Archive for the ‘Home’ Category

One of the common dilemmas of anyone who dreams of owning their own house is whether to buy one or to build one. The website HousePlansandMore.com makes the choice a little bit easier with their numerous home plans. Below are some reasons why you should consider building your house by getting a home plan from the website instead of buying an existing house.

* Get what you want. One of the biggest disadvantages of just buying an existing house is that you either have to be satisfied with it or you make renovations. However, if you decide to build your own house you could specify how you want everything. HousePlansandMore.com lets you search through their collection of house plans by specifying the number of rooms, bathrooms, floors, and many more.

* Find your builder fast. The website, with the use of your zip code, allows you to find a builder that could execute your plans. The plans you will purchase even come with an estimated cost so that you already have an idea how much you will need to spend. Also, you are assured of a reliable builder.

* Have access to different architectural styles. Whether you want a Mediterranean style house, a Neoclassical house, or an Italian house, the website makes them all available to you.

* Other plans are available. Aside from house plans, you could also access the website’s other project plans like gazebo plans, garage plans, shed plans, and many more.

It is not unheard of for someone to sell their house. Some people sell their house to buy a bigger and better house. Others, especially the older ones, sell theirs for a house that is smaller and more manageable. Whatever reason one may have for selling their house, it is not a very easy thing to do. The real estate market is filled with many equally beautiful and excellent houses for sale in Arizona and your house is up for some tight competition. This is why it is very important to get the help of a good real estate agent. Steve Rook is an Arizona real estate agent who could help you get your house sold. He is an expert when it comes to chandler homes for sale and any other homes in Arizona. If you have one of those ahwatukee homes then he is also the perfect man for you. Aside from his knowledge, expertise, commitment, and strong negotiation skills, he also provides appraisals and home valuations, free real estate reports, and home improvement tips that are guaranteed to help you get the best price for your house. There is no need to wait for long periods of time before you are able to sell your house. Getting the services of a real estate agent like him could have your house selling in no time at all.

I was watching the news early this morning and I saw that water problem still exists in some parts of the metro until now. This has been a prevalent for some time now and has been posing risks to residents in the area, especially to small children. That is why it is best to invest on some water filters at home, to ensure water safety. Recently, I have come across with a trusted dealer of purifiers which are made in the USA. Their years of service and reputation along with their commendable test results on filtration make them the leader in home water filters industry. Berkey Water filters are outstanding because they help remove harmful bacteria, parasites, cysts and Chlorine and other unhealthy chemical contaminants to levels higher than 99.99% without removing the essential minerals. Aside from providing quality products, they also offer discounts for bulk orders and deals for charity organizations and missionaries. These water filters are durable and will last up to 3000 gallons of water so it lets you save a huge amount of money. Moreover, Berkey water filters are versatile as they are not limited to types of water they can purify. Treated water and untreated raw water from remote lakes, ponds, ect. can be purified by Berkey Water purifiers. Water is one of our most basic needs and we should make sure that it is safe and free from harmful elements.

Lighting is very important in enhancing a home. I love interior designing and as I read through books and magazines, there is always a part of the reading material that discusses lighting. I also observed that the kitchen is the part of the house that is the least given attention at when it comes to lighting. Ordinary bulbs and fluorescents are commonly used in the kitchen, if it’s brighter, it’s better! I beg to disagree of course, a kitchen deserves one of the best kitchen light fixtures in the market.

Choosing the perfect kitchen pendant lighting for your own kitchen is of course difficult especially if you are a no expert like me. So going to a store with a wide array of selection of pendant light fixtures or any home lighting fixtures for that matter, is very helpful. That is why I love Echo Lighting Design because they have the most beautiful fixtures there is for a home. Pendant fixtures are getting more and more popular these days because it adds character to a room than or regular designed fixtures. But of course you have to consider the size of the fixtures and at Echo Lighting Design, they have all sizes of fixtures that you need. I am considering these fixtures for our kitchen.

We have a modern kitchen design and choosing one from the selection above will be perfect for my favorite part of the house.

