Looking for a New Door? Checkout These Really Cool Ones!

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Doors are normally thought to be just barriers between rooms or the inside and the outside. These doors take it beyond that. We think they are really cool and we hope you will too!

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From the article:

Light + Air Door

Light + air door Luna is a simple and understated door with a mysterious character that provides a surprisingly functional feature. The series of holes in the door can be opened and closed by sliding the knob; which adjusts the amount of light, air and noise between two rooms. The door is constructed of a hollow core with an interior panel that slides from left to right. The exterior surface can be skinned in a variety of wood, metal and fabric materials. An open door invites people to move between spaces. A closed door says privacy. Luna offers a state of being between open and closed. Reminiscent of architectural light screens and gangster era speak easy of Luna doors and expands the space between rooms.

Hidden Door

When it comes to hooking up a hidden door in your crib, you essentially have three options: you can build one yourself, you can purchase a premade revolving bookcase from an ordinary wood-working company, or you can opt for a precision hiding system from Creative Home Engineering. As Creative Home Engineering states, ???a thief can’t burglarize a room he can’t find.??? So, to make sure your hidden door stays hidden, Creative Home Engineering offers a number of non-traditional hiding machines. Sure, they’ve got the standard revolving bookcase and sliding wall panels. But, the company also constructs hidden doors from grandfather clocks, fireplaces, paintings, stairwells, and other household fixtures.

Priced from $5-$250K, you’ll probably want to make sure you’ve really got something big to protect to make the purchase worth your while. But, even if you don’t, Creative Home Engineering claims that a quality hidden door can make a solid investment from an appreciation standpoint. And, if you’ve got nothing to hide, the bragging rights are definitely worth something as well.

ETAF Automatic Door

No matter what size you are. This automatic door is always fit for your size. The Etaf door makes users feel like they’re aboard a science fiction spacecraft, but the technology used to power it is pure 21st Century. The size of a standard-size door opening, the Etaf consists of about 35 rows of two-inch tall, vertical sliding metal bars that are split down the middle. When a user approaches the doorway, infrared sensors along the top and sides of the door sense a person’s height and width. The corresponding bars mirror the silhouette, sliding the metal stripes on the door open just enough to let them through. It exhibits personalization at its best, with everybody who enters getting their own specific way in.

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For all the ideas click here: http://www.oddee.com/item_97247.aspx

Looking to Teach Your Kids Fire Safety? Start Here!

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Accidents happen. It’s how we prepare for them that counts for the long run. For some situations it’s the difference between life and death. Fire is one of those situations. Knowing how to teach your children in a way that they will understand can be difficult though. We found this article on PBS Kids that we hope will help you teach your children how to be safe around fire!

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From the article:

Be Safe

Get out fast! When you hear the loud beep of the smoke alarm, get out of the house. Never hide or take time to grab your belongings or pets.

Follow your escape plan. After all, you’ve been practicing!

Feel a door before you open it. If it is hot, there may be fire on the other side. Try to get out another way.

Stay low to the floor. Since smoke rises, the safest air for breathing is down low.

Call 9-1-1 or the fire department. Be sure to do this after you get out of the house. Remember: Only call 9-1-1 if there is a real emergency.

Stay out! Once you’re out, stay out. Don’t go back for anything!

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Do your kids have a hard time at bedtime? Checkout this article with bedtime ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://pbskids.org/arthur/firesafety/

Love Celebrity Homes? Check These Out!

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Looking at celebrity homes can be so fun! It gives us a chance to see how the other half lives and also can give us ideas when designing or remodeling a home for us. We found this great article with 37 different homes for you to look at and enjoy. We hope they give you ideas for you home!

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From the article:

Celebrities, they’re just like us … except they live in homes that are twice (or ten times!) the size of ours.

From Malibu beach houses to New York City penthouses, stars own some of the most beautiful pads in the world. Take Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for example — the couple, who are welcoming their first child this summer, recently bought a $10.75 million in Los Angeles which they plan on renovating.

And speaking of renovations, have you seen Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s Hidden Valley, Calif., ranch? It was just featured in Elle Decor’s May issue — and it’s INCREDIBLE.

