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Using these Home Improvement Tips Can Save You Real Money

January 21, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Everybody wants there house to look good and so we all try to renovate the house whenever we feel we need some changes. But sometimes we also leave to take care of very small details which create problems later on. Hiring someone can be expensive and not all can afford it. But even you can do it yourself; you just need to know the basic ideas and tips to get you going.

Many people tend to ignore the kitchen while arranging the house but know that this is the place where you spend a lot of time cooking for your loved ones and sharing food with them. It is no longer just a cooking place but a room to spend time and catch up with family and friends. Having an interesting kitchen and a good atmosphere will not make those cooking session boring but you will love spending time there. Kitchens have evolved based on the needs and demands of the family .There are some areas in the kitchen you need to pay attention to like the appliances. Traditional stoves have now been replaced and now you would find wonderful and sleek electrical stove placed handsomely in the kitchens which not only enhances the whole look of the kitchen but also saves you time when you cook. Cookers, fridges, freezers and dishwashers are now equipped with so many features, once again making us aware of the advancement in technology. Pay attention to the furniture you use .Today; appearance is just as important as functionality.

You should also be careful while choosing the right paint for your house. Pay attention to the quality, never compromise on quality with price. You surely do not want to regret using cheap ones while trying to save some money. Its not that only big brand names make good quality paints. Quality is determined by the grade and type of pigments, resins, and how much water is in the can. While choosing you interior paints you can go for enamels as they are less likely to be damaged by cleaning than are most flat latex paints. They come in high gloss, semi-gloss, satin or eggshell which is a hand rubbed look with a very slight sheen finish, not a color. For exterior application, the selection of coatings available is quite extensive .You can ask your paint supplier to advise you on which product is the best for a specific application.

Home improvement business has also come up a long way. There are hundreds of professionals who do incredible jobs and change the whole look of the house. They not only look at the interiors but also the outside of your house like the garden, swimming pool etc.The home improvement industry has revamped itself to adapt to the needs of the consumers. People are constantly looking for changes from the most basic improvement to even comprehensive home improvement schemes that encompass remodeling, landscaping, restoration, expansion and exterior improvement.

Decorating your home is all about giving a personality to your living space. Pay attention to the lighting, flooring, textures and color. If you have particular theme in your mind choose the furniture according to that or you can even custom build your home furnishing items to suit your d

Let There Be Light in Your Bedroom!

January 20, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and then the light slowly starts returning to the northern hemisphere. But that still means we have many months of the year when our bedrooms get very little or no light in the mornings, when we get up, and are dark long before we go to sleep. If you’re someone who gets blue without enough light in your life, try brightening up your bedroom by making it feel like summer!

Think summer. Light colors, light fabrics. Take down the dark, heavy drapes and let the windows bring in as much light as possible during the day. When evening approaches, pull down the blinds and close the sheer curtains, which will look delightful in the glow of your warm bedroom lighting. Use soft white or pink-tinted bulbs in your lamps, or the full spectrum bulbs that replicate natural sunlight. They can make a huge difference in how you feel!

One way to optimize the light that comes in during the day is to position a large mirror on a wall across from or corner to a window. The mirrors will reflect sunlight and bounce it around the room. Hanging crystals in your windows is another way to bounce light around the room at certain times of day except this will be like having rainbows all around you!

Make your bedroom feel lighter simply by eliminating or moving around your furniture to have more open space available. Use colors for your bedding that complement the summer scheme, such as celadon, aquamarine, a hint of orange and yellow, or nautical navy blue and white stripes. A floral-pattern or green rug on the floor will evoke summertime thoughts, as will adding some flowering plants, greenery, or vases of flowers. A large tropical plant with palm leaves gives an instant feeling of warmth!

If you have a fireplace in the bedroom, try decorating the mantle with shells or framed photos taken in the summer. A painting or photo above the mantle of the beach, a boat on water, or lush foliage can add to the effect.

Try a few of these suggestions to brighten your bedroom and give you a taste of summertime even during the dark days of winter!

