DIY projects Archives - Page 33 of 35 - Bruzzese Home Improvements

Green Home Improvements Add Value To Your Home

March 29, 2013adminGreen Living, home improvementDIY projects, energy efficient, green living, home improvementLeave a comment

Green home improvements that can make a real difference in home value:

What your home is worth to you is one thing; what it’s worth to someone else may be totally different. If you want to boost the value of your home for yourself and in the eyes of others, one of the best ways to do that in today’s real estate market is to make green home improvements.

Going green can mean a lot of things, and it’s easy to start with small changes like switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and unplugging appliances when they’re not in use. Not only will you be doing good for the environment, you might end up saving on utility bills and, ultimately, increasing your home’s value when the time comes to sell.-

Green projects aren’t all necessarily in the do-it-yourself category, and making an investment to have the bigger jobs done right will pay off in the long run.

Getting started now – even if that just means planning – is a good idea, particularly if you’re thinking about selling in a few months’ time. Talk to a real estate agent about what improvements are popular among potential homebuyers, and consider these ideas:

* Insulation: Regulating the hot air your home lets in during the summer and lets out in the winter can have a short-term impact on your heating and cooling bills. To find out whether you need additional insulation in your attic or walls, order an energy audit. Perhaps you could benefit from adding blown-in insulation to your walls. If your attic is unfinished, it’s particularly important to make sure that it’s appropriately insulated to avoid wasting energy.

* Windows: Caulking and putting up energy-saving window film is a great start, but a more dramatic change might make a world of difference if you want to make a sale. Replacing your existing windows with high-efficiency versions can be an expensive proposition, but the return on your investment can be dramatic, particularly if you’re hoping to attract buyers.

* Landscaping: While planting isn’t always possible in the coldest months of the year, putting together a plan for energy-conscious plantings is a great idea. Consider adding trees that will bring shade to the sunniest spots, like the west side of your home, to cut summertime electric bills. Trees that lose their leaves in the fall will let light in during the winter, as opposed to evergreens which will block it throughout the year.

* Water: Take the first step by turning down the temperature setting on your water heater. For more savings, consider replacing older heaters with energy-efficient models or even solar water heaters. Adding insulation to your pipes can also make a difference in how much energy is used to heat water.

Most homeowners put a lot of effort into making their homes attractive, welcoming spaces. With green updates, you can make your home not only more comfortable and more energy-efficient, but also more appealing to buyers. Add the potential energy savings and the possible boost in home value and you have even more reasons to bring your home into the green age.

Ready to bring your home into the green age? Give us a call at 914-576-2572 to discuss the many options available to you when it comes to window replacement and other home greening projects.

A Quick Guide to Home Exterior Makeovers

March 28, 2013Amy Elliotthome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, Tips to sell your homeaddition, DIY projects, home improvement, painting, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

What Can You Do To Makeover Your Home’s Exterior?

A Quick Guide to Home Exterior Makeovers — image credit: Mr. T in DC http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_t_in_dc/

When it comes to home makeovers and improvements, many people tend to focus on the inside of the home. But the often neglected exterior deserves an equal amount of attention and can give your home’s shell an instant facelift. With so many exterior makeover options at your fingertips, you’ll be hard pressed to know where to start. Here’s a guide to get you going.

Why Focus on the Exterior?

A home exterior makeover gives the outside of your home an instant boost by increasing its’ curb appeal and attractiveness amongst your neighbors and passers-by. How your home looks from the outside is of paramount importance for home-sellers, as this forms the vital first impressions of your abode. So, what can you do to freshen up the look of your dwelling?

Lick of paint

There’s nothing like a lick of paint to liven and freshen up the exterior of your home. So, whether its window frames, your front door or brickwork that could do with painting, there are lots of exterior paint color choices to choose from. As well as the house itself, it’s important not to neglect other exterior features such as gates and fences which, for both aesthetic purposes and for maintenance, might need a new coat. Painting your home exterior is probably one of the easiest ways to freshen it up.

