Not a problem for this ingenious home designer, who obviously was aware of the best of Milano bathroom design could offer. He installed miraculous space-making shower doors, that made the bathroom luxurious and ‘just’ big enough.

When I came across this photo from the ‘Someonesprayer’s channel at tumbler, I wanted to share this wonderful solution for smaller bathrooms with you.

Something to remember for your next bathroom remodeling.

image source: http://someonesprayer.tumblr.com/post/17144640294/want

The benefits to renovating green are obvious; not only do you do your part to help the environment, but you create a more marketable home that has lower monthly energy costs than your neighbors. The first article in my upcoming series on green renovation focus on a few of the simpler things you can do to ease your way into living green at home.

1.) Go Local! – Why should you use products produced locally? Not only does it support the local economy, but it also reduces the environmental effects of transporting goods long distances. Find out what types of stone and wood are prevalent to your area and make those your first choice materials.

2.) Use Sustainable and Recycled Building Materials – Sustainable materials, like bamboo for flooring, are more far easier to replace and regrow than traditional hardwoods. Recycled materials, like Terrazzo, can incorporate recycled pieces of granite and glass.

3.) Recycle, Reuse, Refurbish – Renovations produce huge amounts of waste. That waste goes into a landfill. Reuse as much of the “scrap” as possible, refurbish old doors and cabinets and recycle anything you can’t reuse or refurbish.

4.) Install Energy Efficient Appliances and Windows – The initial extra investment in EnergyStar Appliances and Windows will come back to your pocketbook many times over with the money you will save monthly on your energy bills. Don’t forget to check on tax credits and utility company credits for these as well.

5.) Watch Your Water Usage – Installation of low flow toilets and shower heads along with tankless water heaters can dramatically cut down your water usage.

By following these five simple and affordable tips when you renovate you will have taken a big first step to creating a green home you can be proud of! However, don’t stop there! Visit my blog for more green renovation tips, tricks, and suggestions.

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Reason #1 — Have you shopped for HELOC’s lately? They are tough to find. The people who used to buy them in the secondary mortgage market have stopped because they are poor performing assets in a declining market. For that reason many of the major banks are completely out of the HELOC market. They don’t offer them at all any more and if they do the loan to value is capped at a level that makes it hard to get enough money to do the renovations your home needs.

Reason #2 — Renovation loans are based on AFTER REPAIR VALUE instead of the value that your home is currently worth. HELOC’s don’t consider the value of your home when the repair is finished, renovation loans do.

Reason #3 — Renovation loans are first lien mortgage products. You only have ONE loan! Gone are the days of making two mortgage payments. One payment goes to one lender. Easy and convenient.

Reason #4 — Moving to a different home that needs repair? Good luck getting a first mortgage let alone a second to renovate. Lenders of traditional loans will not lend on homes in disrepair, but renovation lenders are not concerned with the current condition of the property. Renovation lenders are only concerned with the after repair condition of the property.

In this market there is no better loan than the FHA 203K or Fannie Mae Homestyle renovation loan if you are considering purchasing the foreclosure down the street or renovating your current residence. One loan based on after repair value at an affordable fixed rate. FHA 203K and Fannie Mae Homestyle renovation loans were built for this market.

Jonathan Blackwell
Green Renovation Specialist
Hometown Lenders
http://www.203KLoan.net
http://www.GoGreenWithFHA.com
404-551-3845

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This is surely a sign of the times; there are so many single women who have simply had to ‘have a go’ as they have had no money for a professional job and no handyman in sight! (83% cited money as a factor in their initial interest in home improvements.) In fact, seven out of ten women said that it is only time and money that is stopping them from attempting more projects.

Apparently, gone are the days when women want to spend their weekends baking and shopping. According to the survey, 37% said that they would rather spend their free time on a home improvement project or an outdoor project; the same survey quoted only 33% of men as choosing this same option. By comparison, only 28% of women surveyed said they would rather be at a mall on the weekends and only 25% said they would rather be slaving over a hot stove!

