March 2010 Newsletter
“Making Better Homes” March 2010
Spring Cleaning Means Getting Rid of Clutter
It’s March, which means spring is now only days away (March 21, to be exact). And that, of course, means it’s time for spring cleaning. One of the main parts of cleaning your home means finding a place for all of that clutter. In the bathroom and kitchen, this means cabinets, shelves and drawers. This month, we concentrate on those three places that will help with your spring cleaning.
Bathroom Storage Options
The bathroom probably stores a greater variety of items than any other room, except possibly closets and designated storage rooms. You store everything from toilet paper to hygiene products to dirty clothes in there, tucked into every possible corner. Let’s face it: You can never have too many places in your bathroom to store things.
Many small bathrooms have just a pedestal sink, which means there’s no storage room there at all. That makes the sink area essentially wasted space. A genuine bathroom vanity is a much better choice, because it will give you drawers and cabinets for all of those cosmetics, cleaning supplies and bathroom linens. Even if you have a small bathroom, there are vanities as narrow as 24 inches in width — not much bigger than the average pedestal sink.
Some homeowners have also found it helpful to install shelves near the toilet, to hold a few smaller items. Even better though are some extra-narrow side cabinets, such as those available at HomeDesignOutletCenter.com. These are narrow enough to fit into a corner in even the smallest bathroom and give you lots more space for tucking away things.
One other suggestion: Trick out our shower with a shower panel. These not only offer controls that will give you a luxurious shower, but give you places to hold things such as soap, shampoo, etc., so you don’t wind up putting them on the side of the tub.
Kitchen Storage Options
In the kitchen, your storage options come in four basic forms: cabinets, shelves, kitchen counters, and the refrigerator / freezer. Assuming you’re not going to buy a new refrigerator, let’s discuss the other options available to you.
The key in the kitchen, unless you plan a major overhaul, is to maximize the space you have. For instance, if you do something as easy as installing to the forward edge of your cabinet tops a dish rail, this will look nice and let you store items such as your fancy dinnerware. Also, make use of that vertical space behind all doors (for instance, the basement or storage door). There are lots of over-the-door organizers available that will come in handy there. In fact, some people even side the side cabinets we mentioned earlier in these little corners. And remember, far easier than installing new cabinets is picking up a few of those easy-to-assemble shelves from Walmart or Kmart.
Short Takes:
If you have a small bathroom with a bathtub taking up a huge chunk of floor space, consider replacing it with a shower stall with a clear-glass-door. This frees up space, and the clear door gives the illusion of more room in the bathroom.
Keeping your kitchen updated doesn’t require a lot of money. In fact, if you just change decorative items to match the seasons, such as your tea towels, aprons, pot holders, and perhaps a few shelf souvenirs, your kitchen will seem fresh and new every three months.
February 2010 Newslettter
“Making Better Homes” February 2010
New Home for the Newlyweds
February is here, the month we think of romance, thanks to Valentine’s Day and those extra-romantic February weddings. In honor of the month of romance, this month we’ll look at suggestions for redecorating that new first home for newlywed couples.
Making Small Kitchens Roomier
One of the biggest challenges for newlyweds is that their first homes usually are short on space. This is certainly true in the kitchen. Here are some design ideas that will give you more space, and also to make the kitchen appear larger than it actually is.
One of the main reasons we at Home Design Outlet Center carry such a large selection of tile is because we know it plays a huge role in creating just the look you want to create. And this is certainly true in the kitchen.
We think travertine tile does wonders for the look of a kitchen. Travertine is a kind of marble, but it makes generous use of whites and grays to truly lighten up the room. And it’s a known fact of design that light colors make a room seem larger. Travertine works great as either a floor tile or for countertops.
If you do decide to put in a new tile floor, lay them diagonally rather than straight side by side. This again gives the appearance of a larger room.
Some other ideas do more than make the kitchen look bigger—They actually give you more room. This includes the idea of laying out your kitchen in what’s called a “galley kitchen.” This simply means you haave two runs of cabinets which face each other from both sides of the room; there are no corner cabinets in a galley style kitchen, but this should give you all of the storage space you need.
