The same applies to the pens, markers, rulers and crayons that are required each night for homework. I think I have found the perfect solution. Ikea offers something they call Wall Storage. It is ingenious and can go just about anywhere.

Need to keep the toothbrushes off the vanity? Combine the Asker container with a rail and S hook and you have simple storage for under $10.
Add a magnetic strip to any combination of rails and hooks, use the three-pack of lidded containers and you can contain thumbtacks in the office, spices in the kitchen or buttons in the sewing room.

I like the idea of using a magnetic strip for displaying kid’s artwork or even recipes. Just use a magnetic clip to hold them up. Better yet, let the kids decorate clothespins and add a magnet to the back.

Here’s an idea from Funky Junky Interiors:

This storage system was originally designed for the kitchen, and although I see it as multipurpose, the system comes with pieces designed specifically for the kitchen – paper towel holders and spice racks.

If you are planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel, or trying to organize your existing rooms, you might want to consider the use of open wall space for extra storage

The first story is about a 1912 stucco Tudor home:

The first couple bought their home in 1981 for around $53,000. Built in 1912, their stucco Tudor home had two bedrooms and a full bathroom on the second floor and contained 800 square feet on the first floor, 750 on the second, and 700 in the basement.

Immediate Repairs Needed

Unfortunately, when they first bought their home, they were faced with repairs. The house had been sitting vacant for a year before they purchased it. During that time, water pipes and heat radiators had frozen. The house also had an old oil boiler.

They removed the oil boiler and installed inner thermal electric water radiant baseboard heat. But the baseboard heating system did not prove to be efficient; there were no storm windows, and the house still had cold spots. They contacted the local electrical utility company to have their home converted to gas (hot water and furnace) and to qualify for the Weatherization Program. They sold the radiators and some of the thermal baseboards to a used building supply. The rest of the inner thermal baseboards were sold to a friend and donated to a local charity.

The Weatherization Program helps customers identify and repair areas where energy may be lost due to inadequate insulation and inefficient doors and windows. Financial assistance may be offered by the electrical utility company to qualifying customers for taking weatherization steps. For example, grants may be offered to help cover a portion of the cost of insulating attics, walls, and floors over heated areas. A small grant may be paid toward replacing existing windows with more energy efficient windows. An energy audit determines the exact amount of each grant, and the grant does not need to be repaid. Any remaining balance after the work is completed and the grant has been awarded is the homeowner’s responsibility. There may be a weatherization program in your area—you will want to contact your local electrical utility company for more information.

While the house appeared large, the rooms were small. With children still at home, it was time for an expansion. The thought of moving never entered the picture—they liked the neighborhood—but they didn’t know how to add on without losing the integrity of the home. An architect friend drew some plans that the couple liked so well that they hired a contractor and started their project in September 1993.

The Remodeling Experience

The contractor was to be responsible for excavation, foundations, framing, plumbing, roofing, insulation, and drywall. In order to save money, they purchased the windows which the contractor installed. They also did the demolition with the help of their 13-year-old son, and they did their own wiring—all 4,500 feet of it!

Another area where they saved (or in this case, made) money, was by putting their detached single-car garage up for sale. They ran a classified ad in the local newspaper that read “Garage for Sale,” which most people read as “Garage Sale.” Boy, were these people surprised when they showed up looking for furniture and trinkets! Once sold, the garage was relocated and the couple didn’t have to go through the process of tearing it down.

The completed addition is a dream come true as it gives the homeowners the extra room they need and want. The square footage of their home was increased by 800 square feet per floor, including the 800-foot double-car garage at basement level. The addition includes a new kitchen, full bathroom, and a mud/laundry room on the first floor. The second floor has a master bedroom, an extra bedroom, a full bathroom, and a rebuild of the original bathroom.

Final Thoughts

This house finished out with four bedrooms and three baths, not to mention the original sun room, a deck over the garage (using a special membrane material so water will not leak into the garage), and the original basement that incorporated extra rooms. The new addition was finished to match the existing home, both exterior and interior.

By the time the job was completed, the couple put between $80,000 and $90,000 into the project. For a time, their home outpriced the rest of the neighborhood, but this was of little concern to them. They like the neighborhood and plan to stay there, and that was their main reason for doing the project.

Stay tuned for stories two and three…

This is not the track lighting from the 1960s and ’70s – those clunky and chunky fixtures in black or white that became hallmarks of contemporary interiors. Now there are a lot more choices: Track heads are smaller in size, available in traditional styles and offered in a variety of finishes including brushed nickel and bronze to coordinate with appliances and hardware. These same metallic finishes are also popular in recessed lighting trims for the same reason, according to Shelley Wang, president of WAC Lighting.