Please find the original article and more information about this subject at http://www.homeandliving.com/DesignAdvice.aspx?Category=Bedroom

PARVATI MARKUS is a writer/editor with a Masters in Creative Writing from Antioch. She works with The Kabbalah Centre and freelances on non-fiction books and articles. As a recent arrival in L.A. Parvati is completing her “residency requirement” by writing a screenplay.

If you would like to publish this article on your own site, please feel free to do so. Please let us know the URL of the posted article by emailing the URL to customerservice@homeandliving.com. All we ask is that you include the whole article, without changes, including the link to the original article location, author information, this disclaimer and the following link.

Find great home furniture online at http://www.homeandliving.com.

[tags]Furniture, bedroom furniture, bedroom, lighting in your room, brighter room, brighter you, lighting[/tags]

What’s Involved with Refinishing Hardwood Floors

January 19, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Nothing brings back the luster, shine, and the natural beauty of wood flooring that like refinishing does, especially if the floor has deep scratches and dings. However, it is a big job, so deciding whether or not you want to be a real do-it-yourselfer and get at it yourself, or whether you want to hire a professional is important.

Do you have the time?

First off, the job will take several days, you will not only be working for many hours on filling cracks, sanding, buffing, and staining your floor, but you will also have to allow about 24 hours for each coat of finish to dry (this varies depending on the type of finish you opt for). So three days is a good estimate of the amount of time the job will take.

Equipment

Refinishing involves two major pieces of equipment - a drum sander and a buffer. These large machines can be rented at most home stores, and are large enough that you will most likely need a truck to haul them home. Dealing with these alone is often enough to make some people opt for hiring a professional. There is also a small amount of other tools you will need including an orbital/palm sander.

The Work

Okay, so if you have decided that you have a few days to spend on your floors and that you can haul the equipment home, the last major detail you’ll want to consider is the work involved: sanding, buffing, cleaning, and finishing along with a few other smaller tasks.

Sanding and buffing floors is not an incredibly difficult job. However, the machines may take a little getting used to, especially the buffer. At times the buffer may seem like it has a mind of its own and you may have to work with it a bit, but this is typically not backbreaking work. However, the job of refinishing gets more difficult as you go along.

After you have sanded and buffed the floor, you will need to do a very thorough job of cleaning up. You will need to clean up the dust from the floor, walls, and ceiling. Once cleaning has been done (along with some other small tasks which may have needed to be done before sanding - things like sinking nails and filling cracks), it is time to finish the floors.

Applying stain to wood floors requires a lot of elbow grease, and you will be on your knees a lot. You will need to carefully cover the entire floor, section by section, being carefully to feather out any brush marks. Also, you will have to do this not just once, but twice - so kneepads are a must! Once the second coat is done, you will have finally finished this job!

As you can see, there is a lot involved with refinishing your own floors, but if you do decide that you can handle it, perhaps you’ll get some satisfaction of a job well done on your new, beautifully rich wood floor.

Jennifer Hall is a writer and editor for A1 Wood Flooring, visit us for more DIY tips on wood flooring, a guide to refinishing hardwood floors, and information on hardwood flooring.

[tags]home,diy,flooring,refinishing,wood flooring,hardwood floors,floors,floor[/tags]

10 Surefire Ways to Avoid Common DIY Home Improvement Mistakes

January 18, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Ask people who have completed do-it-yourself projects and they’ll tell you that the projects took at least twice and much time and three times the money they thought they would. The basic reason is that DIYers usually make a lot of mistakes that end up making home improvement projects more expensive and time-consuming.

Here are 10 surefire ways to avoid the top DIY home improvement mistakes in the future and ensure success.

1. Take out the required permits it’s amazing how many DIYers skip this step. Sure, it takes time, and it means you have to deal with the government, but it’s actually in your best interest to make sure get the required home improvement permits. The folks in the permitting office will make sure the project is done correctly and that you stay safe in the process. Also, for some projects, you’ll need proof that you have a permit or your insurance company won’t cover the improvement. You’ll probably need a permit for any project larger than wallpapering and painting. If you’re unsure, call your local building department and ask.

