Archive for the ‘Painting’ Category

Years ago I was visiting a friend in Tokyo and was astonished that she took water from the tap for tea, and it was too hot to drink. This was way back in 1979. I was amazed that all the hot water for the home’s kitchen and bath came from a heat-on-demand water tank powered by natural gas. Later that year, I saw passive solar water heating systems on the roofs of homes just outside of Tel Aviv. Thirty years later I’ve yet to see these systesm in widespread adoption around the states.

Then you consider that tank-less, heat-on-demand systems are available—with models that just heat your teapot, while others power the shower—they’re still a ways off from popular use around the states.  You’ll probably remember (or still have) one of those tea elements for plugging in and using electrical power to heat coffee. That’s as far as most of us go.

The Savings?

You might save a hundred dollars a year in energy bills from an on-demand system. But if you’re considering buying an on-demand heater to cover all your hot water needs, be sure to consider the size of your family, the cost of installing a system, the tank capacity, and the amount of hot water you need every day. The Department of Energy says a majority of systems can generate 2-5 gallons a minute, depending on the fuel source. From your own experience you know that gas-fired heaters are quicker to raise your water to the right temperature than electric ones.

Tax Credits for Tank-less  Water Heaters

You can read up on the 2009-2010 tax credit at the Alliance to Save Energy website.  In essence, your potential credit for installing a tank-less unit for the credit depends on your finding a system that can heat the water to efficiency standards based on source (electric, gas, oil, propane). An acceptable energy factor may be hard to find. The credit may only be $300, but pennies saved by energy efficiency can add up.

According to the Department of Energy, the energy factor is determined by  fuel consumption and the speed of recovery,  and how much heat is lost in the cycle of briefly storing and pumping out the water. When shopping around, examine units for a high-number energy factor, meaning the most-efficient for home use.

Dedicating a tank-less heater to appliances, spas, or as a secondary power source can prove a wise choice if there’s no constant or huge demand.

It doesn’t matter whether your fireplace is used for aesthetics or heating the house, every fall is a great time to have a chimney inspection and cleaning if it needs it. If you’re changing the amount of use, the kind of fuel you burn, or your home heating venting, be sure to include a chimney inspection. A chimney fire, no matter the time of year, can be terrifying and catastrophic.

Put your chimney inspection high on your list of winter must-dos. Even if a chimney fire is short-lived, the heat can damage your mortar, wall materials, tiles, and outer masonry.  That’s lasting damage.

Have you put a wood stove back into operation for the winter? Have a professional come in to inspect venting and creosote buildup. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) warns that you only use seasoned heating wood in your home this winter.

When You Need Chimney Service

The CSIA recommends that you consider three levels of service depending on your existing conditions:

• When an inspector or contractor takes a walk-around your home, ensuring the chimney and flue are in optimal operating condition and free of obstructions.
• When you change the fuel, the lining, flue, or if your home has lived through a heavy storm, fire, or seismic event.
• Chimney components that require taking the system apart are damaged and need inspection and repair.

If your home matches any of these potentially risky conditions—or if you recently acquired the property—you should seek an inspection from a professional.

How to Evaluate a Chimney Contractor

The National Chimney Sweep Guild recommends annual or semi-annual inspections to prevent carbon monoxide poisonings or chimney fires.  Ask potential chimney contractors for references and check out their history in your community.

Ask for free bids on the contractor’s letterhead.  If your potential contractors are licensed, they should not be skittish about showing a license as well as proof of insurance against worker injury or property damage.

Talk to neighbors about references and find out if the work was done on time and to their complete satisfaction. Local and state better business bureaus and consumer protection agencies usually have a black list of contractors who have been sued or have ongoing complaints.

Last, the U.S. Fire Administration reminds all homeowners and renters to keep items that are not considered fuel out of your fireplace. That includes cardboard boxes and flammable liquids. And use a fire screen at all times. If you do have a fire, get everyone out of the house safely and call emergency.

Laundry rooms are designed for utility, not decor. But so many laundry rooms become catch-all enclosures for clutter, storage, and other pack-rat activities. After a while, they can become home to hazardous chemicals or firetraps with over-extended electrical outlets, or danger zones for young children.

If you’re going to remodel your laundry room, consider replacing outdated or worn parts on your washer and dryer, as well as electrical and plumbing features that are either in disrepair or require efficient upgrades. And a nice coat of paint or wallpaper can make this often dingy room more pleasing to the eye.

Basements Are Best
If you currently have your laundry in the basement, you should consider keeping it there. The small convenience you gain by moving your laundry room to an upper floors is easily offset by the potential water damage to your home from leaks or flooding. One insurance company reports $170 million in water damage from washing machine hose failures.

A simple laundry room remodel project can include new flooring, expanded cabinets with utility drawers or storage, shelving, new lighting, and, if there’s a window, fresh treatments.

Size Matters
If you need more space, think before breaking out a wall.  There are stack-able and compact washing machines that may be more cost-efficient than breaking out walls. That’s if those models can serve your family.

