MyFurnitureOK.com

My sister went looking for a dresser for her daughter’s bedroom. Searching the furniture stores in the area, she was disappointed with both the quality and the cost of the dresser.

She could have purchased a dresser for under $200. However, the dresser was made of particleboard and knowing how her daughter, who would jam all she could into the drawers, she knew the dresser would not last.

She also found beautiful wooden dressers, but with a price tag of $300 and up.

My sister ended up going to an auction where she purchased a dresser for $50.00. The dresser is made of pine, absolutely no particleboard or veneer in it.

Her husband used a hand power sander and stripped the dresser down to the wood taking off the old shellac and most of the stain.
The wood grain in the dresser is beautiful and the workmanship is top quality. My sister’s husband used an oil stain to finish the dresser. You should see it now - wow!

My sister saved money by purchasing the dresser. The total cost once the dresser was completed was:

- Dresser $50.

- Oil stain $14.

- Sandpaper $3.

A total cost of $70, and some time, they ended up with a piece of furniture that would have cost them well over $300.
In addition, the quality of the dresser is tops!! My niece can stuff all she likes in the drawers without a worry at all!

My sister practiced being frugal - getting more with less money

So next time you are in the market for furniture, remember to check the auctions. You may find you will save yourself a lot of money, and also end up with a good quality piece of furniture!! As Ben Franklin said, “A penny saved is a dollar earned.”

Catherine Pulsifer is one of the editors of Stress Relief by a Simple Life where you will find stories, thoughts, poems and inspirational quotes on simplicity, frugal living, free craft projects, stress and more.

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note to publishers - please use the text “Stress Relief by a Simple Life” when linking to http://www.stresslesscountry.com.
Thanks!

[tags]furniture,particleboard,dresser,wooden,auction,saved,money,quality,savings[/tags]

Do you keep up with decorating your kid’s bedroom, making it a fun space for their friends to hang out? Ok, let’s face it…the Winnie-the-Pooh border probably wasn’t meant to last until graduation. Isn’t it time to redecorate?

The two biggest obstacles to redecorating a child’s bedroom are time and expense. How to find time to paint or paste up new wallpaper? How much is it going to cost?

Today, there are some great new products available for decorating the walls of children’s rooms that will allow you to decorate for less than $20. Wall stickups (appliques) are available in a variety of fun designs and are easy to apply to walls. The stickups are self-stick and repositionable at any time. Just press the vinyl die-cut designs on any wall surface and you will have a new look in minutes! No mess, no residue!

Wall Stickups come in many fun designs that children from birth to teen will love. Disney characters, SpongeBob, NASCAR, plus much more. Products are also available specially-designed for tile and other bathroom spaces. Online shopping makes finding that perfect design a breeze.

Wall Stickups are so easy to use that you can even let your kids do the decorating! Just reposition the stickers anytime for a new look. It’s even easy to move the stickers from one child’s bedroom to another….hand-me-down stickers that can be reused many times!

Why wait? Have fun shopping online and then redecorate with your kids! You’ll love it!

Copyright 2006, netCityShops, All rights reserved.

Sarah Wagner wrote this article for netCityShops. Visit our online stores for a great selection of wall decor and storage and organization products designed to make your life easier!

You may reprint this article in its entirety as long as you include the signature area. If reprinting on the web, the web address from the signature line must be hyperlinked.

[tags]wall stickers, wall stickups, wall appliques, wall decor[/tags]

One of the most challenging tasks for any homeowner is finding those perfect plants for the shade garden or north side of the house. Whenever teaching home landscape design classes I am always bombarded with requests to suggest a few plants that are not only attractive but will flourish in shady areas and woodland sites.

