Ah, the powder room. That whimsical, showoff of a bathroom. Unless of course, its fixtures are frumpy, its style lost in the last century. Here's how to remodel your powder room so you're never afraid to say, "Yes!" when someone asks, "Do you have a restroom I can use?"

Style A powder room, because of its small size, is a great place to take chances with design. You might try an intense color or unusual materials, ones that might overpower a larger room. "You can go really crazy," says Sara Ann Busby, president-elect of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and owner of Sara Busby Designs, Elk Rapids, Mich.

Before contacting a bath design professional, give some thought to what style of powder room you prefer. Unsure of your personal style? Yes/No Design: Discover Your Decorating Style With Taste-Revealing Exercises and Examples by Diane Love (Rizzoli International Publications) can help you get a handle on it.

Once you've pinpointed your style, check out some beautiful bathrooms in person. Decorator show houses, kitchen and bath showrooms, and plumbing showrooms provide places to see styles in 3-D, says Jessica Clock, a designer with Carmel Kitchen Specialists Inc. of Carmel, Ind.

Color When auditioning colors for your powder room, beige, tan and sand need not apply. Bold hues like merlot, navy, chocolate and even black work well in this small space. Although conventional decorating wisdom suggests that lighter colors make a small room feel bigger, there's no need for visual tricks here. Embrace the room's small size and go for drama instead. "I love the idea of creating a jewel box. A bathroom doesn't have to be big to be effective," says Randall Whitehead, lighting designer and owner of Randall Whitehead Lighting Designs.

Layout Despite the room's small size, many mechanicals must be included. "You've got big drain lines to get in and obviously the water supply lines," Sara Ann says. "You've got to get ventilation in there and possibly a window and some very specific products that aren't really flexible in size," like a toilet and sink. A professional designer can look at the overall size of the room, take the mechanicals into account, and create a floor plan that maximizes space.

Materials Powder rooms are the perfect place to dabble in materials that are more costly, delicate or require more maintenance because the room needs considerably less material than other bathrooms and receives less traffic. Sara Ann Busby also suggests using materials in unusual ways. For example, she likes to add a twist to stone countertops by creating a jagged edge. The effect is unexpected and gives a natural feel to the bathroom.

Accessories To make a powder room hospitable, accessorize. Add art to walls, arrange small vignettes on the countertops, and provide little luxuries like finely milled soaps and rich lotion for guests to use. The one thing a powder room doesn't need much of is storage. Anything a visitor needs from hand towels to extra toilet tissue should be in plain sight. So put the lights on a dimmer, light a wonderful candle, and the next time someone asks to use the bathroom tell them yes, without hesitation.

Resources

Sara Ann Busby NKBA President-Elect, 2007 Sara Busby Design Elk Rapids, Mich. SaraBusbyDesign.com

Excerpt from:
Remodeling Your Powder Room : Rooms : Home & Garden Television

Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) July 02, 2014

Neil Kelly Company, the Northwests largest residential remodeling firm, offers homeowners simple tips to keep their pets safe during remodeling projects. Youd be surprised at how a curious animal can squeeze through the tiniest gap in the floor or the wall, says Tanya Roberts, Behavior Manager at The Oregon Humane Society.

An animals natural curiosity can get them into trouble if you havent taken the steps to keep them safe during a remodeling project, says Neil Kelly Designer Randi Reed. She offers the following five tips to keep pets out of harms way.

5 Tips for Remodeling Your Home with Pets

1.Plug any holes in the wall or floor. A curious animal can squeeze into a tiny space and quickly become scared or trapped.

2.Make sure your pet has a current ID or a microchip, in case they do get out.

3.Consider boarding your pet somewhere safe during a remodeling project.

4.Create a pet-safe room. Put them in your bedroom with litter box and some new toys. Its worth the additional cries or paws the door to ensure their safety.

5.Make sure that any workers coming into your home are aware that you have pets.

Pet Safety Video Click here to view Neil Kelly Companys short pet safety video.

