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Posted on July 12th, 2006 by admin
Two demons wait for unsuspecting homeowners, hoping for their chance to gobble up time and money on new home and remodeling projects.
The Ripple Effect lurks quietly in the background. Just like the movements on the pond surface for which it’s named, The Ripple Effect starts out small and grows, expanding until it engulfs the entire project.
Pebble In The Pond
The Ripple Effect is the remodeling budget’s worst enemy and can wreak havoc on small and large projects alike. A simple example is a window replacement project. At first glance, it’s a simple, isolated project. But the interior and exterior trim must be replaced and painted and the exterior siding may have to be reworked, especially if the new window isn’t the same size as the old one.
And that’s just the beginning. Once that window is replaced and the new window trim painted, the rest of the trim in the room looks bad and so the homeowner decides to paint that, too. A pebble’s been dropped in the pond, and the ripples have begun to spread.
What started out as a simple window replacement ends up as the refinishing of an entire room.
In new home projects, the ripple effect is more pronounced in open plan designs. With fewer walls to separate spaces, it’s difficult to make flooring transitions from one room to another so more expensive floorings often cover more of the house. The lack of interior walls also requires a more expensive structural system and makes the placement of ductwork and plumbing more difficult.
Don’t Make Waves
But the ripple effect can be controlled if you take a moment to consider the impact one project can have on other parts of the house. The root of the problem in the window replacement example is that a new standard sized window won’t exactly fit the existing opening – necessitating the replacement of the trim.
But a custom sized window, carefully installed, might allow you to reinstall the existing trim inside and outside, and avoid the ripple effect entirely. Sure you’ll spend more on the window but you’ll save everywhere else, and avoid the ripple effect.
And in a new home project careful planning of the room layouts and space adjacencies allows flooring and other finishes to “break” where you want them to.
Project Creep
Project Creep is a close cousin to the Ripple Effect. Project Creep happens when the extent of the work begins to grow, creeping along at first, until no one seems able to control the spiraling costs.
Older homes, for example, often require building code upgrades when they’re remodeled – upgrades that may have little to do with the project itself. When structural loads are changed in any way, for example, the existing structure must be rebuilt or retrofitted to meet updated code requirements. And moving structure usually means reworking the wiring, ductwork, and plumbing that’s been routed through the area.
Project Creep can attack new home projects, too. Sometimes the causes are almost impossible to predict, such as when the excavation of the site uncovers poor soil conditions. Sometimes the cause is an outside force – an architectural review board, for example. But mostly, project creep is a result of a difference in expectations between homeowner, builder, and architect.
Plan To Avoid Creep
On any project, start with a clear idea of the level of finish and quality you expect. Don’t assume that the architect and builder are in tune with your ideas about finishes – discuss your expectations in detail and whenever possible, see the actual finishes and fixtures. If you’re not the detail-oriented type, hire a professional interior designer.
Poor quality drawings cause additional unplanned work during construction, and always end up costing homeowners money and time. My firm’s been hired many times to correct drawings done elsewhere that contained glaring errors, omitted necessary structural steel, or just plain didn’t work. Sloppy drawings are an open invitation to Project Creep.
On a remodeling or room addition project, evaluate the feasibility of the project in terms of the impact it will have on parts of the home that you’re not intending to remodel. Often, room additions can easily be designed to minimize the effect on the existing structure.
Finally, always have realistic expectations about your project budget and communicate that budget to your architect and builder. When everyone understands the project’s financial goals the chances for success are greatly increased.
Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio.
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Posted on July 12th, 2006 by admin
Mirrors can be used to give the illusion of spaciousness to a small room, to increase the natural lighting, in strategic positions for the quick mirror check, to be used as accent pieces on tabletops, and to bring an outside view in. All of these make use the mirrors magical quality to amplify and reflect light. Mirrors can be use in any design décor from contemporary to antique.
