A Loft Conversion - A Fantastically Versatile Space Saving Room For Your Overcrowded Home

Because of the way the housing market is at the moment, banks feeling the credit crunch and not making as many mortgages available to lenders as in previous years and home owners not feeling confident with the way the housing market appears to be going, more and more people are staying in their homes and not selling or moving up the property ladder. This generally will have an effect on the overall housing market, driving property prices down as though people who are desperate to sell are forced into desperate measures to try to get a sale. But what of those people who want to move but realize that it may be foolish to do so with so much uncertainty in the housing market?

More and more people are looking to add a loft conversion to their home in an attempt to maximize space for the family. These rooms can serve many purposes and allow much of the old living space in the house to be spread out over a third or fourth floor. Relatively cheap to convert, a loft is the ideal place for an extra bedroom, a social room, a master bathroom or even a study away from the noise that is usually going on in a family home.

Many larger families are looking to make the most of all of the2238 available space within a home as I'm sure that you all know, kids just do not seem to stop growing and take up more and more space each day. Many families choose to use their loft conversion as a play room for the children, taking all of the clutter and toys that is associated with children and putting it way out of sight at the top of the house. This plan seems to work very well all round as the kids are playing in the safety of the family home and the parents know where they are and it frees the rest of the house up to be a proper family home.

If you choose to use the loft conversion as a bedroom then you will need to look out for special loft furniture, this is usually a little smaller than standard furniture as the height of the ceiling in the loft is usually a little lower than that in a conventional room. That being said all of the usual furniture that you would need for a room is available in the slightly scaled down loft version.

If you wanted to use the loft as an office or a work room then you may be able to get a second room out of the loft conversion. Lofts are deceptively big and unless you needed a very large office or workroom you would perhaps have enough room for an extra bathroom as well. A benefit of using the loft as an office is that office furniture takes up very little space so you would maybe do away with the need to purchase any specialist loft furniture for it.

Whatever you choose to do with your loft conversion I hope the above information goes someway to show you how versatile a room a loft conversion can be, and with the correct usage of loft furniture you should be able to achieve all you have planned for.

For more info on all things home, loft and conversions please visit our site http://www.kitchen-blinds.com
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3 Kitchen Organization Tips to Get You Started the Right Way

Kitchens are one of the most difficult areas to organize because they are quite often the central hub of the home. Not only is it where we cook meals but it is also often where mail, backpacks, schoolwork, keys and anything else that we drag in the door with us often ends up. So in addition to organizing everything in the kitchen cupboards, you also have to think about all of the other "stuff" that collects in your kitchen. Where do you start with this whole kitchen organization project? Here are a few kitchen organization tips that can help.

Start small
Since getting the kitchen organized is one of the biggest organizational challenges in your home, start with a small area that is going to have the biggest impact on how you live. This can be a stumbling block for many people so let me explain what I mean by this. If the part of your kitchen that drives you crazy is the table or counter where all of the mail, schoolwork, etc gets dumped, then focus your kitchen organizing efforts on that area first. If this is the area of the kitchen that you are going to organize first, then also make sure that this area of your kitchen stays organized before you move onto something else.

Because it is not just about getting your kitchen organized one time, it is about keeping your kitchen organized. That is where the real challenge lies. So if you just organize the paper that comes into your kitchen one day but by the next day it is already a mess again, you have not really accomplished anything. One of the most helpful kitchen organization tips I can give you is to keep working with organizing one area of your kitchen until it stays organized. Do not move on to another area until the one that you are working with has stayed organized for at least a week.

Too much stuff
As with any other home organization project, getting your kitchen organized means getting rid of the things you no longer use and the things that are unsafe for you to use. So if you can't remember the last time that you used that dust-covered appliance in your cupboard or if you can't even remember what it does, it is time to get rid of it. Look at every pot, pan, dish and utensil in that kitchen and make a note of when you used it last. You need to get rid of it if it is not something that you use frequently. The only exception to this is anything that you use seasonally.

The other important thing that you need to look at as you do your kitchen organization is all of your canned goods, spices and packaged foods. This is an important kitchen organization tip because if it is expired, you need to throw it away. If you do not use it or like it, throw it away or donate it to your local food shelf. This is especially true of spices. We tend to gather and collect spices that we never use.

Counter space is not storage space
When you organize your kitchen, keep stuff off of your counters. It will make your kitchen look and feel cleaner. The kitchen counter in your home is not another cupboard so don't act like it is one. Keep appliances that you do not use on a daily basis off of your counters. This is more of a diet tip than a kitchen organization tip but also keep food, especially snacks, off of your counters. It will help to keep you from snacking. Out of sight, out of mind!

