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Archive for June, 2010
Kitchen Remodeling Isn’t Just For the Pros: You CAN Update Your Kitchen Yourself!
Jun 6th
Kitchen remodeling is one of those major projects that homeowners are afraid to tackle themselves, but with a little sweat equity and help from the local home improvement store, anyone can renovate their own kitchen. Don’t be intimidated: if I can do it, so can you!
When I bought my current house, it hadn’t been updated since 1973. There was sculpted shag, white and gold linoleum… you get the picture. The flooring was an easy change. I ripped out carpet and put in Pergo Select, scraped up linoleum and laid heavy weight vinyl tiles that look like slate, and hired someone to replace the carpet in the bedroom. But the kitchen also looked like a blast from the 70s. After some thought and major design planning, I decided to tackle the renovation myself. The process was easy and my new kitchen cabinets look fabulous!
Step one was to assess the current state of my cabinets… I soon learned that the cabinets weren’t solid wood, meaning I couldn’t sand off the dark stain. That meant priming and painting! A light scuff roughed up the cabinets enough to take the primer, and then I painted the cabinets an antique white. To give them that professionally finished look, I took out the shelves and painted the interior, too. The shelves were finished off with a coat of paint on the bottom and contact paper on top.
The old cabinet doors didn’t have knockout center panels, so to get the glass-front look I wanted, they had to be replaced. I chose unfinished oak frames, doors and drawer fronts from my local home improvement store. To place my order, I measured each existing door and drawer carefully–measure, measure, and measure again to make sure your new cabinet doors will fit! I also made a diagram so I would know which doors went where.
Once delivery day arrived, there was still tons of work in front of me. I got out my trusty measuring tape and measured the cabinet door frames for the glass inserts. I gave the Delphi glass rep the measurements and the number of pieces, and she figured out how many sheets of glass I needed. Then, while I waited for the glass to arrive, I sanded and finished with doors with a satin, water-based polyurethane for durability and a beautiful finish.
Cutting the glass was easy, if a little stressful. Mark your glass with a grease pencil to make sure you get the layout right! This ensures you have minimum waste and you get all the pieces you need. When your glass inserts are cut, run a bead of clear silicone caulk around the inside edge of the cabinet door frame. Lay in your glass and secure it with glazing points; leave it flat until the caulk cures.
When the time came to install the new glass-front cabinet doors, I got lucky-my new doors lined up with the screw holes from the old doors. If yours don’t, simply measure the difference and drill your new pilot holes before hanging. The drawer fronts are not difficult to remove. and you can use the same holes to install them. You will have to drill the holes for attaching your pulls, though, so measure, mark, and pre-drill them before attaching the drawer fronts.
That’s all it takes: a few simple steps, very basic home improvement know-how, and the desire for affordable, beautiful new kitchen cabinets! My new cabinets are glass on top, solid doors on the bottom and look truly gorgeous. At a cost of $800.00 plus labor (all mine!) they were less expensive than all-new cabinets. I have a great-looking new kitchen and I’m proud that I did it myself.
Mary Freeland is an entrepreneur and founder of Just What I Want. She loves finding affordable, stylish home accents that make it easy to update her decor and has a passion to help others do the same. You can share these great finds by visiting http://www.justwhatiwant.biz and get helpful decorating ideas and tips on her blog http://www.justwhatiwant.biz/blog She would love to discuss personalized decor ideas with you-just e-mail her at tuscanhdd@comcast.net to make an appointment: find just what you want or figure out what you can do with what you have!
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Author: Mary Freeland
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Advice on AdSense
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Backyard Landscape Design
Jun 3rd
Have you ever thought you could never design anything? There are many people out there who don’t think they have a creative bone in their body when they couldn’t be more wrong. Challenge this thought by doing your own backyard landscape design.
Of course, as with anything it’s helpful to learn the basics first. You have to know which plants can survive in the area where you live and during certain seasons. You also need to browse through different designs that professionals have put together. This can serve as a jumping off point for your own ideas.
After you’re done thinking about how the professionals do it you can finally start drafting your own plan. This will include doing a total assessment of the current state of your yard. Just walk around and get an idea of any repairs that need to be made, trees that need to be cut down, and things of that nature. In other words, you can’t just create beautiful new landscaping over the top of something that isn’t so beautiful.
If necessary, you can do a clean up and stripping of sorts for your backyard. Get rid of the things that don’t fit into what you envision in your head. Are there flowers you no longer enjoy? Get rid of them. Take this time to get out with the old and in with the new.
After that assessment, you should sketch your new design out on paper. Try to draw to scale or you’ll have a mess on your hands! Speak with a local garden center about different options and browse through their isles to see if there are any plants and decorations that pique your interest. You may want to get a beautiful ground cover, or maybe you prefer vibrantly colored flowers, or easy to maintain shrubs.
Once you have your blueprint ready you can begin to buy all of the items you’ll need. Gather up friends and family because the landscaping itself is even harder than the planning! Be prepared to dig in and get your fingernails dirty.
