Install Kitchen Backsplash Tiles And Give Your Kitchen A Weekend Makeover

Decorating your kitchen backsplash can be a fun and exciting weekend project. Kitchen backsplash tiles fit right into that special space between your upper kitchen cabinets and your kitchen countertop.

They are usually 18 inches high and 12 to 20 feet wide. Because your backsplash is a small area, it's a relatively affordable place to use the pricier tiles, and also the place to get a little fancier with laying them. It takes a lot less time to tile your backsplash. This makes installing kitchen backsplash tiles the ideal weekend project for the do it yourself tiler. In one weekend you can transform your backsplash into a beautiful eye catching kitchen focal point.

There are many beautiful decorative tiles available to use as your kitchen backsplash tiles, and they are also fairly easy to install. There's the ever popular glass wall tile which is impervious to stains and moisture. Some of these glass tiles are even strong enough for floors, but due to their expense they are usually used as an accent tile for walls. Glass tiles come in a wide variety of beautiful gleaming colors and textures.

Mosaic tiles are small tiles ¼ to 3 inches in size. They come in just about any shape you can imagine, such as fish, circles, stars, squares and the list goes on. These tiles may be glazed ceramic, marble, glass, natural stone or even metal, and these decorative patterns come already assembled on 12 inch square sheets with mesh backing, making for a quick and easy weekend tile installation.

Then there's metal backsplash tile which can be made up of stainless steel, copper, brass or iron. These tiles offer a very up to date look, especially for kitchen backsplashes. They may be smooth, mosaics, cast in shapes or even stamped with patterns, and they are perfect to use as a backsplash tile, because they're perfectly sized to fit the common 18 inch backsplash.

You can also use decorative accent tiles to dress up your kitchen backsplash. Simply choose a handful of dressy tiles that have painted or ingrained images you like, or are embossed with fish or palm trees or any other shape that suits your fancy. You can even use tiles that are glazed in bright colors and sprinkle them throughout your backsplash.

Continue your backsplash designs all the way to over your range, or create a different design for this area. Turn your backsplash tiles on the diagonal and frame the design with picture frame tiles and create a tile mural, or create a color collage using decorative color tiles that compliment the color scheme of your kitchen.

The designs you can create for your kitchen backsplash using decorative tiles are endless. All you need is a little imagination. The tiles will take care of the rest.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5029488

Affordable Bathroom Vanity Sets That Will Make Your Friends Envious Of You

It's done. You finally got a place on this planet to call home. A brand new house or one that you are going to move into soon. You're excited about it. Renovation process will take a few weeks and you can't wait to cruise into your new sweet spot. Time to go shop for some affordable bathroom vanity sets to make your bathroom look good.

What Do People Like?

These days, many home owners are looking for something that will look awesome in their home. Come to think of it, since you will be spending so much time at home, you might as well make it look good all the way so that when you come home from a crazy day at work, you get to enjoy the results of your labor. Different people all have different taste in stuff. So when it comes to choosing the bathroom vanity of your choice, you will have to see for yourself which design or style that captures your attention. There's the modern and contemporary ones if you want your home to look futuristic. Then there are the antique bathroom cabinets for the more conservative folks who love classical stuff.

Affordable And Looks Great

You could easily find bathroom vanity sets that are affordable these days. And I don't mean the cheap ones which will eventually fall apart on you after a year or two. I mean the really great looking ones that will make your bathroom look stylish or classy. Enough to make your friends envious of you. Home owners do not have to travel far to look for them. They could just get online and view the different varieties that are available and these online shop will have them shipped to your home in no time. Some will even throw in free shipping making it convenient for home owners to shop from them.

The Rest Of The Stuff

Now getting the bathroom vanity sets is just the beginning to having a really nice bathroom. Consider buying the toilets, bath tubs, faucets, showers, cabinets and shelves as well. Your bathroom will still look good depending on the color and lighting that you put into it. Need some creative ideas? Other than looking through interior design magazines, the online stores that sell these vanities will be able to recommend the type of products to complement the vanity of your choice.

