ALL DIY INFO - Home Improvement Blog » Plumbing

Pex Plumbing Tips

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:33:59 +0000

Because of the current economy, many homeowners are doing more of their own repairs, including plumbing. Be sure to check your local requirements, some areas only allow a licensed plumber to do the work. If you are allowed to work on your piping, here are some tips on working with pex plumbing tubing.

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How to know if Buying an Older Home is a Good Investment

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:58:02 +0000

If you are looking for a new home, or you are even contemplating moving, have you thought about what type of home you would buy? While new construction comes with the benefit of everything being brand new, they also can lack charm, and craftsmanship that many older homes exude. If you are leaning towards buying an older home, but are concerned about how to tell if it is a good investment, here are tips to help. While the ultimate decision will be up to you, buying an older home may be the best investment you ever make. Determine what is important to you: Depending on your lifestyle, your background and what you are looking for in a home can set your intentions for what you want from an older home. If you want a move-in ready home that doesn’t need any fixing-up or alterations, consider looking at older homes that have been renovated. While, many older homes may only need minor updates, like updating finishes and appliances. These in turn may be worth the great long8term investment and you may enjoy the craftsmanship of an older home as well. Older homes components: An important part of considering an older home is understanding what the pros and cons are. The reality of owning an older home is that its components such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, architectural and structural could have been there since the home was built, or they could have been replaced in renovating. While this can look like a con, having a home inspector research the components can determine if the home will need repairs, or if longevity of the components are in your home’s future. Either way, a good investment is knowing what you will need to put into the home to make it your dream home, that will in turn reward you. How to give an older home a new life: Many people can see a “diamond in the rough”, meaning the current state of an older home may be a turn off, but the possibilities may be priceless. Consider this when thinking of buying older homes. Qualities like custom woodworking, built-ins, handcrafted exterior details, etc… may not be able to be duplicated in new construction. With a few do-it-yourself projects, or hiring a general contractor may turn any older home into a labor of love that will bring countless advantages and enjoyment for your children’s children to enjoy. Older home neighborhoods: One area of buying older homes that people forget about is the neighborhoods that older homes have built a tradition in. In fact the term, “location, location, location” is still said today, and depending on where your older home is located, it may be worth more old, than a brand new home across town. Research older neighborhoods, and seek advice of neighbors and residents that have lived in the area for years or even generations. You may be surprised that the neighborhood camaraderie, mature landscaping, and established qualities may be more inviting than a brand new housing development. The decision to buy a brand new home, or an older home comes with questions, but you should rest assured that thousands of other homeowners have had the same dilemmas. Weigh what is important in your family’s lifestyle and what the total investment will look like once you acquire the home. While the financial investment is one component, renovating, and/or acquiring the history of a home’s life is another. Whichever you decide, buying an older home can be as good as investment as buying brand new, just do your homework to make sure you feel comfortable with your decision. Freshome reader’s do you live in an older home? What made you decide to live in it? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! 10 Amenities to Look for when Buying a Home How to Bring out Beautiful Details in your Older Home Quality Quest: How to pick out quality furniture How to Save Money when Buying Home Appliances Things You Should Know before Buying a New Bed How to Buy the Perfect Furniture for a Nursery Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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How to know if Buying an Older Home is a Good Investment

Could You Get Paid to DIY?

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:33:04 +0000

Filed under: Kitchen & Bath , Small Projects , Essential Skills , Know-How In England, two landlords are testing a system that pays tenants to do their own routine repairs. Will it catch on? If you’re going it anyways, shouldn’t you get the cash? Photo: Getty Ever find yourself unclogging your drain or repairing a chipped tile and grumbling “I should really be paid for this”? England’s National Housing Federation feels your pain. The BBC reports that housing associations and councils spend about $1,633 on repairs per property, per year. So doesn’t it make sense to put the money in the hands of the renters, rather than the contractors? No, that doesn’t mean renters will be in charge of everything that goes wrong — just the little things. Landlords will still be responsible for uneven floorboards, where-did-those-come-from ceiling leaks and complicated plumbing issues . And for the truly anti-DIY crowd , fear not: Tenants are allowed to use the cash for hiring help on their own…or perhaps buying dinner for a particularly handy friend. And while some skeptics might argue that simply paying tenants to take on a landlord’s duties makes things more difficult for the renter, consider this: With the easier stuff pushed off their plates, wouldn’t landlords be better equipped to handle major repairs? After all, if my landlord didn’t have to deal with every one of my 29 building-mates calling to get a fix for their chipped sink, maybe he’d have time to tackle that weird water sound happening in all of our bathrooms. Or get the washing machine to stop eating my quarters. And he’s not the only person to benefit — if I knew I could get paid for painting over the spackle he placed after a minor leak, I’d get around to it much sooner. Housing Minister Grant Shapps says it best: “When residents take pride in their homes it saves their landlords cash, so I think it’s right that tenants should benefit too.” What do you think: Would you welcome cash-for-DIYing? Or do you want all home repair issues off your to-do list? What about you? All DIY Info | All DIY Info | Linking Blogs | All DIY Info

