Archive for February, 2012

Feb 28

Windows Make or Break Modern Homes

Modern homes feature ample windows that serve a plurality of purposes. Not only do they open up the interiors towards the great outdoors, they also fulfill more practical goals, such as ventilation, passive natural heating and soundproofing – all of them key aspects to consider, when striving to achieve a house design that is at once visually pleasing and environmentally friendly. There are many styles of windows out there to choose from. The range of glazing technologies to choose from is also wide. What you need to do in terms of selecting the right windows, when planning to build or purchase a new residence is to consider the location’s specificities, your family’s needs and cost-efficiency. It may sound complicated, but, in reality, there are just a few pointers that you need to follow for good results.

Hot or Cold?

First off, analyze weather reports of the area you’re going to move in. Even if it’s an exclusive residential neighborhood, try to visit the location at least once a week for a month, prior to the designing stage of the home or the purchase. Every neighborhood, every block and every street essentially acts as a microclimate. Modern homes with good glazing usually take all the particulars of the location into consideration. If the area is particularly windy or rainy, you will want to limit the glazed area on your most weather-exposed wall. This will improve your home’s thermal proofing, while also preventing you from prolonged exposure to a drab, rainy and ultimately depressing sight.

Modern Windows

Framing the View

Lots of modern homes make use of picture windows, but knowing just where to have them put in is a skill that can be elevated to an art. Ask a landscaper or interior designer for help or make the choice yourself. Your goal is to perfectly frame the best looking part of your yard, garden or neighborhood with one wide window. Think about what you would want to see every morning, first thing, for the rest of your life. Is it the spires on the cathedral dome nearby? The park with its ever-changing leaf colors? Weigh your options carefully and also take into account the possibility that your neighbors might decide to build their own home right next to yours, thereby limiting your side views.

Modern Homes 2

Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors are all the rage with contemporary, modern homes. They open up any room and allow the interiors to engage in dialog with the outdoors. However, bear in mind that the exact amount of glazing you will have put in is the exact amount of glazing you will have to clean regularly of handprints. Additionally, glass walls, while striking and very modern-looking, also limit your home’s soundproofing and thermal insulation. This is precisely why floor-to-ceiling glazing should be primarily considered by homeowners who live in exclusive residential communities, preferably located in warm climates.

About the Author

Donna Jackson is a home improvement security expert and a contributor writer. She enjoys offering her expertise to homeowners and recommends sgg-ltd.co.uk for security products.

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Feb 27

Welcome Spring to the Neighborhood With Your Front Porch

porch

Once February hits, most of us are sick of winter and are suffering under the weight of cabin fever. Dreams of sunshine, singing birds and buds on the trees start to fill our heads. It’s when we start to feel like this that our thoughts turn to spring decorating. What better way to welcome spring than with a beautiful front porch? Here are five great ways that you can welcome spring to the neighborhood, right on your front porch, and if you’re decorating your porch on a budget, check out this great article on All You.

Paint

Look in the shed; chances are you’ve got a few gallons of paint. Paint the front door or just the trim. Adding a coat of bright white or even a pale yellow can lend a feeling of spring to even the dullest porch! If painting the front door is a bit too bold, consider painting the porch floor or even your furniture. Remember: it’s just paint! You can always change it back to the way it was if you don’t like it.

Wicker Furniture

Nothing screams spring like beautiful whicker furniture and colorful cushions. Look at garage and tag sales, flea markets, or even second-hand shops for new-to-you pieces that you can add to your porch. You don’t have to spend a lot to achieve a great look. Just remember to bring your furniture in for the winter or give it a good coating of weather protector; doing so will ensure that you can enjoy your furniture for years to come.

Planters

A few planters scattered strategically around your porch will lend a tremendous amount of curb appeal this season. When choosing plants, think mums, daisies and hydrangeas. Springtime colors like pink, yellow, white and lilac will look perfect! You can easily find planters at garage sales and flea markets, but you might find things lying around your home that you can use. Buckets, barrels and even large stockpots make great planters. To give your plants a chance to drain, drill holes in the bottom of your container or put a few pieces of Styrofoam in the bottom.

Greenery

Along with planters, various types of greenery will liven up your porch. Add a beautiful wreath to your front door, hung with a wide ribbon. Construct window boxes and plant shade-loving plants; ivy looks particularly lovely flowing out of a window box. Your greenery doesn’t have to be real; it just has to look real! Look around your local craft store and see what they have in the way of “fake” greenery. A few ivy vines will look fantastic hung over your front door.

