Category Archives: Home Renovation

Quick Kitchen Remodeling Tips

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Category : Home Improvement , Home Renovation

Remodeling a kitchen is not always the best of ideas and sometimes not within the budget as it takes a lot to do a kitchen renovation. Well, that is how most of the people think! They think that kitchen remodeling with consume half or most of their budget. Lest, there are easy and quick kitchen remodeling companies like Desire Home Deco, that caters to each of your needs when it comes to remodeling projects.

A kitchen remodeling can be stressful as you will need to change your routine and adjust your life according to the new kitchen style. It is surprising to see how easy and practical kitchen remodeling tips are.

Kitchen Renovation can be an exciting, creative project, and you can create your dream kitchen. But where do you start? There is a bewildering array of choices available – from faucets to flooring, kitchen cabinets and countertops, appliances, lighting – you have unlimited options available, and you are really limited only by your budget. Still, kitchen renovation is a big job, and mistakes are not only costly, they are time consuming. Here are 10 tips you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation.

The first of the 10 tips you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation, is decide on a budget and stick to it. Once you start going through magazines and catalogues, and visiting stores you are going to be sorely tempted, so you might want to add a little leeway into your budget, but unless the sky is the limit, give your budget a limit and stick to it, or your kitchen renovation will drain your cash reserves far more quickly than you could ever have anticipated.

The second tip may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people skip it and launch right in, to their detriment later on. It is simple, plan, plan, and plan. You have your budget, now look at your kitchen, the space you have available, how often you use your kitchen and think about what you want to achieve with your kitchen renovation. Do you use your kitchen as a family room, for snacks and breakfast? Then you may want to include entertainment options such as a wall-mounted television, and a sound system in your kitchen renovation plans.

The third tip you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation is a good one – heed it. Kitchen cabinets usually account for about half the cost of the budget of the average kitchen renovation. Decide early what you want, how much you want to spend, and then plan around that. It is advisable not to skimp on quality when it comes to kitchen cabinets – rather go for the best you can afford.

The fourth tip you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation is not that obvious to many – pay attention to the flooring. Just because it is a kitchen, does not mean that the floors have to be ugly. There are many great options available – just make sure you look for durability, along with looks.

The fifth tip you need to know before you start is to decide early on what kind of a look do you want for your kitchen, and stick to it, or you will end up with a mish-mash design. Unless you are going for an eclectic look, you would be better off sticking to a theme, so all the elements blend together seamlessly.

The sixth tip you need to know before you start your renovation is to follow-on from the last tip. Make sure your kitchen design is timeless and fits in with the rest of your home. You may want to redecorate the rest of your home long before you get around to renovating your kitchen again, so make sure you can live with the kitchen design you choose.

The seventh tip you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation is that lighting has gained prominence in modern kitchens. The old fluorescent bulb not only looks unattractive, it gobbles electricity. Where possible consider the use of LED’s and layered kitchen lighting. Lighting can be expensive, so it is something you need to think about early in your planning stages.

The eighth tip is important – if you are going to choose a contractor, choose wisely. Look for someone reputable, and do not hesitate to check up on references – many people have had terrible experiences with contractors who did not do what they promised or disappeared halfway through the kitchen renovation.

The ninth tip you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation is that there is a lot of kitchen design software that you can make use of when you are planning your kitchen. Do not grab the first option – look at reviews, so you can find something that will work for you.

The tenth tip you need to know before you start your kitchen renovation is keep in mind your existing kitchen, how big it is, and what shape it is – if you are renovating your kitchen, you are not going to alter the basics – so work with what you have.

Visit Desire Home Deco for all your remodeling projects! Serving all New York, they excel at providing professional and reliable services to residential clients.

How to Prevent Soil Compaction on Your Plot

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Category : Home Renovation

Summary:

– Context of compaction

– Compaction events

– Sources of compaction

– Preventing compaction to avoid possible disorders

Compaction is the deformation of the ground under the action of the weight of the structures it supports. Buildings behave differently depending on their structure and foundations in relation to the ground: this is known as “uniform compaction” and “differential compaction”.

Context of compaction

A building rests on the ground and transmits a set of loads to it. The foundations play a role in the good distribution of these load constraints. These foundations are adapted both to the nature of the soil and to the structure of the building.

In general, under the action of the building loads, the compaction of the ground remains uniform and of small amplitude: the construction, endowed with a good rigidity, does not suffer any damage.

When the compaction is heterogeneous (differential), with differences in level between different foundation points, disorders may occur. For a very rigid structure, the failure of one support simply results in the transfer to neighbouring supports: no damage is suffered as long as the compaction remains of low amplitude.

For a flexible structure that adapts to the movements of the foundations, disorders may appear at the level of the elements of the finishing work: uncoupling joints must be provided to prevent them.

Compaction can therefore be allowed as long as the building structure or its components can absorb it. There are orders of magnitude of the permissible compactions given by specialists in soil mechanics or residential developers. They recommend values for different construction elements for total or differential compaction:

– 5 mm to 1 cm for the differential compaction of a large brick wall;

– 3 to 6 mm for a conventional residential building between two points 10 metres apart;

– 5 to 10 cm for the total compaction of a beam and a differential compaction of 2.5 to 4 cm;

– 2 to 5 cm for the total compaction of a masonry wall;

– 8 to 30 cm for the total compaction of an invert.

