Archive for September, 2010


2 Kitchen Remodeling and Design Tips: Before You Call a Professionalhttp://bit.ly/hstyler1

► Nadia's kitchen remodeling tips - what to do before you call a professional

○ Decide how much help you need/want
There are different types of remolding professionals to choose from based on the needs you'll have: kitchen designers, contractors, electricians, plumbers and installers.

A big part of deciding what pros you'll need is based off of how much you're comfortable doing on your own and how much help you can afford.

○ Define your priorities
You have to do your homework to determine what your likes and dislikes are and define your priorities. You want a restaurant grade oven and refrigerator but you also need to hire a plumber and an electrician. Knowing where your priorities are can help you decide where to best spend your budget and where you can comprise when you find out you need to hire a pro.

○ Use kitchen design software to save money and find the right professionals
Using a kitchen design program, such as Homestyler, allows you to virtually build your kitchen before buying a thing. In addition, you'll determine the initial budget planning yourself which will save you money that you can use for appliances or hiring pros.

Save all your designs online, then share them with potential design professionals and contractors, so you can get more than one bid.

○ Find licensed contractors with good references
Choose your contractor wisely. Ask your friends for referrals. Do call references, and always ask to see their license.

Remember to print out and share your kitchen design so you can get the most accurate bids from the professionals you are looking to hire.

○ Learn about permits and your home owners association
Kitchen remodeling tends to take a lot longer than we allow. If you need permits, that will add to your schedule. Also, you will need to be familiar with any construction restrictions your home owners association has. Those restrictions can increase the time (and costs) to complete your kitchen remodel as well.

Kitchen Remodeling and Design Tips: Before You Call a Professional

Doing your homework before you interview and hire a professional can make your kitchen-remodeling project go more smoothly. Try using online design software, like the free* Autodesk Homestyler, to help you think through your likes and dislikes and see them in 3D. Then save and share your thoughts as you meet with potential designers, contractors and other pros. Professional designer Nadia Geller gives you a few essential tips to get you started.

*Autodesk Homestyler is a free online service that provides access to home design software created by Autodesk. Free products and services are subject to the terms of use that accompany them.

Keywords
remodeling kitchens
remodeling kitchen ideas
kitchen remodeling tips
do it yourself kitchen remodeling ideas
online kitchen design ideas
kitchen layouts and design
kitchen remodeling design

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Kitchen Remodeling: Choosing a New Kitchen Sink

Every day, millions of homeowners enter their kitchen. Unfortunately, not all of those individuals like what they see. If you are unhappy with the way that your kitchen looks, it may be time for a little remodeling project. Actually, it may even be time for a big remodeling project. When it comes to kitchen remodeling, you will find that, as a homeowner, you have an unlimited number of options. If you choose to do so, you could remodel everything, right down to the kitchen sink.

Speaking of kitchen sinks, there is a good chance that you if you are unhappy with your kitchen, you may want to purchase and have a new kitchen sink installed. If that is the case, you will have to find one that peaks your interest. When searching for a new kitchen sink, you are urged to check out one of your local home improvement stores. There is a good chance that there is at least one kitchen sink that you may want to have. Although there is a good chance that you may find the kitchen sink of your dreams at one of your local home improvement stores, there is also a chance that you may not. If this is the case, you may want to think about shopping online.

Regardless of where you shop, it is important that you keep a number of things in mind. Perhaps, the most important thing to keep in mind is the sink size that you need. If you are simply replacing a kitchen sink, you may find it a little bit more difficult to find a kitchen sink. This is because your kitchen counter already has a pre-sized space for a sink. If you purchase a sink that is too big for that space or even too small for it, a small kitchen remodeling project may turn into a fairly large one. That is why it is important that you take sink sizes into consideration. However, if your kitchen remodeling project includes new kitchen cabinets and new countertops, you may not have to be as concerned with sink sizes.

In addition to the size of a kitchen sink, it is also important to consider the style. The majority of kitchen sinks come with two basins, but it is also possible for them to only come with one. When choosing a kitchen sink that only has one or two basins, you may want to examine your needs. If you do not have a dishwasher, you will need to wash your dishes in your kitchen sink. When doing dishes, it may be easier if you have a two basin kitchen sink. Although two basin kitchen sinks are more convenient, you will likely find that the one basin sinks are more trendy and, somewhat, more attractive.