As you go, take note of things that aren’t working as you envisioned them. That’s OK! Just be flexible. Since you’re the designer you can make design changes along the way. As long as you’re happy with what you eventually end up with, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t stick to the original plan 100%.
When you’re all finished you can really be proud of all that you have accomplished! It is truly admirable when someone takes action to do something that they have never done before. As you change things out for the seasons or try new things the process will go even better since you are experienced now.
Backyard landscape design is a lot of fun, and is something everyone can try. There is no limit to the beautiful designs you can come up with and create if you take the time to research and get your creative juices flowing.
Get ideas on how to create your own backyard haven
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Author: Florin Ciobanu
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Kitchen Remodeling Budget Preparation
Jun 3rd
When planning on a kitchen remodeling project, the budget is the first thing to consider. A realistic, thoughtful budget serves as a framework in deciding the extent of your kitchen remodeling project. Without a remodeling budget, your cost can easily exceed return on investment, not to mention affordability.
As a good rule of thumb, figure that 15% of your home value is a reasonable figure that you can expect decent return on investment. But the 15% figure is only a guideline. The actual figure would depend on individual circumstances. Personal enjoyment and livability are factors too, and you need to consider how long you intend to stay in the home.
One big budget factor is the ability of the homeowner to Do It Yourself or DIY. With a minimal skill level, any homeowner can save a great deal of money. Depending on circumstances, this could mean that more extensive remodeling becomes affordable. But DIY will take some of your time, and materials cost. It all depends on your ability, and the cost of labor in your area.
Don’t forget to seek advise from friends, or neighbors who might have already been through the process. Their outlook can save a great deal of time and money – especially if they advise you to avoid DIY and a particular job. Also they may know of any good deals, coupons, or promotions going on.
Speaking of coupons, you can always find some good promotions going on at home show fairs. For the tasks you do decide to hire a professional for, these fairs are a great source of package deals or coupons. Collect brochures from each company represented, and also think about which ones you feel most comfortable with. You may prefer a set, defined package deal, or you may prefer more flexibility with the offerings made available.
Even if you are uncomfortable with any level of DIY, there are still ways to save money and bring your budget in line with what you want to achieve. You can, for example, purchase the building materials yourself, which can save whatever markup the contractor might add. After all, it takes time to go out and load up on materials, so it’s perfectly reasonable for a contractor to do add a markup on materials.
After all the information is collected you can begin to put all the pieces together, and figure out how you can balance your kitchen remodeling project desires with you budget restraints. You’ll know where you can save money by using DIY or avoiding materials markup. There is one other thing to mention – and that is the satisfaction and pride of saving some money, and getting your hands a little dirty.
Scott Hares writes for http://kitchen-remodeling-pictures.com/kitchen-remodeling-budget.htm A free informational resource for anyone considering a new kitchen remodeling project.
Author: Scott Hares
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Outdoor Kitchen Landscape Design – Making the Most of Outdoor Entertaining
Jun 3rd
A luxurious outdoor kitchen landscape design can transform your backyard into the perfect location for entertaining ad relaxing. The modern conveniences that make life easier inside can be elegantly integrated into your outdoor space to truly extend your living area into the outdoors. Whether you’re designing a summer kitchen for the warmer months or a year round kitchen for a Mediterranean style climate, today’s outdoor cooking and dining areas can be just as beautiful, and as functional, as the kitchen inside your home.
Creating an Outdoor Kitchen for Living
An outdoor kitchen can be much more than a barbecue grill and a patio table. With so many options available today, planning the right design for you and your home can be a challenge. A professional landscape designer can blend all of your ideas and preferences into a kitchen design plan that will make cooking outdoors practical and enjoyable.
Once you have a general idea of the purpose and look of your outdoor kitchen, and have chosen a location, you can choose the appliances, accessories, and construction materials you would like to integrate into the design. Depending on your budget and the size of your outdoor kitchen area, you may choose to enjoy all the conveniences of a modern kitchen right in your backyard.
Outdoor Kitchen Appliances
The most important appliance in your outdoor kitchen landscape design is the barbecue grill. The possibilities available today are virtually limitless. Once you have decided on the right size, there are a few other things to consider to ensure the best grill for your needs:
- Think about the number of people you typically cook for outdoors and choose a grill with an ample amount of cooking space to meet your everyday needs.
- If you plan to cook full meals in your outdoor kitchen, select a grill with side burners. Some models offer one or two burners or you may choose a full-sized outdoor stove top.
- Consider other grill options that may add convenience to your outdoor entertaining, like storage cabinets and electric ignitions.
Complete barbecue islands are also an option for luxury outdoor kitchen designs. Either custom built or prefabricated, barbecue islands can be designed to enhance and blend with the overall style of your home. Wood, brick, or weather-resistant polymer are typical construction materials. A barbecue island is an elegant way to integrate outdoor cooking into your landscape design, with space for all your appliances and durable countertops for meal preparation.