Manifestations of compaction

Disorders related to uncontrolled differential compactions are manifested in the form of cracks:

– at 45° from the angle of an opening or a lintel for a fragile structure;

– by blocks at the joints for rigid structures such as concrete walls;

– in stairs for structures made of small masonry elements such as block walls;

– diagonally (shear cracks) for differential compaction of a gable in relation to the rest of the building;

– horizontal in the case of differential compaction of the gable by tension or swelling;

– stepped by compaction or swelling at the corner or centre of the building;

– in a paving connected to the foundations.

Compaction disorders can also be manifested by outcropping of prefabricated facade panels.

Note: Compaction disorders also occur on ancillary structures: at the level of networks such as sewage or rainwater drains cut off at the compaction level, at the level of the manholes of these networks, which subside due to compaction and cause fractures in the pipes, and at the level of peripheral structures, such as a terrace or embankment around the construction causing subsidence and cracks.

Sources of compaction

The sources of compaction can be of different kinds:

– a variable bedding level for the same building, such as a house with only a partial basement;

– a heterogeneous type of subgrade: one side on agile soil and another side on limestone or presence of hard spots (rocks) and soft spots (compressible such as uncompacted fill);

– variation in the moisture content of the bedrock, such as clayey soil that shrinks in times of drought and swells when the rains return;

– Unusual water infiltration and accumulation due to weathering or drilling of a pipe;

– the proximity of roots, the presence of an underground source, the topographical configuration (unevenness, steep slope);

– unstable soil consisting of fill, such as a former rubble deposit, the filling of a former underpass or quarry;

– the presence underground of natural voids and mining subsidence;

– work in the surrounding area, such as excavation for the foundations of a new building adjoining or located nearby;

– vibrations caused by nearby work (such as pile driving) or the passage of heavy machinery in the vicinity;

– the weight of new construction loads on adjacent land;

– the deterioration of concrete or steel embedded in concrete due to the aggressiveness of the environment;

– design and execution errors due to an under-evaluation of the efforts or to not taking into account the soil study: this case is encountered especially in the case of deep foundations.

Prevention of compactions in order to avoid possible disorders

Soil investigation (geotechnics) and foundations are closely linked and are the essential basis for preventing compaction. Soil investigation and the study of the structure of the building to be constructed make it possible to assess the pressures exerted (load diffusion bulb) and to determine the shape of the foundations accordingly.

Adaptation of the foundations

In a building, the foundations ensure the transfer of forces: vertical compression, the building’s own weight, overloads, and they respond to the reaction forces of the ground (its bearing capacity).

The type and dimensions of the foundations are thus determined. They imply knowledge of the nature of the soil: a soil study (geotechnical) is therefore strongly recommended. Ignorance of the geotechnical properties of the soil can lead to the construction of foundations that are not deep enough, or that are built on unstable fill or on heterogeneous soils of different bearing capacity.

Foundations take various forms depending on the geotechnical study: superficial when the hard ground is close to the surface, deep when the resistant layer of foundation is at a great depth, special to meet particular criteria such as in marshes.

Good to know: Depending on the region of construction, earthquake-resistant building regulations must also be complied with.

Points to watch out for

The depth of the hard ground for the foundations should be determined, the cleanliness of the excavation bottoms should be checked to ensure that the footings are properly poured on the hard ground (clean soil and fill falling to the bottom) and the pouring of the foundations should be postponed in the event of heavy rain (stagnation of water at the bottom of the excavation).

It is also necessary to highlight the heterogeneities of a soil requiring specific adaptations (such as the construction of a foundation in wells and longlines to pass an area of unstable embankments).

Good to know: when you build on a subdivision, a soil study linked to the development permit for this subdivision is available and can provide you with information.

Expansion and Compaction Joints

As soon as the masonry walls reach large surfaces, it is necessary to intersect them with joints that respond to the expansion or shrinkage of the materials, to the difference in load brought by the construction on the foundations, to the presence of heterogeneous ground and therefore different foundations, to the antiseismic protection (antiseismic rules).

The spacing between the joints is determined according to several criteria.

The first is the location of the building: in dry regions on shores, the joints must be provided every 20 metres, whereas in temperate wet regions, it is every 35 metres in the case of load-bearing masonry.

Then come the general design of the building, the nature of the masonry materials, the function of the masonry (load-bearing or not) and the role of the joint.

Good to know: the joint must be regular over the entire height (without contact points) and at most 2 cm wide. On the facade, it must be protected against infiltration by a watertight bead and a joint cover. On the inside wall, the joint can be made with a flexible product with good fire resistance.

5 Most Essential Renovation Tips in 2020

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Category : Home Renovation

Summary

1. Refresh a room
2. Renovating a room
3. Renovating a home
4. Renovation: some general advice
5. Price of a renovation

A renovation consists of working on an existing property to bring it up to the standards of comfort and aesthetics sought by the buyer. Many different renovations are possible from the same premises. When it affects the main structure, the costs involved must be carefully considered. There are different types of renovations, which are more or less heavy.

1. Refreshing a room

It’s the cheapest renovation. Sometimes it can be enough.

Make an informed choice

You may wish to change the wall and floor coverings in a room to give it a facelift. Changing a wallpaper, a carpet can really bring pleasure to a room that used to be a bit out of breath. In this case, you will simply have to choose the flooring that suits your budget and your desires.

The implementation

First, find the colours that match the function of the room. Then see how you can coordinate the new colours with the colours of the parts you may be leaving in place.

