My Idea Notebook goes everywhere that I go! It usually stays in the car, but I always have it handy should I need a measurement, a color, or a description for someone who’s helping us make this home a reality — such as a bank lender, blueprint designer, or cabinet installer. Or, if my friends & relatives have a question or make a suggestion on the fly, then I just grab the Idea Notebook and add it to my collection of great ideas.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Pros And Cons: See How Vinyl Tile & Vinyl Planks Compare To Natural Stone & Wood Floors [My Experience As A Flooring Installer]
Without question, the one part of your house that gets beat up every single day is your floor! Shoes, boots, heels, and cleats are just a few of the menaces that torture your flooring. Moving chairs and other furniture also add their fair share of damage. When you consider these factors, combined with damage from moisture getting on the floors from spills, stains, rain, mud, and snow days… eventually you’re going to be faced with replacing your old flooring. But what type of flooring should you put down? As a flooring installer, I have some thoughts about luxury vinyl flooring including — 1) How durable, waterproof, and scratch-proof vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring is, 2) How to install luxury vinyl as a DIY project, 3) How to clean vinyl plank flooring, and 4) How vinyl tile & plank flooring compare to natural stone and wood flooring.
Building A New House? Never Want To Move Again? A List Of Universal Design Features Your Home Needs! [Must-Haves For Aging In Place]
A list of Universal Design new home features you should consider BEFORE building or remodeling your house. Plus reasons to consider “aging in place” in the home of your dreams! I encourage you to give these Universal Design principles a lot of thought before building or remodeling your house!
Save Money By Installing Better Home Siding: The Best Low-Maintenance Energy-Efficient House Siding Options
The most energy-efficient, low-maintenance house siding options — according to a home siding expert. Here’s how to weigh your options before residing a house to improve the look, improve energy savings, and increase resale value.
Bathroom Design Tools, Standard Sizes, And Measurements For Bathroom Items
See standard Shower sizes & dimensions, Toilet sizes & space requirements, bathroom Sink spacing issues, Tub placement & sizes, and overall Bathroom Room Sizes for a full bath, small bath, half bath, and water closet / powder room. Plus, ADA bathroom requirements and online tools to save time & money designing a bathroom.
DIY Roof Inspection Tips: How To Inspect The Roof & Gutters On A New House Before You Buy It
Before you buy a new house, you need to do a roof inspection and look closely at the gutters. Here’s what you should look for now… to avoid costly repairs later!
Bathroom Design Tools, Standard Sizes, And Measurements For Bathroom Items
See standard Shower sizes & dimensions, Toilet sizes & space requirements, bathroom Sink spacing issues, Tub placement & sizes, and overall Bathroom Room Sizes for a full bath, small bath, half bath, and water closet / powder room. Plus, ADA bathroom requirements and online tools to save time & money designing a bathroom.
Cork Flooring Durability & Eco-Friendliness Are This Interior Designer’s Top Reasons For Choosing Cork Floors
As an interior designer, one of my favorite materials to use inside a home is cork. Cork flooring has many advantages over other popular materials — including hardwood, tile, and concrete. Two of the biggest reasons I encourage clients to choose cork flooring are: its durability and eco-friendliness. Here are some good things to know before installing cork flooring.
House Siding 101: Why I Chose Fiber Cement Siding + Some Things You Probably Don’t Know About Cement Fiber Siding
As a siding contractor, I help homeowners choose the best siding for their homes on a daily basis. But I first became a fan of fiber cement siding as a homeowner myself researching house siding options. Here’s a list of the pros & cons of cement fiber siding, and some things you probably didn’t know about this type of siding. See why it’s so popular.
DIY Garage Door Repair vs. Professional Garage Door Repair: 6 Reasons Why You Probably Won’t Be Able To DIY It
Have a broken garage door? Should you try DIY garage door repair or call a professional? Here are the 10 most common reasons your garage door isn’t working, which ones you can tackle yourself, and when it’s time to call for professional garage door repair. Find out here if you have the right tools, the time, or the knowledge to take on this repair project yourself.
Need A New Water Heater? (Us, Too.) See The Hot Water Heater Rental Cost vs. The Cost Of Buying A New One
Did you know that you can rent a water heater, as opposed to paying full price for the installation of a brand new one? See if renting a water heater is better than buying one – based on the hot water heater rental cost compared to the cost of buying a new water heater. See the pros & cons of each, as well.
8 Super Creative DIY Exterior Home Renovation Ideas That Won’t Break The Bank
Think that exterior home renovations are expensive? They can be — if you’re not careful. But I’ve got some awesome DIY home exterior design ideas to share with you that WON’T break the bank! Pick a weekend and get busy with these exterior home remodel projects: a mailbox makeover, create a natural pathway, spruce up your front door, and other simple ideas that cost next to nothing.
