How to Find and Choose a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor

by Marcus Pickett

Preliminary guidelines for finding and choosing a bathroom remodeling contractor are the same as other home improvement contractors: Get at least three estimates, check recent customer referrals, make sure the contractor is licensed and insured. Yet, as you begin to dive deeper into the bathroom remodeling process, additional, more nuanced factors come into play. Given the likelihood that you'll find more than one qualified contractor, here are some insider tips that will help you choose the best person for the job.

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Bathroom Remodeling Budgets and Contractors

Once you've taken the universal steps to identify experienced and reputable remodeling contractors, often you can make your final hiring decision by setting your budget. High-end bathroom remodeling companies will usually set you up with an in-house bathroom designer and/or a project manager who will allow you to use a larger remodeling budget to the greatest effect. A more budget-friendly bathroom remodeling company will require a more proactive approach from the homeowner in terms of bathroom design and generic, discounted products.
Naturally, most homeowners seek out a middle ground for both their budgets and the level of bathroom remodeling services. To illustrate this choice and to give you some idea of bathroom remodeling budgets, it's useful to look at two different sources for average bathroom remodeling costs:
1) Remodeling Magazine determines the average cost of bathroom remodeling based on set parameters that include several upgrades and comprehensive bathroom overhauls that homeowners frequently forego during their own remodels. Their estimated cost for a bathroom remodel is $15,899.
Check out Remodeling Magazine for more information.
2) ServiceMagic tracks the average cost of bathroom remodels as actually negotiated and completed by homeowners and contractors. These projects include both minor and partial remodels, as well as high-end remodels with all the bells-and-whistles. Their estimated cost for a bathroom remodel is $9,712.

Pay Attention to Process as Much as Product

As homeowners start looking at new bathroom components, they quickly discover which fixtures they like - an elongated toilet with a wood seat covering, for example, or a cartridge faucet with white ceramic, double handles. But with all the research and attention on products, too many homeowners neglect the ordering process. Will the contractor contact the manufacturer and be responsible for the purchase and delivery of these products? Will you do it yourself? What happens if you fall in love with a manufacturer the contractor doesn't usually deal with? What happens if you change your mind during the remodeling process?
These questions come up more often than most homeowners realize. Ask prospective remodeling contractors exactly what their standard operating procedure is for ordering products. Often, the best overall price for your bathroom remodel will come from a mixed approach. Let the contractor order products from manufacturers with whom they have frequent relations and built-in discounts, but be sure you can order your own products, too, so that you can take full advantage of classic, free-market competition. Finding a bathroom remodeling contractor who is willing to stay flexible in this regard often leads to the best remodeling projects.

Communication, Scheduling, and Preparation

The best contractors also tend to be the most popular contractors. So expect your contractor to be working on many projects at once. They can juggle these projects because the best contractors are also effective communicators who will give you a clear schedule, advanced notice about changes to this schedule, and near constant updates about the progress of the remodel. Plus, virtually all remodels experience delays of some kind. Manufacturers are notoriously unreliable with their estimated delivery dates. Water damage may be discovered behind the walls of your bathroom. By the time it's all said and done, the average time to complete a bathroom remodel is about five weeks, according to data collected by ServiceMagic. And, for most, if not all, of this time, the bathroom will be completely out of commission, so you'll need to prepare and alter your bathroom routine accordingly.
-- Marcus Pickett is a senior home improvement writer with ServiceMagic.com. He has written more than 1200 articles on managing your home and home improvement trends.

Juliet Balcony: Extending the Indoors Outside

by Marc Dickinson

We've all taken high school English, so we've all seen the play where she stands on the terrace and talks about love. Therefore, not surprisingly, the location of that famous speech has now become a part of architectural history. A Juliet balcony is a small veranda barely big enough to fit a person. So why, do you ask, would you want to build such a confined area on the side of your house? Unlike larger balconies, a Juliette balcony isn't intended for large parties and patio furniture. Instead, it is an intimate extension of the interior room, which is meant to add an outdoor ambiance to the indoors, and vice versa.
Interior Design, Outside?
Often a Juliet balcony is made to fit the traditional model from the Shakespeare play: a short, narrow rectangle surrounded by stone balustrade that is supported by plinths and opens almost immediately into the adjoining room through glass doors. As you can see, the design of the place tends to be more important than its function, but that doesn't mean it isn't useful. In fact, due to its European influence and romantic heritage, this small, exterior area has become very fashionable among buyers, and therefore can add a lot of value to your home if it used and displayed properly. Here are some decorative ways a Juliet balcony can be utilized:
Garden: By installing railing planters, balcony boxes, or hanging baskets, this space can quickly become a high-rise garden. This is not only practical for city dwellers, but by adding plant life right outside a room, a relaxed, natural mood is instantly created. You could possibly even wind vines between the balustrades, partially enclose the space with a shaded trellis for more privacy, or seal the area with glass windows to form an impromptu greenhouse.
A Life-size Window: Having a Juliette balcony allows you to open up a room. Since there are usually French doors that lead out onto the veranda, you now have the option of opening up an entire section of your wall to let in more light and fresh air.
The View: These additions are very common in urban settings since they don't take up much space but still permit a place to admire and behold a spectacular cityscape.

Interested in this stylish addition? Use this link to install a

Modernization
If your home is not constructed of brick or stone, you may think a Juliette balcony isn't for you. However, since the 15th century, many renovations have been conducted to make this area feel more modern and contemporary. Instead of stone balustrades, install glass railing for a lighter, sleek appearance. Make the sides into iron grates for a more rustic, country look. And if your house has wood siding, decks, or patios, a wooden Juliet balcony can be a perfect upper-story accent to match your home's pre-existing exterior. These small additions not only look great from inside their adjoining rooms, they are also eye-catching from the street below. They create an old-fashioned fairytale atmosphere that is perfect for the occasional romantic rendezvous. Plus, they're cheap to install since they are a pretty uncomplicated add-on to a building (depending on the design and material of a home's exterior). Just make sure you hire the right professionals to do the job for you so that this outdoor extension is safe, sound, and well-supported.

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Sun Porches are a Relaxing Addition to a Home

by Marc Dickinson

Many of us have an unused corner of the house that soon turns into a cluttered storage space. It's too small to turn into a bedroom, but is bigger than a closet; therefore it ends up accumulating knick-knacks, a few storage bins, and maybe a piece of discarded furniture. Why let this space go to waste? One of the latest trends in renovation is utilizing every area of your house in order to make a more comfortable living space and to add value to your home. A great way to re-create a small addition is by turning it into a sun porch.

A Unique Space

Sun porches have been around for centuries. They became popular in southern states because of year-around sunshine, and most were built out of necessity: without air conditioning, a screened-in outdoor living area was needed during the hot summer months. However, this trend soon became fashionable in the northern states as well: by turning screens into windows, one could enjoy the outdoors while huddled up against the winter weather. Now-a-days they can be found everywhere due to their new modern design mixed with their old-world charisma.

Versatility

By turning a mud-room or small alcove into a sun porch, a relaxing oasis is suddenly created. Imagine reading, napping, or watching TV on a hot summer's day where you have the opportunity to be cool and comfortable inside, yet not feel guilty about missing the sunny day outside. Or it's the dead of winter and you're cozy, all wrapped up with blankets on your couch but you still get to watch the snow fall and birds fly south. Watch the rain while staying dry. Be apart of nature without being bit by mosquitoes. It's the best of the both worlds, all year around.