If this is to your liking and you do the work yourself, choose flexible floors that are easy to lay and in widths that avoid cutting out as much as possible.

If you have irregularities on the walls, opt for a matt covering, which will provide better coverage.

2. Renovating a room


It is a real renovation that can affect different parts of the building.

Make an informed choice
Tearing down a partition, enlarging a window are works that restore habitability to a volume that is perhaps no longer adapted to current tastes or to the function of this place. Masonry, electricity and decoration are to be expected.

Don’t underestimate the different items, each one will contribute to your final feeling of comfort.

The implementation

You can let your imagination run wild, within your budget.

Take the opportunity to think of equipment that would make your life more enjoyable. A second shower area will avoid morning traffic jams. Creating a master suite will give you more privacy. Opening a partition to create a library or TV area will clear the living room and give you more living space.

If you’re planning partitioning or masonry work, think about the connections you’ll need to make. A partition comes down easily, but do you have enough space to add the same tiles as the existing one where the partition was?

Renovating a room needs to be thought through in detail. The budget is never neutral and the comfort level must be in line with your investment.

3. Renovating a home

It’s a heavy and long operation. It’s impossible to get started without taking a few precautions.

Make an informed choice

The house is no longer adapted to the growing family, you have bought an old house for which you had a crush but its layout is far from your lifestyle. Big works in perspective. Depending on the rooms, different trades will intervene.

If you have to live in the house during this time, be sure that your choice is compatible with the inconveniences caused by your decision. Dust, noise, private space invaded by workers will be your daily lot.

Implementation

A complete renovation project is heavy, you must be prepared for it. A complete renovation must be managed like new construction, although it is different, as far as the overall organisation is concerned.

First of all, go to the town hall to find out about the necessary authorisations, especially if you are changing the external appearance of the house.

Then, either you go through an architect or a project manager, or you coordinate the work yourself.

Before making up your mind, ask for an initial estimate of the cost of the work. Use the quotes you receive to make a more accurate estimate. Talk to competent and recognized professionals. Don’t think that a renovation is easier than new construction. It often requires more know-how and experience to find the right solutions, which are not standard.

Once the work has begun, follow your construction site closely. Take delivery of the work and do not sign if the work does not correspond to the estimate.

4. Renovation: some general advice

090701-N-9689V-004 APIA, Samoa (July 1, 2009) Seabees assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1 and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 renovate a building at Apia National Hospital during a Pacific Partnership 2009 engineering civic action project. Apia National Hospital is the primary medical facility for the residents of Upolu Island, Samoa. The Seabees will spend 10 days renovating the hospitalÕs waiting area, conducting roof repairs, and applying non-skid surface to slippery walkways. Pacific Partnership is a humanitarian and civil assistance mission in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility. This year Pacific Partnership will travel to Oceania, including Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga. The Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) serves as the enabling platform for Pacific Partnership. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Valcarcel/Released)

These tips will be useful to you whatever your project.

Doing with the existing

First of all, you know the old saying, “you can’t make something new out of something old”. Renovation must be considered with the best possible respect for the existing distribution of rooms and load-bearing walls. If you want to redo everything to make it “as good as new”, you will expose yourself to work costs that may be prohibitive.

If the building is to be completely renovated, the cost of the work may be equal to or even higher than the price of equivalent new construction.

Expect the unexpected

When renovating, you must also be aware that what you are going to renovate… is not what you want to renovate. You are always going to come across things that you didn’t plan for when you renovate: cables or pipes coming from the old layout that you will have to divert, wall reinforcement that you will have to leave in place, siding that you want to remove and that was in fact hiding an unsightly structure and that will now show through, etc.

Always remember that a renovation is not new construction. Starting from the existing requires adapting to reality.

Also, be aware of the disturbances in the neighbourhood caused by your building site. Stop by to see your neighbours, explain your project to them quickly and tell them the schedule for your project. You do not know their reactions, it is better to reassure them.

Respect the regulations

The Construction and Housing Code, like the Urban Planning Code, is constantly evolving.

Tip: check with your local town hall and Unique Custom Homes to find out about the rules relating to the renovation of existing buildings.

For example, acoustic insulation has become compulsory in areas that are particularly exposed to noise during major renovation work. According to the Building and Housing Code, this is the case in particular when such work includes:

– the replacement or creation of glass walls or doors to the exterior of main rooms in residential buildings;

– the repair of a roof opening directly onto the main rooms of residential buildings;

– or relating to the thermal insulation of opaque walls opening to the outside.

Evaluate the bill

First, put it all down on paper. Make a global plan and small plans piece by piece. Surface area, desired equipment, colours should be included.

List all the estimates, add up all the costs. Look also at the purchase price of the property plus the amount of work to be done, which should give a potential selling price that is within the market price range. No one knows what the future is made of.

Think insulation and renewable energy sources, you can kill two birds with one stone and reduce your energy bill. Also think about the various tax credits and other tax reductions.

If you haven’t bought yet, compare with new home prices, you might be surprised by the high cost of some renovation projects.

Get organised if you live on site

Try to draw up a schedule according to your daily needs, in order to see if the comfort that will be generated by the renovation justifies all the inconveniences to which you will be subjected.

If you only have one shower, for example, wait until you have all the necessary equipment at your disposal before starting work on it. The new shower will then be available quickly. Otherwise, the work can take a long time. And put your (and your family’s) nerves to the test.