2. Have all the tools and materials you need available before you start your project starting a job without the necessary tools and supplies will slow down the job and delay your progress. And make sure you buy quality tools. They’re a wise investment.

3. Prepare the job site for material deliveries when your suppliers deliver materials, you’ll want to make sure the job site is ready to accept them. You don’t want your materials exposed to the weather while you are working and you want to have a storage area to prevent theft.

4. Don’t skimp on materials for example, don’t use 1/4-inch drywall for building walls. Use at at least 5/8-inch; and 3/4-inch works well for a good sound barrier. Use 3/4-inch plywood for sub-floors. It creates a much stronger floor.

5. Prepare the walls for painting clean the walls, sand them and patch any holes before you paint. Use a coat of primer or stain blocker if you’re trying to cover over oil-based paint, stains or peeling paint, or if you’re painting a lighter color over a darker color.

6. Use the correct paint use flat paint ceilings. Interior paints should have at least an eggshell or satin finish so you can scrub it. For outdoor decks, use a linseed-oil-based stain to drive the pigment into the wood and preserve it.

7. Keep safe while working you don’t want to end up in the emergency room. Wear safety goggles when using power tools or working with drywall or wood. Wear a hard hat when you’re working under other people on scaffolding, and open some windows when you’re painting or staining, or stripping old finishes off of floors or walls. Don’t wear loose, hanging clothing, especially when using power tools. Wear gloves when carrying wood, metal and rock, or when hammering, and wear a nail or tool pouch to prevent damage to your floors, feet, and pets.

8. Measure twice and cut once probably the most important rule of any project. If you’re going to make a mistake, make it too long. You can always make something shorter. You can’t make it longer.

9. Know the limits of your abilities you’re not going to be good at everything. If you don’t have a lot of experience at plumbing or electrical work, for instance, don’t attempt those projects.

10. Don’t start to learn how to do a project on your own house If you want to learn how to do a project, offer your assistance to a friend who is an experienced DIYer or a contractor. And if you have any question about what you’re doing, make sure you stop and ask.

You probably won’t eliminate all of your DIY home improvement mistakes, but you can surely reduce them with these 10 tips.

Joan Yankowitz publishes the popular consumer and business Kwik eGuides. Instantly download the

[tags]home repair, home maintenance, dyi, home improvement[/tags]

ICE DAMS What To Do

January 17, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

If you’re experiencing excessive ice build-up over your eves or in valleys between roof faces, here’s a few helpful hints:

1. Ensure you have adequate insulation over your upper-most ceiling (the attic floor).

2. Ensure that your insulation does not contact the roof deck, or block the soffit vents.

3. Ensure that your upper roof area has adequte vents, and that they are not obstructed.

4. Heater cables can help prevent ice damming, but if you’re applying the cables after the snow
and ice have already accumulated, place the cables only at the gutter, or lower-most portion of the eves. Higher placement may cause meltwater to accumulate behind an ice dam, worsening the situation.

5. If you decide to shovel some excess snow off your roof, exercise extreme caution - a fall off a roof can be fatal! Also, ensure that you are not scraping the surface of your shingles. Asphalt shingles are especially prone to damage by heavy foot-wear, and by shovelling or sweeping.

6. It is important that the gutters and downspouts are freely discharging meltwater. Gutters improperly sloped and/or not cleared of leaves and debris, can cause formation of ice dams rather quickly.

7. Ensure that downspout extensions are not frozen into the grass or soil.

See also: Ice Damming (includes photos)

Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights reserved.

Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home inspections.

“The Home Reference Book”
You can probably find a home inspection for a little less than what we ask, but you probably won’t find the Home Reference Book. A $60 value, this solutions-oriented reference tool comes free with every inspection we perform.
It’s the first tool you should have around the house!

[tags]home improvement,home renovation,home inspection,ice dam,home ice dam,winter house problems[/tags]

The Benefits of Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks

January 16, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Stainless steel has emerged as the most popular choice of materials for new sink installations because of its low cost, light weight, and almost unbreakable construction. Stainless steel sinks are made in many sizes and several thicknesses, measured in gauge.

