(NAPSI) – Decorating windows can be a daunting task. For ways to turn your house into a home, note these answers to the most common window dressing dilemmas:

Q. How do I measure for my curtains or drapes?

A. Purchase panels that measure 2½ times the width of the window. For added full-ness, use three times the width. The bottom edge of your curtain or drape should fall to the windowsill, below the sill or to the floor. Leave about ½” of clearance if you opt for floor length.

Q. How do I know what size curtain rod to get?

A. Measure the window width – this is the most important step in buying curtain rods. After measuring the width from casing to casing, add two to five inches depend-ing on how much of the wall you want to cover. Additionally, you should consider fabric weight. The type of curtain rod you buy depends on the weight of the treatment because the heavier the curtain fabric, the more substantial the rod needs to be.

Q. How do I select a curtain style?

A. Think about the function of the room and decide whether you want a formal, semi-formal or casual look. Formal window treatments, found in dining rooms and living rooms, are usually layered and made from heavy fabrics. Scarf treatments or valances create a semiformal or casual look.

Q. How do I select a curtain fabric?

A. Determine what your needs are for a particular room, what types of fabric you prefer and if you want lined or unlined curtains. Fabrics like velvet and heavier cot-tons can provide energy-saving and room-darkening benefits without sacrificing style. Sheer fabrics let light in and create a softer look.

Q. How do I choose what color curtain to purchase?

A. Try matching the color of your curtains to the other most represented color in the room, such as walls, floors or bedding. If your walls are neutral, bring in a little warmth by adding a pop of color.

Q. Where can I find the highest-quality curtains for the best price?

A. Many clever consumers turn to www.Curtainworks.com, which offers a complete line of curtains retailing for about $25 to $75. The website also features guides on how to measure, decorate and complete a variety of looks.

Window decorating 101

(NAPSI) – Make your ordinary kitchen look extraordinary with these simple lighting changes.

1. Install dimmers. This allows you to adjust light levels, create drama, reduce energy costs and extend bulb life.

2. Install a new island light, rail system or multiple minipendants over the coun-ter or island. There are many spectacular design options that can really add new life to your kitchen. It’s like jewelry for the home!

3. If you have recessed lighting, up-dating the trims and bulbs can have a big impact on the lighting effect in your

kitchen. 4. Installing linear light sources under

and over your cabinets as well as under toe kicks along the floor can make the kitchen appear bigger and make your backsplash, counters and floors really pop!

5. Selecting just the right chandelier or a decorative ceiling fan with a light for the kitchen table can add the final ele-ment to a well-thought-out lighting plan for your new or old kitchen.

To learn more about how lighting can illuminate and accentuate your home, visit www.1-800Lighting.com.

Lighting brings new life to kitchen

When the kids grow and move on it can be somewhat bittersweet. Being left with va-cated rooms – especially ones still decked out in children’s decor – can cause the house to feel more empty than it has to be. Now is the time to turn those empty rooms into adult spaces. Don’t feel guilty about taking down band posters and packing away Little League baseball caps. Chances are the children made good use of their rooms and now it’s time for the adults to reclaim the spaces for their very own.

With a few fixes, the room can be a man’s space, a woman’s retreat, or a room both can enjoy. Because the room will reflect the adult homeowners’ interests, it should be designed with their needs in mind. Comfortable furniture and items that please the residents should be incorporated.

Lighting should be used to set the mood. If the room will be used for television watching, have dimmer switches so that the brightness can be tuned down. For read-ing or office work, have overhead lights and task lighting, such as a desk lamp.

For the “man cave” the room can reflect interests, such as sports or fishing, but be decorated in a subtle way to complement the rest of the home’s decor. For example, if a guy likes a sports team, he can paint the walls in a subdued shade of the team colors instead of hanging pennants or player jerseys on the walls.

Converting that empty nest

3003 110th Street – Cooper Ridge

Featured Floorplan – dan Hines ConstruCtion

Dan Hines Construction proudly offers this beautiful 3 bed-room, 2 bath, 2 car garage home in Cooper Ridge. This beautiful home, sponsored by the West Texas Home Builders Association in cooperation with the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, is approxi-mately 2,050 square feet and is located at 3003 110th in the very conveniently located Cooper Ridge. Entering its fourth phase and located off of 110th and Indiana, Cooper Ridge is one of Lubbock’s most appealing neighborhoods in Cooper School District.

With its flared gables, stone accents and rustic shutters, it’s hard not to notice the unique front elevation of this home. Take a walk through the Texas Hill Country and you just might see a home like this. Its tall stone column and towering front porch make the elevation quite appealing. Already equipped with sprin-kler system, yard and fence, this home is ready for your family.

The entry boasts hand-scraped hardwood with an art niche and a 12-foot ceiling with a unique double-box. The large living room has a massive floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace with rough cedar mantle. The kitchen will blow your mind! This kitchen is huge with amazing cabinetry normally only found in homes much more expensive. Granite countertops, a large island with seating, stain-less sink, oil-bronze faucet, and computer nook round out this unbelievable kitchen. You really have to see it! Wide open to the living room, this house was designed to keep the family connected and is a great room for entertaining, too. Shut the door to the iso-lated laundry room and you don’t have to worry about the mess.

The bedrooms of this home are large and convenient. The big isolated master has a tall double-box ceiling. Enter through double doors to the bath and you’ll be greeted by a warm, elegant master bath with barrel ceiling, jetted tub, framed mirror, and decorative tile. Spacious vanity and large walk-in closet make it wonderfully functional as well as beautiful. The other two bed-rooms are located on the other side of the home with a bath with tons of storage. Each room has ample closets with built-ins and lots of hanging space.

Other features of this home that come standard with every Dan Hines Construction home are crown molding, can lighting, fiber-glass wall insulation, high efficiency air conditioning, upgraded plumbing and electrical fixtures, and re-circulating hot water. An extra bonus – it has the 50 year, Class 4 roof at no extra cost!

At $205,000, this home is ready for your family and is available for showing anytime by appointment with Dan at 548-8047.