How to choose ceramic tile for showers?
For shower flooring, consider using unglazed bathroom ceramic tile if you want to have the most slip-resistant surface. The rugged surface texture and matte finish of these tiles give them good slip-resistant qualities for use in wet areas. If you buy and install unglazed tiles for your bathroom floor, they will need to be cleaned frequently because they absorb oil and stains quite easily.
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Designing with tile. Ceramic Tile Application
A distinct advantage of ceramic tile is the sheer variety of colors, textures, shapes and patterns, everything from solid colors to pictorial motifs, from high gloss to matt, from embossed to relief patterns. Dados, beadings and other forms of edge trim and mathching detail are also widely avalable. Modern tile designs range from crisp Op-art geometrics to hyper-realistic fruit, vegetables and other natural images taken from photographs transferred to tile.
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Ceramic Tile Installation Hints: Patterning Tile Possibilities
Patterning is really a great design option that some people sometimes fail to consider. The combinations and/or finishes are endless, and can dramatically change the look of you room, as well as reflect ones traits of personality and style. When it comes to tile flooring, it is never suitable to just think “square” when given so many sizes and options. Remember, it is a personal preference, so pick the pattern that works best for your project!
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Ceramic Tile Installation Patterns
Where three or more sizes of tile are to be used to create (accomplish) a modular pattern, attention to each tile’s size (caliber/calibration) MUST be addressed in order to achieve an overall layout with regard to the grout joints.
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How to clean ceramic and porcelain tile.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are some of the easiest products, both when used as floor tile and wall tile, to take care of. For basic cleaning just sweep or use a vacuum. To wash unglazed tile floor or wall use soap-less detergent (not an all-purpose cleaner) and a cloth or sponge, and for glazed tile use non-oil-based detergent and cloth or sponge...
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Ceramic tile grades
Buying a tile in the grade that matches the use of the ceramic tile in your home will guarantee that you do not spend unnecessary money on super strong tiles that won’t even get a chance to flex their muscles in your lightly used bathroom, for example. Floor tile should be stronger than wall tile and heavily used areas like kitchens and bathroom should have appropriate kitchen floor tile and bathroom floor tile to wear well. Below are the classifications used for ceramic tile.
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Professional Natural Stone Installation
Let a specialist install your natural stone floors.
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Ceramic Tile. Floor Tile. Wall Tile. Ceramic Tile care.
Ceramic tile is arguably the most versatile material for both floors and walls. It is easy to clean, extremely long lasting, does not absorb smell, water or allergens, is fireproof, can be installed in any part of the house and comes in an infinite array of colors and patterns to suit any style or design.
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Ceramic tile installation
Ceramic tile is the most durable flooring you can install. It stands up well to water, making it popular in kitchens, baths, and entry halls. It's also low maintenance, making it popular with practically everyone. Installation, however, is labor-intensive. Tiling requires mixing mortar, setting tile, applying grout, sealing the tile, and unless you're installing over a concrete pad, backerboard must also be installed.
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Wood Flooring Finishes.
Wood Floor Finishes create lasting beauty and requires minimal care with today's modern technology in wood floor finish products. The right finish protects wood flooring from wear, dirt and moisture while giving the wood an attractive color and sheen. Today most wood floors are finished with a stain and a top coat. Technology has provided a wide selection of wood flooring finishes, each with its own distinct benefits and appearances.
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Commercial hardwood flooring
The Janka hardness test measures the ability of a wood species to withstand damage and degradation. The species at the top of the list are harder and more durable. Ash is widely used in furniture-making and as flooring. It has a straight grain and fairly coarse texture and is tough enough for all-purpose use. The paler shades of cream and biscuit are moset typical, but some varieties are darker. Durability: elastic, hard, excellent shock resistance.
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Hardwood and Softwood Flooring Wood
Hardwoods, as a group, are much more varied than softwoods. They grow in both temperate and tropical areas, may be deciduous or evergreen and comprise a wide range of species that differ spectacularly in color and texture. Most are much more expensive than softwoods. Many species are in serious decline worldwide. Throughout history, hardwoods have been prized for their beauty. strength, durability and resistance to pests, or for the ease with which they could be carved.
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Manufactured Wood
Today, the term wood embraces many types of manufactured products, such as plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), chipboard and hardboard - processed materials which have tended to be used in a workhorse capacity as linings or carcases but which are now increasingly seen as final finishes. Then there is an equivalent range of formats, everything from solid planks, tiles, strips, sheets and blocks to thinly veneered boards and panels.
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Choosing hardwood flooring. Wood Types
Both the physical characteristics of wood and its widespread availability have accounted for its dominance in the stucture, finishing, and cladding or buildings over the centuries - as basic frameworks, floors, roofs, window frames, interior trim and panelling - not to mention the use in furniture. Relatively light, wood can be shaped and jointed to create a wide range of different types of structure...
