Month: January 2019

Kitchen Cabinets: Slate Surfaces Rock for Power and Style

On the lookout for a new kitchen sink material? Look at stepping back in time and benefiting from the natural beauty of slate. Heavy-duty slate countertops are antibacterial, stain resistant, noncombustible and unrivaled in strength and endurance. Most often installed using a front exposure, they’ve a low-maintenance farmhouse feel that may be just what your kitchen is overlooking. Learn the fundamentals and costs here in order to check whether this substance can work on your residence.

More kitchen sink choices

Whitten Architects

The fundamentals: Actual masterpiece is a metamorphic stone with distinctive properties and excellent performance capacities. New England slate, which is famous for its superior quality, is especially suitable for kitchen sink usage.

Century Bay Builders

Cost: A slate sink for a standard 30- to 36-inch cabinet base generally costs between $900 and $1,200 and is generally made to order based on external dimensions.

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Benefits: Every slate sink is unique and hand crafted. Constructed based on outside measurements, slate sinks are constructed like fine furniture. The slate is cut and fitted together by hand, ensuring quality and endurance.

Often called bulletproof, slate makes for a rocky work sink that’s resistant to fading, scratching and burning. Custom decoration and designs may likewise be inserted into slate for a really one-of-a-kind farmhouse sink.

Ironwood Builders

Disadvantages: on account of their made-to-order temperament, slate sink aren’t inexpensive and simple projects to set up. Homeowners might also feel that these countertops are limited to kitchens with a certain aesthetic.

Moran + Associates

Sustainability: “We use no chemicals in production,” states John Tatko of Maine’s Sheldon Slate Products. “We recycle our water, and the only waste we make is slate sand, which we use as fill.” Installing and installing antique slate countertops is also quite popular now. Reduce, recycle and reuse!

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Care: Slate sinks are nonporous, which makes for an antibacterial, stain resistant, noncombustible and easy-to-clean surface. While regular cleaning practices must perform the tip, elbow grease, scouring pads and cleansers won’t damage your slate.

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc..

Are you a lover of slate kitchen countertops? Let’s talk! Share your ideas in the Comments section below.

More kitchen sink options

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Merge Your Tub Space into a Shower — the Planning Phase

There are many examples of large bathrooms, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that most of us have bathrooms that are about 50 square feet (5 by 10 ft). A fantasy shower may frequently become a reality only if it fits to the footprint of a dated tub. But what’s the best method to go about this conversion?

The very first step to convert a bathtub to shower would be to put down everything on paper. Before you start ripping out tile, bringing home sale items or looking for the best grout color, be sure that you measure, plan and research.

Mabbott Seidel Architecture

Measure the toilet exactly. Yank on the finished wall dimensions, right down into the 1/8 inch. Most bathtubs are 60 inches wide, which is a good width to get a shower. The depth is the kicker. Aim for at least 32 to 34 inches from the finished tile wall into the upcoming glass shower door.

You will also need to to have a finished ceiling height of 80 inches minimum and a shower that’s at least 30 by 30 inches to comply with the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s guidelines for bathrooms. In case you decide to plan to get a seat, be sure it doesn’t crowd this distance of 30 by 30 inches minimum.

Record the bathroom location. A distance of 15 to 18 inches from the the middle of the bathroom to the glass on the new shower door tends to be comfortable.

Work out the shower-door swing. Where will you set the door on your new shower so it does not interfere with the bathroom or vanity? I love to use a large scrap of drywall to put out the potential shower-door swing, and then check the distances of the drywall into the toilet and vanity.

From the renovated bathroom here, a little 1926 tub was replaced using a curbless shower. The walkway from the vanity into the shower has been too tight to get a whirlpool bathtub door, which explains precisely why this shower has two glass block walls instead.

Hint: In the event the toilet floor is going to become wet outside the shower, then pick a little tile or a different slip-resistant material.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami

Make sure you’ll still have tons of space. When you substitute a bathtub with a shower, the bathroom can start to feel crowded. Make sure that you pay attention to this it seems right to you.

Try to keep at least 15 inches area from the middle of the bathroom to the new shower glass. If your shower ends up being on the side, you can skimp on this measurement a little.

Hint: Hold up a sheet of scrap drywall to function as a fake glass panel and also sit a 5-gallon bucket to mimic the toilet’s location. This could help you decide how close you like the glass and how large you’d like your shower.

Stand at the area where your shower will be. A shower depth of 32 inches feels little to me, however, might work for you. A depth of 34 to 36 inches tends to be perfect, but do not crowd the bathroom. Make sure that you check the local code for minimum distances, too.

