Category: Basement

Bathroom Remodel

Small Bathroom Designs To Make Yours Look Larger

Whether your goal for your small bathroom design is cute, country-style, luxurious or kid friendly, it can be accomplished despite its size.

The following are some things you can do when designing your bathroom that will increase the appearance of its size.

Keep it clean and tidy. A messy, dirty bathroom looks bad anyways, but the dirt and misplaced items especially stand out in a small bathroom. If you walk in the small room when its messy, your eyes are immediately drawn to the dirt, dust, and clothes all over the floor. Not only that, but it will look even smaller. Keeping your bathroom as clean as possible, will help with create both a visually appealling and a larger appearance.

Eliminate clutter. Stacks of books and papers, too many toiletries, such as deodorants, razors, toothpaste, soaps and perfumes strung out on each countertop creates a chaotic and cramped space. Try to keep these things in a cabinet, drawer, closet or other hidden area. Have a small bar or dispenser of soap or a candle out on display.

Paint, Tile, or Wallpaper: When choosing paint, tile and wallpaper, its best to choose smaller patterns if you decide not to go with a solid color. Whether choosing a pattern or texture or a solid color, lighter colors are always better when you want to make the room look bigger. To create the illusion of a taller ceiling, paint it a lighter color than the walls.

Lighting and light fixtures: Choose smaller lighting fixtures because bulky ones add well, bulk. Recessed lighting fixtures are even better! Another tip is to add more smaller sized, but bright lights in several areas of the bathroom. This will really open up the room because there will be less shadows.

Storage: Corner cabinets or towel racks or standing shelves make great use of a small area. Store your items that you don’t want on display.

Flooring: Like the walls, choose lighter colors and patterns.

Decor: Mirrors on the wall are an excellent way to visually enlarge your bathroom.

Bathroom fixtures, such as cabinets and vanities: It is best to keep cabinets, vanities, and shelves on the smaller side. Less is more when it comes to small bathrooms. One to two on-the-wall shelves are plenty, for both decor items and for displaying your fancy soaps. A small, standalone sink will also create more space.

Doing all or most of these things will add both real and imagined space to your bathroom!…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Bathroom Remodel

Home Improvement Tips

Hanging a door is not so easy if you don’t know a few tricks. Here I will show you the easiest way to hang a door. Firstly we have to get nearest size of door to the opening that is already there.
Doors are manufactured in various standard sizes. The manufacturers also make them in what is called in the trade as blanks, it is a solid piece of door which you can cut the size out off. There are also firms that make special sizes but they can be expensive as they are making one off a certain size.
Firstly then, measure the original door size, check with your supplier if it is available. The size you have could be metric or imperial, that is it could be millimetres or feet and inches. The old door size could be I a smaller size that is a stock size, (standard size) which is a good thing, if it is then that is the one for you.
Some times with modern buildings you will find that you don’t really have much work to do to hang and fit the new door as the frame will accommodate the size that you have because these particular frames and doors have been specially manufactured for your home when it was constructed.
The older buildings are a challenge because maybe the building itself has sunk in one place or another leaving the door frames cockeyed or skew. I have personally seen some that are 30mm out of square and that is only in the door width, say 800mm or 900mm.
If you have a situation like this, check first that the door is fitting okay, if it is. When fitting the new door and have it on the trestles put the old door (when it is stripped) on top and use the old door as a template and mark around it. This is the easiest solution when faced with this situation.
Modern doors are manufactured sometimes with a hollow core to make them lighter for the hinges. They are like a egg box inside with a solid piece running all round to make the door rigid and give it strength. Cut that away and you are in trouble.
When you get the new door home leave it in the room for about a week so that it can acclimatise to the room because this door has been in a cold warehouse until you bought it and it has to get used to its surroundings. I know it is just a door but remember it was a living breathing tree once.
The next very important thing to look for (most people don’t know this) That on the top or bottom edge of the door there is a marking symbol stamped on the door, the symbol is “LOCK “,that symbol defines the side of the door where the lock goes. In the construction of the door the manufacturer glues an extra block of timber in to accommodate the lock. On the hinged side of the door there is around 20mm of timber for the hinge screws. Bottom and top there is the same amount of thickness, if you have to cut this off you can clean the piece up and glue it back in and clamp it up till it is dry. On the lock side of the door it is the same as the hinge side but the block I spoke about earlier is only around 300mm long so it is imperative that you get this right. Get this wrong and you will have difficulty fixing the screws to the door itself as you are only fixing to the thin outer sheet of the door, you would be better to throw the door away and start again as the handles on the door is not going to stay there with the steady opening and shutting.…

