Showing posts with label home improvement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home improvement. Show all posts

How To Stock Your Home Bar For Your Next Party

"There can't be good living where there is not good drinking." -- Benjamin Franklin

Owning a home bar can be a very fun investment. For many people drinking is definitely on of the high points of their day. Having a safe, readily accessible supply of alcohol can increase anyone's enjoyment of their daily lives.

Home bars are the ultimate example of dedication and convenience. One can easily drink to excess while saving money and not having to find a way home. Men can avoid angering their wives, because a night at the bar would merely entail them staying home.

"Do not allow children to mix drinks. It is unseemly and they use too much vermouth." -- Steve Allen

Once the decision to purchase a home bar has been made, the shopping can begin. The purpose of the bar is the determining factor for which style to buy.



For small soirees and outdoor get-togethers, small portable bars are ideal. There are many styles of these types of bars. Some styles include wheeled carts, while others prefer lighter structures that can be more easily moved.

Those who like to entertain outdoors can also appreciate bars made especially for that purpose. Traditional Tiki bars and rustic looking wooden bars are common themes at poolside parties.

Traditional large bars are a common favorite amongst those with large enough houses to have room to spare. These generally take up a lot of wall space and are made to feel just like a public facility. They are usually composed of a wall unit for storing alcohol and glasses, a space for the bartender, and an actual bar for patron to sit.

"Beer brewers shall sell no beer to the citizens, unless it be three weeks old; to the foreigner they may knowingly sell younger beer." -- German Beer Law, 1466

When most people think of bars they tend to think primarily about liquor, but beer is such a fundamental aspect of the history of drinking that it is hard to discount the significance of being able to serve beer properly at home.

Many of the larger home bars come with easy to use draft levers. Drinking from a keg that is properly maintained can save an avid drinker a considerable amount of money. By the ounce, it is almost always a better investment to buy in bulk.

A properly stored beer keg can last from three to four months. Someone who has at least one beer a day, the cost of a keg easily makes up for itself when compared to the cost of a 12-, or even, 24-pack.

Small refrigerators are placed under the bar to allow the beer to maintain the proper temperature for maintaining its flavor. These are connected by a series of tubes to the draft valve, provided easy access to good beer all of the time.

"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." -- Dean Martin

After choosing the proper home bar, stocking it becomes the most important aspect of proper hosting. Some people start by purchasing a couple bottles of classic liquors, but ultimately, a much wider selection is going to be necessary for a well-rounded collection of alcohol.

When it comes to the basics, there are a few items that no bar should be without. Vodka, tequila, rum, gin, whiskey, bourbon, and scotch make up the foundation for any true attempt at a bar. Other common liquors include various flavors of Schnapps. The most common of these are peach, melon, apple, and butterscotch.

Kailua, Jagermeister, and brandies are also very popular bar staples. There are hundreds of varieties of alcohol to choose from and personal preference plays a large role in determining the amount and kind of alcohol to provide.

In addition to regular liquors, wine and beer are also common drinking requirements for any bar. Providing a solid selection of these is fairly easy. Most wines come in different colors. One red, one white, and one blush wine can provide enough selection for most guests.

Beer can be a bit more complicated than wine, but only because there are more options available to the average drinker. There are the basic regular beers that can be found at any gas station across the country.

It is always advisable to stock up on regular beer, more than any other type of alcoholic drink. Light beer is great if you are going to have a group that includes a fair amount of women, because it has fewer calories then regular beer.

Strong, stout beers are considered essential to some, but they are very much an acquired taste. Wheat beers and ales provide a well-rounded flavor that lacks the intensity of most stout beers. Many of these also include fruit flavors for an added incentive.

In addition to the basic alcohols, having mixers to add flavor or dull the burn of some drinks is essential for any drinking experience. Soda, margarita and sweet and sour mix, and assorted juices can provide endless ideas for beverage making.

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink, because when they wake up, that's best they feel all day." -- Frank Sinatra

Having a place to relax after a hard day can be one of the most significant improvements to the quality of your life and your overall health. Escaping the stress of daily life is essential to a happy existence. Home bars are a terrific way of ensuring that your home is not only a fun place for you, but also for your friends and family.

Maintaining a well-stocked bar and having people to share it with can be one of the most rewarding investments you can make for your home.

Home Seller - Make Needed Repairs

Before a buyer considers your home seriously, it must meet his needs in many ways. It must be a suitable neighborhood, commuting distance, size, layout, etc. If most of these needs are met, the buyer will move toward making an offer for your home. The purchase decision is an emotional and intellectual response, based on a level of trust in your home. So, it is logical that in preparing your home for sale your goal should be to enable the buyer to build trust in your home as quickly as possible. Your first step should be to address apparent and hidden repair issues. 