Replacement Windows

It’s amazing how much difference new windows can make to the look of a house so, if yours are looking past their sell by date, now could be the time to think about replacing them. It’s important to keep an eye on windows to check for rotting or any other issues that might cause you to seek replacement. As well as making your house look better, new windows can slash your fuel bills by keeping precious heat in the house.

Front Door

Your front door is the entrance to your home so it should give off the right kind of impression you want to create for your residence. Pay special attention to how it looks; invest in a new door or a lick of paint for an instant makeover. Make the most of the spaces around the sides of the front door to really set it off. Add plant pots, train a climbing shrub over the door, or add distinctive wall lights. Even just placing a tasteful doormat outside your front door can boost its appeal.

Conservatory

If you want to add long-term value to your home as well as increase the amount of living space you’ve got, then you could consider adding a conservatory to the exterior of your home – if suitable space allows for it. There are many different styles and types of conservatories so it’s worth doing some homework beforehand and getting a few quotes to give you different options to mull over.

Attention in the Detail

A home exterior makeover project needn’t necessarily cost a lot of money to achieve. Simply tidying up the outside areas, sweeping the path, picking up any litter, mowing the lawn, and weeding and pruning can make huge differences to how the outside of your home looks. Paying attention to detail gives your home a cared-for feel about it. But, you might want to add a bit of originality and flair to your exterior to make it stand out from all of your neighbors. You could consider adding a garden statue, a classic sun-dial, water feature, quirky ornaments of unusual shapes or a distinctive birdbath.

Guest Post By:

Article written by A. Elliott; a writer with an interest in interior design and home improvement, she occasionally writes for Stormclad Home Improvements.

If you need help with your home makeover, please give us a call at 914-576-2572 or contact us for a free in home consultation!

Tips To Refresh Your Home For Spring

March 27, 2013adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tipsdecorating, DIY projects, home decor, home improvement, home trends, springLeave a comment

Three stress-free tricks to refresh your home from floor to ceiling

Spring is the time of year for renewal. So, it’s no surprise that springtime finds most people planning to rejuvenate their spaces. Four out of five Americans have a room in their home in need of redecorating, according to a 2013 study by Homegoods. Unfortunately, all too often the decorating process is a source of stress and anxiety for homeowners. How will you ever afford new furniture in your living room? How can you be on-trend without dating your home?

Follow these three tips to give your home a stress-free, springtime makeover:

Reclaiming your home’s foundation

Chances are your floors took a beating during the winter. Spring is the ideal time to install new flooring and revamp one of your home’s most important components. As the foundation of your home, your flooring needs to complement your personal taste, while living up to your lifestyle in terms of traffic, household members and pets, exposure to moisture and maintenance required. With the countless color and design options, the wide range of flooring materials and your own budgetary considerations, you may find selecting flooring to be particularly stressful.

Tapping into the customer-focused trends of high-end and online retailers, Tarkett empowers customers as they shop for flooring. Tarkett’s iSelect system delivers exactly what the name promises. It lessens the unknowns, simplifies the choices and introduces an interactive, multi-faceted shopping experience. The system begins with sorting multiple flooring options into six inspirational color families: Champagne Celebrations, Cool Conversations, Earthy Connections, Evening Receptions, Fireside Chats and Warm Gatherings – each offering its own feel and color space to help you find the perfect floor to coordinate with your existing furnishings and adjoining floors. Visit www.tarkettna.com/Inspiration/iSelectStory to walk through the iSelect process and find the perfect, customized floor for your taste, lifestyle, budget and even health. Once you’ve used the iSelect flooring system to decide what flooring works best for you, feel free to head on over to your local home improvement store where you might find similar flooring at cheaper prices!

Sweat the small stuff

Instead of worrying about the new armoire you can’t afford, focus your energy on the finishing touches which can revitalize a space quickly and inexpensively. Paying attention to the details is a cost-effective and fun way to express yourself in spaces throughout your home, while also making each space feel complete.

Mirrors have a magical effect on a room by making a space feel larger, reflecting light throughout and adding a touch of panache. You can find a wide variety of hanging mirrors to fit your taste at discount retailers or you can purchase a mirror at an estate sale or secondhand store and “upcycle” it with a textured coat of spray paint.

