by Carmen Corbin on January 27, 2012
Tile showers, if done correctly, can add beauty and style to any bathroom, but there’s a price to pay. Sooner or later, the grout lines will need a good cleaning and/or maintenance. Although there are many products on the market that will do the job, who wants to spend an entire day (or weekend) scrubbing away mold and mildew?
If you’re getting ready to do some bathroom remodeling, or are just plain “over it” when it comes to grout, we’d like to present some solid surface options that not only look great, but also [click to continue…]
by Carmen Corbin on January 26, 2012
Using stone in your home doesn’t have to be limited to the fireplace or patio. More and more homeowners are discovering how to bring the natural look into other places too, such as the bathroom. The weight and cost of real stone can often be a hindrance, but we’re here to tell you about an alternative option – faux stone panels.
Get the Look of Real Stone For Less
Faux (fake) stone panels so closely resemble the real thing that it’s hard to tell the difference. The panels come in a variety of stone simulations, such as fieldstone, drystack, cobblestone, river rock and more. Unlike natural stone, faux panels are fade resistant, lightweight and [click to continue…]
by Carmen Corbin on January 26, 2012
Renting a safe deposit box at a bank is one way to protect your valuables, but that can get costly over time, not to mention the inconvenience of making a special trip every time you need to retrieve an item. Plus, it isn’t always feasible to store larger items there such as hunting rifles or extensive coin collections. We’d like to suggest some creative ways to secure and conceal your personal valuables right in your own home.
Wall Safes
You can find wall safes in just about any size, for any budget. Some are even designed to fit right between the wall studs of the room, and can be easily installed by the homeowner (just be sure you avoid wall cavities containing [click to continue…]
by Carmen Corbin on January 25, 2012
Your kids may think that the huge wall of icicles hanging from your roof is awesome, but to you it should serve as a warning sign of an ice dam, which can not only cause damage to your roof, but to the inside of your home as well. The good news is, there are steps you can take now to prevent ice dam build-up.
What Causes an Ice Dam to Form?
Most ice dams are formed by melted snow that has run down from the upper peak of the roof. If your attic insulation is substandard or lacking, warm air in the attic melts the roof snow above. Once the runoff reaches the unheated, cold eaves and gutters, it can refreeze and build up, creating an ice dam. Unfortunately, any further snow melt is [click to continue…]
by Carmen Corbin on January 24, 2012
The space under your stairs is often home to a simple storage closet, but we’d like to introduce some creative ideas for turning this frequently underutilized area into an additional mini-room.
Think Beyond Storage
Computer Workstation: If your staircase isn’t open, just remove the side wall from under the staircase to create a large alcove for a computer desk and workstation area. You’ll still have plenty of room for a short file cabinet on one side of the desk and [click to continue…]