Several of the home supplies retail outlets have recognized this swing over to female interest and offer free classes of instruction in many simple projects. Evening and weekend workshops demonstrate the use of tools, how to tile, how to lay a wooden floor, how to fix a toilet, how to wash and stain your deck and many other easy projects. These seminars are offered totally free of charge and they no doubt inspire many new do-it-yourselfers who will probably want to buy their supplies in the same store as the seminar.

They also publish instructions on the Internet using photos and give step by step instructions for many projects. Some of the projects include making a simple bookcase, building a trellis, installing plumbing for a garden pond, making your own hanging basket etc. One of the useful aids on these internet instructions is a list of materials and tools required to complete each job.

In a two year period, the number of women who remodeled their own bathroom jumped from approximately 8% to 20%, and the number of women picking up the garden fork has increased by 10%. Apart from the lack of cash, 78% of the two and a half thousand people surveyed said that their inspiration has been feeling ‘a sense of accomplishment’ and 67% said they liked working with their hands.

According to the US Census Bureau , a whopping 57% of single women are now homeowners and this figure is projected to rise. Figures out for 2006 show that over 17 million women are homeowners and last year for the first time, single home owners (both male and female) topped married homeowners.

It seems that one of the biggest obstacles to overcome is learning how to use the tools that were once thought of as a ‘man’s domain’. Do men feel threatened? Maybe they are having the last laugh as they sit back and flick on the sport’s channel to drown out the sound of that pesky electric drill!

By Branden Schroeder

about the author

Branden Schroeder is Maryland’s first “EcoBroker” designated real estate agent. To search for Severna Park real estate or for more information on Maryland Real Estate and Property, visit Branden online at MarylandHomesAndProperty.com

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MDF crown molding, a wood-based composite material that uses wood fibers with a synthetic resin, is another example of how a builder or decorator can accent any room or hallway. MDF is environmentally safe and requires less preparation. It is often primed to a smooth surface which can then be painted with any high quality latex or oil paint. MDF won’t split when cutting, is resistant to warping and is consistent in size and shape. However, during installation of MDF, nailing creates blemishes that will require repair, by hand, prior to finishing. Although it is a less costly alternative to other materials in use, most professionals do not recommend its use.

Polyurethanes are found in many items. They are used in resins, adhesives, fibers, foam padding and insulation. They come in several forms, such as rods, sheets and liquids. Polyurethanes are frequently used as an alternative to such materials as wood, plastics, metal and rubber. And for good reason. Polyurethanes are resistant to wear and tear, weather, impact, scratching and erosion. They are also more cost-effective as an alternative as well.

Other uses for polyurethanes include: fibers, seals, gaskets, condoms, hard plastic parts, carpet underlay and sealants. Items such as domed ceilings, moldings and ceiling medallions are easier to construct of polyurethane foam rather than wood. In fact, polyurethane is considered to be the best replacement for plaster. It’s low cost, lightweight and anything you can do to wood, you can do to polyurethane. It is easy to install, can be used either interiorly or on the exterior and is available in the widest range of products.

In its most flexible form, polyurethanes are found in upholstery fabrics, while the more rigid foams are used inside the metal and plastic walls of most refrigerators and freezers. They are commonly utilized to make up paints, varnishes and glue. Your computer mouse-pad bottom is most likely made of polyurethane foam.

Flexible molding, which is one type of polyurethane, makes it a cinch to decorate around curved walls and arched doorways and windows. Flexible molding is made from a compound polymer resin that has been engineered to bend or curve around more challenging shapes. It can be bent or twisted without breaking or splintering. Flexible molding can actually be purchased in a range of grades, from very flexible to totally rigid.

One of the best features of flexible molding is it’s superiority to wood. Flexible molding can be stained, painted, or sealed just as ordinary molding, but without having to prime the surface first. It also resists warping, wearing, splitting, or mildewing, so it’s great for outdoor use as well.