The sky’s the limit

If you really want to embrace the warm weather and revitalize a room, it may be time to look up. One of the most popular design trends of 2013 is painting your ceiling. This blank and all-too-often-overlooked canvas has tremendous potential to transform a bedroom, living room or dining room. It can be as simple as repainting a white ceiling a very pale blue or gray to create the illusion that there is no ceiling. Or if you’re feeling bolder, you can make your ceiling a major accent element that gives a dull room a bright or daring splash of color. Be sure to contact us or give us a call at 914-576-2572 so that we can schedule a free in home design consultation!

Spring decorating should be an enriching experience, rather than a stressful one. Whether it’s budget, time or simply choosing among the vast number of options available, the usual redecorating stress triggers can be eliminated by focusing on simpler, cost-effective and empowering decor solutions.

DIY Projects to Avoid

March 24, 2013Amy ElliottDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, SafetyDIY projects, home improvement, home repairs, SafetyLeave a comment

Should You Tackle A DIY Project Or Hire A Professional?

DIY projects can be a lot of fun and, when you do a good job of one, it gives you a huge sense of accomplishment. Many homeowners make their first forays into the world of DIY in an attempt to save money and, while there are a lot of basic jobs that everyone should learn to do, there are some tasks that are best left to the experts. Here is a quick look at some of the most dangerous DIY projects and why you should give them a wide berth.

Major Plumbing Jobs

There’s a big difference between fixing a leaking tap and moving some pipes. As plumbing jobs increase in complexity, they become massively more risky. Not only does moving or changing pipes often require cutting out parts of your wall, it also requires a good knowledge of how your plumbing works and how to safely install the new pipes so that you don’t end up with a leak a few months down the line. To do the job well, you will need specialist equipment.

When plumbing goes wrong it can get messy and, if you end up with a leak that comes into contact with your electrical wiring, it can also become very dangerous. It will be faster, cheaper and safer to let an expert do the job.

Electrical Work

Electricity may seem like a safe and familiar thing – after all, it powers the devices you use every single day. However, if it’s not handled correctly it can be lethal.

Everyone should learn how to change a fuse and re-wire a plug (and even these tasks carry risks), but major wiring changes are a different matter. Building regulations require most home wiring jobs to be carried out by a qualified, licensed electrician. If you attempt any major works you could well be breaking the law and end up with a property that you cannot sell until the work is checked by a qualified person. Get the work done right the first time to avoid any potential problems.

Bricklaying

It’s one thing to raise a flower bed with a few bricks or even lay your own patio, but tackling a bigger building project, or something that can be clearly seen from the street is another matter. Building a wall out of bricks might seem like a simple job, but if you don’t know what you’re doing that wall could come tumbling down after a few days of bad weather.

Even if you do manage to build a structurally sound wall, are you sure it will look good? How long will the project take you? Why spend an entire week on a project that a professional could do in a day or two? If you can afford the materials it makes sense to spend a little extra to ensure that they are used to create something attractive that will last for many years.

Knocking Down Walls

When remodeling our homes it can be very tempting to skip steps especially when it comes to knocking down walls. Why pay for a professional when all you need is a sledge hammer? How wrong can you go destroying a wall? The answer is: very wrong. And in the end it might be more than the wall you destroy. It’s important to get a professional in who understands the structure of the building and can remodel your home without making it unsafe. After all, you don’t want to go knocking down any load-bearing walls for the sake of saving a little money.

Cutting Down Trees

This is probably one of the most dangerous tasks that you could do yourself. Chainsaws are powerful tools and, in the wrong hands, can be deadly weapons. Not being trained to use one or having the right experience puts you and others in great danger. Additionally, there is the risk of the tree falling on you, someone else, a building or a car.

Most people take on these jobs with the belief that they are going to save money. Unfortunately, mistakes, damage and sometimes injury and even death prove quite the opposite. If every job could be easily done by anyone there would be no need for qualified professionals.

Guest Post By:

Article written by A. Elliott; a writer with an interest in interior design and home improvement, she occasionally writes for Vibrant Doors, suppliers of internal and external doors.