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Hardwood and Moisture, wood flooring shrinkage
Moisture content in solid wood is defined as the weight of water in wood expressed as a percentage of the weight of oven-dry wood. Weight, shrinkage, strength and other properties depend on the moisture content of wood. In trees, moisture content may be as much as 200 percent of the weight of wood substance. After harvesting and miring, the wood will be dried to the proper moisture content for its end use.
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Hardwood Floor Grade: select, better, traditional, character
When a log is milled into flooring at the factory the wood is picked for grade (appearance) the better or more uniform the appearance the higher the grade. Select & Better Grade - The most uniform strips with only subtle natural variations in color. Exclusive Grade - A mixed selection of strips composed of about 75% Select & Better grade and 25% Traditional grade.
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Solid Hardwood Flooring vs Engineered
One of the properties of solid wood flooring is that it expands and contracts with changes in your home's relative humidity. Normally, installers compensate for this movement by leaving an expansion gap between the floor and the wall. Base molding or quarter round is traditionally used to hide the extra space. The other very important characteristic of solid wood floors is that they react to the presence of moisture.
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Hardwood Floor Design Patterns
When choosing hardwood floors for your home, take into account more than just the species and stain of the wood you want to use for flooring. Think about how it will look installed in different patterns and designs as well as finishing touches like borders, mosaic medallions and decorative borders.
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Prefinished Hardwood Flooring Installation
Flooring installation can transform a home and often has a high rate of return on investment. The right floor will make a dramatic difference in a room's function - for example, a wood floor in a bathroom provides a warm alternative to tile.
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Laminate Floor Installation
Types of Laminate Installation. Glued laminate flooring: This type of laminate flooring has been in use for a long time. The specially formulated glue is applied to the tongue and grooved areas of each plank. This offers excellent bonding. Pre-glued laminate flooring: In this sort of laminate, the glue is already applied to the tongues and grooves and makes for easier and quicker installation.
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Kitchen Lifestyle and Design
Whether you’re updating an existing space or building your dream kitchen, consider these questions of lifestyle and function. Your answers will shape nearly every choice you make about your new kitchen, from layout and lighting to furniture and flooring. The help and expertise of kitchen design professionalscan be invaluable during the entire process.
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Kitchen Layout
There are really only five fundamental “shapes” when it comes to kitchens. U-SHAPED. Cabinets and appliances are arrayed along three walls. This works best with the sink in the center of the “U” and the refrigerator at one end of a counter...
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Kitchen Style Guide
When it comes to kitchen cabinetry, there’s no question that efficiency and functionality are of the essence. Whether you’re building the cabinets yourself or hiring a professional to complete the job, understanding your options and making an informed decision about the construction of your cabinetry will enable you to be satisfied with both the look and feel of your cabinetry.
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10 Steps to Your Dream Kitchen. Kitchen Remodeling guide
This chapter will lead you through your kitchen remodeling project, giving you advice and tips you might need. You can find here kitchen design ideas, planning and installation tips etc. There is also information for those who have already finished their remodeling and need some maintenance tips, decoraing ideas etc.
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What You Need to Know About Kitchen Colors
Color is very important design element for kitchens and bathrooms since it plays an important role in affecting our modes. A good combination of kitchen colors in the scheme of your decoration can make your kitchen look livelier and more appealing. However mismatched color schemes can ruin your décor.
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Laminate Kitchen Flooring
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Stone and Ceramic Tile Kitchen Flooring
Limestone, tumbled marble, and slate tiles are among the most elegant flooring choices available. These tiles share properties with marble, granite, and other stone materials, but are valued as much for their interesting textures as for their colorations. Natural stone tiles must be sealed to prevent stains.The right wall treatments can really bring out the flooring, as well as the other materials in your kitchen.
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What about installing wood in high traffic areas like kitchens?
The urethane finishes on most new wood floors stand up to water and traffic, bringing wood flooring into bathrooms, kitchens, and other higher-stress areas. These finishes resist wear and stains better than other finishes and require no stripping, no buffing and no waxing. High traffic areas include exterior doorways, hallways, mud rooms, and the areas in front of the sink, stove and refrigerator.
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What to Look For in Selecting Kitchen Flooring. Kitchen Floor Design.
Many homeowners tend to make the mistake of not giving enough thought to flooring options. The right flooring can make a big difference in a kitchen. For instance flooring with light or neutral tones creates an impression of light and space. Stronger colors might work in a small kitchen, but not in a larger one.