As with all organizing projects, getting your kitchen organized is about making a usable space that makes your life better. Regardless of how you organize your kitchen, make certain that it fits into that end goal. For additional kitchen organization tips to help you with those cramped kitchen spaces, go to http://www.yourhomeisorganized.com/KitchenOrganization.htm

Tips To Get That Amazing Guest Bath

Creating a warm and inviting guest bath is one way to make visitors feel at home. Instead of bland white towels and neutral colors, why not create a warm environment that your guests can relax in? In this article, we've got some tips that will help you with your "project bathroom," to create an inviting room without blowing your budget.

The design of your project will depend on how much time and money you have to remodel a bathroom. If you don't have the time or money for a complete overhaul of the existing room, then a quick makeover may be your answer. Painting the walls, ceiling, doors and trim is absolutely the cheapest way to give any room a fresh look and feel.

You can also use fabrics, in the form window treatments and shower curtains, to add splashes of color to contrast your new paint. If you want to create the illusion of more space, choose soft colors that reflect light, as well as some nice bathroom wall mirrors. To add splashes of color, opt for bath mats and accessories in warm or bold shades.

Small bathrooms can be difficult to decorate, but homey touches can go a long way. If you have the space, try adding a few potted plants. They can hide the more drab aspects of the room and provide a point of interest.

The greenery will also help create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere. If you want new bathroom furniture but can't fit it into your budget, then try remodeling cabinet components or the vanity yourself.

A quick trip to the hardware store is all you need. Some paint stripper, a little sanding and a fresh coat of paint is all it takes to give your furniture a brand new look.

No stylish guest bath is complete without a beautiful tile floor. If you take the time to shop around, you can find inexpensive materials and save even more money by installing the tiles yourself. A tile floor is money well spent because of its attractiveness and durability.

One you've selected a color or theme, choose a tile that is a neutral. To pull the look together, strategically place bolder colored tiles that match your theme around the room. To spice up the floor even more, set the tiles on an angle to form a diamond layout instead of the traditional checkerboard pattern. It will give your room an updated look that will last for years.

New bathrooms don't have to sink your bank account if you do some careful planning. Your guest bath can be beautiful and functional without a major overhaul. Instead of replacing fixtures, consider just resurfacing them. Instead of buying new cabinetry, give the old ones a gleaming new look by refinishing them with colored stain.

Or, install track lighting along the vanity to add a warm glow that will make the room seem more spacious. It really doesn't take a lot of effort to make an appealing bathroom for your guests.

Visit Mike Selvon showers portal for more information on improving your guest bath, and leave a comment at our interior design blog. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.

4 Carpet Cleaning Tips In Hiring Professionals

There are two ways to clean carpets. You can hire professional cleaners from cleaning companies then there is the DIY (do it yourself) method.

In many cases, people prefer to hire carpet cleaning services. Still, there are guidelines to follow. Here are some carpet cleaning tips in hiring professionals:

1. Number of carpets to be cleaned.

Take for instance; your carpet never ever really underwent deep cleansing since the time you have bought it, and you are living in a 2-storey house wherein all the rooms contain carpets. Moreover, your kids have inevitably left marks besides its general wearing and tearing.

In this case, hiring a professional carpet cleaner is advised. If only small carpet areas need cleaning, then you can do it yourself. There are lots of cleaning products that are doing well even with tough stains.

2. Consider your budget.

Keep in mind that you need to pay a considerable amount of money when you hire someone to do the carpet cleaning for you.

3. Know the advantages of hiring a professional carpet cleaner.

They have the expertise in cleaning even the worst carpet stains. Their equipments have more extraction powers compared to the units that you have. Their knowledge about cleaning agents is incomparable to you, besides they also know the distinctions between carpet fibers and construction.

4. Ask recommendations from friends.4D8

Usually, they are good sources of information about reputable companies offering carpet cleaning services. You can observe their cleaning jobs when visiting some friends who also prefer carpet cleaning services.

Other sources of information are the internet and local business directories. Numerous reputable companies are advertising their services online. They really offer the best deals on carpet cleaning jobs.

To learn more house cleaning tips, visit my home cleaning site.

DYI Guide On How To Paint Aluminium Sidings

This article is a Do It Yourself Guide on how to paint Aluminium Sidings. It gives a detailed step by step guide. It is a must read for people planning to take up this project. You have purchased an old house and you observe that house is covered with aluminium painting. The siding is in perfect shape but its factory painted finish has faded. But do not fear, Aluminium Siding can be repainted.