Amy makes a lot of good points in this article. There are lots of DIY Projects that homeowners can easily complete. The ones listed above are really best handled by professionals. We agree that they CAN be dangerous and not worth the risk. What are your thoughts about these DIY Projects?
Gary B.

Home Improvement Projects For Spring

March 21, 2013adminDIY Projects, home addition, lawn and gardenDIY projects, garden, home improvement, landscaping, springLeave a comment

Outdoor DIY Projects For Spring

As temperatures warm, many of us can’t wait to get outside and rediscover the joys of our outdoor spaces. One of the best ways to ensure the enjoyment of your space all season long is with some spring cleaning and upkeep of your yard and outdoor living spaces.

There are a few spring cleaning projects that benefit every homeowner and make spaces much more inviting for the hours you’ll spend enjoying the summer sun.

* Take the time to prune. Before the season heats up and the first leaves start to appear, it’s the perfect time to shape up your trees and shrubs. Doing so before the growing season is less stressful for your plants, easier to clean up and will promote the type of growth you envision to keep your greenery looking great all season. Make sure your tools are sharp, as cleaner cuts are easier on plants.

* Clean up leftover leaves. While you probably spent much of the fall raking and mulching fallen leaves, stragglers collect throughout winter, clogging gutters and drains. In addition to cleaning areas of your yard blanketed with leaves, rake your lawn to rid it of matted leaves that can inhibit healthy growth. Break these chores into separate days so you don’t have to do it all at once. Using a blower also helps you clean up your yard in short order.

* Bring out the power washer. Winter tends to leave its mark, and the exterior of your house, deck, sidewalks and driveway can all show grime once spring rolls around. A pressure washer is a convenient way to clean these surfaces.

* Check in on your deck. Once it’s been pressure washed, it’s time to see if you need to re-seal it. If you drizzle water on your deck boards and it beads up, your seal is still effective. If not, it’s time to apply another coat of sealant. Pleasant spring days are ideal for re-sealing and staining and once you’re done, you can enjoy the whole season without worry.

* Design your dream outdoor room. Once you’ve cleaned up your space, you might realize there’s more that could be done to enhance it. Perhaps you’d like to add a Gazebo, Patio or screened in outdoor room for entertaining. We’d be happy to provide you with a free home consultation to help you design the backyard of your dreams! It’s also the perfect time to consider a new patio set, or even a patio extension using decorative pavers. Dress up existing patio furniture by staining wood furniture or buying fresh new covers or cushions. This is also the perfect time to buy that new and improved grill you’ve had your eye on.

Spring is an exciting time to get back outside and take care of some of the improvements you’ve been dreaming of all winter.

Give us a call at 914-576-2572 or send us an email to bruzzesehomeimprovements.com and let us help you design your dream outdoor living space!

Risks of DIY Electrical Work

March 20, 2013Amy ElliottDIY ProjectsDIY projects, home improvement, home remodeling, home repairs4 Comments

Electric shock, house fires, and possible death; even this isn’t always enough to deter people from doing DIY electrical work.

Hiring an electrician can be expensive so it’s easy to see why many are tempted to try and undertake their own electrical work around the home. Whatever your motive might be, trying to perform DIY work without the proper training can be a dangerous endeavor.

In the USA alone, there are as many as 26,100 electrical fire related incidents and $1 billion in property losses in a typical year.

Listed below are some common risks and why you should proceed with care when attempting any type of electrical work in your home.

Wrong Type of Electrical Wire

Many people make the error of using the wrong gauge of electrical wire when wiring. This is a common cause of electrical fires as it can cause overheating and shorting of the fuse.

Ill-fitting Plugs and Sockets

This may seem like the simplest electrical task but it’s surprising how many people do not fit them tightly enough. Leaving gaps in the sockets can cause loose wiring and arcing which puts them at risk of overheating and poses a great fire risk.

Wrong Bulb Wattage

Many people are unknowingly using a too high wattage bulb in their light bulbs and may not realize until it is too late. Even using a bulb one wattage higher than what the socket can handle could make the bulb explode or catch alight.

Using the Wrong Fuse

Again, this is a relatively simple task that many people do themselves regularly. But the danger here is that many people do not use the correct fuse for the appliance they are using which can again cause house fires. It is important, if you do insist on changing your own fuse; to make sure it is compatible with the appliance you are using it in.