Make a Complete List

Keep in mind that potential buyers and their real estate agents do not have the fond personal memories and familiarity that you have with your home. They will view it with a critical and discerning eye. Anticipate their concerns before they ever see your home. You may look at the leaky faucet and think of a $10 part at Home Depot. To a buyer this is a $100 plumbing bill. Walk through each room and consider how buyers are going to react to what they see. Make a complete list of all needed repairs. It will be more efficient to have them all done at once. Use a handyman to fix the items quickly. If your house is  a fixer-upper, keep in mind that most buyers will expect to make a profit that is substantially above the cost of labor and materials. When a house needs obvious repairs, buyers will assume that there are more problems than meet the eye. Take care of  repairs before marketing your home. Your home will sell faster and for a higher price.

Get an Inspection

It is a good idea to have your home inspected by a professional before putting it on the market. Your may discover some issues that will come up later on the buyer's inspection report. You will be able to address the items on your own time, without the involvement of a prospective buyer. You do not have to repair every item that is written up.  For example, due to building code changes, you may not meet code for handrail height, spacing between balusters, stair dimensions, single glazed windows, and other items. You may choose to leave items such as these as they are. Just note on the inspection report which items you have repaired, and which are left as is.  Attach the report to your Seller's Disclosure, along with any repair receipts that you have. A professional inspection answers buyers questions early, reduces re-negotiations after contract, and creates a higher level of trust in your home.

Offer a Service Contract

A home service contract may be offered to the buyer for their first year of ownership. For a fee of  about $350 a third party warranty company will provide repair services for certain systems or components in the house for one year after the sale.  These policies help to reduce the number of disputes about the condition of the property after the sale. They protect the interests of both buyer and seller.

Should You Remodel?

Our clients often ask if they should remodel their house before marketing. I believe the answer to this is no - major improvements do not make sense just before selling a home. Studies show that remodeling projects do not return 100% of their cost in the sales price. Normally, it does not pay to replace cabinets, re-do kitchens, upgrade bathrooms, or add space prior to selling. There is a fine line between remodeling and making repairs. You will need to draw this line as you review your home.

Repair Decisions

Countertops are outdated: If other components of the house are up to date, the kitchen may be greatly improved by new, modern countertops. Although this is an upgrade, not a repair, it may be worth doing because the kitchen has a significant impact on the value of your home.

Carpet is worn or outdated: Carpet replacement almost always worth doing. Sellers often ask if they should offer an allowance for carpet, and let the buyer choose. Do not take this approach. Choose a neutral shade, and make the change yourself. New carpet makes everything in the house look better.

Wall texture is poor:  You may have an outdated texture style or acoustic ceiling. In most cases, it does not make sense to strip and re-texture the walls. Just repair any wall damage or minor texture problems.

Walls need paint: This is a must do! Freshly painted walls greatly improve the  perception of your home. Don’t forget the baseboards and trim. Use neutral colors, such as cream, sage green, beige/yellow, or gray/blue. Stark white, primary colors and dark colors do not appeal to a wide market, and may be a negative factor.

Bathroom caulking is dirty: Put this on the must do list. Cracked or stained caulking is a turn-off to buyers. It is easily replaced.  Make sure the tile grout does not have voids.

Drainage or leak problems:  Address any drainage issues or leaks in plumbing or roof.  Use professional help to correct the source of the problem and check for mold.  Fully disclose the repair on your sellers disclosure, but avoid giving a personal guarantee of the repair.

Structural and trim repairs:  Fix any sheetrock holes, damaged trim, torn vinyl, broken windows, rotten wood or rusty fixtures. Homes sell for more that show a reasonable level of maintenance.

Overgrown shrubs and weedy beds:  Repairs to the yard are some of the most cost effective changes you can make. Mow and edge the lawn. Add inexpensive mulch to flower beds. Cut back any shrubs that cover windows. Trim tree branches that rub against the roof. Buy new doormats. Replace dead plants.  Remove any trash.

Check HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems: These systems need routine maintenance. Have the heat/AC system serviced and filters changed. Check for plumbing leaks, toilets that rock, corroded water heater valves, and other plumbing problems. Replace burned out bulbs and electrical fixtures that do not work. Check your sprinkler system and pool equipment for problems.

Make Needed Repairs

If you are planning to sell your home, your first step should be to discover and make needed repairs. By making repairs you will answer buyers questions early, build trust in your home more quickly, and proceed through the closing process with fewer surprises. Your home will appeal to more buyers, sell faster, and bring a higher price.

Bay Windows Add Character And Space To A Home

It was the perfect spot. Our California ranch style house had a large picture window in the front room. The window extended from a few inches above the floor to only a few inches below the cathedral ceiling. The walls and ceiling were redwood stained knotty pine and the floor was a matching hardwood. The window looked out over a flower bed, shrubs and the expanse of front lawn. It was the perfect window to be replaced with a bay window.