by Suzana Mikolova
4 Minute
Bathroom Renovations

Installing Custom Kitchen Cabinets Is an Art

The biggest expense you are going to face in the renovation of the kitchen is replacing your cabinets. It is not unusual at all to spend $10-20,000 on custom cabinets for a remodeling project and you want to protect your investment by making sure that the cabinets are installed properly. Most of the top end manufacturers will not even let you install them yourself, even if you wanted to. To qualify for the guarantee that comes with the cabinets they must be professionally installed.
Since you are spending so much on the cabinets to begin with, now is not the time to scrimp and try and save a buck. The good news is that whatever you spend now rebuilding the kitchen you will be paid back when you go to sell the home. Research shows that nearly 100% of the cost of a kitchen remodel can be recovered because it increases the value of your home. You are even more likely to increase the property value when you choose high end materials like custom cabinetry.
Since custom cabinets are being built specifically for your kitchen, it is going to be a very tight fit and that is why professional installation is so important. There are also considerations for working around the plumbing going to the sink and the vents for the stove. The process is not as simple as finding the studs in the wall and hanging up a couple of cabinets like you do to get extra storage space in the garage. The actual frames for the cabinets have to assembled in your home and then the doors and drawers are added later.
Custom cabinets will create an ultra modern look that is very trendy. The current style is for flat fronts with very little ornamentation. Sleek is the in term and that is the look that your installer will be going for. They can also be very creative in coming up with unique ways to utilize the space you have in your kitchen in the most efficient manner. A large food pantry is a nice addition with slide out shelves. They can also build special plate racks into the design or an under the counter wine rack.
Another classy addition that a skilled carpenter can add is crown molding which will finish off the cabinets in style. Moldings that run across the top of the cabinets are very popular and create a nice space for plants or vases. They can also use the molding to frame a kitchen window or door to match the wooden cabinets. There also creative ways which installers are building a casing for refrigerators and stoves which makes them look like they are part of the cabinets. Since the cabinets are being custom made just for your space there should be no gaps or openings. Want a wide screen television in the kitchen? Ask the cabinet maker to design a stowaway cabinet for it so it can be hidden away while entertaining.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Basement Renovations

Luxury Kitchen Renovation

Budget is the number one concern of people, who needs to go through kitchen renovation, surviving a kitchen renovation, is not that easy. But it can be bearable if you plan ahead of time with regards to financial aspect of this situation. There are ways you can do to stay away from stress while you are spending for your home renovation kitchen. With these simple steps you will be able to go through everything you need in no sweat:
1. You need to start by simply estimating the cost of a luxury kitchen design. You need to come up with a renovation budget so you won’t be shocked when the paying time comes. This is also the right time to decide on luxury kitchen ideas. You need to decide on paint colour, appliances, lightning and others. This will make things easier for your contractor when they start the renovation.
2. Work hand in hand with your contractor so you can be sure your luxury kitchen ideas will be met. You also need to discuss with them the timeline of the renovation. You need to do this so you will approximately know how much money you will pay them for the task. You need to take into account some unforeseen issue that may arise, add a cushion to your timeline to prevent it.
3. Instruct your contractor of things they need to do to prevent spreading of dusts and debris from spreading all over your house. This can be easily done by sealing the area where they will work on.
4. Temporarily, you can make an improvised kitchen near your bathroom or anywhere where there is a sink. You need it the most in washing plates and food. You can also ask the contractor to help you in moving your ice box in a safer area.
5. You can buy disposable plates, spoons and forks, paper towels and other things you’ll need to lessen washing dirty kitchen utensils. This will help you minimize the agony you need to face while the renovation is going on.
6. If your kitchen renovation will also last for a week. You can take your kids to a nearby relative or friend’s house to spend the day while your luxury kitchen design is going on. This will help them feel relieved of the stressful construction going on at your house.
Starting a home renovation for your kitchen is not that easy. There are lots of things to consider. You need to make a research first so you will be able to come up with a good budget that won’t sacrifice your idea of a perfect kitchen. Deciding on how much you can spend is very important. You also need to decide what to start first and what can be done next time will be very helpful to you. This will make your budget worthy in the long run. Some people prefer to do it themselves to save money. This can also be possible but it’s hard to do it perfectly especially if you are not really familiar with certain things about home renovations.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Bathroom Renovations