Here come those fabulous Brunnera to the rescue. They tend to form 12 inch to 18 inch high mounds that are 18 inches 24 inches wide with baby blue to lavender forget-me-not type flowers occurring in late spring to early summer and lasting up to four weeks. They typically have heart shaped shaped leaves, some with yellow margins, some with silver spots and still others with silverfish overlays. They all have one thing in common, they are attractive not only when blooming but all season long. They are capable of making a statement as an accent plant or as a solid groundcover, and best of all they handle a lot of shade. I have grown them under our Jack Pines and along the north side of our foundation with equal success. Best of all the leaves hold well into the late fall. We have a Jack Frost Brunnera against our foundation that still exhibited gorgeous foliage two weeks after the leaves from the adjacent hostas had frozen back for the year.

Brunnera tend to be very forgiving and are generally rated for zones 3 - 8. They will not tolerate too much sun or heat, however, so protect them. These plants prefer soils that have good drainage. One of the things that I always recommend with most plantings is what I refer to as “a $100 hole for a $10 plant”. By this I mean that the best time to influence the health and long term vigor of a plant is at the time of planting. A good rule of thumb is to dig your planting hole at least twice as wide as the plant rootball itself, and preferably three times as wide. I always then backfill around the plant with a mix of 1/3 native soil, 1/3 good quality screened topsoil, and 1/3 organic matter such as sphagnum peat moss. I employ this same procedure with the Brunnera I plant.

Following are four of my favorite Brunnera varieities:

1. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Hadspen Cream’ has heart shaped shaped leaves with green centers flanked by irregular yellow margins. It is absolutely beautiful and brightens the foggiest, shadiest day.
2. .Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ is one that I have specified for several years as a groundcover par excellence. It has strong green leaf veins and a wonderful silverfish overlay. Get ready for the compliments from your guests.
3. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Langtrees’ has numerous irregular white to silver spots between the veins on the outer half of the leaves.
4. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Looking Glass’ has heart shaped leaves that cup downward and are a rather solid silver in color. I have ordered 25 for my own gardens for this coming spring.

All of the Brunnera mix well with other shade tolerant plants. I always like to see them planted in clusters of 3, 5, 7 and so forth. Many times I will specify the Jack Frost massed in front of Krossa Regal or Blue Angel Hostas. The size and color contrast makes for a striking bed. Dress the bed up with some Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’ or ‘Pink Pewter’ creeping in front for an added treat.

Brunnera are also terrific for setting off a bed of Taunton Yew used as a backdrop. I also like to mix in an occasional Fanal or Etna Astilbe for a splash of red for contrast and to accentuate the unusual foliage of the Brunnera.

Finally, the most breathtaking shade bed I have ever seen was the simplest. It was a mass planting of Jack Frost Brunnera acting as the groundcover beneath three wonderful five stem clump Whitespire birches. There were a few very large character boulders imbedded for additional accent.

Whatever you choose for your shade bed, just don’t overlook those incredible Brunnera. Those challenges and frustrations created by the shade will simply melt away as your success rate soars. Happy landscaping!

Donna Evans is co-owner of Gizmo Creations LLC, a landscape design and website design company located just north of Brainerd, Minnesota. Gizmo Creations designs landscapes for homeowners, commercial buildings and landscape contractors throughout the country. Gizmo Creations has numerous sample plans and photos of landscapes on their website at http://www.gizmocreations.com.

[tags]landscaping, design, landscape design, plants, gardens[/tags]

Nothing blends in quite so well with a “back to nature” setting as rustic log patio furniture. Pine and cedar furniture designed for your log cabin, lakeside villa or mountain chalet will not only look great, but be extremely functional as well.

Rustic log furniture is one of the hottest trends in home decorating, and it’s not likely that’s going to change any time soon. While pine and cedar are two of the primary woods used to manufacture rustic log patio furniture, other types of wood such as teak may also be used. If left unfinished, your rustic patio furniture will age to a barnwood-style gray when left out doors. If you wish to preserve the natural color of the wood, you may finish the furniture with waterproof finish. Many manufacturers also offer a variety of outdoor paint colors as well.