The window was nearly square. It was 72 X 72 inches. We considered a bow window, but elected to install a bay window instead. We just felt that our particular house looked better with three panel bay window rather than the multiple panel bow windows. Our intent was to fill the seat board of the bay with potted plants we had sitting in front of the current picture window. The new arrangement would give us a little more space in the room and improve the overall appearance of the house. It was time to go shopping.

Scratch vs. Pre-built

When we first got the idea of installing the new window, I began gathering plans for building a bay window. Thumbing through books and magazines, and the Internet search engines, I found several plans for building a bay window from scratch. I also found that undertaking such a project was going to be unnecessary. Most of the major window manufacturers, such as Pella, Milgard and Anderson make both completely pre-assembled bay windows as well as pre-built components for bay windows.

These days very few contractors will take on the project of building a bay or bow window from scratch. It simply isn't practical when for the same or less money they can install a high quality pre-built window. If the contractors use pre-built windows or components for new house construction or renovation projects, then we could do the same for our remodeling project, we reasoned.

Installing a bay window can easily be a do-it-yourselfer project. Before you go the diy route, however, you may want to line up a contractor to help out if necessary. This is not going to be a job that you can complete during a Saturday afternoon. Chances are you are not going to finish it in a weekend, for that matter.

You are also going to want to line up some help. Bay windows and window components are heavy. At least they are too heavy for one person to manage.

Be sure and check out the weather forecast, including the long range forecast. Installing the window means opening a hole into your home. It can take a couple of days to get the new window in place and sealed. The last thing you want is for rain to come pouring in on your floor, walls or furniture.

Be sure and check your city or community construction codes. There may be special local requirements, such as having safety glass in low profile windows. You are probably going to need a building permit anyway, so that is also a good time to check the codes.

Tools and Materials Needed

The tools you will need for this project include a tape measure, a framing square that you can also use as a straight edge, a circular saw or miter saw, crow bars, drill and bits, level, stapler, utility knife, tin snips and a caulking gun.

The materials you will need include the bay window unit, the support brackets, nails, roofing paper, shingles, roofing nails, exterior grade silicone caulking and fiberglass insulation. You will also need 1X6 inch boards for the window skirting. If you are enlarging an existing window, or if you are installing the window in a space that was previously the wall, you will also need 2X4s for cripple studs and additional framing.

Basic Installation Steps

1.Establish window position in the wall. Remove the existing window. Measuring the bay window, mark on the exterior of the house the opening needed for the new window. Using your circular saw, cut the required opening.

2.Framing. Build the framing for the new window. This will likely include cutting through existing studs and putting in a new header, rough sill, jack studs and cripple studs.

3.Install the support braces. A window up to five feet wide will take a minimum of two support braces. A wider window will need three.

4.Set the window in place. Lift the bay window on the support braces and slide it into the rough opening. Shim as necessary to level the window. Anchor in place.

5.Build the window roof. Set the roof frame on top of the bay window unit and nail in place. Fill the space between the roof and the top of the bay window with insulation. Fasten the roof sheeting to the frame and cover with roofing paper. Install the drip edges and the flashing and then shingle.

6.Install the window skirting around the bottom of the window. Fill will insulation and then attach the skirt bottom to seal the underneath side of the window.

7.Seal the edges with silicone caulking.

This is a list of the basic installation steps and they have been abbreviated in the interests of simplicity and space. The window unit you buy will have complete installation steps. Take it from the voice of experience; it really makes the project go much more smoothly and it will be completed in much less time when you read and follow them.

In our case, I had two friends helping with the project. We have worked together on other projects and work together well. We had the old window out and the rough framing completed on Saturday afternoon. We buttoned up the hole with plywood overnight and went back to work the next day. By Sunday evening we had the new window installed and the roof and skirting completed. On Monday afternoon I finished sealing up the outside and completed the trim work for the inside.

And, we were right. It was the perfect spot for a bay window. It looked great from the outside. Inside, it became the focal point of the room and added a special charm to the house. The window gave the house added character and value.

When it came time to sell the house, it was one of the features that were particularly attractive to the buyers.

Curb Appeal 101: How to Enhance Your Home with Siding

The architectural landscape of American homes has dramatically changed in the last century. Wood shingles, clapboards, and gingerbread trim are becoming features of the past, as more and more homeowners opt for vinyl siding. Which raises the question: "Why are so many Americans choosing vinyl siding?"

As is often the case, cost is a determining factor. Vinyl siding looks like wood, but it is much less costly. In addition, ease of installation and breezy maintenance has made it popular with homeowners nationwide. All it takes is a bit of soapy water and the use of your everyday garden hose and voila – a clean and attractive facade!

Another benefit is durability. Vinyl siding is made from polyvinyl chloride, a material that is rigid, strong and resists damage. The color goes all the way through each piece, so if it chips or scratches, the damage is virtually undetectable. That is great news for homeowners, because vinyl siding never needs to be repainted.

