Design Your Own Dream House

In the past, designing your own dream house meant grabbing a pen and pad of paper and spending hours meticulously drawing plans only to scrap them once you made a mistake. It was frustrating work. But, times have changed. Today, there are several house design software programs that can do the same work. Even better, it takes less time and allows for easy adjustments for mistakes along the way. Once a frustrating task, planning your dream house can be exciting again.

Using Software To Visualize Your Dream House

One of the most common problems people have when planning their dream home is trying to visualize how everything looks. House design software resolves this issue. It can provide a 3D interface through which you to view floor plans, walking areas, structural placements and more. But, some software programs are better than others.

Use a house design program that comes with preset floor plans and templates to get you started. Often, even if you have an idea of how your dream house should ultimately look, preset floor plans can get the creative juices flowing. The software you use should also be robust enough to allow you to modify the templates in any way you wish as you're designing the home.

Also, the software should allow you to plan the plumbing within your home as well as the electrical system. Some programs will even let you plan custom trims for your windows throughout your home. The more robust your software, the more flexibility you'll enjoy in designing your dream home to your preferences.

Designing Your Dream Home

If you're planning to design your dream house, using house design software can save time and make the process fun. Software shouldn't replace the skills and advice of a trained architect, but will allow you to create your home without the limitations of pen and paper. If you make a measurement error, adjusting your plans is easy and fast. When you're using software to design your home, the scope of your plans are limited only be your creativity (and physics).

Source: http://www.homedesignsoftwareinc.com

Get our free house design software guide for information about kitchen & bathroom remodeling, deck and garden design, floor plan drawing software.

Top Home Remodeling Trends

For many homeowners, remodeling offers a chance to improve their lifestyle. From bigger bathrooms and kitchens to greener living spaces, here are some of the latest trends in home remodeling and design options.

Lavishly expanded bathrooms. Master bathrooms are becoming an in-home oasis where people can go to and relax. Standard showerheads are being replaced with oversized rain showerheads, and those with the funds to do so are equipping showers with body sprays, steam showers, solid surface shower walls, and heated tile floors. Concrete flooring is additionally on the rise due to its reasonable cost. Stained concrete maximizes in-floor radiant heat and is a durable, easy-to-clean flooring solution that can refresh and update an entire look.

Larger, more functional kitchens. The kitchen is no longer just a place to prepare and eat meals. Today, it is also a place for gathering, doing homework and crafts, paying bills, and more. Kitchen remodels have expanded to include the addition of computer desks, comfortable seating areas, fireplaces, and huge islands. More and more mid-priced homes are opting for commercial-grade stainless steel appliances, and Viking stoves and Sub-Zero refrigerators are no longer only to be found in high-end homes. When it comes to cabinetry, maple and hickory are neck and neck with cherry wood in popularity, and the simple, sleek lines of Mission, Asian, and Shaker design can be found throughout the kitchen. Darker finishes are also a frequent choice for cabinets, with black and merlot the most popular.

Going green. The clunky solar panels of twenty years ago have been replaced by sleek integrated solar power systems that are capable of handling all the power needs of a house. More homeowners are looking to solar technology as a viable option, and it is even being integrated into the design of new homes. Some entire communities are cropping up with solar power as an available upgrade, and home remodelers can also add it easily. Sustainable living is proving to more than pay for itself, which makes it an even more desirable option for homeowners.

Neutral, down-to-earth colors. As homeowners continue to look to their homes as a place of refuge, natural and muted earth shades are being used in the home, making an appearance on walls, floors, and even cabinetry. Soft green tones, such as sage, have recently become a popular choice, particularly as an accent color on kitchen cabinets. The days of highly polished granite or porcelain tile are over, and flooring and countertop choices are also muted. In their place, soapstone and honed granite, as well as quartz countertops with matte finishes, are quickly becoming the standard choice of homeowners.

Decked out laundry rooms. The days of having an isolated laundry room in the basement are over as well. Filled with color and the best appliances, laundry rooms are becoming something of a status symbol. Families are spending more time in these larger laundry areas, doing more than just washing, drying and ironing. This room is now a place for completing messy chores, crafts, and gardening projects.

These are just five of the many hot trends in home remodeling. Before you begin any project in which you are unsure of where to start, don't hesitate to call a professional to give you design tips and construction management services.

Finer Point Renovations (http://www.finerpointrenovations.com) has earned an excellent reputation for quality craftsmanship and customer service over years of home remodeling in Metairie. Rachel Spohn is a freelance writer.

