Browsing Category: "Home Improvement"

Kitchen Cabinet Installation and Design

Our kitchen is almost finished my family already installed kitchen floor cabinets few weeks ago and just this week one of the hanging cabinets in our kitchen was already made and some kitchen utensils were already on displayed.

Hanging Kitchen Cabinet

The first factor to consider when designing your kitchen cabinets is the actual structure of your kitchen.  Measuring both the walls and cabinets are important so you can do your project correctly. My father measured the size of the extra wall before creating this cabinet,  at the back of this cabinet is a stair case and the back portion can also be used to hang pictures and frames for decorations.

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Declutter and Organize With Closet Organization Systems

There’s a few trendy housing designs and decor styles that require organization. Condos and townhouses as well as small homes in senior living communities are popular housing trends. Downsizing is a lifestyle change that many are eagerly embracing. Modern, contemporary and transitional decors feature uncluttered rooms and organized spaces. It’s important to keep in mind that it isn’t only the visible areas of your home that need to be organized, but also areas such as cabinets and closets. You can better utilize all of your storage space if you create an organizational system.

Closet Organizer

Closet organizers are available in configurations that can accommodate a variety of storage needs. You can find organizers that fit into various size closets. Before you invest in a closet organizer, you should take an inventory of what you plan to store in the closet. Clothing, shoes and wardrobe accessories will require a different storage system than linens and towels. When you add the appropriate type of closet organization system, you may be amazed at how efficient and functional your closet becomes.

Small home living and downsizing often requires some creative thinking to make the amount of space you have work for you. Rolling storage carts and cube storage sets can be used as part of your closet organizational system. They can also be used outside of the closet. A storage cube can provide attractive storage space in a bathroom or bedroom. Organizer carts are great for an office space or a child’s room.

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5 Questions to Ask Your Floor Sanding Contractor

Wooden floors, properly finished, retain their allure for many years. Types of wooden floor materials include timber, cork, parquet and bamboo. Eventually, all require rejuvenation at some point. Wood floor sanding and refinishing should only be tackled by experienced professionals to ensure the floor provides many more years of elegant service. When hiring a refinishing team, here are five critical questions that must be asked.

1. What Will Floor Sanding Repair?

To test if a wood floor needs a complete refinish or only cleaning and polishing splash a few beads of water on the floor to see how quickly they soak in. If the floor absorbs the water slowly, then the finish is intact. If they penetrate quickly, the finish is gone and a complete sanding and refinishing is required.

Likewise, if parts of the floor exhibit stains, warping or deep scratches, a complete refinish is needed. Some water stains and scratches deeper than 2 or 3 mm may not be removed by sanding alone. Fillers may be used or parts of the floor replaced if the damage is severe.

Sanding Contractor

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Not all wood floors can withstand a complete refinishing process. Flooring material with a thickness of less than ¾ inch may not survive a deep sanding. Some newer wood floor materials are as thin as ¼ inch thick. Tongue and groove floors should also be examined carefully to see if they could be deep sanded. A professional refinishing contractor can determine the proper approach for any wood floor.

2. Do You Use Dust-free Machines?

Older sanding machines generate a tremendous amount of dust from the finish the wood. A professional refinishing contractor employs only dustless technology. Dustless belt sanders, edge sanders and dust containment systems remove 99 percent of the dust before it enters the atmosphere of a home or shop. Plastic curtains are not required, and there are no worries about dust re-settling to spoil a new finish. Even better, there is no time-consuming cleanup of the home environment when the job is finished.

3. Who Is Responsible for the Cleaning up Afterward?

If a floor sanding contractor is using dustless technology, there is little to clean up afterward. Dustless technology is so good that home or shop owners need not remove items from shelving. The dust and other waste materials, such as sanding belts, brushes, disposable gloves, empty cans and so on, should be bagged by the contractor. Typically, they leave these bags behind for the home’s regular garbage pickup, but it is not unreasonable to ask them to dispose of the waste for an extra fee.

4. Do You Finish and Polish the Floor After Sanding?

No one should use a contractor who does not handle the entire process of refinishing a wood floor from start to finish. If a contractor only does the sanding, then there may be a gap between when the sanding is completed and the finishing contractor is available. Meanwhile, the home or business is essentially unusable by the occupants or customers.

