Bathroom Sink Vanities Add Function and Eye Appeal

Bathroom sink vanities are items that are both functional and attractive. They can add considerable appeal to a bathroom and may be a good investment when trying to sell a home. Most buyers are known to put a great deal of importance into both bathrooms and kitchens, and a bathroom vanity is far less expensive than a kitchen remodel!

What is included bathroom sink vanities depends on the taste and budget of the homeowner. It can also depend on family size and needs. While the standard one sink models may be fine for most people, in a master bath, or a bath shared by several children, a double sink model may make more sense.

Most bathroom sink vanities will include storage space underneath, a mirror above the sink, countertops as standards. Options available are things like soap dishes and towel and facecloth hangers, drawers, and even electrical fixtures for hairdryers and other appliances. Those with more features naturally will usually cost more than plainer ones.

Styles can be ultramodern gleaming chrome, purely functional simple woods, thrifty molded synthetics, or elegant antique-looking cabinetry. Sometimes actual antique pieces can be adapted to create one of a k16A0ind vanities and a decor can be designed around such a stunning showpiece. Vanities come in unfinished woods to be custom stained or paint, or ready to use when brought home.

A less ambitious way to get a custom unit without the expense of a converted antique or purchased replica, bathroom sink vanities can be made from used furniture obtained at garage sales or found in storage. A person who is reasonably good with home repair can measure and cut an opening for a sink and for plumbing fixtures after finding suitable fixtures. Of course, counter tops need water resistant finishes.

There are many sources for inexpensive ready made bathroom sink vanities that may be quite suitable. Large home stores usually carry a lot of them and often have sales, and there are some online dealers who specialize in discount vanities. Most vanities cost only a few hundred dollars, although you can spend much more, and the small investment can add a lot of pleasure and usefulness as well as enhancing the sale value and appeal.

Rob Buenaventura has worked in the home improvement industry for several years. Learn more about bathroom vanities, contemporary bathroom vanities, and modern bathroom vanities at LuxuryBathroomVanities.com.

Double Entry Stairs

Roofing Materials

Roofing materials can vary depending on what your preference. Often tiles, shingles or metal are the best choices for long life and good looks. The best option will depend on the type of roof that you have and the style of your home.

Metal

Metal roofing materials will work well with any type of roof. One of the best things about metal or aluminum roofing is that you can choose from many different colors. This means that you can color coordinate your home to your liking.

Most of the time, metal or aluminum roofing can be fitted on tBB1he roof in sheets, which means the job can be finished quicker. Metal roofing can often be just as expensive as tiles or other roof materials. It has a long life and can prove to be a good investment as the costs of heating and cooling can be reduced drastically.

Metal or aluminum roofs are also treated with a special coating to stop rusting and fading. Metal roofing materials are environmentally friendly and are often made from recycled materials. It is about the cheapest, nicest looking alternative to roofing

Roof Tiling

Roof tiles are very traditional and well known for their ability to withstand bad weather such as wind, hail, fire and rain. They also have a great life expectancy of up to 50 years. There are a few things that make tile roofing a problem with some houses. The main problem is their weight. Tile roofing materials can be very heavy.

Tiles need to be pre drilled and nailed if the roof is steep and may even need to be held in place with metal brackets. This can be very costly. Tile roofs, however, have the longest life expectancy and are often covered by a 50-year warranty, They come in an variety of colors and styles to suit any home.

Roofing Shingles

Roofing shingles are made from cedar wood and are a very environmentally friendly choice. If you are looking for a traditional look for you home, this can be a great option. Care must be taken when choosing the materials for your cedar roof as low quality materials and poor workmanship can cause the life of a roof to be drastically reduced. Life expectancy of a cedar wood shingle roof is around 30 years. It is best to get pressure treated fire resistant shingles. The cost of shingles can be quite high.

When choosing roofing materials for your home you must consider what you like as well as what will fit into your budget. Before buying roofing materials, it is advisable to consult the roofer who will be replacing your roof to find out which materials are the best for your area and weather conditions. Make sure that materials are approved for the housing industry code for your area.