I think we should be asking Innovatech for refurbishing my parents’ floors at their house. We need their service of tile removal and replacing it with much great quality tiles since some of the tiles in the kitchen already have cracks. I think their contractor gave them low quality tiles because the house is almost new, we’ve been living here for only 3 years and I think the cracking of some of the tiles are too early. I told my dad about Innovatech since they are planning to have some parts of the house repainted, I suggested that maybe some of the tiles should be replaced as well. With the superb service of Innovatech, my dad will be very happy and the house will be flawless again. Innovatech has the best services to offer of floor removal to concrete polishing. They also have the service for carpet removal which I think my friend needs when she renovates her own apartment. Their Terminator, i-Shine and Predator machines are the best there is in this industry. I heard so many raves about how they gave services and refurbishing floors are one of their forte. With being in service for more than a decade, they became the industry’s leader and if we get their services, I am pretty sure my parents will save more than expected from maintaining their dream home.

I have been looking for something to spruce up our little patio so we can enjoy our garden a bit more. Outdoor furniture, comfortable enough for us to stay in, was the first thing that came to my mind. I think it’s time for me to buy a little dining set to complement our little chairs, so we can enjoy breakfast in the mornings outdoors. We have a beautiful community with bountiful trees, that each morning, you can literally hear birds chirping.

Outdoor Chairs from CozyDays.com caught my attention. If only we had a swimming pool in our yard, their adirondrack chairs would have been perfect! Instead, I think I will be getting their outdoor bean bag loungers – which would be perfect for me and the kids whenever we might want to spend time outdoors reading a book under the trees or even sleep!

Look how comfortable they look! Retailing at $199, it’s a steal already! You can also get a Fatboy Outdoor Beanbag Lounger in orange for only $349.

Patio Furniture from CozyDays.com is perfect for my taste. I can now enjoy my own patio, balcony or garden for comfortable dining with their outdoor dining furniture sets. They are selected from the most reputable outdoor furniture manufacturers.

Here is my pick:

A 7-piece Dangari patio furniture dining set!

Centipede grass is a type of grass that has a coarse texture. Its stems tend to grow between three and five inches tall, and it grows best in southern climates such as Northern Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. One of the primary advantages of planting centipede grass is most gardeners and landscapers consider it to be a general-purpose grass that is good for creating lawns in residential and commercial areas.

One of the characteristics of centipede grass is it is a low-maintenance grass. Since it does not require fertilization and other heavy maintenance, this is a major advantage to using it. Its low maintenance makes centipede grass a good choice for use for roadsides, industrial areas, and other utility areas. One reason the grass grows well in the southern half of the country is its immunity to droughts. It can survive the higher temperatures and rain-free environments you find in southern states at certain times of the year.

Pests can be a problem when considering types of grass to plant, but another major advantage of centipede grass is its resistant to the many types of pests that can destroy grass. Its resistance eliminates the need to spend additional money in lawn care for pesticide sprayings, which also makes it a healthier area for children and pets that play outside. While centipede grass grows at its best in full sun, it also grows in shaded areas.

Along with the advantages, centipede grass possesses two major disadvantages. First, it is particular about the soil it grows in. It does not grow well in coastal soils that have a high alkaline content. The second major disadvantage is the cost of centipede grass compared to other types of grass. With the many advantages of the grass, consumers still prefer it to other types.

Opening the pool and filling the pool with water are the only things holding back the family fun. The last time you tried to fill the above ground pool, the water started off brown and ended up somewhere near a cranberry cocktail. Small above ground pools contain over 1,000 gallons of water, and large pools hold 10 or 20 times that amount. Although pools require thousands of gallons of water, the logistics of filling a swimming pool aren’t overly complicated. You just need to know what your options are.

You can fill hot tubs and small above ground pools with a hose. However, larger pools with 6,000 to 10,000 gallons will require water delivery. For homeowners in rural areas, there is a risk of overheating the well pump if it’s worked continuously. Water supply companies delivery water by the truck load in tractor trailer tanks that hold 5,000 gallons. Tankers are great for large pools, but it’s hard to negotiate rates for smaller deliveries. Depending on the area and provider, water supply companies may charge $150 to $300 per delivery. Before ordering water, check with local fire departments in your area to see if they offer pool filling services. The typical fire truck holds 2,000 gallons and fire departments might charge less than commercial water supply companies.