Refinishing contractors should provide a choice of finishes. Typically, they offer a water-based finish and a solvent-based finish. Either type, if of good quality, should last many years if maintained properly. There are differences to consider however. Water-based polyurethanes are low odor, dry faster but require more coats. Solvent-based finishes have a stronger smell and require more time to dry but require fewer coats. Some people prefer the amber color that solvent-based finishes impart to the wood versus the completely clear finish of water-based polyurethanes.

5. How Long Does the Job Take and Is the Price Fixed?

Most refinishing contractors provide a fixed quote based on the type of floor material, the amount of floor sanding required and the type of finish. A rule of thumb for the length of the job is a day per 30 to 40 square meters of floor. If there are concerns about the accuracy of a fixed quote, then the owner should discuss all the steps of the job in detail with the contractor to see if adjustments can be made. If the owner anticipates making many changes as the job progresses, then it may be better for both parties to agree on an hourly rate in order to avoid delays.

Daniel Johns is an interior design professional. Her recommends Webb Floor Surfacing as the leading Timber Floor Sanding Contractor in Perth, WA.

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How to Give a Ceiling a New Look with Armstrong Residential Ceilings

One of the seriously overlooked aspect of a house appearance is the ceiling,  we often remember to remodel and fix the ceiling when rain water is started leaking.  An old ceiling can make a house outdated when you remodeled most of the part of your house, at the same time a new up to date ceiling can uplift the mood of the entire home.

One of the perfect examples of  an outdated ceiling is the picture below, as can you see the walls are neatly clean but if you look above, the ceiling is already badly stains from water damage which ruin the whole mood of the room because the room could be attractive and appealing without looking at the ceiling. Homeowners should know that when there is excess water or moisture in their home molds and termites are likely to stay, termites are attracted to water;  they can destroy woods and even the walls or foundation of your home.

Old Ceiling

Well, if we had this house I am likely to hold the ceiling remodel as soon as possible before the damage could increase and decrease our finances. There is plenty of home repair advice online that could help me on how to take up the project and even internet sites that sell affordable residential ceiling products for any type of projects, one of them is Armstrong World Industries, Inc one of the global dealer on designing and manufacturing floors and ceilings.

Armstrong offers different styles and textures of tiles for ceiling projects and to begin with remodeling the first step is to determine the water damage, clean the molds and remove the existing ceilings if it is badly damaged and replace the ceiling with a new one but instead of using patterned wallpapers which are commonly used in Korea to beautify their residential ceiling I will use Armstrong Residential Ceilings products to add beauty and charm.

Armstrong has several types of ceiling tiles that are only offered in white color  but homeowners can paint them if they wanted. I will probably paint it with gray or brown color that will fit with the room decor because I believed a plain ceiling nowadays is an old trend. The best thing about these ceiling tiles aside from being fire retardant and moisture resistant they are also easy to install to the existing ceiling using adhesive and furring strips so this is not going to be like a rocket science that requires a lot of thinking.

Well, if you are also planning to decorate your home and remodel your ceiling Armstrong has an outstanding collection of ceiling tiles and ceiling panels for all your needs. If you are dreaming for a ceiling with stylish look a drop ceiling panel is a good choice, it can hide wires, pipes, and other unsightly fixtures.

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Use Modern Lighting and Fixtures To Enhance the Beauty of Your Home

Lighting can completely change the overall feeling of a room. It can make a room feel romantic, vibrant, energetic, or calming. Luckily, your lighting fixtures are fairly easy to update. You can purchase new fixtures at a local hardware store or online at a variety of websites. If you are handy, you can install them yourself with a little work and caution. You could also hire an electrician to help you install these new lighting fixtures if you are unsure.

Modern Lighting

Modern light fixtures are very popular today. The modern light fixtures at CrescentHarborModern.com are a good choice for any style of household. You can update any light fixture, whether you live in a Victorian, colonial, or ranch style home. When choosing a new fixture, consider the style of your home, the particular room the light will be in, and the color scheme you want to match. This will ensure you get the perfect solution for your house.

