The Kitchen Is Where Homes Come Together

Most people are well aware of how families need to find a common place where they can spend quality time together. With today's busy work schedules, it has become harder and harder to arrange schedules and coordinate time slots in which everyone finds themselves under one roof to simply socialize and catch up on the week's happenings. More than ever, the common ground that seems to hold itself steady more than anywhere else lies in the kitchen of many family homes. Here, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and more all come together with the common purpose of restoring their energy. With the need to eat healthy and feel relaxed while doing so, many have focused much more attention on sprucing up the cooking arena in their place of residence.

Giving a facelift to your home is something you may have had in mind for some time now. Yet, perhaps you pondered the question: 'where should I even get started?' With family priorities taking a front seat, the decision need not be a difficult one. Pair your home improvement priorities together with your family-related goals and the answer will arrive with little strain.

Kitchen renovation is increasingly the first order of business for many people around the country. It has been collectively agreed upon that the most communal of all spaces in the family home is certainly where people come together not just to relax or find entertainment, but a place where they can share authentic conversation and partake in a social correspondence that has remained the staple of the household for years. When you shed new light on the environment where cooking, eating and coming together reign supreme, you provide a pleasant place to be for all those who enter your domain.
More than just attending to practical considerations, kitchen repair and updates must all take into account the physical feel of the space where you and your family will be spending quality time together. There are basic considerations such as the counter space that is available, as well as more subtle details such as the lighting and the colors of the walls. By creating a relaxing and pleasant place where you can relieve yourself of the day's stresses, you effectively create an ambience where heart to heart conversation will come easily.

Cultures have centered themselves around the eating experience for as long as man can remember. Each generation and every culture has its own ways of assessing the needs of how people find nutrition and the time to enjoy the eating experience. In our culture, centering the experience on the home, where the kitchen plays a vital role, has been the established norm for years. While some families may find themselves too busy to sit down and watch a movie together, most everyone will make the time to eat a meal. When you treat this experience with the importance that it deserves, you'll likely find yourself considering just how important this part of the house really is, for you and your family.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Fishback

Day 3, More Green Tape Please!

I underestimated how much woodwork this room had, and therefore, how much Frog Tape I'd need to tape off the walls before painting it. It took me almost 2 hours to get everything taped off.

Progress at 11:45 am: Room is taped and I started painting the trim. 

There's nothing terribly exciting to report today, except that I finished painting the first coat of trim. I wish that I'd been able to finish, but as the natural light disappeared, it became difficult to see where I'd already painted and where I hadn't. It will have to wait until tomorrow.

In addition to the scaffolding and paint/primer combo that I mentioned in this post and this post, there are a couple of other "new to me" products that have made this paint job a little easier. One is Frog Tape, which in my humble opinion is far superior to the blue painter's tape we used in our old house. It leaves a nice clean line and doesn't pull the paint off the wall when you remove it.

The other is a paint additive called Floetrol. When mixed into latex paint, it will slow the drying time thus reducing brush strokes. It is supposed to give latex paint the appearance of oil based paint without the smell. I'm using it in the trim paint and have been happy with the results so far. 

That's it for today. If all goes well, I'll have pictures of the finished room in the next post :)

Bathroom Tiles Ideas

Bathroom Tiles Ideas










Home Shower Bathroom

Bathroom Tiles Ideas

Bathroom Furniture For Ideal Bathrooms

Whether we accept or deny, the bathroom is very important place in our homes and offices, and we all certainly want them to look nice so that whenever we or someone we know visit our bathroom, the person using it feels comfortable and relaxed. A bath which is nicely furnished makes the person using it happy. People talk about them when they are ugly or when they are nice. So the person who constructs or remodels a bath gets great admiration if the furniture is used in a way that makes it ideal.

Bathroom furniture can be nice if it is placed in a way that is comforting for its user. The furniture should have adequate storage area for putting all the necessary items that few people can use on daily bases. The cabinets must be spacious, there must be a vanity, basins must be multi purpose and all the components must be in matching with the bathroom. The user must use effective color scheme for the items as well as for the furniture so that they add up in its beauty. The trend these days is to use cabinets having less depth in the bathroom as they make it spacious.