Continued here:
Remodel With Pets in the House: 5 Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe from Neil Kelly Company

By Deborah K. Dietsch July 3 at 10:44 AM

After renovating their basement and kitchen, District homeowners Mary and Ron Slimp looked to their dilapidated garage as a place to expand their house. We didnt want to build up or build out, but remodel what we had, says Mary Slimp, 46.

The free-standing structure is conveniently located next to the kitchen and reached by a long driveway leading from the street. It was too narrow for a car and had become a storage shed, says Ron Slimp, 49, a partner in a strategic advisory firm. We knew it could be a usable space, not just a place for piling all our junk.

So the Slimps decided to convert the garage into a cool clubhouse for son Remy, 15, and daughter Sarah, 12. We wanted a place for the kids to hang out and a space that would be connected to the yard, Mary says.

To remodel the garage, she called on her younger sister Elizabeth Emerson, who works for D.C.-based architecture firm E/L Studio.

Emerson and her business partner, Mark Lawrence, had completed the previous renovations in the Slimpss 1913 home and realized they could do more than providing a space for their kids in the garage.

We created the opportunity for as many uses as possible, says Emerson, who worked with Lawrence to make the most of the 111/ 2 -foot-by-17-foot interior. Because of the zoning code, the architects had to design within the garages existing footprint.

Despite that restriction, they managed to transform the small structure into an inviting garden pavilion. Rising to a steeply pitched roof, the rebuilt garage now provides a guest suite as well as a space for playing games and watching TV. At the entrance, folding mahogany doors open the remodeled interior to a new patio with a gas grill.

Inside, the architects managed to add a sky-lit powder room in one corner and a Murphy bed flanked by cabinets and shelves on the rear wall. A loft above the pull-down bed, reached by a ladder mounted on a rail, provides another sleeping area. Heated floors and air conditioning allow the structure to be used year-round.

This adaptable space reveals the design potential of the humble, one-car garage, which is often too small for todays vehicles. Most older garages have become glorified sheds due to the change in car sizes Model As and Ts are no longer the rave, says D.C. real estate agent Kimberly Cestari of W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors.

Read more from the original source:
One-car garage conversions can unlock the full potential of a tight space

Fayette Friends of Animals will benefit from a bike ride on Saturday beginning in Connellsville in memory of Wanda and Dave Bigam.

The fifth annual Paint Room Bike Run will start with sign-ups at 10 a.m. at the Paint Room at 118 W. Apple St.

Sign-ups will continue until noon when the motorcycles, passenger cars and charter bus depart.

The cost per motorcycle is $25, and passengers and those in vehicles are $15 per person. A ride on the bus is $35, which includes registration. Those in vehicles and on the bus will follow the bikes on the run to each stop.

Organizers anticipate a large turnout.

This run is in memory of two very special people, said organizer Lisa Dolan.

Wanda Bigam and her brother-in-law Big Dave Bigam were previous owners of the Paint Room.

Dave Bigam recently passed away, Dolan said.

Wanda Bigam was an avid animal lover, said Dolan, explaining why the fundraiser benefits the Fayette Friends of Animals, a local no-kill shelter in Uniontown.

We feel that this organization is a very important part of our community, said Dolan.

Read this article:
Fundraiser set to aid Fayette Friends of Animals

Significant innovations in paint during the past 20 years have led to fascinating interior and exterior applications.

Today, home owners can use paint to generate solar power, light up a hallway, waterproof a basement and even draw on the walls with no fear.

If youre thinking about painting your home, knowing whats new in paint technology may be helpful in deciding how to move forward with your next project. Here are just a few new and innovative products to keep in mind while you plan:

Keep it green with low- or no-VOC paint

Todays biggest trend is the increased availability of low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint choices. Just about every major paint manufacturer has at least one line now.

These paints protect consumers from a number of health issues associated with VOCs, and contributes to improved indoor environmental quality, which is one key goal of the green building and remodeling movement.

Paint that stays durable and clean

Driven by consumer demand, manufacturers of interior and exterior paints have developed paints that are easy to apply, durable and cinch to clean. One uses ceramic technology an infusion of ceramic microspheres into a high-quality acrylic resin to create a paint extremely resistant to stains and scuffs, and washes well without damage to quality or appearance over time.

