Puppy Wash

            Do you have a special Fido in your family? Does the thought of bathing him in your Jacuzzi tub make you shudder? Is she too pampered to be hosed down in the driveway? Maybe it’s time to consider including a canine cleaning station in your laundry room. A perfect addition to a mudroom or laundry room, this tiled tub can do double duty to hose off muddy shoes or children. Below are a few points to keep in mind as you determine if this idea is worth it for you.

 

• Make sure the tub is large enough for your full grown dog. He may be a puppy now, but he will grow.
• High or low? Depending on the size of your dog, you may want to have a tub mounted higher for a small dog, to avoid bending over or one near the floor so you don’t have to lift that lab up high.
• Mount the faucet on the wall, high enough so Fido won’t bump his head. A hand shower is perfect for hard to reach spots and cleaning out the tub when you are finished.
• Tile the bottom and up the walls with a large size, easy to clean ceramic tile. Minimal grout joints and a non-slip surface are optimal. Make sure you tile far enough up and around to cover the “shake” zone.
• Include a shelf for storing shampoo and an outlet nearby should you need a hair dryer.
• Make sure you have storage space nearby for towels and any other brushes or items you may need during bath time.

 

Too much for you? There’s always the local vet or groomer that would be happy to take over this task for you. 

Painting Brass

            Do you have some bright brass or antique lamps in your house? What about chandelier? Do you dream of replacing it with something more current or up to date? Have you considered painting it? “Paint brass?” you say, “No way.” I recently found an antique brass lamp on Craigslist. I loved the shape, but the color just didn’t work with the rest of my furnishings. “Paint it.” was my first thought. Below is the process I used and it turned out great.

 

            Step 1: Using blue painters tape, tape off the electrical cord and bulb socket.

 

            Step 2: With fine sandpaper, lightly sand the lamp or brass item, making sure to                             hit all of the profiles. This will help with adhesion of the paint and make                               sure the surface is smooth.

           

            Step 3: Using a high quality spray paint in the color of your choosing, I chose                                 Rust-Oleum, spray a primer coat onto the entire lamp, taking care to                                evenly coat it and avoid drips or runs. Allow to dry completely, overnight.

 

            Step 4: Lightly sand the primer coat, dust off and spray another coat of paint.                                Allow to dry completely, overnight.

 

            Step 5: Spray a 3^rd coat of paint if necessary. You want to make sure there is an                             even, thick coat of paint over the entire surface. After it is dry, remove the                                blue painters tape and it is ready for use.

           

You now have a brand new lamp! I am no longer dismissing an item because of its finish. It can always be painted!

Eight Kitchen Terms Every Homeowner Should Know

1.      Stainless gauge: the thickness of the stainless steel; the lower the number (16 gauge is the best), the thicker the material and the higher quality of the sink.

 

2.      Undermount sink: A sink that mounts underneath the countertop allowing for a smooth transition from the top to the sink. Unlike a drop in sink which lips over the edge of the countertop.

 

3.      Recessed light: Also known as a down light or can light. This light is mounted in the ceiling cavity with only a small trim ring protruding down from the ceiling making it virtually flush with the ceiling.

 

4.      Glazed: Also known as antiqued. The process of placing a darker or lighter substance similar to a thick paint all over a cabinet door or any piece of wood, then wiping it off until the desired look is achieved. The glaze will remain in the profiles of the door or wood giving it an aged look.

 

5.      Pull Down: An arch top or gooseneck faucet where the actual sprayer pulls down eliminating the need for a separate sprayer. The pull down sprayer is kept in place by a magnet.

 

6.      Raised Panel: A door where the center panel has been shaped to provide a three dimensional effect. This is the most traditional style of cabinet and interior door.

 

7.      Convection: The process of circulating hot air around the oven cavity with one or two fans to evenly cook the food and shorten the required cooking time.

 

8.      Custom: Cabinets made to the sixteenth of an inch to exactly fit the space. Cabinets can be made in any length, depth or height and are not limited to 3” increments or “standard” sizes. Any design or idea can be reproduced and there is no limit to the imagination. Specialized finishes and colors can be reproduced to match anything.

