Kitchen Remodeling in 3 Easy Steps - Learn, Plan, Quote

Kitchen remodeling is one of the best investments when it comes to both everyday use and increase in resale value. In addition, you might be able to save on 2236energy as well by choosing energy efficient kitchen appliances. You will also be able to customize your kitchen's overall look and feel by changing colors, reorganizing spacing, and adding functionality. Creating your ideal kitchen can be carried out in a simple three-step process - (1) Learn, (2) Plan, and (3) Quote. This remodeling guide will educate you about the many decisions you will have to make involving design ideas, surface refinishing, material selection, financing, and remodeling options.

The first step is to learn everything you can about kitchen remodeling. Regardless of how big or small your kitchen project is you will need to educate yourself on the following: designs, floor plans, appliances, cabinets, fixtures, countertops, backsplashes, floors, walls, windows, and ceilings. Each of these components comes in a multitude of variations and you will need to know which ones fit with your particular style. When considering the various options, you will need to factor in your budget, as well as the theme of the rest of your home. You would not want to remodel your kitchen into a modern look, if the rest of your home is more of a classic style.

The second step is to begin planning your dream kitchen. The planning process involves setting a timeline, defining the scope of the project, setting a budget, evaluating financing options, and prepping your house for kitchen contractors. Detailing out your budget will help you figure out both a time frame and the amount and type of remodeling that can be done. Financing options vary widely depending on the budget of the project. For small remodeling projects, you may consider using credit cards with low APR's. For more comprehensive renovations, you may consider either a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a home equity loan (HEL). The final part of the planning process is to prep your kitchen for a remodeling. This involves removing dishes, small appliances, valuables, and other unnecessary items such as plants, picture frames, ornaments, etc.

The third and final step is obtaining and comparing kitchen contractor quotes. There are two options here; either you do-it-yourself or you search for a professional kitchen contractor. Kitchen remodeling is one of the more difficult renovations and we recommend leaving it to the professionals. Many remodeling companies have large pre-screened databases of local contractors. To obtain a quote, you will need to fill out an online form outlining the scope of your project. This information will then be matched with the appropriate professionals in your area. The contractors will then call you and arrange a meeting time to discuss your kitchen project and provide you with a quote.

For more information on kitchen remodeling, please refer to KitchenRemodelPro.com's - kitchen renovation. Find local kitchen contractors and get a free kitchen remodeling quote today.

How to Improve Your Home?

An effective remodeling job might be as involved and complicated as a major build-out, or it might be as uncomplicated as changing the drapes and carpeting.

No matter what the project, however, it will need careful planning if you are to avoid expensive delay and unnecessary expenses. Planning need not be all that difficult, depending upon the type of job you are planning to do. Simply changing the color scheme of your bedrooms may only need a short list materials and an hour spent at the local home improvement depot. Pick a color from a chart, buy the paint, the brushes or rollers, a tarp - maybe even a little paper hat to prevent accidentally changing the color of your hair. Simple tasks need simple plans, and offer little danger of running seriously over budget.

Larger remodeling jobs, such as building an addition to your house, are major projects that need professionals of many stripes, and may include architects, engineers, licensed contractors and applications to the local government for construction permits. What if you wanted to change the look of a room by changing not just the wall color, but also the furniture, flooring, lamps and drapes? You can see that as more and more elements are added to the project, more and more time and planning is necessary.

As the scope of the project increases, so do the number of decisions you have to make - it's not just picking a color anymore. Do you need a paper-hanger or a painter for the walls, or should you attempt it yourself? Will the floors be hardwood or covered in plush wall-to-wall carpeting? Which colors and textures work best? Drapes or blinds for the windows? It may still be a do-it-yourself project, or maybe even a semi-DIY, but coordination with some contractors and fabricators will certainly be necessary.

