Adding a Room to Your Home

As your family grows, there is a good chance that you will begin to outgrow the space that you have been living in. Suddenly, your home doesn't seem quite as big as it once did before. Rather than moving to a new home, many people choose to have a general contractor add a room onto their existing structure. This provides many families with a more affordable, and fully customized solution to this common problem. Whether you need a new bedroom, a playroom, study room or any other type of room, talk with a general contractor about the possibility of adding a room to your home.

Choosing a Room

There are many variables to consider when choosing a room. You will want to have a rough idea of the size and function of your room before talking with a general contractor. You should also have a budget in mind. Once you decide on these, get in touch with a local contractor to start putting together some plans for your new addition. They can help you refine your plans, working with an architect or designer to help design a space that is perfect for your needs.

Check Local Regulations

Some of the biggest stumbling blocks when it comes to adding on to your home are local regulations. Your contractor can help you in many areas of this. Talk to your local zoning board to see what the regulations are in your area. If you live in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association, you will also want to review the HOA rules and regulations as well. The last thing you want is to finish your addition just to find out that you have violated a city or HOA regulation.

Finalize Plans and Start Building

After your builder has acquired any necessary permits, cleared everything with local regulators and finalized your building plans, it's time for them to get started. Depending on the general contractor that you have chosen, this could involve either a small or a large crew. Regardless of the number of people that will be working at your house, talk with your contractor about steps that you can take that will make the job easier for them. There are many things, such as cleaning and clearing that can greatly save time and energy for your contractor. This will save you money and headache in the long run. Expect things to be messy throughout the process, and do your best to work around that. The completed product will be well worth it.

Whether you are building a new office, a sunroom, a craft room or a nursery for another expected family addition, adding a room to your home can be one of the most gratifying and cost-effective ways to add additional space to your home. With a little diligence and the selection of a quality contractor, the process can be quick, efficient and done to your exact desires and specifications. You'll be amazed at the effect it makes on your home.

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Some Things to Consider When Remodeling Your Home

With the economy and housing market in a continuous turmoil, home remodeling has become much more popular than ever before. Rather than moving to a new home, or building one from scratch, many homeowners are choosing this route when it comes time to change or expand. When you choose to remodel, you can essentially build the home that you've always dreamed of without having to worry about the sale of your home, finding the right house, paying closing costs, a down payment and everything else that goes with the purchase and sale of a home. That being said, you should consider the decision closely before deciding to move forward with a large remodeling project.

Because a home remodel can make or break your home, it is paramount to ensure that everything is done properly, without cutting corners. Most homeowners are unsure of where to start, especially when it comes to making sure that everything is done properly. Start by considering the following:

� Always hire a licensed and experienced remodeling contractor. Although you may come across handymen who say that they can get the job done right, it will typically pay off in the long run to used a licensed professional. For a project to be completed right, there is extensive coordination, permitting and other factors that must be taken into account. By using a professional team, you not only get a variety of people working on the job, but the reputation that they carry with them. A good, quality contractor can handle the entire job from start to finish, leaving you with time to carry on with your life.

� Know what you want before you start. One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make when embarking on a home remodel is to not know what they want before they get started. Because remodels often involve taking down walls and moving around essential components, it is important to know exactly what your project will be before allowing your contractor to begin. This will not only save you from doubling back on your efforts, but will also keep the project from spiraling out of scope, and out of your budget.

� Expect hangups. Every remodeling project will have a surprise or two along with it. Rather than being caught off guard, just be prepared for everything to take a little longer, and not go completely as planned. If you chose the right contractor, everything will work itself out in the end. If you prepare for it, it's less likely to stress you out.

� Do not cut corners. Your remodel should be safe, complete, valuable addition to your home. By making sure it's done right, you not only ensure your safety and long-term satisfaction, but also the extended resale value of your home if you do decide to move later on.

By starting with the above considerations, you can be well on your way to a successful and satisfying remodeling experience. Don't let the scope of such a project turn you away. You will be thankful once everything is complete.