Rustic Patio Options for Every Deck

A white cedar or pine rocker is a great starting point for the great out-of-doors. And there are a myriad of other seating options to choose from. Double rockers, high-back rockers, gliders, tete-a-tete’s, porch swings and yard swings are just a few of the available seating ideas for your deck, patio or garden. Some rustic chairs come with cushions, others may look good with an ottoman to prop your feet up on.

There are also a number of rustic picnic table options, not to mention log style benches which are especially handy around a roaring fire or when seating a number of guests. The bottom line is, that just about any type of wood furniture you can think of in a non-rustic style, is also available in rustic. If you want a rustic piece that you haven’t found readily available online, most log furniture manufacturers are great at working out custom orders.

The only problem I have ever really had in trying to get custom furniture from the Amish was explaining why we wanted to put a television in the “wardrobe”, turning it into an entertainment center. For some reason, my customer’s desire to fit a TV into an armoire wasn’t the Amish could readily related to–although they were still more than happy to oblige by modifying their design to meet our specifications.

A Natural Fit to the Great Outdoors

Rustic wood furniture is just a natural fit to an outdoor environment. It seems so much more relaxing than patio furniture made from plastic, composite or other materials. Many log furniture manufacturers use treetops of logs cut for log cabins, so even if you feel like “saving a tree” you are enhancing–rather than hurting–the environment by furnishing your patio, deck, or gazebo with rustic outdoor furniture.

Cari Haus sells log furniture and log beds from http://www.rusticdecorator.com/

[tags]home decorating, interior decorating, furniture, patio, chalet, cabin[/tags]

Whether you are just moving in to a new place or you are trying to update your home decor, you may find yourself faced with a kitchen that needs a new touch. Even more daunting is when you find that you are facing this task while on a particularly tight budget. Kitchen designs can be quite expensive, after all, once you get down to it and add up the many, many little costs which accumulate during the process. And that is not even considering the larger costs!

Luckily, a little bit of creative thinking and design work, you can overcome even some fairly strict financial constraints and still come out with a great kitchen. The trick is to find kitchen designs which you can complete while incorporating existing fixtures with as little alteration as possible.

That may sound like it contradicts itself. After all, if your kitchen designs use things you already have and strive not to do much in the way of changing them, then can it really be considered a new design? It certainly can, and the reasons behind this can be found when you consider the objectives closely. The first objective is to use items and features you already have. This does not necessarily mean things that are currently in your kitchen. This can be something which is in another room entirely, or something which was put into disuse due to redesigning in other areas of your home.

An elegant, beautifully carved wooden wall clock, for instance, may not be appropriate for you living room under a new design, but it can easily be the central piece for a number of different kitchen designs. For instance, dark wood on the clock can inspire the use of dark tones throughout your kitchen. A coat of chocolate brown or deep maroon paint on your kitchen walls can serve to carry over the deep, rich tones of the wood into the rest of the room. Even simply changing the color of a few tings, such as drapes and trim, can be enough if your kitchen already has a dark color scheme.

The second objective is to make as few changes as possible to existing fixtures. This is the real hinging point of inexpensive kitchen designs. This does not mean that you should not make any changes. This simply means that while you are making changes, you should be sure to make every change count. For instance, if your clock from the previous example has gold hands, or even just gold trim, then you should simply consider changing the hardware on your cabinets to be gold in color.

If you have wooden cabinets that are a few shades off of the clock’s color, then simply apply a little bit of stain to the cabinets (or, in fact, to the clock) to make the match. You might also want to bring in other items that work into the clocks colors or style, such as other wooden carvings. Now, obviously, this process can apply to kitchen designs which do not revolve around clocks. Simply apply these two objectives to your design, and you are well on your way.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Interior Design can be a tricky subject for some, but it doesn’t have to be! Restful Home is a resource that discusses everything from living room design ideas to more practical topics such as kitchen cabinet organizers.