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Priming is always recommended to promote adhesion and the durability of the topcoat of paint. You should try and prime all of the walls that you are intending on painting but aspects such as walls with wallpaper, patched/repaired areas, existing oil based paint or if you are hoping for a dramatic change in colour. You need to ensure that your primer is thoroughly dried before you apply the paint to your walls.

When you open your paint tin you should always use a stick to stir the paint. Before you start to apply the coats of paint to your walls it is advised that you perform a couple of practice rolls or brush strokes so that you get a feel for what you are doing. Once you feel confident you can then get on and paint the interior of your property.

Before applying any paint to the walls of your property it is important that you first paint the ceiling of the room as well as woodwork such as the skirting board. This is to ensure that you don’t accidentally get white paint on your finished walls and so that you don’t end up getting paint on your ceiling and woodwork you will perform a task known as ‘cutting in.’

The term cutting in stands for when you paint the top and bottom of your walls, right next to the ceiling and woodwork and around fitting such as light switches sockets. By doing this it leaves you free to fill in the middle with paint and stops you getting paint on the newly painted ceiling and woodwork.

You can fill in the remaining areas on your wall using either a brush or roller; however, a roller will give you the best finish and is also the quickest way of painting the interior walls of your property. You do however need to be careful when it comes to using a roller for your interior painting as you only need to press down on the roller slightly, you should let the paint on the roller do the work for you as if you press down to hard you will create paint ‘ridges,’ which will mean you will have to re-roll the same area to smooth the ridges out. You should then slightly overlap the roller with where you have just painted so that you create a consistent covering.

The type of paint that you use for your interior painting is completely up to you. There are many types of paint available for you to use whether you wish to use gloss paint or emulsion or matt; there are a variety available to you in many different shades so ensure that you have picked out the right one for your property.

If you are struggling with your interior painting then why not hire the help of a professional to do the job for you. This way you will achieve the professional paint job that you require and you will be able to get on with other things while it is being carried out.

By Helen Cox

Helen is the web master of ARCH Property Management, specialists in all aspects of Interior Painting.

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Many home improvements are capital improvements. The Capital Improvements are tax deductible according to IRS if the home improvements meet a number of conditions. The home improvements are permanent addition to the home that increases the value of the home. Hence, the home improvements are substantial in which the value of home property appreciates, the life of home property prolongs, and the functionality of home property increases.

For example, placing a fence, adding a room, installing a driveway, implementing a swimming pool, installing a new roof, setting a new built-in heating systems are capital improvements.

The capital improvement increases the value of your home. For example, adding a new room increases the value of home. The new room increases the ability of the property to earn more income. Thereby, the value of home property increases as well.

Another example, adding a garage increases the value of home. Renters will pay extra for a parking space. And again, the new garage increases the ability of the property to earn more income. Thereby, the value of home property increases as well.

On the other hand, the home repairs are not home improvements according to the IRS. Repairs are expenses that keep the property in good repair. And, the rental property owner can claim the as expenses on the year that the expenses are made.

For example, repainting the walls, patching the roof, installing the wallpaper, replacing the carpet, sealing the links, and repairing the windows are home repairs.

To be able to claim capital improvement tax deductible, the homeowner needs to use the Depreciation Method. The Depreciation Method is a way to recover the cost of capital improvements thru depreciating the expense over the life expectancy of property.

Dennis Estrada is a webmaster of mortgage calculators, and increases the value of your home website which calculate the monthly payment, bi-weekly payment, affordability, refinance, annual percentage rate, discount points, and more.

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If you’re wanting to have a qualified professional draw your house plans, here are a few tips on what to provide the designer or architect with.