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Accessible Kitchen Design
Kitchen remodeling involves a lot of thought if you are trying to design a kitchen that will function well with your particular household. Each family has particular needs and demands and uses the space in different ways. Take this into account as you begin your remodel and construct a more efficient and attractive kitchen for your home.
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Granite Countertop Facts
Granite is the oldest, strongest, and hardest stone available. Due to this combination of strength and beauty, granite has become one of the most highly regarded materials for countertops. Take into account its sturdiness, broad color range, and abundant options in size and finish, and you have the perfect stone for bestowing a rich elegance in any kitchen.
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Travertine as a Countertop Material
Travertine Color Variations. Travertine's color palette normally resides within the confines o fearth tones, beginning with the palest hues of ivory and descending down through the reach, deep shades of gold, red, and brown.
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Marble Countertops - Beauty and Elegance
Since early civilization, marble has held the distinction and preference as the raw material for the world's greatest works of art and the bones of architectural masterpieces. Its name alone conjures up images of opulence, wealth, and extravagance. With its rich color tones, mirror-like finish, and dramatic veining, marble conveys the ultimate feelings of elegance and formality to any kitchen.
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Slate Countertop - Pros and Cons
Slate offers many advantages. It looks great and has plenty to offer over some of the other solid stone choices you may be considering. It is a classic, upscale material that brings drama and beauty into your home. Surprisingly, slate can be relatively inexpensive. A typical slate slab will be comparable in price to that of an inexpensive granite slab.
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Limestone as a Countertop Material
Limestone as a Countertop Material. Velvety soft and smooth with minimal surface variations, limestone conveys a feeling of calm and serenity. This stone is often perceived as modern or contemporary in mood, making it perfect for a minimalist setting.
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Granite Countertop Care and Maintenance
With the proper care, your granite or marble countertop will stay new-looking for years. Stone is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain. And granite, being 7 on the Mohs hardness scale of 1 to 10, is virtually unscratchable. (A stainless steel knife blade is a 6 on the scale.)
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Choose Color For Your Countertop
Perhaps one of the most crucial decisions you will make in your kitchen with be the color of your countertop. As in all areas of design, color has the ability to transform the whole design of a space. A good idea would be to create a design board. Gather samples of your preferred tiles, paint colors, appliances and fixtures, flooring and a cabinet door sample.
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Which Stone is Best for a Countertop?
The table below will help you compare qualities of different types of stone, based on which you can make up your mind about which stone you might want to choose for your new countertop.
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Kitchen Backsplash: Ceramic Tile, Natural Stone, Decorative Inserts.
Capable of functioning as an eye-catching element, the main purpose of a backsplash is that of a protective barrier, shielding the wall's surface against the splatter of day-to-day cooking. Because the splash comprises somewhat of a limited area, it becomes feasible to add that extra punch to your kitchen design for a reasonably small investment.
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Kitchen Cabinets Installation
When considering cabinets, there are three general categories to consider. These choices are referred to as stock, semi-custom, or custom. You will find a huge price range between the three cabinet categories so be sure to look at as many as you can until you are comfortable making a decision.
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Kitchen and Bathroom Sinks: Care and maintenance.
A finest nickel bearing stainless steel sink's mellow satin surface harmonizes with any color scheme...Any decor. Timeless. Elegant. And, like fine silver, its beautiful finish becomes lovelier with use and age. Your stainless steel sink will give you a lifetime of service with proper care and maintenance
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Choosing your kitchen sink
Whether you're building, remodeling, or just sprucing up your kitchen, one big decision will be your choice of a sink. These guidelines are designed to help you make the best choice for your kitchen, for years of durability, working pleasure and high quality appearance.
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Kitchen Sinks ideas
The sink is the busiest spot in your kitchen. Nearly every task begins or ends in its embrace, so choosing the right one for the way you will use it and the way it will look may be one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your kitchen.
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Mosaics and Decorative Borders for Interior Decorating Live On
The use of mosaics as a decorative tool in homes has a long and rich tradition that has far from dwindled. New designs and application are helping mosaics make a strong comeback and to make them more accessible in homes. When building or remodeling your home, consider adding a mosaic medallion or decorative border to your design.
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Limestone Flooring and countertops
Limestone comprises a broad family of different types of stone which vary significantly in character. Limestone is softer than igneous rocks such as granite, nevertheless it shares a timeless and monumental quality that is common to all types of stones. Some varieties of limestone are very hard and dense which makes them suitable for most interior and exterior applications including kitchen and bath countertops.
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Travertine Finish: Honed, Brushed, Polished, Tumbled
As far as texture goes, it all depends on the level of finish you want for your travertine. Polished travertine is smooth and closely resembles marble in appearance. Honed travertine are also smooth, but sport more of a matte finish. And for a more antiquated or natural appearance, travertine is also available in brushed or tumbled finishes that have more textural variations and do more to accent travertine's natural tendency to have pitted holes or troughs in the stone.
