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Remodeling

Home Remodeling – Some Tips and Ideas

A home is always close to the heart of any person residing in it and is a valuable asset for majority of the people. Hence people leave no stone unturned for home remodeling so that it can look at its best. Different people have different preferences when it comes to the look and decor of the house.
Whatever might be the modifications done, it is worth mentioning that each and every improvement enhances the worth of the property where you live. There are various facets involved in home remodeling. You can incorporate an additional room, expand your kitchen, update your appliances in the bathroom, set up a home theater system, or make certain basic redecorations in the house. All these activities would be considered as a sort or remodeling done in your home.
If you intend to enlarge an already existent structure then the costs incurred would be more as compared to any kind of internal remodeling. It is advisable to consult with an expert in home remodeling, perhaps a contractor, who would assist you with helpful tips and suggestions. He can also provide you a rough estimate of the money that would be required to do the works in your home.
For the purpose of remodeling, concrete is commonly used nowadays. This ingredient is cheaper compared to natural stone and is prepared by mixing cement and tiny aggregates in a specific proportion. Compared to other forms of stones this material has also been proven to be ecologically friendly. Additional costs for maintenance are also minimal with this substance.
A place that is frequently involved in home remodeling is the kitchen. It is important to keep the kitchen clean and hygienic as it is where food is cooked. You can change the appliances and the space of the kitchen by modifying the sinks or the bar tops which might be present.

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Remodel Kitchen

Lighting Ideas for Your Home

New lighting is an excellent way to compliment any interior of your home. Recessed lighting, placed in different distinct patterns, can update your kitchen & bathroom or highlight any room in your home. Placed around the perimeter of your dinning room, recessed lighting can add depth and glamour.
Very unique and versatile track lighting can highlight your bookcase, mantle or paintings. Cove lighting, behind a soffet or crown molding offers a soft glow that will enhance your dining, theater or family room. Built-in custom lighting centered in your kitchen, with wood trim and a modern style diffuser, can really accent your cabinets or island. In addition under mount cabinet lighting can add a beautiful warm glow to your countertops. Wall sconces can add life to any hallway or staircase.
If your thinking of adding a dimmer switch to your existing lighting, make sure your lighting circuit is either a single or a 3-way switch and the dimmer you purchase is also rated for the volts, amps and the total wattage of the lighting you are connecting it to.
Enhance the curb appeal to your home with elegant outdoor lighting. Accentuate your landscape and the front of your home with strategically placed flood lights. Give your home a touch of sophistication with antique style coach lanterns on either side of your front and garage doors.
Gas or electric post lanterns are also very popular with many homeowners, placed at the end of the walk or around your backyard will create a traditional illuminating glow. Target dark areas of your backyard with flood lights, tight up against your wall will create beautiful shadows and depth. Stone or copper fire pots is also a very classy way to show off your patio and pool.
If your thinking of purchasing low voltage flood, tropical or landscape lighting, be sure of all your distances and number of lights you will need. There are many different manufacturers and all there systems have different limits on there lighting circuits and transformer placements. In addition, try to select a system with a quick and easy wire connections at each light, this will help if relocation of any lights will be necessary.
Creating more natural light in your home is very important as well. Installing a window(s) or skylight(s) is an excellent way to brighten the decor of any room: kitchen, bathroom or family room.

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Renovation Costs

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas For Every Budget

Thinking of remodeling your kitchen? Great idea! Estimates vary, but most sources agree that you can expect to recover at least 75% of the remodeling cost for a kitchen through the increased resale value it contributes to your home. Whether or not you are planning to sell your home anytime soon, here are some remodeling tips to make your kitchen a room the whole family will enjoy spending time in.
Install an Island – If you do not already have a kitchen island, this is a great multi-purpose addition. Islands add counter space for food preparation or decorative objects. They add extra drawers and cabinets for storage – and you can never have too much storage! Add some stools, and you have a great casual dining surface. A kitchen island can become a family gathering point, with mom or dad chopping vegetables on the counter while the kids sit on the stools finishing homework or playing games on a laptop.
Include Plenty of Light – No matter how beautiful your kitchen is, you won’t be able to fully appreciate it without good lighting. Try to maximize the natural light in your kitchen with windows, even skylights, if possible. Skylights, or roof windows, are a wonderful way to bring light into your kitchen while preserving wall space and privacy. If it is not possible to add windows to your kitchen, make sure you have enough lighting fixtures to thoroughly illuminate the room. One popular trend is the lighting dimmer, which allows you to change the intensity of the light, creating a different mood and atmosphere.
Create a Live-In Kitchen – One current remodeling trend is the idea of the “live-in” kitchen. Most people like to be around food, and the kitchen can be a great family hang-out spot. A television, comfortable seating, and internet access can make the kitchen a perfect place to entertain friends or spend time with family. If your kitchen borders your living room or den, consider opening the space between them, perhaps even tearing down a separating wall and installing a bar in the transitional space.
Little Changes Make a Big Difference – If you do not have the budget for a full-scale remodel, there are still several small things you can do to give your kitchen a new look. Repaint your cabinets and adding new handles or knobs can give the effect of replacing your cabinets without the cost. A new sink or lighting fixture can also help to refresh your kitchen’s appearance.