Speaking of being attractive, the style of a kitchen sink not only includes how many basins it has, but it also includes the color. While most kitchen sinks come in a stainless steel color, there are other kitchen sink colors. Other popular colors include white, granite, biscuit, and almond. In all honesty, the color of a new kitchen sink may be more important to you than whether it has one or two basins. If you are also remodeling other parts of your kitchen, like the floors or your countertops, it may be a good idea to make sure that your new kitchen sink compliments your other repairs or at least matches them.

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bathroom remodeling

bathroom remodeling ideas

300px Bathroom   by Ulybug Points to remember when considering bathroom remodeling ideas

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It seems like when you own a home there are always projects that need to get completed. We try to organize our projects by the time of the year and what we have going on. Some of this is common sense. You probably do not want to do a window replacement project in the middle of winter when there is a great deal of snow and cold. You also do not want to plan a demolition type remodeling job if you are hosting an event or just prior to a holiday. We find that with most our projects that we need to plan for a greater length of time to complete, expect at least one thing to not go according to plan, and that the project is going to cost a great deal more than you anticipated.

We had to remind ourselves of this list as we started throwing around bathroom remodeling ideas. We know that when you start talking about remodeling the bathroom you are going to require a great deal of patience, and be willing to put up with the inconvenience of going down to one bathroom, at least for a portion of the project. This is not the first time we have looked at bathroom remodeling ideas. We remodeled a bathroom in our other house and it was the worst two months we spent together. Our old hose was a rambler with a master bedroom that had a three quarter bath and a full bathroom in the hallway. It was just my husband and I in the house so we were used to having our own bathrooms. We decided to update the hall bathroom. We wanted to put in a deeper tub and a new toilet as well as a new vanity. We had a general idea of what we wanted and we looked at the contractor’s bathroom remodeling ideas. We decided that is we flipped the layout of the bathroom we would gain some space. When remodeling bathrooms, even though it is the smallest room in the house, there are so many people to coordinate. We had to have a plumber, electrician and a person that works with dry wall come out. We kept getting delayed because one of the skilled people would not be available. We ended up sharing the small bathroom for two months. Once all the skilled labor was done we needed to paint the area. Painting a bathroom is difficult and time consuming because there are so many things to go around, especially behind the toilet. The end project was very pleasing to us. We are sure we will be pleased once our new project is done, it is just getting through the remodeling time.

 Points to remember when considering bathroom remodeling ideas

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Why You Should Remodel Your Kitchen

Are you a homeowner? If so, have you ever thought about remodeling your kitchen before? While a fairly large number of homeowners think about remodeling their kitchen, not everyone makes the decision to do so. There are a number of reasons why a homeowner wishes to remodel their kitchen, but later decides not to. One of those reasons is the uncertainty. It is not uncommon for you and other homeowners to be wondering whether or not you really need to have your kitchen remodeled. While there is always a chance that you may not, there is also a chance that a kitchen remodeling project is just what you, your home, and your kitchen needs.

One of the most obvious reasons why you should remodel your kitchen is if you want to. While a large number of individuals wonder whether or not they should, the uncertainty most commonly has to do with spending the extra money. If you have the extra money and you want to remodel your kitchen, you should. If you are interested in remodeling your kitchen, there is a good chance that you may be unhappy with your current kitchen. Since your home, particularly your kitchen, is something that you spend the majority of your time in, you will want to make sure that it is warm, welcoming, and inviting. If your current kitchen scheme makes you feel uncomfortable or if you just want to change it, go right ahead, you could benefit from doing so, a number of different ways.

In addition to knowing for sure that a kitchen remodeling project is what is needed, there are other homeowners who want a change, but don't necessarily know what that change should be. When this feeling is present, many homeowners automatically assume that they should purchase a new home, because they are no longer satisfied with the one that they live in. If you want to purchase a new home, go right ahead, the decision is yours to make. However, before you start searching for a new home, one that actually peaks your interest, you may want to think about changing your home around a little bit. By remodeling your home, you could easily spice up your home or even make it feel like something new. As an experiment to see how to goes, you may want to first try remodeling your kitchen.