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Patricia Gray Shaw TV Interview

Patricia Gray Shaw TV Interview 

What a week we had. Last Friday I was contacted by Shaw TV to be featured on a segment on their Dream Homes show. Tuesday morning Shaw TV showed up with camera crew and shot for three and a half hours to get approximately four minutes of air time. Although it was quite exhausting with many retakes it was a lot of fun and the weather that day was perfect. Here is the link for the preview of the segment as it aired on Shaw TV Channel 4 yesterday. There will be a another segment airing next week. Stay tuned!!!

YouTube link Patricia Gray Shaw TV Interview 

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm in Vancouver. Here we write about lifestyle

and WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.

2012 � Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog�

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5 Useful Tips to Improve Your Home

While nothing can be more stress-relieving than coming home to a beautiful home after a hard day's work, a safe and comfortable shelter also helps maintain a happy family life. This is why regular home improvements are necessary to keep it at its best. Aside from the benefit of having a visually appealing home, proper maintenance also increases its market value. Home improvements, repairs and remodeling are usually done by professional contractors or handyman. However, the common house owner can also get the job done as long as he is armed with the basic home improvement tips. While there are a lot of ways to improve your home, the following tips can give you a good place to start.

    To save time and money from future maintenance, remove your water heater from the attic. Though, water heaters in the attic save space, they are not easy to maintain and may cause potential danger and damage to your ceiling. You might want to relocate your water heater to a safer place such as a closet.

    Add some space in an overly cramped bathroom and create floor-to-ceiling bathroom cabinets to organize your things. A corner storage area in your shower is perfect for holding your shampoo, conditioner and other items that you may need while taking a bath. To create some space, you need to get rid of the things that you don't always use.

    If you are planning to change the color of your wall, paint on a small spot on the wall before painting the entire surface. Make sure to give yourself enough time to get used to your rig. Keep a consistent painting pattern to make sure that the walls are evenly coated. You should also paint one room at a time unless you want to get paint fumes all over the house. This will also give you more time to decide on how you want the individual rooms to look like.

    If your home is old and still has its original fixtures, major updates may be required to keep the tubs and sinks looking fresh. It may be difficult to find vintage fixtures in mint-condition as it is time consuming and quite expensive. However, it is also almost impossible to match modern fixtures with a vintage room. The cheapest and ideal solution to have a fresh vintage interior is refinishing your fiberglass, cast-iron or porcelain fixtures

    If you reside in a dry or fire-prone area, fencing your home with the best timber or wood materials is a must. It is ideal to use white cedar or red cedar wood for fences because it meets the safety requirements of most states. This type of wood is known for its durability and dependability in areas where wildfires are likely to occur.

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Best Glass Railing Systems

Many people love to sit out on their decks, but find that the rails prevent them from totally relaxing by obstructing their view. Whether you have a yard full of kids that you'd like to keep an eye on or a fabulous view of the city or sea, there is a way for you to enjoy your deck while still enjoying an unobstructed view. Glass railings for decks are a state of the art option that allows you to see and keeps you safe at the same time! Enjoy your yard and surroundings in way that traditional railings simply are not designed to allow.

Not only are glass railings easy to see through, but they are designed to be just as safe as traditional wooden or metal systems. Glass will not weather or degrade over time, allowing it to look outstanding no matter the season or how long it's been installed. It will also protect you from the wind, which is especially nice if your deck overlooks the water or is in a high wind zone. Finally, because the panels themselves fit very closely together, children and pets are safe on a deck that uses glass as a railing material.

Invisirail is a railing system designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. The tempered glass that is used is very low maintenance and durable, as well as quite appealing to the eye. These glass deck railings offer the most open view possible and can include low profile posts as well. The Invisipost is designed to have the smallest visual impact possible and is available in stainless steel or black metal to really showcase the beauty of your deck and surroundings. Whether you choose traditional posts or Invisiposts, the glass can be engineered to fit any post spacing up to 6 feet in length.

The beauty of using glass railing systems is that they look fabulous with any type of post. Whether you choose metal, wood, or the special low profile Invisiposts you can create a custom deck that is stylish and perfect for your needs. It's a wonderful way to enjoy the landscaping of your yard or keep an eye on the kids while they play. If you live on the seacoast the glass can protect you from unwanted salt spray while still affording you the unforgettable views that make your property priceless. Glass systems are relatively easy to install and can truly make your deck as unique as you are.

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