But these outdoor-indoor living spaces don't just have to be a quiet get-away. If you have a bigger space, turn this particular space into a den, a library, an office, or a dining space. Imagine doing work or paying bills while encased in a tranquil portico. Since these rooms are so enticing, make it a place where people have the chance to congregate and enjoy them. Enclose it entirely in glass and turn it into a make-shift greenhouse, someplace to store your plants during the winter months. Put in a portable fireplace and all of a sudden you have sky lodge right in your home.

Use this link to hire a local prescreened

Limitless Looks

Big or small? Hardwood or carpet? Do you want a sunroom or do you want to keep it looking like a deck? Do you want it with screens or windows or both? Keep it open to the house or install some French doors? Open up the space by surrounding it with windows or have it be more shaded with less entryways and exits? Make it another functional room with tables, chairs, and window treatments, or decorate it with sparse furnishing to keep it calm and subtle? As you can see, the design and ambience of a sun porch is limitless.

The only thing to pay attention to is your own style, and the best way to make your imagination into a reality is to hire a design consultant or architect. These professional builders will be able to guide you during the project by being as hands-on as you want. If you have a smaller space, you may be able to do a lot yourself, but for bigger room, upper-level construction, or for complete new additions, hire an expert who knows what they're doing. Especially since most of these rooms use a lot of glass and need proper support from a trained specialists.

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Those Sleepy Little Sleeping Porches

by Matt Myers 

The sleeping porch is thought to be a recent phenomenon, only finding its way into the most modern homes. But the truth of the matter is that sleeping porches have been around for more than a century. However, recent home improvement trends have brought this savvy little addition back to the cutting edge.

Southern Porches
At heart, sleeping porches are just screened-in porches that are used for a different purpose than a typical porch. Because southern plantations homes had large wraparound porches, they were set up to be "screened in" once this product became available. Some of these homes had decks and balconies on the second floor, which also transitioned nicely into screened-in porches to keep the home's occupants from having to fight with all the bugs.

This was before air conditioning, so when it got hot in the summer people needed to have access to any breeze that might blow by. So often these porches, second-story decks, and balconies became sleeping porches.

The Craftsman Adoption
The Craftsman style of architecture (1905-1930), also called "Arts & Crafts" and made popular by Frank Lloyd Wright (you might have heard of him; he's kind of a big deal) is perceived to have been influenced by southern homes. The porches that are signature on these bungalows are often included in the front and back of the home, specifically on corners so as to have access to breezes from all different directions. However, a sleeping porch is often upstairs in many of these homes.

Interested in your own sleeping porch? Use this link to hire a local

What's All the Fuss About?
Imagine those lazy Sunday naps that are almost involuntary. Maybe there is a quiet rainstorm happening outside, maybe a good book lies open across your chest, maybe golf is on the television rocking you to sleep with a cool breeze nipping at your face. I'm getting tired just thinking about it. This kind of restful sleep, even if just a nap, is why people are eager to have this addition on their homes. The sleeping environment these porches provide rivals great vacations. Who wouldn't want one in their house?

If you are interested in something like this for your home, use this link to install a sleeping porch.

What's great about these porches is that, depending on the space you have in there, you find some quality sleeping porch furniture so that this is a place to have mint juleps and coffee with friends and family. The bed doesn't have to be the only reason to be in the room. These are great rooms for entertaining, reading, drinks before dinner, drinks after dinner, lunches, some have even used these porches as offices. Why anyone would prefer that environment to a cubicle is beyond me. Read More...

Bathroom Decorating Ideas

by Marcus Pickett 

In general, many homeowners don't take enough risks with their bathroom decorating. Bathrooms are about cleanliness, sure, but, from a decorating point of view, they're about creating mood. You may think of white as being sterile, but color is going to be one of the key components in creating a relaxing atmosphere. The smaller room of a bathroom allows you to make bold decorating choices with less risk of an overwhelming effect. Of course, there's always going overboard and making the room so busy that it becomes distracting, but most homeowners aren't even close to taking their bathroom decorating this far.

Create a Budget
Your budget doesn't necessarily need to have an exact dollar amount right away, but it's better to decide on a relatively specific range and then narrow down what you can do within your budget and what's most important to you. It's no fun to get your heart set on something only to realize you can't afford it. Everybody would like to have a spa-like retreat if we didn't have to worry about our budgetary concerns. You should also keep in mind that for every dollar you spend on one bathroom decorating idea is another dollar you can't spend somewhere else. And, of course, the opposite is true for every dollar you save.

Bathroom Decorating Ideas
Of course, it's not easy to stay bold with your bathroom decorating while also staying within a budget. Here's a rundown of some of the best bathroom decorating ideas we could find with a brief note about their budget implications.

• Bathroom Walls: Doing something exciting with your walls is one of the cheapest ways to make a bold decorating statement. Vibrant paints are easy, but you might also think about wainscoting, wood paneling, or backsplash tile.
• Contemporary Lighting: New lighting design and fixtures is one of the most cost-effective and underrated ways to improve your bathroom decorating. Recessed lighting and modern wall sconces are just two of the more common and ways to improve your bathroom lighting design.
• Shower Stalls: This bathroom decorating idea is great for smaller bathrooms and homeowners who are honest about the fact that they rarely, if ever, take baths. Saving space by shortening a traditional bathtub into a shower stall will immediately open up your bathroom space. Luxury shower stalls can even improve your daily shower experience. Built-in Cabinets: Cabinets are just the most common feature that can be built into walls and save space. The cost and overall value really depends on the condition and ability of your walls to accommodate these nifty storage spaces. As an alternative, converting floor cabinets to wall cabinets will also reclaim floor space and help open up your bathroom.

Need a better bathroom? Use this link to hire a local

Inexpensive Bathroom Solutions: Repair and Resurface
Bathtubs, sinks, cabinets and tile can fall into disrepair beyond what can be fixed with a cleaning product and elbow grease, but that doesn't mean it needs to be entirely replaced. Fiberglass inlays can patch most cracks or chips, resurfacing techniques can make even the oldest bathtubs look brand new. Cabinets, too, are often great candidates for resurfacing. You may not like the size or placement of your cabinets, but otherwise, resurfacing can dramatically improve the effect your cabinets have on bathroom decorating. Repair and resurfacing what you can will allow you to focus the rest of your bathroom decorating budget and other things.

Hiring a Bathroom Decorating Professional
With bathroom decorating, the project can be a collaborative effect between you and a professional contractor. You may be able to resurface your cabinets yourself, allowing you to hire an electrician to come in and install new lighting fixtures. If you can salvage your walls with re-grouting and re-caulking, you may be able to hire a bathtub repair contractor to overhaul your old tub. Recognizing what you can do on your own will enable you to spend your money on specialized projects. Together you can often extend your budget into what amounts to close to a full bathroom remodel.