 

Send me an email at Jessica@webbercoleman.com and let me know if you have any additions to this list or any term you have wondered about.

Home Office

            Most new homes are still built with a large, formal study. The wood paneled room most commonly found to the left or right directly inside the front door. The room that is hardly ever used.

 

            Many homeowners today are choosing to eliminate the formal study and incorporate that space into the master suite or kitchen and family room. In doing so, you are incorporating that square footage into spaces you use every day and. With the predominance of laptops, iPads and other wireless devices a formal study with an oversized desk is often a thing of the past. Instead homeowners are designating a small nook off of the kitchen.

 

            This space should include file storage, a work surface, and adequate lighting that can be used as a bill payment center and for organizing general household paperwork. Also consider incorporating a corkboard to pin up invitations, frequently used menus and pictures. It should have a door so that you have the option of closing it off while entertaining. You don’t have to look far for many cute and affordable ideas for this space. This is a great area to add color and accents that highlight your personality.

Laundry with Ease

            Busy, busy, busy! That’s what this time of year is. School is winding down and traveling is starting to crank up. Your home is a revolving door for visitors and your kids are constantly off to the next big adventure. It’s amazing how much laundry all of those comings and goings generates!

 

            One of the hot design trends right now is direct access laundry rooms. Connected to the master closet or bathroom, this location provides easy access for getting those mountains of laundry done. If you are considering repurposing your space to add a closet near the master bedroom, here are a few things to consider.

 

• Use a pocket doors instead of a traditional hinged door. It can be left open and out of the way for everyday use or closed to hide a messy space.
• Insulate the room so that any noise caused by the washer or dryer doesn’t keep you awake. Who doesn’t do laundry at night?!
• Ensure you have adequate lighting so you can tell the darks apart from the lights.
• If this isn’t your main laundry, a sink is not a requirement, but a folding surface is.
• Upper storage cabinets are a must to store detergents and extra linens from the master bedroom and bathroom.

 

            Whether you are remodeling your home or building a new one, stop and consider if the main laundry or secondary laundry room should be connected to the master closet or bathroom. This summer you are going to need a break and who couldn’t use a little easier way to do laundry.

Kitchen ROI

            Last week we discussed the ROI value of bathroom remodels and additions. This week we will focus on kitchens. After all, they are the heart of the home. Or as I like to say, your kitchen is where life’s most important conversations take place.

 

            Remodeling magazine’s cost vs. value report for 2011-2012 shows that if you spend between $5,000 and $25,000 on a kitchen remodel, you can expect to recoup 75% of your investment. If you spend $25,000-$100,000 on your kitchen remodel, you could expect to recoup 71.1%. These are great numbers! Even with the shape our economy has been in, it is good to know money invested in your kitchen is not lost, but highly valued.

 

            Now is the time, with interest rates holding at their low rates, to take the plunge and make the investment into your kitchen. Your family will thank you, you will thank you and you will have an enjoyable space to enjoy over the months ahead. I would love to hear how your project goes.

Bathroom ROI

            It’s springtime! The yellow film of pollen covering every surface is a sure sign. Warmer weather brings more action in the real estate market and more people are considering changes and updates to their home. Maybe you have considered updating a bathroom in your home but wondered if you would really be able to recoup your cost if you decided to sell your home down the road. Today we are going to take a look at the return on investment of a bathroom remodel.

 

            Remodeling magazine recently published their findings of a cost vs. value survey they conducted. They found that if you spent between $5,000 and $25,000 on a bathroom remodel in our region, you could expect to recoup approximately 70% of your investment. Now that’s not 100% but it sure is a great percentage. The same survey found that if you spent $25,000-$100,000 to add a bathroom to your home, you could only expect to recoup a little over 50% of your cost.

 

            So take the plunge! Get an estimate on remodeling a bathroom in your home and decide if the investment is worth the return. I don’t think you would regret doing it. I’d love to hear how your project goes.