Take out the door if it’s causing problems. Who says you require a door anyway? And start looking into heated floors if you decide not to have a shower door. Floor heat is quite good at keeping the toilet floor dry in addition to warm.

Hint: If you intend to get a doorless shower, then you’ll need to be extra careful when using a handheld shower fixture. A fixed showerhead or rain head (such as the one in this photograph) will continue to keep the water inside the new shower.

More tips on working with a doorless shower

kbcdevelopments

Take your time looking for fittings. Shopping for fittings can actually be fun! Research the options and look for specials and potential combos. Do not feel like you need to use all the same brand — I frequently use fixtures from two separate companies that still look good together.

Hint: If you’re building a steam shower, then contemplate Dornbracht fixtures. Bear in mind that a steam shower should be constructed by someone with at least five years’ expertise in vaporproofing.

BY DESIGN Builders

Consider your tile and lighting layout from the start. This is essential to some polished-looking shower. Be certain you include lights on your shower, not just around it.

Depending on your shower size and cosmetics, yet, two or even four lights might look best. When you eliminate your old bathtub and tub surround to make room for the new shower, this is the ideal time to test that your light system can be installed like you had planned. Often the ceiling framing over a bathtub is easily adjusted to accommodate a lighting plan.

Do not tile with no finished light sources set up. Without a light source set up, it is hard to know how any lippage might look. At a shower the lights are often quite close to the wall, which will show every tiny flaw at a tile installation.

Hint: Organize your tile designs early, using the ceiling height as a reference. Attempt to avoid sliver reductions in tile designs. Drawing the layout on paper helps — once you have this finalized, you may use your vinyl grout lines to put out pulp market locations and shower fittings.

More ways to light up your shower

BY DESIGN Builders

Decide what developments you’re going to want. Goal is key here. How will you use the shower? Do you require a seat? Somewhere to place your shampoo? What about a window? All these extras are important to this renovation and help narrow down a construction plan.

Hint: If you’re building a shower that will consist of items like benches, windows and pulp niches, be certain the waterproofing is brought right up the walls and require extra care around the chimney. Kerdi Repair is a superb product for seaming the window into the bathtub’s waterproofing system.

Next: Step 2 — Choosing your new shower fittings

More: manuals to remodeling your shower

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Performed Through Special Occasions With Gracious Home, a Ready

It is simple (and not very pleasant) to get caught unprepared when guests stop by, or even to do nothing to bring to a wedding or housewarming. But with a little additional effort today, you can sail through all your spring and summer occasions easily.

From cleansing shortcuts and long-lasting flower structures to ideas for stocking the ideal gift cabinet, these 13 tips will help make you ready for casting parties, giving presents, writing thank-you notes, hosting unexpected guests and more.

Tres McKinney Design

1. Make an easy-clean entry with considerable storage. A chest of drawers or storage bench from the entry makes last-second tidying up simple. In a smaller space, try stashing stuff in lidded boxes beneath a slender console table or in French marketplace baskets hung on hooks.

Make a habit of keeping the surface of your own storage bit clear, aside from fresh blossoms or a blooming orchid, stowing everything else at the drawers beneath — that way it will always seem new when guests pop by.

Alice Lane Home Collection

2. Keep one cabinet devoted to parties. Never be stuck with no birthday candles again! Pick one place for all things party related: cake plates, fancy teacups, candles and matches, serving trays, the works.

Extra credit:
Learn one fancy fold technique and keep a pile of freshly laundered and folded cloth napkins in the ready.

3. Stock a cart with entertaining essentials. A cart is excellent for holding everything from glassware and paper napkins to bottles of wine and boxes of cheese straws. Keep yours stocked with a couple of favorite things, and it’s going to be simple to create snacks and beverages for buddies in a moment.

Extra credit: learn to make a signature drink, and keep the recipe card tucked off on your own cart.

4. Stow additional seating under a console. An easy way to squeeze in a couple of extra seats in the living space is by tucking a set of poufs or stools beneath a console desk — close at hand when you want them but readily tucked away.

Lux Decor

5. Create long-lasting (or perhaps faux) arrangements. Fresh flowers and greenery can go a long way toward making a room feel festive. Master a couple of simple arrangements which just look like they took ages to collect. Try lining up a series of little square containers down the middle of your dining table, filled with short-cut blossoms stuck into floral foam for strength.

Or, for everlasting green, pick up some high-quality faux topiaries and place them on your buffet.