Find out all there is to know about Roofing Materials and Roofing in general at http://roofing.zupatips.com

How to Shop for Laminate Floors Online - What to Look For and What to Know

With all the different styles, types and fancy terms, how can you tell if you are getting what you want? The following information will assist and inform you, so that you can make a choice based on the facts not just what a salesman tells you.

First, you need to find a color that fits your needs. Get free samples of your flooring so that you can match them up with the other items in your home. If you need a larger board or two to get a better idea as to how it would look, spend the money and get them. A small investment today may save you a lot of time and money later.

Next determine the kind of traffic flow you are going to have. How many people walk on that area of flooring each and everyday? Kids and pets are normally hard on flooring so make sure you choose an AC wear layer that fits. The AC wear layer is how they rate the durability of laminate flooring. Using a piece of 180 grit sandpaper then counting the number of revolutions (cycles) it takes to expose the core of the laminate determines the wear layer. Listed below are the different wear layers available.

* AC 1 - Is for moderate residential (approx: 900 cycles) used in low traffic areas (guest room use for visitor once in awhile).

* AC 2 - Is for general residential (approx: 1800 cycles) for rooms that are used occasional (study or living room that are rarely used). Some of these may offer stain and wear warranties.

* AC 3 - Is for heavy residential or moderate commercial areas (approx: 2400 cycles) excellent for family rooms, game rooms and bedrooms. Most of these may offer stain, wear and fade warranties.

* AC 4 - Is for general commercial areas and extra high traffic area in residential (approx: 4000 cycles) entry ways, kitchens any other residential area where kids and or pets are present. Most of these offer stain, wear and fade warranties.

* AC 5 - Is for heavy commercial areas (approx: 6200 cycles) for your high volume business, normally to rough for residential applications.

Our recommendation is to use an AC 3 or AC 4 wear layer for your residential areas.

Core density is the next attribute you should look at. Core density is the amount of pressure that is applied to the core of the laminate during manufacturing. It is normally measured in KM, and is rated between 500 and 950. Laminate products that have a lower core density act as a sponge when they get wet retaining water. The products that have a higher core density resist water more as the density rises. Most of the high core density products offer some kind of water surface warranty. Some products offer a green core which is said to be even more water resistant.

Sound, echoing and clicking are also affected by the core density. The higher density products reduce that hollow sound that was related with wood flooring. Lower densities will sometime bow and make a clicking sound when you walk across them. With larger room sizes a higher core density will cut down on that echoing sound. Keep in mind that a 9mm product with a 550 km core density has less wood in it than an 8mm product with an 825 km density. Products with higher core densities are much stronger and will last longer. If a products core density is unknown a good test is to snap off a corner of a sample, the higher the density the harder it should be to snap it off.

Our recommendation: Don't get anything under an 800 km core density, the higher the better. If the product you are examining does not offer its core density you should move on to the next. As an installer my self, and I feel this is the most important feature you should look at when purchasing laminate flooring.

The connection is another major criteria you need to consider. There are many different snap together products out there, some tap and some click some use both options on different ends of the product. The tighter the connection the more resistant the product will be to water or dirt entering the seams of the wood. This can cause the wood to bow making the ends stick up. Connections that use a boat tail connection (click system) seem to make a tighter seam. Tap together product sometimes can separate easier through out time. Test your samples by visually checking for an open seam when two pieces are connected. Second, put a small quantity of water on the seam and leave it for 15 minutes. Wipe off any additional water and check to see if the water worked its way in.

Products that have a "V" groove in them will hide seam damage better than the flat seam product. Don't be mislead by flat seam products that have a white line at the connection this is normally the aluminum oxide residue and will wear off.

Our Recommendation is a four sided boat tail connection with a "V" groove that has a seam with no gapping.