But we have to be honest, Reese Witherspoon’s Ojai, Calif., estate gives Ellen and Portia a run for their money.

Check out 37 of the most amazing celebrity homes below:

Matthew McConaughey

Location: Austin, Tex.
Price: $4 million

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Looking for ways to improve your closet? Then checkout this article with closet ideas that could be of interest to you.
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For all the homes click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/celebrity-homes-photos_n_3273244.html

Looking to Avoid a House Fire? Avoid These Hidden Home Hazards!

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

No one wants to think about a fire happening to them. In order to help you protect your family and your home we found this great article with helpful information on the hidden home hazards that can start a fire in your home. We hope it keeps you and your family safe!

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From the article:

Most of us know not to leave burning candles unattended or overload our outlets, but firefighters still respond to about 370,000 home blazes every year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Experts reveal surprising hazards and how to avoid unwittingly fanning the flames.

Wiring

???People don???t think of wiring as a danger, because it???s out of sight behind walls,??? says Lorraine Carli of the NFPA. But electrical fires have accounted for more than 50,000 home blazes a year, plus $1.5 billion in property damage. And seemingly innocuous acts, like driving screws into a wall to hang a mirror, can easily pierce wiring. One good fix: Replace circuit breakers with arc-fault circuit interrupters (found in hardware stores for about $30. These safeguards detect dangerous electrical arcs???abnormal sparks that signal bad insulation or loose connections???and stop them before they start a fire.

Vintage Appliances

That 1930s fan you found in your parents’ attic. The industrial light you snapped up for $10 at a yard sale. The vintage chrome coffeemaker from eBay. Old-???fashioned plug-ins look great and may still run, but they were made according to antiquated safety codes and may include frayed or damaged wires. Have them rewired, and, in general, stick with modern equipment that comes with a UL mark, signifying that Underwriters Laboratories has vouched for the item’s safety in actual use

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Looking for more information on house fire causes? Then checkout this article with prevent house fires that could be of interest to you.
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For all the hazards click here: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20567755,00.html

Looking for Some Ideas to Redo Your Laundry Room? Check Out These Ideas!

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Laundry rooms are hard. If yours is not functional and your are thinking about redoing yours then you have to checkout this article! It has 33 different laundry room ideas and we’re sure that you’ll find something that will meet your needs!

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From the article:

A laundry room doesn???t have to be that dull, boring place where you only go to throw your dirty socks and t-shirts. You don???t need to be afraid of it. It needs to be comfortable, cool and pleasant and at the same time, highly functional. So if you???re looking for design ideas to decorate the perfect laundry room, the list below should be of great help.

But first we???d like to tell you a few secrets:

If a laundry loom is too small, you???ll have to make it look larger. It???s the same with all your other areas. So how about stacking the dryer on top of the washer (you???ll have to make sure your wash has front-loading for that to work) and save some space for a narrow cabinet to store your stuff?

Consider using the space behind the door. It gives you more space to move around and it allows to hang your clothes, rubber gloves, or to hide your detergent maybe;

Keep things clean. That???s easy to understand. A cluttered room makes it difficult to do laundry work ??? it becomes a time-consuming and frustrating job, which believe me, you don???t want to happen;

Colors: our advice is to use light colors for the walls as well as your other laundry room furniture that you may have;

For better space utilization you may also want to consider pulling out hamper or a narrow sliding cart between the washer and dryer, install a countertop above the washer and dryer to create a smooth surface (if there???s no space for a separate table for folding clothes, that is);

Backsplash and floor tiles do a great job in creating a cool environment for your laundry room. Same goes for some of those throw rugs that you could place on the floor;

One last thing to consider is if you have enough light in your laundry room. It???s preferably that you have at least one window for natural lighting. If that???s not enough you should consider installing under cabinet lighting.

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Looking for more ideas for your laundry room? Then checkout this article with laundry room storage that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.decoist.com/2012-02-07/coolest-laundry-room-design-ideas/

Learn How to Keep Your Home Safe From Fires Here!

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

It’s important to protect your home and your family from fires any way that you possibly can. We found this article with helpful information that we hope will help you avoid disaster.