5. Price of a renovation

This price depends of course on the complexity of the renovation, the size of the building, its accessibility and your choice of materials and decoration. For 1 m² of floor space, count, made by a professional:

– from $50 to $150 before tax for a refreshment;

– from $200 to $400 excluding taxes for a light renovation;

– from $500 to $1,000 excluding taxes for a heavy renovation. Even more for a total rehabilitation of the building.

Note: the price above is simply indicative and may not reflect the actual price. Talk with your contractor and remember to share your experience in the comment section below.

Everything You Need to Know About Glass Shower Enclosure

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Category : Home Renovation

When decorating or renovating your bathroom, you must consider changing the glass shower enclosure especially if that is in a state of giving up. Glass shower enclosure comes in different shapes and sizes. These are the elements that make the bathroom look more elegant and practical. A glass shower enclosure is a must as there is a sense of modernity with everything that surrounds it. Well, if you are someone who does not know anything about glass shower enclosure and the types that exists. I’ll help you with that.

In this blog, we are going to talk about the different glass shower enclosure that exists and how to maintain one as well as which company to contact if you are planning to install one at your place. So, let’s begin!

When the deal is about your home, you have to be sure that it’s exactly as you want it to be and you should take in consideration every single aspect of your decor to be sure that it all works properly together. This is especially important if you’re going for a theme in a room, which many people do. The rooms with most themes in people’s homes are generally the bathrooms, and when you choose a glass shower enclosure for your bathroom, it might seem like a monumental task.

The latest trend that decorators use in order to make bathrooms look more elegant is the use of glass shower enclosures. They have become very popular among everyone that wants to get a new beautiful bathroom without too much hassle. The use of glass enclosures makes a bathroom look more elegant and sophisticated but also has other useful features. But since there are plenty of manufacturers that sell glass enclosures, choosing the best one can be a bit difficult. Before you start the shopping session for glass enclosures, make sure you consider the needs of your bathroom. This way you can make a good decision concerning the style, shape and design of your glass enclosure

Today, a modern bathroom tries to meet the practical while at the same time exude a contemporary look by adding a glass shower enclosure.

Before you start adding things in your bathroom, you need to think about the type of shower enclosure that suits you. A strong suggestion is a glass shower enclosure.

While you look at all your options, you will encounter many different considerations such as the color of the shower doors, glass shower door and more stuff in addition to shower enclosures itself. And above all that, you will need to decide on its structure.

You can choose a glass shower enclosure without a frame complete with a frameless glass shower door if you wish. There are lots of options to consider when searching for the best.

The new glass shower enclosure is highlighted by an attractive, straight and refined form, designed to capture your senses. It’s usually made of sanitary antibacterial acrylic it’s very light, durable and sustainable, and to maintain its beauty requires minimal maintenance.

Embedded systems provide a high functionality and revolutionizing the traditional shower booths offering additional comfort of the bath is necessary to those who lead a healthy lifestyle.

This new modern glass enclosure is designed for both large rooms but especially for a small room in which a bathtub installation leaves too little space. Its system automatically disinfects after each bath or shower.

You can normally find it in high-end glass enclosures which are created with thick glass. It is the favorite choice of many interior decorators and homeowners.

The reason why this type of glass is so popular is the low quantity of iron from its composition. The color and clarity of the enclosure become more prominent and they are preferred by many over the green tint of the standard glass enclosures. Next to this, another model with great popularity is the frameless panel with tempered glass and clean lines. The acrylic bases feature an exterior edge that has a special recessed channel that gives the illusion of a raised platform.

Glass shower enclosures are probably the most popular choice for new and renovated bathrooms. With proper care glass enclosures can last for many years and still look as good as new.

Cleaning tips

Many people who want to install a glass shower enclosure hesitate because they believe that soap scum and limescale will be difficult to clean off the glass. While it is true that they can build up over time if you don’t take proper care of your glass, here are some tips that will help keep it sparkling and new with very little work:

1. The moment your new glass shower enclosure is installed clean it with window cleaner to remove all fingerprints from the installation and then treat the entire glass with a product like those you use to treat the windscreen of your car. This will make soap scum and even calcium and lime deposits slide right off the glass. After that, periodically treat as needed.

2. After your shower, quickly rinse down the inside of your shower and wipe with a clean towel. This will help keep soap scum from building up.

3. When cleaning your bathroom, use a mixture of vinegar and water to spray down your glass shower enclosure. Then let it sit while you clean the rest of your bathroom. The vinegar water will work to remove soap scum and calcium while you are busy doing other things, making it easy to then wash down your shower with just hot water and a clean sponge.

4. After cleaning the enclosure use window cleaner on the inside and outside to remove any fingerprints.

By following these few easy-care tips your shower enclosure should stay looking new and elegant for years to come.

Looking for awesome glass enclosures Pembroke Pines, FL? A2Z KITCHEN & BATH GALLERY takes great pride in their top of the line glass products and we want you to have the best products installed in your home. Call them today!

Bathroom Renovation Ideas: Industrial Loft Style

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Category : Home Renovation

Summary

– The colours of industrial style

– Raw and natural materials

– Wall and floor covering

– Furniture

– Shower and bathtub

– The plus: the canopy!

– Where to find its decoration and industrial furniture

The industrial style is defined by simplicity, character and recuperation. It is a very trendy style that combines metal, wood and raw materials and creates an authentic and contemporary atmosphere for your bathroom. Furniture that is mottled and diverted from its main role, metal, concrete, subway tiles, all of this is a perfect combination for an industrial loft-style bathroom.