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Where Can Travertine Be Used?
Travertine is one of the most popular materials used today in stone floors, exteriors, countertops, backsplashes, bathrooms, and walls. Quarried from stone that is best described as a cross between marble and limestone, travertine has been a popular building material for thousands of years because of both its durability and the ability of masons to shape it to fit just about any purpose. Ever heard of the Roman Coliseum? Travertine.
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How to Clean Your Travertine Countertop
The primary thing is to wipe up spills on travertine as soon as they happen because it is fairly porous and will absorb liquids if they are left to sit for an extended period of time. Also, never use vinegar or citric acid-based cleaners as they can erode and stain the surface.
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Marble Countertop and matching Floors
The two most commonly employed kinds of marble for flooring are the white and black slabs and tiles. Both lend a unique character to the surroundings and can, under artistic guidance, be mixed for stunning effect. With your marble counter or vanity top it can create an unsurpassed harmony.
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Limestone Countertop Finish: Honed and Polished
Honed limestone counter care is not just a matter of wiping the surfaces with a damp cloth. Despite its hardness, natural stone can be very unforgiving when it comes to stains and accumulation of grime. Keeping the surface safe from spills, especially of acidic substances.
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Marble Applications: Countertops, sinks, flooring, fireplaces
There is no doubt that marble's most popular places in the modern home are in the kitchen and bathroom. Marble has retained its place as the supreme material for countertops and vanities. A natural marble vanity or sink is really the one and only choice for the discriminating homeowner. While marble has the characteristic of being etched and stained by water and chemicals, modern sealants have reduced this risk significantly.
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Jerusalem stone, Limestone Tile
Jerusalem stone is a particular type of limestone quarried in the Hebron Mountains. The color palette of Jerusalem stone varies from ivory and off-white to warm golds and earthy grays. The patterning and veining of Jerusalem stone is subtle; the overoll neutral and earthy appearance of Jerusalem stone has made it a popular choice of material for flooring, wall cladding, and other applications.
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Stone Finish
Once upon a time, the words natural stone conjured up exlusive images of polished marble and granite. But thi is no longer true. If you long to recreate the romance of a centuries old French chateaux, you can purchase a random patterned stone in a rustic finish, or if you prefer the contemporary flair of a soft, smooth limestone in your big city loft, you can purchase large square tiles...
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Natural Stone Products and Application
Natural stone like granite, marble, travertine, slate and limestone cannot be outdone in their beauty, strength and variety. Browse out selection of these natural stones and see which one fits your home design and remodeling project – whether it is something classic and elegant like marble or perhaps more modern and cutting edge like a dark granite.
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Marble and Travertine Flooring: Maintenance and Care
Marble and Travertine are classic flooring materials with timeless charm that lends elegance to every room. To maintain the beauty of marble and travertine floors, however, it is necessary to protect them with penetrating sealants. The type of care depends on the finish of marble and travertine.
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Tavertine Tile and Flooring
Travertine color palette usually resides within the confines of earth tones ranging from almost white and pale ivory to rich shades of red and brown. In most types of travertine there are noticeable color and veining variations that affect the overoll coloration of travertine flooring or other travertine surface.
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Natural stone and installation terms
Backsplash: The area located between the countertop and cabinets normally 16-18 inches high. Brick pattern: The method of setting rectangular tiles in an offset fashion creating the look of brick. More...
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Slate Tile Flooring
Rustic and earthy slate with its vivid colors and textures can be interpreted as a log-cabin rustic or sleek contemporary depending on the surrounding elements. The durability of slate and its ability to withstand wear makes it an excellent choice for many surfaces around the house: entryways, hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, patios, and other spaces.
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Fireplace Mantels
Fireplace is designed to serve a number of purposes. Despite its ability to heat an area and provide a comfortable living environment, this product also offers a decorative value to the rooms in your home. There are a number of fireplace designs to choose from in order to warm up the look of your home.
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Universal and Accessible Bathroom Design
Design your bathroom so it is not only beautiful but also functional for anyone
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Planning your Bathroom
Before you begin your remodeling project, you should evaluate the plumbing and other systems that make your bathroom function. If they are outmoded, updating them is a priority. Always work on the systems before you have fun with the aesthetic finishes.
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Design and Style in your Bathroom.
Your new bathroom should blend in to the existing architecture. If your house doesn't have a definable architectural style, simply go with a look that you like. You still need something to unify your design, so you may want to start with a color scheme, tile, or vanity that you love, then look for other elements that will complement your choice.