The user can use folding bath furniture like stools and other parts in the bathroom also when desired so that they can be removed whenever desired. Also if a shower room has small sized vanity and other items then for sure the bathroom will look big and its elegance will increase.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_Chapman

Day 2, Bye Bye Blue

It has been an exhausting day, but I got a lot accomplished since yesterday.

Started the day sanding the ceiling and walls to remove the excess joint compound until they were smooth, then I vacuumed up all the drywall dust. 

Progress at 3:15 pm: Sanding finished. Man, that took longer than I thought it would. Moving on to painting the ceiling. I decided to get a little crazy and paint the ceiling a lighter shade of the wall color. I really want the crown moulding stand out and I'm also hoping the darker color will help disguise some of the cracks in the ceiling.  

Progress at 4:53 pm: My favorite part, first stroke of the new paint color on the walls. We're using Behr Premium Plus Ultra which is paint and primer in one. HUGE timesaver.  

Progress at 5:30 pm: Chris installed crown moulding on the top of each bookcase. 

Progress at 8:30 pm: First coat done. I'm really pleased with the condition of the walls now. All my effort in skimcoating and sanding paid off.  

I'm on a mission to get the second coat completed before I go to bed tonight so that the walls will be dry enough for me to tape and paint the trim tomorrow. I can't wait until this project is finished!

Freestanding Towel Rails

Freestanding towel rails are used in bathrooms to hang towels. They are very cost effective and take up less space. There is a variety of freestanding rails, which are available in various patterns, and designs, which are very unique. Some of the most common type of freestanding rails is the tree towel holder, Gatco s-style rails, 3 bar towel rails and the warm rails, which are portable and can also be used as a drying rack to help dry towels. They are available in both wall mounted as well as the regular stand.
These racks are specially designed to store towels of various sizes and can be reachable from the tub, sink, or the shower. They also come with warmers for towels in different shapes and sizes. The most common types are the ones that look like a regular towel rack however; it can hold several towels at a time. These can also be mounted on the wall. Some of them even have electric heating elements, which can help make the bars hot as these elements are installed inside the bars.

One of the most popular types of freestanding towel holder is the step holder with has three or four levels. This makes the towels appear in a step design and makes it very nice to look at. This can be installed anywhere in the bathroom provided it is of the correct size which fits well with the bathroom decor. When you are planning to buy one, keep in mind the usage of the holders and buy them according to the size of the family.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_Chapman

Day 1, Skimcoat Done

Today marks the first day of our home office makeover. I started out by applying a thin layer of joint compound to the walls and ceiling to smooth out the pitted texture and cracks in the plaster. I also caulked the crown moulding and most of the bookcases.  

Prepping the room

Paint samples.

We're going with the second one from the right, Behr Washed Khaki (UL170-8) .

My helpers. 

That's me wearing my super sexy painting clothes.

Btw, the scaffolding has been one of our smartest purchase yet.

Progress at 10:30 am

Progress at 1:30 pm

Skimcoat finished 5:30 pm

 Phew. I'm wiped out and my shoulders are sore, but I got a lot done. Calling it a day. 

Walk In Tubs - Don't Pay Too Much For Your Bathtub

Walk in tubs are a great way to ensure safety of those that are disabled, injured or elderly. In this article we are going to show you how you can make sure you don't pay too much for your bathtub.

If you have been looking at walk in tubs you may have gotten some pretty high quotes. I have seen some people pay as much as 15,000 dollars to get a tub in their house. There are many different commercials on television that try to sell you on these high prices but you don't have to pay that much. Let's go on to talk about how you can make sure you don't pay too much for your bathtub.

Even though the commercials on television look flashy, the flashiness is not worth the extra thousands of dollars that you are going to spend on retailers.

The best way to get a good price and good quality on a tub is to buy from a factory direct dealer. Even better you should buy from a dealer that has all American made products. It is very rare that you are going to find high quality tubs that are imported. The walls can be thin and less than sturdy. When you buy American made tubs they are guaranteed to be the best quality.

There is a new business called Bath Innovations that can now help you get your next tub at thousands less than the flashy commercials will quote to you. The reason that they can sell at a lower price is that they ship straight from the factory to your house and they do not take out any high priced advertisements.

You are going to see that you can get the same tub or an even better tub for a much lower price than you would have ever expected.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jessica_L_Thomas

Home Office Before

Here are a couple of pictures that we took during the home inspection. It is a nice size room for an office and perfectly located on the first floor of the house adjacent to the family room. This was the only room in the house that hadn't been wallpapered. 