[tags]kitchen designs, kitchen decor, interior decorating[/tags]

As you work on perfecting your homemade wine, it is important to spend a little time each month tending to your garden. Here I have broken down by month some of the things that you will want to do to ensure a bountiful harvest that you can use when making your own wine at home.

January

Little can be done this month, and much will depend on how much has been done in previous months. If the weather is mild the planting of fruit trees and bushes may be undertaken, but do this only if the weather appears likely to stay mild for a few days at least.

Look to blackcurrant bushes and remove any swollen buds and burn them.

Get in supplies of insecticides and fertilizers.

February

Make sure all trained fruits are tied to their supports securely, and give each a mulch of manure if there is plenty available. If only limited amounts of manure or compost are available keep these till later on. Loganberries and raspberries not already cut down should be attended to and the new canes tied in.

If the weather is mild a light forking of the top soil round fruit bushes and along rows of canes, followed by a dusting of lime, will do a lot of good. This will also unearth a few pests for the attention of birds.

All fruit trees and bushes should have been planted by now; if they have not, get them in before the end of the month.

March

Gooseberries and currants should be sprayed this month with paraffin emulsion to safeguard them against brown scale and red spider.

Watch blackcurrants for “big bud” and pinch off any suspects and burn them. Care must be taken now because the buds may be at the point of opening.

Fork round bushes and canes as for February if this was not done last month.

April

Spray blackcurrants with a lime and sulphur wash where “big bud” is suspected. Repeat if necessary.

The main activity in the garden now will be spreading compost or manure and keeping down weeds before they get a hold.

Any weak growths on fruit bushes may be cut out so as to leave the stronger growths to bear the fruit. This will also help the growth of new wood on which next year’s fruit will be borne.

May

To keep strawberries clean put clean straw round the plants. Before doing this dress the bed with two ounces of super phosphate per square yard and hoe this in lightly.

Give all fruit a mulch of manure or compost, or dead leaves. Begin weekly feeding with liquid manure.

Watch all fruit for signs of pests and diseases and spray with proprietary brands of insecticide.

June

Gooseberries often need thinning at this time of the year. Do this so that the smaller fruits are left to develop fully.

Make wine with the thinning.

If the weather is very dry, mulch fruit bushes with manure, compost, leaves, straw, lawn mowing or whatever is available. Mulching conserves moisture in the soil and helps the fruit to swell. This can increase the annual yield by as much as a third.

If green-fly appears spray with a proprietary brand of insecticide.

July

Fruit bushes and trees make rapid growth at this time of the year. If there is any suggestion of overcrowding, cut out some of this new growth, leaving the strongest to grow on.

Look to the vines; if there is an abundance of long straggling growths, cut some of them out, leaving those you will want for cutting back in the autumn.

Runners from strawberry plants may be pegged down to make new plants. Peg down the strongest young crown on the runners that come from the plants bearing the heaviest crop. Pinch off the runner an inch beyond the crown to be pegged down. If this is not done the runner will continue to run and develop new crowns; this will weaken the parent plant and will also produce an abundance of new weakling plants.

If tree-fruit crops are heavy, thin to two or three fruits to each cluster. Far better to have three good fruits to each bunch than five or six under-sized ones.

August

Keep down weeds with the hoe. Gather apples and pears if ready and look to later varieties: thin these as necessary.

September

Loganberries and raspberries that have borne fruit may be cut down now and the new canes tied in.

Clean up round trees and bushes and burn all leaves if pests and diseases have been prevalent. The ash, if there is enough of it, should be stored for hoeing in round fruit bushes in the spring. Hoeing now will help to prevent weeds growing from seeds dropped earlier.

Pegged-down strawberry runners may be lifted now, severed from the parent plant and planted out. Strawberry beds need replacing every three years; it is a good plan then to replace a third of the bed each year with these new plants.

October

Clean up and burn all rubbish round fruit bushes and canes. If loganberries and raspberries have not yet been cut down and the new canes tied in, do this now.

Prune currants and gooseberry bushes.