The colours of the industrial style

For an industrial loft-style bathroom, opt for a shade of grey that will remind you of concrete and metal. Generally speaking, industrial style comes in shades of grey, from lightest to darkest, including black. For colour enthusiasts, you can use saturated colours:

– Khaki

– The verdigris

– The dark blue

– Brick Red

– The rusty orange

Bright colours are only found on small pieces of furniture: chairs, lights, towel rails, accessories…

Raw and natural materials

An industrial loft-style bathroom must have solid, raw materials. The industrial style is inspired by industrial buildings, old warehouses, old factories and factories that were not built with an aesthetic in mind. This is why most of the materials used are raw and unfinished. The raw materials to be found in your bathroom are:

– Steel: it is difficult to give an industrial style to your bathroom without incorporating steel. You can, for example, use steel for accessories, the towel rail or in the choice of faucets.

– Concrete: nothing is more industrial than concrete. You can use it on floors or walls but also on the worktop of the furniture with the basin.

– Wood: choose raw wood, aged or patinated.

Wall and floor covering

The walls

For the walls of your industrial style bathroom without water contact, opt for paint in shades of grey or in saturated colours: grey, anthracite, black, khaki, navy blue, brick red… On the other hand, for walls in contact with water, opt preferably for a tile-type covering or wall panels. Metro tiles are perfect for industrial decoration; otherwise choose slate imitation tiles or grey tones to remind the concrete aspect.

Tip: A new material is on the market, it is called sheet stone. It is a thin sheet of stone that is glued directly to the wall. It can also be used in the shower as it is water repellent. Moreover, it is easy to install and maintain, and there are many aspects: slate, moonstone, rock stone…

The floor

For your industrial bathroom floor, opt for a floor with character! Tile is still the best choice for bathroom flooring, so have fun with the different aspects:

– Concrete-look tiles: easier to maintain and crack-free

– Tiles with a rusty metal appearance: the appearance is similar to metal surfaces, rusty or brushed. The advantage is that a tile, unlike metal, will not stain or change its appearance over time.

– Wood-look tiles: wood will bring a warm tone to your bathroom. To stay in the industrial style, choose a raw or aged wood instead.

Note: For quality tiles, choose porcelain stoneware: count on average $30/m².

Furniture

Designing your bathroom means above all choosing furniture adapted to its volumes. For an industrial loft-style bathroom, objects that you find or that you divert from their primary role are ideal. Choose a piece of furniture under a wooden basin or use an old chest of drawers that you transform into a basin unit. You can also opt for old-fashioned industrial lockers, you will bring a touch of vintage and it will offer you very practical storage space for your linen. For furnishings, hang metal shelves on the walls and hooks as coat hooks. In an industrial-style bathroom, everything is on display, from the smallest accessories to the plumbing.

Tip: Nothing is more industrial than exposed plumbing! There’s no need to rack your brains to hide, copper pipes become a decorative element in their own right. The industrial style plays its cards on the table and does not try to hide what is usually hidden.

The washbasin

Preferably choose a round, rectangular or oval basin with clean lines. To complete your decoration, you can also choose a stainless steel, copper or zinc basin. The coolness of the metal paradoxically gives off strange warmth that plunges you directly into the atmosphere of a workshop.

Taps

There is nothing more design and in theme than an old tap with cast iron industrial valves: a raw and retro look for a typically industrial look. Or, very trendy at the moment, the copper faucet is the detail that changes everything!

Shower and bathtub

The shower

In an industrial-style bathroom, opt for a simple and open shower to recall the loft spirit. For this, an Italian shower is ideal because it opens onto the rest of the bathroom.

The bathtub

You can restore a vintage bathtub in beaten copper, you can restore a beautiful enamelled standing model or opt for a steel bathtub with pure lines: more contemporary but well adapted for an industrial atmosphere.

The plus: the glass roof!

If you wish to partition your bathroom space, opt for the glass roof… As a shower wall or partition, the interior glass roof is in pure industrial style. It gives a feeling of volume, depth and airy style to your bathroom renovations. The price of a canopy varies according to its size.

Where can you find industrial decoration and furniture, and at what price?

You will find all the elements in the large decoration stores or on the commercial websites. But you can also adopt an industrial loft style by walking through flea markets or sales rooms. Factory furniture is often on sale at reasonable prices. Hope the above bathroom renovation ideas help you out. Remember to leave your comments below!

Choosing the Perfect Colour Scheme for Every Room

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Category : Home Renovation

While some people will insist that there is such a thing as a perfect colour for every room, we will have to disagree. We are firm believers in not being bound by tradition and to go with what you want. BUT! There are still a few rules you want to abide by if you don’t want a room to turn into a total fiasco.

After all, some colours really do not work in tight spaces or in a warmer region. Remember how school taught us that darker colours are good conductors of heat? Yep. While we are all for letting the child in you run wild, there are still a few things you need to bear in mind before buying wall paint and hiring a painter. One of those includes knowing the type of paint you should get. There are different types of paint on the market. Some of them are oil-based, others are water-based and others are latex. While each painting has its benefits, we would recommend latex paint mostly because it is easy to clean up and lasts long.

Now, let’s dive right in!

Which Colour Should I choose?