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From the article:

According to the CDC, four out of five deaths resulting from a fire happen in the home. According to the National Safety Council, most of these deaths could be avoided if smoke detectors were properly installed and regularly maintained in the kitchen, stairwells, and near each bedroom. Check the batteries at least yearly to make sure they work.

The American Red Cross reports that 80 percent of all deaths due to fire take place when the family is sleeping. The cause is not the fire itself, but rather smoke inhalation and lack of oxygen. In addition, the fire may trigger the release of poisonous chemicals in upholstery, plastic material, and draperies.

No matter what the construction, no house is completely fireproof, but you can do a great deal to prevent home fires:

If there are children in the home, lock up matches and cigarette lighters.

Don’t hang potholders or dishtowels over the burners on the stove. Store them away from the stovetop.

Never smoke in bed.

Never leave home or go to bed with your Christmas tree lights on.

Never use a higher watt lightbulb than a lamp manufacturer suggests.

Use salt or soda to put out a grease fire in your kitchen; never throw water on it.

Have an established family escape route and have regular fire drills. If your house has more than one story, keep a fire safety ladder under each bed. Plan ahead where you’ll all meet outside.

Teach your family the American Red Cross rule if their clothes ever catch on fire: Stop running, Drop to the ground, and Roll over to put out the flames.

Keep papers, curtains, and other flammable material away from hot radiators, portable heaters, and lighted fireplaces.

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Looking for simple ways to prevent fires in your home? Then checkout this article with prevent house fires that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/tips/a-guide-to-home-safety6.htm

Looking to do Some Home Remodeling This Year? Learn Which Ones Are Worth Your Money!

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Home remodeling can be fun and a huge headache. In order to get the most out of your money and avoid a later headache we found this article with projects that are tried and true and will help you get the most for your money.

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From the article:

Even if you???re not planning to sell your home anytime soon, it???s an inevitable question when you consider remodeling: How much will this improvement add to the value of my home?

Surprisingly, much of the time the answer is not as much value as it costs to actually make the improvement.

But some home renovations bring you more bang for your buck than others.

The top-ranking home improvement? A new front door, which on average adds 96.6 percent of the amount you spent to the value to your home, according to Remodeling magazine???s annual Cost vs. Value Report for 2014.

But “it has to be the right front door,” says Steven Aaron, owner of the Steve Aaron Realtor Group at Keller Williams Beverly Hills and one of the protagonists of the HGTV series “Selling LA.” Keep in mind that sometimes painting the existing front door provides the same payoff.

All 35 projects included in the Cost vs. Value report added more value this year than last year, and this is the second consecutive year of increases after several years of decline.

Renovations that bring the greatest percentage return on investment:

Entry door replacement: 96.6 percent

Deck addition (wood): 87.4 percent

Attic bedroom: 84.3 percent

Garage door replacement: 83.7 percent

Minor kitchen remodel: 82.7 percent

Renovations that yield the smallest return:

Home office remodel: 48.9 percent

Sunroom addition: 51.7 percent

Bathroom addition: 60.1 percent

Backup power generation: 67.5 percent

Master suite addition: 67.5 percent

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Looking to remodel your kitchen? Then checkout this article with kitchen remodel ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/03/06/which-home-remodeling-projects-are-worth-your-money

Looking for a New Washer? Find Out What the Top Washing Machines Are Here!

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Buying a new washing machine is a big purchase and you want to make sure that you buy a quality machine so that it will last for a long time. In order to help you make this decision we found this article for you published in Consumer Reports that we hope will help you make the best decision for you and your family.

From the article:

Getting started
Consumer Reports continues to find huge differences in performance among the washing machines we test. Some of the models we’ve reviewed earned mediocre scores or worse for washing. Fortunately, our tests also revealed washers that are both capable and efficient.

Improvements include mid-wash soaking and more aggressive agitation. You’ll also find more programmable wash menus and even built-in USB ports that allow for future software upgrades. Here’s how to choose the right washing machine for you.

Consider location. Look for machines that score very good or better in our Ratings for noise and vibration if your laundry room is near bedrooms or the family room. Also pick models that let you silence end-of-cycle signals.

