Category Archives: Kitchen Home Improvement

byAlma Abell

Most kitchens are fairly standard in their design and layout. They are typically square or rectangular with all the appliances, sinks and cooking surfaces in a line around the exterior of the room. When you opt for kitchen renovations in New York City you can break out of that mold and create a kitchen that is practical, efficient and very much the heart of your home.

Cooks and those that love to cook understand that having things in logical places in a kitchen makes the process of cooking so much easier. It really doesn’t make sense to have your refrigerator and freezer far away from your food prep area, sink and cooking space. It also doesn’t make sense to have to store your cooking supplies in cabinets and closets away from where you use them. Working with companies that have experience in kitchen renovations in New York City will provide you with a variety of ideas of how to solve these problems and create a kitchen of your dreams.

Consider an Island

One way to add to the practical natural of your cooking area is to add an island as part of your kitchen renovations in New York City. This can be a very versatile space that includes storage, a small food prep sink, an in-home grill or even a bar type area for enjoying a meal or some great conversation.

Islands can be large or small and, with a range of different styles and features, they can literally transform a square, drab kitchen into a personalized space. You can finish an island to match counters and cabinets or tile it to create a central focus area that really draws the eye.

Add Storage and Space

One of the biggest reasons why people choose New York Renovations for kitchen renovations in New York City is to make their kitchen a bigger space. This includes adding more storage, or more practical storage, that really works. Adding a wall of floor to ceiling cabinets that are custom designed and building in appliances such as microwaves and ovens really opens up space and allows more room for storage and more effective use of even a very small space.

For more ideas on kitchen renovations in New York City be sure to visit Newyorkrenovations.com. Just click on the gallery tab or spend some time viewing the entire site to see some of the amazing projects we have had the privilege to work on.

A Basic Guide for Buying Bathroom Vanity Cabinets

by

Paul TaddeiA vanity is an often overlooked piece of bathroom furniture. It can not only increase storage in your bathroom but can add a stylish touch to your decor. You can not only hide any unsightly pipework, but you can also incorporate drawers or cupboards for all those bathroom necessities. However, there is a massive choice of vanity cabinets available, so you may need a little help to choose the right option. Fortunately, here is a basic guide to buying vanity cabinets.What Kinds of Bathrooms Are Suited to A Vanity?Bathroom vanity cabinets are available in a wide range of styles and designs, which means that they can be used in bathrooms of all shapes and sizes. Even if you have a smaller bathroom, you can make use of the potentially dead space under the sink. You can fit a slimline unit that looks stylish and adds valuable storage space. There is no one bathroom style that is suited to a vanity. There are units available in traditional and contemporary styles to suit all types of decor and personal preference. Whether you choose an ornate design or the clean lines of a basic unit,a vanity is sure to be an excellent addition to your bathroom. Considering Size:The size is perhaps the most important consideration for vanity cabinets. Bathroom dimensions will determine your choice of sizes for your unit. Remember that you will need to allow space for the doors or drawers of the unit to be opened fully. Be sure to take careful measurements of the existing sink area and consider if you would prefer a little more space. If your bathroom is on the larger size, you could always opt for a double vanity unit. This will allow you to have two sinks side by side for even greater practicality. Recessed or Semi Recessed Sinks:The first choice you need to make for bathroom vanity cabinets is whether the sink is recessed or semi recessed. This simply means whether the sink is flush with the cabinet top or if it is raised above it slightly. This is usually a matter of personal preference, but there are some considerations you may not have given any thought. The first is how you tend to use your sink. If you are the kind of person who likes to have clean surfaces with everything tidied away, you are likely to appreciate a recessed sink. However, if you prefer to have bottles and containers around the sink, you may prefer a semi recessed sink, as there will be a more defined perimeter of the sink. It may also help to prevent bottles from slipping into the sink. If you are considering bathroom vanity cabinets for your home, you should speak to us. We offer a full range of bathroom fixtures and accessories. The Stallion team would be happy to help to guide you through the options for vanity cabinets that would be suitable for your home.

Paul Taddei is an author, interested in writing articles about Home Renovations like Kitchen, Bathroom and its related products like

bathroom vanity cabinets

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}

By Hannah Munson

A sparkling wood or hardwood floors gives style and elegance to your home’s interior design and may be a big selling point for a house in the marketplace. Refinishing an old and worn floor is a method to bring back the floor’s original gloss and also stand out.

Wood flooring can be stunning and striking when they’re in excellent shape. But with time, even one of the most sturdy hardwood flooring can turn out to be lifeless and dingy. Many years of put on and rip can leave unattractive nicks and marks too. Refinishing wooden flooring is often the only option.

Hardwood floors add more fabulous looking elegance or folksy charisma to a house, depending on the form of wood, design and situation. Refinishing to get rid of ground-in dirt whilst sanding out dents and marks can easily bring back this extremely obvious section of your interior decor.