Making the Old New Again with Cottage Decor

by Marcus Pickett 

The cottage decorating style is old-fashioned. It's vintage. It's Old World and old school. It's that treasured heirloom from your great-grandmother. If you like to go to thrift stores thumbing through every single rack to find that one article of clothing that fits and doesn't look like wallpaper, if you like to spend entire days at flea markets on epic journeys for those two items that will fit into your home, and then still haggle on the price, chances are you're well on your way to incorporating cottage style decorating already. More than just an obsession with counterculture and things past, there are a couple other guidelines to follow to make your home a treasure of this unique decorating style.

Color in Cottage Style Decorating
While cottage décor is about furniture and decorative items that have a distinct and nostalgic flavor, it's about creating an open feeling of space. This, naturally, means light colors, ideally white or cream. If you don't like the idea of white walls, use a lighter color and white or light-colored furniture. Upholstered furniture with a white background pattern can be just the ticket.

Remove Clutter, Find Storage
More than just keeping things tidy, don't display many accessories or everyday items. The cottage decorating style is a typical more-is-less situation. If you can make the storage itself blend in or disappear, that's even better. Instead of using cabinets or shelving, throw things in your suitcases or other empty containers.

Emphasize the Old
One of the reasons to create space and remove clutter is to be to highlight the vintage items you do find in your flea market odysseys. If your cottage décor gets too busy or cluttered, those antique items simply look dated, like they've been gathering dust for a hundred years. In a clean, spacious room, they look deliberately crafted, giving the room a distinctive, almost eccentric, ambiance.

Get the exact look you want! Use this link to

Cottage Means Casual
While you're antique items may seem eccentric, the overall atmosphere you create should be casual. The antiques shouldn't be priceless, as though a billionaire flew halfway around the world to purchase the 13th century, hand-crafted, gold chamber pot of the emperor. The items you choose to fill your cottage décor should have more intrinsic meaning than anything. Imperfections can be signals to your guests that they don't need to feel in anyway nervous or uptight.

Cottage Doesn't Mean Country
Cottage can be synonymous for the decorating style, but cottage style decorating doesn't have to occur in country homes. Many people who choose to go with cottage décor, in fact, live in or near the city. The atmosphere created by the cottage style decorating is a practical way of reclaiming a little bit of the country for the urban lifestyle. In fact, with little space and smaller property lots, it can be one of the only ways.

Essential Feng Shui Tips

by ServiceMagic 

The art of feng shui, or the arranging and positioning of different objects to let the energy flow better in your house and work space, is said to promote health and energy.

Feng shui, which means "wind and water," is an ancient Chinese study based on the belief that energy flows in the environment of a home, office or any other place. According to this belief, every building has unique energy characteristics that need to be individually addressed.

A feng shui analysis examines the surrounding environment, the building, how the people interact with the building, and also considers time-related factors. Based upon these considerations, believers say that recommendations can be made on how to improve your relationship with the environment around you. Alleged results include prosperity, health benefits, improved relationships, and all-around well-being.

A feng shui consultant can show you the connection between the interior and exterior of a home or office, and how it relates to the occupant's outlook on life. It can include rearranging furniture to create better "energy patterns" and eliminating clutter, which blocks creativity and growth. It is also common to use color associations to promote good health and well-being, and quell uncomfortable feelings.

Looking for something new? Use this link to hire an

While a professional feng shui consultation can provide you with the strongest results, there are some things you can do yourself. Whether you want to attack your entire home, or just the areas you spend the most time in, for most people the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, even small changes can have a significant effect in making your home as harmonious as possible:

Arrange furniture so you can face the doors while sitting.

Make the environment much more comfortable by arranging seating areas away from drafts and adjusting lighting.

Clean up clutter to encourage relaxation and help you to find things easier.

Widen the front walkway to your home to make it more inviting.

Place a large mirror behind the stove so that you won't be surprised when someone comes up behind you.

Hang a mirror up at the end of a hallway so that it does not seem like a dead end.

Be sure paths between rooms and through rooms are wide and easy to use. This allows you to walk around easily, as well as promotes chi.

Oil your doors so they don't squeak, reducing mental irritation.

Add color or art to bring in desired energy.

Add trees, plants or upward lighting to raise energy.

Shabby Chic: The (Vintage) Cadillac of Home Decor

by Jon Nunan
The term "shabby chic" is directly linked with one designer, Rachel Ashwell. What started as one woman making slipcovers for herself and her friends has become a design movement. Her ideas focus on combining elegance with a sense of ease. While one can purchase products with her name and trademark, the term "shabby chic" has come to refer to not just her label, but a style of decorating characterized by comfort and livability as well as quality.
The Shabby Chic Home
A home is meant to be lived in—this is the essence of the shabby chic style. Objects in the home are enjoyed not just for their beauty, but also for their feel. Home is a place where people are meant to feel comfortable. It is not a museum. Those that enter the living space are invited to not only look, but to touch, and ultimately, to relax. Where to Find Shabby Chic
The flea market and the thrift store are the places where shabby chic has its roots. A bit of wear and tear can be just right. A comfy chair is a comfy chair, no matter where (or for how much) it is purchased. That's not to say that there is no room for new items. The most important thing is being able to enjoy what you have. The pieces you purchase should be durable enough to withstand daily use. Individual items are prized for their quality and craftsmanship, and should be able to either tell a story, or last long enough to have stories created around them.

Make sure you have professional design! Use this link to

The Look
The brilliant thing about the shabby chic look is its variance. The individual chooses items that look and feel good, and then arranges them in a manner that feels cohesive. Organizing a room in the shabby chic style doesn't necessarily mean matching everything to everything else. Each piece in the room should have its own merit, which earns it a place to be.
Shabby Chic on a Budget
This particular style lends itself to the monetarily impaired. Here are a few tips on making a statement without straining your wallet.

Check out places where things can be found cheaply and take your time. Many thrift stores get new (to you) items every day. Hold out for quality. There are good finds out there, but patience is imperative.

Many homes already have that "lived in" feel, but are too eclectic. Try moving things around from room to room and see if anything looks better elsewhere.

If in doubt, choose comfort. When it's time to unwind, furniture that feels good compliments every room.

Simple is better. The less busy the room, the more relaxing it will be.

Bedroom Decorating Ideas

The bedroom is the most personal room for most homes. It should also be one of the most personalized. It can be a romantic love nest or a sanctuary for sleep and relaxation. It can be cheerful and calming for the kids, as they innocuously delude themselves into thinking they own the room. Wanting to impress friends, neighbors, and guests, homeowners tend to get tunnel-vision, focusing on public areas of the home. It's time to be selfish and turn your attention to bedroom decorating. After all, before you take that morning shower, you must first get out of your bed.

Putting the "Bed" in Bedroom Decorating
The center of every bedroom is the bed. It's ostensibly why the room exists in the first place. Obviously, your first concern will be the mattress, but don't neglect your headboard. It's difficult to underestimate the importance of psychological factors in getting a good night's sleep. The feel and even the appearance of your bed when you get into it can translate into how you feel when you get out of it. A headboard bookcase is not only a good bedroom decorating idea, it also increases your bed's functionality, allowing you to read a book before you fall asleep without getting up to turn the light out. You can also set a glass of water on a headboard bookcase in case you get thirsty in the middle of the night.