You have probably spent a great deal of time trying to find out what you are wanting. This is only natural as you are wanting your home to be not only functional but to fit your personal needs as well. Don’t hesitate to sketch out ideas on grid paper. This is one of the best resources I’ve received from a client. Think about the size rooms you need as in most homes, each room is specialized with specific purposes. Think about porches and entrances, where you are wanting windows, then note them on your sketch.

If you have already selected a lot, obtain a survey, preferably with topography. A good survey should have existing utilities, right of ways, easements, and even setbacks on it. If not, then it’s probably a good idea to hire a registered land surveyor to provide you with one. If the lot is in a subdivision, most likely this is already completed and available through the real estate agent or subdivision board.

As for the exterior of the home, spend time looking around your area at different homes or look in architecture magazines and books. Take photos or make photocopies of what you like and mark them with the things you liked. Hey, a picture paints a thousand words. Take care not to duplicate a copyrighted set of plans.

And make sure you tell them what your needs are as far as electrical. If they are drawing the electrical plan also, you may wind up with a generic electrical plan. Considerations there are ceiling fans and their locations, more outlets in specific areas, how much exterior lighting you are wanting, etc…

Some of my colleagues are probably going to not like this next paragraph. Oh well. If the truth hurts? I’ve seen many a future home owner not get what they are wanting in a home in place of what the professional wanted through artistic license. Not only for the fact that you are one paying the bill, but also for the fact that you are the one who inevitably has to live with the house after it’s built. Stick to your guns about what you want. The only reason you wouldn’t get what you’re wanting is if it’s either prohibited by code, physically impossible, or it just isn’t in the budget.

Make sure that they spell out what you’ll receive with your plan package from the beginning. That’s generally the case if you’re looking on the internet for the design professional. If they are wanting to be upfront with you, they will spell out on their web site what you will receive and generally how much it will cost.

Most of all, a bit of common sense would be not paying for the entire job until it’s complete. If you make arrangements to pay one third or half up front, that’s fine. But make sure you can see the finished product before you pay the final amount.

Tim Davis has been a professional home designer since 1990. His website is at http://customhouseplans.8m.com and he also teaches architectural drafting at http://houseplandrafting101.net

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If you are thinking you might want to design your own house, what do you need to do before you get started? Designing a house is a big project and you need to stay organized to insure you don’t get off track. Here are some steps you should take right from the beginning:

1) Look around at other houses to get a general idea of what you want. We have all driven by a house and said to ourselves “what a cool house, I wish that were mine!”. Try to find houses that have features you like so you can get a general idea of what you want. If you do find that cool house somewhere, stop your car and knock on the door. You might be able to let the owner give you a quick tour!

2) Look through as many home books and real estate magazines as you can. Again, this is to get ideas of what you like and don’t like. It always helps to see a real picture of something you like rather than just having the idea in your head.

3) Try to get get input from all family members to find out what they might want. By including family members, including the children, you get everyone involved and make everyone feel like they are part of the project. Designing your own house can be great fun if you involve everyone.

4) Once you have a few ideas, you can use an inexpensive 3D computer program to see them on your computer. With today’s technology, you can now actually see your ideas come to life in 3D and have a much better idea of what they will look like in real life. Many of these computer software programs can be bought for under $100.00 and saves you from having to pay an architect the big bucks to draw up your house plans.

5) Once you have decided on a house plan, you will need to take it to an architect for some suggestions and modifications. He/she will be able to answer most of your questions that the 3D software could not such as a ballpark figure of costs.

These are some of the basic steps you can take to get started designing your own house. Remember, this is a big project which requires a lot of commitment from you. Many people start out to design their own house and realize it is just too much work. Taking these steps will give you a better idea of whether you are up for the challenge!

Read more great ideas on designing your own house at my website Design Your Own House.

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In any climate, if you’re thinking of going green, passive solar energy design is the best place to start. Affordable passive solar homes are easy to construct using the same basic materials as conventional housing. All it takes is a little thought and some clever manipulation of the sun and wind and you can save thousands of dollars on energy bills throughout the lifetime of your home.