Textures and "V" grooves Texture gives the laminate a real wood look, some products use a straight line texture and others use a grain style. Some have no texturing at all. Texture on a board is a personal preference, all though a board with non textured surface does not grip as well. To check the texture on a board hold it up to a light source (window or light) just below your eye level and the texture will reveal itself. Flat surface or with a "v" groove- they both perform equally. The "V" groove gives the flooring more off a real wood look by separating the boards with a 45 degree slant on the sides. Some have the "V" on two sides and others on all four. Flat s583eams give a clean level floor look and have no brakes making the floor look as one piece. Both floors clean and endure the same; personal preference should be your deciding factor.

Customer service is important when purchasing flooring, a knowledgeable, honest sales person can walk you through most issues.

Warranties will range from 15 to 25 years, some cover stain, wear, fade and surface water damage. Be sure to check the fine print.

Is laminate flooring right for you? Find out more at LaminateFloorsCheap.com - your source for cheap laminate floors, do it yourself floor installation information and professional flooring advice. For more home decor and remodeling options visit the home and garden directory.

White Peeling Paint Wood Siding
Wood Siding Bell Tower Detail

Furniture Layout

How To Quickly And Easily Create A Living Room Furniture Layout?

If you planning to buy new furniture for your living room, then most probably you have already thought about the furniture layout in your mind or else you have probably thought of repeating the same old layout with only the new furniture pieces. In this article I will show you a simple method to create the most efficient layout for your living room.

Before we begin there are a few points that need to be considered. A living room is always a transition space. This means that entrances to all other rooms are located in living room. Other bedrooms, dining room, kitchen etc. are accessed through living room, that's why a sufficient "circulation space" for family members is a must.

So here is what you can do to create the most efficient layout for a living room.

1) Take a plane white paper. A4 size is also enough.

2) Draw a sketch plan of your living room on this paper. While drawing this plan it is important to show the following things in it:

a) Entrance door
b) Entrance doors to other rooms
c) Window positions
d) Minor column projections (if any)
e) Swing of the doors (inside or outside the living room)
f) Presence of staircase
g) Fireplace (if any)

3) Take a pencil and draw lines starting from entrance door to all other doors and window positions. This is the natural travel lines for any person using the living room. If the room is empty without any furniture these are the lines any person would follow to reach other point in the living room.

4) Now start placing the furniture units like 3 seat sofa, single/double seat sofa, coffee table, end tables lampshades, bookshelves, TV unit, etc.. Depending upon your budget you can go for any number of these units.

While placing these units it will always be seen that the furniture obstructs the pencil travel lines drawn in the third step. But that's OK for now. Now make as may combinations and arrangements of the furniture units as possible. Think out of the box while doing this. Try to do something different.

Remember if you try you will easily come up with at lest 10 layout for that same living room. You will be amazed at how many combinations are possible. Also imagine the furniture pieces you already have or can you replace that table in the bedroom with the one in the living room.

How about keeping it vertical rather that horizontal in the plan. Whatever you do keep one thing in mind. Always keep the human movement "unobstructed". People passing through the living room in other rooms must be able to pass without cutting vision if you are talking to other person in the living room.

That's why those pencil lines have been drawn. After you have drawn the furniture pieces on the living room plan, modify the travel lines. Now these lines will be around the furniture, especially at corners. The travel lines will now take the shape of the furniture at the edges.

After this short exercise you will have probably 5 different layouts on paper with. Select the one in which you see the following points of interest.

a)Travel line lengths are shortest.
b)Travel lines do not pass trough the furniture.

Apart from the efficiency there is another factor called as visual balance while designing a furniture layout. Finally does it look good to YOU. Are you comfortable with the final layout. The visual balance is achieved by making the most use of all walls of the living room with decorating elements such as paintings, color schemes, etc.

So if you follow a system from the beginning you will be definitely be able to create a beautiful living room in the shortest possible time. I hope this article has helped you to find more creative ways of doing this job more efficiently.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Shrinivas Vaidya is the webmaster of http://www.livingroomdatabase.com Visit today to get more free tips on living room furniture to decorate a beautiful and charming living room of your wildest dreams.

