Should You Hire a Professional
Decorator When Remodeling?
A large number of homeowners make the decision to have their
bathrooms remodeled each year. There's is a good chance that
you may be unhappy with the current condition of your
bathroom. If you are, there is a good chance that you may
want to change as much of it as you possibly could change, in
addition to doing the remodeling. This may mean that you
could also be interested in redecorating your bathroom.
Unfortunately, it isn’t always as easy to decorate the
bathroom as it may seem. If you are looking to not only
remodel your bathroom, but also redecorate it, you may spend
days or even weeks looking for the perfect bathroom theme or
décor.
An easier way would be to think consider using the
services of a professional decorator.
Professional decorators are trained individuals who know how
to decorate almost any space. They typically know the best
ways to bring out the best in a room, even bathrooms.
Most legitimate, professional decorators will take a number of
courses. These courses are often a part of career training or
college level courses. In addition to academic style
training, most professional decorators have hands-on
experience, usually in their previous or current work
experience.
One of the greatest benefits to hiring a professional
decorator is that the best ones are truly good at what they
do. If you're only looking for 'decorating tips', you may
also want to acquire the services of a professional decorator,
but you can also get more.
In addition to home décor, most professional decorators also
specialize in the overall design of a room. So, if you want to
remodel your bathroom, but you have no idea what you should do
or how to approach the situation, a decorator may be able to
offer you suggestions.
They could, for example, suggest new paint colors for your
bathroom walls, a new style of sink that would great in the
room, or offer suggestions on what types of bathtubs and
fixtures you should consider. Qualified decorators are usually
very up-to-date on the latest styles and most popular color
combinations.
As expected, if you want the advice of an expert, you should
expect to pay for it. So, if you're remodeling your kitchen on
a tight budget you may find it difficult to retain the services
of a professional decorator.
If so,you may want to see what they internet can do for you.
Online, you should be able to find a number of remodeling and
decorating ideas for free. This can easily be done with a standard internet
search. What you'll miss out on, is the specific advice unique
to your home and project that only a decorator can provide.
Regardless of whether you choose to use the services of a
professional decorator or not, you may still want to think
about changing your bathroom theme or décor in addition to the
larger remodeling work to be done.
Don't be surprised to find that remodeling a bath and
re-decorating a bath can change the feeling and atmosphere of
an entire home. And, once you transform the bathroom, you'll
probably start eying other rooms as well!
Choosing New Kitchen Cabinets
If you're tired of your kitchen cabinets, you might feel it's time to change the place a bit. Maybe, you just bought a new home and are looking for ideas on kitchen fixtures and what to look for.
So, let’s take a closer look at cabinets and what to look for when deciding on your next kitchen. Considering a totally new kitchen or a simple kitchen re-facing, first decide on general distribution of the kitchen cabinets depending on the space available. With different types of kitchens, single-row, L- or corner-shape and U-shape with or without kitchen islands, where to put what, will depend on your room size.
The classical way to distribute the basic kitchen appliances around cabinets is: refrigerator, space, oven, space, kitchen sink with dishwasher. This traditional way of lining things up keeps the heat of the oven away from the fridge and still allows room to have it close enough.
Obviously it is up to you and the space you have available in your home to find the best distribution. You can just draw a simple floor plan of your kitchen and cut out of paper board some pieces representing each of your appliances. This will give you a rough idea of what items could go where. Later on when you have a more concrete feeling of where each cabinet will go, you can talk to your cabinet installer to get a detailed drawing of your ideas, before beginning.
Before getting in touch with any cabinet maker or kitchen remodeling specialist in Aurora, IL make sure you get some basic points clear:
* Material used. What kind of material do you want your kitchen do be? Massif wood or just veneer covered doors and drawer tops. Wooden kitchen cabinets will give a warm and friendly kitchen atmosphere but might be more difficult to clean.
* Framed or panel kitchen doors and drawer fronts are also an important decision. Nicely framed mortise and tenon doors will give the furniture a more traditional look than plain panel fronts.
* Material for the Worktop. This is a very important point for your decision. The material used for the worktop can make the difference if you later on like the kitchen or not. You can choose from a variety of different materials like marble, granite or other stones, to laminated plywood,metal and massif wood e.g. ashwood.
* Hinges, knobs and drawer slides should be of excellent quality. Especially these types of kitchen hardware is really what you want to be as durable as possible. So look for high quality fittings at all your cabinets.
* Also think about sinks and faucets you might need. Make sure the design fits well into the overall room.
Remember: Planning and preparation is KEY in executing a successful remodel of a Naperville kitchens.
Planning Your Dream Garage
What does a dream garage look like? One family may want
it fitted for the car, others dream for a really nice
workshop, a laundry room, a gym or a rehearsal studio for their
own musical band. Someone else may only want it to expand their
living space and improve their lifestyle.