For the Living Space

Considering that paint colours for living rooms have a huge impact on the overall mood of your home, you want to pick them carefully. From a natural green that can breathe new life into a room to light shades of grey that create an illusion of spaciousness, there are a lot of colours you can choose from. If you want a calmer atmosphere, blue or beige is the colour is to go for. But if you have a flair for the dramatic, then why not go with navy blue, cobalt blue or even black?

For the Kitchen

The kitchen is the one room you must avoid the single colour schemes at all cost. Those days are long gone! For a more modern, high impact, look you want to mix materials and colours. From white, grey, blue, red, yellow, to green, you have a wide variety of choice. Each of these colours can do something different for the room. You just need to decide if you want to create a warm, welcoming space or a more striking look.

For the Bedroom

The great thing about the bedroom is that it is a private space. So, you could go totally crazy if you want. No one will judge you. and if done well, even the boldest of colours can work magic! If you prefer tranquil spaces, you can stick to softs colours and pastels. Washed-out Lilac and creamy buttermilk would be perfect in that case. If you want something with more character, then why not experiment with bold charcoal hues? Or why not paint the whole room with a shimmering grey? Accessorising with darker furniture will balance with that soft shade of grey and still create a striking vibe.

For the Bathroom

The bathroom is a small room – the more colour you sue, the tackier it will look. It’ such a small space you won’t be able to ignore an explosion of colour. So, in this room, trim it down. Try a monochromatic look. Do not confuse monochrome with black and white, though we have to admit that a black and white colour palette can still class up your bathroom. Monochrome simply refers to the use of a limited amount of colour. You can, therefore, use different shades of the same colour to paint the walls in your bathroom. Them to give the bathroom some pizzazz, accessorise with a pile of coloured towels or with flowers!

For the Study Room

A study room can be designed for several purposes. Entrepreneurs often renovate a room to turn it into an office. Parents design study rooms so that their children have a dedicated space where they can sit down, do their homework and catch up on their studies. Yet, regardless of what you intend to use it for, whether a home office or study room, you need to be a calming. You want as few distractions as possible in that room. We would recommend sticking to white paint for a fuss-free vibe. But if you want to make the room a tad more interesting, you can choose to paint one of the walls a cool shade of blue, yellow or grey.

Bottom Line:

When you are trying to pick the perfect colour palette for the rooms in your house, choose colours that you like. While the perfect paint colour will transform a room, it will be counterproductive if you hate that colour. Instead, try to find a shade close to the ‘perfect’ colour. Ensure that you actually like that shade though. With so many paint shades at your fingertips, you should be able to find one that both compliments the room and makes you happy.

How to Choose Your Granite Paving Stone

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Category : Home Renovation

The granite paving stone is made from a very resistant natural rock. Granite paving stone is very suitable for driveways, terraces, and borders. It is available in various shapes, thicknesses, and standards.

Other types of natural stone paving stones are sandstone paving stone, the bluestone paving stone, porphyry paving stone, quartzite paving stone and reconstituted stone paving.

This post talks on the aspect of granite paving stone and in the end, you will be able to get an idea of which type of paving stone you are actually looking for.

Criteria for choosing granite paving stone

Granite paving stone is generally square or rectangular. The lightest of them contain quartz and feldspars; their density is lower than the darker pavers which are richer in ferromagnesian minerals.

When choosing a granite paver for a driveway, the granite paving stone must be at least 6 cm thick and 8 cm thick if there is a heavy vehicle passage. To benefit from road marking, paving stones must be more than 5 cm thick. In some states, the standard applies to new paving stones and not to reclaimed paving stones.

Several finishes of granite paving stones: flamed, cleaved, old…

Different finishes are possible depending on the aspect you want. Do not hesitate to ask a paver for more information: the finishes vary according to the manufacturers, suppliers and the origin of the paving stone.

Granite paving stone: which finish?

Bush hammer

– The stone is passed under a machine with aligned heads that move over the granite.

– The result is an appearance made up of small hollows and bumps.

Flamed

– The stone was subjected to a high-temperature flame.

– The stone bursts on the surface giving a rough, non-slip appearance.

– The color of the stone is enhanced.

Cleaved

– The granite is cut using a machine that includes large “guillotine” style knives, respecting the direction of orientation of the crystals contained in the granite.

– The result is natural, slightly rough.

Old

– Recovered or shaped, the wear is natural or natural-looking.

Laying granite paving

Granite paving stone is ideal for outdoor use because of its resistance, but also because of its timeless aesthetics.

It can be laid in alleys, along borders and why not to underline a massif, combined with luminous paving stones.

Price of granite paving stone

Prices include VAT, excluding installation and delivery. They will also depend on the size and thickness of the paving stone. In total, between $25 and $50 per m².

Hope the above helps you out in choosing your granite paving stone. For more information and tips, jot down your comments in the section below.

Why Choose Sheet of Stone for Your Walls

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Category : Home Renovation

Sheet stone is a flexible natural stone cladding for interior or exterior walls. This type of flexible natural stone cladding is made from slate or mica and is available in a variety of colors and textures.

It is a new and ingenious product that is revolutionizing the creation of natural stone surfaces.

Starting from solid blocks of natural stone, thin sheets of stone 2 mm thick are cut out using a very innovative technique. Reinforced by a fiberglass-based composite backing, these natural stone sheets are strong, light and easy to work with.

Stone Sheet: Characteristics and Composition

The stone sheet consists of the first layer of stone (slate, quartzite or mica) with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.8 mm, followed by support of fiberglass and resin. There are many colors, textures, and dimensions.