Kerrisdale Design Inc

6. Get in the habit of picking up flowers in the market. If making fussy arrangements worries you vow instead to keep things clean and simple. Pick up single-color blossoms (white is always posh) in the grocery store or farmer’s market and plunk them at any vase or pitcher you have got. Large flowers (such as hydrangeas) and booming branches offer you a lot of bang for the dollar.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

7. Keep a stash of elaborate hand towels and soap at a bathroom cabinet. Toilet a mess when guests arrive? Duck in for a moment and pull the shower curtain closed, wipe out the faucet and mirror, and then put out fresh towels and soap.

Su Casa Designs

8. Bypass the mess and host last-minute guests outdoors. When the weather is good, entertaining outdoors can be a wonderful alternative. To keep outside cushions from becoming damp and filthy, try storing them at a bench outdoors where they’re still handy but secure.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

9. Make your kitchen attractive, guests will want to hang out while you cook. We might not all be able to have a dream kitchen such as the one shown here, but there is obviously a way to take advantage of what you have. Consider rolling out a true rug on the ground, pull up a few cute stools into the island and be sure speakers are useful for turning on some music while you cook.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

10. Always be ready with presents and wrapping supplies. Instead of picking themed gift wrap, try picking up an assortment of solid colors, together with an enjoyable variety of ribbons and trims. That way you can produce a number of different appearances for any occasion, all with the very same supplies.

Extra credit: Store a couple of go-to presents together with your wrapping supplies, for all those times when you are caught by surprise. Attempt to have something appropriate for baby, child, housewarming and wedding.

Christina Marie Interiors

11. Stock up on stationery for all occasions. Thank-you notes, clean cards and birthday cards must see you through almost any note-writing crisis.

Extra credit: Order personalized stationery with your name or monogram, and use it for all.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

12. Decide on a single place to note important dates and to-dos. Write down birthdays and special occasions, and notice presents you have received, so you will remember to thank the giver.

Extra credit: Store a book of quotes or famous toasts together with your calendar — if you’re asked to talk at a wedding, then you may at least know where to start.

Chandos Interiors

13. Get your guest room ready in minutes. First of all, keep the mattress made so that you do not need to worry about that. Next, dedicate a shelf in your linen closet to storing guest room essentials, so that you just have to catch the whole stack and go. Consider adding: a new set of towels, slippers, a robe and a little basket of toiletries that are spare.

Bonus: Stock the bedside table with intriguing books, books, chocolates and a carafe of water.

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A Modern Renovation at a Colonial-Era Town

English colonists came in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1633; hence, the majority of the town’s housing inventory is anything but modern. When these homeowners, who lived in a very traditional home in Hingham, adored their preferred town, the wife longed for a modern house. So when this midcentury house went on the market for a teardown using a water view, the household snapped it up.

“The house was in such poor shape that we can not even show several before films,” says architect Don DiRocco of Hammer Architects. (Though see below for just one.) But, his group’s design saved a huge part of the home while they tore down the darkened and dark parts which didn’t get the job done. Both the new and old segments were designed to create a light, bright atmosphere that took complete advantage of their harbor views. The new home has an awareness of entrance; an easy, open stream; and a fresh kitchen hub for gathering cooking, holding cooking classes and doing homework.

at a Glance
Who lives here: A household with 4 children in high school and school
Location: Hingham, Massachusetts
Size: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths
Year built: Original house, 1950s; renovation, 2010

Hammer Architects

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They tore down the old garage and built a new one, along with a brand new breezeway that connects it to the new principal doorway and helps specify an entrance courtyard. “Before, the entrance to the home was tucked around the back of the home and was hard to locate,” DiRocco says. Now “there is not any longer any confusion regarding where to enter the home.” The door on the right is a second entrance that contributes to a large mudroom with cabinets to your kids’ sports gear, coats and shoes.

Before Photo

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“The original home had a set of strange intersecting gable roofs which caused escapes,” says DiRocco. “They had a small spiral stairs into the roof set up, because they had to move up there and repair it so often.” The house’s problems gave the architects good ideas about what to do. It had been “quite dark and dreary; it had a great water view that it was not taking advantage of,” DiRocco says.

Hammer Architects

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The architects added a new kitchen, a brand new garage and entrance courtyard, along with a brand new master suite, and reconfigured existing spaces (view the programs at the end to get a precise idea of these modifications). The attached greenhouse found in the previous photo was donated and carted away. On the right side of the photo you can see the brand new screened-in porch and master suite.

Hammer Architects

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“Occasionally negative existing aspects such as these inspire the new design. We added glass wherever we could, and the home is now filled with natural light from large windows and clerestories,” DiRocco says. This corner is your master bedroom, in which 6- by 3-foot windows take full advantage of the view of Hingham Harbor.