The largest remodeling jobs will need plenty of help, since they are well beyond the skills possessed by the average homeowner. Building an addition to expand your home, or raising the roof to create more living space - jobs like this demand the use of several different professionals. Quite likely you will need to employ the services of an architect or engineer; you will need to hire a licensed contractor for the construction. You will have to deal with the local government for permits and inspections. Jobs such as this can be difficult to coordinate, and worse, any mistakes will be costly and time consuming.

Frank Sarntarpia
Home Improvement
Remodeling Blog

Kitchen Designs and Ideas

When you're trying think of potential kitchen designs it can be a long and difficult process. After all there are so many colour schemes and cabinet designs and appliances and a hundred other things to choose from, that getting the right combination is incredibly difficult.

The best way to sort through everything is to come up with a few designs based on one central theme for your kitchen. For example, many people like the kitchen styles that are synonymous with a certain country or region, hence why Italian and Spanish kitchen design are so popular. By choosing a theme you can narrow down your search and look for much more specific things to build up your kitchen design.

or some others, their designs will be dictated by the shape and size of their kitchen. For instance if you have to plan a small kitchen, then your choices will be much more limited and your designs will have to be built around coming up with clever storage solutions and fitting things in.

A great way of finding focus when things get confusing is to think about exactly what you want from your kitchen and what you're trying to achieve. You can then write a list of all the essential things you need and go from there. The style and look can come much later and you can find ideas from showrooms and looking online.

Also get hold of some software to play around with. This can be incredibly beneficial because you can input the exact dimensions of your kitchen into the system and then play around with different colour schemes and styles. This can prove an excellent source of inspiration if you're struggling to come up with kitchen designs you like.

The basic rule of kitchen design is very simple - plan. By planning ahead and thinking about every tiny detail, you'll leave yourself less open to things going wrong. The problem with kitchen design is that one small thing can trigger and domino effect and send your whole vision tumbling down. Don't get caught out like this and plan for everything well in advance.

Thomas Baugh offers more advice on kitchen planning at the Kitchen Design Site.

Installing Vinyl Fences

Vinyl fences are relatively novel products that are rapidly gaining in popularity. It purports hassle-free maintenance since it is made up of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is aesthetically appealing with designs such as post and rail fencing, traditional wood fencing, or decorative iron fencing. There are two ways by which the vinyl fences are manufactured: mono-extrusion and co-extrusion2223. In both the categories, the primary component is titanium oxide.

As a first step towards the installation of the vinyl fences, the ground is loosened by digging. The complete fence line is marked, taking into consideration corners and gates on the line. Subsequently, a string is tied between the identified points to define the length at which the posts are to be placed. The panels are then measured, and this measurement is extended along the line laid out from the corner post. It is mandatory that the stakes touch the string laid out, as this will enable them to be in order. At this stage, it is important to take the gates into account. Finally, the concrete is mixed to firmly fix the posts on the ground. This is probably the most difficult part of the whole process.

There are many advantages to vinyl fencing. It is cost-effective, easy to handle, quick and simple to install. It is made from non-toxic material and is completely recyclable. Of the nearly fifty available fence styles, the three most popular ones are privacy, picket, and ranch or Shadowbox fences. Privacy serves as a firm barricade and is mostly used around swimming pools and property lines. Distinct and visually pleasing picket fencing is used to keep children or pets in the yard. Shadow box uses alternating panels across the back and front of the fence to confer an identical look on both the sides; it also affords more air circulation.

Vinyl fencing has resulted in significant changes in the fencing market since its introduction, and it is likely to be the most popular choice in the near future.

Vinyl Fences provides detailed information on Vinyl Fences, Vinyl Picket Fences, Installing Vinyl Fences, Vinyl Lattice Fences and more. Vinyl Fences is affiliated with Ornamental Aluminum Fences.

Gutter Types - How To Choose The Best Rain Gutters For Your Home

If you are like most homeowners you don't give much thought on gutters and downspouts, but they certainly play an important role in the upkeep of your home.

Leaking rain gutters can cause a wide array of problems, from just an inconvenience of getting wet from them dripping on your head, to major damage with water leaking into your basement or rotting the wood on your roof and siding.

