Window Treatment Woes

Are your window treatments "lacking" esthetic appeal?

This home improvement project offers a simple solution to drab window coverings. Something as simple as removing old or ugly blinds or curtains can certainly change the appearance the feel of a room. Such changes can also lighten or warm up a room, as well.

Consider:

• adding roman shades

• installing wooden shutters

• hanging high quality blinds

• changing the curtains and the rod

• placing a swag over sheers

The options are limitless. Travel to your local home improvement center, home decor store, or super center for ideas. There are a number of retail outlets ready to hand you design guides, pamphlets, and brochures offering ideas and instruction. Visiting the bookstore, or even web sites on the Internet, will provide you with inspiration, direction, and the know-how to make these simple home improvement changes in your spaces.

Don't be afraid to experiment with fabrics, textures, and patterns. Consider visiting a fabric store and ask for some swatches. Experiment with how these elements will work in the room, and with the color palette already in place. Have fun with your discoveries!

Everything, Including the Kitchen Sink!

Home improvement projects in the kitchen is a tricky adventure for some, and a piece of cake for others.  For the purpose of this post, we are going to focus on home improvement novices.  If you are planning to tackle a kitchen sink replacement, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What is your budget?  Do you need to plan well in advance so proper savings will be in place?

2. How much space do you have to work with?  Do you need to do some demolition?

3. Will the countertop need to be retrofitted or replaced?

4. Do you plan to install or replace a garbage disposal at the same time?

5. Have you asked for help from friends or family members?

Asking yourself these questions will send you on the right path toward planning out this home improvement project.  If you are not prepared well enough, you will be setting yourself up for a lot of headaches and a lot of wasted money.  Remember, no question is a dumb one.  So, ask as many as needed in order to make all of your preparations.

A Bit About Shrubs

Adding shrubs, whether they are flowering or not, dramatically improves the exterior of homes.  However, they need constant attention.  If they become over-grown, they quickly go from being a beautiful statement to an eye soar.  This is also true if you neglect watering and feeding.  Here are some links to help you figure out how to care for your shrubs:

• A Guide to Successful Pruning
• Tree and Shrub Feeding
• Selecting a Shrub
• Managing Weeds in Shrub and Flower Gardens
• Planting Shrubs Correctly

These links should help you get started.  Even though this home improvement project appears simple to complete, you'll be surprised how tricky planting and caring for shrubs can be.  Read up, get some advice, and follow instructions to the letter.  Because shrubs tend to be expensive, the last thing you want to go through is a trial and error process.

Rockin' Out in the Kitchen

Are your kitchen countertops old, drab, and damaged? Do you dream of installing granite countertops?  This is a popular choice for a variety of reasons, topping the list being beauty and durability.  Installation can be tricky, though, so it is important to have the know-how in advance:

• How to Install Granite Countertops

• Installing Granite Countertops

• Granite Countertops FAQs

• Granite Tile Kitchen Countertops

• DIY Granite Kitchen Countertops

Make note of the granite tile option listed above.  This alternative is a beautiful choice, plus it is easier to install and it less expensive.  Don't worry about sacrificing durability because these tiles are just as strong and long-lasting as granite slabs.  When making the decision to choose between the slabs and the tiles, consider how much space you are covering, how much help you have with installation, and what kind of budget is in place.  All of these factors added together will help with the overall home improvement project.

Don't Get Zapped!

Do you know anything about doing the electrical work in your home?  If the answer is no, or even if the answer is that you are unsure, take the time to learn!

There are home improvement novices who believe they can do just about anything they see on TV.  This is true in some cases (like, adding a wallpaper border around the edge of your kitchen ceiling, for example, or changing a doorknob), but not in the case of wiring.  If you are the type who refuses to hire a contractor, even though a licensed contractor would most likely be in your best interest, here are some links to fill your knowledge bank:

• DoItYourself.com: How to Install Wiring

• Electrical Wiring Tips

• How to Install Outdoor Wiring

• How to Install Outdoor Electric Wiring

• Electrical Outlet Wiring

As I have already mentioned, this is just the beginning of filling your knowledge bank.  Take some classes, buy some books, and talk to contractors who have been in the business for a long time.  Before getting your hands into any kind of electrical project, you must know what you are doing.  There is no room for errors when it comes to home improvement projects like this.  The last thing you want to do is learn the hard way!

Outdoor Spaces

There's nothing like kicking back and reading a good book in the backyard.  (Or side yard, door yard, or whatever you would like to call the area of your property where you dwell)  However, this cannot be achieved if a proper outdoor space is not created.  This does not have to be a large fancy outdoor room that will cost thousands of dollars.  Rather, approach this home improvement project with the following questions:

1. What do you want to use the space for, primarily?

2. Will you be entertaining guests here?

3. How many family members does this space need to accommodate and, does child safety issues need to be taken into consideration?

4. Will this area be used seasonally or year-round?

5. Do you know how to perform proper maintenance on an outdoor living space?

Even though creating outdoor spaces may top your list of home improvement project, it is important to be very honest with yourself about the entire process and the basic needs of the space.  Filling it with needless things will only hurt your pocket book, make more work for yourself, and cause un-needed stress. 