Iron, manganese, and calcium are naturally present in tap water. These elements contribute to hard water. When chlorine and tap water mix, metals form rust that stains dark brown and red. These oxides can leave serious stains on pool walls and equipment. To prevent metal stains, use a chelating and sequestering product that attracts metals. These products are sold under a variety of names, including stain remover and calcium controller. After filling with municipal water and using a sequestering agent, wait three to four days before super shocking.

Asian themed houses inspired the Zen idea (less clutter, focusing on minimalism) have been more popular as of late. I attribute it to the fact that people have been encountering so much stress outside their homes on a daily basis that their homes need to be their centers for relaxation, for them to regroup and de-stress.  Many people have begun decorating their homes in a fusion Asian decorating style that embodies the best design elements of different cultures. 

Zen interior decorating uses the harmonious interaction of space and form within your home or apartment. This gives you a more soothing and relaxed feel, giving you the great amount of rest which you deserve. The Zen approach to interior decorating promotes minimalism. Zen uses the bare essentials within a dwelling and each item in the house has a specific use.

Basically what you can normally see in Zen-themed houses are elements of nature and virtually no clutter. A friend of mine has a Zen-themed house and cherry wood, bamboo and stones are prominent elements in their house. The presence of water also is used by having an indoor water fountain along their hallway. I love how one wall of their hallway has an illusion of waterfalls (they were encased in a glass), entering the house gives you a sense of peace and tranquility almost instantly.

They got the Gardenfall Metaline Series  (a 90-inch waterfall) at Outdora.com. This repeats itself all throughout the hallway. In between the waterfall fountain there are bamboo plants in Zen-themed plant holders.

Looking throughout their whole home, you would think you are in a spa. The presence of water and its sounds are everywhere so it really gives you a sense of calm and peace.

They are avid believers of Feng Shui and they were advised that water in the house will bring them lots of luck. So they had water in the form of an indoor fountain and tabletop fountains. They make great decorative accents so it was a big plus!

It was an added bonus that they love Zen themed houses too. They have a sprawling garden at the back with a patio and in the middle of their beautifully-landscaped lawn is a central accent in the form of an outdoor fountain!

Nope. But how I wish it was!

My desk has been with me for almost five months, and I really have no complains with it, I can focus on work, sit straight and have my own space in the house.  It is just that whenever I see beautiful desks around the web like the one pictured above, it makes me wish to order new office furniture that replicates everything.

But I got to make do with what I have.

I just need a computer chair. Really need one.

I have always loved sunlight streaming every morning at my windows around the house. It gives me a sense of renewed energy to tackle chores for the day. That is why if ever we decide to buy a house of our own, Central Virginia Home Improvement with primary focus on Richmond Windows would be on top of my list. Have you ever seen Richmond Four Season Sunrooms? I can just imagine myself enjoying my cup of coffee there every morning. It is not a necessity at home, but it is a very wise luxury to invest in. Composite Windows Richmond VA are also nice in rooms that need as much light as it can, primarily nicer in rooms on upper floors so it can give a view outside. Hardiplank Siding Fredericksburg VA would also be a wise thing to do because it requires minimal maintenance and easy to install with just brick and stone.

The temperatures have been slowly on the rise, and people could never be any happier. It means spring is near and it will give them a chance to go out, enjoy the sunshine which has been conspicuously absent for the past months and enjoy some outdoor parties. A friend’s gorgeous patio with a swimming pool and BBQ grill have been out of commission during winter. Who would want to, with all the negative degree weather? Patio Covers have saved her precious furniture though. Patio Furniture Covers need to be thick and preferably waterproof. Her chosen Patio Furniture Cover was even actually stylish!

Patio Chair Covers  are actually custom made for wicker chairs, lounge chairs, high back chairs so you can be sure that it fits perfectly. Patio Table Covers are defined by size and shape too, whether it is square, rectangular, or a circle. 

The materials are car cover material and completely water-proof, leaving all her worries to the wind!

