Wood flooring in general has enjoyed a phenomenal re-surgence during the past decade, but the popularity of parquet floors has been uneven, at best. I’m not really sure why this is so, because parquet is a good value and for the do-it-yourselfer, a parquet floor is relatively easy to install. Some people are under the mistaken assumption that because parquet is thinner, it’s less durable than a strip or plank hardwood flooring. Actually, a 5/8-in, square-edged parquet floor has as much sandable wood as a 3/4-in. strip floor, whose tongues and grooves will be exposed when 1/4 in. of wood has been sanded away.

Parquet flooring is considered to be any kind of floor with a repeating geometric pattern. The pattern can be formed right on the floor by nailing down short strips, or it can consist of individual parquet tiles made up of many small pieces arranged in a decorative pattern. To hold the tiles together during handling and installation, the pieces are loosely bonded to a paper, cloth or plastic mesh backing or stitched together by a thin, soft metal or plastic spline threaded through a groove. This technique makes this type of hardwood floor installation much easier.

Parquet tiles are installed by gluing them individually to the subfloor or, if they are thick enough, by face, edge or blind nailing. Some parquet even has peel-off adhesive already attached to a foam backing that provides thermal and sound insulation.

Standard parquet thicknesses are 5/16 in. and 3/4 in. Common tiles sizes are 9×9, 11×11, 12×12 and 19×19. The size and pattern are, of course, a matter of personal preference. Unless the pattern my client wants is available only in 9/16 in. or 3/4 in., I’ll use 5/16 in. Parquet in general is a good choice where moisture is liable to be a problem, because there’s no consistent cross-grain expansion. Thin parquet is even better, because it expands less forcefully than thicker wood.

A word of warning: There are few grading standards for parquet. Pattern styles and names change from one manufacturer to the next - one mill’s Mt. Vernon might be another’s Swirl. Make sure that you see a sample of the parquet you want from the company you’ll be buying it from. Buy enough flooring to complete the job (plus a little extra) so you won’t run into problems with variation between lots. And believe me, there will be lots of variation.

Most parquet made of oak is manufactured in the United States. If you canvass a few suppliers, however, you’ll be able to locate walnut parquet and special order other species. Most common patterns can be found in teak, rosewood and other exotic species. If you are looking for something really exotic, you can special order your own pattern in any species you like. Bring a blank check and hide your eyes, though. If you have to ask how much the bill will be, you can’t afford it.

Are you finding shopping for the right baby pushchairs to be too confusing? Do you dread the idea of walking into a baby supply store and having to deal with insistent salespeople? Many new parents feel overwhelmed when trying to shop for the right baby equipment to suit their baby’s needs. You get so many different opinions on so many different items from so many different places; it is hard to know who to trust. Thankfully there are plenty of tips available to help you make your decision about buying your baby’s pushchair with confidence. Here are some tips to help make shopping for your baby needs much more fun.

If your friends have kids, ask them about strollers. Even though your needs might (and probably will) be different from theirs, there is no reason you can’t pump them for information on the products that they have purchased for their children. While you are talking to them, find out why exactly they chose the stroller they did, and what other ones they considered. Ask them why they decided against other models. If you have a certain pushchair in mind, ask people you know whether any of them has used it and if so what they thought of it. There is hardly an end to the information you can get from other parents!

Durability and flexibility are big concerns if you want a pushchair that your child can use for years. It is a hindrance for some people to purchase different baby strollers tat will fit a growing child. If you can’t afford or don’t want to buy multiple sized baby strollers then you do have another option. A convertible pushchair is the answer to your child outgrowing conventional strollers.

This will save you a lot of money in the long run-especially if the stroller you choose is sturdily built. You can usually also find pushchairs that will accommodate and fit around your car seat, which can save you from yet another expensive and overwhelming purchase.

Safety should be the top priority when choosing a pushchair. You can avoid a faulty product by spending a few minutes confirming that there aren’t any bad reports on it. This means that you have to look out for things like sharp edges, removable parts and how sturdily the pushchair will be put together. Just because the manufacturer says that their product is the safest on the market doesn’t mean it’s true. Safety always comes first. The good news is that there are lot’s of safe products on the market and they aren’t hard to identify. Every parent has different criteria by which he or she chooses the baby’s pushchair. You might need one that is better suited for long walks, while another parent needs something that is good for car owners. You should imagine having your pushchair and visualize the things you would like to be able to do with it. With a short checklist and a little research you can make a very smart purchase.

Dubbed the ‘couturiers’ couturier’, Cristobal Balenciaga was one of the most highly respected haute couture designers of all time. A prolific designer, whose career spanned a period of over 35 years, he is credited with creating every major fashion silhouette during that time. His big and tall mens clothing fashions appeared regularly on the front pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar magazines.