Plant fruit bushes and early varieties of tree fruits.

November

All those jobs that you should have done during August, September and October must be done now.

December

Look to blackcurrants for “big bud”; pinch off infected buds and burn them.

Plant and prune vines, fruit trees, bushes and canes.

Make sure that you are getting a good supply of compost ready for next year.

About The Author
Brian Cook is a freelance writer whose articles on home wine making have appeared in print and on many websites. You can find more of these at http://www.makinggreatwine.com.

[tags]round fruit, all fruit, bushes may[/tags]

As a Managing Partner of www.exquisiterugs.com, the question I am often asked, “What determines the quality of a rug?” While the question posed seems relatively simple it is broad in scope and indeed more complex. There are a number of factors that need to be addressed to answer this question accurately.

The rug industry is inundated with an extensive variety of area rugs. Unlike the past, today, there are rugs targeted toward specific market segments. Therefore, before furnishing a definite reply, I inquire, “Are you shopping for an inexpensive rug or a high end hand knotted piece”.

If budget is the primary criteria, there are abundant choices. For the price conscious consumer, there is an array of options. Machine-woven rugs are most popular in the mid to low price level segment, with modern machinery producing rugs beautifully simulating hand-made versions at affordable prices.

One of the reputed machine made rug manufacturer, Shaw Group has a vast selection of area rugs from contemporary to traditional and floral to nautical. One strong highlight of this company is the price range, rugs retail from $49.00 - $2000.00. Most of the collections are wilton woven with polypropylene or nylon material thus controlling the price.

At www.exquisiterugs.com, our top seller, the Antiquities collection boasts traditional Persian designs that are machine made with 100% wool. The intricate designs replicate hand knotted rugs along with offering the softness and shine. An added advantage of Wilton weave is that it is extra strong, and produces an incredible number of pile textures.

If you have decided to purchase a hand knotted rug, consider three important elements that profoundly impact the value of the rug. There is no doubt the quality, look and feel of hand knotted rugs far exceed any other construction. Created by hand, this category can include hand knotted, hand tufted, hand hooked, needlepoint, Aubusson and hand loomed rugs.

Three important factors determine the quality of hand knotted rugs.

The first factor, the quality of wool, which constitutes to shine is essential. Rugs made of wool have become increasing popular for two reasons; they last longer and are able to withstand high traffic. Look for 100% semi worsted, New Zealand wool.

The second stage - the weaving - is central to the quality of the rug. The number of knots per square inch is pertinent in determining the quality of the rug. The higher the knot count, the tighter the weave and generally the more expensive the piece. The finest carpets have from 400 to 700 knots per square inch. Most rugs, on average, have from 90 to 250 knots per square inch. A 9′x 12′ rug takes anywhere from three to six months, depending on the quality of the rug and the number of people weaving it.

Finally, the third factor, the wash constitutes to the value. The rug first undergoes a chemical wash and is then rinsed with water to give the rug a final cleaning. The chemical wash softens the yarn and gives the rug a silky feel. The rug is then set out in the sun to dry.

The next time you are shopping for rugs first refine your choice, is it a hand knotted or machine made rug you desire? If you have determined a hand knotted rug is the ideal choice, incorporate the three elements to make an informed purchase.

About The Author

Tasneem Mirza is the Managing Partner of Exquisite Rugs LLC. and member of AWBA, NJWBA and Beta Gamma Alpha- honors society for business students. Under the leadership of Tasneem Mirza, Exquisite Rugs launched in April 2002 has gained increased recognition. Tasneem Mirza has indebt knowledge of the rug industry. For questions related to rugs or Exquisite Rugs products please feel free to contact her.

Tasneem@exquisiterugs.com

[tags]rugs,oriental rug,rug quality,rus history,rug types,floor,floor covering,carpet,home improvement[/tags]

Furniture are designed to make you feel like you’re in the office when you are at home is called home office furniture. They are not similar to office furniture. Manufacturers design home office furniture to suit the home environment.