Hardwood floor refinishing prices hinge on a number of components. The amount of harm to the wooden flooring will be the main issue that has impact on the price of wood floor refinishing. A little bit damaged flooring could be refurbished with screening and covering, that is an inexpensive method. Nevertheless, you could possibly must select complete refinishing if the flooring will show indicators of unadorned damage. In this case, price to refinish wood floorings can increase a lot more.

The common price of refinishing a wood floor can differ widely. Generally the cost of refinishing a wood floor runs anyplace from $1.25 to over $4.00 per sq. ft. when getting a expert, labor expenses alone typical $3.00 to $3.50 per square foot. The general price tag will depend on several components.

Really should employ a professional to total the function for you personally though it can be going to boost the price, nevertheless it is not suggested to sand and refinish your floors in your own unless of you have knowledge doing it.

The present condition with the floor can tremendously affect price. Typically structural repairs should be made prior to refinishing, and that may get really costly. If the floor is covered by other flooring, for example carpet or linoleum, hiring somebody to get rid of the old flooring will certainly enhance the cost as well. A lot of homeowners choose to perform this chore themselves, however it is actually a dirty and time consuming job.

Refinishing your hardwood floors on your own is going to take a lot of time and effort. What you’re going to find is that you can do it yourself, but it’s going to cost you a lot of money, as well as time. The problem here is that if you screw up with the sanding process, or even the staining process, you can make the floors look a lot worse than what they were in the first place. This is why it may be best to hire a company that is going to be able to help you in the long haul. While they may be a few dollars more, it’s going to be well worth it.

About the Author: Want to know the hardwood floor refinishing cost in your area? See what other people are paying at HowMuchIsIt.

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By David H. Urmann

A Dinnerware set is one of the most important things in a table setting. Choosing the best dinnerware set entails some variables to consider.

A dinnerware set is used when serving and eating food. It comprises mainly of 4 or more pieces of the following:

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Plates

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Salad plates

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Soup bowls

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Cereal bowls

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Bread plates

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Butter plates

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Cups

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Saucers

Some dinnerware sets include extra accessories like platters, pepper and salt shakers, creamers and napkin rings, etc. Here are some variable things to consider in buying good dinnerware sets:

Purpose

Know your purpose before buying good dinnerware sets. These sets can be for everyday usage or for special occasions. It depends mainly on your lifestyle, from vintage, casual and contemporary to formal styling.

Most middle-income families use casual dinnerware sets. This is has a casual look, having simple designs, colors or patterns. A casual dinnerware set has more functional style; it can resist chipping and it is dishwasher safe.

A formal dinnerware will accent the dining table of a high class society. China made with elegant design is best serve for formal gatherings and dinner parties. It is still best to choose large setting for large gatherings to accommodate guests. Most formal sets are hand washed and stored with proper care.

Moreover, festive dinnerware sets showcase a holiday dining meal that is even more inviting. An example of this is a Christmas holiday collection that comes in cheery or holy patterns.

Materials Used

Dinnerware set materials is made of any of the following:

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Stone

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Crystal

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Glass

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Porcelain

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Plastic

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and Ivory

The material used should last for years or even a lifetime. It should also be durable and chip resistant.

Plastic dinnerware sets are cheap, while the glass type is more expensive. Glass dinnerware has become more luxurious and classy. However, they are more prone to breakage. Consider also the cleaning material in order to avoid scratching the design.

Design, Color, Size

Dinnerware designs can be:

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Color banded

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Floral

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Scroll

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Geometric

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Stripped patterns

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and clear

Some sets infuse warm tones and contemporary patterns. Back-to-nature shades receive great attention such as green, orange, blue, beige and yellow. Amongst the latest style in China are the flared rims having asymmetrical edges, along with plain dishes as well as swirls, dots and lines.

Hand painted versions is matched with solid-colored plates. Most manufacturers use a lead-free paint and dyes for safety purposes. At current, most of dinnerware makers offer designs that are FDA approved.

Most dinnerware dishes come in round shapes while most oval shaped dinnerware dishes are seen in Mexican food restaurants. Different sizes are available in the market for a new look.

Use your Creativity

The choice of a design is the reflection of a person’s taste. It is a fun way to mix and match colors while being practical. An attractive dinnerware set is usually more inviting and pleasing to the eyes.

Extras

Companies nowadays offer attractive boxes. Some accompaniments such as tea kettles, napkin holders or kitchen clocks attract customers. Look for sets that have some extra pieces. This is to get the most out of your money. Many manufacturers also offer additional accessories, having no extra cost for the set.

Cost

The cost depends on the number of pieces in a set and its pattern styles. Four to six place setting ranges from $80 to $100. Dinnerware sets which cost under $50 is perfect for the family’s everyday dining.