Hiring an Architect

If your dream home project has been in your head for a long time and now you are ready to move on it, the first thing you have to do is find an architect or designer who will put the plans together.Many have a difficult time finding the right person and knowing how to approach them.This process can be easier than you think if you prepare yourself with the right information.

Before going out to interview potential architect/designers, prepare yourself with the following information.This will allow you to better communicate the direction you want the designer to take.

• Size, Appearance and Function
  What square footage are you looking for?Indicate the style of design you prefer such as, Victorian, contemporary, ranch style or territorial.What will be the function of the space you are going to create?Do you entertain a lot?Does your life style call for a formal dining room?Do you need customized space like a hobby room or computer/media room?Do you have art pieces that need room to display?


• Your Budget
  Much of the design parameters will be governed by how much money you are planning to spend.Keep in mind that kitchens and bathrooms are considerably more expensive than other rooms.High-end fixtures, flooring and counter tops are also budget busters for many.Try to give the architect a range of costs you feel would be acceptable and within your means.It is useless to have a project design that is beyond your ability to fund the building costs.


• Materials
  Be ready to explain your preferences in building materials.Some people want to use a lot of stone and brick. Others cannot live without wood flooring.Think about what materials you want in your surroundings and be ready to relate that information to whoever you are interviewing.


• Time Frame
  When do you want to start and when do you expect the work to be finished?You need to know how quickly the design work can start and any time constraints you might have driven by business obligations, children's school year or vacation plans.

Armed with this information, you will be able to answer questions posed to you and provide answers that will be needed for the architect to suggest a good design andrealistic fees for the work.Be mindful that you will be spending a considerable amount of time with this person, so be sure they are easy to talk to and have an understanding of your needs and dreams.

Before committing to anyone in your selection process, be sure to ask the following questions:

How long have you been in business?

• Does your fee include job visits?If so, how many?


• Is your firm fully insured?


• How many people do you employ?


• Do you have a valid license?


• Do you use consultants?Who are they and how are they paid?


• Can you provide me with references?


• May I see some projects you have completed similar to mine?


• What do you estimate the costs of my project to be?

With these answers you will now be comfortable and confident with who ever you choose to do the design work.

After 30 years experience in custom home building, Bill Trimble is offering valuable information for the owner-builder as well as those proceeding with a licensed contractor. Information can be found in his book Screw It! I'll Be My Own Contractor. Go to http://www.maricopapublishing.com

Laminate Flooring For the Bathroom

The flooring that you choose not only makes an impact upon the dcor of your room, but it can also affect the budget and your maintenance needs. Laminate flooring is one flooring choice that is wonderful for bathroom renovations. It comes in many different colors and styles, to allow you to find just the right look for your bathroom to turn it from boring and dull to extravagant and inviting. It is not just beautiful, however. It is also easy to clean and take care of, which is why many homeowners turn to laminate flooring for their homes. There are other benefits to adding laminate flooring, too.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, then you will be happy to know that laminate flooring can easily be installed by you. Laminate can be installed over most existing flooring or over a concrete subfloor, which will save you time and energy in the installation process as well. It is a floating floor, which means that no glue or nail is needed because the pieces "float" on top of the existing flooring. The pieces lock together to create a cohesive and strong floor that will withstand wear and tear, giving you a durable and beautiful floor that you will enjoy and be satisfied with for many years. All you need to do is click and lock the pieces together and you will have a beautiful, inexpensive floor for your bathroom renovation or other room's renovation.

You want to take the health needs of your family into consideration when choosing your flooring, too. If you or a family member suffers from allergies or asthma, you will be happy to know that laminate is one of the easiest floorings to keep clean and healthy for you. It only needs to be vacuumed and/or damp mopped to help keep it dust and dirt free. It stays shiny without time consuming waxing and if you happen to scratch it, you can easily repair it. Most laminate flooring manufacturers include directions for caring for your laminate floors to keep it looking as beautiful as possible. Laminate is dust resistant and does not harbor any bugs that could cause an allergic reaction as well.

You can use laminate flooring in any room in your home. This is what makes it such a great choice. Kitchen and bathroom renovations are excellent choices for laminate flooring, simply because laminate holds up well to the activity that takes place in these much loved rooms. It stays looking beautiful and shiny with very little effort, too, which makes it great for any home. Laminate flooring will also work well in the living or family room. Adding the warmth of a wood grained laminate flooring can help to add just the right touch of welcomeness and warmness that you have been looking for.