At one time, this was probably a very pretty blue, but by the time we moved in, the color was faded and chalky. Overall, the walls are in bad shape. I have to deal with holes, flaking plaster & paint, and old outlets & covers.

Stay tuned. I'll keep you updated on my progress...

Home Organization For Kitchen And Bath

Home organization can be easy for some and very difficult for others, but keeping your bath and kitchen organized are the hardest of all. A few simple guidelines can help anyone keep things separated and ordered in your bath and kitchen. Even when organizing your entire house it is still a good idea to start with the most cluttered spaces and organize these aspects of your life first.

A good place to start your home organization is the bathroom. There are a surprising number of different items that come in small sizes such as Q-tips, shaving razors, lotions, nail clippers and other various toiletries. It may seem like there is no place to organize so many small items, but all you have to do is purchase some kind of small item organizer such as a little miniature shelf or drawer organizer. Any kind of small organizing container must also find a place within your bath place.

Usually there is room in the back corner of the bathroom sink to allow easy access to toiletry items. Some people go a step further and built a shelving section or cabinet into one of the walls of the bathroom between two studs. Taking the time to build a cabinet or shelf into a wall in your bathroom can be an immense space saver. Other option would be to use a more natural wicker kind of organizer. Don't forget to make use of a shower organizer as well. Some fit into corners and others hang from the shower head.

The next room to organize is the kitchen, which holds many opportunities for lasting home organization. First, tackle your cabinet space and either expand upon it or store your dishware in a more efficient manner. If you can't add to your cabinet space you can take off the doors and create more space as well as better access. Also, things like stacking stemmed glasses upside down every other glass can make more room.

Make sure you don't have too much clutter in your utensil drawer as this can be a common place for people to throw everything in the kitchen. A good idea is to only have enough utensils to fill a typical fork, spoon and knife utensil tray and keep everything else in other drawers. Having a separate drawer for cooking utensils by the oven and another drawer for specialty items like can openers, measuring spoons and measuring cups can help.

Another good idea is to take it easy on the plastic storage containers. It is very economical to store leftovers, but most plastic storage containers are not in use and their size takes up a large amount of space in your cabinets. Also, don't forget to regularly take inventory of your pantry. Once you know exactly what you have in the pantry and how old it is you can be sure to cook meals that use the oldest food you have first to make room for your new food. Get rid of that two year old can of beans.

The bathroom and the kitchen have so much clutter that just organizing these parts of your house alone can make an amazing difference. Once you have these rooms done you can continue your home organization with the knowledge you have the hardest parts done.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Home Office Inspiration

I'm going to be working on the home office this week. Just need a few more inspirational pictures to get motivated. 

via Apartment Therapy?

Domino

The Truth About Kitchen And Bath Faucets Revealed!

Shopping for kitchen and bath faucets might sound boring and simple, but wait until you've seen all the different styles available today. In fact, there's so much to choose from that it's so easy to get lost with all the details. That's why it's quite important to carefully plan out your design and pick the appropriate kitchen and bath faucets for it.

Before you set out to find the best kitchen and bath faucets, make up your mind first on what type of design theme you're going to pull off. Are you going for a more sophisticated vintage look? Does the art deco style interests you more? Or will you settle for the classy and modern design look? Whichever design theme you pick, make sure that the design, material, and coating of the bath or kitchen faucet will also match it.

As they say, style is everything - they're actually right. If you're going for an Asian-inspired bathroom, then get faucet styles that go with the look. Open top bathroom faucet would fulfill this role without any problem. The open and wide structure of the spout gives way to a beautiful and calming waterfall effect. Usually, these faucets are available in different choices of finishes, such as bronze, satin nickel, and chrome (this is easier to maintain).

You need to keep in mind that bathroom and kitchen faucets are not the same. Let's take for example the bath tub faucets. Remember that you are going to use these to fill a large vessel, which is your bath tub. If you're going to depend on a kitchen faucet to supply 60 gallons of water per use, you might as well wait for forever before this could manage to fill the tub on time. Bath tub faucets are specifically built to supply water at a much faster and greater flow rate. Check if your water supply line is ¾ inch in measurement before installing these faucets.

