Dear Abby: My otherwise loving, honest, generous, kind and attentive husband of 10 years feels it’s his right to walk into the bathroom whenever he wants, even when I’m in there. He says it’s coincidence, but I think he does it intentionally. We don’t have locks—or even doors—to shut our master bathroom. We do have other bathrooms in the house.

I have asked him repeatedly not to come in or to make some noise so I know he’s coming. He says he “forgets.” If I’m in the shower or bent over with my head upside down blow-drying my hair and turn around or look up and see another person, I get startled. My adrenaline pumps and I end up yelling at him.

I’d prefer to get clean and pretty in peace. My husband thinks I’m overreacting. Am I?

—Bothered in the Bathroom

Dear Bothered: Feeling as strongly as you do, it’s surprising that you would move into a house in which the master bedroom and bath are set up this way. And yes, I do think you’re overreacting.

However, you have a couple of options: The first would be for you to get clean and pretty in one of the other bathrooms. The second would be to start a remodeling project and have a door (or doors) to your master bath installed so your husband can knock before entering.

Shell out for sitter

Dear Abby: I’m a 40-year-old working mother raising a daughter who is the joy of my life. Once in a great while I’ll accept an invitation to go on a date and hire a baby sitter to watch my daughter.

My question is, who should pay for the sitter? The man who asked me out or should I? I have yet to have a suitor offer to pay. Is that just the way it is, or are these men just cheap?

—Mom On a Budget

Dear Mom: Paying for your daughter’s sitter is YOUR responsibility. When you become involved in a steady relationship and the cost of a sitter becomes a financial burden, discuss it then with your boyfriend, who should be willing to share some of the cost.

Link:
Bathroom becomes battleground

DEAR ABBY: My otherwise loving, honest, generous, kind and attentive husband of 10 years feels it's his right to walk into the bathroom whenever he wants, even when I'm in there. He says it's coincidence, but I think he does it intentionally. We don't have locks -- or even doors -- to shut our master bathroom. We do have other bathrooms in the house.

I have asked him repeatedly not to come in or to make some noise so I know he's coming. He says he "forgets." If I'm in the shower or bent over with my head upside down blow-drying my hair and turn around or look up and see another person, I get startled. My adrenaline pumps and I end up yelling at him.

I'd prefer to get clean and pretty in peace. My husband thinks I'm overreacting. Am I? -- BOTHERED IN THE BATHROOM

DEAR BOTHERED: Feeling as strongly as you do, it's surprising that you would move into a house in which the master bedroom and bath are set up this way. And yes, I do think you're overreacting.

However, you have a couple of options: The first would be for you to get clean and pretty in one of the other bathrooms. The second would be to start a remodeling project and have a door (or doors) to your master bath installed so your husband can knock before entering.

DEAR ABBY: I am married to a wonderful and unique man. Despite his privileged upbringing he is very down-to-earth. His parents' affluence afforded him many opportunities and still does. Unfortunately, my in-laws are snobbish, self-absorbed and competitive. They are critical of everyone -- especially their grown son. They put him and each other down constantly. They cause scenes and can't enjoy life.

My husband is trying to be patient because he knows his parents aren't going to change at their age. But they consume so much of our energy with their constant dramatic highs and lows. Any advice for dealing with drama queens (and kings)? They do love us and can be considerate. -- LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR REAL: It may help you and your husband to understand that people who act the way your in-laws do are usually insecure on some basic level. They put others down to inflate their egos and reassure themselves that they're "OK" by magnifying (or inventing) flaws in others. When your in-laws start to criticize, be pleasant and make a point of saying something positive about their target. It will short-circuit the rant.

DEAR ABBY: I'm a 40-year-old working mother raising a daughter who is the joy of my life. Once in a great while I'll accept an invitation to go on a date and hire a baby sitter to watch my daughter.

My question is, who should pay for the sitter? The man who asked me out or should I? I have yet to have a suitor offer to pay. Is that just the way it is, or are these men just cheap? -- MOM ON A BUDGET

DEAR MOM: Paying for your daughter's sitter is your responsibility. When you become involved in a steady relationship and the cost of a sitter becomes a financial burden, discuss it then with your boyfriend, who should be willing to share some of the cost.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at http://www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

To order "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.