Repairing Instead of Replacing

Many of us at some point will be tempted to try and repair old or damaged wiring on appliances especially if we use them often. Wiring should always be replaced and not repaired and should be done by someone who is a qualified for repairing that particular appliance. Any old or damaged wiring is a fire hazard, even more so if tampered with by someone without the appropriate training.

Overloading Plug Sockets

Another common cause of fires in the home is overloading plug sockets. Particularly in the case of extension leads, having more than one extension lead plugged into a 2 socket wall outlet is exceeding the amp capacity for the plug socket. This is another fire hazard as it can cause overheating. Never overload a plug socket and avoid leaving multiple things plugged in that you are not using.

Safety Checklist

4 important things to remember;

Don’t overload plug sockets
Don’t keep things plugged in unnecessarily
Check wires for fraying and wear and tear
Take good care of appliances

Hiring a Contractor

When hiring an electrical contractor always do your research and make sure that they are up to date with their qualifications and the new safety regulations as these can change regularly. Word of mouth is always a good method of finding a reputable and fully qualified electrician. If unsure, hiring a contractor through a professional federation is the most reliable way of all. They can give you a list of all approved contractors in your local area. When you have found a contractor, try and agree on a price for the job and not an hourly rate. This can save you money and headaches in the long run.

Guest Post By:

Article written by A. Elliott; a writer with an interest in home improvement and interior design, she occasionally writes for Juice Electrical, electrical wholesalers specializing in energy saving products.

Have you had a DIY Project go wrong? Share your story below and maybe you’ll help someone else from making the same mistake.

10 Ways Your Home Can Save You Money

March 14, 2013adminDIY Projects, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement TipsDIY projects, energy efficient, home improvementLeave a comment

There are many ways in which your home can save you money with the long term effect of allowing you to realize your property’s potential value.

Some important approaches to take to getting your home to save you money range from changing your household routines to selling old items, to investing in parts of your property to add value and save you money over time. In this context, it’s possible to make your home save you money by trying the following strategies:

1 – Making Small Energy Saving Changes

This means improving your insulation and checking to see whether you’re losing heat from different parts of your home. Investing in draught excluders and turning down your thermostat by a few degrees can add up to savings over time

2 – Removing Clutter

If you’re having a problem with clutter, you can save money in the long run by sorting out your stuff and finding out what you can sell for a profit. Even old mobile phones and other electronics can be recycled for a fee.

3 – Make Long Term Investments

You can gradually build up value in your property by making long term investments and renovations that will make your home more energy efficient; this might include replacing an old drainage or heating system, or getting a new boiler.

4 – Reduce Drafts

Reduce problems with heating by getting new windows and insulation materials for roof, while fitting new air conditioning systems that can better control the flow of air through your home.

5 – Create a Vegetable Garden

It’s possible to save money on your weekly food shopping bill by creating a vegetable garden – this can be used to grow potatoes and other vegetables and can be combined with basil and other herb plants in your kitchen.

6 – Get New Appliances

This is a particularly good idea for the kitchen where you can swap your old fridges and freezers for Energy Star rated versions; these tend to use less electricity, make less noise, and add more value to your home.

7 – Use Less Water

Save money on your water consumption by switching to a more accurate water meter rather than paying ground charges; you can also fit devices to taps and faucets to reduce water usage.

8 – Be Careful with Appliances

Try to change your habits if you tend to leave your television or computer on standby overnight; just switching things off will save you money over time.

9 – Consider a New Mortgage

Look around to see if you can get a better financing deal on your mortgage; switching your mortgage to a new provider with lower rates can allow you to take advantage of the equity in your home.

10 – Selling Space

If you have a parking space or a garage that you’re not making use of, consider leasing it to neighbors or friends to make some extra money. Always check, though, to see whether there are any restrictions on your lease or mortgage about sub-letting.

Author Bio: Liam Ohm writes about home improvement, from choosing the best luxury baths to saving money at home. In his spare time he enjoys giving advice to others in need.