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Why Building Permits are a Must!

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:38:31 +0000

by Robert Wright Many times I get asked about permits for a renovation project. Many people don’t want to spend the money or are private. They also don’t understand why they are needed and when. It’s about your safety (and peace of mind). I have again visited a renovation gone bad. As we discuss the various issues, I asked if they have had any permits pulled….the answer was “I don’t know”. This is the wrong answer. It also confirmed some of my thoughts about the project. Not a good situation all way round. So how hard is it to get a permit? An electrical permit is done with a phone call to ESA. Homeowners can pull one as well as an electrician. ESA has been getting very tough on non permit installations. This is because too many people are getting hurt and houses are burning down. With current regulations, a building permit has to be issued in 2 weeks if there are no problems with the application and other documents. It usually takes the design professional at least 2 weeks to produce drawings suitable for the application process. What about a building permit? Every municipality is a bit different about which permits are required when. When you are only changing finishes, usually no permits are required. You will need a building permit for most renovation work and usually also a plumbing permit. In addition, you may need a HVAC and gas permit. The biggest expense for a building permit is not the fee. It is preparing the drawings and documents for the permit application. The architect, interior designer, and/or the engineer make sure what will work well for you and ensure it will stand up. The design fee can range from about $1k to many k’s. The permit fees can be less than $100.00. So what does a permit give you? The biggest thing it gives you is peace of mind and safety. When you apply for permits the city confirms that nothing being planned has a code issue. When you have the new work inspected at the various stages, they confirm that the work is competed to code. So how does this give you peace of mind? God forbid you have a major problem and you have to make an insurance claim. One of the first questions you will be asked is “Who did the work and was permit “pulled”?” The worse case scenario is the insurance company denies the claim or they pay out the claim and you can not get insurance in the future. As Clint once said, “do you feel lucky?” About the Author Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com . Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote .

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10 Amenities to Look for when Buying a Home