More Bedroom Decorating Ideas

• Flooring: Carpet is still as comfortable and cost-effective as it's always been, but it's no longer the hands-down winner for bedrooms. Laminate, cork, and wood flooring are all great options that offer greater intimacy than older flooring products fashioned from these materials.
• Lighting: This bedroom decorating idea is arguably the most underrated. Simple, lone overhead lights are quickly disappearing from modern interior decorating schemes. Even the combination of overhead lights and bedside lamps can't offer the type of nuance needed for daytime, evening, and nighttime bedroom use.

Bedroom need a makeover? Use this link to hire a local pro for

• Closets: Smaller bedrooms can almost always benefit from better closet storage and organization, or even expansion and/or the inclusion of built-in drawers and shelving. You might be pleasantly surprised by how more efficient closets can open up the rest of the room for additional bedroom decorating ideas.
• Decorating Schemes: Muted colors may tend to be relaxing in general, but if they become too bland, you may find yourself more annoyed than relaxed. Fabrics must be coordinated with existing decorating schemes. A decoratively patterned comforter may work with a wood headboard, while an upholstered headboard may go better with a more solid colored comforter. The same holds true for window curtains and wall texturing. Avoid being too plain or too busy.

Create a Bedroom Decorating Budget
Creating a budget is a good idea for any home improvement project. Giving yourself at least a budget range will help you focus on what can be done and what's most important to you. Some parts of the project you may be able to do on your own, for others you may want to hire a contractor. If the most important thing is the headboard, you may want to hire a contractor to custom build you one, and you can paint the walls yourself. If the most important thing is your walls, you can hire a house painter for the walls and buy or build a cheaper headboard. Whatever you decide, it's time to make your bedroom your own again. Bedroom decorating is a relatively simple home improvement project that can greatly enhance your home and your life.

Feng Shui in the Kitchen

by Jon Nunan

Most American homeowners now know that Feng Shui is a Chinese style of arranging items in the home in order to create harmony. Literally translated as "wind-water", the discipline of Feng Shui is gaining popularity around the globe, not just with homeowners looking for harmony in their lives, but with those who simply want a decorating scheme that is beautiful, practical, and in many cases, affordable.
Kitchen Feng Shui is considered to be extremely important as kitchens are one of the most important gathering places for family and friends. If you've been considering a remodel, taking a look at some of the guidelines for a Feng Shui kitchen might give you some interesting ideas for your home.
Kitchen Feng Shui Tips for Organization
Though when most people think of Feng Shui, they imagine adding plants, mirrors, and the like, a lot of the discipline focuses not on adding to what you have, but improving the quality of what is already there. A clean environment is a harmonious environment, which is why Feng Shui teachings recommend that kitchen cabinets be spring-cleaned regularly, and should be well-organized, uncluttered, and easily accessible.
Get rid of all unnecessary clutter because it attracts stagnant chi. You should only have items in the kitchen that are used regularly and do not get in the way. This means that not only will you have easier access to the things you use often, but you'll probably have more counter and storage space to work with, which will make preparing food and cleaning up easier. Certainly, you don't have to throw away items that aren't used often, but if you have an ice cream maker that you only use part of the year taking up valuable cabinet space, it might be a good idea to find a more suitable place to store it.
One of the nice things about the organizational part of kitchen Feng Shui is that it may cost you little or nothing to implement. Feng Shui kitchens may be the most economical remodels in the home improvement industry!
Materials for Kitchen Feng Shui
A Feng Shui ordered kitchen also deals with the actual materials that are found there. Where modern construction and decorating often uses hard corners and metal or synthetic materials, Feng Shui is characterized by rounded edges and natural materials that have been used for hundreds (even thousands) of years. If you are building from scratch, Feng Shui also has suggestions on where doors and running water should be placed.
Feng Shui teaches that cork and wood are ideal for kitchen floors and surfaces, while stainless steel appliances and ceramic tiles can create fast-moving chi. This may not be ideal if you want to spend a lot of time in your kitchen because it may leave you feeling drained or tired. Many find that (aside from the benefits of slowing down all that chi) having natural wood surfaces in the kitchen creates a unique appearance and adds a comfortable feel to the room. If you're considering a wood floor in your kitchen, however, make sure to have a good long talk with your flooring contractor about what you can do to prevent moisture damage, as wood flooring is more susceptible to excessive water than more common kitchen floor materials.

Interior Decoration: Feng Shui, Function, and Fads

by Matt Goering 

When it comes to interior home décor, it's important to keep in mind how a room feels as well as how it looks. Interior decoration can say as much about a property as the house itself. More than most other elements of a home, how you decorate is incredibly dependent on your budget.

Feng Shui
Since most of us aren't "made of money", the idea of using a few elegantly placed objects to make the room as functional and visually pleasing as possible is a highly appealing concept. No wonder Feng Shui (literally, "wind-water") with its simple aesthetic and promises of tranquil living has become so popular in recent decades.

To fully reap the benefits of this ancient Chinese secret, you need to design your home by the rules from the ground up. Sound a bit much? Well, it's not for everyone. Fortunately, there are enough online resources to give any dabbler a good idea of how to change their interior home décor to mimic Feng Shui principles. In fact, it has become so popular that anyone truly interested in this art form won't have a difficult time finding a comprehensive guide at a local bookstore. If your interior decoration budget is an issue, look no further. As long as it will accommodate a few battery-operated fountains and a full length mirror for the outside of a bathroom door, you'll be well on your way to a better life through spatial relations.

Go Modern
Another way to have a sophisticated look and maintain an open feel is to make all of your interior decoration as modern as possible. Characterized by sharp contrast, bold color, a polished sheen, and a lot of space and light, modern furniture and room designs are a popular choice among home, and particularly condo, owners.

The biggest drawback to decorating your space to look modern is that it can't stay modern forever. Ever been to Graceland? Remember the jungle room? While your interior home décor is certainly a matter of personal taste, beware: What was once the very forefront of interior decoration is now a room coated in green shag whose centerpiece is a big orange coffee table with built in ashtrays.

Put that design to work! Use this link to start your own

On the other hand, rooms designed to look modern go really well with today's more enormous TV's. If you've got the money, go for it. Just make sure you save up enough to redo everything in 20 years.

Old School
Dark, solid, and forever in need of dusting, a room with an authentic classical feel can be almost threatening. Oak, however, never goes out of style. If you want your interior home décor to both speak volumes and have some staying power, this is the way to go. It will cost a ton to do it properly, but it will look impressive for generations.

The Bottom Line
Nothing is more subjective than interior decoration. A room can look just as good lined with collections of great literature on walnut bookshelves as it can lined with an extensive collection of Pez dispensers encased in glass. It's up to you. Just remember, when it comes to décor, even small choices can end up costing a lot of money. Look before you leap, chances are you'll have that chair for a long time.

Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.

Home Improvement Imports

by Marcus Pickett 

Whether it's the form, function, or aesthetic of their home, Americans would do well to take a look at what's going on in international communities. From adding a distinctive flavor to your home to reducing your monthly utility expenses, people in other parts of the world have developed innovative solutions over the past year and previous centuries. Take a look at these three areas of home improvements and whether it's time for you to import one of these international innovations.