Vinyl siding also allows you to add a bit of personality to your home. It is available in a wide array of colors and forms. Styles include scallops, shingles, and fish scales. Traditional or Dutch lap installations allow you to create the look of old-fashioned horizontal clapboard, or you can choose a vertical design for a more modern appearance.

It is important to do your homework when shopping for vinyl siding, as it is available in several different grades. This is one time you don't want the bargain basement cost. It is well worth the investment to select a higher grade. Cheap vinyl siding does not offer the attractive appearance of higher grades, but more importantly, it does not hold up as well in windstorms and temperature changes. Another benefit of opting for a higher grade is that all important lifetime warranty. Lower grades are usually only available with a five-year warranty. A final thought: low-grade vinyl siding costs the same to install!

Despite your frequent trips to Home Depot and regular viewing of Trading Spaces, vinyl siding installation is not a do-it-yourself job. For proper installation, you will need to hire licensed industry experts. Keep in mind that, vinyl siding reacts by shifting to changes in temperatures. If it is not properly installed, it will develop blisters and waves.

When consulting with an industry expert, be sure to have these facts on hand. Vinyl does not have the insulating properties that wood, steel and aluminum provide. It should not be installed over old cladding without addressing any water damage or rot underneath. If you don't fix those problems before installation, they will worsen over time. It is often better to remove old cladding, put down an insulation layer and then install your vinyl siding.

Despite the many benefits of vinyl siding, it is not the perfect choice for everyone. Wood remains a preference of architects and custom homebuilders, as well as those who own historic properties. Wood is considered more aesthetic, maintains the value of the home, and preserves the integrity of historic homes, while providing an insulation factor. In addition, people who are concerned about ecology prefer wood siding because vinyl siding is not biodegradable.

If you are considering wood, cedar and redwood shingles are beautiful choices. They are naturally resistant to insect and moisture damage and you can stain them in a variety of finishes. Just keep in mind that cedar shingles, in particular, are expensive to install because they have to be fastened individually.

You will also need to consider the maintenance involved with wood siding, as it will periodically require repainting. Before you repaint, you will need to wash and prime the surface. If you skip these steps or neglect taking the proper care of your wood siding, mold, insects, algae, and mildew, especially in a wet climate, could damage your house.

One additional problem with wood siding is that there is a shortage of wood in the United States. It is particularly hard to find suitable knot-free pieces. For this reason, many homeowners are turning to composite woods. Regardless of your choice, wood siding lasts for years and years and maintains a natural beauty.

Your siding options don't end there! For those who can't afford wood and don't prefer vinyl, you may want to take a closer look at fiber cement. Fiber Cement is an old material that is made up of 90% sand and cement and 10% cellulose fiber. A major selling point is the ability to paint fiber cement siding any color – pink, turquoise, lime green, or chocolate brown – this material will certainly allow you to express yourself! However, we are sure your neighbors will appreciate a nice neutral beige.

One final note regarding fiber cement is that it is expensive to install due to the difficultly transporting this heavy material, and because you must caulk at the joints. If fiber cement siding is not properly installed, it can break and crack off.

Metal siding, either steel or aluminum, rounds out your final siding options. Metal siding is more expensive than vinyl but less costly than wood products. When considering metal siding options, you will want to keep your local climate in mind.

Steel siding holds up well in severe cold weather, hail and high winds. It can bend and nick, but typically does not break off. However, it can be costly to repair those scratches and nicks. If you are fortunate enough to live seaside, you will want to consider aluminum siding, which holds up very well in the salty air.

Metal siding can be painted a variety of colors, just ensure that you choose a paint specially formulated for this type of siding. One final consideration: metal siding conducts heat, so you must careful when installing over wood. Rotting can occur when heat causes water condensation to form, under the metal siding in contact with wood materials. A licensed expert can discuss your viable options regarding the installation of metal siding.

To ensure that you choose materials that will bring out the natural beauty of your home and best enhance its architectural style, take the time to consult with an architect. An architect will provide you with a good overview of what will and won't work when re-cladding your home. Be sure to keep your porch, trim and windows in mind for an overall face-life, that you will enjoy for years! After all, its all about the details.

Garage Heating - Practical and Affordable

A typical two car garage represents approximately 20% of the usable space in an average home.  In addition, there are currently over 40 million single family residential garages in the U.S.  But the fact is, garages are simply the most under-utilized spaces of the home, especially during the winter months.  Why?  There may be any number of reasons, but one of the most obvious is that garages are typically left cold during the winter, making them uncomfortable to use for any other purpose than parking cars and storing tools.

Within the past 10 years that negative view of the garage has changed dramatically.  Climatizing the garage has become much more than an afterthought.  In fact, Insulating and providing some type of heat source in the garage has become a priority for many homeowners.