Although many of our passive solar home design tips can be easily and inexpensively applied to an existing home the most effective passive solar power dwellings are carefully planned from the outset to take best advantage of the sun’s natural rhythm.

A long and shallow house that faces as close to true south as possible is a good start. East and west walls will have little exposure to the sun while the north should have the fewest windows.

In cooler climates most of your energy bill represents heating and cooling costs. Passive solar energy principles revolve around regulating your home’s interior temperature by inviting as much sun as possible in during the winter months while discouraging it in summer.

Here are some of our favorite tips for collecting free passive solar energy.

• 1. Insulation ~ Not the prettiest aspect but it absolutely makes the most of a passive solar design. Without adequate insulation in floors, ceilings, walls and around electrical outlets, doors, windows and dryer vents all of your other passive solar efforts will be unimpressive.
• 2. East ~ Plan a breakfast patio on the east side of your home where you can soak up the sun on summer mornings before the heat of the day sets in. Plantings, awnings and insulated window coverings will keep the sun out of the house in the summers.
• 3. West ~ The best place for a deep covered veranda. Watch the sun set from the cool shade of your covered porch. Plan a windbreak of trees to the north west to keep the winter winds at bay.
• 4. South ~ (north in the southern hemisphere) This is the side of the house that collects the most passive solar power. Orient your house and most of your windows and doorways facing in this direction. Awnings or shallow overhangs will keep the sun out in the summer while allowing it in during the winter.
• 5. North ~ (south in the southern hemisphere) There is little or no opportunity for solar gain on the shady side of your home, but a great deal of heat can be lost through these openings. Windows to the north, or the shady side of the house should be minimal, just enough for safety and escape routes. Large openings such as garden doors should be covered with insulated draperies or shutters during the winter. Evergreen trees or an earth berm on this side help to block frigid winter winds.
• 6. Plantings ~ Deciduous plantings (leaves fall off in the winter) in the form of trees, trellises, arbors, pergolas and pots, provide ample shade in the summer when placed near windows and doorways but allow winter sun lots of access to warm the home after their leaves have fallen off. Way more than shading the area, trees and other greenery actually cool the air. In much the same way as an air conditioner, greenery drinks in gallons, even dozens of gallons, of humidity from the surrounding air, making tree shade superior to awning shade.
• 7. Patios ~ Outdoor living spaces add ambience and, of course, living area for your summer activities. Plan an outdoor cooking area on your shady patio to keep the heat out of the house on sultry summer evenings.
• 8. Entryways ~ A separate entryway or mud room allows you to exit and enter the house, greet guests and cart in groceries and other needs without exposing the house to the elements. Use an energy efficient space heater to regulate the temperature of this space.
• 9. Thermal Mass ~ Thermal materials such as stone, brick or concrete floors. window ledges/seats and islands or half walls, readily absorb the sun’s thermal rays to be slowly released into the evening hours. A depth of at least 4 inches of thermal material works best.
• 10. Covered Verandas ~ The best place for a deep, covered veranda is on the west side of the house to provide a cool afternoon space. The veranda will keep the afternoon sun from intruding into your living space during the summer. Avoid covered verandas on the south side as they do not allow sufficient sunlight to enter the home for warmth in the winter.

In very cold climates, properly applied passive solar principles can provide all the summer cooling you’ll require and most of your winter heating needs as well. The addition of a wood or pellet burning stove or energy efficient space heater can provide sufficient heat throughout even very cold winters.

One size does not fit all when making passive solar plans for a home.

Properly researched passive solar design for your specific location will result in a home that operates efficiently and comfortably with minimal use of fossil energy. That’s good news for all of us.

Find lots more solar power information at http://www.solarpowerathome.com/ – Solar Power At Home

Hi, I’m Debra from Solar Power At Home. Here you’ll find information to help you decide whether solar power is right for you.

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