There are hundreds of other appliances and accessories that can make your outdoor kitchen more functional and personal. From refrigerators to pizza ovens, your outdoor cooking area may soon be used more than your indoor kitchen. Outdoor bars, complete with wine storage and beer taps, are also common for entertaining. There are many other appliances and accessories for outdoor kitchens, depending on your needs and desires.
Outdoor Kitchen Materials
Choose your materials carefully when planning an outdoor kitchen to protect your investment from the harsh elements of nature. Materials that can withstand rain, wind, and humidity without cracking, peeling, or warping are recommended for a long lasting construction.
- Polymer and brick are both excellent outdoor materials that can be customized to suit your design.
- Marble, granite, and other natural finishes are ideal for countertops that withstand weather and look luxurious.
- Colorful ceramic tile brings an elegant decorative touch.
Complete your outdoor cooking area with a suitable dining area and use decorative outdoor accessories, like plants in colorful containers and matching weather-resistant fabrics, to blend this outdoor area with the inside of your home. An outdoor lighting system can add even more functionality and beauty.
Whether you’re planning a space to cook for you and your family or designing a spacious outdoor room for large-scale entertaining, a carefully planned outdoor kitchen landscape design will add value to your home and will bring you years of enjoyment.
Allen Quay is a professional landscape designer in the southern California area and specializes in custom high-end landscape designs. You can find more valuable landscape design tips and information on Allen’s website, the Landscape Design Advisor: http://www.landscape-design-advisor.com
Author: Allen Quay
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Electric Pressure Cooker
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Every Girls Room is Her Castle So Give Her the Princess Furniture & Princess Room Decor She Deserves
Jun 3rd
Many little girls dream of themselves as being princesses, if they don’t already believe themselves to be princesses in their waking life too. That is why princess furniture and princess room decor have become so popular, and on the top of most young girls’ wish lists for the design of their own private castles.
There are now girls bunk beds and loft beds designed in the shape of castles – with turrets and all. And because these princess beds are custom made, a parent can be sure that the unique children’s furniture they’re getting for their daughter is as unique as she is.
Once you’ve selected the princess castle bed you plan to have built for your little girl, you’ll have an easy time finding princess bedding to match. Pillowcases, sheets, blankets, comforters, even bed skirts can be found in all sorts of matching princess theme designs to compliment the color scheme, style, and – if appropriate – the specific Disney or storybook characters inspiring the princess castle bed you have in mind.
In fact, to make this most-personal of childrens beds even more personal to your little girl, you can even have her help select her own bedding and other accessories. Little girls love to design their own space – they’re little interior designers, each one of them – and participating in the colors and design scheme of her own princess bedroom furniture will make her feel like the special little princess she is, and will make truly make her feel like this new bed is her own.
Maybe she’d like to see flowering vines with colorful blossoms bursting forth from them, climbing up the sides of her castle bed. Or maybe she’d like an authentic granite stone surface instead. Or perhaps she’s more attracted to a solid pink exterior that glitters in the light at certain angles. And does she want a drawbridge, a waterfall, or windows included as well?
There are certain practical aspects of a castle bed’s design that a little girl might also like to be involved in. For example, does she prefer girls bunk beds, with a sleeping area above and below, or would she rather have a loft bed with a playing area beneath it. Or, on the flip side, would she instead prefer to keep her mattress on the lower, floor level, and have the upper level act as a balcony for playing? How to get up and down between the two levels is also a consideration. Ladders, stairs, climbing walls, and slides are all options to choose from, with even more exciting possibilities available when included in combination.
Other princess bedroom furniture to consider that seems to compliment princess beds well are dressing tables, settees, and of course, a comfy chair to call her “throne”. Kids bedroom decor that go hand-in-hand with princess beds include an enchanting mirror, flattering lighting, a soft floor covering, like a plush throw rug, and a menagerie of stuffed animals and dolls to act as her make-believe attendants.
Fortunately, many of the design elements of princess castle beds and accompanying princess furniture and princess room decor can be built right into the bed itself – storage, for example. Princess beds can have drawers, shelves, closets, display cases, and chests built into them for storing your little girl’s wardrobe, toys, plastic jewelry, dolls, dress-up clothes, and other trinkets and accessories befitting a princess.
Joann Means, interior designer, and her husband Johnny Means, master craftsman, have spent the last several years bringing fairy tales to life for little girls and boys alike, far and wide. Their creations are both beautiful and functional, stimulating a child’s fantastic imagination and never-ending craving for fun and excitement while at the same time serving a parent’s need for safety and security. Come see the enchanted realms the Means’ have already created for other little girls and boys at Sweet Dream Children’s Interiors (http://www.sweetdreambed.com).
The beds at Sweet Dream Children’s Interiors add color and sparkle, personality and life to any little girl’s bedroom, from princess castle beds to quaint Tudor cottages. What’s more, Joann and Johnny Means will help you explore ways to decorate the rest of the room so that your girl doesn’t only get a custom theme bed but a total custom theme bedroom.
Author: Joann Means
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Pressure cooker
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