Home Heating Costs: Latin-American Tankless Water Heaters
In truth, tankless water heaters are the dominant form of hot water in most places outside of the U.S., but a lack of reliability in the public water supply makes tankless water heating particularly popular in Latin-America. Of course, tankless water heaters are becoming more common in the U.S., as energy conservation becomes a bigger and bigger issue. Most of these new systems, however, are designed to provide hot water to the entire home and can cost quite a bit to install. Latin-American homeowners get around this issue by installing an electric shower head that heats the water as it comes out of your shower head. Rather than installing an expensive tankless water heating system, you can simply turn down your hot water tank to a minimal temperature for the rest of your home. This type of low-cost alternative is sure to be the sort of thing that more and more Americans look at, as they try to scale back their monthly expenses.

Most electric showerheads cost less than a $100 and use 50 percent less energy to heat your water. On the home improvement front, homeowner demand for tankless water heating systems has increased by more than 50 percent, according to ServiceMagic, leading online resource connecting homeowners and home improvement contractors.

Home Exteriors and Interiors: European and Middle Eastern Tiles
One of the very first home improvement imports was the clay-tile roofs European settlers brought with them. Further back, tile roofs are present in early Greek civilization, nearly 2,500 years ago. While roofing tiles have since expanded into slate, metal, even concrete, almost every form of tiled roofing has demonstrably better performance than conventional asphalt shingling. Most of these high-quality roofing materials will last 50 years or more, while asphalt may be good for only about a dozen or so years. Thus, though you may pay two to three times as much for your roofing installation for roofing tile, it remains one of the most cost-effective upgrades in the home improvement industry.

Meanwhile, decorative tiles, one of the hallmarks of Middle Eastern and Islamic art, are another part of the ubiquity of residential tile. Whether it's a kitchen backsplash, a decorative accent for the dining room ceiling, a way to spruce up a bathroom shower, or to create dynamic borders for your flooring, decorative tiles and mosaics are a handy, underutilized home fashion. Indeed, with the most recent, drab decorating trends behind us, a renewed interest in vibrant colors would do good to look at this Middle Eastern tradition.

Tile installation of almost every kind is holding steady or experiencing growth in the residential sector, according to ServiceMagic. The tile project showing the fastest growth is glass tiles and blocks with an increase of more than 30 percent in homeowner demand from last year.

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Home Design: The Chinese Courtyard
The Chinese courtyard residence, or siheyuan, is nearly 3,000 years old, but the principle and appeal remain alive today throughout the world. Popular in sunny climates in the western half of the U.S., you'll probably never see outdoor entertainment areas in the same way with a residential courtyard. Meanwhile, American isolationism has hampered the architectural possibilities. Fighting over fences, hedges, and property lines is a pretty far cry from sharing a wall with a neighboring siheyuan. In many neighborhoods, many siheyuan are built adjacent to one another to form alleyways, known as hutongs. These walkways, however, aren't so dissimilar from backyard walking paths. Here, too, is an interesting landscaping possibility, as Chinese neighborhoods frequently have ornate gates that mark the entrance to a hutong.

U.S. Home Improvement Exports
It's a well-established fact that the number one U.S. export is pop-culture in the form of movies, music, TV, etc, but this is far from the only thing. Home builders are taking their business overseas, building American-style suburban homes in northern Iraq. Indeed, American infrastructure isn't so much a national commodity as it is an international one. In fact, this past year, the Department of Commerce reported that amongst our 14 free trade partners, the U.S. was actually running a $2.7 billion trade surplus for manufacturing exports during the first five months of the year.

Recent cries for protectionism aside, it's hard to doubt that international trade is still the driving force of a continuously developing global economy. As a homeowner, if you ignore international trends and innovations, you're likely to be left behind the curve, whether it's maintaining a sustainable, cost-effective home or displaying a bold, appealing home interior.

Contemporary/Modern Interior Design

by Marcus Pickett 

Hiring an interior designer doesn't mean giving up control of decorating your home, but these professionals can introduce you to ideas and decorating options you wouldn't have otherwise considered or knew were possible. Modern interior design has come into its own and promises to turn your home into a masterpiece of aesthetic beauty without sacrificing one moment of practicality or function.

Modern and contemporary, while seemingly synonymous, can often mean quite different things in certain contexts. One of these contexts is interior design. Contemporary interior design means essentially the latest interior design fashions. Modern interior design will often refer to "mid-century" design. Even with these different meanings they will still easily converge. You and your interior designer may decide to borrow elements of 60s or 70s interior design, but this doesn't mean you're going to go out and find the most hideous wallpaper and upholstery simply for nostalgia. In any event, whether you're talking about contemporary or modern interior design, there are some things you should keep in mind while deciding your home's décor.

Take Some Risks, but Don't Go Overboard
Play it too safe and your house will lack a distinctive quality that can wow guests. Take too many ill-advised chances and you may lose your footing with your own home and, possibly, some of its functionality. A good interior decorating scheme should always include your lifestyle and how you will use each and every room. It can be a dangerous idea to "experiment" with decorating schemes and things can quickly go out of fashion. You should look for an interior designer who's eager to incorporate new things into your home but whose sincere intent is always to create a timeless effect. For new construction, begin thinking about interior design right away. Again, too many risks with structural design can be off-putting to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell your home, but distinctive installations and design can also make buyers fall in love with your home.

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New Materials, New Techniques
A large part of contemporary interior design is utilizing new materials and techniques. The most common decorative installations include metal, blown-glass, and concrete. Metal, obviously, isn't new, but contemporary lifestyles have begun to emphasize the need for simplicity. Metal creates a sleek, no-nonsense feel to a home. Most often metal is used for accents and fixtures. The purpose of metal isn't to create a cold or detached feeling but to enhance the warmth of other, nearby decorative elements.

Blown glass is a great way to create that elusive distinctiveness for your home. It brings the same kind of artistic element as wall hanging or sculpture but can often double as a lighting fixture or other functional element in your home. Colored glass can fit any decorative scheme, and blown glass is about as close as you can come to a can't miss decorative element.

Concrete has arrived. Decorative concrete can be finished to create any number of modern effects. Floors, countertops, and furniture are great places for concrete installations that will really show off your decorative chops. Many homeowners are still unaware of just how versatile and beautiful concrete can be, and this type of information and specific guidance for still largely untested waters is the perfect reason to hire a designer for all your modern interior design needs.

Color and Lighting
It's difficult to underestimate these elements in any interior design, but especially for modern interior design. Continuing with the trend toward simplicity, neutral beiges, whites, and browns are common but are also often complemented with a more vibrant accent wall. Simple, but not boring, is the mantra here. Lighting is often used to highlight specific areas of interest. Track lighting and floor lamps are the most popular, but any lighting fixture that creates clean lines and emphasizes the featured decorative elements will meet the contemporary design model.