Here is the original post:
Couple Can't Come To Terms Over Bathroom Battleground

By Jeanne Phillips

Updated: 2012-02-21T18:14:58Z

Q. Dear Abby: My otherwise loving, honest, generous, kind and attentive husband of 10 years feels it’s his right to walk into the bathroom whenever he wants, even when I’m in there. He says it’s coincidence, but I think he does it intentionally. We don’t have locks — or even doors — to shut our master bathroom. We do have other bathrooms in the house.

I have asked him repeatedly not to come in or to make some noise so I know he’s coming. He says he “forgets.” If I’m in the shower or bent over with my head upside down blow-drying my hair and turn around or look up and see another person, I get startled. My adrenaline pumps and I end up yelling at him.I’d prefer to get clean and pretty in peace. My husband thinks I’m overreacting. Am I? — Bothered in the BathroomA. Dear Bothered: Feeling as strongly as you do, it’s surprising that you would move into a house in which the master bedroom and bath are set up this way. And yes, I do think you’re overreacting. However, you have a couple of options: The first would be for you to get clean and pretty in one of the other bathrooms. The second would be to start a remodeling project and have a door (or doors) to your master bath installed so your husband can knock before entering.In-laws can’t break pattern of dramaQ. Dear Abby: I am married to a wonderful and unique man. Despite his privileged upbringing, he is very down-to-earth. His parents’ affluence afforded him many opportunities and still does. Unfortunately, my in-laws are snobbish, self-absorbed and competitive. They are critical of everyone — especially their grown son. They put him and each other down constantly. They cause scenes and can’t enjoy life.My husband is trying to be patient because he knows his parents aren’t going to change at their age. But they consume so much of our energy with their constant, dramatic highs and lows. Any advice for dealing with drama queens (and kings)? They do love us and can be considerate. — Living in the Real World in New JerseyA. Dear Real: It may help you and your husband to understand that people who act the way your in-laws do are usually insecure on some basic level. They put others down to inflate their egos and reassure themselves that they’re “OK” by magnifying (or inventing) flaws in others. When your in-laws start to criticize, be pleasant and make a point of saying something positive about their target. It will short-circuit the rant.Parents, not their dates, pay for baby-sittingQ. Dear Abby: I’m a 40-year-old working mother raising a daughter who is the joy of my life. Once in a great while I’ll accept an invitation to go on a date and hire a baby sitter to watch my daughter.My question is, who should pay for the sitter? The man who asked me out or should I? I have yet to have a suitor offer to pay. Is that just the way it is, or are these men just cheap? — Mom on a Budget A. Dear Mom: Paying for your daughter’s sitter is your responsibility. When you become involved in a steady relationship and the cost of a sitter becomes a financial burden, discuss it then with your boyfriend, who should be willing to share some of the cost.© 2012 Universal Uclick 2/23

Write Dear Abby at http://www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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Dear Abby | Wife wants her bathroom privacy

*Note: This was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Do you have a real estate story that you'd like to share? Sign up with the Yahoo! Contributor Network to start publishing your own finance articles.

As a remodeling contractor in rural communities for many years, I often won bids over competitors by adding services that homeowners would find helpful. One service I performed was taking the project blueprints to the bank or finance company to get a projected cost versus value estimate for the potential client. Until the mid-nineties, a remodeling job often led to an improved bottom line for the homeowner, and being able to show proof on paper gave me the edge in securing a contract.

By the turn of the century, the cost of labor and construction materials had skyrocketed, adding thousands to what once were cost efficient remodels. This made the task of convincing the homeowner to go ahead with the project (even though money would be lost) a difficult sell. Today, the idea of adding equity to your home by adding onto it or by doing a kitchen or bathroom remodel is virtually non-existent.

Now, the cost of a major remodel job will cut thousands from your bottom line. While the cost versus profit ratio varies from region to region, in every case, loss is evident. This chart from, Remodeling Magazine, offers comparisons related to the average cost of the most common remodeling projects in different regions of the United States.

That is not to say, you should let maintenance slide. If your home is on the market, the chances of it selling are greatly increased if the home is eye appealing and not in need of repair. If you do not want to spring for a contractor, and are handy with your hands, you can turn a good buck by tackling projects yourself.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the exterior of your home should be the first area to receive attention. If the paint is peeling, the lawn is not mowed or has a lot of weeds, and the roof looks old and tired, perspective buyers will be turned off.