To Increase Spaciousness
If you have a small room, a wall covered in mirror tiles might be just the thing to give the illusion of space. If you want to keep people from banging their noses on the tile, pick a mirrored tile which has a design overlay etched on it. This provides the space illusion without necessarily causing anyone to mistake the room as bigger than it actually is.
A large wall mirror will also have the same effect. Some people choose to put a large wall mirror on their mantles or add mirror tile highlights along the wall here and there.
Increasing Natural Lighting
A well-placed mirror will increase the natural lighting in your room. If you put it in such a manner that it disperses the outside light without actually reflecting it causing unnecessary glares, you have got it just right.
Beauty Mirrors
If you are decorating bathrooms, bedrooms, or entryways, mirrors are important features to give people a place to check themselves before they appear in public. A full-length mirror plus a facial mirror is important in bathrooms and bedrooms. You can hide a full-length mirror on the back of any door now. They come available in think mirror kits at any home improvement store.
Mirrors in bathrooms should be lighted as close to possible as natural lighting. Harsh fluorescent lighting is going to make makeup look different than natural lighting. In addition, there should be magnifying mirrors for grooming the eyebrows and other small areas.
As Accents
Mirrors are beautiful as accents on tabletops. They can hold candle votives and thus reflect the light and bring some sparkle to a living room or dining room area. They can also be use as pedestals for crystal figurines or any other small collectible.
To Bring An Outside View In
One of the most interesting uses of mirrors is to bring an outside view indoors. If you have a particularly beautiful view outside a window, why not reflect it multiple times inside? It makes for more light, more interest, and a feeling of nature indoors.
One thing to remember when hanging or using mirrors is that they are glass. You want to hang them securely so they don’t fall. Many large antique mirrors are exceedingly heavy and should be hung on studs so as to have sufficient support. If you have children in the house, do not keep glass or mirror pieces out on your table where they can accidentally break it and cut themselves. As always, safety should be first and beauty second.
When you’re shopping for mirrors, get a great deal by using coupons-samples.com/jewelrytv.php coupons from JTV. Jewelry Television has some very elaborate, expensive mirrors along with more affordable, but still stylish, offerings.
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Posted on July 12th, 2006 by admin
When people think of home improvement, most think of remodeling or drastic renovation that costs a lot. Contrary to these ideas, improving the quality of your home starts with a single concept according to most interior decorators: increasing space. As simple as those two words sound, they are probably the most difficult to accomplish in terms of house design and decorating. However, there are ways to make this home improvement goal possible with the least amount of cash and effort. Starting with the most visited room in your house sets the tone for your project.
The bathroom is the most overlooked place in the house in terms of design. The common excuse of homeowners is that visitors do not really see the inside of the bathroom unless they ask to use it. But design experts argue that this should not be the case. The use of the bathroom is gradually changing from being functional to aesthetic. It is not only for bathing and other bodily functions but also for relaxation and de-stressing. It is important to keep the dual nature of the bathroom’s function in mind as you go about your home improvement project.
Increasing bathroom space has a lot to do with ceiling and wall dimensions. However, you do not have to remove walls or reconstruct your ceiling as part of home improvement. Simply placing borders along the conjunction of your ceiling and walls is often enough to “increase” their dimensions. The color provided by the border tricks the eyes into perceiving more space. Using wallpapers or tiles with vertical stripes or dainty prints also makes the room appear taller. If you are not using tiles or wallpapers, painting the bathroom ceiling and walls with a neutral shade illuminates and broadens the space. Plain white looks boring, and designers advise the use of other shades like ecru, beige, and oyster to update your bathroom’s color.
As much as bathroom space relies on walls and ceilings, floor space is just as important. Uncluttered floor widens visual space so keep this in mind in furnishing your bathroom. Instead of standing cabinets which interrupt floor space, install floating cabinets and storage spaces. Mount vanities in walls and choose claw-footed tubs instead of flat-bottomed tubs. These maximizes visible floor space which is an essential in any home improvement project. Painting floors in neutral shades or getting them a woodwork finish is best to increase space. Using light-colored tiles need more cleaning but gives your bathroom the illusion of being wide and spacious.