Playroom Decorating and Design: All Fun and Games

by Jon Nunan

Kids seem to have an unending stockpile of energy. Sometimes, just watching them run around makes us tired! One common problem this energy presents is finding a place to let them spend it. When the sun goes down or the weather gets nasty, children bring all that energy indoors. A playroom is the perfect place for them to do their own type of unwinding.
Playroom Design
When setting up a playroom safety is priority one. Hard surfaces are a definite "no, no", as are materials that will break or splinter. Tough, durable, and stain resistant carpet is a good idea, as is overhead lighting. The placement of the room in the house should also be taken into account. A playroom for a young child should be close to a parent's eyes and ears. Finished basements, though great for an adult or teen hangout, are often too secluded for younger kids. Dealing with a lot of toys means storage issues. Most would agree that kids should do their part cleaning up; a playroom's design should make this task as easy as possible. There are many ways to store things, but a lot of them are too tall for kids to reach without help. Before purchasing an expensive floor to ceiling storage system, it's wise to consider a set of low to the ground bins and shelves. Kids need options the same way we do, and often even more. Games, toys, crayons and the like should all be easily accessible as well as easy to put away. Playroom Decorating
If the kids are old enough, ask their opinion about the color and style of the furniture and walls. This will, of course, be their space. It might even be a good idea to take them shopping with you to pick out one or two things entirely on their own. Keep in mind, though, that kids can be fickle. Dropping a month's pay on a bunch of Spiderman stuff might not be the best idea. Playroom decorating can grow with the child, as long as it doesn't cost a bundle each time a new blockbuster comes out. Maybe ask what his or her favorite color is; paint doesn't cost much and the room might need a new coat once a year anyway.

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Furniture is a big part of playroom decorating, and kids often get a kick out of things sized to fit only them. However, children's furniture, much like their clothing, is kind of a catch 22. You want it to be durable and resistant to wear and tear. At the same time it's tough to spend a lot of money on something that will be outgrown before you know it. Check out thrift stores, yard sales, and classifieds (both in newspapers and online). Parents are often willing to part with kid's furniture for free or for pennies on the dollar. Save that extra money for college.
Video Games
No matter how you feel about them, video games just get more and more popular every year. Each parent must make a decision about how much (if any) time their child should spend playing them. Those who lean toward little or none should start offering alternatives early. Encourage children to engage in, and provide them with, positive activities. Don't be afraid to get your own hands dirty. It's their space, but they'll enjoy it more if they see you enjoying it, too!

Remodeling? Why You Need a Residential Designer

by Kathy Maynard Many homeowners planning to remodel their kitchen or bathroom are often surprised when asked if they have plans for their project. When building a home addition, these plans become even more important. While a contractor may be able to draw a set of building plans, residential designers are specialists who are trained to use space efficiently and are educated in all the newest trends and available products available. Not only do residential designers draw plans, they also spend time with each client to determine their specific needs, lifestyles, priorities and budgets to design a custom room, addition or entire home.

Why seek out a residential designer to design my remodeling plans when so many contractors offer free design advice as part of their bid service?

Contractors generally tend to fill a client's requests in the most straightforward manner possible, keeping things simple to avoid confusion or spending any more time than is necessary. Getting the job and building it are their top priorities. By contrast, the residential designer will sit down with you and work out your design puzzle in its entirety, with the emphasis on finding the best solution rather than the most obvious. Helping you understand the complexities of the project fully before it goes to bid (or worse, gets built) prevents misunderstandings and possible regrets about your choices.

Isn't using a residential designer expensive?

Not at all. In addition to saving time and effort, it often saves you money. Most contractors are so thrilled to get well-documented, professionally designed plans that they often rebate some or all of the residential designer's fees back to the consumer when they sign up with them. They recognize that detailed plans with full specifications and interpretive drawings result in a smooth-running project. Meanwhile, having hammered out what you want will save the contractor from the potential barrage of change-orders, time and money overruns, and bad feelings on both sides. Plus, if multiple bids are obtained, everyone is bidding on exactly the same materials, brands, and models.

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Hire a Designer

So, when should I bring in a residential designer? Do I need to know precisely what I want before I talk to one?

Although ideally you'd meet fairly early in the project's planning process, any time prior to construction is an appropriate time to contact a residential designer. You need to have a basic idea of what you'd like to accomplish, but skilled questioning by the designer to help determine even your hidden wants and needs is a very important part of the process. An incredible array of products is available and getting guidance from a professional saves you time, effort and money. Questions about your lifestyle, creative solutions, or suggestions for new/specialized products may even trigger your looking at your project in a whole different light.

What is the range of services that a residential designer typically offers?

It varies, but generally includes development of design options, working out the final floor plan with notes and specifications, a custom electrical plan, cabinet elevations, room isometrics, and door/window/appliance finish schedules are available as desired. Full working or permit-ready plans are also usually available.

What's the difference between a residential designer and an architect?

An architect has more extensive and explicit training in residential design. Metaphorically speaking, if your residential designer has a Bachelor's Degree, an architect has a Ph.D. For more extensive services that include assistance in awarding the bid, observing and inspecting the entire construction process, including guarding against faulty workmanship, you might consider looking for an architect, especially for larger or more complicated project. You might, then, assume that the architect will cost more to hire. Often, this is the case but not always. More than just training, how many years of experience and the demand for that individual's services will influence how much each professional typically charges.

Move On Up With a Ladder Bookshelf

by Jon Nunan 

The ladder shelf is becoming a very popular choice among homeowners. Its simplistic design, rustic look, and ease of assembly make the ladder bookshelf style very desirable.

Ladder Shelf Designs
A ladder bookshelf is available in two different styles. The first is a unit with two main "posts" and shelves that are placed like rungs (which will now be referred to as "ladder shelf 1"). Ladder shelf can also describe a bookcase that is literally made from old ladders ("ladder shelf 2"). In the latter scenario, there are two ladders on either side of the unit and boards are placed on the rungs in between them to form shelves. Both designs have certain similarities: they are both generally made of wood, they both have a rustic appeal (though ladder shelf 1 would also seem at home in a more contemporary setting), they are both simplistic in design and easy to construct or install. The Store Bought Ladder Shelf
Department stores are the place to find ladder shelf 1. The simple design makes it a less expensive option than many other bookshelves, but the construction is just as sound and sturdy. It is meant to lean on, but doesn't need to be fixed to, a wall. It will come in a variety of colors, finishes, and will also vary in depth and height. Ladder shelf 1 is a good choice for those who need a quick storage space for books, movies, and the like. It will look like it belongs in almost any room, as it will blend in with most existing decoration. The Wacky World of Ladder Shelf 2
A ladder bookshelf of this nature is more of a project for fun or a conversation piece than it is a quick fix to a storage problem. While constructing one (and it must be constructed, you cannot buy ladder shelf 2) is a fairly simple process, it may still be considered a labor of love.

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To create the basic shelf, get your hand on an old wooden ladder and cut it into manageable pieces of the same height. Next, find some old wood planks to lie on and between the rungs as shelves. Tie, screw, or nail the planks to the ladders to secure the shelves, then bolt the whole thing to a wall.

Depending on your tastes, and the way your home is already decorated, ladder shelf 2 might need some special care before you put it together. Old wood is often a dull gray color; it has rustic appeal to spare, but might not be the best fit aesthetically. Old wood can also be very rough or splintery. You may want to sand, seal, or paint the shelf components before you put them together. Once again, this type of shelf should be anchored to a wall as its stability may be circumspect with only its own support. It is also a good idea not to make it too tall; if you need a bookshelf ladder for your ladder bookshelf, you've probably gone too high.

Understanding Residential Interior Design

by Marcus Pickett 

Residential interior design is greatly misunderstood by more than a few homeowners. These home improvement professionals don't just pick out decorations or tell you what's trendy and artistic nowadays. Residential interior design is a comprehensive understanding of how architectural space can be used for residential purposes. Before you ever think about home décor, a residential interior designer can ask you about your dream home and your lifestyle and consult on a home plan, including room dimensions and shapes. They can use 3-D computer design programs to show you what's possible and how your finished home will look, so you start making the right decisions from the get go.