Light fixtures are available in a variety of styles as well. You can get them for the walls, ceilings, or as a stand-alone lamp. Some light fixtures even come with other benefits, such as a ceiling fan or vent. To replace a light fixture, you must look at what you already have in your home. Get something in a similar style so it will be easy to install. For a new light fixture, you can choose whatever you wish, but you may need to hire an electrician to lead new wires to the room.

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Easy Ways to Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale

Selling your home is perhaps one of the most stressful things you’ll ever have to do, so to say making the sale in a quick, easy, painful and profitable fashion is in your best interests is a monumental understatement. Contrary to popular belief though, you don’t have to spend a small fortune to get your house looking its best for sale. The most important thing you will need to do is find a balance between revealing what the home means to you and what it could potentially mean to somebody else. This means making sure that your personality is present, but not overbearing. Here, we’ll take you through your home room-by-room, examining in each, exactly what needs to be done to ensure that the positives are played up, and the negatives are played down.

The Bathroom

Coloured bathroom suites go down with most viewers about as well as a bacon sandwich at a bar-mitzvah. There’s something ever so slightly ‘dated’, and ‘dirty’ about coloured baths and sinks that immediately puts people off. Buying a whole new bathroom suite might seem like a drastic move, but its importance cannot possibly be overstated. It’s also important to make sure that your bathroom is as clean and polished as possible. Clean the surface mold from between your tiles and wipe down your shower doors with steel wool to get rid of any excess ‘gunk’. A fresh coat of paint is also an option for the walls and your tiles if they are looking a little dated, if you’re painting tiles though, make sure you’re using a ceramic epoxy covering instead of conventional paint.

The Kitchen

The area of your home where you’ll be spending a significant proportion of your time, how much the kitchen impresses viewers will largely come down to its  surface aesthetics. Older cabinets and units can be lent new life with a simple lick of paint or varnish, but an old oven or washing machine could give off a bad impression. You don’t need to upgrade them if they work perfectly fine though. A great low cost trick would be to swap out any exterior panelling with a stainless steel, stick-on covering for a more elegant, modern look. Of course if your appliances are seriously dated (and barely functional) you might want to think about installing some new equipment. Spending a little today, could net you a lot more in the long run.

Living Room

The Lounge/Living Room

The beating heart of your homestead, as its name suggests, the living room is where you have no doubt spent the lions share of your free time and where potential buyers will spend most of theirs. It is imperative to make the room seem comfortable, clean and adaptable, so clean, bright colours are ideal. The living room is possibly the most personal room of the house and as such, personal touches should be kept to a minimum. Family portraits and personal heirlooms don’t necessarily need to be put away (after all, it’s important that the house feels ‘lived in’) but they shouldn’t be too noticeable. If you have hard wood floors, make sure they have been freshly stained with a rich, inviting colour and if your floor is carpeted, be sure to vacuum regularly and hire an industrial carpet cleaner if necessary.

The Garden

If your home has a substantial garden, it could very well be the clincher that ‘seals the deal’. This is especially important if the viewing is during the Summer. The garden is perhaps one of the cheapest areas of your home to maintain so make sure the lawn is freshly cut for each viewing and that all the most attractive vegetation and plant life is well fed and placed out front and centre. If you have an attractive patio area that catches the light well meanwhile, try purchasing some new garden furniture or accentuating an already existing, attractive patio feature.

Bedrooms

The bedrooms need to remain as blank as possible. A bedroom should be a place of comfort and relaxation so first and foremost, any unnecessary clutter needs to be dealt with. Simple, relaxed colour schemes (soft greens and blues for example) are popular with most modern buyers and it’s important that every aspect of the room adheres to this scheme (from the walls to the pillows). Remember, with the bedroom more than any other room you’re not just selling your home, you’re selling your lifestyle.

The most important thing to impart on any buyer is a sense of ‘space’. Clutter is not attractive and whilst it might pain you to strip away some of the personality and ‘soul’ that made your house your home, remember that nothing worth having comes easy and there’s nothing stopping you from making your new home even more special!

Crispin Jones has written this post on behalf of Internal Doors. With a wide range of internal and external doors you can be sure that checking out their websites is worth 5 minutes of your time today.