Environmentally Friendly Architecture Design

There once was a day where one someone was speaking about the word green, it was obvious they were referring to a color formed by mixing yellow and blue. That assumption is no longer true; with our society leaning toward a healthier environment and ways we can help save the earth, the term green now takes on a whole new meaning. One way to support an environmentally conscious lifestyle is with green architecture.

'Green Architecture' is a form of environmentally sensitive design and construction. Energy-saving, sustainable development and natural materials are all hallmarks of this form of construction. Green Architecture is also sensitive to the impact of the construction on the environment in the years and decades after the construction is complete. It explores a relationship between architecture and ecology.

One of the key points to green architecture is to create synchrony with the surrounding environment. Everything about a green building should easily transition from the natural landscape, including the building materials. The best material to use for green construction is materials that have been recycled or come from easily restored resources.

Advantages of Green Architecture:

1. Optimizes the use of resources, especially energy and water. At the design and construction stage, it incorporates resource recycling during construction, and later when the building is being used.

2. It causes minimal impact on the environment during the entire building life cycle of siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal.

3. Where possible, the natural topography is used to optimize energy usage.

4. It leads to reduced operating costs by optimizing resource usage. Green Architecture focuses on recycling resources - especially water. Wherever possible, it focuses on using building materials from the building site itself. Well-insulated doors, windows and walls reduce energy usage and loss.

5. Green Architecture promotes improved health of the occupants of the building, due to better natural air circulation and use of natural light.

6. Provides onsite facilities for recycling, thereby minimizing waste being sent to landfills.

Materials Commonly Used in Green Architecture

1. Recycled materials such as wood, tiles and bricks that are available at the building site or in/near the surrounding area.

2. Where new materials are used, the focus is on material that can be rapidly replenished, such as bamboo, which can be harvested for commercial use in just 6 years.

3. Insulation made from low volatile organic compounds that use materials such as recycled denim as opposed to fiberglass insulation - which has long-term adverse effects. Insulation may be treated with boric acid to retard insect damage. Organic or milk-based paints also afford protection.

4. Solar energy is an abundant resource that is used through passive solar, active solar and photovoltaic techniques.

5. Packed gravel in parking lots and driveways instead of concrete reduces rainwater run-off and replenishes ground water resources.

Many countries have developed their own standards of Green Architecture for energy-efficient and sustainable building. Given below are some common standards:

1. Code for Sustainable Homes - United Kingdom
2. EnerGuide for New Houses - Canada
3. House Energy Rating - Australia
4. Green Globes - USA, Canada and UK

Practitioners of Green Architecture and sustainable development seek to achieve ecological and aesthetic harmony between structures and their surrounding natural environments.

James Heimler, Architect Los Angeles California, owns one of the leading firms in green architecture and environmental sustainable design practices.

Gargoyle Bookends as Part of Mythology and Architecture

Gargoyles are most commonly associated with medieval lore but their use as architectural figures dates back to earlier times. Often seen as fierce looking faces, gargoyles are also seen as full figure characters. Gargoyle bookends are a reflection of the history and mythology that continues to fuel modern interest in unique nature of these unusual figures.

Gargoyles have been part of architecture since the heyday of the ancient Greek and Egyptian empires. Though gargoyles often have a fearsome appearance, their use is thought to be far more benevolent. The power to ward off evil spirits is a significant part of the mythological explanation surrounding gargoyles. Hellenic or Greek gargoyles are very often seen as happy or jolly characters and were a part of many public buildings. They could be seen mounted on the parapets of buildings or spewing water as part of a public fountain. Outcroppings on the facade of a building may have been used especially for gargoyles.

Many of these figures took the shape of animals, especially reptiles. Often dragon like in appearance, their gaze was usually facing down from the structure. In mythology and lore, dragons were thought to be the guardians of sacred places or great treasure troves. This contrasts with the more popular view of dragons as fierce and fire breathing creatures. Other animals such as birds of prey or the mythical Roc were the inspiration for many gargoyle figures.

Many styles of gargoyle bookends replicate these unique creatures. Gargoyle replicas are one of the most collectible types of bookends and statuary. Fans of Gothic architecture and lore are particularly drawn to gargoyle collecting. The history of the gargoyle even includes their use in religious settings, as adornments to some of the worlds great churches and cathedrals. The cathedral at Notre Dame in France is home to many gargoyle figures.