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Home Maintenance

Great Home Remodeling Ideas That Cost Less Than a TV

You’ve seen them, you love them and you really, really want one. A huge wall mountable led or plasma screen TV, with all the bells and whistles. The kind that dominates the living room and brings you every program in high definition and surround sound. They only cost about $2,500 these days, so why are other members of the household still balking at the idea of getting one? Maybe because there are some home remodeling projects that cost less than that big TV and will do a lot more to increase the home’s aesthetic appeal and its value as well.
Refinish Your Kitchen Cabinets
Never mind new TVs, how about new kitchen cabinets to replace the ones you currently have that would be right at home in an 80s sitcom but do little to make your kitchen a nice place to hang out.
Ripping out all your kitchen cabinets will probably cost over the $2,500 mark but having them refaced shouldn’t and it is a great way to breathe new life into your home.
Have a Custom Closet Built
Who couldn’t use an extra closet to get some of that clutter off the floor and neatly hidden away from sight? Instead of going for The Hulk of all TVs, why not invest the money in a custom built closet? Your home will be neater and you’ll be increasing its value as well.
Get a Solar Water Heater
You complain every time the energy bills come in, they keep going up all the time. How does an investment that helps the environment and saves you money on monthly bills sound? Having a solar hot water heater installed averages out at under the $2,500 mark and, unlike that television, it will pay for itself in energy savings in just a few years.
Have a Masonry Fireplace Built
That TV you have your eye on will undoubtedly supply you with hours of quality entertainment but it will also be all but obsolete within ten years. Having a real masonry fireplace built will really enhance your evenings at home, whether you are alone or entertaining, reduce your energy bills and add to the value of your home considerably.
Refinish Your Wood Floors
Wood floors are beautiful but, over the years and with all the traffic they have to endure, they can end up looking a little worse for wear, especially if you have been a little lax on the maintenance front. A good professional sanding and refinishing job can change all that and the price tag is a lot less than the one on that TV. Because this process actually exposes fresh wood, the results will make your floor look brand new, literally melting away all those years of abuse.
So, before you head out for the electronics store, think about the state of your home and whether all that money could be a little better spent. Then when all the improvements are finished you should still have enough cash left over to get a more modest television set to enjoy in your newly improved environment.

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Bathroom Remodel

Home Remodeling Ideas – Wall Aquariums

Keeping pets, like many things, can be quite the double edged sword. On the one hand they can make great companions and be lots of fun but, on the other, some are noisy, messy and take a great deal of looking after.
A home aquarium is a different story. Not only can you have pets that can be left alone while you go on a weekend break but fish won’t bite the mail man either. Better still, in many aquarium aficionados’ eyes their fishes’ home is actually a marvellous addition to your home’s d?�cor.
For years luxury hotels and restaurants have been using built in, rather than free standing aquariums to house their fish. Now that trend is moving into residential homes as well.
There are two basic types of wall aquariums for home installation. The first option is to buy a tank that attaches to the wall in much the same way as a plasma TV does. If this idea appeals to you it is a fairly inexpensive solution but just make sure you hire a professional to install it. If the wall you choose is not strong enough to hold the tank the results could be disastrous, for both your home and the poor fish.
A slightly more expensive but often more secure and attractive solution is to build the aquarium into the wall itself. When a professional remodeling contractor or carpenter replaces part of the wall to accommodate the aquarium the results are usually stunning. People can easily view the fish and their habitat from both sides, and also in some cases look through the aquarium itself to see the room on the other side.