Door knobs may be small, but they hold some incredible power when it comes to opening and shutting a door. Without a door knob, there would be either a hole in the door to allow people to open and close it, or the door would be a swinging-type door, where you push it and it opens, but you can’t control it enough to close it. There does come a time when it is important to change out a door knob. Whether that be when the door knob is out of date, broken, or just needs repaired, follow this step by step guide on how to install a door knob (but keep in mind that all door knobs are slightly different, so why this may work for some door knobs, it may not work for all).
Imperfect Walls No More!
Whether you, your family, pets, etc. have damaged your walls, trying to cover up the damage never seems to be an easy task. That’s because old and damaged walls require a special wall painting technique in order to cover up the surface imperfections- be it loose and cracking plaster or gouged and peeling drywall. Wall flaws can be a real eyesore, but drywall installation or replacement is not the best or only solution available. In fact, the right wall painting technique offers you a faster, cheaper, and easier way to handle the problem. One of the following 3 ways will surely work for your situation.
How to Install a Toilet
Are you in need of a toilet replacement, but don’t want to spend the money on buying a new toilet and hiring someone to put it in for you? Fear not, below you will find step-by-step instructions on how to install your new toilet to complete your bathroom.
Dust Control During a Remodel
If you have never experienced a remodel before, it’s safe to say that you will encounter a lot of dust in your home. While the results are exciting to think about, the tear down can become hazardous with loads of particles invading your space, making it hard to breath. Not only that, but whatever insect waste, paint remnants, or any other elements lingering in your walls, will be invading your air. There is a way to keep the level of dust to a minimum. It is even a best practice to ask your contractor how they intend to keep the dust from becoming a nuisance. In the same breath (pun intended), it is always good to know what to do for yourself.
How to Remove Wallpaper
So, you are redoing your bathroom and there is a ton of old wallpaper on the walls . Everyone knows how difficult it is to remove wallpaper, well it was up until today. First you will want to prepare your room. Clean everything out, tape up all outlets to be sure nothing is disturbed within them as well as turning off the breaker. If you are using any type of liquid, you want to be sure there is no electricity running in the room. Continue reading →
How to Create an Open Living Space
Are you feeling claustrophobic in your living space? I bet walls are taking over your home. These days’ homes are built with open floor plans. But if you have an older home you may want to start taking down some walls to open that space up. Nothing says beauty and elegance like an open floor plan. Removing walls is not something you will want to do without having a licensed contractor at least assisting. Continue reading →
How to Add on a Room with a Contractor
Is your family getting larger or maybe your house is feeling a little crammed lately? Well one way you can create more space is to add on a room. That will not only increase function and space for your family but will increase your home’s value. Whether you’re adding a sunroom to enjoy warm weather living, or adding a bedroom for a new member of the family, building a room is definitely a larger project to take on. Continue reading →
How to Finish Your Basement
Winter is around the corner which means the kids will probably be inside more and more. Why not turn that dark, damp basement into a trendy game and play room? Continue reading →
5 Common Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes
Regardless of whether you are replacing an outdated vanity or renovating the entire space, bathroom remodeling can be an expensive proposition. How can you avoid some common mistakes?
1. Ignoring the Bathroom Fan
Overlooking your bathroom fan is a huge mistake. Sometimes people don’t install one or they don’t clean the one they have. Without proper ventilation, humidity builds up on surfaces, and over time this moisture will cause paint and grout to deteriorate and mildew to form. Vacuuming the vent on a regular basis will help keep the fan clean. To determine if your fan is overdue for a cleaning, turn it on and hold a square of toilet tissue up to the vent. If the tissue stays up on its own when you let go, air is still flowing.
2. Lacking a Clear Plan before Demolition
Sometimes people think they can figure out what needs to be done as they go along, but you need a plan in place before you start any demolition. You should have everything sketched out ahead of time, from your budget, to your materials, to the question of who will be doing which parts of the work. Planning is everything!
3. Being Unrealistic about a Budget
Don’t lie to yourself and try to do a $20,000 renovation when you have only $10,000 to work. You’ll only have to cut corners at the end of the project and you won’t be pleased with the results. He suggests taking a careful look at your finances and getting a realistic number in your head. Write the number down, put that amount in your bank account, and stick to it!
4. Overlooking Small Mistakes
As your renovation goes along, always fix mistakes—even the smallest ones—as soon as you notice them. If one tile isn’t exactly flush or your paint strokes are going in all directions, fix it right away. Don’t convince yourself you’ll learn to live with it. Those mistakes will always bother you, and if you can see them, then other people can see them too.
5. Losing Focus toward the End
Many people, are excited about the renovation process at the beginning but lose steam as they approach the finish line. They might take forever to frame out the room, but by the end they’re so eager to see the completed room they start to rush. The problem here is that the finish work is extremely important to the overall look of the space. People should reverse the trend. Move at a steady pace at the beginning and slow down at the end to be sure everything is done correctly. Your patience will pay off!