User-friendly containers

Although they have not gained significant popularity due to the cost of production, plastic paint containers that feature twist-off lids, side handles, and easy-pour spouts give consumers a more convenient and less messy way to get the job done. These containers are usually pretty lightweight and easier to store than typical steel paint cans.

Read the original here:
Real Estate Corner -- Remodeling savvy Innovations in paint

ARA Homeowners renovate for two basic reasons: money and fun. Or, more precisely, they undertake home improvements to improve their home's resale value or their enjoyment of their house. The best home improvements, however, are ones that deliver on both objectives.

Americans will spend nearly $141 billion on remodeling in the first half of this year, according to Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies. If you'll be among the many homeowners opting to improve, rather than move, you may be wondering what renovations are likely to give you the best balance of enhanced resale value and immediate enjoyment.

Here are five home improvements - from budget-friendly to big budget - that provide noteworthy return on investment (ROI) in terms of increased value and improved enjoyment:

1. Skylights

You can lower your electric bill by installing skylights that will reduce dependency on artificial light and fill your home with natural light. You can obtain quality, energy-efficient, "No Leak Skylights" from Velux for around $800 per unit for a standard fixed skylight with flashing kit. You can find a local installer to provide a customized cost estimate at http://www.veluxusa.com. In terms of positive energy, the mental and physical health effects of exposure to natural light are well documented. They're also an effective privacy preserver for bathrooms where you might not want a wall window. Skylight and sun tunnels (skylights that use reflective tubes to bring sunlight into rooms without direct roof access) not only enhance the energy efficiency of your home, they just may make you feel better about living there.

2. Decks

Whether you go for wood or composite, adding a deck is a great way to boost resale value, expand your living space and up your enjoyment of your home environment. On average, homeowners who add a wood deck can expect to recoup more than 80 percent of its cost when it comes time to sell, according to Remodeling Magazine's 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report. Composite deck additions return about 71 percent at the time of resale.

3. Kitchens

It makes sense that the room where most families spend the bulk of their time would be a popular remodel - and one that pays off big in terms of value and comfort. Even a minor kitchen remodel - costing about $21,000 - will return about 78 percent of its value on resale, according to Remodeling Magazine. A major kitchen job, costing around $57,200, will recoup about $41,200, or 72 percent.

4. Baths

Here is the original post:
Best home improvements for your renovation dollars for your renovation dollars

When I remodeled my house, I knew what I wanted: a bigger kitchen with room for two refrigerators, more family space and another bedroom. But there are dreams and then theres reality. My husband and I began wondering not only how much we could afford, but how much was wise to spend. So we called our real-estate agent and explained our plans, with hopes she could help us set a budget.

Fortunately, she was able to tell us how much more she could sell our home for with our new dream addition. So that became our budget. It was actually a fairly easy way to think about our return on investment (ROI). However, many homeowners mistakenly think the cost vs. value ratio hovers at one to one, and whatever they invest into the project will be instantly reflected in increased value. Not so fast.Even the most valuable remodeling projects dont completely recoup the cost, according to Remodeling Magazinesannual cost vs. value report . The project with the highest return on investment installing a steel door only recoups 97% of its cost. That wasnt always the case. In 2009, steel doors had an ROI of 125%. But in 2011, it fell to 73%.

From DailyWorth.com , heres the expected ROI on seven popular home projects:

Average national cost: $18,856

Return on investment: 82.7%

While any kitchen remodel will add some value to your home, less is more when it comes to ROI. If youre remodeling on a budget, focus on a few key areas: Replace dated appliances with more modern, stainless steel models; replace aging countertops with sturdier materials that you can afford; replace cabinet hardware (but leave the boxes in place); and apply a fresh coat of paint or add a new backsplash.

Average national cost: $54,909

Return on investment: 74.2%

Any real-estate agent will tell you to invest your time and money in the kitchen if you want to add value to your home. Why? Because kitchens make a big impressionand home buyers want them to be modern, functional and well-maintained. The average cost of a major kitchen remodel is high, but includes a complete guttingfrom cabinets to appliances to flooring and replacing them with modern midrange materials.