So, if you're looking to replace your guttering system, the big question is what type of gutters are the best? Let's look at the various types you have to choose from.

Steel Gutters

If you are looking for strength a steel guttering system is your choice here. Steel holds up to the elements better than any other type of gutters. They will basically last forever. The one major drawback with steel is that it can rust over time unless you treat them.

Copper Gutters

The durability and visual appeal make copper gutters an excellent choice for your home. They are easy to maintain and hold up to rain water very well. The major drawback with copper is that it can discolor over the years. What starts out as shiny16D0 and gold can turn to dark brown or green over time due to oxidation. With that said, there are sealants you can apply to help prevent this from happening. The tradeoff is increased costs and the time involved.

Aluminum Gutters

The selling points with aluminum guttering is their light weight and affordability. They are the most economical rain gutter option. Aluminum is not as strong as steel or copper, but they still hold up well to the different weather elements. Their biggest drawback is the maintenance involved. They require more frequent attention than other types of rain gutters.

Vinyl Gutters

Vinyl gutters provide you with a system that is lightweight and virtually maintenance free. They also give you a variety of colors to choose from that other gutters do not. The drawbacks to them are their lack of strength and the fact they are subject to the effects of hot or cold weather.

By the way, you can learn more about Rain Gutters as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com

Useful Bathroom Remodeling Ideas For You

If you want to remodel a bathroom and you don't know where to start, then bathroom remodeling ideas are only limited to your imagination. Even though your new design should take into account the existing structure, you can remodel one to suit your unique tastes without spending a fortune. If you need to be pointed in the right direction, then we've got some ideas that will help you create a personalized environment to unwind in at the end of a hard day.

If you want a bathroom that's unique, then build on an item that's significant to you. Perhaps you have a curtain that you love or an antique medicine cabinet that you stumbled on at a flea market. Let those items be the inspiration for the rest of the room.

The bathroom design elements will impact the comfort of the user, so consider how the room will be used. The elements you include in your interior design will depend on who is going to use it. Master bathrooms will be used more frequently than small bathrooms, so they require more personal touches than a guest one.

Beautiful bathrooms are not that difficult to achieve if you think outside the box. If you love to daydream about a vacation you've taken, then why not bring those memories to life in it? Tiling can be used to recreate the look of the ocean, paint colors can bring back the warmth of a sunset or a photograph from your vacation can be framed and displayed on the vanity.

If you haven't gone on your dream vacation yet, then bring the location home to you. Use metal framed Japanese lanterns to give it an Asian feel. Or, use rich colors to create a Moroccan retreat. Imagine how gorgeous plush hand towels will look tucked into an antique chest!

Even your favorite artwork or clothing designs can be fodder for inspiration. If there is a print or pattern that you're wild about, then transform them into bathroom remodeling ideas. Perhaps your best hounds tooth jacket can inspire a unique tiling pattern.

The bold colors of a Picasso can influence your paint colors. Most paint stores can color-match paints to come very close to fabric samples, and you can create stencils to help you apply a funky design to the walls.

If you're a nature nut, go crazy with soothing blues and greens to create the tranquility of a forest in your bathroom. If you're a movie buff, then why not use old movie posters for wallpaper? Besides being gorgeous, it's built in reading material!

It's likely that your home is full of personal touches, so your bathroom should follow suit. Your bathroom remodeling ideas should influence the way you choose to decorate.

Feel free to use your imagination to create a bathroom that's both functional and fun. Whether you want something whimsical, sporty or comical, design a room in which you'll love to spend time.

Visit Mike Selvon showers portal for more information on bathroom remodeling ideas, and leave a comment at our interior design blog. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.

Understanding Gothic Revival Architecture

Some architectural styles should never change. That's likely what many builders thought in the early 1800s when Gothic architecture was re-discovered. With its tall, looming lines and intricate facades, the style was as relevant and attractive then as it was in its original period between the 12th and 16th century. Many Gothic Revival structures throughout the united states have been carefully preserved, and new examples are always celebrated.