Where to Use Stone Sheet?

The stone sheet is ideal for decorating your interiors. This stone material is recommended to easily dress walls, floors, and facades, as well as to give a warm and contemporary atmosphere to your home. In addition, stone sheets give a room a lot of styles. 

There are several colors and textures available. Made of a natural and lively material, the sheet of stone has color variations that make each sheet unique.

Tip: Sheet stone is also ideal for use in damp rooms. Waterproof, you can lay it in your kitchen, bathroom, but also in your swimming pool and spa.

Laying and Maintenance of the Stone Sheet

Installation

Stone sheets can be applied directly to paints, wood, plasterboard… The work is therefore quick and within the reach of all DIYers. The installation is easy:

1. Prepare and clean the chosen surface.

2. Glue the sheet of stone directly to your surface. It is recommended to use hybrid polymer glues for the installation of natural stone sheets, as they have very high holding power and good water tightness.

Maintenance

After installation, maintenance is necessary to keep the natural and elegant sheet of stone:

– For damp rooms or areas such as the kitchen, we advise you to apply an anti-stain product.

– To preserve the unique color of your stone sheet, use a color reinforcement.

– For daily cleaning, specific products are sold with the stone sheet.

Stone Sheets: The Advantages of the Material

Resistant

This flooring is very solid and can be laid anywhere in the house or outside to cover walls and floors as it is waterproof and UV resistant.

Aesthetics

The aesthetic appearance is identical to solid stone.

You will find a large choice of colors, textures, and aspects to have stone walls or floors according to your desires.

Easy to lay

This material is easy to cut and install and is within everyone’s reach.

Their great flexibility means that sheets of stone can be laid on all types of supports (concrete, plaster, tiles, etc.), flat or rounded surfaces.

Thin and light (between 1 mm and 2 mm for 2.3 kg/m²), the stone sheet facilitates storage, transport, handling, and laying.

Easy cutting can be done with a cutter or a circular saw.

You will also find functional standard or custom sizes at DIY stores.

Good luck with your home decor. Remember to leave your comments below.

Knocking Down to Rebuild – Benefits and Considerations

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Category : Home Improvement , Home Renovation

Do you feel like you’ve outgrown your home? Or maybe it’s gotten shabby and no longer suits your needs? While renovating, buying a new home or building elsewhere are three possible solutions there’s a fourth option that many people are now turning to: knocking down your house and building a new one in its place.

Given the many advantages of tearing down your home and starting afresh, it’s not hard to see why this is an increasingly popular solution. If you’re curious to see if it’s the right option for you, have a look at some of the benefits and concerns listed below for a fuller picture.

1. It can be a smarter move financially

One of the main draws of opting to tear down your existing home and rebuild is that it can be more cost-effective than renovating.

Experts state that it is not uncommon for extension and renovation projects to be 50 per cent more expensive to build than new homes on a square meter basis, partly because renovations often require a lot of time-consuming demolition and alteration work before the new work can even begin.

Also, some costs associated with renovating and extending a home are difficult to determine during the design stage. Some examples are when new subfloor, underpinning or plaster rectification are required. Allowances for such costs need to be built into the contract. It can be tricky to determine the exact level of allowances to be made.

This obviously won’t factor into your financials if you choose to knock your house down and rebuild, since your existing home will be totally demolished, allowing you to start afresh.

2. There are fewer surprises

While everyone loves a good surprise, you’re not likely to encounter many of them when renovating your home. Unforeseen problems like leaky pipes, damaged wiring or undetected asbestos can put a dampener on what was initially an exciting home makeover project.

Knockdown-rebuilds, on the other hand, don’t have as much uncertainty around them in terms of cost and budget blowouts like extensions and renovations do.

3. You can stay in the same neighborhood…

While demolishing and rebuilding your home has plenty of financial benefits, this building approach has a positive impact on your lifestyle, too. KDRs are a great option for families who love where they live and are loath to leave but are in desperate need of a new home that fits their lifestyle better.

4. …Or buy a house to raze and rebuild where you love

A shortage of land in and around metropolitan areas has been a driving force behind the popularity of knockdown-rebuilds. However, properties in well-established areas can be pricey, no matter how dilapidated they are, so it’s worth weighing up the cost versus the lifestyle benefits to make sure the price of the purchase, demolition and rebuild is worth it.

5. You start with a clean slate

Another advantage of a knockdown-rebuild is the creative freedom you can enjoy, not being shackled by needing to work around existing structures. While you still need to consider the general site layout, it is refreshing to have a clean slate to explore new ideas and challenge the previous layout. Building a new home gives you more options in terms of the style and size of the home, sustainability and the use of technology and modern building practices.”

6. Improved site access for a quicker build

KDRs also enable your builder to have unlimited access to the construction site, which will increase productivity on-site and could reduce your overall build cost and, ultimately, build timing. Efficient programming means you can move in faster, reducing the cost of other out-of-pocket expenses such as rent and storage costs.

7. You can go green(er)

Starting from scratch means that you can optimize the orientation and layout of your home and the placement of windows, to allow for maximum sun exposure in winter; shade and coolness in summer; and cross ventilation.

Knockdown-rebuilds give you the opportunity to construct your new home from the ground up, using sustainable materials and incorporating the latest smart, eco-friendly fixtures, features and gadgets too, which will improve your home’s carbon footprint and reduce your household energy spending.