Bath tub faucets also differ in construction and installation. For example, a ceiling mount tub faucet is either directly mounted on the wall or on the ceiling. If installed on the ceiling, it can double as household showers. The floor mount tub faucet is mostly used for free-standing tubs, like your claw foot tubs. As what the name suggests, these are directly installed on the floor with exposed pipe system.

Faucets are quite expensive investments, but that shouldn't stop you from buying. Make the most out of your money and invest on high-quality faucet brands. It will cost you, but the benefits are more set on long-term basis - well-made and durable products have more chances of retaining its beauty and functionality for years. It's always useful to check the manufacturer's warranty and specifications to help you with this part.

With so many things to think about, you're bound to be too busy to think of kitchen and bath faucets as anything but boring. So, just enjoy the moment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fay_Salmons

Tips To Help You Finance Your Bathroom Remodel

As the National Remodeling Statistics suggest, it is the kitchen which is the most popular room that is remodeled which is closely followed by the bathroom. But the kitchen takes away a fair share of the public attention. Consequently, many facts remain unknown to individuals about to redo their bathrooms making it very problematic for them to get it remodeled.

Americans are still puritanical when it is about their bathrooms, according to a designer. Anyone who lavishes too much decorating attention on the bathroom is likely to be regarded as a bit of an oddball. But it has been specified by New York based bathroom and bath and kitchen designer that 10 years ago the kitchen was at the same stage as bathrooms are today. They have just begun to gather interest.

As the American mostly go to health clubs they get used to facilities like saunas, whirlpool baths, physical fitness equipment and steam rooms. The leading manufactures who were initially totally disinterested in the home versions of such bathroom equipments have now finally realized the need of the hour. They are introducing a much wider variety of products than they used to.

Whirlpool baths are in line amongst the three leading American manufacturers of bath accessories and fixtures. For instance, the tub manufactured by one of them is three feet tall and measures seven by nine feet. It's their answer to the hot tub. There is a combination of aeration and recirculation together with the accommodation space for nine people. Three Thousand Six Hundred big ones is the cost of the tub.

It has been equipped with federal standards of water savings thus conferring a much greater interest in it. From reproduction of the old fashioned pull chain toilets to latest streamlined designs, there is wide range of design trends.

Customers are advised by most of the authorities in the market to consult an expert before proceeding for a new bathroom. A good place to know what is required is one of those wholesale showrooms where you get bath and other plumbing supplies. Hiring a professional is one way to go. Though there might be a rise in cost there will also be an enhancement in the choices along with it.

Since the degree of design competence in the relatively new field of bathroom design varies widely, a consumer should be especially careful about choosing a designer. The criteria for choosing the best one is based on how much knowledge you can acquire about the honesty on the part of the designer for your budget and requirements and also the verification of referrals from your friends. The ones who intend to get their bathrooms remodeled should first have the blueprints of their baths ready. This blueprint should carry the details of all the existing fixtures and all other measurements.

As reiterated in the previous sentence, it becomes important for all professionals in the arena like the plumber, designer, consultant and contractor to have a copy of these measurements to make recommendations. This will be helpful in saving time and money. If you are planning to do your own work, wholly or partially, you should take proper expert advice regarding installation requirements as well as building codes. A lot of information can also be had from the manufacturers themselves.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Eastridge

Colonial House Plans

Colonials are known for having a timeless, historical, regal style. They have simple, classical design details. Colonial style house plans were influenced by traditions brought by the settlers of the 13 original colonies. They are rectangular in architectural design and have symmetrical facades. Colonials are 1, 2, and even 3 stories. The 2 story designs with grand front columns are the most common. Today, Colonials have family rooms or great rooms and attached garages. Attached garages are convenient and add additional living space with the completion of the area over the garage. The living and dining areas are typically on the first floor, while the bedrooms are on the second floor or upper floor. To maintain that symmetrical facade, a central front door, (which may be slightly offset), is a definite identifier. Central front doors may be paneled and have window sidelights, transoms, or fanlights. These centralized front doors allow for a center entry hallway and center entry floor plan. Multi-paned, double hung windows are equally spaced on both sides. Colonials may also have beautiful Palladian windows. Palladian windows are usually divided into three sections with the center section being arched and the largest. Shutters and dormers complete this classic, polished look.
Colonial exteriors may be brick, stone, wood siding, or vinyl siding. The wood siding exteriors or vinyl siding exteriors of Colonials are often painted white and accented with black shutters. Roofs are generally gabled. The roof ridge is often horizontal. This roof pitch facilitates the prime setting for a covered porch. Great pillars and grand columns decorate the front of the Colonial. Detailed dentil moldings are features of the Colonial. Another distinguishing note is the large chimneys and fireplaces that may be on both ends of the home. This enables fireplaces to be both upstairs and down. The great rooms, or family rooms, kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms may all have fireplaces as well.
If you are looking for a timeless, classic home design that offers functionality and convenience, consider the Colonial style house plan for your dream home plan!

