Things to Consider for Remodeling Your Bathroom

Bathroom, is the most integral part of every home, and thus, you should give due importance to its remodeling. Bathrooms can be redefined with new colors, designs, looks and styles. These days, you can find a number of themes for bathrooms, which are especially designed to address the contemporary demands of the people.
People pay special attention while getting their bathrooms constructed and make sure that their aesthetic and luxurious appeal is enhanced. On the other hand, when it comes to offices or work places, bathrooms are designed in such a way that they present a contemporary look. The designing, colors, accessories, fittings and themes incorporated in the bathroom depends on the space available and the budget.
There are lot of areas where one should focus on while going for a bathroom remodeling. Right from cabinets, fixtures and hardware to mirror, flooring, tub, shower and lighting, every aspect of the bathroom is equally important and needs to be highlighted accordingly.

The first thing that comes into notice in any bathroom is the cabinet. Any change made in the cabinets transforms the entire interior of the bathroom. For giving an illusion of space in the bathroom, you should go in for subtle colors like beige and mauve. You can also go in for cabinets in themes like rain forest and ocean blue.
Fixtures are the next important things which require a conscious decision before getting a bathroom remodeled. Faucets and sinks should be selected in synchronization with the style of cabinetry and the overall décor of the bathroom. One can go for trendy styles or can stick to the old elegant & sophisticated look.
Hardware that one wants to use inside the bathroom should be cautiously selected as these enhance or deteriorate the overall appeal of the bathroom. Lighting is another focus area that you should pay attention to, as it makes the room look brighter and gives depth to it. You would find a plethora of options in types and shapes of lighting options.

If you have a small bathroom, then you can make it spacious looking by altering the size of the mirror used. Mirror is a major point to concentrate on, while going for remodeling. These days people prefer to have large mirrors in bathrooms, majorly because they make the bathroom look larger.
While going in for remodeling of bathroom, you should also focus on the type of tub or shower to be used. These are available in different shapes, sizes and colors to enhance the overall interiors. Make sure that the bath tub blends with the color of the tiles & flooring, or is in contrast to them. You can also opt for flooring and tiling, which has a similar shower counterpart available. This would add finishing to your bathroom and make it look more elegant.
Keeping in mind these important points, you can completely transform the looks of your bathroom and give it a fresh appeal.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Solutions for Small Kitchens

Many homeowners face the problem of not having enough space in their kitchens. Due to the shortage of space, one may either collide with things kept in the kitchen or step on someone else’s toe while trying to reach something. Moreover, one does not even feel like cooking in such a small space. Additionally, one also has to adjust various kitchen items in the tiny space, making it cluttered and untidy.
In case you also have a small kitchen and face such problems daily, there are certain useful steps that can help you overcome space constraint. Foremost, you can make use of various designing tips to create an illusion of space. An easy way of achieving this is through proper lighting, such as, take measures to maximize any natural light by keeping the blinds up and curtains back. In case you wish to add more lights, but do not want to take up any valuable space, you can install lights under the cabinet. Apart from this, you can also use light colored walls, curtains, blinds and cabinets, to make the room look more open.

You must also ensure maximum use of available space in a proper manner. Foremost, you should take a look around your kitchen and sort out things as per the frequency of their use. Things that you do not use frequently like juicer or food processing machine, can be removed from the kitchen and stored somewhere else, such as the store room or garage. The next thing that you need to focus upon is the arrangement of things, such as you should keep the cooking utensils and oven mits near the stove. You must keep all the necessary and most used items in an easily accessible place, so that one does not collide with other things or people.
You always have the option of arranging various kitchen items in cabinets that can easily accommodate numerous things. However, if the cabinet is not large enough to solve the space problem, you can install lazy susans and dividing trays in these cabinets. This is also an effective solution in case one is not able to maintain different cabinets for specific group of items. Incorporating ample storage facility is probably the most effective and easiest way of overcoming space problem in small kitchens. Besides, you can even opt for hang up pots and pans that empties a lot of space in the cabinets.
Apart from this, you can also have deeper counters as these not only increase work space, but can also accommodate more items. Additionally, to minimize the use of space, you can select drop table, small sized round table or built-in counter along the wall. It is always advisable to install a large kitchen sink, as it is very convenient and suitable for washing pots and pans.
With the advancement in technology, now you have access to various compact and space saving appliances. Numerous brands are designing products for small kitchens, such as microwaves that can be hung underneath cabinets. You also have the option of choosing refrigerators that are 24 inches deep instead of 30 inches deep.
Making use of these simple measures can help you overcome the problem associated with small kitchens.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

How to install vinyl flooring effectively

There are a number of factors that need to be considered while selecting a flooring type for your house. Durability, ease of installation, moisture resistance and the cost are some of the major factors that people consider while selecting flooring. Vinyl is one of the most popular flooring types since it stands good on all of the above mentioned factors. Vinyl flooring offers high aesthetics and is quite inexpensive as compared to a number of other flooring types.
However, in order to get maximum benefit out of your vinyl flooring it is essential to install it properly. One of the key considerations in installing vinyl flooring is the sub floor. Vinyl requires the foundation to be even and smooth so that the finish is of the highest quality. It is for this reason that sanded plywood is considered to be the ideal choice of sub floors for vinyl flooring. Another effective option is to install the vinyl flooring over the existing one. This will eliminate the need to install a new sub floor before using vinyl flooring.
Before you start installing vinyl flooring it is essential to take the exact measurements of the room concerned. This will enable you to accurately estimate the amount of vinyl that you need to purchase. Furthermore, it is always advised to purchase a little extra vinyl to allow for trimming and cutting after the installation.
In case you are installing vinyl over your existing sub floor you need to ensure that it is smooth and free from any holes. In case there are holes in your sub floor you should use a patching mixture to fill them before you install vinyl.