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Picture Gallery and Design Ideas for your Bathroom
Picture Gallery and Design Ideas for your Bathroom
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Create a Color Scheme for Your Bathroom
Whether you're remodeling or just giving your bath a facelift, the use of color is key. Creating a good color palette for your bathroom can be a challenge, but there's nothing forbidding or mysterious about it. The following general guidelines will help. For the sake of continuity, carry your home's overall personality into the bath.
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Bathroom For Him and Her
When it comes to building or remodeling for his and her bathrooms conflict may arise in styles and construction. Perhaps he may want that so desired steam shower for that relaxing sauna affect and she want that well-appointed comfort of a whirlpool bath. Realtor’s concur there is a growing trend in the two master suite bathroom concept in residential homes for a more personal bathing experience.
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Bathroom Remodeling and Bathroom Design guide.
This chapter will give you bathroom design ideas, remodeling advice, inspiration, all you need for starting your bathroom design and renovation. We will tell you about bathroom design trends, give some remodeling tips to help you make your bathroom look and function just the way you want it to.
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Hardwood Floors in Bathroom
When building or remodeling a bathroom, people have shied away from using hardwood flooring in those spaces. The mantra that designers and architects have stuck to is “wood and water don’t mix”.
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Vanity tops Design: Stone Countertop, Sink, Backsplash
Together with the tub and shower, the vanity makes up yet another essential component of the master bath. Available in a variety of sizes, the vanity can help define the overall style of the room.
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Bathroom Vanity Styles - What Are They? How To Make a Choice?
When you are talking about antique bathroom vanities, some people may think that you are talking about vanities that are extremely old and from different eras. However, most of the time the vanities being discussed are probably antique in design rather than actual antiques that are many years old.
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Small Space Efficient Vanities
Learn how to pick the right vanity for a small bathroom.
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Bathroom Vanities Materials: Wood, Metal, Glass and Stone
Learn how to choose from wooden vanities, glass, stone, or metal vanities
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Bathroom sinks types
Bathroom sinks are called lavatories, and they offer an even wider variety of styles than kitchen sinks do. They are available in an infinite range of colors, patterns, styles, designs, heights, depths, widths, and materials. They can be pedestal style, wall hung, under-counter mount, above counter vessels, integrated, self-rimming, or freestanding.
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Bathroom Shower
A shower stall can be prefabricated, assembled from manufactured components, or constructed from scratch. One-piece prefabricated bathroom shower cabins (jetted, steam) are watertight, simple to put in and easy to clean. Prefabricated shower enclosures come in corner and circular designs. More...
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Shower Installation
A shower stall can be prefabricated assembled from manufactured components, or constructed from scratch. One-piece prefabrecated shower cabins (jetted, steam) are watertight, simple to put in, and easy to clean. Prefabrecated shower enclosures come in corner and circular designs. Both jetted and steam showers feature integrated soap dishes, grab bars, and other accessories.
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Bathroom Shower - How to select the Right Shower
A shower stall can be prefabricated, assembled from manufactured components, or constructed from scratch.
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Types Of Showerheads
Read about Types Of Showerheads
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Choose your toilet.
The toilet, no matter how much we deny or ignore it, is a prominent part of our lives and our homes. We tuck it away in well decorated rest rooms or cover it in ornate toilet seats and accessories, but its purpose in our lives is undeniable and should be appreciated, not concealed ... There are now water conserving bowls and flushing technologies that surpass more wasteful products from years back.
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Toilet Types
Learn about Toilet Types
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Bathroom Accessories
Bath accessories should be considered when you are planning your bathroom renovation project. When your floor plan is complete, look it over to see where you want to install your hardware. Note the location of studs so you can adequately secure towel bars, towel rings and other accessories that must withstand frequent tugging.
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Bathtub in your bathroom
Truly one of the ultimate escapes into relaxation is a long soak in a bubble bath. What can add to that experience except to open your eyes and discover yourself surrounded by nature's beauty. Once paired with the shower, the bathtub is no longer part of this space-saving duo in the past.
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Hot tubs and whirlpool tubs
Read about Hot tubs and whirlpool tubs
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Residential Spas and Hot Tubs: Differences, Benefits and Options
Romans, the Japanese, and countless other peoples enjoyed the benefits of hot-water immersion throughout history, and you can, too. Soaking in a hot-water pool relaxes tired muscles, promotes circulation, and helps relieve mental stress. Additionally, many professional athletes use hydrotherapy and hot baths for rehabilitation. Fortunately, spas and hot tubs are much less expensive to purchase and operate than
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Choosing a Bathtub: Materials
Bathtub materials: Acrylic, Porcelain, Cultured Marble, Fiberglass, Cast Iron, Copper and Bronze Bathtubs. Pros and cons, cost comparison.
