Home Improvement Industry

Seemingly ever sector of the U.S. economy is evaluating how the latest recession stands to have an effect on their industry. Of course, practically something tied to the latest U.S. housing market is in for a rough time, but inside this economic sector, home improvement itself may well climate the storm with relative ease. Customer resources that gauge home improvement demand show that property owners have largely maintained their necessity for home repairs and their appetite for home improvements.

Meanwhile, the House Improvement Study Institute has revised estimates for the Home Improvement Goods Industry to indicate a .7 percent drop in 2008 and a forecasted drop of three.1 percent in 2009. The cumulative direction of these statistics shows that within the house improvement business, manufacturers that depend on homeowners’ expenditures for house improvement supplies are likely to be hit hardest.Home Improvement and Remodeling DemandThe Joint Center for Housing Scientific studies (JCHS) at Harvard University has forecast that by the second quarter of next year remodeling expenditures will be down 12 %. That mentioned, the existing property improvement and remodeling demand has shown outstanding resiliency to the economic recession therefore far. ServiceMagic, the leading online resource connecting property owners and home improvement contractors, has shown property improvement demand has risen virtually across the board. In the latter half of 2008, property owners actively searching for contractors for house additions and remodels outpaced the previous year by a lot more than 10 percent, roofing demand elevated by 13 percent, and HVAC services increased by an eye-catching 51 %.

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Hot Pics: This weeks top e-mailed home improvement images

This picture was sent in by David from New York! His flat has a very modern feel to it and I love the contrast between white and slate grey going on. Those side chairs keep the place clean and minimalistic whilst the sofa brings in a sort of warmth.

This set up seems perfect for a flat especially in a highly popuated city such as New York. I can't help but feel David needs a bigger television on his wall though ! :P (he is in the process of buying one) :D.

Liz (London)

This image is from Liz who lives in London. I love the conservatory and the contrast of wood, stone and glass - which seems to be a top pick amongst mills turned into flat blocks nowadays (which I love).

It seems to be a very modern house however I am assured that the inside has a more traditional feel to it! Thank you Liz :D

Jessica (Sydney, Australia)

My last pick of this weeks Hot Pics is from Jessica from Sydney, Australia! I chose this because I love the marble and granit going on and the tiled floor adds to that 'cool' feel which you most definately need in Australias heat. It also features an anti pest scent which has been burned into all cuboards as to deter any dangerous spiders (yuck I hate them) from getting in. Thank you Jessica :D

And so that is it, If your picture didn't make it tough luck - haha, just kidding. You'll have your day :D all your images are kept and so if for example one week I do not like any images then I could choose yours :D.

Do you like these Hot Pics? If not why? Feel free to comment and leave me your opinions !

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Home Improvement Project: Remodeling your kitchen

Remodeling a kitchen is one of the best investments a homeowner can make. For most homeowners it is the most important room in the house. It is used for cooking, eating, and gathering, and is typically a focal point in the home. Consequently, though a great investment, a kitchen-remodeling project can be very disruptive to the family. And the length of the disruption can take as long as two or three weeks.

The Planning Stage

Planning is absolutely essential in remodeling a kitchen. The homeowner should first identify the main objectives of their future kitchen. They should next research the latest products on the market including: cabinets, countertops, appliances, and flooring. If the kitchen is more than 5 years old, there are a lot of new products to choose from. For example, Silestone is quickly surpassing Granite and Corian, as the premier countertop surface as it is extremely hard, elegant in appearance, and comes in many colors. For cabinets, the trend appears to be towards lighter colors as they help the appearance of lightening and enlarging a room. In regards to appliances, the Stainless Steel look appears to be in. And for flooring, vinyl or wood is the trend. Tile looks nice, however, it can be unforgiving in a room where things tend to get dropped. In addition, if there is no radiant heating planned for the floor, tile has the tendency to feel cold on the feet.