Some of the home office furniture includes computer desks, regular desks, desk chairs, book shelves, desk lamps, file cabinets, and home ergonomics products. They have softer edges, as they are designed for home.

Home office furniture gives you extra time to work at home after the burden of heavy work at the office. Your mind is relaxed when you’re home. Some jobs may be required to work from home, like freelance or online work. In these cases, you need an office environment to work peacefully so there are no interruptions.

Home office furniture is different from traditional office furniture, as it is designed to look softer and more casual, and made to blend in with other home furnishings. Above all, the furniture should suit the tastes of other family members, as it will be a part of your house. And the room will serve more than one purpose.

Go for the furniture that enhances your ability to get your work done in an organized, comfortable manner, and also consider not sacrificing beauty in the process. If you find a beautiful home office desk but it won’t provide you a comfortable and functional workspace, don’t go for it. Similarly, if you find the perfect office desk in terms of organization and comfort, but it’s ugly, keep looking! You will find furniture that fulfills both the requirements.

Many customers misjudge the space available at home and they end up buying furniture that is too big to fit in their house. They over-estimate the space available at home for their new furniture. To avoid this basic problem, measure to the exact inch how much space you have for furniture, and note it down so it will be easier for you when you shop.

Office Furniture provides detailed information on Office Furniture, Home Office Furniture, Wood Office Furniture, Office Furniture Rentals and more. Office Furniture is affiliated with Contemporary Home Office Furniture.

[tags]Office Furniture, Home Office Furniture, Wood Office Furniture, Office Furniture Rentals[/tags]

It is hardly possible to live life normally these days without using home appliances. Electrical equipment helps you perform household tasks with ease and convenience, thus saving you time and effort. Moreover, using appliances reduces stress as you go about your daily routine.

Before you use any home appliance, though, you have to install it. Installing the appliance is simply the process of setting the equipment in position or preparing the equipment for use. Following correct installation methods is essential for the proper functioning of the home appliance and for your own safety as well. Check out these simple tips for installing the two most common home appliances.

Washing Machine

Make sure that the area in which you are installing the washing machine is clean and dry.

Position the appliance in such a way that washer?s cord reaches the electric outlet.

Don?t put the appliance too close to another machine, furniture or object so that it has enough space to vibrate when in use.

Be sure that the drain standpipe is above the highest water level in the washer.

As much as possible do not use extension cords, as they might cause electrocution.

Dishwasher

Read the manual thoroughly and take note of the things you need in order to complete the installation process, such as hose clamps, screws and wire nuts. Be sure you have these things before you proceed with the installation.

Be sure that that the opening for the appliance is square and that its sides are exactly or at least almost perfectly vertical. The counter must be parallel to the floor. The electrical cable, water supply tubes, and drain must be within the opening as well. Like the water supply line, the drain must be aligned with the space underneath the dishwasher. Be sure that the electrical circuit for the appliance is off during installation.

Installing appliances is a quite a clear-cut task, but only if you have carefully studied the process first. If you want to save some money, you can spend some of your time studying the installation process and do the job yourself.

Home Appliances provides detailed information on Home Appliances, Small Home Appliances, Home Kitchen Appliance, Discount Home Appliances and more. Home Appliances is affiliated with Ventless Gas Fireplaces .

[tags]Home Appliances, Small Home Appliances, Home Kitchen Appliance, Discount Home Appliances[/tags]

With the plethora of Home and Garden Television Programs currently on the air, many of us have caught the “Renovation bug”, that inexplicable desire to gut and rebuild our homes and create our dream home. Whether you are contemplating renovating, restoring or redecorating your home, in essence what you are really striving to do is to create the proper stage for your lives and the lives of our families and friends.

Changing your home can be an incredibly enjoyable process that frees your inner creativity while expanding our understanding of ourselves, our families and our aspirations. The key to a successful renovation can be broken down into your planning, adaptability and research.