The gauge of the stainless steel is the thickness of the stainless steel sink. The most common gauges are 18 and 20. The higher the number gauge, the thinner the steel. Eighteen is the most recommended gauge for sinks.

Stainless steel kitchen sinks are easy to clean and will stay looking newer for longer when cared for properly. You won’t have to worry about leaving lemons in the sink overnight or cranberry stains, but it can become dull and scratched. It is best to put a plastic or rubber mat in the sink to protect it from scratches. A mat will protect the shiny surface and keep it looking new longer.

When choosing a kitchen sink, there are many different decisions that need to be made. Even the simplest of sinks are available in different styles and colors. The first consideration is the size. Make sure that your sink fits. Most kitchen cabinets are standard 24″” measurement front to back.

Sinks are made with various qualities of stainless steel. Light-gauge stainless steel is more vulnerable to denting and scratching.

Stainless steel is also available in a mirrored finish, which gives it a shinier appearance. In brushed-stainless finishes, which is the latest trend, scratches are less visible. Also popular are satin bowls with mirrored rims.

Kitchen sinks come in one bowl, two bowl, or three bowl models. The bowls can be deep or shallow. Single bowl sinks are basic, and their depth can vary from 10″ to 12″. Two and three bowl sinks allow for multi-tasking. For example, you can rinse or store dishes in the large bowl, and use the small bowl for a garbage disposal or to rinse vegetables.

Stainless steel sinks are available in a variety of price ranges that depend on many factors such as the manufacturer’s brand image, the size of the sink, the finish it comes in, and the features it boasts.

Kitchen Sinks Info provides detailed information on stainless steel, copper, vintage, granite, corner, and acrylic kitchen sinks, faucets, and more. Kitchen Sinks Info is the sister site of Granite Counter Tops Web.

[tags]kitchen sinks, stainless steel kitchen sinks, copper kitchen sinks[/tags]

RecipeScraps Scrapbooking with a Unique Twist

January 15, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

I stumbled upon Recipe_Scraps not too long ago as I was browsing yahoo-groups online. Basically, a Recipe_Scrap is a scrapbook but instead of using photographs you use recipes. This particular group is interesting in that we swap pages with one another in order to create our books.

I do not have experience with scrapbooking so I am a newbie to say the least. My first project was to make four pages with the theme Summer Picnic. I gathered recipes from online sources, and started to plan my layouts. You can view the end result at at the links in the resource section below.

I am planning on collecting all of the recipe swaps I do within this group and then bind them into a unique and original cookbook. I will have a Family heirloom to offer my children and their future wives that is both personal and unique.

Some Basic Tools and Supplies:

  1. Pretty Paper
  2. Wire flowers
  3. Stickers
  4. Recipe printed on computer paper
  5. Acid free glue stick
  6. Ribbon
  7. Brads
  8. Card Stock
  9. Quotes
  10. Sheet Protectors
  11. Shape Scissors
  12. Shape punchers
  13. Pretty Pens
  14. Gel pens
  15. Calligraphy Pens

Now the fun part starts!

You get to use your imagination and your unique style to create an original masterpiece. Before placing anything on your Final Cardstock permanently, be sure to test different layouts and colors. Once you have the layout figured start adding the different pieces to your page.

In my pages I used a number of different methods. I used a journal, a weave, a simple recipe no frills page, and then I used some of the pretty paper to make photo corners. The fun thing about this is you can’t make a mistake!

I hope you will experiment with this craft and enjoy it with your Mother, Daughter, or Ladies group.

For more information please visit:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/recipescraps_group

http://scrapbooking101.net

Sara Duggan is a mom of 2 boys and married to her soulmate of 11 years. She enjoys writing and crocheting in her spare time. For more fun crafts and family activities visit her at http://mommie-care.com

[tags]scrapbooking,recipes,art,creative,pens,cardstock,craft,design,fun,swap,cook,collection,decorate[/tags]

Hanging Pot Racks

January 14, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Pot racks help in increasing the functional space of a small kitchen. There is a wide choice in the size, shape, and finishing material of the pot racks, which enables one to select what is best suited for his or her kitchen.