Want to avoid the common mistakes of remodeling? Let the experts at PlumbTile help! Give one of our experts a call to make your next project easier and receive a discount for calling! 1-866-369-8180 or www.PlumbTile.com
Top Kitchen Design Styles
From contemporary to cottage, today’s most popular looks inspire beautiful kitchen designs.
Long gone are the days when kitchens were dreary workspaces, hidden behind closed doors. Today’s kitchens are central to everyday living and special-occasion entertaining, often doing double duty as family rooms, offices and media centers, as well.
“The kitchen is truly the focus of the home today,” says New York-based interior designer Andrew Suvalsky. “A great kitchen design will give essential clues to how the rest of the home can and should develop.”
To meet the growing demand for showstopping kitchens, manufacturers now offer cabinets, countertops and fixtures in all of today’s most popular design styles, from Old World to modern, city chic to country cozy. And your options aren’t limited to what you’ll find in the kitchen showrooms, either. Andrew and many other designers also turn to antiques stores, high-end furniture makers and salvage resellers when sourcing kitchen projects.
Whether you’re designing your kitchen to match the decor of other rooms, or planning your whole home’s look around the kitchen, you can make it a beautiful reflection of your personal style.
Country Farmhouse
Open and inviting, country kitchens allow you to enjoy the feeling of a weekend getaway right in your own home — even if you’re smack in the middle of suburbia (Check out our Farmhouse Style Sinks by Bates & Bates). Farmhouse tables and furniture-like cabinetry are popular conventions, and an eclectic mix of finishes helps create a comfortable, lived-in look. Country colors range from primary red, yellow and blue to aged tones of cream and pale yellow; whatever hues you favor, mixing rather than matching is the country way to go.
Cozy Country Kitchen Designs
Modern
Sleek, sexy and sophisticated, the modern kitchen is designed to keep clutter to a minimum. Reflective surfaces and high-tech materials are central to the most modern kitchen, and exotic woods add a touch of luxury without frills or fabric. Iconic midcentury seating, including Bertoia stools and chairs by Eames and Cherner, are often chosen for a classically modern look; seating made of Lucite and highly polished woods is often chosen for a more current interpretation of the style.
Add Modern Style to Your Kitchen
Cottage Charm
Whether the space is large or tiny, cottage kitchens are designed to feel cozy and enveloping. With their homespun touches and imperfect finishes, cottage-style kitchens are always one of a kind and serve as the perfect backdrop for offbeat art and collectibles (Check out our country style Kitchen Island by Lyn Design). If you’re an avid flea marketer, this style will allow you to turn your weekend finds into everyday pleasures. To marry serious cooking with whimsical style, look for high-end appliances in white or retro colors.
Kitchens With Cottage Charm
Contemporary
Where function meets family friendliness, you’ll find the contemporary kitchen. The look is a carefully curated mix of materials: new and old, casual and polished. And because cooking with company has replaced cooking for company as the entertaining ideal, today’s kitchen has plenty of room for hosts and guests to work and interact. Add gourmet cooking equipment, comfortable, durable seating and lots of open space for a kitchen perfectly suited to 21st-century living.
Design a Contemporary Kitchen
Mediterranean or French Country
Imagine a small hotel in the South of France, or a contessa’s villa on the Amalfi Coast. The colors are sun-dappled. The surfaces are elegantly timeworn, and the atmosphere is pure romance. To replicate that Mediterranean ambiance anywhere, look for Provencal fabrics in rich tones of russet, cobalt and ochre, warm-toned wooden cabinetry, and handmade ceramic accessories. Rough-hewn textures, copper pots and rush seats add the final touches.
Mediterranean-Style Kitchens
Coastal
Whether you live at the beach or just wish you did, you can count on cool shades of blue, green, white and sand to create a vacation-time mood. Seagrass and wicker seating are casual, comfortable and coastal. Fabrics and flooring (Get the look! Check out our natural stone flooring by Agora!) designed to stand up to wet bathing suits make coastal-style kitchens easy to care for, and window treatments that allow for maximum sunlight will have everyone in let’s-get-to-the-beach mode bright and early.
Coastal-Inspired Kitchens
Old World
If you yearn for a time when materials were solid and craftsmanship was king, Old World design will embrace you in history and luxury. Look for dark mahogany finishes with lots of carving and detail, countertops with ogee or bullnosed edges, and stone or wooden floors. Add historical accessories and heavy fabrics, and enjoy time travel comfortably in your own home.
Design an Old World Kitchen
Traditional
Turkey on Thanksgiving, ham on Christmas Eve and chocolate chip cookies after school. A traditional kitchen is the perfect backdrop for a life that centers on family, friends and holidays — but its clean, comfortable look is welcoming 365 days a year. Paneled or glass doors on cupboards contribute timeless style, and latched or icebox hardware is often added for period detail. White tiles add a clean look and help reflect light, and artisanal or vintage-look light fixtures add special touches.
Design a Traditional Kitchen
Ready to start your next kitchen project? Let the Experts at PlumbTile Help! Give one of our experts a call at 1-866-369-8180 and receive a discount on your purchase! Also visit us at www.PlumbTile.com!