Hammer Architects

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Around the corner from the garage, big windows make the most of the water views. Exterior doors from the office/fifth bedroom and the living room link to the patio.

Hammer Architects

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Translucent glass on the garage doors expands the Japanese lantern–such as glow of the house at night.

Garage doors: Clopay Avante

Hammer Architects

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Red cedar tongue and groove clapboard siding has a natural stain that may stand up to the sea air and harsh winter climate. The house is well insulated and works nicely in summer, too. “This home can really breathe,” DiRocco says. “They’ve air-conditioning, but they seldom need to turn it on.”

Hammer Architects

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Wood beams and a tongue and groove ceiling are original to the home.

While the clients desired stairs down to a basement family room to be a part of their space, they desired to partly hide them. “We did not have much wall space on the first floor, because we wanted to depart the views as open as possible, so this was a good opportunity to include shelves,” DiRocco says.

Floors: stained walnut

Hammer Architects

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The kitchen is a completely new part of the home and serves as the heart of the house. The wife was a well-known chef in Boston and had a large, workable kitchen in which she could do some serious cooking and also have enough room to hold courses. The household also desired a multipurpose space for spending time together.

Appliances: Thermador; counter stools: Ikea; cabinets: custom, Ted Franklin, Welfleet, Massachusetts

Hammer Architects

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“The kitchen serves as a fantastic hub in the house; all these corridors meet here, and it’s a significant gathering spot. The family is quite tight-knit, and the children do their homework at this table,” DiRocco says.

“The kitchen has a high volume which pops up 14 feet and has wonderful natural light all day,” he says. Clerestory windows bring in light from three sides.

Pendant lighting: Ikea; faucet: Grohe Minta; counters: Surrell solid design in Arctic White, Formica; ceiling: tongue and groove fir

Hammer Architects

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The kitchen glows like a lantern at night.

Hammer Architects

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The long dining/living room goes all of the way into a sitting/TV viewing area which leads out into the patio. This component of the home was spared from the initial structure. All the windows are fresh and are larger than the originals.

Hammer Architects

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The architects also rescued the original large chimney and hearth found on the left. While dreaming of moving out of their traditional home for their new modern house, the owners knew they’d be starting fresh with new minimalist decor and furnishings.

The doors at the end of the room result in a screened-in porch, with the master suite beyond it.

Before Photo

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BEFORE: This is the plan of the existing home when the architects were hired. While the neighborhood was an enclave of quite small midcentury modern homes, most of the original homes have been torn down and replaced with big homes on account of the prime views.

Hammer Architects

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AFTER: This is the brand new plan of this home as it is today. “This home is a anomaly in Hingham,” says DiRocco. “The kids’ friends absolutely love hanging out here, the family loves the design, they continue to be within walking distance from downtown Hingham and live near their schools.”

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Happy Clients Unwrap a New Home on Christmas

Project supervisor Ben Cervantes pushed especially difficult for the rapid completion of this Santa Barbara, California, remodel. “My customers lost their cherished home of 30 years at the 2008 wildfires, therefore our staff and, of course, architect Richard Warner wanted to come through for them by finishing this home remodel by Christmas Day,” says Cervantes. And come through they did — the customers not only came home to a finished house, but more important, to a home with a seamless indoor-outdoor link and an expansive grand room filled with natural light.

in a Glance
Who lives here: A sociology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a graphic designer and illustrator
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Size: 2,400 square feet

Allen Construction

Cervantes and his staff removed the home’s existing wood siding and replaced it with noncombustible plaster. The stucco exterior departs from the home’s origins as a midcentury ranch home, a sacrifice the customers were eager to make for the interest of safety.

The team also eliminated other poor connections — places at the home where embers can burn off, such as wood veneer along with other combustible exterior substances.

Roofing: fiber cement, Monier

Allen Construction

A large pivoting door greets guests in the entrance and connects the interior with the outside.

Flooring: solid white walnut, Old Tyme Floor

Before Photo

Allen Construction

BEFORE: The home had limited windows which didn’t maximize its verdant views. Partway through the remodel, the customers’ daughter seen the home and proposed creating an expansive living room by opening the living area, dining area and kitchen.

“It changed the scope of the remodel — and the budget — but our customers are more than happy with the results,” says Cervantes.

Allen Construction

AFTER: NanaWall doors open the interior to the outside. Cervantes and crew ran the electrical wiring which has been previously stored in the interior wall at a fresh beam running the length of this room.