Some people also use compact appliances rather than full-sized ones, while others make use of open shelving for some storage. Each of these will make your small kitchen serve you almost as well as a large one.
And Making a Small Bathroom Roomier
If your new home has a small kitchen, it almost certainly also has a small bathroom. Some of the ideas here are similar with the kitchen. Specifically, fill the room with light, bright colors.
Again, consider the amazing power of travertine tile and what a wonderful job it does in adding perceived largeness to the bathroom. Also, you might use wall-mount bathroom vanity rather than a floor model. This not only makes it look like you have more room, but actually gives your feet more space to maneuver around things. And please remember to keep your countertop clutter to a minimum. Clutter makes a bathroom seem even smaller than it already is. Finally, replace the lights with something lighter and brighter, and hang a few mirrors. All of these give both the illusion and the reality of more bathroom space.
Short Takes:
When you want to make your kitchen look fresh and new but are short on money, just replace the drawer pulls and cabinet nobs. This can change things in an amazing way.
Add pizzazz in your bathroom by placing decorative towels in a decorative basket, either on the floor or, if there’s room, on the bathroom vanity.
January 2010 Newsletter
“Your Home Decorating Companion” January 2010A New Year’s Makeover for 2010
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December Newsletter
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Design Digest |
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“Your Home Decorating Companion” December 2009
Ho-Ho-Home Improvement for the Holidays EditionHusbands, let’s face it: It’s time for you to get your wife something for Christmas other than pots and pans and a new mixer. Ladies, instead of getting your husband more tools for Christmas, maybe you can do something that will save him the trouble of working in the bathroom in the first place. While we would be the last ones to suggest that either husband or wife buy tile for their spouse for Christmas, Home Design Outlet Center does have many amazing products that would make wonderful gifts for the spouse who is hard to shop for. Wrap Up a MirrorAn elegant mirror makes a lovely gift, and works well for either male or female, depending on the design you get. Imagine the impact the right mirror will make on Christmas morning. Let’s face it: Glass has a certain “wow” factor, and when it’s surrounded by the stunning design on our bathroom mirrors, it really creates a memorable Christmas experience. Consider wrapping it in the bathroom right above the vanity!
Of course, if you prefer, our mirrors are manageable enough to fit under the tree as well. Sizes range from 26” X 32 “ to 30” X 40.” And prices are all reasonable, usually less than $200. Gift the Gift of Luxury with a Spa It might cost more than buying a drill or blender as a Christmas present,, but a brand new spa is a gift that cannot be resisted. Everyone will love the pampering that one of our units affords. In fact, this is a great way that husband or wife can cheat a little. You buy it for your significant other and you get to enjoy it, too! Take a look at the spa below:
 AX 8116 White Fiberglass Reinforced Acrylic Corner Whirlpool Spa For $1695, you get a spa with these amazing features: Waterfall styled chrome tub spout over seat area, · Multi function hand held shower head, · 6 whirlpool jets, 2 lounge head rests, Chrome accented storage shelf , Tinted see-through front panel . Another popular alternative, for $1295 is the AX-901 Jetted Bath Tub, with Chrome Faucet, T700-S Cabinet, colored glass sink, and Desert Beige Polished marble mosaic tile. AS-44 Colored Glass Sink HWM-204-1 24″ Single Bathroom Vanity Desert Beige Polished 1″ x 2″ Marble Mosaic Tile Consideration. But for many people, if they would put this space to good use, it can nearly double the size of their home. So this year, take the plunge: Get the paint, the tile, and decorations to create a gorgeous basement. You can turn it into a recreation area, an apartment for one of the kids, an office. The options are unlimited. Here are suggested colors for the basement: WHITE: Basements tend to be gloomy, so white fights off this gloominess nicely. It reflects 85 percent of light and makes your basement seem bigger and brighter than basements painted with other colors. The bad news: white is also vulnerable to marks and scuffs. RED: Darker hues of red will create a sense of warmth and coziness in your basement. It also helps energize and stimulate, so it can be a vibrant and exciting color for the basement. ORANGE: As a form of red, orange carries some of the parent color’s characteristics. However, as a brighter color, it makes the basement seem more lively. GREEN: This is a good color to use to balance out orange and red. Stay away from darker greens, though, as they also lend an air of gloominess to a basement. YELLOW: This is an awesome color if you want a basement which is cheery and stimulating. However, use yellow in combination with other colors, so it’s not too jarring to the eyes. DESIGN 101: Your Holiday Bathroom Too many people, when decorating for Chrismas, neglect the bathroom. This is true even though your Christmas guests will almost certainly make at least one visit to this room. So don’t forget the holiday cheer in the bathroom! Add some Christmas accents by spreading a table with a red or white cloth covering it and a miniature Christmas tree on it. Spread holly throughout the room with a wreath on the door. You can also find a place, if you have a large enough vanity, for some holiday candles and / or a poinsettia. And of course, you can find a nice holiday-themed red or green bathroom rug to further accent the Christmas theme Copyright 2009 Home Design Outlet Center |
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November Newsletter
Our All-Color Edition!
