July 30, 2012 by Synergy Guru
The world around us is all about color. Calming pastels in spring followed by the vibrant hues of summer leading into the beautiful muted tones of fall.
According to Pantone, the leading authority on color, the hottest color of the year is Tangerine Tango. A powder room or your kid’s bathroom could be the perfect spot for this vibrant, lively color. If you aren’t a risk taker, watery blues and greens may be more your speed. These hues are hot this year, especially for a master suite.
Design trends seem to follow closely with fashion trends and this idea does not skip a beat when it comes to color schemes. Color block is hot this year and so is grey. To create this look, juxtapose a gray shade with a bright and cheerful color, although, keep it to 15-20% of the room. Whites and off-whites continue their popularity and platinum colored metallic textures are making their way into the mix. Surprisingly enough, so far this year oak, birch, and walnut woods are overtaking the previous leaders of cherry, maple, and alder, which are on a decline. Medium to dark wood toned stains are leading the market and white continues to dominate.
Traditional styling is becoming a thing of the past. Transitional styling, a mix between traditional and contemporary,…continues to increase in popularity. People are looking for clean lines and simplicity. Old vintage styling incorporated with minimalistic design is also favored. Coordinate old vintage, retro, or antique pieces into your modern motif.
Modern interior design is all about taking that classic or vintage look and updating it for today’s trends. And, for the hottest trend in 2012…Take Risks. Show your true personality in your decor!
Check out these hot new must have items:
New, more affordable digital showering units w/preset comfort levels.
Mirrors…with TV’s; technology has been improved to eliminate performance issues with humidity.
Fixtures with WaterSense: the EPA’s equivalent to EnergyStar.
Spot resistant technology, keeping faucets looking brand new.
Square and rectangle sinks as well as wading pool vessel sinks.
Category: General Remodeling Tags: bathroom, master suite, minimalistic, transitional, trends | Comments (0)
July 12, 2011 by Synergy Guru
There are a lot of different ways to determine how much does a room addition cost. Certain factors are going to influence the overall cost of your room addition. Prices will definitely vary depending on the part of the country that you live in. They will also be different depending on whether you live in the city or in the suburbs.
The region that you live in will influence the cost of your room addition. Certain areas have an easier time supplying builders and contractors with materials. In areas where there is a lot of competition in the industry, supplies are more reasonably priced. This savings is often passed onto the customer. In areas, where supplies are harder to come by, prices may be more expensive. This is a crucial consideration for your remodeling budget.
Another factor that influences the price for your room addition is the space you are trying to accommodate. Some homeowners will be converting existing space in their home to a new room. Others will be actually building an entirely new room onto the home. This choice is typically more expensive for customers. The size of the room that you want is another factor to consider. In general, the larger the room the more you are going to pay for it.
The type of room that you are building or remodeling will play a role in the price as well. The average bathroom addition cost in the Chicagoland area ranges from $38,000-75,000 for 2011. Kitchen addition cost can range from $58,000-111,000. Here you must think about the access to this room, cost of features, and the cost of fixtures.
Category: Bathroom Remodeling, General Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, Room Additions Tags: addition, bathroom, cost, family, home, kitchen, remodel, remodeling, renovation, room | Comments Off
February 21, 2011 by Synergy Guru
If you’re a parent, you’ve already thought about minimizing or eliminating safety hazards in your bathroom and kitchen. With new, recently developed products, you can easily remove much of the risk. Start by taking a fresh look at your home while conducting a safety audit. Does your bathroom and kitchen have the following safety features?
Bathrooms
- slip-resistant strips in the tub and nearby to minimize the risk of slipping and falling
- grab bars in tubs and showers
- towels bars/rings close to the tub or shower
- impact-resistant safety-glass or plastic tub/shower enclosure
- shatter-resistant tub faucets that don’t have sharp edges
- recessed soap dishes (those that stick out from the wall can cause injury if a person falls against them)
- the new soft bathtub, which is made of impact-absorbing materials to reduce the risk of injury for young and old alike
- non-slip tile to reduce the risk of falling on a wet surface
- toilet latches to prevent children from opening the lid
- electrical outlets designed to automatically cut off power in the presence of water contact or faulty circuitry
- door hardware that can be unlocked from either side
- temperature-controlled faucets to avoid serious skin burns (typical faucets can produce water that is more than 120 degrees F, which can scald a child’s tender skin).
Kitchens
- a stove with difficult-to-reach top controls
- appliances, sharp knives and other sharp objects kept out of sight and reach in appliance garages, in-drawer knife blocks, and built-in storage units
- slip/impact resistant flooring to reduce injuries and lessen broken ceramic and glass
- cabinet latches to keep children away from dangerous products
Category: Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling Tags: bathroom, kids, kitchen, remodel, remodeling, renovations, saftey, tips | Comments Off
