The Fun Times Guide > Home Building/Remodeling > kitchens

Are Paper Countertops A Good, Green Choice?

The answer is a solid YES!Finding an eco-friendly countertop that also looks great is much easier to do than you might think. There are a few different types of "eco-friendly" countertop materials on the market:Terrazo (crushed stone and glass that is set in a cement or epoxy substrate and then buffed until smooth)Recycled Glass TileRe-purposed Stainless SteelRecycled Plastic (made from a variety of materials such as yogurt containers; amongst others)Wood (if sourced locally from a … [Read more...]

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How To Choose A Farmhouse Sink

If you're in the market for a new sink and have a little bit of flexibility in the dimensions, capacity and cost for your kitchen sink selection, you might want to consider a farmhouse sink (a.k.a. apron-front sink) for your new home or to replace your old kitchen sink. If there is one sink that I had to choose from amongst all of the types of kitchen sinks available, it would be a farmhouse sink. The simplicity of a single, deep sink is very attractive and is the key element in the … [Read more...]

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Go With A Subway Tile Backsplash For Classic Style & Durability

A subway tile backsplash is about as simplistic as it gets when it comes to classic design choices for kitchens. Clean lines, simple patterns combine with easy cleaning and durability for a popular choice for many homeowners that desire a good value. Subway tiles have been around since the artistic team of Heins & LaFarge first installed them in the New York City subway system back in 1904. They were part of the Arts and Crafts movement and worked in the Beaux-Arts architectural … [Read more...]

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Aluminum Tiles Made From Aircraft Cladding Create Unique & Sleek Style

Looking for luxuriously exotic tiles, backsplashes or bathroom tiles that will set your home apart from the rest? Coverings ETC produces an all-aluminum tile, called Bio-Luminum, that is made from post-consumer recycled aluminum from reclaimed airplane parts (retired aircraft cladding). How cool is that? photo via Coverings ETCI suppose it would be acceptable to install aluminum tile anywhere in your home if you're looking for a cutting-edge material to cover your walls, but this is primarily … [Read more...]

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Wainscoting Paneling Adds Value and Style To Your Home

Adding wainscoting paneling to a room is a great way to increase your home's value and add classic good looks all at the same time.There are all sorts of wainscoting paneling kits on the market that can make the process much simpler, but when you come across wainscoting paneling that is built from sticks of lumber it's pretty cool to see it in process and admire the transformation and depth it gives a room.That is the subject of my post today.The photos that follow were taken in the Victorian … [Read more...]

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How To Seal Granite And Remove Stains From Granite

To seal granite or not to seal granite. That is the question that many will ask prior to making their granite countertop purchase. If you installed your granite surface awhile ago, you may still be asking that question. When I spoke to Jeremy and Edward at M&F Business Corporation, a granite slabs importer that sells wholesale to fabricators here in Georgia, their answer was that granite must be sealed. Granite is, in fact, sealed at the factory and after the fabrication … [Read more...]

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Where Do Granite Slabs For Countertops Come From?

Mother Nature is awesome in many ways. The mind-boggling forces involved that create the unique color combinations, striations, inter-mingling of minerals with rock are incomparable and beautiful. It's amazing to have the opportunity to see, first-hand, hundreds of types of exotic and classic granite slabs waiting to be shipped to fabricators to be honed into kitchen countertops and islands.I am lucky enough to have had that opportunity due to the location of the granite slabs wholesaler being … [Read more...]

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How To Install Beadboard Paneling

I installed beadboard paneling in my kitchen and you can do it, too. All that's left to do is to sand the trim work and paint all of it. The beadboard paneling is actually a product called hardboard paneling and is not authentic beadboard. The hardboard paneling is an engineered product and is made in Michigan by Decorative Panels International (DPI)- Alpena Hardboard. It turns out that the paneling I bought has a couple of characteristics about it that made it a responsible buying … [Read more...]

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How To Give Your Old Appliances A Sharp, New Look Using Stainless Steel Paint

I posted an article about Thomas' Liquid Stainless Steel paint a couple of months ago. I mentioned that we would paint our old refrigerator and give our honest opinion on the product and the application process. Now that it has been painted, I wanted to give you a first-hand review here along with a few handy tips on applying Thomas' Stainless Steel Paint. I've included plenty of photos of the entire process, too.     … [Read more...]

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Pros & Cons of Liquid Stainless Steel

Are you thinking about upgrading your old appliances to stainless steel? If so, I bet you've been keeping an eye on all of the sale ads waiting for a steal-of-a-deal on a stainless steel appliance. Why? Because stainless steel ain't cheap. If your current appliances work great and all you really want is an updated look, you can still have a stainless steel appliance at a mere fraction of what you would have paid for a brand new unit. There is a slight twist to it. You won't really have a … [Read more...]

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