Accessories

Since you can do all of the above on a budget, pull out your low interest credit card and use it to purchase new accessories. Porch lights, wind chimes, cushions and welcome mats are all easy ways to add a bit of spring to your home. Look at the front of your house from the sidewalk and look for any accessories that are outdated. Refinishing or replacing these accessories will make you feel like you’ve bought a new house!

You don’t have to go broke to welcome spring to the neighborhood; you just have to be creative. Take a drive around the block and see how others are welcoming the sunshine! You might just bring some inspiration home with you.

Andrew Bennett is a writer for granite credit card — check them out if your credit history is less than ideal.

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Categories decorating, Design, diy, Furniture, home improvement
Feb 27

Granite Transformations’ Recipe of the Month

Each month, Granite Transformations’ newsletter features a recipe from its “My Table” cookbook, a collection of delicious recipes from around the world.  In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we have included a recipe for Miniature Irish Potatoes from My Table, the perfect dish to use as a side or as an appetizer at a party:

Click Image to Enlarge

Click Image to Enlarge

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Feb 27

Project Feature: Anchors Up! Granite Transformations Transforms Boats and Yachts

featured-project

Granite Transformations, known primarily for home kitchen and bath makeovers, also has done extensive work in boat remodels, particularly those with kitchens and/or bathrooms that need a transformation for its current countertops or backsplash.  The picture above shows off the latest boat transformation completed by our Miami location.   What is unique about the Granite Transformations process is that our engineered stone is the perfect option for non-traditional remodels like boats and RVs.   With those super fast installations, remodels take only a few days to complete allowing no disturbance to the boat owner’s schedule.  Everyone knows you never want to interfere with that upcoming fishing trip or vacation to the Bahamas.

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Feb 27

What Does March Madness Have to Do With Home Remodeling

march-madness

Every spring, March Madness takes over television sets across America.  Arguably one of the busiest playoff series in college sports, March Madness shows the top college basketball teams fighting for the right to be called the NCAA champion.  But what does March Madness have to do with home remodeling? Well, not only is March the start of one of the busiest seasons for home remodelers, but the playoff series also inspires men and women across the country to update their basements or “man caves” in order to enhance these spaces before the next season. more »

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Feb 27

Why You Should Consider Eco-Friendly Floors

For those considering remodeling a home or those considering building a home, there are a wide variety of flooring options. Regardless of the material, color or style that you are looking for, there may be an eco-friendly option that will suit your needs. Eco-friendly flooring is good because it helps reduce indoor pollutant levels. Carpeting in particular can introduce toxic chemicals into the home. In addition, carpeting also holds a variety of allergens that can cause long-term health concerns.

bamboo

In addition to the health benefits that eco-friendly flooring offers, there are many environmental concerns that they address. Eco friendly floors are also generally being made without the use of harsh chemicals, the flooring is created from materials that are easily sustainable and provide long-lasting beauty to all homes.

Types of flooring available

Many people believe that eco-friendly flooring limits their options. However, this is not the case. Eco-friendly flooring options include hardwood, bamboo, cork, tiles and even carpeting. For those who have smaller budgets, there is also an option that is similar to linoleum.

Marmoleum

For those who love the look of linoleum, they may want to consider Marmoleum for their kitchen or bathroom. Marmoleum is the eco-friendly option. Marmoleum contains no toxic volatile organic compounds, commonly called VOCs. Marmoleum is available in a wide variety of colors that are suitable for any home. This option is also easy to clean and is highly durable.

Tile options

tile

Eco-friendly tiling may be created from either glass or ceramic. These are great options for both kitchens and bathrooms. These tiles are made from recycled materials and offer years of long-lasting beauty. They are also available in a wide range of colors guaranteed to suit any home. These tiles resist scratching and are durable and easy to clean. Tiling can be used in playrooms, or any other room in the home.

Eco-friendly carpeting

Typically when we think of new carpeting, we think of the “new carpet smell” that nearly all of us have experienced at one time or another. This new carpet smell is the result of harsh chemicals that the carpeting has been treated with. These chemicals provide stain resistant coatings but also add to the toxicity of the carpeting. In addition to the chemicals in the carpeting, glues and padding also contain toxic chemicals.

Fortunately, there are some carpeting blends that are made from post-consumer recycled products. Some carpeting is also made of wool or jute and have fewer toxic chemicals and also provide long-lasting beauty. These eco-friendly options provide all the luxury of carpeting without the harmful chemicals. Eco-friendly padding and glues for installation are also available.