"There is a push among residential building contractors to offer their customers the option of providing garage heat to the new homebuyer", says Matt Workman, of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc., located in Draper, Utah.  "In fact, when given the option by the builder, the homebuyer will almost always choose to have the contractor insulate the garage along with the rest of the home during the construction phase.   In addition, when given the option, the homebuyer will at least opt for a gas line connection and/or the necessary electrical connections to handle a heating appliance  - with the idea of having a heater installed later on.  Now more often than ever, a garage heater is installed during the final stages of home construction.  It's an amenity homeowners want and an extra profit incentive for the builder." 

"There are numerous practical reasons for heating the garage" states Mr. Workman, " including mechanical maintenance, freeze control, hobby, recreation (table tennis or excercise), pet comfort, wood working or simply to be able to climb inside a warm car on a bitter cold day.  For men more than women, the garage is a sanctuary - a place to get away, tinker around and do minor repairs.  For women and stay at home moms, it can be a haven for excercise or simply a place to send the kids to bounce a ball or play games."  Many homeowners even go to great lengths to make the garage feel like the dwelling space of the home by installing recessed lighting, closed cabinet storage and even a sink.  Painting the walls and floors and adding a little decorating touch can also make the garage a more inviting - a place where anyone would want to spent more time.

For existing homeowners as well, there seems to be an increased interest in upgrading and improving the "livability" of the garage.  One reason is that home prices have risen sharply across the nation, making a move into a larger home impratical or unobtainable for many families.  Rather than moving up to larger homes, many choose to stay put and maximize the use of the space in their existing home.  In these cases, a small investment in upgrades to the garage is quite practical, especially when considering the cost of a new mortgage and associated costs of relocating.  A heated, climatized garage can provide just that little extra room to spread out and make the garage useful year-round.

One of the major concerns people might have with heating their garage is cost.  The good news is there are numerous ways to heat a garage to fit almost any budget.  Options include gas forced air (unit heaters), electric forced air, direct vent wall heaters, infra-red tube heaters and vent free heaters.  Prices can range from $450.00 to $2,500.00(installed), depending upon garage size and the type of heating appliance.  (The author of this article strongly recommends an appliance that is CSA approved for residential use.  Portable propane or kerosene heaters in an attached garage are not safe, especially in the presence of gasoline cans, solvents and other products that may pose a fire hazard should there be a spill on the garage floor.  A permanent heater mounted high on the wall or suspended from the ceiling offers the best safety and places the heater out of the way of vehicles and people passing through). 

One of the most affordable and popular heaters on the market is the Heatstar H25N vent free garage heater by Enerco.  This is an infra-red radiant heater designed specifically for residential garages and small shops.  It is vent free, safe, and requires no electricity.  Simply hang the heater and run the gas line and you're done.  Other heaters are more expensive and require additional labor.  These include forced air in both gas and electric.  Gas forced air heaters (also called unit heaters) are ceiling suspended and require a flue to the outside and 110V electrical power, while electric forced air heaters require no venting at all, yet require 240V electrical hook-up.

Larger detached garages or shops may best be suited to a gas infra-red tube heater, which also requires an outside flue.  Unlike forced air heaters, however, vented tube heaters operate on the principle of infra-red (radiant) energy and are much quieter and more efficient to operate.  And because tube heaters do not blow air, drafts are virtually eliminated, creating a more comfortable environment.

As for operational cost, the most practical thing the homeowner can do is insulate.  Insulate well!  That's easier to do prior to sheet rocking the walls, but even glued on foam or blue board can make a dramatic difference in cutting down heat loss.  In addition, an inexpensive door seal (available from most garage door suppliers) can cut down on infiltration of cold air from the outside around the perimeter of the overhead garage door.  Also, any leaks from man doors and windows to the outside should be sealed.  A well insulated garage can cut heat loss by at least 90% compared to an uninsulated garage.  This means that your heater will not need to run all that often to maintain comfort and the cost to operate can be just pennies a day. 

Regardless of one's reasons for adding heat to the garage, there are now a host of practical and affordable heating solutions to do it.  There are several companys in the U.S. who specialize in garage heating.  They can be very helpful in sizing and recommending a system suited to the homeowners specific requirements.  For more information, visit http://heatersunlimited.com or http://infraredinfo.com.

Bathroom Vanities - Are They Worth The Money?

If one takes it literally, you would think that bathroom vanities are just that, bathroom items that cater to man’s conceit, pride or self-adulation. Well, almost but not quite. It appeals not only to our need for aesthetic gratification, but more importantly to our functional needs.

So what is a bathroom vanity? It particularly refers to a bathroom cabinet that covers the water basin, pipes, and drain. It has drawers and shelves underneath that are used as storage spaces for items, usually those that need to be hidden from the guests.

In buying or redesigning a house, a great deal of time, effort and money are given to the living room, kitchen, bedrooms and other more prominent sections of the house. But such is not always the case for other unobtrusive but equally important rooms such as the bathroom, shower room or comfort room.