European House Plans

European style house plans offer grand exteriors and exquisite ornamental details. This style offers as many architectural influences as diverse as the countries from which they originate. European house plans have quite a romantic feel that is reminiscent of castles of long ago. Luxury is implied at first sight. European style home plans offer a touch of elegance and refined style combined with large, oversized proportions. They are a reminder of the history and the beauty of the Old Country while exhibiting that old world charm. European house plans have a wonderfully centralized layout.
European home plans may be 1, 1 ½, 2 and even 3 stories. The two story versions are the most common. The impressive exteriors are clad with brick, stone, or stucco with dramatic polished wood accents. The façade is elegant with rich ornamental detailing. Generally large, these homes work best on good-sized lots, where their grand facades can best be appreciated. Today, most European style plans have large attached garages as well.
Multiple roof lines of the European style house plans tend to be hipped (a type of roof that all sides slope downwards to the walls) and steep. This hipped roof is ideal for the many gables. Copper-topped bay roofs are common. Keystones and elegant polished wood add to these outside design features. Subtly flared curves at the eaves complete that grand ornamental detail. These areas are faced with stucco and stone. The roof typically connects down to the windows. The second floor often is in the roof.
As earlier mentioned, the European style house plans have a great centralized layout. The Living room is the main focus of the home and is on the first floor. The bedrooms may be on one side or on the second floor and the living and dining areas located on the other. Palladian windows (the three sectioned windows with the largest in the center and an elliptical above) and large vaulted or cathedral ceilings are perfect in these expansive, open homes—especially the foyer. Grand marble staircases and glimmering chandeliers transport you straight from the foyer to the old world! These large, open, airy areas allow for lots of natural light. Tile floors and regal, arched doorways add to this sense of luxury. Potfillers, stone ovens, and large islands make the kitchen warm and inviting.
European style home plans offer a sense of luxury inside and out. If luxury and expansive living areas with a touch of elegance are your criteria for your dream home plan, then perhaps European style house plans are exactly your style.

Bath And Kitchen: Hottest Trends On The Market

In the market nowadays, the sink has turn into one of the focal points of the bathroom. There are huge arrays of selections and styles for you to choose from. These sink options display to achieve consumer's specific bathroom design.

A growing trend in kitchen such as, pullout and down faucets offer easy cleaning while maintaining an organized and pleasing look to the sink space. These faucets are easily adjusted to the ideal height and depending on your need.

Shaker kitchen also fits perfectly into today's kitchen. It is a sturdy hardwood with quality craftsmanship that give the impression of being classic, clean and functional. Storage and efficiency is being emphasized rather than bold colors and head-turning accessories.

Quartz is the best alternative to marble and granite for low maintenance and durability. It is one of the hardest minerals. Quartz have infinite color possibilities, from white to deep combinations of grays and blacks, so homeowners have different choices when searching for a perfect design.

Natural marble adds a chic and elegant appearance to your bathroom vanity. Marble vanity tops are waterproof, while it maintains its durability.

Strong, low-priced and easy to maintain, polished chrome fixtures give a shiny, classy look that works well in different home styles.

Under-counter refrigerator drawers come in all kinds of colors and styles. It also makes appearances in master baths and is perfect for any design and works well in all types of spaces. The drawers can store snack items, fruits, and veggies, where every drawer can be kept at a different temperature.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helene_Grace_Abonales

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

How To Remove A Kitchen Counter Top

When remodeling your kitchen to become that luxury home, here is a way to remove the counter top in the case when it will not come out. Most likely it is due to the heavy caulking and seal. Using a floor jack may help.

Home Bathroom Shower

Home Bathroom Shower







Bathroom Televisions

Home Bathroom Shower