Summary

So if your friends don't envy you, I am sure your neighbors will once you have your home all set up nicely. Other than the bedroom, the bathroom is the place that you would like to spruce up to look good since you will be using it every day. Happy shopping!

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6600670

Can You Do-It-Yourself?

Whether it is just to save money or because of an inspiring home improvement show on television, it seems that more and more people are taking on do-it-yourself home improvement projects. But is it for everyone? Do you think you have what it takes to be a successful do-it-yourselfer? Here are some things to consider.

Why do it yourself at all? You are busy with your own life, family, career, etc. Isn't is just easier to hire someone else to do the "dirty work"? Easier, yes. Cost effective, no. Probably the most common reason for taking on a do-it-yourself project is to save money. In most cases, the project can be completed for half (or less) of the cost of hiring a contractor.

Of course, you can usually count on a contractor to complete the job faster than you can, and they have been doing this professionally for some time. At the same time, at least in the U.S.A., contractors are notorious for starting a project and disappearing for weeks at a time, leaving you with a half-finished mess. So you would need to consider the trade-offs of the final result looking more professional, versus having control over when and how the work is done. And there are no guarantees about the final result from a contractor - there are plenty of horror stories about botched jobs and the larger problems they create. If you do decide to use a contractor, please be sure to hire someone you know well or someone for whom you can obtain reliable references.

There are probably many people who are afraid to try a home improvement project because, never having done this before, they don't already know how to do it themselves. This is an understandable reason to hesitate. However, there is a plethora of books, magazines, websites, even home improvement store employees, available to help. If someone is truly interested in a topic, and has the desire and will to learn, they can pick up the needed skills.

A less-obvious requirement for anyone who wants to successfully complete a home improvement project is a healthy balance between attention to detail without being too much of a perfectionist. These hands-on projects are detail intensive and require patience. At the same time, it is important to realize that nothing will be absolutely perfect. You need to do your best to get it just right, but also know when to let go of the desire for perfection. No house will have perfectly square corners, and materials will not always be perfectly sized. As long as you are satisfied with the appearance of your work, you have found the proper balance.

Home improvement projects can reduce stress, or create a new stress. Because of the focus required to complete a project well, it can help you put other issues out of your mind for a while. It gives you a break from trying to solve all your other problems while you are creating something new in your home. At the same time, however, home improvement projects can introduce new stresses, as you try to fit something just right or try to agree with your spouse over color choices. Overall, putting some time and effort into improving your surroundings is usually relaxing and rewarding.

Start with a small project to build some confidence. Anyone should be able to find a project or two around the house which interests them. Knowing that you have accomplished such a task can be very rewarding. Just be sure to allow at least twice as much time as you think it will take, because something always comes up or goes wrong on the first try. With dedication and resolve, any obstacle can be overcome.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/661976

The $27,000 Toilet Seat - Funny DIY Story

This story was told to me by a plumber I know and it brings home the reason why there are times to call a professional.

I received a call from a homeowner asking for someone to come estimate some repairs. When I asked the sort of repairs, he said it would be too many to enumerate, but much easier if I just came out to the house and looked. I went. It began like this...

Old Joe wanted to change his toilet seat, but couldn't get the old one off. So he tried wrenches until he rounded off the nuts (he was turning them the wrong way because they were upside down) and then decided to get his trusty cold chisel and hammer out. Well, he tapped a bit on it with no success, so he drew back the hammer to smite a mighty blow against the stubborn bolt. In so doing he broke the toilet tank and flooded the area with cold water. This cold water gave him a shock and he drew back in a hurry dropping the hammer into the bathtub causing a big chunk of the porcelain to pop off the tub floor.