You may also need to consider room for a new sink or ironing space. Installing new cabinets can double your existing storage and add comfort to working in the room.

Safety First
Using 2002-2004 data, the U.S. Fire Administration division of FEMA reported 15,600 fires, resulting in 15 deaths and 400 injuries-–attributed to faulty clothes dryers. That means, in addition to renovating your laundry room, you should renovate your maintenance routine on washers and dryers.

If you have foil or plastic ducting attachments to the dryer, replace them with modern, fire-resistant corrugated metal to increase the air exhaust. Make a habit of not only cleaning lint traps on the dryer, but cleaning behind the traps and behind the entire unit.

Go Green
And if you want to save energy costs when replacing your washer and dryer unit, shop for Energy Star appliances that can cut your water and energy costs in half. By washing in warm or cold cycles you can also slash your electric bills.

Another tip: Paint your renovated laundry room in light colors so you won’t feel like you’ve been banished to the cave whenever you do the wash.

Given all the cost and planning that goes into most every renovation or remodeling project, you want it all to go right. Practically everyone I know that has had to camp out in their living room or eat out in fast food joints while the hammers banged away in their kitchens or baths understands. And they have a story to tell, no matter how it all turned out.

Sharing your nightmares and your victories can spare others from renovation hell.  That in mind, the editors over at Repair-Home.com have launched a Share Your Project section on their website.  You can share your own experiences as well as garner tips from those who have been there.

Share Your Project Details
According to the site, you can write a post, upload project photos, and receive ratings for your home improvement project.  Categories include:

* Kitchens
* Cabinet Refacing
* Bathrooms
* Landscaping
* Outdoor
* Home Decor
* Flooring
* Windows
* Doors
* Plumbing
* Electrical
* Heating & Cooling
* Siding
* Roofing and Gutters
* Painting
* Home Building

I took a test drive through postings and found a great idea for completing a quick and effective bathroom makeover, made possible by changing out lighting, cabinets, and mirrors.

The homeowner describes an effective and inexpensive way to remove fluorescent lighting in the bath and lay in fresh sheet rock and textures to get plenty of bang for your renovation dollar.

Help With Renovating Bedrooms and Kitchens
Other homeowners posted details and photos of their efforts to remodel a small kitchen, choose a pergola over a deck, and install an effective coffered ceiling treatment in the bedroom.  The ceiling project involved plotting and installing coffer boxes in a ceiling that was not perfectly square.

Project galleries at the site enhance the homeowner stories and fire fresh ideas for your own project. One homeowner provided excellent views of the 1926 marina-style home in San Francisco where they remodeled the original, tired kitchen to open it up and add light. The renovation project involved adding space, knocking out a wall, and installing fresh cabinets and flooring.

The web is a sad repository of plenty of awful projects, too. In searching for additional victories and disasters, I discovered Dark Roasted Blend, a site that gathers photographs of renovation disasters.  Several commercial and home construction designers and contractors should have lost their jobs, since it’s clear they lost their minds when building doors or stairways to nowhere.

When it comes to painting your home’s interior trim, a traditional white is usually the name of the game, but here are some other colors that might be of interest when picking your pallette. 

(via HookedOnHouses.net)

(via Apartment Therapy) 

(via Apartment Therapy) 

(via Richard Power Photography)

In a previous life of living large, downsizing has now become a necessary part of life for most people. Rather than dwelling on what you don’t have, make the most of what you do have. There are many ways to make a smaller space feel comfortable and inviting allowing you and others not to notice the size, rather notice how nice your space is.

BALCONY/DECK

Decorating a small balcony or deck is much easier than most people realize. There is no reason to leave your space empty considering all you really need are plants and some form of outdoor lighting. Hanging plants are a good option for decorating vertically and adding some color. They may also be used to disguise a bad view. If your view is the backside of another apartment you can hang plants all along the entire top of your balcony. If you’re lucky enough to have a great view, you can hang plants just in the corners to keep your view clear. Also, flower pots can add color and an element of comfort. If you’re interested in furnishing the space here are a couple ideas:

Small Bistro Set - These sets usually include two chairs and a small table and run anywhere from $150.00 up to $400.00+. You can find them at Target, Lowes, Fred Meyer, etc. However, I found them the cheapest at Home Depot.

Chest/Bench – Place a chest against one of the walls or railing, cover the chest with a nice cloth, place a few pillows on the ends and use the wall(s)/railings as the backrest. You could then use this bench not only for seating, but also for storage.

Hang a Hammock – Hammocks come in all different shapes and sizes. You can choose from Brazilian hammocks that cradle your body and can be hung on walls to hammock chairs that hang from the ceiling. Whatever you choose, they come in all different sizes, colors and are super comfortable!

Lighting is another way to make the balcony/deck more inviting. There are multiple options for plug in or solar power lights. If you live in an apartment/townhome solar power wall lights are a good option. Another option, a little more expensive, is to purchase an outdoor floor lamp. These start around $100.00 and go up, but look very clean and classy. Another fun idea is to hang rope light either from the banister, or above on the ceiling.

