While you may envision your ideal kitchen with granite countertops and top of the line appliances, many homeowners don't have the budget to afford these dream spaces. However, that doesn't mean that you can't update your space to make it more enjoyable and more uniquely yours.
No matter what your budget, there are many updates that you can make to your kitchen or bathroom to add some design style.
Here are a few examples of ways that you can add some design elements and your unique style to your rooms while still following a budget:
$1,000 Budget
With this small budget, you may need to get a bit creative to achieve your goals, but there are some easy steps that will greatly improve the look of your kitchen or bath
Kitchens:
* Countertops — To simulate the look of real (and very expensive) stone, without the cost, use ceramic tile or a higher density, more upscale tile called through-body porcelain tile. Especially for countertops, since they cover a large surface area of your kitchen, a new tile surface will add a dramatic update. However, for an even lower cost, choose a new laminate countertop to replace outdated or worn countertops for a fresh, new look.
* Faucets and Hardware — Replacing an old faucet with a newer, stylish model in an updated finish will instantly perk up a kitchen. Then, update drawer pulls and knobs to match the finish of the faucet to pull your room together.
* Cabinets — If your cabinets are paintable, a fresh coat of paint can brighten and refresh worn cabinets and give the entire room an updated look.
* Window Coverings — Remove old valances and let in more natural light with simple, open window treatments. Replace old vinyl blinds with two-inch faux wood blinds. These offer an upscale look of genuine white wood blinds without the associated cost.
* Paint — Perhaps your room has some flowered wallpaper or grandma's favorite shade of pink on the walls. Painting is often the least intimidating project and has the biggest impact on a room. So strip off that wallpaper, prime those walls and add a splash of your favorite color to reflect your style and update your kitchen.
Bathrooms:
* Vanity and Countertops — Since it is the working area of the bathroom and often the focal point, you may want to replace the current vanity. Or, if the vanity is in decent shape, try working with what you have and just replace the countertop and update the knobs and pulls on the vanity. Since you don't have as much area to replace as in the kitchen you may want to try an upgraded material for the countertop, such as a ceramic tile.
* Faucet — Often the focal point of a bathroom is the sink and faucet area. For a modest price with large impact, you may choose a more bold or dynamic new faucet. Faucets today are available in a variety of shapes, designs and finishes to meet the style and functional needs of any bathroom.
* Paint and Color — Inject color and style into a bathroom with a new paint color. Since it is a smaller space, especially for a powder room, choose a color that you love but might not be brave enough to use in a larger, more prominent room. Be sure to tie your color together with coordinating towels and shower curtain.
* Floor — Since the bathroom is one of the most used and abused rooms in the home, try updating the flooring with a ceramic tile or through-body porcelain tile to add style and functionality to your bath.
$5,000 Budget
With a little more room in the budget, you now have the opportunity to do a bit more or to upgrade the materials to transform your room. Just, don't forget the basics, such as painting walls and changing window coverings.
Kitchens:
* Countertops — With a bit more budget, you may now be able to afford upgraded countertop materials, such as stone or a solid surface product, such as Silestone®. The natural-looking surface will update and add style to any kitchen.
* Floors — New laminate flooring may be a cost-effective choice for homeowners who prefer to leave installation to the professionals. However for the adventurous DIYer, natural stone products, such as slate, are now an affordable and stylish option.
* Sinks, Faucets and Hardware — Since the sink and faucet are functional parts of your kitchen that you and your family will interact with everyday, they are great updates to consider. Beyond just replacing with newer models, perhaps you may want to upgrade to an undermount sink or a high arc faucet with pull-down spout. When choosing the new faucet you can let your design flair loose and choose a new finish beyond the traditional stainless. Just be sure to coordinate the drawer pulls and knobs in a similar finish.
Bathrooms:
* Flooring — While ceramic tile is a popular, cost-effective option, a more upscale and luxurious choice for flooring is a natural stone, such as granite. Today's natural stone floors offer a variety of colors and patterns to add a unique and upscale flair to your bathroom.
* Vanity and Sink — With more budget to work with, replacing the current area with a pedestal sink or a new vanity will automatically add an updated, new look to the bathroom. Pedestal sinks often make the room look larger and more upscale than a vanity, but if storage is a concern a new vanity is the wiser, more functional choice.
* Water Closet — While you may not think of a toilet adding style to a room, a shiny new toilet (perhaps to match a new sink) will give your bathroom a fresh new feeling for you and your guests to enjoy.
* Faucet and Accessories — With the endless variety of coordinating bathroom collections, a new faucet and accessories will update the look of your bathroom, tie your design together for a cohesive look, as well as provide functional storage tools, such as shelving, toothbrush and soap holders and towel bars.
$10,000+ Budget
A big budget opens the door for many other upscale materials or custom design details. Again, even with a bigger budget, don't forget those easy and inexpensive fixes, such as painting!