Using a Roof as a Space Heater

March 10, 2013adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement TipsDIY projects, energy efficient, home improvement3 Comments

You can use your existing insulation and roof to supply heated air to your home via direct sunlight. This can easily happen when the roof is being heated by the light of the sun and the air underneath becomes heated. This very same air collects at the highest point of your roof, trapped underneath. You can use that air to heat up your home. If you have a metal roof or some sort of clad roof with a membrane insulating it underneath you can easily work on this project. It’s not expensive and it allows you to use the heat trapped under the roof to warm your home up at nearly no cost long-term. Before you begin, however, you need to follow these steps to deal with things in a methodical fashion:

Access your attic and roof and check whether your home has an insulation membrane protecting it under the sheets of the roof. Most roofs will have one but it is still a good idea to check it out.
Once that is done you need to locate the top two purlins situated on each side of the roof.
Fix any excess insulation by using a hand staple gun. Secure any insulation to the purlins along the ridge at its full length.
When you are done, you should check the status of the insulation on each side of the roof from the gutter area to the top purlin. Make sure the space between the purlin is open to the underside of the ridge.
You should prepare some strips of the insulation so you can fix them across the lower side of the first two purlins on top. It has to be long enough so it can run the entire length of the ridge.
Take that insulation and affix it to the underside of said purlins with the hand tacker while you form a header between them. The heat of the sun will help warm the air between the sheeting and the insulation.
Fit a fitting and properly-sized duct outlet at the center of the ridge. The size of the fan should fit the size of the duct perfectly so the insulation will be equally perfect. Fix it to the underside of the purlins and then seal them to the foil by using silicone or a similar means. Make sure the foil that is located under the duct is removed to allow the air to flow freely.
Fit a duct outlet directly to the ceiling of the room you want to heat up.
You should fit a fan somewhere between the duct coming from the ridge of your roof and the one leading to the ceiling of the room being heated. It should be suspended from the structure with a good spring, as this will prevent the vibrations coming from the fan. In time, as dust builds up on its blades, it will become unbalanced and this will affect its stability. Spring suspension will also affect its noise levels, making it much more feasible as a solution.
Measure up and prepare two lengths of the foil ducting. One is meant to connect the ridge duct to the fan, while the other one connects the fan to the ceiling duct.
Use a thermostat switch near your newly made duct and set the sensor bulb inside the header in proximity to the duct opening.
Wire the fan to the switch so the fan can only run when the temperature in the monitored area exceeds the one of the heated room below.
Move to the roof itself and make sure any gaps between the ridge and the roof are fixed and sealed. You can use a number of sealants, such as expanding foam or something similar.
Your heater will be ready once all of this is completed. The only thing you should keep in mind is that it will only be able to help heat up the house while the sun is up. You will need to back this up with a conventional heating system just in case.

Guest Post By:

Bio: Ella Andrews is a writer and one of her greatest passion’s are home remodeling, house removals and home decorating projects. She is presently focuses on writing the best possible way and is therefore searching for new sources of inspiration.

Choosing a Boiling Water Tap

March 8, 2013Amy ElliottHome Improvement TipsDIY projects, energy efficient, home improvement, home trends, kitchensLeave a comment

Boiling water taps are popular in the UK, Australia and the US. They vary according to options, make and model; the simplest supplement would be to use your existing sink arrangement. More complex taps have options for chilled, cold, hot and boiling water—it can be purified or filtered, and the most advanced among boiling taps have touch screen interfaces. Below, you’ll learn some of the benefits of the boiling water tap and the primary differences between brands.

Hot Water When you Need It

As you may already know, a boiling water tap will give you instant hot water for soups, drinks, noodle dishes and flasks. It can reduce boil time for vegetables by up to half when compared to a gas or electric hob. With a boiling water tap, you’ll never need to wait for the kettle again!

Hot Water Taps Offer Filtering

Depending on your home’s plumbing, the water coming out of your new tap can be purified and filtered. You have a variety of options which depend on whether you want to purify all the water that comes into your home or just that which comes out of your tap. Every Quooker tap filters lead and other solids like limestone. There are even reverse-osmosis systems which also remove fluoride, chlorine and other impurities before your water is heated or chilled.