Of course the big question everyone asks prior to a renovation is “Will my renovation wreak Havoc on my life and family?” The honest answer to this is “Yes”, but often in a great and unexpected way! Renovations or redesigning our homes allows us to grow, to learn more about ourselves and to create the proper setting for our lives that we envision living within.

HOW TO APPROACH YOUR RENOVATION

Be Realistic - If you live in a bungalow and you’re redoing the basement family room and you love urban loft living, 14′ ceilings and downtown views - you’re not going to get it. However, if you want it to have a contemporary flair with warmth, sexiness and edge, then that is completely achievable.

Have a detailed budget for your project. - Calculate EVERYTHING from the nuts and bolts to the silks and light plates. Make sure that your Designer and/or Contractor know what the budgetary ceiling for each project and item is and if you go over on one of them, that it means you will need to either cut back elsewhere or accept the increased budget.

Research the best contractor for you. - Find the best contractor that suits your project, your personality and shares your design vision. Make sure to meet with at least 3 Designers or Contractors prior to making a decision.

Understand waiting times - Custom sofas can take up to 12 to 14 weeks. Custom Cabinetry is often 10 to 16 weeks - some fabrics can take up to 3 months. RESEARCH your selections so there are no misunderstandings.

Put a positive spin on the process - The reality is that there will be inconvenient ugly days with no water or no kitchen or both. If you have kids make it a fun experience, set up a tent and go camping in an area in the house so that it’s fun for them and budget for a hotel suite for the worst period and have all the ugly bits done during your absence. Make sure to think creatively on how to put the best “spin” on the rough times to your family and yourself.

Don’t sweat the small stuff - If for some reason something is delayed beyond anyone’s expectations its not going to do you any good to explode and send your blood pressure through the ceiling. In the case of the “no show” item, either reselect the item or accept that it is delayed. Literally those are the only choices so make life easier on yourself (and your family) and learn to adapt your design plan (I always recommend having a back up selection just in case to prevent losing time and money).

Of course before you can begin ANY renovation, you need to find out “who you are” and “what is your style”. Are you passionate about Traditional, Contemporary, Transitional, Modern, Urban, Zen, Ethnic or Eclectic styles? You can not successfully begin this process without being able to firmly state what your style is and what the goal for your renovation is and how you live your life. You will also need the help of a good designer to hone what it is you are trying to create. Make sure to go out and see what is available; go to as many showrooms and suppliers as possible. You will find these trips to be inspiring and also a great learning experience as well.

As we all know, the biggest, most expensive and most detailed project in renovating your home is your Kitchen. When planning the design for your new kitchen, determine what suits your lifestyle; you’re growing needs and your aesthetics. Always keep in mind as well that your kitchen is critical to the resale of your home, so plan wisely. Plan out not just the big ticket items, such as appliances, flooring, cabinetry and counters but the small details that truly make a design great such hardware, lighting, hidden and built in storage and items that reflect your personality and style. Think about whether you LOVE to cook (then add a spigot over your stove), do you entertain frequently (then put a trough sink in the island), do you have a large family (then open up some walls and really make it the heart of your home. The answers to these questions will guide the fixtures and appliances you choose for your kitchen.

When plotting out the design of the kitchen don’t just take the kitchen planner or designers word that the space is ideal for you and your family. Carefully examine your plan and think about how to best maximize the space in your kitchen as well as make your life easier. No one knows your needs and the needs of your family as well as you do. What about adding a multi purpose island with sinks storage prep and seating? What about the new and stunning professional sinks with pasta cookers built in?