Besides coordinating seamlessly with decor, today’s track and recessed fixtures provide supreme versatility. These lighting products come to the rescue when space configurations make it tough to illuminate all areas.

Out of sight = clean design

“Recessed fixtures are generally preferred for general lighting in almost any room of the house,” notes Joe-Rey Barreau, education consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA) and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design.

Wang agrees, adding, “They are perfect for illuminating otherwise dark spaces where portables and direct-mount fixtures have limited capabilities and would visually clutter the design.”

Recessed lights offer flexibility in that they can be individually aimed, according to Wang. “Square downlights in singles and multiples are a great linear look that was first made popular in retail and architectural spaces, but are now found regularly in high-end homes,” she explains. “Trimless recessed lights ensure that nothing protrudes below the ceiling plane, giving a minimalist look.”

Homeowners can rely on recessed not only when illuminating hallways and kitchens, but also to supplement other light sources in family rooms and bedrooms.

Glenn Siegel, marketing director for Cooper Lighting, has observed two growing trends: an increase in finish choices and a preference for recessed, square shapes for an architectural look. “In both Halo’s recessed and track lines, we now provide updated metallic finishes that range from Aluminum Haze, Satin Nickel, and Tuscan Bronze to Antique Copper,” says Siegel.

To save on energy, plus limit awkward bulb changes on the ceiling, consumers can buy compact fluorescent bulbs suitable for recessed fixtures. Placing the lights on a dimmer will further cut electrical costs and allow the user to vary the levels of light to create ambiance. Several lighting manufacturers are now offering LED-powered recessed fixtures and hanging pendants suspended from track for even greater energy savings over time.

Where to use today’s track stars

“Almost any room in the house is a candidate for a track system,” Rey-Barreau says. Once relegated to applications such as hallways, recreation and family rooms, and basements, track lighting is now being employed in dining rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.

“Track lighting has changed from a mundane product category into one that is design-conscious and extremely flexible,” Rey-Barreau states. The variety of fixture styles and lamping choices are diversified and available in an array of bulb options.

“One of my favorite applications is in renovation projects where the lighting placement is limited by the location of electrical service in the ceiling. Since the track allows for multiple fixtures in a linear configuration, it is possible to provide electricity to the track in one spot while allowing the fixtures on the track to reach many parts of the room,” Rey-Barreau says.

“Tons of homes are built with one junction box in the ceiling, but the residents want to update the space to incorporate general, accent and task lighting,” Wang concurs. “If recessed lighting is not feasible without lowering the ceiling height, a track system is a nice alternative. I faced this issue inside my pre-war New York City apartment and the track solution came out great.”

Track systems have evolved into highly decorative and functional lighting solutions. “The most common type is the monorail, which contains a single rail of electrified cable that can be installed either in straight runs or can be bent in the field for custom designs,” Rey-Barreau notes. The monorail provides the greatest flexibility and has an almost unlimited range of fixture options. With these new systems, the track becomes very much a part of the room’s overall aesthetics.

“One of the advantages of the monorail is that you can attach both pendants and accent fixtures on it,” Rey-Barreau explains. “Therefore, in a location such as a peninsula in a kitchen or a basement bar, you can place pendants above the work surface while creating spot lighting on objects in the room.”

Terry McGowan, director of technology for ALA, also appreciates the monorail’s flexibility. “I like to use it in dining rooms, even if there’s a suspended fixture over the table. Track adds downlighting and sparkle to table settings and can also be adjusted to accent sideboards, buffets, wall art, or sculpture,” he comments. “The decorative fixtures can then be dimmed so they’re not glaring.”

This kind of floor plan is not only family-friendly and perfect for entertaining, it will actually sell better if you ever decide to put your home on the market. An open floor plan makes your space seem bigger and more up to date. However, rooms with competing decor, such as a contemporary family room versus a traditionally styled kitchen, can make blending the space difficult.

The best way to make an open floor plan a success is to create a seamless transition from the kitchen to the other living spaces. “A homeowner can bring family spaces and the kitchen together by blending design periods to create a unique style,” says Connie Edwards, certified kitchen and bathroom designer and director of design for American Woodmark cabinetry. “There are ways to thoughtfully combine traditional and contemporary elements. The end result is a very warm, casual, comfortable feeling – with an air of sophistication that flows throughout the home.”

Edwards offers some useful tips on creating a harmonious open floor plan:

* Incorporate small contemporary touches that make a big impact, such as a stainless steel range hood and a glass mosaic tile backsplash. Just make sure that the colors and textures are compatible with each other and the adjoining room.

* Select a cabinet door in a rich brown finish that complements living and dining room furniture. American Woodmark, sold exclusively at Home Depot, offers an Auburn Glaze on 11 different maple door styles. The deep brown glaze over a Cognac finish settles into the corners and grooves, giving the cabinets a traditional, vintage look. Pairing this with modern hardware completes the transitional design.