The bathroom is a very important comfort zone in the house, next to bedrooms. It offers a quite sanctuary for our personal needs. That is why getting the best design, tile materials, and amenities for your bathroom should also be a major consideration in house improvement activity.

One of the most important bathroom amenities is a bathroom vanity. A bathroom vanity is undoubtedly the main aesthetic feature of a bathroom in any house remodeling or decorating project. While it is the best place to keep private things out of the way and sight of the guests, it need not be bare-looking or simplistic. Given the best efforts in design, style, or finish, it becomes an attractive centerpiece for your bathroom.

There is a wide variety of choices of vanity designs, but you can narrow down your options to either a custom vanity or a prefabricated one. If you are a little tight on the budget, you can opt for pre-fabricated vanities that can suit your taste as well. But if you want more room for creativity and would not mind spending a fortune for it, then do not hesitate to scour the local directory to search for custom bathroom vanity maker.

Custom Wood Vanities

Custom wood vanities are the more popular choices in bathroom vanities, and the cabinet is its’ most notable feature. If the design calls for a laid-back or conventional look you can have a framed or American-style cabinet. A framed cabinet is framed around the front edges of the cabinet body. This type allows the attachment of hinges to the frame and the door, thereby providing a durable base for attaching hinges. On the other hand, if you want to have a more contemporary touch to your bathroom vanity, go for a frameless or European style cabinet. As the name implies, a frameless cabinet has no frame on the surrounding face of the cabinet’s body. This type has its hinges attached to the door and side panel of the cabinet body.

A basic rule of thumb in choosing a design for a custom-made wood cabinet is that it must have to blend effortlessly with the bathroom’s design. But do not just be contented with what you see, make sure that you have a functional cabinet with doors, drawers, hinges, or sliders put firmly in place.

For a wood vanity, your decision is not only limited to what is appropriate for the cabinet itself, but to a large extent to the choice of sink countertop, mirror, and other fixtures or accessories that have to be incorporated. Other factors that are as important are the storage space, drawers, size, and other particular details. To get you started, consider the following suggestions:

Make sure that you allot the appropriate storage space for your cabinet. You must have an idea beforehand what types of items are to be placed in which cabinet drawer. Make sure also that the accessories such as knobs, hanger, faucet matches the style of your cabinet.

Your choices become even more varied as you get to the countertops. But again, you can narrow down to wood, ceramic tiles, laminates, and other composite materials, or solid surface materials such as concrete, stainless steel, or stone.

Ceramic tile is the most commonly used countertop surface. It is durable and you can select from a wide variety of sizes, colors and grain. Wood countertops would make a lovely country-style countertop, but can stain easily and requires higher maintenance. The most durable and most resistant to heat, concrete is a wise choice, but there is also the risk of staining and cracking.

Make sure that you use only durable drawer slides. Avoid having vanity cabinets that have center-mounted slides or wobbly plastic slides because these types could not stand up to weight and heavy use for a long time. Get only the best ball-bearing assembly that you can afford.

Because it is a very versatile material, wood is the most common material used for wood vanities. Choosing the perfect wood variety for your vanity would be largely dictated by your personal taste, the over-all design of your bathroom, and the accompanying fixtures and accessories. But it is important to check first on the wood’s availability and your budget because wood vanities fetch way higher than vanities made of other materials.

Wood Types

Wood vanities are made from a variety of wood types, the same materials than can be used for other household fixtures made of wood. They may also be either wood veneer of laminated. Different wood species fetch different prices, depending on its availability and overall appearance. There are so many materials to choose from: maple, oak, cherry, hickory, yellow birch, or pine. While oak is the all-time favorite for an earthy and conventional looking wood vanity, the use of maple and cherry wood materials have increased.

Exotic wood fetch higher prices as these are the more rare varieties. Among those belonging to this category are mahogany, ebony, and walnut. Mahogany is mostly come from tropical rainforests. Its’ reddish brown color and regular grain qualities make it a perfect alternative to old oak wood. Walnut colors range from dark brown to a purplish shade of black. Ebony wood generally refers to very dark wood or black wood.

Every home decoration or designing project is an investment. As such, it needs to be carefully planned and executed. To protect you investment, work with professionals in the industry. You do not have to compromise comfort, style and taste for money.

Learn How To Plan Your Meals To Free Up Your Time

Meal planning and bulk cooking are both wonderful techniques you can utilize and modify to fit your families needs. The idea behind this is simple. The principle is that you cook and or prepare your meals ahead of time and then preserve them by either freezing or fridgerating them. Also, meal planning you can cook one large meal and get 2-3 other meals out of it! The key here is to make every meal you cook count!

When you are going to prepare a family favorite, double, triple, even quadruple the recipe if it will keep in the freezer. Sound wonderful doesn’t it? Why not give yourself a much-needed break -- cook ahead today so you can relax tomorrow!
 

The first step in meal planning is always the most challenging. To make it less challenging I suggest that you grab the following supplies: Pen, paper, your personal recipe collection or your favorite cookbook and a comfortable chair.