Regrouping his thoughts, he ran down to the basement two floors below to shut off the water to the house, the house had no other valves installed when it was built in the 1890's. Meanwhile water was flooding through the floors and had saturated the plaster of the ceiling below to the point it collapsed into the living room. Old Joe then removed what was left of the toilet tank, and tried to remove the bowl from the floor flange. It wouldn't budge either, so out comes the trusty chisel and hammer again, and "WHACK" no more toilet bowl. In the process however, he managed to tear the closet flange from the floor as well,and since it was attached to a lead closet bend, it torn and now needed replaced too. He determined that it would be necessary to cut out the tee in the stack where the closet bent was attached. Since he had no idea how to repair old lead piping, he thought using that nifty PVC from Home Depot would do the trick.

He tried to cut the cast iron stack with a hacksaw to no avail, then tried a sawzall, also fruitless, so.... yep, out comes the good old chisel and hammer, but a bigger hammer this time. He whacks on the stack a few mighty blows and Viola' it splits into several pieces with one tiny segment still holding it all together. He pried the last vestige of solid pipe out of the wall with a crowbar and suddenly the remaining section of pipe (the vent going through the roof) lets go and with a mighty crash comes down and out of the wall through the sub floor into the now plaster less ceiling of the living room, continues its downward decent until it hits the TV set, ricocheting off that and through the floor of the living room until it hit the electrical panel plunging the house into total darkness and finally comes to rest after shearing off the main water shut off valve flooding the basement.

This was a $27,000 toilet seat replacement.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/42829

Kitchen Cabinet Secret Exposed!

As a contractor I am constantly looking for a great deal and a way to save a few dollars. If it means a little more work but a significant monetary savings, then it is a great deal to me. So when I stumbled upon kitchen cabinets that could be bought and assembled and I didn't have to pay the high retail price, I was very interested. It is simple; I am not paying someone else to assemble the kitchen cabinets or the additional costs associated with transporting them and storing them.

I was in one of those big box home supply centers and was going to buy my kitchen cabinets the usual way. I already had the pre-assembled kitchen cabinets loaded into onto one of those flat carts when I casually complained to another customer that there has got to be a better way than hauling all these kitchen cabinets around. The other customer jokingly said buy them online. Of course I thought it was a joke. I did a little research and found out that the kitchen cabinets get shipped to you, you avoid any store hassles, and the best part is that the cost was 40% less than the big box home center prices. Part of the reason these kitchen cabinets cost less is because they are considered "RTA kitchen cabinets" which stands for ready to assemble kitchen cabinets.

So I decided to do a search and see what I could find online. I was floored! There are many choices out there and it was easy. When the kitchen cabinets arrived, I was shocked again. Not only were the kitchen cabinets solid wood, but they did not have one piece of cardboard or particle board. The reason I mentioned this is because the big box stores have solid fronts but very little else in the areas of real wood.

Finally, I thought these kitchen cabinets might be a hassle to assemble. The kitchen cabinets were easy to assemble. Each cabinet came with a single page of directions and needed only a flat head screw driver to put them together. The cabinets with drawers were a little more time consuming and I used my electric drill to make the assembly go faster, but overall the kitchen cabinets are easy to put together.

Finding an RTA kitchen cabinet store might be difficult in some areas of the country, but if you look online you will be able to find these sites quite easily. There is a shipping cost; however, if you buy enough kitchen cabinets the shipping is reduced or actually free. Keep in mind that after I added shipping costs, my overall spending was still a lot less than what I would have spent at a super center.

So the secret to in-expensive kitchen cabinets is to go online and find them yourself. So start searching, it might be a little more effort but it is worth it.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/865358

Paint Me a Picture - No - Paint Me a Hall, DIY Style

Painting is one of the easiest DIY projects around. Novice DIY weekend warriors often begin with their DIY home improvement projects by repainting fences, hallways, doors, windows and walls.

Important tools

To be able to do painting jobs around the house, you would need the following:

1. Roller brushes of different sizes- you need different sizes, depending on the job. Roller brushes that are more than six inches in length are good for walls. Smaller roller brushes can be used to paint the bottom of walls. Small roller brushes can also be used to paint tables and chairs.

2. Synthetic brushes- synthetic brushes come in all shapes, sizes and colors. However, as a rule of thumb, purchase those that have fine yet durable strands. Synthetic brushes should be at least two inches wide. Larger brushes should have longer handles.