Problem-Solving with Existing Home Structures
Of course, they can also advise you on how to get the most from a home that's already built. Whether you're remodeling, redecorating, or buying a home, they'll be able to come in and work with you to make the space you have available do the most it can. It's not uncommon for a home-buyer to find the perfect home, except for one room or area: The master bathroom is too small. The galley kitchen doesn't have room for that island kitchen you've always wanted. The living room is an awkward shape.

Any number of quirks can be off-putting, in spite of finding the otherwise ideal home. When this happens, what you probably need is a residential interior designer. They may help you realize, this awkward space isn't nearly as difficult to incorporate into your lifestyle as you first imagine. If an architect builds the exterior of your home, residential interior design is more about building the interior of your home, from designing the dimensions of each room to the final decorative touches.

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Residential Interior Design Ideas

Contemporary Lighting: One of the hardest things to do well, contemporary lighting design will add subtle but immeasurable value to your home decorating. A good combination of general lighting and task lighting will give you the increased versatility that is the hallmark of contemporary lighting.

Cabinets and Organization: Besides functionality and décor, good interior design will create great rooms that require less maintenance. Well-designed cabinetry and storage will keep your rooms clutter free and minimize cleaning time.

Rugs and Pillows: Rugs and pillows are an easy to add color and texture to your rooms. Rugs are a great way of adding a softer element to hard surface flooring. Pillows act as a good decorating accent, but too many pillows can be cumbersome and even limit the usability of your seating.

Colors and Patterns: It's important to find the right balance of color and pattern for any room. Too much color and patterning and your room will look busy and distracting, but some homeowners are afraid of color and end up with rooms that are drab and boring.

Interior Design Styles

by ServiceMagic

A number of basic design styles apply to everything from furniture to interior and exterior home design. Here are some general guidelines for some popular design styles: Contemporary/modern design features sleek, unadorned cabinets, plain panel doors and hardware that's hidden or unobtrusive.
Traditional is more formal and elegant. Raised panel cabinet doors or clear glass panels separated by thin strips of wood are often seen. Rich wood finishes or painted white wood may be accented with sparkle from brass or brass-tone hardware.
Craftsman bungalow houses usually have low-pitched gable roofs with large overhangs and exposed rafters. Under the gables are often decorative beams or braces. A craftsman bungalow commonly has a generous front porch with a roof is carried on square, tapered columns. Stone or brick frequently is used for the porch's base or columns. Masonry may also be used for a tapered chimney on one side of the house.

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Country features light stain or distressed-color finish, simple cabinet and door styles and unpretentious wood or ceramic knobs and handles.
Colonial style homes take advantage of classic architectural elements, notably symmetry, columns and formally framed doors and windows. These residences, often elaborate, typically have large front and rear porches, providing an opportunity for cross ventilation in sultry climates.
Victorian styles often reflect the romance of the 19th century with contemporary convenience. Common cabinet woods are oak or cherry and with the right color scheme, even white can be used. Many different types of hardware will work, from hammered iron to antique pewter.
High-tech design areas feature stainless steel, metal tubing, chrome and black accents. Kitchens often feature an industrial look with sleek metallic appliances and storage cabinets. Glass block or curving transparent window glass may be set in a wall.
Southwestern homes, with their stucco or adobe exterior and orange or red tile roofs, are gaining in popularity these days, especially in the west.
Likewise, log homes, which today include construction techniques that may or may not use whole logs to yield a house that looks like it's built with logs, have a solid, somewhat romantic and secure ambience that attracts many people.
French country design is more of a style than a set of specifics. The rural homes of France that provide the basis for French country style are diverse in all but their charm. One common trait is the multi-paned windows extending to the floor, which are called French windows and that are used like doors, inside and out. The kitchen is enormous and comfortable, with exposed, sturdy beams and tiled floors. The living room is also large, often with a fireplace.
Mediterranean style favors stucco as it weathers well, especially in damp or sea-side areas), as well as bay windows or narrow, deep windows and doors flanked by slat-board shutters and painted vividly. Ceramic tile flooring, airy, large open living areas are also hallmarks of Mediterranean design.

 

Home Decorating Ideas

by Marcus Pickett

Home decorating is an exciting project for most homeowners, especially after you've made the hard choices for flooring and wall installations, countertops and cabinets, insulation and ventilation. Hopefully, you're remembered to save enough in your home building project or home remodel to put on the all-important finishing touches that can make or break your home.
Be Yourself and Impress Your Guests
Your first decorating impulse may be go over the top, search out the most esoteric art and the most outlandish or luxurious furniture. Remember, though, that the first priority of home decorating isn't to impress home visitors who only intermittently grace your home. The biggest priority is to enhance the appearance of your home by making it your own, a comforting, personal atmosphere. Whatever your personal style is, any aesthetic can be made aesthetically pleasing. Like most human interaction, your guests will be impressed your home without you setting out to try to impress them. Homes that are specifically designed to impress are just as likely to intimidate and make guests uncomfortable as anything else.
Borrow from Home Decorating Styles, but Don't Box Yourself In
There are as many home decorating styles as there are ice cream flavors. The generic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors correspond to the more loosely defined styles of casual, contemporary, and country. The double chocolate fudge, cherry macadamia nut, and strawberry shortcake are the more esoteric decorating styles, the southwest or Asian décor, the feng shui. You may find a style you absolutely fall in love with, but you should probably be careful allowing any one style to dominate your home. More often, home decorating styles are good to search for home decorating ideas. You may even find a style that fits just right for one of your rooms, but don't box yourself in with what you think are decorating rules for any particular style. No such rules exist.
Transforming Rooms with Home Decorating
One of the most common reasons for changing your home decorating may be a change in the use of a room. The kids have left the nest and you're ready to have a home office or den. You may realize nobody's eaten in your dining room in two years and there's a better use for the space. Rooms can be used for anything and, often, not for their originally intended use. You may have to smooth things over with your kids or a spouse who wants to hang on to old times, but redecorating a room can be an important step to reinventing the purpose of that room. Carpeting and pink walls may need to be replaced with hardwood or laminate flooring and a more neutral color to achieve the right atmosphere for your new room.

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Hire an Interior Designer for Personalized Home Decorating Ideas
You can do all the research you want, but it's unlikely a home decorating manual is going to speak specifically to the slanted ceiling in your guest bedroom, the corner chimney in your family room, or the 18 inches of extra space at the end of your galley kitchen. Every home has its quirks that an interior designer will be able to generate ideas for that aren't in any broadly sweeping book or website. An interior designer can help design a comprehensive and cohesive decorating scheme for your entire home or, they can be hired for a one-day consultation to generate ideas you probably wouldn't see on your own.