A Step by Step Guide to Painting Aluminium Siding

One can repaint old aluminum rather than replaced. Here's the process

1) First check whether the siding is aluminum or galvanized steel. Galvanized steel should not be painted with any oil based paint; some paint manufacturers specify latex only over steel. Notice that the Galvanized steel will have a black siding. But remember that before painting the aluminium surface, it needs to be dry. If painting is done under wet conditions, the paint will not be consistent and it may have a chemical reaction and end up corroding the painting aluminium siding. In this way the painting and aluminium siding will last longer and you won't need much money in repairs.

2) Use any lime scale/mineral deposit/hard water stain remover to clean the aluminum by applying it .Thereafter agitate the surface with a brush or sponge and finally rinse it water.

3) If the surface is in poor condition such as peeling or chalking, you need to primer coat. Use a good oil based exterior primer. The use of an oil-based primer is preferred over a latex primer because the later generally contain ammonia, which reacts over time with aluminum to form microscopic gas bubbles, leading to premature failure of the primer (and hence, paint) surface.

4) Remember that a light sanding is helpful before applying the final finish coat on the painting and aluminium siding. Sand with a 150 grit sandpaper. You don't need to worry about using a sand paper if you are coating the painting aluminium siding with a latex paint

5) Add a finish coat of acrylic latex. Use a low luster or satin finish. It looks more like the factory finish. For a real smooth job, use an airless sprayer with a .017 gun tip.496 Always remember not to apply by exposing in direct sunlight which may lessen the amount of time for paint to be on surface. Let it dry after finishing

You can rent a professional machine in most areas.

You can also find more info on traditional wood siding and siding hardboard siding. Homesidingreview.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about home siding review.

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.

What Are The Most Popular Floorplan Features

One of the most popular questions that people ask when searching for that perfect house plan is What are (currently) the most requested floor plan - home features that people are looking for? Renowned building designer, Mark Mathis, answers this question and outlines several general trends, as they are, for today's current crop of stock house plans.

This particular question is one that is quite difficult to answer, in absolute terms, since each person/family can be in a completely different stage of life (senior vs. younger, families vs. individuals, etc), can have different livability needs, and can have incredibly diverse tastes in home style, building materials, etc. As such, Ill try to provide you with several general trends, as they are, for todays current crop of stock house plan.

#1: Livability The first key feature is that of Livability. Todays home buyer/builder wants a homeplan that fits the way that they conduct their daily lives. For many younger families, that can mean a re-purposing of a formal dining room into a childrens play area or much-needed home office. Another livability enhancement might be that of incorporating an open floorplan layout that better facilitates the interaction and close relative proximity of the family unit. Large amounts of storage space and large walk-in closets are also a feature that most home buyers are looking for in their next house.

#2: Floorplan Flexibility Many of the more progressive stock plan design firms have realized the inherent need of floor plan flexibility, and have met those needs by including a number of multi-use type spaces in their floorplans, including flex-spaces and bonus rooms.

Generally speaking, a flex-space is exactly as its name implies. A flexible-space which can be used for a purpose most needed by the individual / family living in the house at the current time. The rooms function might change over time, due to the familys current needs, but typical uses include an childrens playroom, home study, extra storage, and/or an extra bathroom.

Conversely, a bonus room is usually created (by designers intent) due to an inherent feature of the particular design style. For example, a house with a traditional style might utilize a relatively high-pitched gable over the garage area of the home. The unused space created by the gable and the relative location of the bonus space in the overall floorplan, can create a usable space that, if appropriately accessible via stairs in the floorplan layout, can create a extremely useful livable space, which would ordinarily have been included as part of the attic.

This type of space represents a extremely good value in a price per square foot regard, as its relatively inexpensive to additionally build since the core structure of the space has already been built (the floor via the roof of the garage, and the ceiling via the vaulted interior roof of the house).

#3: Split-Floorplan Layout There are two basic types of floorplan layouts, which are primarily differentiated through their inherent treatment of the master bedrooms suite vs. other bedrooms vs. public space (i.e. great room, den, kitchen, etc.).

The first type of floorplan layout is a traditional layout whereby the master bedroom/suite is usually located on the same side of the house as the other bedrooms. The logical grouping of the homes bedroom spaces, within a relatively-contiguous location in the floorplan, lends itself to several different design styles of homes, and may be an alternative for particular groups of home-owners, including families with infants / small children and/or retired couples with little need for multiple bedrooms, who utilize the extra space as a small home office which is conveniently located.

Both the primary advantage and disadvantage of this type of layout relate to the location of the master bedroom vs. other bedrooms. For example, if you prefer more privacy in the master suite OR you have teenage/college children in the house OR name your specific condition here, the traditional floorplan layout would probably not be the best choice for you.