Glass Block Installation

Years ago, it seemed everywhere you looked glass blocks were being incorporated into a home's design.  Not only is the architectural element coming back in full force for new construction, it is becoming a popular home improvement project as well.  Here are some good tutorials to lead you in the right direction:

• How To Install Glass Block | eHow.com

• How to Install Glass Block : HGTVBath Design

• Glass Block Installation | Install Glass Blocks

If you're unsure if you can handle this home improvement project on your own, consider enlisting the help of an experienced do-it-yourselfer or hire a contractor.  Because some demolition is involved, this is by no means an easy task.  In addition, the need to understand plumbing and electrical might be involved should these elements be around or in the way of where you would like to locate the glass block.

Color Banding

Creating color bands not only add extra interest to interiors, they also help bring the eye up.  This is particularly important for spaces with high ceilings or large expanses of wall to deal with.  Rather than using wallpaper borders, tape off stripes in a few different sizes and paint in colors that will accent the rest of the room.

For example, if you have a very large room that is painted iced blue and it has high ceilings it will create a cold living space.  Add some weight at the bottom using a chair rail and rectangles created from molding.  Along the top, add a large band and a small band of color taken from accent pieces in the room.  They do not have to be shades of blue or a neutral color.

Don't be afraid to experiment.  That's the key to this home improvement tip.  Have fun!

More Planning For Planning

When was the last time you took a serious look at the planning you have done when it comes to the home improvement projects you have either started or are about to start?  Is planning a challenge for you or does it come easily?  Here are some links that will help you with the planning process:

• Before You Remodel - How to Plan Your Home Improvement Project

• How to Plan and Organize Home Improvement Projects

• SuccessfulHome Improvement Projects Require Good Planning - home ...

These links will get you started, as will books on the topic of home improvement.  We will explore these book selections and suggestions for reading in future posts.  In the meantime, get your plans in order.  If you do not spend enough time on the planning process, you will encounter a negative impact on your budget eventually.  Good luck!

Container Gardening

There's a strong misconception that, if you have just built or remodeled a home, a period of time has to pass before planting can occur.  In some cases, particularly those where a lot of ground work took place, this is true. However, there are solutions.

Home improvement projects should not exclude the incorporation of hearty growth.  If you do not feel comfortable making a commitment to large shrubs or trees, start some container gardens.  Purchase a variety of plants, as well as a variety of containers to grow them in.  Place them in several areas both inside and outside the home.

Some of these plants can be transferred successfully into ground gardens, but you may find you like them just as they are. There are a large number of gardening books explaining how to successfully makes these transitions at the bookstore, online, and at he library.  Experimenting will teach you quite a bit when it comes to color, texture, size, and species combinations.  Have fun with this home improvement project!

Selecting the Perfect Paint Color

Choosing paint color is a very tricky business!

When it comes to trying to figure out exactly which color will work best in your home improvement painting project, it is best to test the waters first.

Many painters suggest the following before making the final commitment:

• hang paint chip samples directly on to to the wall for a few days

• paint a section of color directly on to the wall and look at it for a few days

• paint pieces of canvas and change them out every few days

These suggestions allow you to live with a paint color (or several paint colors) for several days before making a final decision. We all know someone who has discovered the paint color was wrong after it was already all on the wall, or perhaps we have done this ourselves. These suggestions prevent this from happening. Not only does this save time and money, but it also saves some sanity!

Planning Ahead

Kitchens tend to be where the most home improvement projects pile up for one reason or another.  It could be something as simple as replacing a faucet, or something as complex as doing a complete remodel.  No matter what the home improvement project is, or home simple or complex it is, it is important to be prepared.  What does this mean., exactly?

• Do you have the proper tools?

• Do you have the materials you need?

• Do you have the experience necessary?

• Do you have the help, if needed?

• Do you have a budget in place?

Spending time on preparation before projects is just as important as the actual project.  If you run short on funds, then you weren't planning properly.  If you run short on supplies, then you weren't planning properly.  I think you get the point.  There are a number of home improvement books available in stores, as well as online, which will get you started.

An Introduction....

Greetings home improvement professionals and enthusiasts!  My name is Jenn Hollowell and it is going to be my pleasure to deliver information relevant to the home improvement field to you on a frequent basis.  I'm author of The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Home and Saving Thousands on Your New House, which will be released in September.  In addition, I have very close ties to the home improvement, remodeling, and residential construction industry.

I'm looking forward to writing for this site and interacting with readers.  If there is information you would like to see presented, resources you need, or questions you have please feel free to drop me a comment or an email.  In the meantime, I'll be back tomorrow with some fresh content!  Stay tuned!

Put Your House to the Test

Recently I’ve been exploring EnergyStar.gov, the US federal government’s website with information about energy efficiency. Much of the site is devoted to consumers’ homes. There’s lots of good information there as well as some fairly obvious tips like turn down your AC. (No! Really? That’ll save energy costs?)

Anyway, there’s an interesting questionnaire style test on the site that lets you judge how efficient your home is. It asks for some details that you might have to look up but it can be illuminating to learn how your home compares to others in your areas. Also, the results page gives you a practical goal for reducing energy use as well as actually usable tips for doing so.

Check it out when you have the time to gather up the information and see how your home rates.