When I was young, there was an old practice passed on to me. It said that whenever I want to feel or call on the wind, all I have to do is whistle and I will instantly feel a breeze. I don’t know why but it has worked every single time. Now, it has been said that wind chimes bring the same kind of thing, only it comes with luck too. As far back as the second century, wind chimes were being hung on Japanese pagodas with the intent of scaring away evil spirits and birds. They are considered to be good luck charms, and are used often in Feng Shui.

What is great about wind chimes is that it can be placed indoors or outdoors and not only prettifies a place (be it a garden or patio), it can be quite considerably cheap too. You should also take note that wind chimes, for it to be effectively used, needs to be placed in an area  where wind blows from moderate to slightly frequent. You can bamboo wind chimes placed on trees or along lamp posts in your lawn or garden area.

There are a lot of types of wind chimes. The bamboo ones are considered the cheapest while aluminum wind chimes can be customized to mimic the sounds of sweet Corinthian Bells, traditional Irish airs or the tinkling keys of a piano.

Metal wind chimes will be the most durable, and will produce the best tones. They’re weather resistant and won’t rust, and can even be tuned to produce specific melodies. Ceramic or glass chimes will be the most aesthetically pleasing, but better suited for indoor or decorative use. Bamboo chimes aren’t as durable, but will produce very soothing, deep, resonant tones reminiscent of rain or rolling thunder.

One of my dreams for our home is to have a home theater system. As I’ve mentioned before, our family are huge movie buffs and couch potatoes. We can watch TV all day – having a home theater will be a great experience for us!

I just do not which one would be better – a plasma LCD TV or a HD TV. I’ve read many home theater buying guides and found out the ff:

LCD HDTVs work by shining a light behind an LCD panel made up of a fixed number
of pixels. Each pixel is either red, blue or green and is switched on or off when a
voltage is applied to it. When voltage is applied to a pixel, it is switched off,
meaning that light can’t shine through it.

The main advantage of LCD vs plasma HDTV is that LCD panels don’t suffer from
what’s called burn-in. This is a feature of plasma TVs where they are used to watch
TV stations with logos permanently displayed on-screen or where they are used for
video gaming with games that have static images such as a cockpit on flight
simulators. The image literally ‘burns-in’ the screen meaning that even when the
image is not present you can still see a faint trace of it on screen. So for video
gamers in particular, LCD is a better choice than plasma.

Plasma HDTVs have over a million chambers which house one or a combination of
gasses. When a voltage is applied to one of these chambers the gas ionizes and
emits ultra-violet light. This light strikes red, green or plue phophors coated on the
inside of the chamber and a pixel emits this color light.

Plasma HDTVs tend to have better contrast than LCDs because, even when a pixel
on an LCD panel is switched off it doesn’t block all the light coming through and
therefore the pixel isn’t completely black. Plasma HDTVs also tend to have a wider
viewing angle than LCDs, as on LCD HDTVs the contrast and colour of the image can change when the screen is viewed from different angles.

It is safe to say that plasma TVs are the choice for screens 40 inches or less but as new technology comes in, this is bound to change!

Here is a little trivia for you: We currently have no address. We are sharing our current address (house number) with our landlady. And this is not a duplex or an apartment, it’s a house! I really do not know how come this house didn’t get to be assigned a decent house number but it is what it is. It’s a good thing our landlady is an elderly woman who rarely receives mail or packages. It would be quite a mix-up if all correspondence were delivered to her house. 

We are currently expecting a courier box bearing all the goodies I shopped for during Black Friday way back in November and I am anxious if the freight service will pick our house up. See, this should have not been a cause of anxiety if we had address plaques. I will be getting a lawn marker when we finally have our own house so anybody who will be looking for our house will not miss it.