The history and lore of the gargoyle figures takes many forms. Gargoyles and gargoyle bookends may represent combinations of human and animal forms sometimes taking on the appearance of hooded monks and friars. Just as they may be used to ward off evil, they were thought to have other uses. Avoiding the wages of sin can be a powerful force used to keep people from straying into a life of eternal damnation. It is thought by some historians that gargoyles may have been placed in prominent view to remind people that Satan, or other supposed forces of evil, were all about and should be avoided.

Since many gargoyles appear with wings, they may very well have been the inspiration for the flying monkey characters seen in the movie the Wizard of Oz. Many dragons of myth were often depicted with wings and were though to be capable of flight, reflecting the myth of flying gargoyles. From the funny to the frightening, many other modern day film and cartoon monsters have been patterned from these legendary winged figures.

Whether collectors of gargoyle bookends are seeking redemption is certainly open to debate. Gargoyles do appear in many pieces of medieval artwork. They can often be quite scary in appearance and could be used to frighten away superstitious people. Given the wide variety of gargoyle shapes, many collectors may have more of an artistic motivation to maintaining their collections.

In addition to collectible bookends, today gargoyle figures stand vigil as yard ornaments, water fountains and various types of outdoor statuary. Even though warding off evil spirits may not be in your decorating plans, some interior design schemes benefit from the addition of gargoyles. Gargoyle bookends make the perfect the perfect gift for fans of medieval mythology and religious history.

Mitch Endick is a short article writer for the popular decorative bookend site: http://www.decorativebookends.com. He provides interesting information buying and collecting decorative bookends.

http://www.decorativebookends.com
http://www.decorativebookends.com

The Ups And Downs Of The Architectural World

History has not always been kind to the architectural world. Sometimes the greatest contributions architects have left have been destroyed. Great designs and examples of genius architectural engineering have been destroyed through natural catastrophes and through wars. But for every disaster and dest1C61ruction there have been some that have stood the test of time and have remained to remind us that history can prevail and have remained to serve as reminders that mankind can leave beauty and lasting contributions to history and culture.

The architectural significance of certain periods in history is not lost to us. We see the Wonders of the World and have to marvel at the incredible vision of these gifted draftsmen. The Sistine Chapel, Mount Rushmore, and the Taj Mahal are just three of the greatest examples in architecture that the world has ever seen. Each has stood the test of time and have remained so countless other architects could study the works.

But with the sweet comes the sour. Many incredible works of art have been lost over the years. Mankind is the greatest destructive force in the universe. The Library of Alexandria is a great example from ancient times.

It is believed that Julius Caesar helped bring about the destruction of the library when he set the Egyptian Fleet on fire in his conquest and pursuit of Pompey. While the fire did not destroy all of the structure, it did destroy over 40,000 scrolls and damaged the structural integrity of the building.

The World Trade Towers, for many years, stood as one of the tallest buildings in the world. Soaring to a height of 110 stories and designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the architecture of the twin towers was admired by students of the architectural world and for its inspiration in a plethora of other buildings. On September 11, 2001 the towers were brought down by an act of terrorism. The world of architecture lost one of its greatest examples in the Modern age of design.

The architectural world will forever face challenges. Designers will never know if their works will stand the test of time. Yamasaki never thought his towers would fall to terrorist's machinations and other architects will never plan intentionally for their great works to be destroyed by man or nature.

It happens and nothing can prevent that but they will never stop trying. Some will still last and those that do will be there for future generations, from which to gain inspiration and beauty.

A free architecture audio gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowldege further about the architectural world. Your comment is much appreciated at our modern architecture blog.

Building A New Home

-5 Key Issues To Consider At The Design Stage To Keep Your Budget On Track

Five practical areas to discuss with your designer or to keep in mind when plan shopping for your new home project. Here they are and not in any particular order.