Start by writing down a list of your favorite meals and plan on preparing a grocery list that will coincide with your list. Now, since we are talking bulk cooking here – if you normally would serve up one pot of spaghetti – plan to serve 2 (that would mean that you will have to double the recipe – so be sure to alter your shopping list accordingly) – It will take the same amount of time to cook – just a little extra planning is needed.
Next you can use a blank calendar and simply write the meals down on the day you will serve them. I personally post my meal plan up on my refrigerator for the entire house to see. This also helps to prompt me for the next day of meals that will be served.

The most important tool in meal planning and bulk cooking is your freezer. If you have a small freezer, don’t fret; you can fit many meals in that small freezer space – it will just call for a little more creativity on your part. With the use of freezer bags, that you can stack flat and the use of some freezer proof containers you will be surprised at how many meals your freezer can hold.

Here are a few essential and widely used meal planning techniques and tips:

Multi-recipes ~ Using this strategy requires you to cook many main course meals in one day. For instance, on a Sunday morning you could prepare a roast in your Crock pot, some spaghetti on top of the stove, a baked Chicken in the oven and perhaps a nice salad. You also could quarter and boil some potatoes, cook some rice and some veggies (either fresh or canned). What you now have is 5 different meals that you can use throughout the entire week. You can eat one of the meals that very evening and you could Freeze or refrigerate the rest. This technique works very well for some people and it provides a wide variety of dishes that you can use. I personally use this technique from time to time. I usually do my multi-recipe cooking on a Sunday and it can take up to 5 hrs to complete but what you are left with is 2 weeks worth of food that you can enjoy. And notice that the meals that I use in my Multi-recipe list are easy to prepare.

One Cook Wonder ~ With this strategy you would cook one main course recipe that can be used for different meals. For Instance, let’s say you just baked a large turkey. You could slice some of the turkey off and serve the breast with gravy, dice some of the turkey and prepare a turkey gumbo and use the rest for either a soup or turkey salad. Mind you, you do not have to prepare all of those meals on one day. After the Turkey has been cooked and cooled, you can freeze and refrigerate the turkey that you cut off the carcass and prepare your other Turkey related meals at a different time.

Quick and Easy meals ~  Be sure to incorporate those quick and easy meals into your planning process. If your family loves Sloppy Joes – cook up the sloppy joe meat in bulk and freeze it – then all you need to do is defrost the meat, grab some buns and viola.

What about Hamburger Helper? Why not cook 2-3 boxes of it, separate it into 3 separate large containers and freeze them. That idea alone allows you to prepare 3 meals in just 30-minutes.

Designate a meal for a particular night ~  Every Friday night in my house is either Pizza or burger night. The idea here is to choose any night of the week and just designate a meal to go with that night. I always make sure that I have plenty of Frozen Pizza’s with a variety of toppings on hand in my freezer. The same goes for those Turkey burger patties (my family doesn’t eat much ground beef). The idea behind this process is that you now have one night’s meal already planned. You can also stock up on that meal when the products are on sale. If you see Frozen pizza’s being sold in bulk, grab them up!

Love your leftovers ~  This is one of my favorite parts of meal planning as it allows you to use your imagination. At least every other week or so be sure to go through your refrigerator and take inventory of what you have in there. When you combine 2-3 leftovers, you may find that you have a meal right there. You can use left over pasta from spaghetti to prepare a pasta salad, leftover spaghetti sauce and just a few pieces of chicken can be a wonderful dish to top with cheese and place in the oven. Again, with a little imagination – you can make your leftovers work for you!

Use the sales paper ~ everyone loves a good sale and I use the sales paper to help me in my meal planning. When I see our Family favorites on sale – instead of buying one, I will purchase 3-4 of the same items and simply come home and prepare the meals or freeze the food that I purchased. My family and I love Chicken. When I spot whole chickens on sale I’ve been known to purchase up to 5-6 at a time. Keep in mind that I have a family of 6 and in my family of six; there are 3 teenagers (and you know how much they can consume). By shopping like this, I actually save hundreds and hundreds of dollars a year in food alone!

Helpful supplies

Labels/freezer bags/Freezer-proof containers: Be sure that you have all of your freezing and refrigerating needs on hand. When storing food in freezer safe containers be sure to place a label on the container with the name of the meal and the date the meal was prepared.

Crockpot: This handy appliance is my best friend in the kitchen. When using a crockpot you literally prepare the meal, place it in the crockpot, Set it & Forget it. It is a hands free cooking experience. I cook whole chickens in my crock pot and then slice the chicken up to freeze and use for sandwiches, enchilada’s, chicken salads, chicken soup, chicken stew.. as you can see – the possibilities are endless.

As you can see, meal planning is a money, sanity and time saver - what else could a busy mom ask for?

Now, let’s get Cookin’!

Relocate or Renovate?