Kitchens:
* Countertops — Larger budgets could mean larger natural stones, such as marble or large pieces of granite. These beautiful, large slabs of stone can add a naturally beautiful design that you can use as the central inspiration for the rest of the room. Additionally, new popular solid surface countertops, such as Corian® may be an upgrade option.
* Floors — Wood floors add to the natural beauty and design of a kitchen. Newer woods, such as teak, are becoming more popular for their natural moisture resistance and beautiful color tone.
* Lighting — With the extra budget, be sure to banish the fluorescent lighting fixtures to the garage. Many homeowners don't realize that different types of lighting actually produce different colors of light. For instance, fluorescent produces an unflattering, cold, bluish light. To add a warmer, natural-looking light, try recessed lighting fixtures or sconces with incandescent or halogen lights.
* Sinks, Faucets and Hardware — When updating the countertops to new natural stone, an undermount sink is the perfect way to accent the new smooth-edge design. Additionally, with the variety of designs, kitchen faucets can add the final touch. With intricate designs with one or two handles, high arc or even pullout spouts, the faucet can be the jewel in the center of the new beautiful countertop. And if the budget is too low to overhaul the cabinets, be sure to update the old cabinets with new hardware to coordinate with the new sink and faucet.
* Cabinets — Today's options in cabinet colors and styles are endless. No matter what your style preference or budget, there is a cabinet to meet your needs. For tighter budgets, you may look to affordable stock lines of cabinets. Or with larger budget, perhaps semi-custom cabinets with custom storage solutions and accessories are in order. Also, remember the newest mix and match trend when choosing your cabinets. This can add more to your design and may help to accommodate your space or your budget.
Bathrooms:
* Vanity — No longer do you need to choose from what's in stock-with a larger budget, you can begin to design more customized vanities. Whether you are interested in a more traditional look that meets your needs, or a completely original look with exotic materials such as natural stone, the designs can be as big as your imagination.
* Sink — To go along with a custom-designed vanity, you might consider a specialty sink. Whether you are interested in a free-standing vessel sink with a wall-mount faucet, or a uniquely shaped stainless or porcelain sink with a unique asian-themed free-flowing faucet, this area can become a beautiful art masterpiece.
* Shower and Bath — Showers and baths can become the spa-like experience of your dreams. Think about creating a vertical spa with massaging jets in a walk-in shower made of stone or glass. Or add a sunken tub with a large Roman tub faucet to sink back and relax after a long day.
No matter what your budget, any homeowner can add design style to their kitchen and bath(s). You may need to start small or wait until your budget allows, but by adding elements that inspire you, you will be able to enjoy these two well-used rooms.
Resource: Moen.com
Living "Green" with Tomboy Tools: There are many ways all of us can contribute to a "greener" planet if we do our part. Here are some tips this month that you can incorporate into your green footprint:
To Help You Get Started:
- Reduce Your Packaging: Buy bulk or concentrated products when you can.
- Reduce Toxicity or Learn How: Recycle your batteries and use batteries with reduced mercury.
- Select Reusable Products: Sturdy, washable utensils, tableware, cloth napkins, and dishcloths can be used many times.
- Use Durable Products: Choose furniture, sports equipment, toys, and tools that will stand the test of time.
- Reuse Products: Reuse newspaper, boxes, shipping "peanuts," and "bubble wrap" to ship packages.
- Recycle Automotive Products: Take car batteries, antifreeze, and motor oil to participating recycling centers.
- Buy Products Made From Recycled Material: Many bottles, cans, cereal boxes, containers, and cartons are made from recycled material.
- Compost or Learn How: Food scraps and yard waste can become natural soil conditioners.
- Think "green" while shopping the President's Day sales. Bring your own reusable cloth bag for carrying your purchases, and try to buy items with minimal packaging and/or made with recycled content. For example, buy fleece jackets made from recycled soda bottles, sneakers made with recycled rubber soles, or clothes made from recycled cotton scraps.
- Don't become dehydrated playing winter sports. Prevent waste by using a reusable sports bottle instead of disposable plastic bottles. If you are providing drinks for your team, supply them in reusable containers such as thermoses or hard plastic cups.
- Before storing your used sports equipment for the winter, consider donating or selling any equipment you no longer want to a charity or used sporting goods store. Also consider donating old soccer balls, footballs, or tennis balls to your local animal shelter to use as chew toys.
- If you are participating in a winter sport, purchase used sports equipment whenever possible, and look for sporting goods that are made from recycled material. Examples include hiking shoes with recycled rubber soles, basketballs made with recycled rubber, and ski jackets and sleeping bags made from recycled soda bottles.
- For sports you don't regularly participate in, try renting or borrowing equipment rather than buying it. This will save you money and prevent waste!
- For cold weather sporting events, wear multiple layers of clothing or thermal underwear instead of relying on battery-operated or kerosene heaters.
- When possible, use skis, snow shoes, or sleds to go through snow instead of gas-powered snowmobiles.
- If you are hosting a basketball party, buy drinks and snacks in bulk to prevent packaging waste, and encourage guests to recycle their empty aluminum cans and glass or plastic bottles. Also reuse decorations, or rent some from a party store.