Armchairs, couch, coffee table: Restoration Hardware

Allen Construction

One of the most significant challenges of this project was finding a way to encourage the roof following the team removed a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and living area.

In the end, the team kept two of the steel columns, but they weren’t very pleasant to check out. “One of our carpenters suggested cladding the columns with 3/4-inch white walnut to match the floors and kitchen cabinetry,” Cervantes says. “For decorative flair, in addition, he proposed adding an oak plinth block in the column bottom.” The exposed beams and pillar accentuate the room’s expansiveness.

Dining table, chairs: Restoration Hardware

Allen Construction

“We refaced both present fireplaces with dark grey plaster, then turning them to focal points on opposite sides of the room,” says Cervantes.

Armchair, couch: Pottery Barn

Before Photo

Allen Construction

BEFORE: The old wall divided the kitchen from the dining area and living area.

Allen Construction

AFTER: The team utilized the customers’ present appliances but applied a few cosmetic changes: The refrigerator had been refaced with 1/4-inch walnut plywood to match the brand new cabinets, the stove hood has been painted and framed, and Ceasarstone countertops and custom cabinetry were installed to get a warm timber and white kitchen.

New low-e (low emissivity) glass skylights drench the kitchen with lots of light. The low-e skylights are more energy efficient than the previous Plexiglas skylights; they block heat gain, reduce heat loss through the skylight and let in a cozy flow of light.

Bar stools: Crate & Barrel

Allen Construction

When the customers left the home to visit their daughter on Christmas Eve, scaffolding and construction supplies were strewn throughout. The couple had already give up the notion of spending Christmas Day at a finished home — but little did they know that a Christmas miracle was awaiting them upon their return. They arrived back to a spotless home: The scaffolding was gone and the painting was finished.

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Boost Backyard Chickens Without Ruffling Neighbors' Feathers

A report in the New York Times tells the story of a Brooklyn community which has turned neighbor against neighbor — all because of this Warren-St. Mark’s community backyard decision to temporarily home eight hens. The chicken war between the urban farmers and longtime residents of this area brings up a problem: How can you maintain the peace while raising backyard chickens?

Photographer and chicken keeper Amy Renea says it starts with neighborly acts: advanced notice to neighbors and strategic coop placement go a long way in keeping the peace. She houses her chickens in a far corner lot on her property where neighbors can’t see, smell or hear the chickens when they’re cooped up. The hens roam free when they are released from the coop, and although they generally stick near her property, the cluckers sometimes drift to a neighbor’s lot. “We find the best way to fight any issues is using a giant basket of eggs every once in a while,” Renea says.

Here are additional strategies for keeping things neighborly.

Amy Renea

Keep neighbors informed. Lyanda Haupt, that has been keeping chickens for more than 12 years, sought her out neighbors’ ideas before building a coop in her Seattle lawn. “I told them about what we were planning to do and asked what they thought about it. Once people are informed, they will determine that real safety and health concerns are minimal,” she says.

Leslie Divoll did the specific opposite in her beachfront Florida community. She retains her coop a mystery since the neighbors complain at the drop of a hat, she says.

For Gwen Weerts, consulting neighbors about the left, right and right behind is essential, but she admits that living in the “crunchy” city (her description) of Bellingham, Washington, ensures that more people are supportive of agriculture. “I can see how urban areas without much exposure to small-scale agriculture could have these community flare-ups because of misinformation,” she says.

Check city ordinances. Kathy Siegel, that used to have a coop in Los Angeles, underscores the importance of adhering to city ordinances. “You don’t wish to be in the wrong when your pets’ lives are at stake. In L.A., they have ordinances that say no roosters could be maintained, that limit the hens to five only and dictate clear space minimums between the coop and your neighbor’s home,” says Siegel.

Most chicken keepers will tell you assessing ordinances can prove to be difficult when chickens are involved, since rules concerning chickens may fall under pet, noise or small livestock ordinances. “The Backyard Chickens website has a fantastic choice of city ordinances regarding domesticated fowl. I would check there,” says Weerts.

Amy Renea

Anticipate noise and odor issues. Although Divoll retains her coop a secret from her neighbors, she proposes having only hens in the coop for noise reduction. And if you keep cows or cows, more means more noise and odor; limit a backyard coop to five to make sure less noise. “I’d also strictly adhere to an odor-free practice,” she says. “It is very easy to do. Individuals who don’t pick up their pet’s poop have stinkier lawns compared to people who have chicken coops.”