Custom Kitchen Cabinets – Choosing the Right Wood

As you are looking for custom kitchen cabinets, you’ll quickly find that it’s not as easy to choose as you may think. There are different types of woods to choose from, and you will need to carefully consider the pros and cons of different types of wood before making your decision.
When you are choosing those cabinets, durability, how they accept stain, and cost can be important. You need to consider cost, but remember durability is going to be even more important. The right choice of wood is essential because you need wood that is going to hold up in a kitchen, and not all types of wood do well as kitchen cabinets.
Some of the best options in wood choice for the kitchen cabinets include pine, cherry, maple, and oak. All of these wood types are great for the kitchen, but which one will work best for your kitchen? Which type of wood will fit your budget or which will meet your style requirements for your kitchen renovation? Here is a closer look at these wood options you can consider when you pick out those cabinets.
One of the options you have for those wood kitchen cabinets is pine. This wood is soft and can be found all over the world. Within the U.S. it is Easter White Pine that is usually found and this is often used to make cabinets. This wood is a bit yellowish in color and it has brown knots in it that look very beautiful. Because of the grain of the wood, it is a great candidate for staining and many people choose this option for their kitchens.
Another popular wood choice for kitchen cabinets happens to be cherry word. Cherry can be a light reddish brown or it can be a deeper red color as well. This is one of the more high end options and it definitely a bit more expensive than some of the other wood options that you can choose from. The great thing is that it is extremely beautiful in cabinets. Sure, it will cost you to go with cherry, but the beauty of your cabinets is well worth the money that you put into them.
You will also find that both maple wood and oak wood are popular cabinet wood choices. They are hardwoods that hold up very well in the kitchen, which is why they are so often used. Maple has a light color and the grain is very even. The oak is usually golden to reddish, depending on the oak, and it has an open grain. Both of these options do very well with stain and they are durable, which is important when you are choosing the cabinets for your kitchen.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Basement Renovations

Dare to Repair: Can You Handle Your Water Leak Repairs After Reading This?

Want to learn how to handle water leak repairs without calling a plumbing service, or just want to put your new Apollo Precision Tools to good use for small home repairs needed around the house when your husband handyman isn’t around? If you’re interested in putting your ladies’ tool set to good use, then pick up a copy of Dare to Repair : A Do-it-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home.

Written by two CIA wives who’ve had to make do and learn household repairs while their husbands were away on business, this book is an excellent reference to handling small home projects by yourself or with a homegirl.

Give Me the Specs: How is Dare to Repair Organized?

Dare to Repair is approximately 246 pages of content (the index starts on page 247) broken down into several chapters, as follows: Plumbing, Electricity, Major Appliances, Windows, Walls and Doors and Home Safety. Each chapter discusses the most common home repairs you may need to handle in your home, or learn about through a friend’s experience in their own residence.

Repair Name: Each repair is a subsection within the chapters, sans fancy names that confuse you. In other words, you know what the name of the project is or aims to accomplish, because it is clearly labeled at the top of the page on which the project begins.

General Introduction & Story: Small paragraphs about the authors’ experiences with the home project help ease you into getting the gist of what the project will entail.

Introductory Information: Articulate information about the repair and how it will help improve the quality of life (comfort level) of your home are provided as you transition into getting down to the nitty gritty of getting the job done accurately.

Directions & Illustrations: The directions are written in second-person format with basic illustrations to assist you in identifying key tasks. The narrative guides you through each step so that you don’t get lost, and the pictures include captions that allow you to understand the step(s) it references.

Tools Needed: Usually on the second page under the directions, you’ll see a small, approximately inch-long section that’s sectioned off. This section of the tutorial tells you what tools you’ll need – and includes a nifty illustration of the tool as well.

Sidebar Tips: Several tutorials have sidebars which provide an extra helpful tip that can help you get the job done more efficiently.A�

Who Should Dare to Repair?

Dare to Repair is a great book for any woman equipped with the right combination of spunk, guts and wit to take on almost anything that needs to be fixed in her home. This book makes a great gift and cute pick-me-up for the independent lady in your life.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute
Basement Remodeling

Laminate Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Lots of people don’t want to deal with the hassle of remodeling their kitchen. They don’t like the way it look but they’re not willing to put in the time, effort, and money it takes to redo the most popular room in the house. But it doesn’t have to create problems in the most trafficked room in the home and it definitely doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It’s possible that your kitchen just may need some new cabinets. This doesn’t mean you necessarily have to fork out thousands of dollars by tearing out all the old cabinets and putting in new ones. You could just look into some cabinet refacing to find the look and change the feel of your kitchen. A great way to do this without hurting the pocket book too much is using laminate surface for your cabinets.
If your cabinets and shelves are in good condition then you don’t need to worry about tearing them out, purchasing new cabinets, and having them installed as well. When you tear them out it also adds an extra burden on preparing food in your kitchen and puts you out of a kitchen for a certain amount of time. That’s why a lot of people find that their shelves and drawers are in good condition so refacing the cabinet faces, drawer fronts, and cabinet hardware may be the only things that you need replaced. There are a variety of options to do this with but the least expensive and may be the most durable is laminate.
Since the cabinets will not be torn out you will not lose any down time in your kitchen. You just need to choose the type of laminate cover you want on the outside of your cabinets and drawers and then also choose the hardware to go with. The handles and knobs can also make the difference in the look of your kitchen. If you are happy with the layout with of your cabinets you can add little things to make them more efficient by adding cookie sheet dividers or silverware separators in your drawers.
Laminate covers are much less expensive than solid wood or stainless steel cabinets. This will help in your overall costs of remodeling your kitchen. Your cabinet refacing project can be affordable but still allow you to change your kitchen enough through using the laminate surface for all your drawers and cabinet needs.…

by Suzana Mikolova
3 Minute