* Display contemporary decorative objects on open shelving in the kitchen island. Selecting objects that complement the decor of the adjoining room is a subtle way to make the kitchen flow nicely with the open space.

* Consider a farmhouse sink that has been redesigned with a contemporary finish, such as stainless steel. Stainless steel acts as a neutral, so it will not detract from more elaborate home decorations.

“Consumers think everything has to match, but the pros mix,” says Laura Dalzell, owner and president of Cabinets & Designs, Inc. in Lexington, Kenn. She’s a firm believer in combining, – for example painted wood cabinets with cabinets in both natural wood tones and a wide range of colored stains. Mixing is the magic that brings a kitchen to life, she believes. “Different finishes create the ‘furniture look’ that’s been the trend in kitchens for the last decade or so.”

Across the country, California designer Debbie Nassetta nods in agreement from her desk at RoomScapes Inc., a top design firm in Laguna Niguel. Nassetta likes contrast. “If you have dark cabinets, make the floor lighter. With light cabinets, go the other way around,” she advises. Her own home kitchen features cabinets in three different colors: stained cherry on one wall and the work island with the rest painted cream. Plus, there’s a piece de resistance, a large armoire she painted black to make it stand out in the crowd.

At The Kitchen Source in Dallas, designer Alison Gillespie also praises contrasting colors. “We do our best not to match cabinets and floors.” Alison advocates a mix of different species of woods. For example, a hand-scraped oak floor with maple cabinets in an opaque finish.

From New Orleans and Cabinets By Design, Inc., designer Christina Sheets confirms. “Down here wood species don’t matter.” Given The Big Easy’s penchant for preserving old things, many homeowners refinish rather than replace their vintage hardwood floors, Sheets explains. The floors are then stained to complement –- not match – new hardwood cabinets.

“We also like to mix cabinets in the same kitchen,” she says. “The idea is to create visual contrast between the work island and the perimeter cabinets. Locally, popular mixes include cherry and cypress for cabinets, and butcher block on the work island.

“If the perimeter cabinets differ from the work island, we might put the same countertop material on both,” Sheets says. “But if the cabinets are alike, we’d use different countertops for contrast, say, granite and butcher block.”

Arizona designer Elizabeth Spengler, who creates kitchens for Dorado Designs, Inc., in Oro Valley, often uses one color for base cabinets and another for wall cabinets. Her own kitchen is a medley of contrasting woods and colors: red birch flooring, glazed oak base cabinets, perimeter wall cabinets painted granny apple-green, and a cherry-stained work island with a black glaze.

Spengler also advocates a mix of different wood species throughout the house, such as a rift-cut oak in a contemporary kitchen with birds-eye maple furniture in the dining room and olive ash burl pieces in the living room.

Even hardwood floors in adjacent rooms may vary “as long as you use some transitional device to make it work,” Elizabeth says. Her favorite: a border incorporating the wood species or color from the floor next door. “Just make sure there’s enough contrast to show you mean it,” she says. “Near-misses don’t make it.”

What about wood mouldings in the kitchen? As a general rule, the designers agree that ceiling mouldings should be finished like the wall cabinets. Base and other mouldings usually follow suit.

The pros point out that painted mouldings make the space look lighter and more open, while stained wood creates warmth and coziness. New York designer John Buscarello is definitely a paint partisan. “Paint the mouldings,” urges Buscarello, whose kitchens have been featured at the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and in dozens of decorating magazines. “Painted ceiling mouldings make the ceiling look higher and the rooms look larger.” Painting also downplays mouldings, he says, “and lets the wood of the cabinets be the star.”

So stop worrying and let the fun begin. Mix it up. The experts have spoken.

For more top designers’ opinions about mixing-not-matching hardwoods in your home, visit the American Hardwood Information Center at www.Hardwoodinfo.com and click on “Write and Request” for a free copy of the booklet, “American Hardwoods By Design.”

]]> http://www.remodel.net/mix-it-up-with-a-variety-of-wood-in-your-design/feed/ 2 http://www.remodel.net/new-flooring-heres-some-advice/ http://www.remodel.net/new-flooring-heres-some-advice/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:59:44 +0000 Remodeling http://www.remodel.net/?p=183 If you haven’t shopped for flooring in the past few years, prepare yourself. The vast array of hard-surface options is extensive, to say the least.

From stone to tile, wood to vinyl, linoleum to laminate, the choices can seem endless. How do you sift through the features and benefits of each to choose the product that is best for your home and your needs, from installation to maintenance and upkeep? And, equally important, how much is it going to cost to get the floor of your dreams?

New flooring, no matter what type you select, is more affordable than you may think. The key to success in finding the right floor is to go to a reputable, high-quality flooring retailer who can help you make sense of all the choices available in today’s diverse marketplace.