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Granite: tile and countertops
Granite, an increadibly dense and hard-working material, comes in an amazing array of colors and textures. Granite tiles that are available in various sizes and thicknesses are used for indoor and outdoor applications for flooring, cladding walls, or pavers. Granite slabs are used for fabricating kitchen countertops, vanity tops, and other surfaces.
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Natural stone Countertops Edge Profiles
Don’t overlook the edge profile that gives your natural stone countertop or bathroom vanity the finishing touch. We offer a choice of twelve edge profiles that will suit any taste and style. When choosing the edge profile consider the overall style of your kitchen or bathroom.
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Bathroom Faucet Designs.
Faucets come in four basic designs: Centerset faucets, the most common type, combine a spout and handles on a single base unit. Make sure that the one you buy matches any pre-drilled holes on your sink or that it has a cover plate that conceals any extra borings. Read more..
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Bathroom Systems: The Inner Working of the Bathroom
A grasp of basic plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling principles will help you plan your bathroom better.
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Where Bidets Came From
Bidets are primarily used to wash and clean the genitalia, inner buttocks, and anus. They may also be used to clean any other part of the body; they are very convenient for cleaning the feet, for example. Despite appearing similar to a toilet, it would be more accurate to compare it to the washbasin or bathtub. In fact, the bidet is used by some for a baby bath.
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Washlet - Toilet and Bidet all in One!
Learn about Washlet - Toilet and Bidet all in One!
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Bathroom Lighting
Lighting is often overlooked in a bathroom. Artificial light from vanity bathroom lights and general lighting is important during hours when natural light is not available. Without good lighting, the decor and the personality of your bathroom cannot be developed properly nor can you use the space to its maximum effectiveness.
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Kitchen Lighting
When it comes to kitchen lighting, the most common mistake is trying to light the entire room with one ceiling-mounted fixture. The result ends up being what Whitehead calls a "glare bomb," which visually overpowers everything in the space. Recessed lighting, if installed in a generic grid, isn't much better. A good plan blends lighting into the architectural and decorative details of the room.
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Avoiding Mold Growth in your Bathroom.
Most homeowners hate the household fungus known as mold because it produces unsightly black spots on bathroom walls and ceilings. But mold is much more than a cosmetic problem. As it grows, mold produces volatile organic compounds
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Kitchen Cabinets: Accessories
Accessories are intended to increase accessibility, organization, and make your kitchen unique. Some popular accessories include...
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Carpet Installation
Among the various types of flooring, carpet simply has no equal for warmth, softness, reasonable cost, and the ability to reduce ambient noise. On a cold day, there's nothing like getting out of bed and stepping onto a warm carpet. Carpet is the flooring that invites you to walk barefoot or stretch out in front of the fire. And as if these weren’t benefits enough, carpet is becoming steadily more stylish.
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Psychology Of Color
Trying to figure out the psychology of the bathroom is a delicate subject. The processes that go on in there are very private. However there are a few key elements you want to reinfoirce in a bathroom that deal with less specific functions. You want comfort, you want relaxation, and if you can, you want beauty. Different colors can help you to achieve these goals in different ways.
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Designing with glass
The use of glass in the interior is indivisible from that essential element, natural light. The transparency of glass allows our homes to be saturated in daylight. Glass has that quality that gives a structure a certain ambiguous, floating quality. In contemporary designs, where flexibility and clarity are prized, glass fulfils an important role in creating divisions between indoors and out and between individual interior spaces that are as minimal and discreet as possible.
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Remodeling Trends in Materials
The material you use to carry out your home remodeling project, no matter the size or extent of it, will inevitably determine the outcome and future use of the space. With more materials than ever available on the market now, people are finally starting to think about them more fully. This has led to not only discernable trends in remodeling but also a surge in new and traditional materials coming to life.
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Basement flooring options – which floor works best?
Picking floors for the basement can be tricky business because basements often come with a set of restrictions that make you creep around every possible flooring option with the fear of impending doom in the form of moisture looming in the future. Just consider all of the options you have, like hardwood floor, laminate, ceramic and porcelain tile, natural stone tile, for example, and make an informed decision.
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Home Remodeling basics
This section equips homeowners with the information and strategies needed to turn their vision into a home-or a renovation-that can be built on-time and within budget. We offer you a comprehensive guide to getting the best results while building or renovating a home. Creating a dream home shouldn't be a nightmare.
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Buy Kitchen Appliances That Match Your Needs
Every kitchen needs the essentials: a refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and oven. Most refrigerators come in one of three configurations. The traditional top-mounted fridge, with the refrigerator on the bottom, is the most common, so there are a wide range of models to choose from. Bottom-mounted refrigerators, where the refrigerator is on top, put food at eye level, which is a plus for people who use fresh ingredients to cook...