The most widely purchased racks are the hanging pot racks. They are placed over the kitchen islands or peninsulas. At a convenient height, a hanging pot rack provides easy access to all the pots, pans, and long-handled utensils, and at the same time does not impede freedom of movement.

There are different types of the hanging pot racks: round, oval, rectangle or bar shaped, or racks designed according to the style preferences specified by the customer. Heavy, lighted pot racks that contribute greatly to the kitchen ambience can be hung from a fan brace fitted in the ceiling. While choosing the hanging pot racks, it is important to consider the following points: the dimensions of the rack, height of the ceiling, and the overall distance of the ceiling to the bottom of the vessels in the pot rack; the tallest person’s head must clear the longest-handled pan while working or bending over the counter; the shortest person must reach the smallest pan; and countertop lighting should not be hampered by the racks.

Adequate support should be given at the point where the rack is hanging from the ceiling. Normally, joists or studs are provided to support the rack; if deemed necessary, a carpenter is called in to fashion suitably decorated joists. The weight on the rack is balanced to prevent it from swinging when accessed.

Whether it is a simple hanging beam or an elaborate pot rack that hangs from the ceiling, hanging pot racks are a great way to make use of wasted space to house the cooking tools comfortably.

Pot Racks provides detailed information on Pot Racks, Hanging Pot Racks, Kitchen Pot Racks, Custom Pot Racks and more. Pot Racks is affiliated with Outdoor Wood Stoves .

[tags]Pot Racks, Hanging Pot Racks, Kitchen Pot Racks, Custom Pot Racks[/tags]

Mr. and Mrs. Do-It-Yourselfers

January 13, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Through the Thick and Thin of Building a Concrete Countertop

Concrete countertops, recognized first by architects and designers for their aesthetic potential and project versatility, are fast becoming the answer to homeowners’ demands for a relatively inexpensive countertop alternative that doesn’t require a high-level of expertise to install. In addition, they offer homeowners an exciting opportunity to literally try their hands at being creative. Step-by-step books, videos and hands-on training are now readily available for homeowners to confidently engage in such do-it-yourself (DIY) projects as building concrete countertops.

Married couple Chris and Ali were excited to take on a DIY project after purchasing their San Francisco flat. A logistical real estate developer/construction manager and an educational specialist, Chris and Ali are also architecture and home design enthusiasts. With a penchant for getting their hands dirty, building and installing their own concrete countertop seemed a natural choice for them.

Chris happens to be no stranger to concrete: “My interest goes back several years when I was building restaurants and retail spaces. I installed concrete countertops and worked with concrete artisans doing integral color and stained concrete floors.”

In April of 2003, Chris and Ali purchased a two-flat building in space-challenged San Francisco. Recently, they sold the
lower flat as a tenant-in-common unit and now occupy the upper flat, which offers roughly 950 sq. ft. of living space. Before they considered building their own kitchen concrete countertop, they hired a contractor for an extensive remodel of the home. The result is an open, loft-like living space where the kitchen and living zones flow together.

“We both enjoy the process of designing and creating our own living space to fit how we live. This applies to the space we occupy as well as the details within it,” says Ali. “We both like the idea of working with our hands, using materials that are natural, accessible [] and flexible.” Chris added, “Concrete counters are beautiful, cool, earthy, solid, and you just want to touch them. The counters were a perfect way for us to create something beautiful out of our own ideas and hard work, and the uniqueness of the end product is a representation of our unique ideas.”

Their kitchen, 10 feet wide by 15 feet long (150 sq. ft.), didn’t offer much room for Chris and Ali to work but that didn’t stop the big plans they had for their narrow kitchen. They wanted to have a logical cooking zone with a work triangle, plenty of counter space and still have enough room to accommodate a dining area.

Like most urban San Francisco properties, space is almost always an issue. To remedy this, a straight run of upper and lower cabinets and a concrete countertop with a dishwasher, sink, oven and stove were placed along one wall of the kitchen. A built-in banquette and dining table are located opposite the concrete countertop work area. An adjacent wall hosts a refrigerator and tall cabinets.