Amy Renea

Strategize your coop’s location and design. Screen chickens from street perspective and from the perspective of neighbors’ dogs, which might become barking nuisances if they are not utilized to seeing chickens.

“Our neighbor didn’t wish to see that the coop, so we lowered our coop’s roof to them,” says Shannon Demma, that keeps chickens in Santa Cruz, California. “We maintain the coop in a completely enclosed lawn, so from the outside you don’t even know it is there. After watching us chickens, our neighbors now have their very own coops.”

Some chicken keepers purposely assemble coops without windows and lock their chickens in nightly. Haupt says they’re quieter in the dark, and that she doesn’t let them out until after 8% to maintain early-morning clucking from waking the neighbors.

Amy Renea

Know how to manage predators and rodents. Keeping a sterile coop reduces troubles, but occasionally leftover food onto the ground still can encourage mice — nothing which a cat can’t handle. “In an urban setting, I would definitely suggest daily crossing of any spilled or spilled food to avoid rodents,” says Amy Renea.

A high-security coop can defend chickens against predators, like skunks and raccoons. But keeping the area inside and outside the home clean ought to still be a high priority. The effort of keeping up a home is well worth it for these chicken keepers, who state that the cluckers are becoming part of their family. “My children play together; they supply wonderful fresh eggs; they eat our scraps and create compost for our backyard. We feel very blessed to have them,” says Demma.

“I feel like having a flock of hens harkens back to days when most folks had a vegetable patch, evenings were spent collectively on the porch and acquaintances spoke to one another over their fences,” says Weerts. “Chicken possession is an excellent reminder that we ought to go back to this”
Tell us Do you maintain backyard chickens? Please show us your coop and share your experience in the Comments below.

More:
The Scoop on Chicken Coops
Chicken Coops That Rule the Roost

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Get the Scoop

Selecting a new paint is kind of like choosing out a fresh toothpaste — they look the exact same but may massively differ in price. How do you know which one is right for your residence? Although the least expensive option may seem appealing, costlier paints are high quality and also come in much more vibrant colors.

We spoke with three paint professionals to get the scoop on which is the greater value.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Why is some paints better than others?

Each paint has the following ingredients, says Karl Schmitt, vice president of advertising research and design at Sherwin-Williams:
Pigment: The more pigment a paint has, the more it’ll retain its true colour. Binders: These hold the paint together and allow it to stick to several surfaces. Binders help paint resist blistering cracking and peeling. Liquids: High-quality paints have a higher ratio of solids (pigments and binders) to fluids. “The more liquid a paint has, the more it will vanish during the drying procedure, finally producing the demand for additional coats,” says Schmitt. Additives: Different ingredients that give the paint special properties, for example extra durability or mildew resistance.The ingredients of a paint affect colour as well as quality. “Higher-priced paints can occasionally offer more exceptional colors,” states Philip Storey of Redhill Painting. Some lines offer colors that can not be seen in other manufacturers’ palettes or replicated without high quality materials.

Why is a high quality paint?

For those who have used both high quality and not as expensive paints, the gap between the two is apparent. “Some cheaper paints look chalky or even more plastic-like,” says Storey. “Also, how the paint feels, or the’hand’ of the paintcan make a big difference aesthetically.” More expensive paints can be a lot easier to apply, hide imperfections better, last longer, have more vibrant colors and make washing easier — all because of the higher-quality ingredients in each batch.

If you’re looking for a single kind of paint that’s”the top,” it depends on what you’re searching for. The Paint Quality Institute evaluates paint on different qualities according to manufacturer. Some manufacturers are better at concealing flaws, some on flow and leveling, and many others on adhesion. Each manufacturer has its own particular balance of characteristics. If you want to play it safe, pick the top-quality item from the brand you’re interested in.

Still hesitant about paying the extra cash? Purchase samples of several distinct types of paint and see if you can tell the difference. “While a gallon of Fine Paints of Europe paint may cost you $40 a gallon, the policy will be exceptional, and you might have the ability to pay the surface fewer coats and extend the time between expensive future repaints,” says Storey.

Buying a fantastic paint won’t solve all your issues, though. “A fantastic paint job is only as good as the preparation,” says painter Alex Davison. “That will be roughly 60 percent of the work. A quick prep with the ideal paint won’t continue.”

Erica George Dines Photography

Can low-VOC ingredients make a difference in price?

Today, Environmental Protection Agency regulations ensure that paint businesses produce the majority of their product with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) content. Low-VOC paints used to cost more, but that’s not necessarily true now. Low VOC”is among the several elements in the formula of a paint product, and it’s the overall quality of ingredients and formula of these ingredients which affect the purchase price of the item,” says Schmitt.