Another fairly oblivious reason, why it may be a good idea to remodel your kitchen, is if your kitchen needs repairs. Although it is possible to fix a broken cupboard or replace a few kitchen floor tiles, you may want to do more than that. The perfect time to remodel your kitchen is when you have work in your kitchen that you need to do anyways. Even if you do not decide to remodel your whole kitchen, you can focus on a particular part of it, such as your countertops or floor, if you wish. If your kitchen has missing floor tiles or broken cupboards, you are still advised to do those repairs, especially if they may be putting you or your family in danger, safety wise.

If all of the above mentioned reasons weren't enough, there is one more reason why you should remodel your kitchen. That reason is one that could bring you money, sometime in the future. One of the greatest reasons why you should remodel your kitchen is because it is likely to increase the overall value of your home. Any time that a home is remodeled, as long as the remodeling job was successful, the home's value increases. This means that if you make the decision to sell your home in the future, you could easily get more money for your home than you paid for it. Depending on how long it has been since your repairs were done and how they were paid for, you could easily get a full return on your investment, which was your decision to remodel your kitchen.

As you can easily see, there are a number of different reasons why you should want to or at least want consider remodeling your kitchen. Of course, the decision is yours to make, but it is a good idea to keep the above mentioned points in mind.

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Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles TouchStone Marble Inc

2 Kitchen Remodeling Los Angeles TouchStone Marble IncKitchen Remodeling Los Angeles Beverly Hills Santa Monica Manhattan Beach Malibu Marble Granite Countertops Kitchen Counters Floors Flooring Contractor French Limestone Fireplaces Bathroom Remodel Remodeling Slate Ceramic Tops http://www.touchstonemarble.com (310) 337-9505 TouchStone Marble Inc Specializing in Marble, Granite, Limestone, Slate & Ceramic Granite offers a surface second only in hardness to diamonds; is scratch and stain resistant; cannot be damaged by heat, is easily cleaned and will add value to a home for years to come. We offer a full range of services, from the initial estimate and selection of materials to finished contracting work. We work closely with homeowners, designers and architects to ensure that our finished product meets the highest of standards, ours.

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Simple Kitchen Ideas For Inside or Outdoor Kitchens

You don't have to be stuck making meals in a kitchen that's as dead as a doorknob. With a little imagination and some effort, you can create a great personalized look that will make your kitchen one of the best features in your home. Here are a few kitchen decorating ideas you can use to create a beautiful new space.

More than anything making the kitchen your own is at the top of the list. Don't be so concerned with the latest trends but what makes you feel good. The kitchen should be comfortable and functional and a place to show off your cooking skills (or lack of) to family and friends. Make the effort to find the kind of decoration or accent pieces that fit your own individual taste. If you are going for the country look or the shabby chic look, add lots of baskets to put dry flowers, plants or fresh cut flowers in. Also load your basket up with fruit for a walk by snack. Going modern means lots of stainless steel, sleek racks and decor's with clean lines.

Keep your kitchen cabinets fresh and flowing with the decor of your kitchen. Painting is an easy, inexpensive change or strip and varnish to match your kitchen's interior. Simple changes like replacing the cabinet handles or knobs makes a noticeable difference. Changing just the front of the cabinets with interior recessed lighting really updates the look. Consider too, changing out your appliances if need be. Another consideration is a hanging rack from the ceiling for utensils and pots. They add lots of interest to the kitchen and free up more cabinet space. Adding B board gives the kitchen a nostalgic kind of feel. If you feel your kitchen is the way you want it but still not completely satisfied with the overall look, change the flooring! Go from vinyl to hardwood, for warm ambiance or go with stone for the cozy old world feel.

Your flooring should always reflect the theme of your kitchen. If the idea of being outside cooking is more your thing, consider an outdoor kitchen. A well-designed outdoor kitchen can also be an added bonus for your home with hours of fun for family and friends. No more indoor messes! The animals and kids can have a blast being loud! If you need help with the design ideas of your outdoor kitchen, you can check out decorating magazines or certain home improvement stores. Don't have sticker shock when you read the price tag because the outdoor kitchen can come with some hefty prices. Shop around and also check out your friends or other family members outdoor kitchens. You can learn allot by picking their brains and finding out what obstacles you might face with this project.

If your budget is limited, start out with just purchasing your grill. Then as your budget allows, add other components to bring your outdoor kitchen space to life. There are plenty of inexpensive things to do such as adding flowers to your outdoor area, hanging lights to produce the restaurant look or adding outdoor furniture that blends in with the theme of your outdoor kitchen space. Just do as your budget allows, and in the meantime, enjoy nature's beauty and sounds.