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:04:02 +0000

Now that spring is here, buying and selling homes is an objective for many of you, who have waited patiently all winter to start your home search. Whether this is your first home or you are a veteran, there are amenities that you should keep an eye out for when looking to buy a home. While many people can stage and make a house look good, remember once their belongings are taken with them, the house will remain. Therefore, look at these 10 amenities when considering buying a home, to help assure you of getting a worthwhile investment. 1. Look at the kitchen appliances: One of the most expensive parts of homes are the appliances. The age, care, and condition of the kitchen appliances in the home will have a direct impact as to whether you will need to buy new ones, or if they will need to be serviced anytime soon. Go ahead… open the refrigerator! 2 . Finishes and materials: Once you know your price range, know what finishes are expected in your price point. Less expensive home will use vinyl flooring, lower end carpet and possible plastic laminate counters in kitchen and baths. While higher end homes may use more resilient flooring such as tile and wood, and solid surfacing in kitchens, such as granite or slate. Knowing what is expected in your price category will help you determine if the home you’re looking at is a deal or not. 3. Pay attention to the ceiling: The ceiling is a telltale place for water spots to show from possible leaks and cracks from structural damage. Pay attention to cracks in drywall, wall surfaces, and where the ceiling meets the wall for warning signs. 4. Outdoor areas of the home: Don’t forget to look at the roof, gutters, downspouts, and inspect the outdoor condition of the home. Especially older homes, try to find out from your Realtor or the previous homeowner when maintenance or replacements have been conducted in the past. 5 . Look at the neighborhood: Yes, your house is important, but the safety, location, and proximity to several amenities should be considered as well. Research nearby schools if you have children, as well as travel time to work, stores, and how your neighborhood is laid out. Feel just as comfortable with your neighborhood as your house. 6 . Upgrades versus standard amenities: If you are purchasing a brand new home from a builder, know what are upgrades versus standard amenities when looking at homes. Most model homes will have quite a few upgrades to show the homes in their “highest quality” state. While upgrades don’t mean the home is built any better or worse than homes with less upgrades. Once again, this information will help you be an informed homebuyer. Don’t allow yourself to buy a more expensive home than you budgeted for because of upgrades. Knowing your price point will keep you disciplined. 7 . Bathroom amenities: Similarly to the kitchen, look at the bathroom plumbing fixtures, shower/tub to see what condition these amenities are in. For older homes, if you know you will need to do a remodel or renovation in the future, you should be prepared to know this reality when looking at the home, not after you move in. 8 . Major systems: Take a look at the heating/air conditioner unit, hot water heater, and other major systems in the house when looking at homes. These systems can be costly if they are left in disrepair for too long. While you may not need to look at these until you are settling on one specific house, its good to keep on your checklist. 9. Homeowner added amenities: For resale homes, many homeowners have already upgraded the home on their own. From adding a swimming pool and deck in the backyard to crown molding and built in cabinets in the living room. Most homeowners will state what upgrades they have put into the house, and what the approximate cost it was to upgrade. Use this information when comparing like properties in a similar neighborhood, city, etc… 10. Look for a paper trail: Especially when buying a resale home, seek a paper trail, or a list of receipts and/or documents of repairs, upgrades, and services added to the home over the years. Similarly to buying a used car, the more informed you are, the more ideal buying a home from that individual will feel. Amenities in a home can be attractive, but if the homeowner can’t tell you who upgraded it and when, you may want to move on to the next house. Looking for a new home can be exciting, and at times nerve racking! Even though it can be both of these, looking for a home is an essential part of life, and believe it or not, it is the best investment you can ever make. Decide what amenities you have to have, and which ones you’d prefer, but don’t have to have. Use this 10 amenities list to help you know what to look for when looking for the perfect home. Freshome readers have you started looking for your next home yet? What amenities do you look for first? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! The Pros and Cons of Buying a New vs. Pre-owned Home What was the last product you’ve bought online for your home ? How to Plan a Personalized Gym for your Home Top Home Improvement Retailer Home Depot hit by Recession How to Plan a Recreational Bar for your Home The Pros and Cons of Hardwood vs. Laminate Wood Flooring Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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10 Amenities to Look for when Buying a Home

10 Amenities to Look for when Buying a Home

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:04:02 +0000

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10 Amenities to Look for when Buying a Home

Remodeling Your Home

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:58:16 +0000

A recent report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University predicted that remodeling would rebound strongly this year with an estimated growth of 9.1 percent for the first quarter and 12.1 percent for the second quarter. The study found the remodeling market held up far better than housing construction during the recession, with annual spending still close to $300 billion. Kermit Baker, director of the remodeling futures program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies, said that remodeling nationwide was likely to remain strong as homeowners who put off maintenance and improvement projects began to spend more freely again. The study also found that the industry was beginning to benefit from the rehabilitation of foreclosed properties. A group of leading insurers said renovations are a constant source of large claims on homeowners’ policies. And among claims, fire is the most common cause. Claims from Insurance Companies for fires started by electricians, plumbers and contractors in homes were for over $4 million across the nation. While these claims were paid, the homeowners’ losses went beyond the financial. Not only were they out of their house, but they also lost personal items. So with the spring renovation season beginning – what should prospective renovators keep in mind? WHY THE REBOUND? It may seem counterintuitive that even as the housing market continues to suffer and the economic recovery feels tentative, the renovation market is picking up. But Mr. Baker pointed out that while home sales and construction were linked to mortgage rates, renovations were determined more by income levels and job security. He said during the peak years of 2006 and 2007, only 30 to 35 percent of renovations were financed through home equity loans or second mortgages. Last year, that number dropped to 15 to 20 percent. There is more growth in smaller projects — energy-efficient windows and heating and air-conditioning systems — than in full-scale additions and expected continued growth across all types of renovations. PRECAUTIONS AND RISKS Whether the homeowner wants to add a new kitchen or repair years of neglect, the cause of renovation problems is the same. Homeowners are concentrating on the outcome, not on managing the process. So what should you consider before starting? Personal construction projects without the help of contractors can last a lot longer than expected. Any homeowner planning a sizable renovation should hire a contractor, for efficiency and safety, insurers say. A contractor could help move the project along and he should bring his own liability coverage and enough insurance to rebuild your house in case of fire. Hiring a contractor is also helpful because you need someone who is fully versed in bringing on subs, who can read plans, who understands the licensing process. The other conversation to have with a contractor is about how he will dispose of flammable liquids and manage the use of tools like blow torches. Insurers also feel more comfortable when the owner is living in the home during the renovation. Renovations where people have to stay elsewhere and not in the home can be exposed to not just fire and damage but vandalism and theft. THE RAG THREAT The best policy is vigilance. The top thing to monitor is oily rags, which strike fear into the hearts of risk assessors. These rags catch fire easily if they are not disposed of properly. The accumulation of the fumes from stain, varnish, and even paint could set them off – a spark or a pilot light. The solution is to make sure the rags are put away or stored in a locked, fireproof box at the end of each day. Second on the risk list is the debris from the welding and soldering equipment used on roofs or for installing plumbing and electrical wiring. A common disaster happens when a pipe is welded but no one checks to see if any solder has fallen onto the debris below. It can smolder for hours and catch fire later that night. Thinking about the disasters that can befall your home for the sake of a nicer, updated bathroom may put a damper on some people’s enthusiasm. It can be scary, but if you take certain precautionary measures, it can be fun and successful and make your home the dream home you’ve worked so hard at building/renovating. Source: NY Times If your planning to sell your home contact Sunset Park Realtors your number one source in Santa Monica for all your real estate needs.