In addition, large brushes are heavier, so you have the option of attaching them to poles for hard to reach areas, such as the corners of ceilings.

3. Supply of old newspapers- you can use newspapers or similar recyclable papers. Use these to protect furniture and other surfaces when you are painting. Use plenty of paper when painting large surfaces such as walls and ceilings.

4. Plastic paint pans- pans can be bought from hardware stores. These specially made pans hold the paint on one side, while uneven surfaces allow you to remove excess paint.

5. Thinners- thinners will allow you to remove excess and encrusted paint on your roller brushes. Hard, encrusted paint can damage your roller brushes in the end. Never use water, as it will take too long to remove all the paint.

How to paint a hall

It seems daunting at first- the idea of painting a hall. But in reality, some tools and a bit of patience, plus lots of fun will get the job done.

The first step is to clear out your hallway. Put all the stuff in your hallway in another room. This eliminates the need to put newspapers all around. The risk of paint spots on your stuff is reduced to zero.

Second step is to clean the walls with a wet sponge and some soap. Rinse the walls and allow it to completely dry. If there is glossy paint, use a sandpaper to make the surface a bit rougher.

With a roller brush, apply the primer. Proceed to applying two coats of paint. Let the paint dry for a day or two.

Start re-adding things to your hallway. Old, useless things like unused golf bags should not be added to your hallway again. This process will de-clutter your hallway.

To beautify this space, consider adding plant life. Potted plants are a good choice. The potted plants need not be real. You can use plastic daisies or synthetic roses. Just make sure you clean your plants regularly with a wet piece of cloth to preserve their color.

If you do not have a clock in the hallway, consider adding a wall clock. Wall clocks can be either modern or completely classical with swinging pendulums.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1909069

10 Things To Consider Before Planning And Installing A New Bathroom

Whether you want to install a new bathroom or make improvements to an existing one there are some decisions you need to make and challenges to overcome. A bathroom must be tailored to your requirements and every plan will vary depending on the planner's needs.

1. Seek professional advice before planning a bathroom. You may need to consider local water regulations, existing plumbing facilities and the way your house is constructed.

2. Define the role and requirements of the new bathroom. Planning a bathroom involves more than the positioning of basic fixtures such as the bath, basin and toilet. Make sure your plan allows for plenty of floor for wall space and for extras such as towel rail, mirror and storage.

3. Decide if you need to make any changes to existing services and whether structural work is required. Measure up and note the position of the existing services, windows and doors and work out the plan to get the bathroom fixtures where you want them. You'll also need to decide if you need to move any doors, windows or walls and whether you need to make changes to the electricity wiring, water and drains.

4. Draw out the bathroom area on graph paper and work out how best to divide up the bathroom for different purposes or tasks. You may need to consider whether to use double or sliding doors, archways or curtains.

5. Ensure that you have enough space to accommodate your chosen fittings as well as enough room to move them into position. Think about how much room will be required for toiletries, storing towels, medicines etc.

6. Build in utilities such as heating, ventilation and lighting. These are important to ensure that your bathroom has enough light and works efficiently.

7. Make provisions for future plumbing and allow for access to potential trouble spots such as the shower pump and boxed-in toilet cisterns. If possible, fit removable panels instead of sealing these utilities behind fixed walls.

8. Find out exactly what sort of fittings you require and whether they will be suitable for the intended location.

9. Think about your style preferences in terms of the fit and flow with the rest of the house. There are products to meet most requirements or designs. Consider the trade off between price and good quality, and look out for longer warranties and guarantees.

10. Consider traffic patterns in terms of how many people will be using the bathroom and how often. Also, if people of varying ages use the bathroom, you may need to choose fittings that cater for different age groups in your household such as a slide shower so you can adjust the height of the spray.

Taking time to plan ahead can help to translate your ideas into reality and ensure that you end up with your ideal bathroom.

 

For more information about buying or selling a home in the Laguna Beach area, visit my website at www.imakesoldhappen.com/.To search like an agent in Northern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/46915