Chris and Ali agree that the most interesting addition to the kitchen is the concrete countertop. The couple’s instructional guide and source for design inspiration was award-winning designer Fu-Tung Cheng’s Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton, 2002), a national bestseller in the remodeling and design genre.

The finished countertop is a visually stunning work surface with rich, complex colors: reddish-brown with flecks of semi-precious Leopardskin (yellow and black) aggregates. “This particular color combination blended perfectly with the color theme we had for the cabinetry, tile backsplash, floor and wall finishes,” says Ali.

Understated design details of the 12-foot long, 3-inch thick concrete countertop include rounded edges at the countertop front and the sink openings as well as a decorative metal strip under the front edge of the countertop to conceal the plywood sub-top.

Chris and Ali took special note that despite the tight working space of their basement, their collaborative work ran smoothly from pour to finish. “Like the rest of our remodeling project, building the concrete countertop brought us closer together,” says Chris. “We work very well together. It starts from the fact that we communicate very well and our design ideas complement each other.”

With the completion of the project and the creative work done, Chris and Ali admit that their biggest challenge was building the concrete forms. “Particularly for the sink cut-out, which has radius corners and two different size basins,” says Chris.

Despite a couple of minor learning curves, Chris maintains that there is an overwhelming sense of accomplishment upon completing their concrete countertop. “The best part is seeing and feeling the finished product and knowing we did it!” It’s been said that if a couple can survive a home remodel especially a DIY project together, they can survive anything.

From the looks of a job well done on their first concrete countertop, these happy do-it-yourselfers are in it for the long haul. Chris says of future projects, “We plan to create a concrete fireplace surround and perhaps a hearth to go with it!”

For more information about concrete countertops, please visit:
http://www.ConcreteExchange.com/

Deborah Meyer works as Marketing Assistant for Cheng Design, a Berkeley-based interior design company headed by award-winning designer and author Fu-Tung Cheng. Deborah’s work includes writing press releases for Cheng Design and Cheng Concrete Exchange, with a focus on do-it-yourself stories of the company’s customers.

[tags]concrete, concrete countertops, counter top, kitchen, bathroom, bath, design, remodeling[/tags]

How to Bring Your Living Room to Life

January 12, 2007 | Category:Articles-Host | Author: admin

Do you like what you have but don’t like your room? Here’s the solution: pull your rooms together so they look finished and professionally decorated by following these techniques to add the “wow” to your rooms! (I’ve used them in hundreds of homes!).

1. Paint the walls and ceiling a rich, warm neutral color or one of the colors in your
room’s fabrics. Your furnishings will immediately look more at home. I call it
“marrying your architecture to your furnishings”.

2. Next, move your seating away from the walls and group it around a fireplace, a
view window or any logical focal point.

3. Now, add a generous area rug to accent and unify your entire seating area.

4. Fill any empty looking corners with large plants and soft up-lights. Add a
decorative, folding screen for a fuller look.

5. Place your lamps to evenly and softly light your seating area. Use additional
lighting to accent your artwork, collections and accessories.

6. Create a focal point on the coffee table by elevating one of your favorite
accessories on a stack of several books (sans covers). This will give your treasure
more “presence”. Then add a low, full green plant or a blooming orchid and a
couple of large, glowing candles. If you like a fuller look, use a decorative tray or
runner underneath.

7. Lastly, be sure to decorate the top half of your room (from the furniture up), with
tall plants, window treatments, artwork and that wall color. The room will feel
considerably larger, more interesting and most importantly finished!

These few changes will make all the difference so you can start enjoying living in a
beautiful home!

Mary L. Brown of One Day Design is an interior re-designer who specializes in quickly transforming rooms using the furniture, accessories, and artwork people already have to give them a professionally decorated look! She’s been featured on FOXTV, NBC and HGTV. Download Mary’s FREE “Top 10 Decorating Mistakes (and How to Avoid or Fix Them!)” and sign up for her FREE decorating eNewsletter at http://www/OneDayDesign.com

[tags]home,design,redesign,designer,decorate,decorating,living room,home,painting,color scheme,artwork[/tags]

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