There are many things a homeowner can do himself or herself that require little more than common sense. Loose siding can be reattached; peeling paint can scraped and repainted. The lawn can be mowed, edged, and reseeded. Driveways can be patched, and windows can be caulked.

Once the exterior is cleaned up, move inside. Check walls and ceilings for cracks and if necessary, fill with spackle and repaint. Move out the clutter to present an airy open look. Clean the windows, and make sure the screens are intact. You may even want to hire a professional cleaning company until your house sells.

Once you have done all you can to improve the home, your odds of selling will be better and you will rest easier knowing you have done your duty and saved a substantial amount of money by taking matters into your own hands.

Original post:
First Person: Home Remodeling Is No Longer a Good Investment

Kempner Volunteer Fire Department seeks funding from Lampasas County Posted On: Monday, Feb. 13 2012 11:17 PM Bathroom renovations to comply with American Disabilities Act

By Mason W. Canales

Killeen Daily Herald

LAMPASAS — County commissioners agreed Monday to consider financing the remodeling of the Kempner Volunteer Fire Department bathrooms to bring them into compliance with the American Disabilities Act before the municipal elections.

Kempner Volunteer Fire Chief Dan Hause approached county commissioners Monday in hopes the governing entity would pay for renovations to a public bathroom in its main station on Pecan Road in Kempner.

"Technically, the majority of the people that come into the building are the public because of the court," said Hause, who noted earlier that Justice of the Peace Sheila Hood also uses the facility.

The Kempner Volunteer Fire Department has allowed the county official to use the facilities for several years at no cost, said Hause.

The restrooms are the closest to the courtroom and do not meet American Disabilities Act compliance.

"When we know there is a handicapped person coming to court, we do make the courtroom accessible, but we do not have restroom facilities there, not even a water fountain," said Hood.

Hause said the fire department already sought one contractor's opinion on remodeling the bathrooms and estimates it would cost about $26,000.

County Auditor Jack Clark questioned why the county would pay 100 percent of the remodeling cost for a joint-use facility, especially when it includes a shower that members of the public probably would not use.

"Over the years, we have been giving, giving, giving, and now we are asking," said Hause.

Clark said the county has helped pay for fire trucks and other equipment since the creation of the department.

Commissioners debated whether the bathroom should be paid for this year or next, until County Elections Administrator Dorothy Person said without ADA-compliant bathrooms, the site can't be used as a polling place for elections.

The facility has the largest parking lot and has served as the polling site in Kempner for years and the county would like to continue to do so, she said. Person said she didn't know the bathrooms weren't in compliance until fire department officials brought it to the county's attention at Monday's meeting.

Commissioners agreed to find funding for the renovations, but asked Hause to seek two to three more bids from contractors by their next meeting, when they plan to formally vote on the issue.

County commissioners also took the following actions:

Appointed Commissioner Alex Wittenburg to sit on the Lampasas committee for the design of the Lampasas City Fire Station.

Requested the county attorney draft a surety bond to cover damages caused by Oncor Electric Delivery on county roadways.

Approved a platting for a seven-lot subdivision on County Road 4700.

Contact Mason W. Canales at mcanales@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7474. Follow him on Twitter at KDHCoveEditor.

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Bathroom renovations to comply with American Disabilities Act

By Jean Nayar
From Home Sweet Solutions 

What's the best way to hang a bathroom mirror? The answer depends on what kind of bathroom mirror you'd like to mount, as mirrors are either framed or frameless:

Framed mirrors can be hung using a traditional picture hanger, or by way of the wire hanger typically pre-attached to the frame.

Frameless mirrors, on the other hand, are best hung with mounting clips and mirror brackets.

Both mounting methods are easy and ideally rely on wall studs to ensure that the mirror will have enough support to keep it from falling off the wall and breaking. If mounting onto studs is not feasible, you'll need wall anchors to support the frame. Frameless mirrors can also be mounted with mastic, a very strong adhesive. If you want to remove a mirror applied with mastic, however, you'll damage any drywall behind the adhesive, and the mirror will break. (The methods described here do not involve mastic.)