It’s autumn, and among other things, autumn means color. You look outside and you see all of those gorgeous reds, yellows and oranges splashed on the trees and on the ground below them. Why not bring the color inside this autumn by redecorating with some bold colors? We’ll tell you how in this month’s DESIGN DIGEST.
A More Colorful Bathroom
The bathroom is often the most-neglected room when it comes time for remodeling / redesigning. That’s kind of crazy, since it’s the one room everyone, guests included, use. So bring some color into this room to really make an impact.
The areas in your bathroom where you control the color include the wallpaper or paint, the tile, the curtains, the linens, the shower curtain, and even the vanity, tub and toilet. So what colors should you use? A general rule is that light and bright will make your bathroom look more spacious. So especially if you need to “feel” like you have more room in the bathroom, consider using whites and yellows. However, if the bathroom is already pretty spacious, you can get by with some darker colors. For fall, of course, reds, tans, and oranges are appropriate.
Colorful Bathroom
For some people, though, there’s never too much spaciousness. So even if you do have a bathroom, you might want to give some thought to the “light and bright” look. A dash of yellows or light greens will look great at your main paint color, especially if you have bathroom that doesn’t receive that much natural light. Maybe you’d like to mix two colors. If so, your main color should be a white or beige, both of which will work well with many other colors.
Remember that your linens don’t need to be exact copies of the color of your bathroom paint or wallpaper; they just need to coordinate well with them.
Creating a Colorful Basement
When people are planning to tile or paint their house, for some reason, the basement is usually left out of consideration. But for many people, if they would put this space to good use, it can nearly double the size of their home. So this year, take the plunge: Get the paint, the tile, and decorations to create a gorgeous basement. You can turn it into a recreation area, an apartment for one of the kids, an office. The options are unlimited. Here are suggested colors for the basement:
WHITE: Basements tend to be gloomy, so white fights off this gloominess nicely. It reflects 85 percent of light and makes your basement seem bigger and brighter than basements painted with other colors. The bad news: white is also vulnerable to marks and scuffs.
RED: Darker hues of red will create a sense of warmth and coziness in your basement. It also helps energize and stimulate, so it can be a vibrant and exciting color for the basement.
ORANGE: As a form of red, orange carries some of the parent color’s characteristics. However, as a brighter color, it makes the basement seem more lively.
GREEN: This is a good color to use to balance out orange and red. Stay away from darker greens, though, as they also lend an air of gloominess to a basement.
YELLOW: This is an awesome color if you want a basement which is cheery and stimulating. However, use yellow in combination with other colors, so it’s not too jarring to the eyes.
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH: Desert Beige Marble Tile
We offer a marble tile that looks absolutely unlike anything that your mind usually associates with the word “marble.” It is Desert Beige Marble, and it’s a wonderful neutral color that coordinates will with just about any color scheme you want to create for your room. Just take a look at the picture to the right. These are available in 1″ x 2″, 1″ x 1″, while desert beige polished is available in 12 x 12 x 3/8, 4x 4, 3 x 6, 4 x 4, and 6×6.