Cutting vinyl can be a tricky job, and it is not uncommon to hear of vinyl tearing while it is being laid down. You should lay down the vinyl cover over the area that needs to be floored and mark the exact places to be cut. Make sure that you have left some extra space to trim and cut later.
Adhesive is another crucial step that can determine the durability and effectiveness of your vinyl flooring. You should purchase a high quality adhesive material and should apply it evenly to ensure strong adhesive. Apply firm pressure while laying down the flooring. You should allow the adhesion to dry for at least two hours before using the floor. Even after a strong bond has been created it is essential to carefully move any furniture over the flooring. This is so, since even a minor tear would require to re-do the entire job again.
Since vinyl floors require less maintenance, and are highly durable they have become the material of choice in a number of commercial establishments as well as households. However, adequate care needs to be taken while installing vinyl for maximum effectiveness. Although, a number of individuals consider it to be a ‘do-it-yourself’ job, in case you are not confident about it; it would be advisable to avail the services of a professional contractor.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

DIY projects An ideal option for overcoming the economic slowdown

With the economic slowdown affecting everyone in some way or the other, people are on the lookout for measures to reduce their expenses. A major portion of a homeowner’s income goes towards several home repair and renovation jobs. It is one cost you cannot restrain as there is always some or other home repair or improvement required to be done. Hiring a professional contractor for house repair or improvement proves quite expensive and home owners are now opting to do these jobs themselves.
The ‘Do It Yourself’ (DIY) home repair or improvement measures have gained popularity over the past few years. Due to the rising price of materials as well as fees of professional contractors, homeowners are opting to do the repair jobs on their house, on their own. These require diligence as well as knowledge since, carpentry or plumbing activities not simple.
Moreover, with substantial information available on the net, the DIY enthusiasts can easily accomplish different projects such as tiling, grouting, carpentering and flooring, easily.
The DIY projects help the homeowners save significant amount of money which they would otherwise have to give it to their contractors. Before starting any DIY project you must gather all the information about the different aspects of the task, including tools and materials required. You can get information on the internet, or better, take help of your friends who have completed similar task before so that you can learn from their experience.

Moreover, since you are not dependent on the contractors for material, you can choose any material as per your requirement and budget. You must also survey the market so that you can get quality material at less cost. Be sure not to compromise on the quality just to save a few dollars. Since you are doing the job yourself, you can define the time and deadlines for the task. Along with saving money, it also gives an opportunity to test your skills and get the sense accomplishment on completing the job properly.
Home improvement and repairs, cannot be escaped if you wish to keep the house in good condition. However it can involve significant expenditure, which is not favored by many, especially due to the economic slowdown. In such a condition, doing the job yourself rather than hiring a contractor can save homeowners a lot of money. Irrespective of the size of the job, any opportunity to save on extra expenditure will always prove beneficial. Before staring any DIY project, you must gather all the information as well as tools required so that you can carry the job effectively. Only precaution while doing the task is that you must judge yourself and ensure you are fit for the task. Apart from this, you must keep in mind that, it takes a great deal of patience to perform any repair or renovation job; therefore you need to approach the repair or renovation task only after you have gained ample knowledge and defined a reasonable time line to finish it. This ensures that you do not mess up things and incur more expenses fixing it.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Don’t renovate your home only because your neighbor is doing it

Renovating a home is a daunting task which requires time, money and planning, hence, it is not advisable to start renovating your home, simple because your neighbor is doing so. You must renovate your home only if changes in your home are required.
Home renovation is generally done to make living more practical as well as enjoyable for people residing in it. Remodeling the home must ultimately justify the large portion of the cost that is invested, since renovating home is an expensive proposition. Furthermore, it is a time consuming process and hence you must be prepared to take out time from your busy schedule to supervise the renovation process.
In case you ultimately decide to renovate your home, you must be aware of the fact that there are quite a few important things that you need to do before the actual work starts. You need to plan well in advance so as to avoid high job costs or low quality work, along with wastage of time. Even before the work starts, there is so much to be done, such as formulating the plans and taking the necessary permits. Further, once you have the permits and bids, the next step is to arrange finance for the entire renovation expenditure, this will help avoid work-delay caused due to fund shortage. You also need to get a reliable contractor, for which you can take reference from your friends. Planning in advance will help you execute the renovation in an organized & timely fashion. In addition, you can shop around for things and take advantage of various sales and bargains, get the requisite items at less cost and increase your savings.

It is essential that you set aside some time for the planning and even plan to take time off work in order to execute the renovation process under your supervision. The time frame would depend upon the job, for example if you plan to renovate just your bathroom, it may a week; however, if the complete house is to be renovated then it may take weeks for the job to be completed. It is advisable to avoid rainy season for renovation work, generally January is a popular time for home renovations. Sometimes there may be delays in work due to accident or illness of any of the involved parties; hence you need to set aside few days as buffer. Therefore, keeping all these factors into consideration, plan your time accordingly. Moreover, your house can become quite a mess during renovation, with renovation material scattered all around, it will demand your constant attention to ensure tidiness.
The most important thing to be considered before starting any renovation work is the need for it. It is not advised to get into renovations when it is not required to be done. Apart from this, if at all there is a need for renovation then you need to be well prepared for it in advance, with sufficient backup of time & money.
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com