can be found in Pilates routines. And yoga and Pilates also complement each other. Pilates has a slightly greater emphasis on core strength, and some people may find that they can build strength in Pilates that translates to an ability to reach more advances poses in yoga.

If you are curious about “yoga pilates” and there is not a class available in your area, check out a Pilates DVD. As with yoga, you can find Pilates workouts designed for specific medical conditions or parts of the body, such as the back or abs. If you are new to Pilates, check out the Pilates Beginning Mat Workout DVD. In this DVD, available from Gaiam, certified instructor Ana Caban explains the principles and correct form for Pilates exercises. And when you are ready to advance, check out the Pilates Intermediate Mat Workout DVD.

Source: http://yoga.lifetips.com/tip/147754/pilates/pilates/pair-your-yoga-with-pilates.html

Need to tone up or look slimmer? Pilates expert Lynne Robinson shows you how. This week: doing Pilates in the office

Pilates should not only be confined to your pilates sessions.

The principles of good posture and movement should be with you at all times – even in the office. The ‘Twister’ will stretch between the shoulder blades and help streamline your waist. The ‘Leg Worker’ does just what it says – works and shapes the legs.

Both these exercises incorporate the “zip” movement with which you should now be familiar. To recap: gently squeeze your back passage, bringing the feeling forward to your pubic bone. Then draw these muscles up inside until your lower abdomen feels hollow.

Twister

For this to work, you need to be sitting at your desk on a swivel chair. Sit tall, weight evenly balanced.

If feasible, rest your feet together on the legs of the chair, or use your abdominals to hold your feet together just off the floor. Hold the desk in front of you.

Breathe wide into the rib cage. Breathe out, zip gently, stay zipped. Keeping your upper body still and facing the front, rotate your lower body with the chair. Twist as far as you are comfortable, as long as your upper body remains squarely facing forwards.

Breathe in then slowly, with control, twist back to the starting position. Repeat five times each way, lengthening upwards through the spine.

The Leg Worker

In flat shoes or bare feet, stand tall – on a bottom step if possible – feet parallel and hip-width apart. Hold on to the handrail.

The balls of your feet should be on the step, the arches and the heels over the edge. If you don’t have a step, you won’t get the stretch, but you can still work the legs. Breathe normally throughout and remain gently zipped.

Bend both knees directly over your second toes, maintaining good posture. Do not tip forward or back.

Lift both heels so that you are now on the balls of your feet.

Keep your knees bent. Keep lengthening upwards – don’t stick your bottom out! Slowly straighten your legs, but stay on the balls of your feet.

Now lower your heels away from the top of your head until, if you are on a flat surface, they reach the floor, or, if you are on a step, they lower over the edge to stretch your calves.

Repeat the sequence 10 times.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2008/09/22/hpilates122.xml