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Granite tabletops
Consider a granite tabletop as a finishing detail of your home remodeling project. They come in a variety of colors, shapes and edge profiles to give you flexibility and to fabricate the tabletop exactly to your design preference.
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Granite Tabletops
Elegant and stylish the granite surface is always in perfect taste. It is very hard and durable and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The selection of granite colors includes elegant polished Black Absolute, luxurious Black Galaxy, deep green Ubatuba, richly colored and sophisticated Rosewood, and captivating Shivakashi.
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Decorate with stone: Mosaic medallions and decorative borders, Fireplace Mantels, Stone Tabletops, Stone Floor Designs
One of the many reasons we are down to stone is its depth and range of color tones in combitation with its unique surface texture. The play of light and dark combined with fine cracks and fissures leave us intrigued by its surface. Those who find they soon grow bored with standard building materials will find themselves excited by their stone years after installation, as it is always possible to discover something new.
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How to Design your Kitchen Island.
Because the island is generally intended to a workhorse, it is a good idea to select a material that can fend for itself against constant abuse. Granite, slate, limestone will all provide a low maintenance surface.
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Designing a Kitchen Island: beauty and functionality
Your kitchen needs to be big enough for an island, usually at least 13 feet wide. The size of the actual island will also depend on the overall available space. You need to make sure that there is enough room to walk between the island and cabinetry as well as open all doors (cabinets, dishwasher, compost bin, etc.). Also, if you are planning to have barstools or chairs at the island, make sure there is enough room with them there.
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Red Oak Kitchen Cabinets Finishes
Red Oak is a strong hardwood with a long, linear grain, often displaying tiny rays. May display small pinholes and tight knots. Color ranges from a golden blonde to deeper tones and can include grays and greens. Quarter Sawn Red Oak is milled at an angle 60 to 90 degrees from the grain allowing rays and flecks to become visible, giving the wood a unique, often vintage character and dimension.
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Kitchen Cabinets: Maple Finish
Maple is a versatile hardwood with a fine, smooth grain. Maple varies in color from nearly white to a slightly reddish brown. Mineral or sugar streaks occur naturally in Maple and can vary from piece to piece. Variations will be more noticeable in lighter stains.
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Kitchen Cabinets:Designer Maple Finish
Tinted Varnishes give fine maple cabinetry a striking solid color appeal. The optimal addition of Chocolate, Vanilla, Latté or Nickel glazing creates an impression of aging and detail. Distressing comes standard with glazing, or "No Distressing" may be designated. Accent colors are offered on trim pieces and moldings.
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Kitchen Cabinets: Hickry Finish
Hickory is a heavy, strong hardwood known for flowing, vibrant grain patterns and dramatic color variations. Hickory can also exhibit random pecks, burls, and mineral streaks that show up as beautiful details on kitchen cabinets. Hickory's color ranges across a wide spectrum, from nearly white to dark brown.
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Kitchen Cabinets: Cherry Finishes
Cherry wood displays a distinctive grain pattern and warm color shadings, ranging from nearly white to dark reddish brown. Dark pockets, pin knots and random streaks are common. More than most woods, Cherry will darken when exposed to light, especially in light stains. The more sun a particular area of Cherry receives, the faster it will darken. This will be most evident in new Cherry and slow as the Cherry ages.
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Kitchen Cabinets: Alder Finish
Alder is a soft hardwood with a fine, straight grain and even texture. Color is light brown with a yellow or reddish tinge, with little difference between heartwood and sapwood. Alder does not evolve in color or darken when exposed to light or heat as other woods do and takes stains and finishes well. It is one of the softest hardwoods so care must be taken to avoid damage. Some small tight knots can be found with standard Alder.
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How to hire a Contractor for your Kitchen Remodeling Project
Take the time to have clear idea of what scale and scope of renovation you want and what financial resources you can direct toward the project. There is no sense to lie to yourself or a contractor about what you can afford. Take photos of homes you admire, cut pictures of out magazines, and assemble other images which will help describe the type of results you hope see when your project is complete.
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Planning a Budget for Your Kitchen Remodeling Project
Conduct a thorough and honest examination of your finances to reveal how much you can afford to spend. Than ask yourself how long you are going to stay in that home. If you plan to live in a home for five years or less then the improvements should be viewed as improvements on investment. If you're going to be there for a longer period of time, you want to look at what's going to make you and your family the most comfortable.
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Some Things to Consider in Planning a Kitchen Remodel
With today's kitchens becoming more and more a center of social, family, and functional activities, kitchen remodeling has gained importance in the life of many households. Kitchen remodeling can become economically challenging because of budgetary concerns or space restrictions. Despite the cost involved in hiring design and construction professionals, usually they can help with a variety of such problems.