How much of a budget do you have to work with? Even if you want
only to remodel, rebuild or only reorganize a small area of your
garage you really need a budget. You should have in mind a
specific target and a realistic and finite budget for it.
The first step is to evaluate your needs regarding the
space and your objectives. Even in a small garage, you can find
plenty of space to use for your work area and other purposes.
Making the decision regarding whether to do the project
yourself or to hire a contractor depends on several factors,
including your skills and the magnitude of the project.
You can buy the furnishings yourself according to your
needs and your available space. Cabinets, shelves, pegs and
hooks are a must have in order to turn your garage into usable
space. If you have a greater project in mind, it may pay to consult an
experienced contractor who specializes in garages.
If you are planning to convert your garage into a living area
you’d better be a professional or you’ll be risking decreasing
the safety and value of your own home.
If you opt for a contractor, and this is the choice that we
often recommend regardless of the project’s magnitude or your skills,
get one whose work you’ve seen and if you have the chance,
get some recommendations. It is always better to see with your
own eyes the recent work of the contractor so you can make an informed decision.
Costs and construction times vary with the scope and the
size of the project. Assuming no structural issues,
finishing and enclosing a garage and turning it into useable room
would take a week to two weeks.
The costs depend on the materials that you decide to use,
but keep in mind that expensive
does not necessary mean quality and that cheap does not
mean bad quality every time. It pays to investigate materials
costs from different suppliers to be sure you're getting what
you've paid for.
A remodeled garage can be a place to spend many happy hours for a long
time to come if you plan it right according to your families needs and
your dreams.
Know Your Floor Tile
Finding a tile the whole family likes isn’t hard. Just make sure it's the right one for your home and choose a tile that's rated for the area you where you plan to install it. Here’s some tips to help you make a good selection!
As a general rule, entryways need a harder, abrasion-resistant, moisture-proof tile. Bathrooms require a moisture-proof tile that’s usually made of a non-slip material. Modern slip-resistant tile is treated at the factory with a slightly abrasive material to "rough up" the surface for safety reasons.
Also, its worth noting that some tiles are rated for indoor or outdoor use only, while others can be used in either application. Remember to check manufacturers guidelines to verify this.
Floor tile is typically 1/2" to 3/4" thick, and manufactured in squares measuring 4"x4" up to 24"x 24". Other shapes, such as octagonal and hexagonal are also available. (Wall tile is thinner and comes in squares from 3"x 3" up to 6"x 6".)
Mosaic tiles are two inches square usually (or smaller) and can be installed individually. Mosaic tiles are also available in pre-mounted paper or fabric mesh sheets for ease of installation or larger areas.
Tile’s popularity as a floor covering is growing every year. It’s not a surprise either as tile has so many positive features - Here's just a few:
* Tile has a natural, handmade look that's very durable, yet easy to care for.
* Tile works well in areas with lots of foot traffic, and it's especially suited to entry foyers because it’s very durable yet attractive too.
* Design patterns available are unlimited when using all of the possible combinations of size, texture and color.
* You can further expand your creative choices with hand painted tiles and colored grouts. *Professional designers love tile because of the uniqueness that can be added to a clients home.
Basically, all tile feels hard, but some types of tile are harder than others. To provide a standard of comparison, tile is rated by a series of standardized tests. The tests evaluate a tile's relative hardness using the Moh Scale. It measures the tile’s ability to stand up to wear and the percentage of water absorbed by the tile.
The Porcelain Enamel Institute hardness ratings are as follows:
* Group I - Light Traffic: residential bathroom floors where bare feet are common.
* Group II - Medium Traffic: home interiors where little abrasion occurs.
* Group III - Medium-Heavy Traffic: basically any home interior.
* Group IV - Heavy Traffic: homes or light to medium commercial areas.
* Group V- Extra Heavy Traffic: can be used anywhere - residential or commercial
Moh Scale ratings are reliable and help you find the right tile for your specific need.
Pay particular attention to the ratings test that measures the percentage of water absorbed, or what is called ‘porosity’. A tile's porosity is especially important when choosing tile for bathrooms and kitchens, since these areas need moisture proof flooring.
Porous tiles should not be used outdoors, where cold weather produces freeze/thaw cycles that can crack or otherwise damage the tile.
The classifications for the porosity of tile are: Impervious (least absorbent), Vitreous, Semi-vitreous, and Non-vitreous (most absorbent).
Finally, the hardness of tile is caused by the firing process. Usually, the longer and hotter the firing, the harder the tile will be. The raw tile material, called bisque, is either single-fired or double-fired.
For single-fired tiles, the glaze is applied to the raw material and baked once in a kiln.
Double-fired tiles are thicker. Raw material is baked a second time after additional color or decoration is added.
You can find lots more information about all types of floor tile online and at manufacturers websites. For professional tile installation contact Fox Valley Remodeler at 630-219-1892.