Wood floor options

Many of us love the look of hardwood floors. When you want the beauty of hardwood flooring but want to get this look with the ability to continue to protect the environment, there are options. Reclaimed wood flooring is created by using flooring that is discarded from homes that were destroyed or renovated. In fact, wine barrels and siding have also been used to create reclaimed wood floors. This wood is carefully processed to remove metal from nails, chemicals and other toxins and is remanufactured into suitable flooring.

FSC-Certified wood is available in oak, maple and cherry and has undergone testing by the Forest Stewardship Council. Suppliers are required to guarantee they are following strict guidelines in preserving the environment. These hardwood floors are not only beautiful, but the material to create them is guaranteed to be replaced through replanting.

Bamboo and cork flooring are also available for those who want the beauty of a hardwood floor without contributing to damaging the environment. Because bamboo grows quickly, it replaces itself very quickly, unlike hardwoods that may require as many as 150 years. In addition, bamboo is extremely durable. Cork flooring offers consumers several colors and textures and can be purchased as either planks or tiles. Cork is stripped from the lower part of plants and therefore does not completely remove them from their natural environment. Some of the best things about cork flooring is it provides an insulating factor in the home, deadens sounds and may help reduce heating costs.

Eco-friendly flooring can add beauty to your home without the addition of harmful chemicals. In addition, these floorings are processed without harming the environment. The options are broad enough that regardless of what type of floor you are interested in, there is an eco-friendly flooring solution that will meet your needs. As we learn more about our ecosystem, each of us has a responsibility to ensure that we are doing everything we can to contribute to keeping our ecosystem strong. Electing eco-friendly flooring may not only help improve the health of our families by keeping harsh chemicals out of our homes but also helps make sure that we are not depleting natural resources.

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Categories Design, Environmentally Friendly, home improvement, remodeling
Feb 13

Bringing the Outdoors Into Your Home

Hiking isn’t just for the outdoors anymore.

The outdoors has been influential in interior design for years. From log cabins to Southwestern flare, all types of natural influences have made their way into our homes. But now more than ever, less “themed” inspiration is taking center stage.

Soil, trees, wood, stone…all of these come to mind when thinking of the outdoors. These elements are perfect additions to any space, allowing a room to look organic, rustic, and welcoming. However, we’re not talking gaudy outdoor à la dark woods, flannel, and deer heads. It’s easy to add outdoor influences in a modern and sophisticated way. Here are three ways to subtly bring the great outdoors into your home.

Organic Flooring

modern outdoor influence - flooring

Flooring is a great way to bring the outdoors into your home. By choosing untraditional flooring like beech you can completely transform a room to look light, airy, and clean.

Natural Vaulted Ceilings

outdoor inspired ceiling

If you have the opportunity to remodel your ceiling, consider adding an architectural statement with beams in raw wood. It can add some rustic flare while simultaneously giving off a streamlined aesthetic.

Stone Accent Wall

modern flooring inspiration for outdoors

Accent walls can bring a room to life and add to dimension. Rather than painting it a different color, why not play with texture and use natural stone? It can look both modern and welcoming when done using a stone with minimal lines and a subtle texture. Or add a bit more texture to give off the impression of a fireplace minus the functionality and upkeep.

modern outdoor interior design on walls

Adria Saracino is a freelancer, blogger, and home décor enthusiast. She writes for 5.11 Tactical, which sells everything from flashlights to its signature 5.11 Tactical polarized sunglasses.

Photo Credits: modern room, interior new loft, ethnic furniture, living room, modern interior room with nice furniture inside, modern room

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Categories decorating, Design, home improvement
Feb 13

7 Celebrity Kitchens that Resemble Their Owners

We’re all familiar with the phrase “pets resemble their owners.” We’ve found another resemblance to talk about: celebrities and their kitchens.

Whether decorated by professionals or the celebs themselves, each kitchen we found seems to represent its owner in some unique way.

Some kitchens, like in Elton John’s colorful L.A. digs, correspond with their celebrity owner more than others, but no matter what, we can always seem to find a hint of the superstar’s personality hidden somewhere when we take a look inside their designer homes.

Elton John

elton-john-kitchen

Not only does Elton John dazzle his audience on stage during a show, but photos of his Los Angeles pad have proven that the singer’s funkiness continues on into the privacy of his own home. John’s residence includes a colorful and modern kitchen, complete with a lime green accent wall and edgy, contemporary purple bar stools. Just like Elton, this living space is unique, vibrant and not a far cry away from the international superstar’s signature, wacky glasses.