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Home Remodeling: Raising the Value of your Home
home remodeling project will not only increase the comfort and usability of your home, but it can also increase the value of your home. Before starting on a remodeling project, read up on what the remodeling projects most likely to recover your expenditures are and check out some pointers to getting the most for your money.
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Where to Place the Seam In Your Countertop
Since an average granite slab is typically less than 10 feet long, most countertops will require at least one seam. The visibility of the seam is affected by the pattern and color of the stone. In general, seams are less visible on dark granites with a small, uniform grain and more visible on lighter color granites with veins and swirls of color.
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Kitchen Cabinets: Pricing
There are several factors that affect the price of the kitchen cabinets: cabinet construction, the door style, the type of wood species, the type of finish and glaze, the layout of the kitchen, additional accessories and finishing touches.
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Kitchen Cabinets Construction: Framed, Frameless, Inset
Kitchen cabinets come in countless styles, but in terms of construction they fit into three standard categories: face-framed, frameless, and inset. Face-framed cabinets have a frame to which the cabinet doors are attached. Face frame has horizontal rails and vertical stiles ...
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Kitchen Cabinet Care
Because kitchen cabinetry finishes vary widely, always follow manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. For added safety, test a new cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area to make sure it causes no damage. The following are some general tips and precautions...
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Kitchen Cabinetry: Basics
Kitchen cabinet doors can add to the beauty of your kitchen. The appearance of your kitchen cabinets rests on the quality of your cabinets. You can therefore completely change the look of your kitchen simply by changing the doors of your kitchen cabinets.
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Kitchen Cabinets: Door inserts
Many doors and drawers can have inserts made from a variety of materials. Shown here is just a sampling of the door and insert options. Please visit our showroom or contact our Kitchen & Bath specialists for complete information about the options available.
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Finishing Touches in Your Kitchen
Moldings are being used more and more to add personality and pizzazz to kitchen cabinets. Woods like oak, cherry, maple and other hardwoods add richness no other feature can match but details like fluted columns, beaded inset doors, valences, cornices, rosettes, galley rails and open shelves combine function and beauty in any room of the house, including kitchens and baths.
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Kitchen cabinetry: Wood species
All the commercially available North American hardwoods are crafted into furniture, cabinetry, woodwork and built-ins. Hardwood species are valued for their natural warmth, versatility and beauty. Just as no two trees are alike, no two pieces of wood are alike.
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Kitchen Countertops. Choosing right material
Not everyone's vision will be the same, but natural stone usually enters the picture somewhere. When designed creatively, your kitchen can transform even the mundane task of cooking into a sensory adventure. Is your dream kitchen one that reflects the sleek, clean lines of Asian-inspired simplicity or the old-world charm of a French country estate? Maybe you are seeking something a little more traditional or whimsical...
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Kitchen Storage Solutions
A kitchen is the most used workshop in the home, and so it is important to have that workshop be as efficient as possible. There are a wide variety of kitchen storage solutions that are available. Some of these storage solutions are made for specific brands of cabinets and others the kind that you can add to most standard modular cabinets.
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Slate countertop Care and Maintenance
Slate is very easy to maintain. Just clean it like you would any other counter surface, with dish-washing detergent or a grease cutting agent such as Fantastic. A light coat of mineral or tung oil can enhance luster, but some find it attracts dirt. Slate is not damaged by alkali cleaners, but strong solutions are not needed for cleaning. Rinse well and wipe dry.
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Limestone Countertop Care and Cleaning
Limestone often proves to be a good choice. This sandy stone, readily available, often captures fossilized plant and animal life, giving it a certain primitive appeal. Unlike marble, limestone is most often honed to a matte finish. But the very fact that it is so absorbent makes proper cleaning and maintaining an imperative. On the other hand, limestone is very much like marble in that it comes in a wide variety of colors.
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How to keep a marble countertop clean?
Marble isn't as tough as you may think; it's a comparatively soft stone that is easily scratched and marred. Chances are you paid a lot for it, so keep it clean and take good care of it.
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Remodeling materials
Contemporary design places the focus on material quality. While traditional styles of decorating have tended to emphasize applied finishes, today's interiors allow the unique characteristics of wood, stone, glass, and metal to speak for themselves. From smooth matte plywood to translucent perspex, from cool, classic limestone to burnished concrete, the scope has never been greater.
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Why Granite?
The exceptional strength of granite combined with the wide range of colors and surface patterns and its stunning beauty make it an ideal surface for kitchen counter tops. Granite surface can withstand hot pots and pans, it is resilient to scratching and chemicals and is extremely durable.
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