Sketch out some plans

After the main objectives of the future kitchen have been identified and the homeowner has an idea on the products for it, they should next sketch some plans. I would suggest developing two or three sketches, keeping in mind three important points. First, professional kitchen designers like to think of a triangle when starting a new design. The three points of the triangle include the Sink, Refrigerator, and Stove. Make sure your sketches consider this as it will ensure a good functional kitchen. Second, consider adequate walking areas and space for an eating area, such as a table or center island, with applicable space included for chairs. I would suggest that the walking areas be wide enough for two people to walk through at the same time. The sketches should also include dimensions, as these will be needed when meeting with the Kitchen Designer. Finally, consider where the existing outlets and power for the stove are, and assess if additional outlets will be needed or old outlets relocated.

Visiting the Kitchen Design Center

Once sketches have been created, bring them to a Kitchen Design Center or Home Improvement store. A certified Kitchen Designer will then take the sketches and goals and incorporate them into a formal set of plans. Once the Kitchen Designer has formally generated the plans, typically someone from the Kitchen center will visit your home and take very precise measurements so that the plans can be finalized. In fact, make sure that they do visit your home; otherwise unexpected costs and delays could occur when the wrong size cabinets arrive on your doorstep.

When the cabinets do arrive at your doorstep, ensure that they match the list of materials generated by the Kitchen Designer. Again, this will help ensure that no delays or unexpected costs arise during the actual remodeling process.

Cabinets: Out with the Old and In with the New

Once the cabinets arrive, the cabinet installers will remove the existing cabinets and countertops, unless the homeowners decide to do this themselves, and install the new cabinets. If new flooring is planned, I would suggest installing the flooring between removing the old cabinets and installing the new ones, as this will save time and money. In addition, particularly with Linoleum, you will get a better end product, as the Linoleum will be unable to lift-up over time, if the material goes under the cabinets. If new flooring does get installed prior to the cabinet and countertop installation, additional care will be needed to ensure the floors are not damage during this process.

Installing the Countertops

After the new cabinets have been installed, measuring and templating for the new countertops will be required if Silestone, Granite or Corian are to be used. This task should be planned in advance so that it can be performed the same day the cabinets are installed. This will help to reduce the disruption time. Once the templating has been completed, expect several days to a week for the countertops to actually be cut and installed. During this interval the Kitchen Design Center should install a temporary countertop and faucet so that your kitchen remains operational.

Though remodeling a kitchen can be a huge disruption to the homeowner, the finished product will quickly erase the brief inconvenience. Between its new and contemporary look and features, and the knowledge of making a sound investment, the homeowner will swiftly forget about the disruption as they fully enjoy their new kitchen.

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Home Improvement For Bedrooms

This is about home improvement for bedrooms. Your bedroom is your personal retreat and also the relaxing arena of your home, hence it's special. If your bedroom appearance drab and monotonous, this implies that it's time to redecorate and improve it. There are few easy suggestions that may assist you upset it. First, you wish to chock out a budget and a possible timeframe to begin. Another vital facet is to make a decision on the theme or the type of changes that you simply need to form so as to boost your bedroom. For this you'll be able to visit native interior designers or perhaps search the net for novel concepts. In case you propose to try and do it all by yourself, then i feel that these suggestions are valuable input.

Try and take away all litter from the bedroom since it's a supply of negative energy. you'll be able to expose all the unwanted and unused things lying in your wardrobe together with previous garments, books etc. Succeeding step are to get rid of the tv, exercising gear and pc from the area as a result of they're believed to form negativity, when kept within the bedroom.

Paint your bedroom or use some smart, bright wallpaper to reinforce the inside. Strive using colours that are soothing and make tranquility. currently notice matching curtains, rugs and bed sheets that go well with the wall paint. You'll be able to conjointly amendment the position of your bed, aspect tables and different furniture to grant the area a recent look.

A personal bit like putting scented candles or natural flowers are vital to setting the mood. Little artifacts like handcrafted flowers or family portraits will increase the interiors and enhance the atmosphere. bear in mind to use lighting that suits your desires. The bedroom is your personal place, hence it should be done consistent with your style.

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