Diane Keaton

diane-keaton-kitchen-L

Keaton’s more recent performances in flicks such as “Because I Said So” and “Something’s Gotta Give” have exposed the star’s outspoken, flamboyant and witty sense of humor. Keaton’s kitchen in her Los Angeles home reflects her “colorful” personality in every possible way: from the intricate mosaic tile collection that makes up the breakfast bar, to the phrase painted on the archway: “Home Is A Place Where When You Knock On The Door They Have To Let You In.”

Kim Kardashian

kim-kardashian-kitchen

While her rise to notoriety may be untraditional, when it comes to fashion and décor, Kim Kardashian really is as classic as it gets. The reality TV starlet’s kitchen reflects her simple, clean and refreshing style. Kim can typically be found wearing neutral color schemes such as black or white, which she incorporates into her kitchen with all white cabinets and dark hardwood floors throughout.

Jennifer Lopez

jennifer-lopez-kitchen

Although she claims to still be “Jenny from the Block,” most people today can agree that Jennifer Lopez is much more than just your average girl from The Bronx. In addition to dominating the entertainment world, the star has dove head first into multiple business ventures, including a perfume and clothing line. Plenty of natural lighting and open, airy spaces gives Lopez’s kitchen a girly and glamorous flare. The living space reflects the singer’s elegance and sophistication with soft, subtle blue and gray tones throughout her Hidden Hills, Cali. home.

Gerard Butler

gerard-bulter-kitchen

Rugged, masculine and rustic are all adjectives that just so happen to describe Hollywood hottie Gerard Butler and his New York City kitchen. The “300” star is known on the big screen for his muscular physique and unmistakable Scottish accent, but Butler’s old-world themed kitchen in real life seems to resemble the bearded actor quite well. With its rustic and dark wood cabinets, the living space is the perfect balance between gothic and masculine.

Justin Timberlake

justin-timberlake-kitchen

Sleek and smooth like his dance moves, Justin Timberlake’s Tribeca penthouse kitchen resembles the hunky former boy band member’s personality and music, with just the right amount of masculinity and modern flair. The living space features neutral gray tones with a dark hardwood floor, complete with stainless-steel appliances. Timberlake’s kitchen takes us back to his FutureSex/LoveSounds CD, where he posed in a black and white classic suit, similar to the looks of his very own New York pad.

Gwyneth Paltrow

paltrow-kitchen

Gwyneth Paltrow has become one of Hollywood’s most elegant and talented actresses with roles in flicks such as “Contagion” and most recently making appearances in Fox’s popular network show, “Glee.” Away from the big and small screen, Paltrow’s Tribeca penthouse features a kitchen fully decked out in white marble, white cabinets and long, sheer white curtains, resembling the starlet’s porcelain skin and slender frame. The light color scheme and simplicity of the living space makes this kitchen look just as graceful and glamorous as Paltrow herself.

If you want to follow up in these famous footsteps, it’s not exactly an easy undertaking. Redoing and modernizing your kitchen is a task all of its own, so when it comes to making sure it resembles you, it’s another added level into the project. Instead of working with a slew of independent contractors, find a company that specializes in kitchen remodeling, like Granite Transformations.

You also don’t have to pay for everything out of pocket cash. There are loans specifically for home improvement projects that will help you finance your remodeling costs. You can look to some of the big box retailers like Wells Fargo, Lending Tree or QuickenLoans, but a direct mortgage banker like New American Funding can typically get you better rates.

About the Author

Olivia Bubri is a freelance writer for 352 Media Group who has a special interest in interior design.


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Categories Design, kitchen remodeling
Feb 13

5 Must Have Features When Shopping For New Appliances

Keeping up with appliance trends can be difficult since most of us do not shop for appliances on a regular basis.  Appliance companies have made some big improvements to appliances over the last 5-10 years.  New appliances have more technology than ever, and they use much less energy than they did in the past.  But, what should you look for when shopping for new appliances?  Here are five must have features when shopping for new appliances.

kitchen appliances

Fully Integrated Dishwasher Controls
A common new feature that you will find when shopping for dishwashers is fully integrated controls.  What this means is that instead of the buttons being located on the front of the dishwasher, they are now located on the top part of the door.  With the controls on the top side of the door, it gives the dishwasher a nice clean look on the front panel.  It also makes cleaning easier because there are fewer grooves for stuff to get into.  To select and start the cycle on an integrated model dishwasher, you will open the door, select the cycle, hit the start button, and after you close the door the dishwasher will start the cycle.

Steam
Have you heard the buzz going around about steam washers and dryers?  You may be thinking to yourself, I don’t need steam in my washer or dryer.  Steam washers can be very useful for removing stains in clothing, and on some models the steam will even remove allergens.  If you don’t like ironing, then a steam dryer is just for you.  Steam dryers have a short steam cycle (usually around 15 minutes) for you to throw a garment in the dryer and it will remove odors and wrinkles, almost getting rid of the need for ironing.