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Kitchen Cabinet Design and Construction

The choice of kitchen cabinets might be the most important selection you have to make when creating or remodeling a kitchen, because kitchen cabinets are the most eye catching aspect of any kitchen. A well designed cabinets can attract as much attention than outdated cabinets, you should keep your kitchen cabinet within the style of your kitchen making sure that you have enough space to move around while in the kitchen.

Kitchen Cabinets

Yesterday my sister showed me the current development of our kitchen, the sink was already attached, tiles were installed as well the below cabinets.  What is left to do is hang cabinets and ovens which we need to buy when we have the funds for it,  at first I didn’t like the design and the color of the cabinet maybe because I am expecting light color and designs I used to see on search engines.

My mother explained that the cabinets are made of mahogany wood that explains the dark color, and the kitchen floor was not done yet explaining why everything seems so light in contrast with the cabinet doors.

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Advantages of Kitchen Granite Countertops

The kitchen is one of the essential parts of the house and a good kitchen design can provide efficient and good area to prepare meals and do related tasks.  Designing and choosing the right countertops of your kitchen depends on your personal taste, class and style. The two most popular choices for countertops are granite and marble.

Granite Countertops

We used granite in our kitchen, they are a bit expensive compared to tiles but they are the best choice for  constant cooking and preparing food. They are durable stones that are more resistant to scratches, stains, mold and mildew.  Granite comes in various colors, pattern and shade we choose the brown/peach to compliment the kitchen walls and floor.

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Landscape Remodel Ideas

Even though your home is your sanctuary and the nucleus of your home life, your backyard and front yard and just as important and necessary. We decorate inside of our homes so that our guests feel comfortable and so that you feel stylish. If you have already decorated your home to your perfect standards, maybe it is time to focus on your yard and its look.

Let’s say you have a front yard that is pretty vast and a decent size. If you want to just have green grass and nothing else that is fine. But there are so many things you can do to spruce up the space, just like in your home. Walkways are extremely popular and can be easily done yourself or with help from your friends or family. There is a multitude of walkway options and the most common and easiest are stone paths. If you are looking for a unique walkway, try something like a pattern of different variations of stones. This will also give an effect of a garden passage or castle walkway.

When choosing the landscaping design, you are faced with many options. Maybe you want a style to be based off of a certain culture, like Asian or English Formal. English formal is mostly known for maze-like design with a lot of shrubbery. Asian designs are common for pathways with a lot of plum trees and Japanese maples, for example. There are also a lot of fountains in the Asian style of landscape, which can take up a lot of space but makes for a very tranquil space.

Landscape Remodel Ideas

Maybe you want to give your yard a face lift but do not have a lot of money to put towards the project. Simple additions, like the above mentioned fountains, can make for a new look for your yard even adding some flowers or a small garden. If you do not want to plant, you can add flowers onto your window sills. Even though this is not technically part of your yard, it still changes the look of the outside of your home.

The simplest way to change your lawn without much work is to install lights. If you cannot do a pathway of stone, make one from lights. There are dozens of lighting options just at a store like Home Depot to choose from. You can choose from posts, to stands, to lights attached to your home that create light onto your lawn. Placing a light to create a spotlight on plants and flowers makes your small presentation looking that much broader.

Author Bio:

Eagle Luxury Properties is a custom home builder that also does a lot of home remodeling in Paradise Valley. We manage the process from start to finish, and we can complete an entire home remodel, including landscape, without having to bother you with the minor details. A remodel can come with lots of issues, but we do what it takes to make the process run efficiently.

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Indoor Water Features for Home Decorating

To make your home more inviting and relaxing you should try to add a water feature or fountain. Indoor water fountains have become a popular alternative to traditional home decorating, they can provide soothing effect and enhance the attraction of your house, providing a unique touch.

Indoor Water Fountains

With the many indoor water fountains available in the market it is important for many homeowners know which water fountain fits to their home and compliments their home decor. You can start browsing indoor water features at Soothing Walls their product is durable  as they are made from components like heat treated metals,  glass and aluminum, stainless steel, and lightweight slate.

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