Top- or front-loader? Top-loaders with center-post agitators typically cost less and wash the fastest, but performance is unimpressive. High-efficiency top-loaders hold more laundry, use less water to wash, and extract more water. That cuts drying time, saving energy and money. Front-loaders generally use the least water and spin the fastest, resulting in the most savings.

Know which features add convenience. Touchpad controls let you quickly choose cycles and keep an eye on the remaining cycle time and status. Automatic detergent, bleach, and softener dispensers release the powder or liquid at the right time in the cycle. A stainless-steel or plastic tub won’t rust if chipped, unlike a porcelain one. Steam settings on washers only slightly improve stain cleaning, however.

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Looking for information on the best clothes dryers? Then checkout this article about best clothes dryers that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/washing-machines/buying-guide.htm

Looking for the Top Remodeling and Interior Design Trends for 2014? Look Here!

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Looking to make changes to your home this year? Learn what the trends are for this year so you know where to spend you money. This article has important information to get the most out of your money!

From the article:

The remodelers and interior designers Angie???s List spoke to say in 2014 homeowners are most interested in making strategic improvements to boost functionality, increase efficiency and take advantage of existing space.

Opening up the kitchen

Removing a wall between the kitchen and an adjoining room remains one of the hottest trends in home remodeling. The project appeals to homeowners because it instantly creates more space and dramatically changes the look and feel of the home.

???In almost every kitchen we do, we open a wall between the living room and the kitchen,??? Merrifield says. ???Usually we put an island between them.???

The project was also a top trend of 2013, and remodelers and interior designers say it maintains its popularity for a variety of reasons.

???Having open floor plans helps make smaller homes seem larger,??? says Susan Colvin, owner of highly rated Susan Colvin Interiors in Indianapolis.

Bolman says families see the kitchen not just as a space for cooking, but for eating, schoolwork and socializing as well. ???Just having that flow from room to room seems to be a more appealing kind of concept,??? she says.

Separating the shower and tub
The days when the shower-tub combo reigned supreme are long gone. Home remodelers say the latest trend is to ditch the tub altogether, or to keep it separate from the shower.

???Standup showers are very popular now,??? Merrifield says. ???People aren???t having the tub and shower anymore. They want the shower separate, tiled in with the glass door on it.???

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Looking for the hot remodeling trends of 2013? Then checkout this article about hot remodeling trends of 2013 that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.angieslist.com/articles/top-home-remodeling-and-interior-design-trends-2014.htm

Looking for DIY Laundry Room Storage Ideas? Check These Out!

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Laundry rooms are rarely large enough and that’s why storage is so important. Organization is key to having a functional laundry room. In order to help you create more storage in your laundry room we found this article with five different DIY laundry room storage ideas. We hope it helps!

From the article:

I know, I know. Your laundry room is dusty, dank, and dull. Dust bunnies spin beneath the ironing board, which is wedged between the wall and the dryer. If only you could hire a carpenter to build you the laundry room of your dreams. You saw photos of show house laundry rooms and you long for one, but there is just no money to spend on it. You’re giving up; glam and comfortable laundry rooms are just for the super rich, you think.

Fear not, ladies and gents! Five DIY bloggers posted their CHEAP DIY laundry room makeovers on Hometalk.com, and I am sharing their brilliant ideas with you. The laundry room renovation ideas I am sharing are all storage solutions, because (at least in my mind) building effective storage into a laundry room is the foundation of the room’s design.

Install cabinets over the washer and dryer: DIY blogger Jennifer from Blissfully Ever After created this totally rocking example of laundry room cabinet storage. Jennifer updated prefabricated cabinets above her washer and dryer. The cabinet set includes two cabinets with doors and one open shelving space. She painted it bright white, and it totally brightened her laundry room, not to mention that it added mega storage space. The cost? $100!

DIY washer/dryer storage pedestals: If you are really pinched for space, do as Chris from Just a Girl Blog did. She expanded her storage space in a narrow laundry room by stationing her washer and dryer on top of pedestals with drawers. Wicked smart, dude. She says she saved $400 by building the pedestals herself. Cool.

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Want to be the best parent you can be? Then checkout this article about parenting pitfalls to avoid that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/01/06/five-diy-laundry-room-storage-ideas/