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Remodeling Your Home

How to Modernize your Bathroom with Vessel Sinks

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 09:58:18 +0000

Bathrooms have come a long way in the past years, and finding ways to modernize a current bathroom is always a challenge of many homeowners. The most common way to bring an outdated bathroom up to modern day design trends is to update the major components: bathtub/shower, and sink. Since your guests use the sink every time they enter the bathroom, vessel sinks are a modern amenity that gives a lot of “bang for your buck”, and it gives an instant wow factor that homeowners and guests appreciate. Here are tips for modernizing your bathroom with vessel sinks. Choose a sink that reflects in your bathroom : Vessel sinks come in a variety of styles to match any decorative style you may have in your bathroom. If your bathroom is a natural blend of Zen inspired influences, a natural stone vessel sink may be more in tune with your decorative style. While a modern and minimalistic bathroom with sleek cabinetry and fixtures may opt for a glass or lacquered look finish sink with complimentary plumbing controls. Make your vessel the showstopper of the bathroom: The joy of vessel sinks is their ability to show off their functionality and beauty at the same time. Create a focal point of your bathroom with vessel sinks that look as beautiful as their duty. From vessel sinks that infuse a lighting fixture from below, to vessel sinks that look like a piece of artwork. Discover why homeowners love their unique vessel sinks. Coordinate the plumbing controls with the sink: Plumbing fixture controls have had to step their “game” up too, with the onset of popularity of vessel sinks. Since vessel sinks can have a small or large profile (the distance the bowl sits above the counter) this dictates what type of plumbing fixture controls you will need. Deck mounted, or faucets and controls that come out of the counter are an option, but will need a long neck. Wall mounted fixtures that extend from the wall is a gorgeous option that resembles a water fountain coming from the wall, and will require enough extension of the faucet to reach the sink bowl. Versatile vessel sinks: While many homeowners enjoy having vessel sinks in the guest bathroom as a show-off piece, vessel sinks are also popular in children’s bathrooms and the master bathroom. Scaled down versions of giant bowls can be used for the kids, while vessel trough sinks that feel like you’re bathing out of an artisan crafted basin are popular too. For inspiration, visit sink manufacturer’s catalogs and online display of ideas for any bathroom in your home. Adding a vessel sink in your bathroom can modernize and enhance your the aesthetics of your space. From the guest bathroom to the master, vessel sinks add a touch of modern sophistication to any bathroom. For a more dramatic presentation, consider visiting home builders trade shows, and home & patio shows in your local area. You will be pleasantly surprised of all the new vessel sinks on the market! From innovative materials, like metals, and temperature sensitive glass sinks to sinks that have changing lights and colors! Modernize your bathroom today with a beautiful vessel sink. Freshome reader’s, do you have a vessel sink in your home? Tell us what you love about it. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Interesting Bathroom Sinks from Amin Design Beautiful Modern Bathroom Design : Grandangolo Sink from Hatria 5 Simple Ways to Modernize and Restore Your Home The Contemporary-Style 23” Balboa Corner Glass Vessel Sink Vanity How to Creatively Update your Bathroom on a Budget How to Enhance your Home with Innovative Sinks Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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Don’t Try These Designs at Home