This is what I am talking about:

 
I love how the lighted address plaques from Outdora too. Buyers have placed great feedback that the plaques are very visible during night time – since we live in the suburbs this will be a great idea so I won’t have delayed food (and pizza) deliveries. If a house is national or cultural treasure, one can get commemorative plaque for it like this one:

Remember that having an address plaque not only serves as a decoration for your lawn or door but as a helpful tool for people to find your house easily. Imagine if there would be an emergency and an ambulance needs to find your house in the shortest possible time – having a visible marker for your house will not only help, but could matter of fact save lives.  Do not worry about it ruining the style of your house or lawn. Address plaque makers these days have varied designs made of quality materials for every home imaginable. Just make sure that what you get will stand the test of time. Address plaques need to survive extreme weather conditions and would be subject to continuous wear and tear. Order from a reliable company like Outdora.com.

You thought it can only happen in movies. Apparently, it can also happen in real life. A friend of ours had her home almost burglarized. It was a good thing they invested in a Home Security System. The got theirs from ADT and with the Home Security System they got, it already has the following:

1. Digital Keypad – you have access to fire, medical and police dispatch with one touch of a button
2. Keychain Remote Access – one can disarm or arm the whole security system at any area of the house
3. PIR Infrared MOTION DETECTORS – these can differentiate pets and humans so false alarms are prevented.
4. UP TO 3 POINTS OF PROTECTION – wireless and window sensors can be moved around the house.
5. Decibel Alarm Siren – it is enough to wake the dead – believe me.
6. Battery Back up – In case the burglars are smart enough to disable your electricity first, have no fear. The ADT Home Security System is smarter than them. Its high-capacity battery backup system will keep your home and family protected!

My friend’s home was left untouched but they were, as expected, traumatized.

I have a long list of woes about the kitchen in our rented house. If I can just renovate it and have the amount deducted from our rent every month, I would have gladly renovated it for the longest time. But we might have to stay here for 10 years with the amount of renovation needed to be done.

For one thing, I would replace our current sink with an undermount kitchen sink. I really do not know why it hasn’t been installed with one in the first place. For one thing, cleaning it would be so easy, especially around the area. When you need to wipe off food debris, you just wipe it off and it gets thrown into the sink, and it still does not get caught on the rim on the sink.  Second (and more important for me) is that with these types of sinks, plumbing is hid behind the cabinetry. I like my kitchen and bathroom clean all the time. It also looks less messy if pipes are hidden, don’t you agree?

I would get stainless undermount kitchen sinks because it is easier to clean, and it is definitely for the long run – it does not stain, dent and scratch easily.

Back when we still had cable TV, the rare times I watch TV, you can bet that I’m glued either to MTV, HBO or HGTV (I know, so very different channels, right? It goes to show how many aspects my personality has).

I love HGTV because it lets me see homes I have always dreamed of having and how it is so near yet so far from my reach. As much as I hate to cook, I love to watch to cooking shows. Chefs make it look so easy – I bet they never have to wish the dishes afterwards or clean up after their mess )That’s why I hate to cook!). Even the cooking is done at the most lovely kitchens, ranging from sleek to modern to cozy to elegant and efficient.

I notice though that sinks these days are so different. While most kitchen sinks still have the same chrome faucets, sinks have virtually been transformed to something else. You have ceramic, over the counter sinks (which look pretty but are really scary if you think about it.)

Here is proof:

Kitchen Faucets remain to have double handles and chrome finishing. I would love to shop at the Faucet on Sale store. They seem to have the biggest discounts on the most quality faucets.

I’d want a traditional sink, thank you very much.

Much as I love wood, there is no arguing how durable stainless steel is – that is why the kitchen has the most gadgets with it, as it is the most wear and tear place in the house, alongside the bathroom of course.

One need to also consider getting blomus stainless steel mailboxes when your mailboxes need to be outdoors and under the sun and rain most of the time. At least you are guaranteed it would not rust over time.

This stainless steel mailbox is actually 15% off right at The Stainless Steel Store, from $388.68 it’s now only $330.38. It really a steal (pun intended!).

And lest you think stainless steel can only be used for functional purposes, think again. Picture frames, tea light holders, ornaments and salad bowls – these can also be stainless steel! Look at these cute stainless steel candle holders:

A day after Thanksgiving, most families are now putting up their Christmas trees up! It is officially the start of the holiday season for many families, as evidenced by the throng of people who lined up for Black Friday sales everywhere.