Alternatively, the split-floorplan layout addresses the shortcomings of the traditional layout by physically separating the master suite from the other bedrooms, and many times, from the more highly-trafficked public areas such as the kitchen, great room, and eating area. It is this feature that has made the split-floorplan layout increasingly popular with todays home buyers.

The primary advantages of this type of layout is that of its relative privacy and sound-deadening benefits that such a physical room arrangement can provide. The downside to this floorplan layout can be that it is sometimes a little more difficult to implement in the home design, especially on narrow lots, since certain floorplan spaces and features only lend themselves to positioning in a relatively small number of locations in the home. For example, a foyer is normally located off the front of the housethe great room is usually (though not always) positioned in the rear center of the house to provide views of the property.the additional bedrooms are usually located in close-proximity to one another since they normally share bathrooms, etc, etc..

The combination of all these type items increase the complexity of developing a solid split-floorplan house plan design that meet all of the livability features of todays home buyer. Regardless of these type items, the split-floorplan layout continues to enjoy exceeding popularity with todays group of stock homeplan purchasers.

#4: Ease-of-Maintenance The relative time constraints of todays family unit is at an all-time high. Many families now include two full-time working parents, additional outside work com5B4mitments, professional commitments, family commitments, and 2.5 children of varying ages. Time is a extremely precious commodity for which home maintenance is ranked right below doing your taxes and going to the dentist for a root canal.

Todays homeowners want a home that is, not only, aesthetically pleasing and functional, but also includes modern building materials and design features that utilize the most current research developments and minimize the amount of maintenance (i.e. cleaning, painting, replacing, etc) needed over time. One example of these type low-maintenance building materials is hardy board, which is a type of exterior covering similar, in look, to wood siding but made from an extremely durable concrete base. Hardy board/plank is the trade name for one brand of concrete fiber siding, however there are numerous other similar brands.

The product does not rot or deteriorate, and with proper installation and maintenance, appears to last for very long periods of time without deterioration. Additionally, the hardy board siding does need to be painted or re-finished, as any dirt, etc. can simply be washed away with minimal effort. These type products can help to improve the quality of life of the home owners by minimizing the time and related costs associated with maintaining a home. The floorplan trends and most-requested features listed in this article convey the general interests of todays current 5ABstock house plan purchasers. It should be noted that certain parts of the country will include construction practices / demographic profiles / disparate geographical characteristics which is in stark contrast to those same characteristics evident in a different part of the United States.

In these instances, you can be assured that a designer has already developed a stock home plan design to fit your needs. A design that provides an excellent value, all the features, and a lower price than that of a fully-custom set of houseplans.

Find your perfect house plan today!!

Kevin Carden is a publisher of several stock house plan websites and informational resources, the most famous being http://www.HousePlanCentral.com . House Plan Central has a large collection of home plans and unique house plans in different architectural styles, from the nation's top house designers.

Kitchen Remodeling - Drive for Show, Put for Doe

What the heck does a golfing analogy have to do with an article on a kitchen makeover? We could have titled this article 'begin with the end in mind' from that very famous self help book of the 1990's. The intent would have been the same.

We began our kitchen makeover because we had a functional need that was not being met. In our case, the kitchen design was not usable for all of our family members. So, we needed a design which would remove that obstacle.

Along the way, we did have some personal desires that we could accommodate within the functional need and budget, while others ended up on the cutting room floor (to lift another analogy from the film industry... appropriate since we just had the Academy Awards recently).

It is so gosh darn easy to walk into a kitchen design showroom and see the latest materials, the newest trends in counter tops, the fashion trend setting sinks and fixtures, and so on. However, you have to keep in mind the ultimate goal and your 6E7project constraints. Will the design and the materials selected meet the original goal of your kitchen makeover? Will the finished kitchen make things easier or more difficult for you?

You also need to keep in mind the 'fit' that the different materials will have together. If you have a favorite counter top, sink, faucet, cabinetry, drawer handles, flooring and lighting fixtures, will they all go together aesthetically or will you have just created a class of the titans!

As with all other home renovations, don't be caught off guard by the glitz and glamour of the kitchen showrooms, the TV shows and magazine covers. Make sure it will work for you. New kitchens can be very expensive. Be sure you will be able to live with your new kitchen once it is installed. Why? Well, because you will have to, unless you have just won the lottery and can start all over again in a year or two.

To view more of our experiences with our kitchen remodeling effort, simply visit our blog, Daily Home Renovation Tips, at the following resource link: http://DailyHomeRenoTips.com/