Desert Beige Marble Tile
News You Can Use
Magazines to Remodel By
Think the only place to get magazines that will help you with your home design needs is a local Barnes & Noble or the newsstand? Here are some other options to consider: 1) Most of the big-box home-improvement stores, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot, carry a wide arrange of magazines sure to inspire you. There are probably magazines you never knew existed! 2) Want something free instead? Many cities today have city magazines, about life in that city. And one of the most common topics is fixing up your home. This is an excellent resource for home decoration ideas.
September Newsletter
Paint Over Your Old Tile!
Although we certainly encourage you to check out the lovely variety of tile available at Home Design Outlet Center, did you know it’s not always necessary to replace the tile you have? Sometimes you can paint right over the old stuff. That’s right—paint over it!
To do this, you’ll need to have the right supplies on hand. These include paint brushes, sand paper, a small paint roller, a gloss paint and sealant, primer, scouring sponges, and some bleach.
Start the project by thoroughly washing your tiles with your sponge after dipping it in a mixture of water and bleach. Focus especially on getting rid of any mildew, mold or grime. Then sand the tiles to get rid of their slick surface. This way, the paint will adhere to it better. After you remove the excess particles from the tiles, use a brush or dry cloth to clean them.
Now you’re ready to apply your primer, which in turn will help the paint adhere properly to the tiles Apply the primer with either a brush or your roller. Make sure you apply it evenly. Apply a second coat if you want, and then again use your sand paper to prep your tiles for the paint. Again use a brush or roller for the paint and let it dry. You now have new looking tile!
Of course, in many cases, the tile is so old or damaged, painting is not worth it. In those cases, contact us at Home Design Outlet Center and we’ll help you find the perfect new tile for your bathroom, at a price you can afford.
Choosing Colors for Your Kitchen
It might seem like choosing new colors for your kitchen would be fun, but it can actually be quite difficult. Not to worry: We’re here with some advice. The key is to ask yourself the right questions:
Choosing Colors for Your Kitchen
1) What atmosphere do you want to create in the kitchen? Most homeowners prefer something bright, airy and cozy, but feel free to innovate.
2) How big is your kitchen? If it’s a large one with a few windows, providing plenty of natural light, it’s difficult to go wrong, no matter which color you pick. But smaller kitchens, or those with little natural light work better with lighter colors.
3) What colors are your cabinets and appliances? Most colors go well with white cabinets, but otherwise, you’ll need to color-coordinate with brown, gray, black or other colors. Usually warm colors will work with kitchen cabinet or appliance colors that are not white.
4) What kind of floor does your kitchen have? Again, white tile goes with most anything, but a wood floor works best with warm colors. If you’re not sure what color to use, feel free to contact us at Home Design Outlet Center and we’ll be glad to advise you.
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK: Fiberglass Reinforced Acrylic Shower Room
Fiberglass Reinforced Acrylic Shower Room
This incredible unit is for those who want to turn a morning or evening shower into a luxurious experience. Look at these amazing features:
8 body massage jets, overhead rainfall shower head, handheld multifunctional shower heads, foot massage, FM radio, computer control panel, hand-free telephone answering system, ceiling lamp, ventilation fan, storage shelves, high-quality speaker system, and fog-free mirror. With all of this, the worst part of owning this deluxe shower is that you won’t want to get out!
News You Can Use
Homeowners Doing More Small-Scale Home-Improvement Projects
A new survey shows that the economy is affecting homeowners’ home-improvement projects in noticeable ways. According to the survey, conducted by ServiceMagic, fewer owners are doing large-scale renovations, however, they are doing more small-scale touch-up jobs. These jobs include projects such as re-tiling, repainting, etc.
The survey of 1.3 million homeowners found that most homeowners feel that this is a way of adding value to their houses as future investment opportunities. See http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13227177 for complete details of this survey. If you’d like to add value to your home, allow the home-improvement team at Home Design Outlet Center to assist you.