“Besides offering great service, the latest designs and an extensive array of product choices, today’s quality flooring retailers also compete when it comes to price,” says Gary Finseth, director of marketing for Tarkett Residential, a large flooring manufacturer. “But, their greatest ability is to differentiate themselves with professional sales people who can educate you to make the best purchasing decision for your home and your lifestyle.”

A knowledgeable flooring retailer will help you identify the best floor covering choices that complement your style of living, as well as the colors and finishes that suit your individual tastes. This includes more than just showing samples of various flooring options. A quality flooring retailer helps consumers understand how traffic, cleaning needs and other factors can influence a flooring decision – especially when performance and value are the key factors in most every decision.

For example, you might love the look of real hardwood floors, but if your home has a lot of traffic and activity, an indent- and wear-resistant laminate might be the best (and far more affordable) choice for you. Today’s laminate offerings are designed so authentically to mimic wood and other surfaces, it’s often hard to tell the difference.

If you’re looking for a more performance-based flooring option, some great new products offer unique designs and the performance consumers prefer for their day-to-day living. One option retailers recommend is Tarkett FiberFloor, a fiber-backed resilient sheet that is warm and comfortable underfoot, is water- and moisture-resistant, stands up to scratches, scuffs, stains and indentations, and is easy to maintain.

Or, if you’re interested in a high-end flooring look such as marble, stone or ceramic tile but don’t like their cold, fragile and pricey applications, many floor-covering retailers recommend turning to luxury vinyl tile. Products like NAFCO’s PermaStone duplicate the look of natural ceramic and stone tile, but are warm, soft and even come with multiple grout options (or none at all) for installation.

And installation is part of the complete package of details and services that comes with a specialty flooring retailer especially if you don’t have the time, tools or temperament to do a quality install yourself. The best retailers take care of all the details so you don’t have to worry about them.

A good retailer will provide you with recommendations and services such as:

* Suggest the proper moldings and why moldings are needed for certain flooring transitions.

* Recommend premium underlayments, such as Tarkett’s Quiet-Cor, that provide better sound insulation and moisture penetration.

* Proper measuring and estimating services to avoid waste or materials shortages.

* Complete installation, including the necessary cutting of door jambs and other accessories.

* All the right tools, including specialty saws and underlayment tape (these are tools that most do-it-yourselfers wouldn’t think to purchase).

* Full installation warranty.

* Individualized follow-up, usually 30 days after installation, to fix any problems.

Most people don’t shop for flooring every day — or even every year — so with so many choices, styles, prices, features and benefits available, it’s nice to know that today’s quality flooring retailer is there to help.

For more information, visit these helpful Web sites: www.tarkettna.com and www.nafco.com.

]]> http://www.remodel.net/new-flooring-heres-some-advice/feed/ 0 http://www.remodel.net/making-every-sqaure-foot-count-create-bonus-room-space/ http://www.remodel.net/making-every-sqaure-foot-count-create-bonus-room-space/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:43:26 +0000 Remodeling http://www.remodel.net/?p=119 Upsizing to a bigger home might be out of reach for a majority of homeowners in this depressed housing market, so many are opting to stay put and maximize their existing spaces through remodels, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

A recent American Institute of Architects Home Design Trends Survey showed that homeowners are rethinking how they use the square footage they have. They are converting previously unused areas, such as basements and attics, and incorporating outdoor areas into their design plans in an effort to boost their home’s livability and value. Some are also using additions to create better flow between existing rooms and make living areas more practical.

“It’s all about maximizing space and making a home feel larger,” said Sonny Nazemian, president and CEO of Michael Nash Custom Kitchens & Homes, Inc. in Fairfax, Va. He and his design team recently won a 2009 CotY Award for a two-story, 1,250-square-foot addition they built on a 2,300-square foot house. The remodeler helped the homeowners reconfigure their existing spaces to optimize traffic flow, create new living areas and improve storage.

“Before the project, the house felt extremely small,” Nazemian said. “The first floor was cramped and they had a small dining room and narrow family room. By adding 12 feet on the back of the house, the living spaces became much larger.”

The remodeled home now boasts a gourmet kitchen with a bigger and brighter breakfast area. The small dining room became a laundry room, and Nazemian made space for a new dining room. Upstairs, hallways and a bedroom were expanded, and a bathroom was added.

Reworking the home’s footprint also created a spot for a “man cave,” or lounging area for the husband. Outfitted with a couple of lounge chairs, a television, custom shelving and sound system, the man of the house now uses the 10 x 20-foot bonus room to watch games with family and friends.

“When you add 10 or 12 feet to a home, it can change the entire configuration,” Nazemian said. “In just three to four months, we really transformed and opened up this space.”

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