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:20:39 +0000

Our panel of builders and architects weigh in on trends, practices, and products to avoid. By: Nigel F. Maynard Related Articles Save / Share Trend reports from most media outlets—this one included—usually advise builders and consumers on what types of features are hot and desirable, and what they should use in their homes. This is not that kind of trend report. We thought we would take a different approach this time, so we called up some of our old (and new) architect and builder friends and asked them what kinds of features and products they are avoiding in their homes. “Recent residential real estate market volatility has revealed quite a few more ‘don’ts’ than we had previously encountered,” says architect Bill Moore, president of Sprocket Design-Build in Denver. “The current market has really not tolerated or rewarded many features, and all buyers and appraisers are largely concerned with is square footage–based value, which is undoubtedly bad for architecture.” Indeed, the market has already killed many of the “custom” features that became almost standard during the boom when everyone had access to easy credit. The days of frivolous add-ons are gone (for now, anyway), but what about those things that builders and architects do every day? For example, some architects and builders are advocates of separating the garage from the house. It frees up the space you need to heat and cool, and it reduces the risk of exhaust contamination in the house. But this will be a hard sell. Home buyers are accustomed to attached garages and will give them up when you pry them from their cold, dead hands. And there are more. We’re not here to judge, but we are almost certain that you are using some of the “don’ts” listed here either because you don’t agree with these professionals, the features don’t bother your buyers, or they are acceptable in your market. Either way, we’d love to hear from you. Are there design features you are avoiding in your market? What do you think of our list? Drop us a line in the comments section and let us know. What Not to Do Bill Moore, AIA Sprocket Design-Build Denver www.sprocketdb.com Gadgets. “This would include additional appliances and systems that take a fair amount of energy and planning but return very little usefulness. Included in this category are in-wall vacuum systems, built-in espresso makers (especially in areas other than the kitchen), beer tap dispensers, independent ice-makers, extraneous TVs everywhere.” Using every green product. “In a rush to be green, many folks are buying silly products and incorporating systems, when thoughtful design would be much more appropriate and green…. A recycled product is not nearly as green as not using a product at all. A smaller home is a greener home.” Roof Decks. “These should be used sparingly and judiciously. The cost to install properly and the risk they create to a builder, architect, and homeowner are considerable.” Beware the spiral stair. “These look great in architectural renderings and lend a bit of charm, but they really function poorly and once owners live with one, I have found that their opinion of it degrades rapidly.” Donald Jacobs, FAIA JZMK Partners Irvine, Calif. www.jzmkpartners.com Fireplaces in the master bath and master bedroom. “Rarely, when installed, have I ever heard of anyone using them more than a couple of times in the first year and then never after that.” Ed Binkley, AIA Ed Binkley Design Oviedo, Fla. www.edbinkleydesign.com . Powder room close to kitchen or dining room. “Not very appetizing for diners or users.” Direct view of master bed wall from living/public section of house. “This necessitates the door staying closed or the bed staying made and the room straight.” Inadequate corner space. “Window jamb minimum of 8” from a corner for window treatments or 18” to 24” if furnishing is to be in the corner.” Overlapping door swings. “Use more pockets with good hardware. They don’t require one door to shut for another to open.” No daylight visible from front door. “Seeing daylight will lead you through spaces.” Stairs that bottom out at front door. “Just plain bad chi.” Bed walls on same wall as access door. “Always have bed wall opposite the door.” Oversized tubs in master bath. “You get much more use of an oversized shower, especially if it has access to an outdoor private courtyard.” Too many places to eat. “Do we really need a dining room, breakfast room, breakfast bar, and outdoor dining areas? Delete or put spaces to better use.” Oversized kitchens. “It’s not just about the triangle. It’s also about the work zone. Understand how the kitchen should work for multiple cooking and entertaining functions. Pay attention to the Food Network.” Peter L Pfeiffer, FAIA, LEED AP Barley & Pfeiffer Architects Austin, Texas www.barleypfeiffer.com . Cars in your house. “Attached garages are a major cause of poor indoor air quality, especially in homes with central air conditioning and forced air heating.” Chemicals (such as those automatically dispensed via the built-in-the-wall termite and insect repellant systems). “Stop using chemical pretreatment for termites under the foundations. I strongly suggest permanent termite barriers in the form of a stainless steel mesh such as the Australian TermiMesh system.” Commercial stoves and over-sized exhaust hoods. “The products of combustion from a gas stove do affect those with multiple chemical sensitivities, so look into the resurrection of an old 1970s idea—the induction cooktop, which is closer to 85% efficient in terms of usefully applying its input energy into heating your food. Also, oversized exhaust hoods can depressurize a home causing back-drafting down chimney flues, etc.