Gothic and Gothic Revival architecture is alwD84ays easy to identify. Buildings of this style often have high pitched roofs or spires, tall, narrow windows coming to a point at the top, exposed wood structural beams, and cross hatched decorative patterns. Because of its defining characteristics many people have the misconception that all gothic buildings are tall and narrow. In fact, some of the best examples of the style are squared or rectangular structures such as the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and the Saint Clotilde Basilica in Paris - the Gothic tradition in these buildings is as apparent as anywhere else. Gothic skyscrapers built in the late 19th and early 20th century, particularly in New York City, may be responsible for the style's most common interpretation. The Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburg, is another beautiful example of tall, narrow Gothic architecture.

Gothic architecture is widely accepted to have begun in the 12th century with the Basilique Saint-Denis in Paris, where nearly all of the country's monarchs were buried. The style quickly spread across Europe, and was developed over several centuries, with the last high profile example being the Chapel at Westminister, built by Henry VII in the early 16th century.

Gothic architecture never died out completely, but resurfaced less frequently between the 16th and 19th centuries, while post renaissance styles were popularized. The literature of the 19th century helped as much as anything to revive interest in the middle ages, as authors like Horace Walpole began to celebrate the period in their works.

The Gothic Revival was in full swing by the early 19th century, and came to America in the 1830s. While the style re-emerged largely unchanged, it was now being applied to smaller structures like homes and commercial buildings, as well as in traditional settings. Gothic revival architecture remained popular in the U.S. until the 1870s, although, again, it never vanished completely. Aspects of the Art Nouveau style of the 1930s can be traced to Gothic and Gothic Revival architecture, and occasionally a gifted architect is able to channel the original style in all its unmistakable stark beauty.

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Designing Your Bathroom Aesthetically

While redecorating your bathroom the way you want, you can wo1C80rk with lots of different ideas. Before you start the designing process, it is of paramount importance that you take into account the style of your own bathroom and be creative with your thinking. A few important styles include traditional, modern, country, southwestern and Victorian styled bathrooms.

You may explore the internet, interior decoration books and magazines and relevant home shows on the television to get ideas for the design and dcor of your own bathroom.

Below, you will find some natural bathroom design ideas that can enhance the overall look of your bathroom.

Natural Lighting

It has been noticed that soft and natural lighting in a bathroom are relaxing in nature. For this reason, there is hardly a surprise that majority of people prefer to install skylights in their bathrooms, that guarantees natural light in their bathroom.

If, for any reason, you are unable to install skylights in the bathroom, you always have a choice of a window to let the sunshine in. But this will only happen when your window is big enough to let the light and air inside the bathroom. You may also go for halogen lights. The best thing about halogen lights is that they give you more natural feel as compared to bulbs and fluorescent lights.

Natural Flooring

Your bathroom floor can also give you a natural feel, provided you are willing to put in some hard work. First and foremost, you have to get rid of vinyl and carpeting. Laminate wood or ceramic tile flooring is a much better option as compared to vinyl and carpeting if you want a natural feel in your bathroom. Secondly, the color of your flooring should be lighter especially if you have dark walls. On the other hand, if you have light walls, it is recommended that your flooring color is dark. If you have no issues in budget, you may opt go for natural stones as your flooring. Travertine and marble look absolutely fantastic in a bathroom.

Natural Walls

There are some people who ignore the significance of bathroom walls while designing their bathroom. This is not wise because bathroom walls can set the whole mood of your bathroom on its own. For example, selecting natural wallpaper for your bathroom not only gives a natural feel to your bathroom dcor but can also change the whole outlook of your bathroom. There are plenty of wallpapers available in the market that resists all of weather conditions.

To design your bathroom aesthetically you not only need expensive and beautiful furnishings, but good selection of materials and resources too. Only natural and balanced furniture that is complemented by proper setting can help you in aesthetically designing your bathroom.

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