 

The Double Whammy: New Renters and the Housing Crisis

by Marcus Pickett

Some people who believed they had found the place they would call home for the rest of their lives, or at least most of their lives, have been forced to move out because they can't pay the mortgage. "Unwise lending practices" is a phrase that dug into the American consciousness faster than we could say "offshore drilling." The concrete results of these lending practices, however, are far more pressing than a clever turn of phrase as families are forced from their homes. These households face tough decisions and trying times. Often, old homeowners become new renters. Unfortunately, the rental unit is frequently below the living standards of the original property. Sacrificing certain luxuries during tough economic times is one thing. Living in a home that doesn't meet basic needs is another problem altogether.
Finding a House or Apartment to Rent
You need to swallow your pride as quickly as possible so you can make a wise decision about which property you should rent and the terms of the lease you sign. You may even want to look for a month-to-month rental situation if buying a new home is a plausible scenario in the next few months. Finding a house to rent is both similar to and different from looking at houses to buy. The condition of the house or apartment is important, but not in the same way. Even properties in good condition can experience problems, such as roof repair, broken appliances, and plumbing leaks. If you don't have a responsible landlord, these problems will rank anywhere from a moderate hassle to a time-consuming disaster that may require an appearance in court. On the other hand, older properties that may make for a poor investment as a homeowner can be a great rental property if you have a landlord that is willing to make prompt repairs.
Remember you're choosing a landlord just as much as you're choosing a house or apartment. If you're renting from an individual, take the time to meet and talk with the property owner and build a rapport. You may find this individual is a lot more forgiving than your lending institution. If you're renting from a property management company or independent apartment complex, be sure to look these companies up on the Internet. Few companies have perfect ratings, especially as some tenants have unrealistic expectations, but online reviews can frequently help you avoid negligent landlords and property management companies.

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Good Government: Tenant Bill of Rights
Local, state, and federal governments may have struggled this year to find the best answer to the housing crisis, but most states have had useful laws on the books for years helping renters ensure basic amenities. This year Colorado is joining the ranks of 48 states, leaving only Arkansas without a tenant bill of rights. Known in legal terms as a "warranty of habitability," the specific statutes naturally vary from state to state and, sometimes, even city to city. (New York City has crafted tenant protections tailored for the unique challenges of renting in the Big Apple.) What most of these legal protections have in common is that these rights cannot be signed away in a lease. Knowing your state's Tenant Bill of Rights can be an invaluable asset against negligent landlords who attempt to use the lease or other circumstances to justify their mistreatment of you and the rental property.
Often, these legal protections guarantee basic conditions in rental units but not much more. Indeed, this is what State Representative Michael Merrifield (D-Colorado Springs) had to say about Colorado's new law, "The irony is this landmark legislation is so simple: it merely ensures that people have four walls, a roof, and basic utilities."
Worst-Case Scenarios: What NOT to Do
As painful as it must have been to leave your old home, the worst thing you can do when renting is abandon the property. If you've signed a lease, you can't simply say you have a negligent landlord, move out, and stop paying rent. In fact, this is the absolute worst thing you can do. You can hold your landlord accountable for many different kinds of infractions, but he, she, or they can also hold you accountable. Rather than move out, create a documented record (mail a notarized letter to your landlord, if you have to) of your attempt to contact the landlord about needed repairs. Then, you should pay to have the problem fixed and subtract this cost from your rent. Of course, this doesn't apply in emergency situations. If your heating goes out, your roof fails, or black mold presents itself, you may be forced to leave, just as your landlord will be forced to make these repairs or provide alternate accommodations within 24 hours of notification.
Additional Tips for New Renters

• Just like any contract, read your lease carefully. Hopefully, neither party needs to invoke the lease as a legal contract, but anything not protected by your Tenant Bill of Rights will be settled by the fine print of your lease.
• Spend as much time as you can possibly spare looking around at different places of advertisement, including the newspaper, craigslist, other Internet sources, property management companies, and real estate agents who specialize in rental properties.
• Be careful, but not too careful. It's not hard to find somebody who has a horror story about carelessly signing a lease, but it's even easier to find somebody who has a story about how they just missed renting the seemingly perfect place. Thoroughly inspect the place before you sign a lease, but don't hesitate assuming you can find something better.
• Spend some extra time thinking about the length of lease you want. You don't want to be stuck in a place when your finances right themselves, but if you don't have a lease or if you have a short-term lease, be prepared for the possibility of your rent to increase when that lease has expired.

5 High Quality Building Materials that will NEVER Wear Out

by Jon Nunan

It's no surprise that the materials that top this list are also some of the oldest materials in the home improvement world. Though some of our top five are a bit more expensive than their alternatives, the longevity, durability, beauty, and ultimate value of these materials them good investments despite the higher initial cost.

1. Masonry
One of the oldest (and easily the most durable) building techniques in the world, masonry is an easy choice for our list. According to ServiceMagic.com, an online resource linking homeowners to pre-screened contractors, the nationwide average cost brick or stone siding installation is $9, 537. Since this figure includes homes where masonry doesn't make up the entire house (i.e. houses that are sided in brick on the first floor but are clad in another material on the second story), the actual cost of covering your whole house in brick or stone may be more costly. However, when you consider that these materials can last for centuries, the investment is a sound one at twice the price!

2. Traditional Tile
You can find tile in bathrooms, kitchens, flooring, and even roofing. No matter where it is installed, however, tile is an unmatched performer (and isn't hard on the eyes, either). Tile installation in bathrooms has seen some competition in recent years from tub and shower surrounds, but when it comes to durability, tile's longevity is something that can't be denied. Even when grout around tiles becomes stained or unstable, the tile itself can be salvaged and polished to create an appearance that looks brand new. Ceramic tile installation averages just under $2,000 nationwide, and saying that price will bring a lifetime of performance is actually an understatement; when properly installed, tile can literally last for generations!

3. Hardwood
Whether it's used in flooring, furniture, or wall panels, hardwood's beauty is something that homeowners have admired for centuries. The best thing about hardwood, however, is that it can give any other material a run for its money when it comes to longevity if it is properly maintained. The best way to illustrate this is the practice of building with reclaimed lumber. In recent years, the practice of collecting the wood from buildings that are scheduled for demolition has really caught on. When sanded and refinished, these salvaged boards are used to create flooring that has a unique and authentic look that, despite their already long life, can be expected to last for decades more! New hardwood floor installation averages about $5,100; since reclaimed wood often takes a lot of effort to make it ready for installation, it can actually be more expensive than new hardwood!

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4. Metal Roofing
Though metal roofing can certainly be considered a classic material, new technology has made this oldie even better. Though there are metal roofs on barns and other structures that have been around for over 100 years, these are often criticized because of their lack of insulation and their tendency to be very noisy during rain showers. With today's metal roofing, you get the same incredible durability without the noise; installation of these roofs is also now done so that a metal roof will insulate just as well as a roof of asphalt! Though generally two or three times more expensive to install than asphalt shingles, the longevity of these beauties makes them an excellent investment over the long haul.

5. Copper Gutters
Though gutters often get neglected or ignored, the fact is that they are responsible for keeping the damaging effects of precipitation from hurting your home in other areas. When you are looking to replace old gutters, the most folks in America disregard copper because of the price (averaging about $5,600 per installation compared to $1,000 or $2,000 for the competition). However, just because something is popular doesn't mean that it is the best. Copper gutters don't just give a property a unique, classy appearance, they are also far more durable than vinyl, aluminum, or wood gutters and are likely to last a lifetime. While it is easy to see how the price of copper gutters might be off-putting, when it comes to performance, there is simply no competition.