Home Planning and Digest » editor

Floor heaters.

editor — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:22:07 +0000

You wake up in the morning by the sound of the alarm clock: Oh no, itâ€™s already 9:00! You are late for work. You toss your comforter to the side, wear your slippers that seem to take on forever (yes, normally when youâ€™re in hurry, this happens), and run to the bathroom door. As you step on the tiled flooring, you jump as high as you can because your floorâ€™s temperature is subzero; itâ€™s like having a skating rink inside the bathroom.

If you donâ€™t like this to happen to you anymore, might as well get a floor heater for your bathroom. Floor heaters are specifically designed to give your feet a welcoming warmth. Eliminate those early in the morning jumps and pamper them with a different kind of warmth.

Photo taken from http://www.heatandplumb.com

All about sinks.

editor — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:35:45 +0000

Granite countertops for the kitchen and the bathroom are priceless: aside from the fact that they are easy to clean (just wipe them and the dirtâ€™s gone), they provide elegance to any part of the house. But of course, if we are talking about granite countertops for the kitchen and the bathroom, we might as well tackle the fixture that is mostly associated with it: the sink. Cheap, ordinary sinks (cheap but not â€œcheapâ€ looking. Thatâ€™s different) go well with granite counters. It is actually just a matter of how you install these fixtures.

Installation of granite sinks should be under mount. With this, you can hide the edges of the sink, making your washing area more aesthetically pleasing.

Photo taken from http://www.moen.com

Access to plumbing

editor — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 06:22:41 +0000

One of the most overlooked aspects of home planning is access to plumbing. Many homes today lack easy and built in access to plumbing, which results in future problems when the pipes need to be repaired. Homes without built in access to plumbing usually suffer from added repair costs because certain parts of the wall have to be torn down in order to gain access to the pipes, and have to be rebuilt when everything’s done. So save on future hassle by having plumbing access panels which give you access to cut-off valves. Plumbing access panels are not expensive, and cost from $30 below. You can conceal them behind cabinets or inside closets. You should coordinate well with your builder so that the access panels match where the cut off valves are.

A Down Up Affair

editor — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:26:43 +0000

A well planned home is built from bottom up with the customer’s needs built into the plans. Though this is seldom the case, many who do opt for having a hand in de building of their home have more control over the outcome. From the foundations to the walls and every other nuisance of the home, it is built upon set specifications and needs. The plans however are made by licensed contractors and once approved by the owner, must pass all necessary state laws.
After passing, then building begins and commences till the final as-built plans go for re-approval. The inspection process has the state sending building inspectors going to the site and checking if all work done meets safety standards. Then you have a home that is well planned and laid out bottom up without the surprises of pre-built houses in developments.

A different kind of paint job.

editor — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:23:16 +0000

Imagine a house with the room walls painted in beigeâ€”only beige. Boring isnâ€™t it? Now, what do you have in mind? Color them blue? No, that would be like having the same thing. Red? That colorâ€™s too aggressive your guests might not like it. Oh, wallpaper! Well, can be, but wallpapers need a lot maintenance. You have to wash them every now and then (without ruining it. Now that requires some talent). How about faux finishes? Now, weâ€™re talking.

You can retain that old beige paint if you want to have faux finishes (thatâ€™s minus to your financial burden). All you need to do is to apply another batch of paint (pastel colors maybe) that go with your old paint. There are special rollers for faux finishes. You can buy them at your nearest store. Try it and add some color (and design) to your life!

Photo taken from http://www.o-geepaint.com

Care for some grilling fun?

editor — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:54:52 +0000

If you have a patio at the back of your house and you use it oftentimes for family gatherings, parties or simple get together with friends, then might as well get hold of a nice barbecue pit. If you have been serving them pot roast, fish and chips, fried tuna belly and others, better switch the menu before they get tired of fried and stews. Go grilled! There is nothing more palatable than having grilled T-bone steak for a reunion. Or perhaps, how does grilled lamb chops in lemon sauce sound? Yummy? Of course! Your guests will surely love it and your kids will want to stay home every Saturday for some grilling fun.

Photo taken from http://img2.timeinc.net

Bidet: goodbye water dipper!

editor — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:59:09 +0000

So you wake up in the morning and you do your morning rituals: brush your teeth, wash your faceâ€¦ and defecate (or poop in todayâ€™s language). Since you are still groggy in the morning, as you defecate, you suddenly realize that you forgot something: the good olâ€™ water dipper! Since you normally place it on top of the sink and the sinkâ€™s too far to reach (unlucky you if the tissue rackâ€™s empty too!), you tell yourself, â€œif only I got a bidetâ€.

The bidet is very convenient indeed in the bathroom. You wonâ€™t anymore find yourself searching all the corners of your bathroom for the water dipper when natureâ€™s already knocking on your door.

Photo taken from http://www.emenki.com

Dehumidifiers: making homes a healthy place to live in.

editor — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:03:24 +0000

Todayâ€™s climate is by far humid in most areas. A lot of people get sick because of the musty air, making their homes uncomfortable to live in. Humid air causes moisture on window sills, wood furnishings, and can even make the person sweat tremendously (illnesses like pneumonia can stem from this). Now, how can you possibly make the air inside your house humid-free? The answer to this is a dehumidifier. These little machines can remove moisture in the air in just hours as it catches indoor humidity and puts the excess â€œwaterâ€ in the basin located under it. Stay healthy by keeping your roomâ€™s humidity level low.

Photo taken from http://www.daviddarling.info

Air cleaners: make your rooms colloid-free!

editor — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:36:51 +0000

Have you heard of colloids? These are tiny (very tiny in fact!) particles in the air that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Though some can be seen by turning on a flashlight (you can see little particles floating in the air), millions of it are microscopic and can only be seen using special tools. These colloids pose a problem to the asthmatics and those who are allergic to dust since they can be found everywhere.

What you can do is to obtain air cleaners in every room to make sure that your room is colloid free. It can filter the air, thus, those tiny particles (some are hazardous, believe me!) will be gone forever! Donâ€™t forget to change the filter on a regular basis!

Photo taken from http://www.appliancist.com

Ceiling fans.

editor — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:35:10 +0000

Face the fact: electricity costs are rising. There will probably come a time that you wonâ€™t be able to keep up with your current lifestyle such as having centralized air conditioning, heater and so on and so forth. There is in fact a solution to your future problem (that is, if you will experience such in the future): the ceiling fan.

The ceiling fan is very economic compared to your cooling system. A ceiling fanâ€™s range is wide, blowing air to almost three meters in diameter (standard sized). Also, the ceiling fan sucks the air through the sides and blows it to the middle. This can aid the room in maintaining a mildly warm temperature since cold air stays at the bottom (the one being sucked) while hot air rises (the being blown).

Photo taken from http://www.restaurant-services.com