|
|
|
Choosing Conservatory Blinds
Since conservatories have so many windows, choosing conservatory blinds is extremely important. The blinds are a major part of the room's decor and can really help create a strong, beautiful design. Luckily, there are many wonderful blind...
Digital satellite TV systems: A whole new entertainment world
Technology nowadays is truly amazing. One of these stunning new technologies that bring great impacts to our live styles is digital satellite TV systems. Satellite TV systems handle a number of tasks, including communicating with a satellite...
Home Improvement Contractors
There are thousands of home improvement contractors out there,
each one specialising in different aspects of home improvement.
Some are designers, plumbers, electricians, engineers, joiners
and interior designers. They all have their specific...
Home Improvement Projects That Really Pay Off
Many of us watch TV shows and see the miraculous transformation of homes and gardens by professionals and amateur do-it-yourselfers. Is it really that easy, we ask ourselves. Could I do it? Where do I begin? What improvement projects will...
The Joy Of A Patio Awning
Some people will dream of the perfect patio. They dream of having the perfect place just outside, in the back garden or on the patio, where they can sit and relax, enjoy the weather -- enjoy the day. However, before they had installed their ...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simple Recipe for a Successful Home Remodeling Project
(ARA) - A brighter, airier kitchen. A more practical mudroom. A warm and inviting family room. Pick a home remodeling project to tackle this season and you’ll be in good company. Every summer, millions of people head off to their favorite home improvement store to get started with their home makeover project. But, before you go shopping, it’s important to have a game plan. Here are three tips to ensure that you’ll be happier and save money with your remodeling project -- no matter how big or small:
Have a dream
With new innovations in product design, your dream -- or at least part of it -- may be closer to coming true than you think. If you’ve longed to replace that old vinyl floor with wood but couldn’t afford it, you can give your existing home a timber-style makeover using affordable, easy-care materials such as laminate flooring with the look and texture of real wood grain. Or, if you’ve fantasized about cooking in a Tuscan-inspired kitchen, you can update your countertops using durable high-pressure laminate with the look and texture of Italian granite or stone.
The key is to dream big and plan from there. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that you can have the look of real stone, granite or wood with more affordable, hard-to-tell-the-difference, man-made products.
Make a plan
Familiarize yourself with the newest remodeling trends and start working your dream into a design theme. According to design trend expert Reneé Hytry, today’s home makeovers are reflecting our desire for comfort and familiarity. As vice president of design for Formica Corporation, Hytry ensures the company brings trend-right high-pressure laminate, solid surfacing and flooring materials to market.
“Homeowners are creating amazing rooms using natural-looking materials with contrasting colors and textures. These design trends, combined with innovative technologies, are allowing them to do more with their interiors than ever before,” says Hytry.
For example, if you’re investing in sleek, stainless steel appliances for your kitchen, you can trade off the cost of real granite countertops with an affordable, easy-care laminate.
Select the right products
Do your homework, because remodeling is not an “I’ll know it when I see it” proposition. Spend some quality time flipping through magazines, viewing home remodeling shows, visiting Web sites (such as formica.com) and collecting ideas before walking into the store. Determine whether you will do all of the remodeling or hire a contractor to manage part of it. Your decision will be based on the level of difficulty of the product installation, the budget and your time to invest in the project. Then, make your shopping
list -- noting items that require a major investment, as well as practical materials that provide the look you want, yet keep you on budget.
With man-made materials incorporating more sophisticated designs and offering high-end looks for moderate budgets, today’s homeowners are selecting familiar styles and mixing them with natural materials.
* High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) -- Today, the classic countertop surfacing comes in new trendy colors, patterns and finishes. Formica brand laminates have a new granite- and stone-inspired “Etchings” finish available. Its softly polished and etched surface is reminiscent of natural materials dappled with highlights from tiny fractures and fissures.
* Solid Surfacing -- When you are searching for the look and feel of natural materials with the strength and design flexibility of a synthetic solid surface, there are many new products available -- from countertops and windowsills to wall panels and backsplashes. Trendy “Ice” designs from Formica Solid Surfacing capture the cool colors of water and combine the transparency of glass with subtle pearlescent shimmers.
* Flooring -- Take a close look at different flooring manufacturers’ laminate wood plank and tile pattern designs. These days, it’s tougher than ever to separate laminate flooring from the real thing. Formica Flooring’s 3D In-Register Embossing technology actually matches textures to wood grains, so where you see a knot in the pattern, you’ll feel it in the texture.
The same holds true for tile patterns. More realistic grout lines, hand-crafted-looking textures and natural-appearing finishes make them convincing, high-performing substitutes for stone and tile.