A home improvement project is not complete without furniture. In choosing bathroom fixtures and furniture, go for those that are slim and sleek. Go for the modern fixtures in chrome or silver. Installing mirrors also add to room dimension by giving the illusion of space. Put in a window to let natural light in. Not only does natural lighting make everything look fresher, it also illuminates spaces better. No matter what path you choose to take in the crossroads of home improvement, it is imperative that the room’s function is not hindered by its aesthetics.
For more valuable information on ccext.com Home Improvement, please visit ccext.com ccext.com
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Posted on July 12th, 2006 by admin
Today’s woman is everything to everyone. She’s a corporate executive, mother, wife, nurturer, lover, provider and so much more. But somewhere along the way, we forgot the most important person in her life to nurture, herself.
Today we feel more isolated and alone that in any era throughout history. We work longer hours, try to squeeze in as much time for her family as possible and let’s not forget just a few other obligations like PTA, shopping, cleaning house, driving kids to sports, taking pet’s to the vet, etc.
Does this sound familiar to you? How many times have you called your girlfriends only to hear them say, ‘Oh gosh, I have been so busy I haven’t had time to call, the kids are sick and it’s crazy at work.” We promise to call and get together but the days turn into weeks, weeks into months and months into years.
This was my life for more years than I care to admit. I was in corporate America as a single mother working 8 – 10 hours a day and leaving my daughter to be raised by someone else. Making someone else rich, taking my two weeks vacation and selling my life for $50k a year.
Now I’m sure your thinking, ok I’m totally depressed but what’s your point. Believe me when I say I am getting to the point and there is light at the end of the tunnel for us all.
I discovered a renewed sense of self one day when I received an invitation to a Partylite candle party. I had heard of Partylite and been using the candles but they were all in a box in my closet because I had forgotten about them. I decided I really needed to get out and see my friends again so I call a sitter and went. All I can say is that night changed my life FOREVER!
I saw friends I hadn’t talked to in months. We giggled and talked like a bunch of teenagers; it was so fun! I realized then and there my life had to change. Being a social creature by nature, I listened intently when the consultant let all of us know that Partylite offers new consultants a FREE start in the business and unlimited half price shopping. I’m thinking to myself, WOW half price and I get to socialize too?!?
Don’t get me wrong, I was scared to death of the thought of giving up my job, health insurance and 401K for the prospect of selling candles as my only source of income. Fortunately for me, I married an amazing, supportive, understanding man that told me to go for it. I could always go back to another dead end job if this didn’t work out. (Thanks babe!)
So, after months of soul searching and internal debate, I booked my start up show and my life began to change. Once my startup party was finished, I got together with my consultants leader, Kim and my life really went to a whole new level. Has there ever been a person in your life you immediately clicked with. There is no explanation why, you just feel right with them. She really understood my desire and drive to take on the world and live life at a level 10. With all the support and encouragement of her and her amazing team, I started down the road to my own financial freedom and making all my dreams come true.
I know you are thinking I am exaggerating, but nothing could be further from the truth. With Partylite, I control my schedule working when I want. Instead of the 45 – 50 hour week, I work 50 – 60 hours a month and make amazing income. With my team, we create awesome marketing and training materials and build skills that enable all of us to take on any challenge we face together. I now have a huge network of friends and colleagues who support and understand each other on every level.
My only regret is that I didn’t decide to take control of my life years ago so I could have the life I always dreamed of sooner. Someone once told me that feminine pleasure is feminine power, but I didn’t understand what it meant at the time. Now I understand completely and encourage amazing women all over the world to step out of their comfort zone and join this truly breathtaking group of women.
Catherine Olen lives in So. California with her husband. Currently you can find her writing on websites world wide. For more information about the author contact her at catherineolen.com catherineolen.com
For more information on Catherine Olen see my website @ catherineolen.com catherineolen.com