When speaking of Kitchen design we are really speaking about choices, hundreds and hundreds of choices for every aspect of your kitchen. For example, when selecting your counter tops you can have tile, granite (the designer fave), marble (stunning but not child friendly), solid surface, stainless steel (sleek and modern), wood, concrete (perfect for an ultra modern condo or home), glass, laminate (the most affordable and readily available) and many more, not to mention the hundreds of options within each material. Don’t get overwhelmed by the choices, always keep in mind what works best for your style, your lifestyle and your BUDGET

A small kitchen can be just as much a work of art as a big family kitchen. It just means you need to plan and research twice as hard, but often they can be the most dramatic because you can put more money per square foot and make higher grade selections then you would with a big barn sized kitchen. Details are what will make a small kitchen sizzle. Add pull our drawers with stainless glides and pull out components and a double door pantry with full interior access.

An often forgotten but critical component to great design, in your kitchen, bath or anywhere in your home is your Lighting plan. Good lighting is what separates a beautiful room from a spectacular room. Incorporate under counter lighting pucks, overhead lighting in a cove moulding, lighting in glass fronted cabinetry, a beautiful fixture over the island or table, rope lighting hidden in a recessed tray detail in the ceiling, the options are endless. Remember when speaking of lighting you need to consider the 3 components of a great lighting plan: Task, Accent and Ambient lighting.

TIPS ON KITCHEN DESIGN

Use quality materials whenever possible
Determine your Cabinet heights - floor to ceiling whenever possible
To paint or to stain
Select the best countertop you can afford
Install a Kitchen Island
Don’t overdo the adornments or details
Add interest - Add your personality

INEXPENSIVE KITCHEN “QUICK FIXES”

Paint your kitchen - walls, ceiling, trim, cabinets
Change your backsplash
Change all your Kitchen Hardware
Change the Kitchen Faucet
Add Crown Mouldings and beef up millwork
Update your accessories and small appliances
EDIT - EDIT - EDIT clutter and unused items

The next most important area in a home renovation and nearly as complicated as a Kitchen with its endless choices, selections and style is your Bathroom.

WHEN PLANNING YOUR BATHROOM REMEMBER

Doors should never impede the use of any fixture
All receptacles should be GFCI
Allow a min. of 6″ between fixtures
Select non slip flooring
Provide ambient, task and accent lighting
Designate areas for storage
Consider how to encourage sense of privacy

Our bathrooms are our personal haven to rejuvenate our spirit and our energy; they are home Spa’s that act as a refuge after a trying day. Critical to this is the design of your shower, now the most coveted aspect in a great bathroom design and an important detail on resale. Don’t forget “SPA” is the key word. Go to a variety of showrooms, the options are endless from steam, waterfall, multi jet and massage options. Remember to pamper yourself and treat yourself as well as you do a guest. Always select the best fixtures that your budget will allow and really research the best deal. I have seen products at showrooms for 2500 dollars for a product and then shopped online and gotten the exact same product for less than half! Look around, research and shop smartly and don’t forget to always sit in your bath tub or Jacuzzi before you buy it. What is comfortable for one is not always comfortable for another.

Always keep in mind while renovating your kitchen, your bathroom or any other room in your home that the goal is to create the proper stage for our lives, our family and friends that best exemplifies your spirit and expresses who you want to be and how you want to live. Inspire yourself, challenge yourself and ENJOY yourself and those you love and don’t ever be afraid of change.

Great Design in essence is about the creation of an exquisite stage for the beauty and quality of life we all desire. From ultra urban to ornate opulence, Robin and his team have passionately and successfully designed it all. Robin’s interiors have graced the pages of magazines Worldwide. Robin has designed interiors for feature films, major retailers such as Home Depot (Style Ideas Magazine) and the Designer Showhouse. From smaller scale interior projects to full scale restorations and developments, Robin’s passionate and creative eye overseas all aspects. While fluent in all design trends and philosophies, Robin is most passionate about historic preservation and the creation of elegant, functional and memorable spaces that convey the best attributes of each owner while respecting and celebrating the architecture that encompasses them. Visit http://www.robindegroot.ca.

[tags]Kitchen, Bathroom, Renovations, Renovating, Design, DIY, how to, interior, Robin de groot, home[/tags]