I didn’t shop that much at all yesterday. I just bought new bedroom linens and pillows for our beds and some kitchenware. I am hoping to hold out on after Christmas sales because I am eyeing to get great Christmas decoration deals – I have been longing to get a complete Christmas village set up in our house during the holidays.

Other than that, I would love to get more outdoor lighting fixtures from Lighting Sale. They currently offer 20% off  for Black Friday on phone orders over $200. They have no sales tax, offer free shipping and guarantees fixed prices and a safe and secure shopping portal – what more could you ask for?

We need ceiling lights for our garden posts and these would be perfect:

My cousin recently had their landscape renovated and they are looking great landscape lamps and lights. These are unique light lamp paths that would contribute to the over-all feel of their garden!

And as you know, I’m such a great fan of online shopping!

I never knew that bowls can be used for meditating! I chanced upon these Crystal Singing Bowls that are claimed to have been made straight from the mountains of Tibet.

These bowls are actually never mentioned in Tibetan history but it has been told that monks use this for their meditation. Tibetan Singing Bowls are used for relaxation, massage, yoga, stress reduction, healing, and reiki – I really don’t know how exactly they use the bowls but rumor has it the bowls are even used to transport monks into different realms and world.

These bowls are authentic as seen by the hammer marks you can see in the insides of the bowls. The heavier the bowl, the more expensive it will be

Take these pure Quartz Crystal bowls for example. These are 14 inches in diameter and retail for $199.75. Pretty steep for a bowl right? But these bowls are made from 99.992 percent pure crushed quartz and come with free oring and a leather striker.

You need to get other bowls to be able to really play but combine them and they will be playing notes that claim to release energy and chakras. I am getting curious about these bowls!

About two years ago, I was so excited to be moving out on our own! Finally, after almost two years of living in with my parents, we will now have a house of our own. It may not be a house we really own, as we will just be renting but at least it is a house I have full rein over – I can decorate it, start from scratch and really call it “ours”.

Fast forward to now, we moved out of that house two months after moving in. We moved to a smaller house, closer to my parents, 10 minutes away from the original house. So it really was two house moves in the span of three months.

G.R.E.A.T.

The second move was not as bad as the first, since we literally had to do everything on our own. We even took the kids with us everywhere, grabbing dinner by take-out and drive-thru most of the time. It really was a baptism of fire. The second move was smoother than the first because my parents helped and I got rid of so much junk before moving in the second. It also helped that we will be moving into a much smaller house that I needed to throw out stuff or else we would not have anywhere to sleep on. A Moving Company like Humboldt Movers could have saved us though from frustration.

I did a major boo boo earlier today. And I sense my husband is not going to make me forget.

I forgot our home keys when we went out for dinner. And he had no duplicates. And worse, my landlady was away on a holiday. I don’t think what can get any worse than that.

Luckily for us (and me, I should say), my landlady’s son went to her house to feed the dog and we were able to get the duplicate key. Or else, we will be freezing by our door and I’ll be dead meat once we get keys inside.

This has made me think about getting a keyless lock. You know the ones you see at the movies where people use their thumb’s fingerprint to open a door or scan their hand or eye to gain access to another room. Having a keyless lock would be so very cool and hi-tech, as my son would claim. The only thing that is making me reconsider getting a keyless lock for our house is its trial and error. It’s relatively new to the mass market and I don’t grasp the whole idea of fingerprint scanning. What if my fingerprint wasn’t clean on that day – will they eliminate dust particles? What if I have a very general fingerprint – will thieves and burglars be able to “fake” it?

I think I’ll stick to keys this time. And make sure to run triplicates and keep them in every purse I use.

My major form of exercise, aside from dancing to Lady Gaga’s album, is to surf, online, a LOT. Lately, my favorite sites are home improvement and interior decorating sites. If I would have my way, I’d have pink walls on one room and lime green on another. But first, I’d need to have more rooms to accommodate my color choices lately.

We can however, do something about shelves. We just need to complete our toolbox and hand tools so that renovation will be a breeze. We really do not have much experience on wood workshops but I hope a lot of cable TV viewing on the Home Network will help.

A sure way to find inner peace in marriage – give each space, even in the bathroom.

Agree?