Should I stay or should I go? Inevitably, most homeowners are forced to ask this question at some point in time. The decision to sell their house and move away or to stay in their home and remodel can be very tough indeed. Many factors certainly influence whether you decide to move or whether you stay and remodel your home.

MOVE OR REMODEL?

Location, location, location. It's usually the mantra of real estate agents, but it applies here as well. Where your home is located is usually the most important factor because a home improvement project will never change the location of your house. You may be forced to undertake a move because of external forces you cannot change, such as:

*    You may not like the quality of your local school system.

*    You may not have many local options for shopping or lifestyle choices.

*    The size of your current lot or piece of land may not handle an increase in size or expansion.

*    A neighborhood association may prevent additions or expansions because it changes the look of the area or subdivision.

*    Legal or zoning restrictions in your city might prevent any changes.

*    Your subdivision may only have identical housing plans ("cookie-cutter houses") and adding a second story or home addition could make it less valuable than the others in the neighborhood.

*    It may cost too much to renovate.

Because you cannot change these factors, you and your family may find that a move to a new location is absolutely necessary. Take a look at your home location and decide if it meets your needs, if it can be improved, whether or not it is too old, and whether or not you can deal with the stress of a remodeling project.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

Another factor in your "relocate or renovate" decision could be that your house is already the nicest in the area. An extensive renovation or improvement of the best house in the neighborhood might be fine if you're planning on living there for an extremely long period of time. However, if you have plans of selling in the future, such a renovation might prevent you from getting a decent return on your investment. If your house is already the nicest, spending more on it won't make the value go up even higher.

TAKING THE PLUNGE?

If you've decided to stay put, you may have made the best choice. If you ask people to list the costs involved with moving, most will only talk about the price for a moving company to come pick up their furniture. It can actually cost more to move than to take on certain remodeling work. There are costs associated with selling your house, buying a new house (realtor fees, closing costs), cleaning services, transporting your family (hotels, meals, gas), repairs and renovations needed to sell the old house, and many, many more.

If you're going to renovate, keep these tips in mind to make sure your home improvement projects will go a lot smoother:

o    Decide whether you're improving your home for you or for a future sale - If you want to remodel your bathroom or paint your interior walls, the choices you make can affect the value of your home. You might love the color red or a modern sink design in your master bath. However, home buyers are not always fond of exotic designs and it may do more harm than good when you're ready to sell your home.

o    Decide whether you'll move out during construction - You and your family may not be able to deal with the noise, debris, dust, and extra workers in your home. You might need to temporarily relocate to a hotel, apartment, or house. However, it might be a good idea to stay. Some like to be close to the action and be able to oversee the work being done. It's also important for someone to be there to receive deliveries. If you stay, it's important to make sure you ask workers clean up at the end of each and every day. Make arrangements to replace the room being worked on (for example, set up your kitchen appliances in a spare bedroom during a kitchen remodel.)

o    Arrange for sufficient financing to be able to cope during any project - There could be many hidden costs in a home improvement project, so it's good to budget for surprises. Plan for problems that a contractor might discover during the renovation. Plan for extra time (which increases your budget), beyond your projected completion date. Plan for changes you might decide on, too - it might look good on paper, but you could change your mind during the remodeling job and those changes cost extra. Think about adding at least 15% to 25% to your expected budget... for emergencies. Consider the little things, as well - other hidden costs could include: ordering more takeout food during a kitchen remodel, paying for coin laundry services when your water is shut off for extended periods, or even hotel stays during heavy construction.

o    Plan to do it all-at-once or project-by-project - Many homeowners decide to remodel a kitchen and, while that job is underway, will then decide to add on a bathroom renovation. This can cause delays and extra expense. While it's true that there are already construction workers on the job site, it takes careful planning to arrange for permits, materials, designs, and the subcontractors' schedules to complete a project on time and on budget. It's best to plan for your kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, and new patio installation to happen all at once or you should plan for them to take place individually, over a period of time. It will cut down on cost overruns, delays, and headaches.

MAKE IT HAPPEN

As the real estate market continues to slow down, and in some areas drop dramatically, it is an important time to consider staying put and remodeling your home. Housing prices may continue to level out so one sure way to improve property value is a proper renovation. Consult a designer or architect in your area to determine which changes will be best for your home in your neighborhood.

If you're planning to stay in your current house for a long period of time, make sure that any renovations you do are truly for you. It's your home and you've got to live in it and be comfortable. Whether you convert your basement into a recreation room or you want a spa tub installed in your master bathroom, go with the products and designs that work with your lifestyle. If your tastes are more exotic, you can always remodel or renovate again when you're ready to sell.

If you plan and finance your renovation appropriately, you should be able to "make over" your home to suit your needs with little or no problems. To find a reliable contractor you can use a referral service, like ConstructionDeal.com, because they can be a great resource for finding a local pre-screened expert to help make your renovation dreams a reality.

 
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