Take a Tip From Leap Years Past, be the Queen of Your Castle

MOORESVILLE, N.C., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away, a law was passed stating a woman was permitted to propose marriage to a man only on a leap day. The decree allowed ladies of yore to drown the rules of courtship in their moats, but, alas, only for a day. Soon after, princesses, peasants and parlor maids alike began using February 29 as a day to leap over all customs, and a new tradition of defying antiquated practices was born.

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Today, women don't wait every four years to take the dragon by the horns. The modern woman, whether living with a significant other or by herself, takes on historically princely roles everyday. Lowe's suggests taking a cue from damsels of the past. Use your extra day to spruce up your palace for the spring months ahead and make your fairy godmother proud. These top home improvement projects from Lowe's are a perfect way to get a leap on home improvement.

Projects for Your Kitchen

Whether you yearn for an old-world kitchen or your tastes run more modern, there's nothing like a kitchen that's both inviting and super functional. To brighten up a drab space, paint an accent wall with a bright color of Valspar paint from Lowe's, illuminate decorative dishes or precious glass pieces with under-cabinet lighting and give your floor a lift with self-adhesive vinyl flooring.

Functionality is always in style, so organize your pots and pans with in-cabinet systems and replace an outdated appliance with an energy efficient ENERGY STAR one.

Projects for Your Bedroom

To transform your uninspired bedroom to a romantic boudoir, cover your window with a delicate sheer, warm up the space with an elaborate rug and install the Lutron Lumea Dimmer Switch (Item #239660, $24.96) to set the mood and save energy.

Create some additional drama by using a mantle shelf to make a customized headboard to fit any size bed.

Projects for the Backyard

Get the backyard out of the medieval times with attractive updates and new technology. Add seasonal color with container gardening and cheer up the space with decorative landscape lighting. Then you can invite your royal subjects over for an entertaining evening of grilling on the Char-Broil Quantum Infrared Gas Grill (Item #271572, $499).

Be sure to keep the yard tidy by cleaning out your gutters regularly and installing gutter guards.

Projects for the Bathroom

Turn a neglected bathhouse into a beautiful sanctuary. Regrout tarnished tiles for a fresh update, give yourself extra space in the shower by installing a curved shower rod, and put in grab bars to make getting into the tub or shower easier. Build your own bath "mirror, mirror on the wall" to match your style; all you need is an unframed mirror, plywood and decorative moulding.

Reduce your water usage with the TWI International Watersaver Showerhead (Item #24430, $5.77).

Projects Around the House

Protect your castle against evil foes like energy wasters, germs and fire without raising the drawbridge. Replace your old-fashioned light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones which save energy and last up to seven years, keep the hard surfaces in your home healthy with Clorox(R) Fresh Scent Wipes (Item #76832, $4.88), and install a smoke, fire and carbon monoxide alarm to stay safe from dangers

To guard against lackluster style, paint all the trim in your house for a fresh, clean look

For more project ideas to do on your extra day, visit your local Lowe's or Lowes.com.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2006 sales of $46.9 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 13 million customers a week at more than 1,525 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.