Having trained as a tailor in San Sebastian, Spain, Balenciaga was able to apply his skill in creating simple, elegant and sophisticated forms of big mens clothing. His greatest talent was an ability to mould garments into sculptural shapes. He also elaborately beaded or embroidered the surface of his fabrics, so that the sumptuous fabrics were highlighted by magnificent surface textures, an art that welcomed revival following the depression years.

Balenciaga opened his Paris salon on Avenue George V in August, 1937, just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. It is, perhaps, for this reason that he is better known for his late 1940s and 1950s work. His clientele included the rich and famous, as well as members of royalty. Among them were Pauline de Rothschild, Mona von Bismarck and Jackie Kennedy. His favourite models were ‘Colette’ and ‘Bettina, middle-aged brunettes whose figures and coloring were similar to those of his best clients. Balenciaga’s astute business acumen and his genius for exquisite design ensured a very successful couturier career.

He chose fabrics that were naturally stiff, such as taffeta, velvet and layers of organdie, as they held their shape and complemented the defined forms of his garments, including his famous black ‘Pumpkin or ‘Balloon dress of 1950, his white organdie ‘Flamenco’ dress and his black and white ‘Fishtail’ dress, both designed in 1951 - and later his range of big and tall shirts.

While the dominant color for evening wear in the 1950s was black, daytime colors included brownish-red, yellow ochre, turquoise blue and mauve - the colors of his native homeland, Spain. It is significant that they also became the signature colors of the 1950s fashion period, and indicative of the influence that he had over fashion at that time.

Balenciaga’s clothing often referenced both historical and non-European cultural garments, drawing upon past fashion styles. Inspirations included the sixteenth-century farthingale skirts seen in paintings by the Spanish master Diego Velasquez and eighteenth-century flowing coats depicted by the French rococo painter Jean-Antoine
Watteau.

In the early 1950s, Balenciaga’s work reflected an oriental influence with mounted collars and three-quarter ‘kimono’ sleeves. He transformed the silhouette by broadening the shoulders and letting out the seams, thereby removing the waist, making this ’semi-fit’ styling very fashionable. These loose, unfitted garments became, by 1957, the prototype for the kite-shaped ’sack’ dresses made famous by his disciple, Hubert de Givenchy.

Expertly constructed, lavish and profoundly romantic, Balenciaga’s clothing characterizes the best of haute couture. His work is now part of the collection of every major art museum in the world and his fashion house, following his retirement in 1968, became part of the Gucci group with Nicolas Ghesquiere appointed as head designer.

What is superficial liposuction?

Superficial liposuction refers to a procedure using smaller cannulas and is done by working higher up in the fatty compartment, near the skin level. The aim is to shape some of me muscular folds better, as well as get a more desirable overall effect. But if the surgeon goes too far, the procedure can cause complications such as scars or permanent changes in the skin texture. So it has to be done very carefully.

What is ultrasonic liposuction?

Ultrasonic liposuction is liposuction using a special instrument to heat up and liquefy the fat with ultrasonic energy so the fat can be more easily removed. The instrument used to do this can be used before or at the same time the fat removal is being performed. This technique is difficult to master.

Remember that surgeons are using a very hot instrument, so there is a risk of bums if it is not used correctly. Ultrasonic liposuction requires constant arm movements, and the surgeon cannot stop and rest in one position. The number of surgeons currently using this technique has decreased over the last several years.

What is powered tumescent liposuction?

Powered liposuction often uses the tumescent technique. It involves a cannula that is moved not only by the surgeon’s arms, but also has its own to-and-fro motion, which goes back and forth many times per second. This allows for greater removal of fat. Because the motion does not depend on the surgeon alone, it makes it easier on the surgeon’s arms when working in certain areas such as the neck, where there is limited access, or around the belly button, where there is often a tendency for fat to remain.

Because powered liposuction allows the cannula to go back and forth so quickly, it is easier to get fat out of these more difficult areas of the body.

Is liposuction expensive?

Remember that liposuction is a surgical procedure, so it usually runs in the thousands of dollars. Of course, fees vary according to such factors as where you live, who is doing your surgery, what procedures you undergo, how much fat has to be removed, and whether there is a lot of fibrous fat rather than soft fat. All these elements can have an effect on the price, which can vary from less than $2,000 to $6,000 or $8,000 and sometimes more.

Does insurance ever cover the cost of liposuction?

No, not that I’m aware.

What is the general rate of patient satisfaction?

A recent survey by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) found that among a group of patients who responded to a questionnaire six months after liposuction, 84 percent had a high level of satisfaction. Just take a look at any of the many liposuction before and after photos to get an idea of why people are generally very happy with the procedure.