SUPPLIES

Pencil
Measuring tape (or metal ruler)
Level
Stud finder
Drill
Screwdriver
Drywall anchors
Drywall screws
Metal mirror J-clips and slide-in brackets (optional)

HOW TO INSTALL A FRAMED MIRROR

Determine bracket type:

1. Examine the type of brackets on the back of the mirror. They will either be individual picture brackets or two brackets on each side of the frame attached to a long piece of wire. Individual brackets will require one screw for each bracket. Wire hangers that are less than 3 feet long can be hung on a single screw in the middle. Wire hangers that are more than 3 feet long will require more screws.

Position the mirror:

2. Hold the mirror against the wall and place a level at the top of the mirror. Mark the mirror's placement with a pencil around the top and bottom corners.

3. Slide the stud finder along the bathroom wall to locate the stud(s). Mark the location with a pencil.

4. Measure the distance from the top of the mirror to the hangers or wire on the back of the mirror. Use this measurement to mark the positions for the screws, placing at least one mark on a stud if possible. Use a level and a yardstick/metal ruler to mark the position of the other screw if needed.

Insert the screws:

5. Drill pilot holes into the marks for the screws or wall anchors. If the screws will be mounted on drywall rather than on studs, tap the anchors in place with a hammer, using a threaded wall anchor, plastic toggle anchor, or metal expandable anchor, depending on the weight of your mirror. If your marks fall on a stud, drill a small pilot hole directly into the stud. Then insert the screws, leaving a short length of screw extending from the wall surface.

Hang the mirror:

6. Place the mirror hangers onto the screws. If your mirror will be hung on a wire, adjust it to make it level.

HOW TO INSTALL A FRAMELESS MIRROR

Position the mirror:

1. Hold the mirror against the wall and place a level at the top of the mirror. Mark the mirror's placement with a pencil around the top and bottom corners. Determine the number of clips required to support it.

Locate the studs:

2. Slide a stud finder along the wall to locate the studs. Mark their location with a pencil.

Install the clips:

3. Measure and mark the positions of the bottom clips. Drill holes for the screws into the studs if they're centered behind the position of the mirror. If not, aim to position at least one clip on a stud if possible. Otherwise, mark the positions of the bottom clips on the drywall.

4. Tap in appropriate wall anchors and screw in the clips, squaring them into place.

Install the mirror:

5. Slide the mirror into the clips. Mark the positions of the upper clips and brackets on the wall. Remove the mirror.

6. Mark and drill pilot holes. Insert wall anchors if necessary and screw the clip brackets into place.

7. Replace the mirror into the bottom clips and insert the top clips into the brackets to secure the mirror in place.

Jean Nayar is a licensed real estate agent and design journalist who's authored nine books on decorating and design, including Green Living by Design, the best-selling Staged to Sell (or Keep) and The Happy Home Project: A Practical Guide to Adding Style and Substance to Your Home. The former editor in chief of Kitchens & Baths, Easy Decorating and Remodeling & Makeovers blogs at TheHappyHomeWorkshop.com about living with style, sustainability and substance.

Copyright © 2012 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

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How to mount a mirror in your bathroom

MILWAUKEE — Remodeling your home can feel like a never-ending project and can be stressful! Many wonder where to begin, and how much it’ll all cost, and others need help coming up with a design. This weekend, those hoping to find some answers and ideas filled the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park for the 2012 Milwaukee NARI Home Improvement Show.

A home is one of the biggest investments most people will make in their lives, and the idea of home ownership has changed in recent years. “People are staying home. They’re not selling their houses. They’re saying ‘okay, let’s make this a comfortable place,’”

Experts at the 50th annual NARI Home Improvement Show spent the weekend giving advice on how to make your house a home. When it comes to the exterior of your home, Randy Miller from Alright Home and Remodeling says a good tip is starting with the roof, and working your way down to the siding and windows. “Taking care of the top and making sure that’s not going to end up having leaking problems, and then you can completely seal it up, and finish up with the siding and caulk,” Miller said.

A common theme at this year’s NARI Home Improvement Show was less maintenance – whether you’re interested in replacing your kitchen countertops: “If you’re looking for a beautiful, almost an art piece, you might go with a piece of granite or marble,” Or – remodeling your bathroom: “We are going to much smaller soaking tubs, bubble massage with a larger luxury shower with maybe some specialty sprays,” Some are getting rid of their bath tubs altogether, as people are busier and don’t necessarily have time to take baths.

