Home Improvement Articles

The future of custom home contractor professionals and other certified home builders in America remains good, despite a sagging economy and worrisome financial reports. The reason is simple. While the labor market struggles, one thing remains the same. The American dream. And part of that dream is a luxury custom home design that meets the family needs, and enhances quality of life. A major reason why custom home construction has maintained its footing, albeit at a low level. But sure to rise again once our economy gains ground. The home front will always be high priority with American families, regardless of economics. Ensuring that custom home contractors and other certified home builders will remain an integral part of our nation's workforce.

When you see old pictures of a general store or butcher shop there are usually several chopping or work areas, each one designated for a special purpose. The old butcher blocks were usually made of wood strips laminated into a square and stood up on end so that the grained ends faced upward. This made for a tough surface that could be scraped after each used and disinfected with salt. In the general store the counters were also made of wood which allowed the grocer to weigh the produce and wrap in in waxed paper.

Extensive fence repair can be avoided by an annual inspection of fence post, support rail, and vertical picket condition, preferably in the spring. A fence post that has become damaged by water or insect rot can bring down a whole section of fence.

Designs for privacy screens and wood fence type vary. What style will best suit your needs and compliment your home's exterior and landscaping design? Consider the possibilities listed below.

Once an integral part of nearly every home, a wood burning fireplace is still a wonderful way to add ambiance and a touch of class to nearly any room design. But more than adding aesthetic appeal or set a relaxing, romantic mood, a fireplace helps supplement heating during cold winter months.

With practically countless styles and types available, nearly every contemporary window treatment includes a window shade of some kind. While typical treatments consist of a basic window drape with mini blinds, contemporary window treatment design dictates something more innovative and stylish. Such as wood blind designs; a bamboo wood blind, genuine or faux wood, or woven wood window shades.

One area of concern to many homeowners is the overall window condition and efficiency of windows in their home. Often overlooked is a criterion for evaluating existing windows before engaging in window installation or a do it yourself window replacement project for the entire home.

Many homeowners familiar with the term kitchen contractor may find themselves a bit mystified by the role played by a certified kitchen designer. Even though there exists a job description overlap between skilled kitchen remodelers and kitchen designers, there are notable distinctions between the two. Before taking a look at the differences, however, let's acknowledge the similarities between regular kitchen remodelers and those with the benefit of certified kitchen designer training.

Wet rooms are a contemporary small bathroom solution, offering an excellent way to open up and make efficient use of limited space. The space normally required for a tub or bathroom shower stall is eliminated; the entire room becomes a shower.

If your house is fairly small, it may be the bathrooms that suffer most when it comes to space. You can't add more windows or remove larger pieces, like the shower, to make the room seem bigger, meaning that there are difficult challenges to giving a small bathroom a larger look. So, how can you trick your mind into seeing a room that feels more spacious? Here are seven bathroom remodeling ways to make your small bathroom look bigger.