Hand painted, glazed pottery and figural designs will costs over $150. Aside from this, bigger and popular sets include the following:

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Noritake

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Fiesta

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Corelle

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Dansk

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Pfaltzgraff

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and Jonathan Adler

These are even more expensive. Thus, all kinds all dinnerware sets could range from $29 to $100.

About the Author: For more information on

Glass or Plastic Dinnerware Sets

and

Dinnerware Sets For Daily Use

please visit our website.

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isnare.com

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By Ralph Winn

Did you know that there are many people worldwide using a spy cam for one reason or another? These spy cameras are being used more every day for security or surveillance reasons but there are also other reasons why people are using them. Do you know what this type of camera is?

Most people do but if you don’t than a spy cam is basically a camera that is small enough to be hidden and is very hard to notice it or trace it. There are many different models available. You can find spy cameras that are as small as a watch battery and other cameras that are so small they can be hidden in a pen.

There are many specialty shops that sell these cameras. Most of the shops you go to will have a wide variety of spy cams for you to choose from. You can also get the spy cameras you want online. No matter where you get the camera you need, if you just take the time to look for them, you will definitely not have any problems finding one that will work for your specific needs.

The price for a spy cam can be as low as $10.00. Then there are some that will cost thousands of dollars because they are the state of the art technology that comes with a monitor and other accessories. You can also find spy cameras that you can purchase in between these two prices. So there is a camera for you to use no matter what your money situation is.

So who exactly would want to use a spy cam? There are way too many people that use spy cameras for different reasons than what can be listed here. However, here are some of the more popular reasons why these cameras are used every day in different situations.

One: Security companies use them for security purposes.

Two: Private detectives use a spy cam when needed to get the information they need for their clients.

Three: Limo Services use them for the security of their vehicles and other business security.

Four: Employers are also using spy cameras these days to watch over their employees to make sure they are working efficiently.

Five: Parents are using a spy cam more than ever these days to make sure their kids are safe and so they can make sure the babysitter is not doing anything wrong to their kids.

No matter what your reason is for using a spy cam, if you are willing to take the time to look you will be able to find one that will work for your needs and that is affordable. It is always a good idea to do some research about spy cameras before you go to buy one. That way you have some knowledge about them and this will make it a lot easier for you to decide which one would work best for your needs. You can also ask someone with knowledge about it to help you choose the right one. Just make sure you don’t rush into buying just any camera because more than likely it will not be the best one for the job.

About the Author: Ralph Winn. 35 years in the

Home Security

industry.

Home Security Systems

and

Alarm Monitoring

tips.

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By Angela Glancy

When you move into an older home and your decorating budget is being largely spent on your main living areas, dealing with a pink tile and tub in the bathroom can be quite a challenge. So until you can replace the tub and tile, here are some decorating tips that can help move the pink away from center stage.

Go Neutral: Choose neutral shades for the walls in your bathroom. If the pink tile has warm undertones to it use neutral brown tones, and if the pink tile has cool undertones to it use a neutral gray on the walls. By pairing the pink tile with these neutral colors, you will visually soften the contrast between the tile and the walls and allow it all to blend together.

Play Up the Walls: Once you have your neutral walls balanced with the tile, choose your accessories to match your wall color but a few shades darker. By promoting the neutral tones you begin to pull attention away from the pink tile and tub.

Bold Accent: After you have all of your neutrals in place, choose a bold color to use as your accent or focal point in the room. A bold blue, a deep emerald or even a bright turquoise all command the eye’s attention and further detract from the pink tile.

Accentuate the Undertone: As you consider your wall color understand that the pink tile will actually seem to change colors as you pair it with a new wall color. For example, if you pair baby pink with white it just looks pink, but when paired with a rich terracotta color it suddenly looks more salmon. By making this subtle shift in the appearance of the pink tile, you can now go on to decorate around an earth tone palette with terracotta and salmon rather than trying to decorate around bright pink. Try a few different color swatches on the wall to get a feel for how the light works with different colors in your space.

Decorating Neighbors: By using neighboring colors on the color wheel to pair with your pink tiles like orange, red or yellow, you make pink part of the background palette rather than the focus of the room. You can also incorporate pattern into the mix to liven up the space. So you could paint your walls yellow and add a geometric or floral shower curtain that contains reds, yellows and oranges to make a bright, cheery space. Then you can finish tying the look together with accessories and a bathmat.

Use a Barrier: Another more direct way that you can minimize the appearance of your pink tiles is to simply cover them up. By putting in a large bathroom rug and hanging a ceiling to floor shower curtain, you can simply make the pink tub and tile go away.