The NARI Home Improvement Show even offered tips for redesigning your garden. “Some of the smaller fruited shrubs are really healthy for you and good for the birds, so even if you don’t eat it, it’s good for the birds,”

Nicki Losinski from Bella Kitchen and Bath says: don’t get too caught up in finding the right finish for your wooden cabinets and floors. “You can have the old oak floors that you refinish. They look gorgeous brand-new, and you can pair it with maple or cherry, different wood species,” Losinski said.

Experts say they can provide tips, but the bottom line is: how much are you willing/able to spend to make that dream home a reality.

Continue reading here:
NARI Home Show offers remodeling tips

WASHINGTON — Do you fit any of these descriptions?

- You came through the housing bust and recession far more debt-averse than you were before.

- You’ve been reluctant to consider selling your house because you don’t believe you’ll get what it’s really worth.

- Buying a new home is out of the question, even with today’s low interest rates, because it’s so difficult to qualify for a mortgage.

- You’ve gradually come to the conclusion that it’s smarter to improve the house you already own — spend some money on making it more comfortable, more up to date — and just stay put for a while.

Whether you share them or not, sentiments such as these are having profound effects on real estate markets across the country, fueling post-recession interest in remodeling. In fact, according to federal estimates, by late last year the annualized dollar value of expenditures on renovations outstripped expenditures on newly constructed single family homes — a huge change from pre-recession years, when the ratio was sometimes 3-to-1 in favor of new construction.

Underscoring this trend: In late January, the National Association of Home Builders’ remodeling market index hit its highest level in five years. It’s not that remodeling is moving into boom territory, said David Crowe, chief economist of the association, but rather that for many consumers, fixing up their house now fits their sentiments — and their finances — far better than selling or buying.

Interviews with builders and remodelers in different parts of the country point to important changes in homeowner strategies. In Seattle, Joe McKinstry, president of Joseph McKinstry Construction Co., says inquiries about possible remodeling projects have nearly tripled in the past 12 months.

“I feel like people are starting to say, ‘Well, we’re not going to move anytime soon because, if we do, we’re going to get 30 percent less than the house is worth. Why don’t we do something in the kitchen or bathroom for our own enjoyment, since we’re not going anywhere real soon?’”

Generally the projects that people want to do are no longer on the grand McMansion show-off scale, but smaller, more modest, less costly efforts than five to seven years ago, with more emphasis on finishing details and quality than square footage. “Now (owners) are being much more judicious about how they spend their money,” said McKinstry.

Bob Peterson, chief executive of ABD Design/Build in Fort Collins, Colo., also is seeing a significant jump in interest in renovating, especially from owners who have been in their houses for years, have built up some savings and managed to get through the recession without falling behind on their mortgages.

The average project that Peterson’s firm is doing now costs about $45,000, and 90 percent of his clients are finding ways to pay cash.

“If they’re financing anything, they’re not telling us about it,” said Peterson, who is also chairman of the Remodelers Council of the National Association of Home Builders.

Bruce Case, president of Case Design/Remodeling of Bethesda, Md., agrees that because of high underwriting hurdles in the mortgage market, the majority of his remodeling clients are tapping savings, retirement accounts, liquidating securities and the like. But 20 percent of his firm’s dollar volume still involves some form of financing, particularly for higher-cost projects.

Where do these folks go for their money? Case says local and regional banks and credit unions are increasingly important sources. They tend to know the local real estate environment better and “are willing to look at (applications) more holistically.”

Some clients are successfully using the Federal Housing Administration’s renovation financing program known as “FHA 203(k).” Others who have solid equity stakes, high credit scores and other assets that they can bring to the table are convincing large national banks to give them a mortgage. And a few are pulling on lines of credit that weren’t yanked or slashed during the recession.

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Remodeling momentum builds in post-recession market

13-01-2012 16:45 Remodeling a bathroom can go a number of different ways. Different types of remodeling will have different costs and take different amounts of time. Here's a video on the different types of bathroom remodeling.

Originally posted here:
Different Types of Bathroom Remodeling - Video

07-08-2011 15:00 Konon.us http://www.KononDesign.us http more info, more pictures, more ideas.

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New Modern Design, Kitchens Interior - Video