Inform us: What would be your favourite paints to utilize? What’s your experience with different brands and price ranges?

More:
How to Paint Interior Walls
How to Use a House Painter

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Best 9 Hardware Styles for Kitchen Cabinets

The flat-panel, or slab-door, style of cabinet is most frequently seen in contemporary or contemporary kitchens. The essence of this style is frequently about minimal embellishment and allowing the natural substances speak for themselves. The wood grain could be the statement, or it could be a straightforward linear pull on a high-gloss white cupboard. Regardless of style, this appearance gets its strength from understatement. So subtle hardware choices can make a large impact in a kitchen using flat-panel cabinets.

Compare more kitchen cupboard styles

LDa Architecture & Interiors

1. Tubular Stainless Steel Bar Pulls

This really is one of the hottest kitchen cabinet hardware styles of the past 10 decades. You will observe these as frequently on vintage Shaker-style cabinets as on contemporary flat-panel ones. They often make the greatest statement when they are run as long as possible about the door or drawer. This style has end caps that are flush, so that you don’t have little pieces that stick out and grab the pocket of your trousers. Anyone who has ripped a pocket while walking through a kitchen knows what I mean.

Atlas Homewares Round 3 Point Pull 128 millimeter CC, Polished Stainless Steel – $17.90

What they do for the kitchen: Insert a contemporary, industrial and fresh appeal. These pulls have a very pragmatic sense, as though they are designed for a science-lab cupboard.

They operate well together: Modern flat-panel or Shaker doors. Be a purist using a sleek glass backsplash or be more diverse and combine them with subway tile and Shaker cabinets.

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Stephani Buchman Photography

This is the most famous pub attraction for flat-panel cabinets. The ends stick out beyond where the screw holes attach to the cupboard. Cabinet lines from Italy and Spain kicked off this appearance with their supersleek contemporary kitchen installations more than 10 years ago, and they are still holding their own. It is a design that has stood the test of time.

The Home Depot

Richelieu Hardware Stainless Steel Bar Cabinet Pull – $10.26

Venegas and Company

2. Flat Bar Pulls

These will be the draws for modernists who favor square edges and linear elements. It could look like a ridiculous distinction to a, but in contemporary design, these tiny statements make a large sound.

Hardware Hut

Valli and Valli Forges Cabinet Pull – $39

What they do for the kitchen: Insert a strong linear feel that accentuates strong square and rectangular elements.

They operate well with: Horizontal wood grain, flat long closets and tile backsplashes.

Barker O’Donoghue Master Builders

3. Recessed Pulls

These are superbly functional and pragmatic — almost office-y — pulls. They are a great alternative for a high heeled, high-use kitchen in which you do not want the pulls sticking out and getting in the way.

KnobsandHardware

Vintage Hardware Marella Design Forme Recessed Pull – $39.81

What they do for the kitchen : Give it a commercial and functional feel.

They operate well together: Bypass doors, stained wood doors and glass and metal doors.

Alterstudio

4. C- or J-Channel Metal Rail Pulls

These pulls provide another fantastic solution for those who don’t desire their pulls to stick out to the traffic flow. They’re extremely sleek, but be careful of dust and spills getting caught in the stations.

premiercb.com

Lisbon Door

What they do for the kitchen: Accentuate linear design by conducting the continuous, complete length of the doors and drawers.

They operate well with: Painted or stained wood flat-panel doorways, minimalist backsplash elements and waterfall countertops.

Venegas and Company

5. C-Channel Integrated Wood Pulls

These pulls are for the purist who does not want to mix a lot of substances in a kitchen. They are not the most pragmatic alternative for high-use kitchens.

What they do for the kitchen : Create a smooth appearance in which metal cabinet hardware does not disrupt the wood surface of the doorways.

They operate well with: whirlpool kitchens without a wall cabinets, kitchens with open shelves and gorgeous wood veneers.

thirdstone inc. [^]

6. Tab Pulls

These pulls are for the minimalist who wants a bit more. They are discreet but still functional. They are sometimes done little on all cabinets or longer, running the full length of the cupboard door or drawer.

KnobsandHardware

Atlas Homewares Successi Collection Small Tab Pull – $5.96

What they do for the kitchen: Insert a nonkitchen-y feel.

They work well together: Wood veneers and high-gloss painted finishes.

Croma Design Inc

Whether they are smaller tabs in silver or longer tabs in black, their appearance completely changes the kitchen. Strong black lines on the tops of all the drawers in this kitchen produce a trendy vintage-modern contrast.