Finally, make sure you are happy with your color scheme and product selections. “Making the final purchase is an emotional decision, and consumers need to feel satisfied with their design choices,” says Hytry.
Once you’re in the store, check out the product displays and lay out all of the products you’ve selected to see how they blend together. Work with the sales representative to make sure your “shopping list” has everything you need. Ask for directions on installing the products, as well as a demonstration. And don’t be afraid to ask for product samples that you can take home and see how they look in your room and with different lighting. Once you’re satisfied with the selections, it’s time to begin the room transformation.
If you follow these simple steps, your dream will become a reality; you’ll be happy and won’t break the bank.
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
|
|
|
|
|
| Lowe's Home Improvement |
| Retailer of a complete line of home improvement products and equipment. |
| www.lowes.com |
|
| Do It Yourself Home Improvement, Repair, and Remodeling ... |
| Doityourself home improvement and diy repair at DoItYourself.com. Includes diy home improvement projects, home improvement how to, home repair, ... |
| www.doityourself.com |
|
| "Home Improvement" (1991) |
| Home Improvement on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more... |
| www.imdb.com |
|
| Hometime: Home Improvement, Remodeling and Repair |
| Hometime features step-by-step information to home improvement, remodeling, and repair. Projects include decks, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, landscaping ... |
| www.hometime.com |
|
| Home Improvement Cyberfans |
| Information on ABC's hit sitcom Home Improvement, it's cast and their acting careers. |
| www.morepower.com |
|
| Home Improvement Encyclopedia |
| Home repair, do-it-yourself and improvement advice for hundreds of home improvement projects. |
| www.bhg.com |
|
| the home depot |
| www.homedepot.com/ - 2k - Cached - Similar pages |
|
|
| Home Improvement - Do It Yourself - Home Remodeling | BobVila.com |
| Home improvement projects, featured products, tip library, bulletin board, designer tools, and information about television programs hosted by Bob Vila. |
| www.bobvila.com |
|
| Do It Yourself Home Improvements - Home Improvement Information ... |
| Research do-it-yourself improvements with home improvement information from our website. Search home repair articles by subject, task or location. |
| www.bobvila.com |
|
| Energy Star Home Improvement Toolbox |
| Improve Your Energy Efficiency at Home. Use our Home Improvement Toolbox to save money and help protect the environment without sacrificing comfort. |
| www.energystar.gov |
|
| Home Tips: The Web's Most Helpful Home Improvement and Repair Site |
| Free home improvement advice, great remodeling tips, and appliance buying guides by leading home improvement authority, DIY expert and HGTV personality, ... |
| www.hometips.com |
|
| HGTV : Decorating, Remodeling, Home Improvement & Gardening Ideas ... |
| Take a fresh approach to the way you live with HoFind ideas and inspiration from HGTV's videos to transform your home through decorating, home improvement, ... |
| www.hgtv.com |
|
| Home Improvement - Decks, Flooring, Lighting, Tiling, Renovations ... |
| Do-it-yourself home improvement projects and home improvement videos for decks, flooring, lighting, tiling, renovations and more, plus tips and step-by-step ... |
| www.diynetwork.com |
|
| Home Improvement TV Show - Home Improvement Television Show - TV.com |
| Home Improvement TV Show, TV.com is your reference guide to Home Improvement Show. Episode guide, photos, videos, cast and crew information, forums, ... |
| www.tv.com |
|
| Home Improvement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| From the outset of Season 2, Tim and Al would make a theme of a particular home improvement project or item on Tool Time by hosting a week long "salute" to ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
|
| Home Improvement Archive |
| Home Improvement Archive -- Episode Guide, scripts, articles, and much more! |
| www.hiarchive.co.uk |
|
| Free Home Improvement Contractor Matching Service and Resources ... |
| Be matched with qualified and screened, expert contractors in your area in seconds with no obligation now. Improvenet offers the largest free contractor ... |
| www.improvenet.com |
|
| DIY Home Improvement, home repair Tips |
| DIY home improvement, remodeling, house repairs and maintainance Help Center...How To instructions for all your projects. |
| www.alsnetbiz.com |
|
| Amazon.com: Home Improvement: Electrical, Plumbing, Hardware ... |
| Online shopping for Home Improvement from a great selection of Tools & Hardware; Electrical, Plumbing, Hardware, Heating & Cooling, Building Materials ... |
| www.amazon.com |
|
| Home Improvement |
| AsktheBuilder.com: Build and remodel your home the right way. Learn how the master craftsmen of old built things to last. |
| www.askthebuilder.com |
|
|