—so you could end up replacing those fishy kitchen odors with bad air sucked in from your garage or down the chimney.” Chad Ludeman Postgreen Philadelphia www.postgreen.com www.postgreenhomes.com Tile beds. “We used to install full wet beds for the showers, which takes a few days and creates odd transitions. Now we install prefab fiberglass shower basins that are always the same size and do not affect transitions.” Plumbing fixtures with long lead times. “We have eliminated some plumbing fixtures that we cannot get easily within two weeks. Some have four- to eight-week lead times.” Anything fully custom. “[They] will delay production, so we try to avoid it. We don’t even let our countertop installers come in and do a template. We give them exact dimensions and they manufacture without seeing the kitchen, and any install discrepancies are our responsibility.” Marianne Cusato, Designer Marianne Cusato Associates www.mariannecusato.com . Square footage for the sake of square footage. “Homes that will maintain their value over time are homes that are designed to be livable, not designed to be sold by a checklist of items or amount of square footage alone. The key to making smaller spaces live larger is to design rooms with tall ceilings, windows on multiple walls, and whenever possible a connection to the outdoors.” Homes located in the middle of nowhere. “Over the course of the next several years we are going to see gas prices continue to increase. This is going to make homes that are further out in sprawl more and more difficult to live in. Proximity to connected and walkable communities will be at a premium.” Garages as the front door. “Make the garage secondary to the house, not the other way around. Streets with garages as front doors have more problems with speeding cars. Garage fronts make streets less friendly to pedestrians.” The double-height entry (aka the Lawyer Foyer). “The attempt to create the feel of ‘luxury’ in the average American McMansion is expensive to condition and takes up room that could be captured as usable space. Achieving the feel of a point of entry can be achieved in a way that is more architecturally pleasing and much more affordable than the Lawyer Foyer. Keep the entry vestibule, but set the ceiling at regular height.” Applied materials, such as wallpaper and endless gables. “Less is more. A patch of masonry on a building does not make a masonry building. Gables for the sake of gables do not add value. Differentiate to gain interest and value through clean lines and pleasing proportions, not simply by applying more elements to the home.” J. Carson Looney, FAIA Looney Ricks Kiss www.lrk.com . Main stairway in the front foyer. “Don’t locate the main stairway in the front foyer, and for certain don’t create that 1990s grand two story, winding staircase foyer…unless one is actually building on the scale of Tara.” Exterior vs. interior refinement. “Don’t put all your design efforts and budget into the exterior with little thought to the interior beyond the room count and general arrangement to fit the lot. The exterior character, style, details, materials, etc., are important, but the plan and the interior architecture is just as, if not more, important.” Master baths and closets. “Don’t oversize the master bath space or undersize the closet space. With the baths, hard finishes in an oversized space can feel void and cold.” Garages. “No different than other rooms of the house, assure garages are rightsized.” Don’t downsize, but rightsize. “When downsizing or reducing square footage, think proportions and not across the board. Consider where people spend most of their time and what their needs are.” Don’t forget to point out the unique features. “Stop selling square footage like sliced white bread. Only commodities are sold by volume or size.”

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Don’t Try These Designs at Home

Schluter Kerdi Prefab Shower Kits – Mortar Bed be Damned

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:11:51 +0000

Believe me when I say…a shower and/or bath project does not fall into my comfort zone. (Unless, that is, it involves bubbles and wine.) Laying tile after the fact? That I can do. As for all the hoopla involved in prepping the mortar bed? Not so much. I’m fairly confident though, that even I could Related posts: Kohler K-9132-CP Shower Grid Drain For A Good Cause There are a few commercials out there – all infomercial… Custom Shower Curtains – Our Latest Etsy Find Every month we try to provide you with at least…