Using Tin Ceiling Tiles vs. Tin Roofing Inside Your Home: Tips For Installing Tin Ceiling Tiles Yourself + Tin Ceiling Cost Factors
What you put on the ceiling is just as important as what you put on the walls. Used in the right room with the right accents, things like vinyl, aluminum, Styrofoam, and tin ceiling tiles can add a stunning punch that’s different from the other rooms in your home! Here’s what real ceiling tiles and faux ceiling tiles are like, how much tin ceiling tiles cost, and the steps for installing tin ceiling tiles yourself.
Reflective Roofing vs. Dark Roof Colors: See How Roof Shingle Colors Affect Your Energy Costs
I’m a roofer and I’m here to tell you that roof colors matter. It depends on where you live. See when you’d want to choose reflective roof shingles and when you’d want to choose dark asphalt shingles for your house. And see how your energy bills will be different, based on the roof shingle colors you choose.
Thinking Of Installing A Pocket Door? Here Are The Pros And Cons Of Pocket Doors + Simple Pocket Door Installation Tips
Before installing a pocket door, read these helpful tips. Pocket doors are great, but they have their limitations too. We’re putting some in our home, but we were unable to use a pocket door in the bathroom like we wanted to.
Green Homes: The Difference Between An Energy-Efficient Home & An Eco-Friendly One
Building a new home? Renovating an old one? Green homes matter. Improvements that make a home green + How to determine the environmental impact of your home
5 Surprising Things Homeowner’s Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Here’s a list of what homeowners insurance covers and what homeowners insurance doesn’t cover. Plus, what you can do about it to protect yourself!
5 Ways To Identify A Load Bearing Wall & Avoid A Disastrous Remodeling Mistake
Don’t act impulsively when remodeling! If you start demolishing a load bearing wall, you’ll pay dearly to replace it. Here’s how to identify load bearing walls inside your home.
6 Remodeling Projects That Will Increase Your Home’s Value – Some Do’s & Don’ts Before You Start
Do this and don’t do that! Before you start any home remodeling project, be sure to consider what adds value and what doesn’t if you plan to sell your home.
Colorful Winter Landscaping: 6 Plants That Add Color To Your Winter Landscape
Don’t let the cold weather take all the color out of your garden! Here are 6 hardy & colorful plants you’ll want to incorporate into your winter landscaping
Remodeling Your House? You’ll Need A Building Permit! 5 Facts About Building Permits Homeowners Often Overlook
Don’t get caught remodeling your home without a building permit… it can be a costly mistake! Here’s when you need a building permit, and when you don’t.
How Much Does A Concrete Driveway Cost? Here’s How To Measure, Lay Out & Budget For A New Cement Driveway
Repairing or replacing your driveway? Measuring it accurately is the key – here’s how. Plus tools to help you calculate your total concrete driveway cost.
Curb Appeal Ideas: 5 Outdoor Home Improvement Projects You Can DIY To Save Over $3,000
DIY curb appeal ideas & exterior home improvement projects. See how much it costs to stain a deck, seal a driveway, add a gravel path, paint vinyl siding, etc
5 Secrets For High-Fashion Low-Budget Decorating As Seen Inside Celebrity Homes
Dreaming of decor like you’d find inside celebrity homes? 5 savvy decorating tips to spruce up your home like a celebrity… minus the expense.
Your Top 5 Kitchen Remodeling Questions Answered (…Make Sure You Know The Answers Before You Get Started!)
Don’t start your kitchen remodeling project until you’ve answered these questions! Plus some reasons to include an expert to help you plan your remodeling project.
Small Bathroom Ideas: 8 Low-Cost Ways To Make Your Small Bathroom Look Bigger When You’re On A Budget
8 simple fixes to dramatically enlarge your small bathroom. These small bathroom ideas are definitely budget-friendly… some can be accomplished for free!
5 Common Floor Plan Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Or Building A New Home
Looking for the ideal floor plan for your home? 5 common mistakes you want to avoid and tips you should consider when planning the layout of your new home.
Master Bathroom Ideas: 7 Tips For Creating Your Dream Master Bath
Unique master bathroom ideas to transform your dream into reality. Reap the rewards of your beautiful remodeled space while increasing your home’s value.
Don’t Make The Same 2 Home Remodeling Mistakes That I Made With My Bathroom
I wish I knew then what I know now about DIY home remodeling! Hopefully, you can learn from my mistakes and save some time… and money.
How To Build A Pond: DIY Water Garden Supplies & Costs
Wondering the true cost of adding a water garden in your backyard? Here’s how to build a pond, along with how much money & which supplies you’ll need.
Evaporative Air Conditioning vs Traditional Air Conditioning: 4 Reasons To Choose Evaporative Cooling
Traditional air conditioners are the norm in most homes today. However, evaporative air conditioning is better. See why evaporative cooling is the best cooling mechanism for your home.
Homeowner Insurance: Tips For Getting Low-Cost Home Insurance
Want to spend less on your home insurance? Aside from raising your deductible, there are a number of other things you can do to lower your home insurance rates.