KnobsandHardware

Atlas Homewares Successi Collection Long Tab Pull – $7.09

Lucy McLintic

7. Cutout Flat Bar Pulls

Cutout bar pulls are decorative and easy at precisely the same time, and have almost a ’70s atmosphere in antique brass. I love a pull that adds just a tiny furniture detail and glamour to a contemporary flat-panel door style.

KnobsandHardware

Atlas Homewares 275 Centinel Pull – $10.26

What they do for the kitchen : Insert a decorative and glamorous part into an otherwise easy modern kitchen.

They operate well together: Rift-cut travertine and high-gloss finishes.

kimberly peck architect

8. Wire Pulls

Simple, classic and pragmatic, these are fantastic for those who don’t want their hardware to generate a strong statement.

KnobsandHardware

Linnea LLC 111 tug – $15.99

What they do for the kitchen : Keep it simple and humble. Add a small commercial, no-nonsense feel.

They work well together: Industrial appliances, stainless steel countertops and easy industrial lighting, like pendants using a single exposed bulb.

John Maniscalco Architecture

9. Hidden Touch Latches

Not for those who utilize their kitchens frequently for cooking items heavy on the butter or oil. Fingerprints on the bottoms of your doorways will drive you mad! Nonetheless, it’s very sleek and trendy looking not to have a stick of hardware in sight.

The Home Depot

Liberty Single Touch Latch

What they do for the kitchen : These latches provide the ultimate minimalist choice — no hardware statement or accessorizing in any way.

They work well together: Exotic veneer cabinets for which you do not want anything to compete with the gorgeous wood, and full-height stone backsplashes that fit the countertops to get a restrained palette.

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Your Pool Long Past Labor Day

When the weather begins to cool down, most homeowners believe that they will need to shut down their pool until summer begins to warm up. But today’s pool products and accessories may push your swimming season from early spring through the autumn — and place energy savings in your pocketbook through the summer too.

Consider the investment you have made in your outdoor living area. Products that allow you to enjoy your pool a month or two more every year may provide you a greater return on it.

Grainda Builders, Inc..

Snow-melting cable systems may be set up fairly easily underneath patio areas to stay outdoor areas warm and free from frost and cleaning snow Little Rock. Pricing begins at $10 per square foot for materials only.

CAVINESS LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INC..

Automatic freeze protection may keep your water flowing in freezing temperatures. A Jandy AquaLinks System automatically turns on the water features in your pool when the temperature drops below a certain preset stage.

iAquaLink Smart-Phone App – $1,628.13

Cooler temperatures do mean you are going to need to heat your pool if you want to keep swimming — unless you adore a fantastic icy swim. Smart-phone apps like the iAquaLink allow you to control all elements of your pool and outdoor living room — such as spa and outside lighting — anytime and from anyplace.

If there’s a danger of falling temperatures, you can turn pool gear off or on with a flick of the finger. It is also possible to check the air and pool temperatures.

Jandy Guru Series EE-TI Heat Pump – $8,496.91

This Jandy Guru Series EE-TI heat pump can save as much as 80 percent of the energy that alternate heating systems require in order to heat your pool, extending your swimming season by at least a month or two. These heat pumps only absorb free heat in the air and move it to the water, making the heating procedure efficient and ecofriendly, with lower energy bills as a outcome. While an upfront cost of greater than $8,000 can provide you sticker shock, this may be a worthy investment in the long run if you love to swim and reside at a four-season climate.

AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc..

An inexpensive out-of-pool alternative is an outdoor heater, which may heat a swim-up pub or other gathering space, or just the region where swimmers get out of the pool. Look into wall-mounted options as well as freestanding units. One alternative, a Danville wall-mounted heater, will run you $260.

Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes

If you’re still in the process of planning your pool, consider including a fire component for all those chillier autumn nights. This fire pit incorporated with the pool design provides not just another entertainment area for the guests and homeowner, however, a warm reprieve for sailors during cooler weather.

Prideaux Design

This customized fire attribute is an ideal example of how to incorporate a fire component close to the pool within an outdoor living room. Putting it between the pool and the outside seating area enables it to benefit equally spaces.

Platinum Poolcare

Fire components like these bowls by Fire By Design are a excellent ready-made alternative for outdoor pool attributes.

Photo

Pricing varies, and some of these units may be expensive, so be aware prior to adding one to your wish list. Complete units with electronic ignition, like this one from Fireside Expressions, start at $2,500.

Inform us : Would you like to use your pool in cooler temperatures? Share your cold-weather swimming tips together with us in the Remarks section below.

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