Convection Oven
If you bake a lot, then getting a convection oven should be on your top priority list.  Convection ovens use a fan or multiple fans on the back side of the oven to circulate the air around the inside of the oven.  Doing this shortens the time things take to bake, and evens out the heat inside the oven.  There are two kinds of convection ovens that you will find, one has a fan on the back of the oven, and the other has a fan with a small heating element that goes around the fan.  The fan with the heating element around it will do the best job of baking and giving you consistent temperatures.

High Efficiency Washers & Dryers
Washers and dryers have changed a lot in the last ten years.  They used to be something that people would hide in their basement, but now people are showing them off on their main floor of there house.  Not only do they look a lot differently, but they also work and perform a lot differently too.  Washer and dryers now come in “High Efficiency”, HE for short.  The high efficiency washers have a larger capacity drum, use less water, and have a faster spin speed to cut down on drying times.  High efficiency dryers use sensors inside the dryer to sense when the clothes are dry to prevent over-drying and use less electricity.  A high efficiency washer/dryer set can really help cut down on the utility bills and save you money over time.

French Door Refrigerators
The old side-by-side style refrigerator has been popular for years, but lately french door model refrigerators have become increasingly more popular.  French door refrigerators put the refrigerator section at eye level, so you don’t have to bend over to access the items in the refrigerator section.  Since most of us use the refrigerator section more than the freezer, this is a big benefit.  Ever had trouble fitting something wide into your side-by-side refrigerator?  Pizzas, platters, and anything wide will easily fit into a french door style refrigerator.  And now the french door models even offer the ice and water dispenser in the door, so you won’t loose out on any of the features that your side-by-side model had.

This article was provided by www.partsdr.com, an appliance parts retailer.

Now here are some tips on how to save money on these appliances.

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Categories home improvement, interior design, kitchen remodeling
Feb 13

Buying a Home in 2012: Statistics of the Housing Crisis

Since the housing bubble burst in 2008, the United States (as well as nations all over the globe) has been struggling to right the ship after the storm. According to some experts, the storm has yet to clear. This leaves many homeowners and potential homebuyers wondering if the bottom has truly fallen out, or whether we’re in for another wave of plummeting house prices, massive foreclosures and government cleanups.

housing bubble

Image: DuMouchelle Diamond Exchange

Millions of homeowners are waiting to see if they should hang on to their homes in the hopes of recovering values, or whether they should just cut their losses and be relieved of what they would consider to be dead financial weight. On the other side are the homebuyers, also waiting to see if now is the time to buy, or if they should wait for further decline in home values.

For those who have questions, there are answers. But the answers may not provide comfort. Here’s a recap of housing market statistics:

In the first three months of 2011, the fewest new homes were sold than any previous three-month period ever, since records began in 1962. The last five years have seen a steady decline and experts believe it will continue.

In February of this year, housing starts (new residential building construction) saw its biggest drop since 1984.

The national unemployment rate still hovers around nine percent—improved by 0.08 since last year. Although not a direct indicator, it provides the assumption that unemployed folks don’t buy houses.

The Case Shiller House Price Index, which calculates a composite of house prices in 20 major cities, shows the average house price in January of $140,710, which dropped to $137,630 in March, then rose in August (the latest data available) to $142,840. Averages from the previous year show a consistent decline with brief increases since January 2010, when the price was $145,310.

With all the above information, we can see that there is no significant improvement in any of the indices, which would indicate a rebound if one was on the horizon. We can therefore posit with a certain degree of safety that the housing crisis is nowhere near over. Some experts predict that we will have several years of continuing decline or stagnation in the housing market before things start turning around.

As to when the crisis will end, there is no clear-cut answer. Numerous factors contribute to the stability and growth of the housing market—not the least of which is the general state of the economy. The most compelling factor in this scenario is the homebuyers themselves. The housing market will not recover until people start buying houses and people aren’t likely to buy houses until the economy improves. But, the economy is going to take longer to improve unless people start buying.

This “Catch-22” situation has many potential homebuyers frozen in their collective tracks. The truth of the matter is that now could be a great time to buy homes. Of course, two months or two years from now, we may see a deeper drop in home prices. No one has a crystal ball. But, what is known is that the economy and the housing market will continue to flounder until and unless homebuyers get out there and start the ball rolling toward recovery.

This article is brought to you by the writers from JW Surety, a nationwide surety company who sell mortgage bonds for brokers.

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