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Today’s Kitchens

Contemporary kitchens are full of energy-efficient appliances and state-of-the-art flooring and countertops. With interest in gourmet cooking high, today's kitchens are well-thought out and extremely useable spaces. Not only that, they are beautiful to behold. If you are performing nightly cooking chores in an outdated kitchen, rocket yourself into the new millennium and consider a kitchen remodel project.

Some of the trends you're likely to encounter in the most current of kitchens include combining the space and activities of family rooms and kitchens into one space commonly called a "great room," creating space for a computer corner, and building in special storage areas. Perhaps you enjoy wine and serve it often-you can incorporate space for your wine collection in your kitchen. Or maybe you need space for your collection of gourmet cookware-there are new options such as special drawers for pots and pans now available in today's kitchens. Kitchens today place a great emphasis on functionality and efficiency of appliances, with some home owners choosing commercial grade appliances for their kitchens. But that doesn't mean that kitchen design needs to be plain and dull. Far from it. Cabinetry today is a finely honed craft, with myriad design choices and a huge selection of woods and laminates to choose from. One current trend is toward cabinets that look more like furniture, with designers adding tables and decorative molding on cabinetry to achieve a more unstructured look. Painted and glazed finishes are also very popular. Countertops can feature the beauty of natural materials such as granite and limestone. Butcher block and concrete are also popular materials. The same is true of flooring-in today's kitchens, durability does not mean sacrificing beauty. The selection of lighting is staggering and ranges from traditional ceiling lights, to track or recessed lighting to chandelier. Live in a hot climate? Perhaps you'll want to choose a combination fan and light for your kitchen ceiling. Many people choose to do a kitchen remodel to get rid of cramped, dark spaces. Adding light and an airy feel to kitchens is a big trend. With the emphasis on caring for the environment, another development is to bring the earth inside. No, you don't have to shovel dirt into your house, but consider using soothing earth tones in planning your kitchen remodel. It will bring a calm and peaceful aura into your home. There are so many delightful trends and wonderful reasons to consider remodeling your kitchen, it's really worth it to start doing some research and thinking about what your dream kitchen remodel might be. Bring home a few home remodeling magazines from the grocery store on your next shopping trip and peruse articles and ideas about contemporary kitchens-you'll be thrilled and amazed at the options available to you. Once your eyes are open to the possibilities, visit your home improvement store or hire a kitchen designer or space planner and soon you'll be preparing a meal in your newly remodeled kitchen, surrounded by admiring family and friends.

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Kitchen remodel time lapse

2 Kitchen remodel time lapse3+ months in 5 minutes. Webcam footage of our kitchen remodel/expansion.

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Considering New Kitchen Cabinets

The style you select for your new kitchen cabinets depends totally on you. What feel do you want to create? What look are you going for? What flows and goes with the style design in the rest of your home? Antique, bone and linen white or off white cabinets can create everything from contemporary, traditional to modern. Basically, just matching the decor of the rest of your house should be your main concern. This makes things easier when you select the complimentary finish, stain, door style and cabinet hardware for your kitchen cabinets.

Kitchen cabinet styles are normally just a matter of taste. Please note that the kitchen cabinet door design does not necessarily have to dictate the overall theme for your kitchen cabinets. The theme is normally decided by the wallpaper, paint color, accessories or decoration, pictures, etc.. For long lasting appreciation of your new kitchen let your taste decide for you unless you are imitating or copying a specific cabinet style or theme of a favorite decorator. Try to focus on the quality of the construction of the cabinets you intend to use. One of the following cabinet styles can be used basically in any kitchen theme. Ones' home should be their get away, our sanctuary so to speak, from the busy, hectic outside world. Listed below are five design trends that you may identify with. This will help you to identify and choose cabinetry styles, finishes and personalization to create a home just for you.

Eclectic Charm is fun with a mixture of all the things you love that just seem to go together. This is an individualized laid back approach that allows you to blend textures, tones, different eras and use of color and shape to bring it all together.

Restful Retreats creates peace from the chaos and presents a style that's focused around comfort and relaxation. This style is the perfect retreat from a hurried world.