KITCHEN

The kitchen has become more than just a place to make food; rather, it is a place of migration for friends and family. Interestingly enough, regardless of how popular the kitchen is, it is usually one of the smaller rooms of the home. The key to making the most of your kitchen space is….no clutter! For some of us, this is much easier said than done. However, here are a few simple ideas to help keep your most commonly used kitchen items close by without being in the way.

Hang It Up – One of the most obvious locations for storage that we all have are the inside of cabinet doors. Use this space to hang a spice rack or small shelf. Hanging shelves in any “dead space” will allow you to utilize every inch of your small kitchen while allowing you to keep things off the countertops. Wall and ceiling racks can also be considered for bigger, heavier options to free up some cupboard space.

Illusion – As helpful as cabinets are for storage, they can make a small space feel closed and crowded. Opt for some cabinets and some open shelving (can easily remove cabinet doors for instant open shelving). This will make your space feel more open and inviting. Also, lighting and color are two important factors in creating the illusion of a larger kitchen. The year 2009 is all about colors like yellow, blue and violet for kitchens. Recessed lighting coupled with bright color schemes will brighten up your kitchen and make it feel bigger.

Clear Up Counter Space – As nice as it is to have every single kitchen appliance you own out for display and/or for easy use, it makes for an unnecessarily cluttered space. Displaying the spice rack and fruit bowls are one thing, but that big espresso maker or blender? Some things are better left stored away in a cupboard until they are needed.

LIVING ROOM

The living room is probably the most used room of the entire home for most people. Whether you’re just lounging for the evening, or having company over, the look and feel of your living room is important. Many people often make the mistake of cramming this room with a huge couch, big screen television, and an oversized lounge chair leaving the room feeling crowded and dark. Here are some tips to make this room as comfortable as possible; regardless of the size.

Color – As with any small room color is an easy way to create the illusion of a larger space. Try choosing “cool” colors like blue or green for this room. These colors can create the illusion of higher ceilings and are neutral enough to easily decorate with.

Mirrors – Strategically placed mirrors can create the feeling of a larger room. The idea isn’t so much about the glass itself, rather the light that reflects off the glass. Consider either hanging a wall mirror, or using a piece of mirrored glass as a decorate item on a coffee table or mantle. You can place candles on this mirror for a more elegant look.

Window Treatments – There are many different options here. You can choose ceiling to floor flowing curtains that can make the ceilings appear higher. You can also choose a decorative piece to hang horizontally just on the top of the window. If you go with a horizontally hung treatment, you can hang blinds that can easily fold down for window coverage when you need it. No matter what you decide, window treatments are a great way to add color and texture to an otherwise bland room.

Living in a small space does not dismiss the ability to live large. Often times making small decorative additions can make a big difference in the feel of the room. There are many different affordable and easy options for making the most of your space. Embrace your wonderful space and get creative. Good luck!!

This year, everyone is looking for ways to add to their home without breaking the bank. If you have wood floors, you’d be surprised at the options you have for updating them. Don’t think you lack options when it comes to refinishing your floors…here are some cool out of the box ideas for spicing up the area under your feet.

Dark Paint or Varnish on Floors

Want these beautiful dark work floors yourself? Here’s a tip from Remodelista that I liked:

“To achieve a noirish effect, consider painting your wood floors with high performance, marine-grade Hollandlac Paint  from Fine Paints of Europe. For a super-shiny look, top with a marine-grade clear varnish. We like black for the floors and Espresso for the walls.”

Stencil on Floors

On DesignSponge, the owner of these smartly stenciled floors said she chose this project as a temporary fix before she has the time (and money!) to refinish her floors completely. I love the look, and it’s a smart temporary fix, or permanent one.

From Emmas Designblogg, yet another intricate painting and stenciling option:

I like this unique, DIY approach to floor refinishing. How about you?

**UPDATE**: One more look to add to the post….just stumbled across this lighter, less modern, and more minimal use of paint on floors via Country Living.

November, for me, means one thing: Thanksgiving! The food, the friends, the wine, and of course, the assortment of delicious pies.

Nothing makes Thanksgiving more enjoyable than the perfect space to enjoy it in. This week we’ll look at ideas, both big and small, for making the most of your dining room.

Some projects you can finish before your family arrives on the 27th, and others will take longer to plan and execute, but will bring greater, more noticeable results. This week we will look at major and minor ways to change up your dining room.

Part 1: Quick Dining Room Fixes

1. New Lighting : Adding a new light fixture not only adds a new focal point, but can also brighten up a room.

(Photo Credit: Relish)

2. New Paint: Add a new coat of paint to a room. A new color scheme can dramatically change the look and feel of a room.  Painting can be a great DIY weekend project, or just paint half of the room as seen here to make it an even quicker project:

(Photo Credit: New York Times)

3. A New Table: A dining room table can make or break your space. Make sure you have a table that fits the space you’re in, and that functions for your purposes for it. If you’re less than happy with your table, maybe it’s time to start scouting out a new one before the family arrives.

(Photo Credit: Remodelista)

Check in Wednesday for some Major Dining Room Renovation tips