Roofline-The steeper the roof the more the cost in most cases. If you have noticed lately, there are allot of new home developments where the roof of the home is quite high and large. This is usually because the home itself is a smaller square footage and the roof makes it look bigger. Always remember that the roof area equates to more sheets of plywood, more shingles and more labor. Gable roofs are less expensive than hip or cottage roofs. I suggest a 6/12 roof slope or less to keep the roof cost on budget. You might want to discuss this with your designer.

Windows/doors-This is a crucial part of design. Let’s look at a few things that effect overall cost. Obviously the amount of windows, size of the windows, whether they open or not, as well as rounded top glass will effect your budget. The average home usually has 12-15 windows. Opening or venting windows cost more than a fi2238xed or picture window. Rounded glass can cost as much as double the cost of an average window so use them sparingly. Wood windows usually cost more than conventional vinyl (PVC) windows. A door example is a double French exterior door is more expensive than a standard patio door.

Wall heights-The trend in the new home building industry today is to design and build with 9 foot walls and ceilings. This gives a home larger feel vs. a traditional 8' wall height. This will affect the cost of the finished home as there is more wall area for drywall, siding, etc. In a 1500 square foot home or less, I would recommend 9' ceilings to take advantage of the space. Two story walls, referred to as balloon framing, really adds to the cost of framing.

Vaulted ceilings-This is a raised ceiling in the home, usually going to a peak. It is a great idea to integrate into the design if you want the cost of standard 8 foot high walls with the higher vaulted ceilings giving the perception of a lager space. There are typically two types of vaulted trusses used in a new home design. The first on is the Scissor truss vault which gives a gentler raised ceiling and is less expensive, and the second is a cathedral vault which typically is a full height vault with a ridge beam. You see these allot in a Chalet style cabin. (steeper vault)

Foundation-A full concrete foundation (8 foot basement) in most cases will cost more than a crawlspace or slab foundation. If you don't have allot of storage designed into the home, a full foundation may be required and is also a great re-sale feature. A sloped lot may accommodate a day-lite or walkout basement option as well. Basement development, as well as extra space over a garage, are the least expensive ways to add square feet to a home.

So if you are about to get plans designed for your new home or just looking for a plan online, keep this five points in mind. Your wallet will thank you.

Larry J Clark is President of Allpro Building Systems which is in Canada. Their new resource website is http://www.buildandsave.com/ Larry can be reached personally at ljclark@abshomes.com or 604-504-1555

Adding Value to a Home With a Veranda

If you are looking to sell your home in the near future and you haven't currently got a veranda, you might want to think about adding one before your house goes up for sale.

Adding a veranda not only increases the attractiveness of your garden, it also increases its versatility. It provides a shaded spot to enjoy the delights of the summer weather and the garden as a whole, and it can even add the feeling of having another room - albeit outdoors - that the new owners can enjoy.

A veranda has several advantages over the other option of having a conservatory built. Firstly it is much cheaper, which makes it a good bet if you are looking to make improvements to your home without spending too much money.

Secondly it is much quicker and easier to build, yet it still adds that feeling of creating an extra space in your garden in which you can relax and stay out of the sun if necessary. It is also far more versatile than a conservatory; within the basic designs of flat roofed, curved roof and hip end verandas, for example, you can pretty much have any size and shape veranda you like.

All of which means you can really enhance the appearance of both your house and your garden, by choosing the exact size for your needs and desires.

Adding a veranda to your home also adds value in more than one way. Purely from a monetary point of view it makes your home more saleable, and you are far more likely to get the price you want for it when you have a desirable addition such as this to offer to potential buyers.

But it also adds value in that you are making your home more attractive to buyers. We all buy with our hearts as well as our heads, and a well thought out and expertly designed veranda is just the type of feature that can tip the balance and turn an interested home viewer into a determined buyer.

In short, adding a veranda is one of the best ways to make sure you achieve that sale in double quick time. Maybe it's time to start looking at some brochures?

Install-a-Veranda is Australia's leading supplier and installer of verandas, patios, pergolas and carports. For a free consultation please visit Patios.