The world at your doorstep best describes worldly grace design. This design draws inspiration from nations or places you carry in your heart and are seemingly drawn to the decor of the country. Italian, old world African, Asian and latin influences are just a few inspirations you might like. Always in good and classy taste, these designs are more defined and tailored style that is timeless.

Simple Element styles are clean and crisp with clean lines and less ornamentation. In other words simple, sophisticated space with smart presentation, yet with a calm soothing effect.

When deciding what is best for your taste and style, browsing through pictures of cabinets can help you with ideas to incorporate into your own style. Always pay special attention to traffic flow because if the flow is not conducive and does not flow smoothly from one to the next, try changing fixtures, appliances or even entrance ways. Angling countertops is a simple solution for the narrow doorways and the same can be said for certain corners on a kitchen cabinet island. Making sure you have enough room between stations will keep the human bumper cars pass easily without the shoulder to shoulder grind. Hanging kitchen pictures allows you to gain a different perspective. Does the kitchen seem to busy or crowded? Does it seem too cramped or small? Is there enough lighting that creates interest? Obviously, you will want lighting for both day and night to accent the things you love best about your kitchen Your kitchen features should make your kitchen bright and cheery and not like a dungeon. A lot depends on the color of the stain on your kitchen cabinets. These cabinets cover a significant amount of wallspace.

This means less light reflecting surface. If you have very little window light during the day, you may want to consider white or very light wood grain cabinets. Consider these ideas before you make final decisions on your kitchen and kitchen cabinet decor saving you time, money and affording you peace of mind.

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The Cons of Bathroom Remodeling

Each year, millions of homeowners consider having their bathrooms remodeled. Despite the fact that a large number of homeowners want to have their bathrooms remodeled, not all make the decision to do so. One of the reasons for that is because of the disadvantages. Although there are a number of pros to bathroom remodeling, there are also a number of cons. If you are contemplating a bathroom remodeling project, these cons may make you want to rethink your decision.

One of the biggest cons or downsides to bathroom remodeling is the cost of doing so. The cost of a bathroom remodeling project will all depend on how much remodeling you want done. The more that you want to have your bathroom remodeled, the more your remodeling will cost. In addition to the cost of supplies and materials, you also need to determine whether or not there will be any additional costs. For instance, if you make the decision to have your bathroom professionally remodeled, you will need to pay a professional contractor. Although a professional contractor often produces better results, you will find the cost of hiring one fairly high.

In addition to the cost of bathroom remodeling, it is also important to note the time that it will take. How long a kitchen remodeling project lasts will all depend on what is being remodeling. If you are simply looking to replace your bathroom toilet, you will find that your remodeling project takes less time than it would if you were planning on remodeling your entire bathroom. The amount of time it takes for remodeling will also depend on how much time can be devoted to it. If you make the decision to hire a professional contractor to remodel your bathroom, the remodeling will likely be done quicker. In addition to knowing exactly what they are doing, professionals can usually devote more time to work than someone who is only doing the work on the side.

Another one of the many cons to remodeling your bathroom is what it can do to your home. As you may already know, it is possible for a bathroom remodeling project to increase the value of your home. While an increase is likely to occur, it is not guaranteed. If your home's value does increase because of a bathroom remodeling project, it will all depend on how much remodeling was done and the result of that remodeling. A professional or quality remodeling job is likely to produce the best increase in value. What you need to be aware of is what a poor remodeling project can do for your home. There is a chance that a poor bathroom remodeling project could also decrease the value of your home. The chances of that happening are slim, but there is always a chance.

As previously mentioned, when having your bathroom remodeled, you have a choice as to whether you want to do your own remodeling or a have a professional do it for you. When it comes to bathroom remodeling, you will find that are more cons to do it yourself bathroom remodeling. One of those cons is the risk of injury. When repairing, remodeling, or new construction occurs, there is always a risk of injury. The reality is that even professional contractors injure themselves; therefore, there is also a good chance that you may. The best way to avoid injury is to familiarize yourself with your surroundings and the materials and tools that you will be using. The risk of injury significantly decreases if you know what you are doing; therefore, it may be best if you have prior home improvement experience, even if it is only a little bit.

As you can see, there are a number of bathroom remodeling cons. Although it may seem as if it isn't worth it to remodel your bathroom, there are also a number of bathroom remodeling pros. These pros include a new bathroom and the possibility of increasing your home's value. If you are interested in remodeling your bathroom, only you can decide whether or not it would be worth it.

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