Add on to Your Sink, or Start Fresh

When you decide to add a boiling water tap, you can either install it in your current kitchen sink or you can buy one including a drip tray. If you’re a more advanced user, you can replace your existing hot/cold tap with a four-in-one setup which includes hot and cold, as well as chilled and boiling water. The highest-end taps from Quooker and other makers include features such as sparkling water dispensers and countertop touch panels. With a new hot water tap, you’ll have so much more than just a kitchen sink!

Like many other modern kitchen appliances, boiling water taps are very energy efficient because you’re only heating the exact amount of water you need. They’re vacuum-insulated and the best models consume just pennies in energy when in standby mode. The taps come in stylish designs to complement any kitchen and some are even height-adjustable.

There are a multitude of uses for a hot water tap from Insinkerator, Franke or Quooker, and users are coming up with new ones each day. You can boil water for the perfect cup of English tea, or you can easily blanch vegetables, cook pasta or heat up serving ware. Making coffee and preparing baby formula is a breeze! You can do all this and more in just a moment with a boiling water tap and, with its growing popularity, we can expect to see it become a regular feature of most kitchens in the years to come.

Guest Post By:

Article written by A. Elliott; a writer with an interest in home improvement and interior design.

Have questions? Please comment below or contact us for more information.

No need to buy new – a simple update will do

March 7, 2013adminDIY ProjectsDIY projects, home decor, home improvementLeave a comment

Re-purpose Old Furniture & Change Your Home Decor:

If you’re like most homeowners, you have several furniture and decor pieces around the house that have seen better days. And while the natural response is to throw away outdated items and buy something new, even lackluster home objects deserve a second chance. You can easily transform your trash into treasure with a little creativity and some elbow grease.

Follow these quick and easy makeover tips and before you know it, those worn out and uninspiring pieces will be looking great again.

Endless possibilities

Because of its resilience, plastic is a popular choice both around the house and the yard. From furniture, to kids’ toys, even coolers, plastic surfaces are everywhere. And although these pieces are inexpensive and durable, they often can look a little worse for wear after a few years of use.

Luckily, it’s easy to make over what you already have with the new Indoor/Outdoor Plastic Primer from Krylon. Plastic Primer is made with Krylon’s innovative Fusion for Plastic paint technology to offer lasting durability and improved adhesion. Simply apply the primer to any outdated or lackluster plastic surface and then paint with any Indoor/Outdoor paint you like. You’ll be able to truly customize any plastic surface to fit the theme you’re looking for.

Even if the object is brand new, sometimes improvements still need to be made. Plastic storage drawers and cabinets are the perfect example of something new – and yet still boring. They often come in clear or are limited to a few, select colors that never quite match your decor theme. And unless you want to keep them hidden, re-painting is a must. You can paint the drawers in any color to match the rest of the room. Now, those inexpensive storage units will look like real furniture you can show off.

Make a stylish transformation

Do you have an old furniture piece that just doesn’t fit in with your decor? Chances are you do. But instead of going through the hassle of getting rid of it, breathe new life into it and transform the piece into something completely new.

Take for example, an outdated or unsightly chest of drawers you may have hidden in the attic or in the corner of the room. Instead of hiding it – give it a new outlook on life. Simply sand it down and give it a fresh coat of paint that will coordinate with the rest of your room. Add a few embellishments, such as new knobs or paint accents and voila – you have a new nightstand or end table.

You can also use the same creativity to transform an old vanity into a chic desk or an armoire into a stylish potting bench and garden center on your patio.

Picture this

Picture frames are a great way to display family portraits and your favorite memories while also adding a little style to a blank wall. Re-purpose old frames you already have lying around the house to create a gallery wall with some pizzazz. With a few coats of spray paint, you can take frames from mismatched to mesmerizing. Spruce them up a bit more by using patterned papers as mats. Instead of white or cream, use dramatic colors and bold prints. Simply cut an opening the size of the photo, and you’ll have an unexpected pop of style and color in your new photo gallery.

With a few simple and easy ideas, your outdated and boring pieces can find a new spot in your home, instead of on the curb.

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