Resource: EPA.org
(ARA) - Saving money is on everyone's mind this winter season. Between the holiday expenses, colder temperatures and tight budgets, finding ways to reduce costs can be a bit of a challenge.
If you're looking for ways to save, look at your home, and see if you can improve on your energy efficiency - thereby keeping a few extra dollars in your pocket.
* Program the temperature. You already know that the lower you set the thermometer in winter, the less your furnace will work. Having the temperature set in the low 60s when out and about makes perfect sense. But when you are home, setting the temps a bit higher will help keep you comfortable. Instead of continuously running back and forth to the thermostat to constantly keep readjusting the temperature, install a programmable thermostat and preset the times you want the temps lower or higher.
* Clean your heating and cooling system. To help your furnace operate better, hire a qualified company to clean the ducts, blower, cooling coils and heat exchanger. To find someone certified contact NADCA - the HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. NADCA recommends homeowners clean their heating and cooling systems annually, because dust and pollen build up on your ducts, and then recirculate through your home. This buildup of dirt prevents your furnace from efficiently running, making it work harder and run longer to maintain the temperature you set.
"A clean heating and cooling system helps to increase the airflow through your furnace, which in turn helps to make your home more comfortable," says Matt Mongiello, president of NADCA. "And when you combine a clean system with controlled temperatures, you'll notice the savings on your utility bills."
* Wash clothes in cold water. Every household processes about 400 loads of laundry per year, according to the California Energy Commission , making your washer one of the biggest water consuming products in your house. To help save on energy, wash your clothes only in cold water so you don't have to spend money using the water heater. And make sure you only process full loads to help conserve the number of loads you run and water you use.
Additional energy savings can be found by line drying your clothes, or running them through the dryer for half the time, and then air drying them the rest of the time.
Across most of the country, humidity levels tend to be lower during the winter months, which helps to speed up the clothes drying process.
* Unplug appliances. The amount of electricity consumed in your home often can easily be reduced by just unplugging and turning off items. According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, 5 percent of residential energy use in the U.S. is used when appliances are in the off position. Consider unplugging smaller appliances such as your microwave, cellphone charger, coffee maker and desktop computer which can continue to consume energy, even when you're not using them. If the appliance has a clock, or electrical display of some sort, electricity is needed to keep those items illuminated. If it's a hassle to unplug these items after each and every use, consider putting them on a power strip, so you can quickly and easily flip the switch on and off when you need to use the appliances.
Tightening down on your energy usage can help you save a couple of dollars here and there, and also keep you more comfortable in your home. So sit back and relax in your home and enjoy the winter season.
According to a recent report from Global Industry Analysts, Inc. (GIA), the global market for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and home improvement products is expected to maintain steady growth over the next few years primarily driven by factors such as the rise of the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture, widespread availability of easy-to-install/use products and increase in recession induced cautious spending habits of financially strained customers.
DIY, a multibillion-dollar industry has been experiencing steady growth over the last few years. Growing popularity of DIY concept can be put to perspective by the rapidly increasing number of products and services, including books, websites, television programs, tools and accessories that are being designed and served especially for DIY tasks. Widespread availability of easy-to-use products for home repair, crafts and decorations and gardening activities also augurs well for the market.
Home improvement segment continues to be one of the major end-use markets for DIY solutions, contributing a significant share in the market’s revenues. Media, especially television has been playing a major role in developing DIY consumer base by telecasting shows on home remodelling and repairs. Market for DIY solutions in the home improvement segment got a major boost during the recent economic recession as cost-wary individuals preferred spending their leisure time at home doing household chores to spare overhead spending, thus increasing their use of DIY tools.
Consumers’ focus on renovating their home for enhancing the aesthetic value of the property and sustain its commercial value for a longer period of time will continue to benefit DIY market in this segment. Besides home improvement, the automotive and landscaping markets also generate considerable demand for DIY solutions. Factors such as growth in number of vehicles plying on roads, increase in average life of vehicles, and subsequent wear and tear of parts and accessories will continue to fuel demand for Do-it-Yourself (DIY) solutions in this segment, including those used for repairing and maintaining automotive electronic components. Lawn and garden improvement also presents growth opportunities for DIY hardware.
The research report titled “DIY Industry: A Global Outlook” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a collection of statistical anecdotes, market briefs, and concise summaries of research findings. The report offers a rudimentary overview of the industry, highlights latest trends and demand drivers, in addition to providing statistical insights. Regional markets briefly abstracted and covered include US, Canada, Europe (France, Germany, Turkey, and the UK), Asia-Pacific (Japan, and India) Latin America and Israel. The report offers a compilation of recent mergers, acquisitions, and strategic corporate developments. Also included is an indexed, easy-to-refer, fact-finder directory listing the addresses, and contact details of companies worldwide.
For more details about this comprehensive industry report, please visit –
http://www.strategyr.com/Do_It_Yourself_DIY_Industry_Market_Report.asp
Resource: PRWeb, Global Industry Analysts, Inc