Create a Focal Point: You can also use the magician’s trick of misdirection to make the pink seem to disappear by adding a dramatic accent piece in your bathroom. If you have an attention grabbing wall treatment, your eye will be so busy taking it all in that you will not have time to even notice the pink tile. A large mirror with interesting wall sconces or a huge window with a dramatic window treatment can pull the eye away from the tired, old pink tub and tile until you have the time and money to replace it.

About the Author: Angela Glancy with http://www.americanartisanart.com/ has developed an interest in expanding the use of

wall art sculptures

and

wood wall sculptures

.

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Kitchen Electrical Supplies

by

Hamlin Kon

Kitchen appliances use a varied amount of electricity which is dependent on their efficiency. An appliances location can affect electricity usage. For example, water heaters that are not properly insulated are more likely to be less efficient and use more electricity than that of a well-located and insulated water heater. Electricity usage amount also relies on the age of the appliance such that refrigerators that have been purchased many years ago use more electricity than new ones. Average usage of freezers and refrigerators purchased before 1985 is 100 kilowatt hours per month. One that is purchased after year 2000 uses 37.5 kilowatt hours per month.

Most appliances today are labeled on how much electricity they use. However, usage of electricity also depends on the frequency of the appliances use.

There are highly recommended practices for kitchen renovation and application of kitchen electrical supplies. There must be at least 2 20-ampere, 120-volt circuits supplying power to ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles for countertop and dining areas. Basic lighting circuits should be one 15-amp, 120-volt circuit feeding ceiling fixture, or recessed lights. As for distance between GFCIs over countertops, it must not be over 4 feet between countertop receptacles. Countertop sections exceeding a width of 12 inches are considered a “wall” and must have receptacles. Dishwasher circuits should be one 15-amp, 120-volt dedicated circuit wired with 14/2 cable. Garbage disposal circuit should be one 15-amp, 120-volt dedicated circuit wired with 14/2 cable. Microwave Circuit should be one 20-amp, 120-volt dedicated circuit wired with 12/2 cable. Electric Range Circuit one 50-amp, 120/240-volt dedicated circuit wired with 6/3 cable.

To replace an electrical unit in an existing kitchen, power wiring must be incorporated into the existing walls. The actual flow and volume of electricity that flows through kitchen electrical wiring are both important. The name given to electricitys flow is current. It is measured in units called amperes (amps). Good electrical flow may be determined by a provider of kitchen electrical supplies. This will help in the efficient use of power. Before any decisions are made on kitchen wiring, one must find out the nominal and assured voltage levels for appliance-level circuits. It is also beneficial to find out if the kitchen electrical provider can supply dedicated circuits of higher levels without resulting to problems in the supply of electricity to the other sections of the house.

Kitchen electrical supplies refer to all products and accessories that require electricity to operate and are used in residential and industrial kitchens. The products under kitchen electrical supplies range from vast choices of lighting supplies, heating supplies, alarms, kitchen hardware, ventilation supplies, water heaters, wiring accessories, electrical cable supplies, cable accessories, distribution and switchgear, control gear, plugs and sockets, electrical fixing, tools, conduit accessories, switches, and fuses.

Author writes for

kitchen electrical supplies

,

electrical supplies

and

electrical wholesaler

.

Article Source:

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By Mark Donovan

Leveling compounds are ideal for smoothing out a subfloor surface prior to installing ceramic floor tiles. To ensure your ceramic floor tiles will not crack over time, it is critical that they be installed on a rigid and level subfloor.

Leveling compounds are cement based and are easy to apply. They will adhere well to both concrete and wood surfaces.

When preparing a floor for the installation of ceramic floor tile, additional material is typically installed over the home’s existing base subfloor. The existing subfloor is normally constructed out of concrete, 3/4th inch OSB, or plywood. Concrete, backerboard, or exterior plywood is normally added to the subfloor to increase the rigidity of the floor surface. The more level and rigid the floor, the less likelihood of the ceramic tiles cracking.

To ensure that the floor surface is level and rigid, a leveling compound may be needed, The leveling compound can be added to the floor to adjust for any dips or humps in the subfloor. Dips and humps can occur due to imperfections in the concrete slab or floor joists, or from warping in the base subfloor.

The subfloor should be clean and dust free, prior to applying a leveling compound to your subfloor. If it is not, you may get a poor bond between the leveling compound and the subfloor.

To apply leveling compounds, you can use a trowel, broad knife, and/or a length of 2’x4′.

Use the length of 2’x’4, to see how much leveling compound you will need, by running it over the surface of the subfloor to see how much of a dip or hump you have to deal with.

When making up a batch of leveling compound be careful to not make up too much at any one time. Leveling compounds set up quickly. Consequently, it is best to make up small batches at a time.

About the Author: Over the past 20+ years Mark Donovan has been involved with building homes and home additions. For more DIY home improvement information visit HomeAdditionPlus.com and homeaddition.blogspot.com

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