Some Things to Consider

Sold on the idea of a knockdown-rebuild? Here’s some extra advice to take on board before you take the plunge.

  1. Get Advice Early – speaking to experts early can save you money in the long run. For example, working with professional home builders like Elite New Homes can guide you through the process; help answer the difficult questions; deal with the local council, builders and tradesmen, etc. Finding the right designer is key, and it’s a task that should not be rushed. Make sure they can demonstrate experience in meeting similar budgets and briefs to yours and ensure that you understand the fees and services delivered.
  2. Size up the existing structure – Check the existing foundations and the state of the existing building. For instance, if there are a lot of cracks in the walls, you may need to have some engineering work done to the foundations before you begin building.
  3. Have a buffer in your budget – while unforeseen conditions are less likely on KDRs, it’s always worth being prepared if something crops up along the way.
  4. Decide where you are going to live during the renovation – unless you are ok with living on a construction site, it’s likely that you will need to rent a property for the duration of the rebuild. This will add to your project cost and needs to be accounted for in your budget.

Have you embarked on a knockdown-rebuild project? Do you have any advice to share for people who are considering this building approach? Tell us in the comments below.

Create or Renovate Your Bathroom

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Category : Home Renovation

The bathroom is one of the rooms in the house where work is most complex: space is often limited and technical constraints are high. Whether you wish to create or renovate your bathroom, Homemyinfo is here to guide you through the stages of your project.

The designer bathroom seduces lovers of noble materials and pure aesthetics. To compose your designer bathroom, you must carefully choose the wall and floor coverings, furniture, and accessories. At the entry-level, the designer bathroom is breathtaking and also accessible to small budgets.

What is a designer bathroom?

The designer bathroom is characterized by a contemporary, minimalist and airy look. Whatever its surface, the space is uncluttered, volumes and light are highlighted. Furniture and accessories are chosen to form a coherent whole.

Designer bathroom: a minimalist base

Colors

The designer bathroom is available in a maximum of 2 or 3 colors. You can favor:
– Neutral tones, such as beige, gray, white;
– the natural colors of the raw materials;
– black and white for a graphic effect.

You also have the option of decorating the designer bathroom with a strong color, such as orange, mauve, royal blue or canary yellow. In this case, you may prefer discreet accessories or bathroom linen.

Wall and floor coverings

The designer bathroom gives pride of place to prestigious and durable materials. For the walls as well as for the floor, consider:
– wood, which brings warmth;
– waxed concrete, for an industrial style;
– marble, for a majestic and luminous aesthetic;
– monochromatic tiles or 2-color tiles for an electric effect.

For the walls, think about wall painting in a sober color.

Materials

For accessories and furniture for your designer bathroom, turn to:
– ceramics;
– concrete;
– glass;
– wood;
– metal.

Dressing a design bathroom: simplicity and elegance

Chic equipment

The equipment sets the tone for your designer bathroom. We recommend:
– the Italian shower, spacious and visually light;
– the island bathtub, which dramatizes the space;
– the washbasin, placed on a countertop or a piece of furniture;
– the hanging toilet, if your toilet is not in a separate room.

Uncluttered furniture

To store your beauty products, bath linen and possibly your cleaning products, you need bathroom furniture.

Choose furniture that visually occupies as little space as possible. If your bathroom is narrow, it is better to choose furniture that sits on the floor, under the washbasin, to save space. If you are fortunate enough to have a large bathroom, wall-mounted furniture is an effective solution.

Tip: make sure that the color of your furniture matches the color of the walls and/or floor of your bathroom.

Discreet accessories

Accessories play an important role in the decoration of your designer bathroom. For example, you can opt for:
– Chrome-plated fittings;
– recessed lighting fixtures for walls, ceiling or furniture;
– shower accessories, towel rails, and stainless steel cups;
– large mirrors or even a whole wall of mirrors;
– plain and matching bath linen.

Where to find the elements of the designer bathroom?

For wall and floor coverings, you can go to the DIY and home improvement store. Equipment can be bought from specialist companies and furniture chains. As for accessories, you have a wide range of choices: department stores, decoration shops, furniture, and DIY stores, etc.

Prices vary enormously depending on the range and the number of people using the bathroom. On average, without taking into account the work of a craftsman for the installation, count approximately:
– between $40 and 400 $/m² for the wall covering;
– between $40 and 1 000 $/m² for the floor covering;
– between $70 and $4 000 € for the equipment, per unit;
– between $20 and $300 € for accessories, per unit.

All in all

A bathroom must be well thought out to provide maximum storage space and equipment while maintaining easy circulation.

Between shower and bathtub, washbasin and practical storage, the development of a functional and pleasant bathroom requires a little thought.

Whether it’s a question of creating it entirely or renovating it, you have to ask yourself the right questions.

The layout of a bathroom requires a good evaluation and anticipation of your needs so that the room corresponds to your uses. It is therefore essential to devote the necessary time to the development of your project before you start.

Take a look at your situation

Start by identifying present and future users of the bathroom. Bathrooms are not designed the same way when you live alone or as a couple and when you have children.

Take into account the technical constraints

Before you start choosing equipment, find out about the feasibility of your project. Indeed, depending on the constraints that already exist, you may not be able to afford everything, unless you undertake very heavy work. It is not always easy to evaluate these technical constraints. The help of a professional will be invaluable to you, especially if you wish to completely review the structure of the room.

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