No matter what color or type of flooring that you have been considering, you will want to check out laminate flooring. It comes in many different styles and designs from casual to extravagant to allow you to create the perfect look and feel for your room and your home.

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Electric Fireplace Stoves

You can transform any room with the stylish flexibility of electric fireplace stoves. They are wonderful for enhancing the ambiance of the room while taking up any space you feel the need to fill and not waste, as well as not taking up any floor space at all depending upon the model that you choose.

Electric fireplaces are essentially space heaters with a hot new twist. They are attractively manufactured and incredibly eye appealing. However, you should keep in mind that since they are enhanced space heaters that they will not produce as much heat as a wood or gas fed fireplace.

You must use your ceiling fans to help distribute the heat to other areas and never expect your electric fireplace to actually heat a bigger area than is intended by its use. Also remember that you do not want to place your fireplace in the same area as your thermostat as the heat from the unit will inhibit the normal start up of your furnace or central heating unit.

Depending upon your personal sense of home or office design you will find there are some delightful features and options available to you when you choose electric fireplace stoves. There are various styles, designs, sizes and finishes of fireplace units to compliment any type of room.

Such options and features may include a 2 speed blowers and distributing fans for heating as well as a programmable thermostat and temperature readers. The visual and audio effects are controlled as well as the adjustable 3D hologram flame feature, the dimmer and down lights. Using these you can create any desirable atmosphere from simply casual to mystic and romantic. You may choose from various styles such as a curio cabinet, television stand or a home entertainment center as a focal point in any area.

Creating an atmosphere that is heartwarming comfortable and visually appealing in every way while doing your part to make the planet a better place to live is an incredibly amazing feeling. You will be pleased with the effects you can achieve while using your new electric fireplace stoves.

View beautiful Electric Fireplace Stoves at EveryElectricFireplace.com. Click Here to find the stylish and beautiful electric fireplace you need to save money on heating costs today!

Sources of Heat Loss in the House

There are three main sources of heat loss in the house that when fixed may save you up to $500 per year. One source of heat loss that you may not have considered is the fireplace. Some homes have an open fireplace that is certainly just like leaving a window open. Warm air escapes through the chimney, which acts as a funnel, drawing air up and out. Even if you have a firebox installed into your fireplace and the gaps all around sealed, there is still the damper.

The damper creates an airflow without which the fire could not burn, but when there is no fire going, leaving the damper open is like leaving a window open. In fact, you could lose up to 30% of your air conditioning heat through the damper.

Not all houses have an attic, but many do, so if you have access to your attic by means of a folding stair, the ceiling and insulation will have been removed to install it. Frequently it is just covered up by a thin piece of plywood that may even have gaps around the edges. To find out, switch on the attic light at nighttime and view it from below. If you can see specks of light, there are gaps that need closing. In fact, the whole area should be covered with an attic stair cover.

The third place for heat loss is if your clothes dryer exhaust is ducted to an outside opening. Even when the door is shut, warm air can still escape through the clothes dryer. Add a dryer vent seal to solve the problem and keep out bugs as well.

Find out more about the Advantage Air http://www.advantageair.com.au range of reverse cycle ducted air conditioning including the Gen 3.

11 Tips for Stripping Wallpaper: How to Get Rid of Ugly Wallpaper!

I broke my promise to myself and stripped wallpaper again. The only reason I did this is for $100,000 profit. My family and I did not have time to wait for professional help. We sold our investment property before finishing the work and needed the home ready for appraisal.

While stripping the wallpaper, I realized that many homemakers get wrong advice for this horrendous task. After years of experience on over 30 houses, I offer my tried and best tips:

1. Use a clothes steamer or rent a professional steamer

2. Soak a large section of the wall

3. Run a "Paper Tiger" scoring tool across the damp section

4. Steam the section again

5. Spray the section with fabric softener and hot water

6. Score the section with the paper tiger again

7. Steam again

8. Remove any curling edges (sometimes large areas peel off)

9. Scrape with a six inch sheetrock blade

10. Repeat the above steps on the section until most scrapes off easily

11. Scrub with hot water, TSP, and a sponge with a scratchy surface

Cautions: Use the Paper Tiger gingerly so you don't scratch or gouge the walls. Use gloves with the harsh chemical TSP.

Don't live with ugly wallpaper any longer!

P. S. Please email me if you have any additional tips on stripping wallpaper that would help others!

Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author's information with live links only.)

Jeanette Fisher loves to help home makers create homes for glorious living. For free ebook on Interior Design Psychology go to http://www.joytothehome.com