Be careful not to go too far with kitchen remodels. Unless youre living in a high-end, luxury home, you shouldnt have high-end, luxury appliances (like a top-of-the-line Sub-Zero fridge, for example) or personalized gadgetsthey wont matter to your targeted buyer or add value to your home.

See the rest here:
Slide Show: Are these 7 home remodeling projects worth the money?

I feel like Im in a different city, and This is the best thing going in Marshall, were just some of the comments owner Joshua Awbrey heard after the grand re-opening and the complete remodeling of Anytime Fitness.

The re-model took two weeks to complete and during that time absolutely no gym member could use the 24-hour fitness haven.

They love it, Awbrey said. No one can say they dont like it when its new like this. Weve been getting great feedback.

As a part of their corporate office, the gym must have a remodeling around every five years to keep them up to date.

Though its keeping some of the same equipment, Awbrey said they will be adding new pieces and trading in some others.

Were adding some more pieces. It takes eight to 10 weeks because (manufacturers) have to build them, so well have four new pieces coming in and were getting rid of some and trading some out, he said.

Some of the new features added include a multipurpose room where members can choose a workout video to follow along with and work out with others. Awbrey said his goals for the gym was to increase membership to 1,300, increase revenue in the training department and add a female trainer.

Awbrey described the previous model of the gym as dark and dungeony, but said the new remodeling has completely changed everything that gym members know about Anytime Fitness.

The whole thing is my favorite, he said when asked what his favorite part about the remodeling was. The old model was dark and kind of dungeony with black ceilings. Its bright now its just changed the whole perception of the gym.

We want everyone whos been old members or havent worked out in a while to come and check it out if they havent been here since and be awestruck.

Excerpt from:
Anytime Fitness opens after remodeling

The contemporary bar in the new entertainment area is made of horizontal bamboo and a slab of vanilla onyx.

When most people think of a man cave, they imagine a space set apart from the central living area in the home, with traditionally very masculine dcor and entertainment elements like projection televisions, leather recliner seating and built-in kegerators. These spaces are usually away from the homes central living area, in a garage or spare room or basement. With Fathers Day this weekend, its the perfect time to showcase a San Diego remodel that illustrates a new trend: foregoing the traditional man cave for a stylish, multiuse entertaining space the whole family can enjoy.

A large game room features a pool table.

In a recent project for a young professional couple, our team was tasked with creating a new entertaining space with the key elements being a contemporary bar and a large adjacent game room. Located on the homes extremely segmented bottom level, our team first opened up the space by removing a wall and changing the layout. By positioning the bar adjacent to the game room, the space now has a more natural flow.

We also used cork tile walls in the game room, which present an intriguing texture and are sound absorbent, ideal for when multiple activities are under way.

The focal point of the new space is the new contemporary bar area. We used a mix of sophisticated materials to exemplify the uncommon. Two-thirds of the bar is horizontal bamboo; one-third is a sumptuous vanilla onyx slab. We chose Italian light fixtures with red-orange hues and used a light bar underneath the countertop to bring it to life. Designed for entertaining, the bar area features essentials like a beer tap, wine cooler, sink and generously sized refrigerator.

The remodeled space is large enough to accommodate large parties.

Exquisite materials draw attention at every turn. A window from the original home, transformed into a recessed storage area with rounded glass for liquor and accessories, is framed by gleaming metallic tiles in bronze and copper. LED recessed lighting glows upon the richly colored marble countertop, setting the mood for warmth and good cheer.

Next to the bar sits a new stone fireplace and built-in television. The expansive new layout can accommodate large parties yet is designed with well-defined gathering areas to enhance more intimate gatherings as well. The new space acts as a magnet for guests and expresses the homeowners affinity for sophisticated design and sensational entertaining at home.

Todd Jackson is the CEO of Jackson Design and Remodeling. He can be reached at (619) 442-6125, info@jacksondesignandremodeling.com, or http://www.jacksondesignandremodeling.com

Original post:
Family fun evolves from man cave

DIY Room remodeling decorating ideas
DIY Room remodeling decorating ideas.

By: Fadil Rama

Read the rest here:
DIY Room remodeling decorating ideas - Video