Money saving tips for your Bathroom Remodel

The best place to start with any remodeling project is the budget. Not only will it have a big impact on the type of materials you select for your bathroom renovation, it will also help you set the boundaries of your design. Knowing your budget before you have to suffer a broken heart when you can’t buy that fixture you have been eyeing, will save you in the long run.

Going "green" is not only good for the environment; it’s also good for you. Green products have great design, tend to function better, which lowers utility bills, and they’re also chemical-free, making them better for your health. Having an eco-friendly approach to remodeling isn’t just about buying new products, doing something "green" can be as simple as painting a cabinet instead of tossing it in a landfill. Not to mention “Green” remodels are eligible for the HERO program. Ask us today about this amazing program.

Want to save some big bucks remodeling your bathroom? Consider refinishing the existing tub and sink, versus buying a brand new one. Refinishing may not be an option in every case, your design team will be able to access your current tub and sink.

Don't move your plumbing. On the surface, switching your sink and toilet around may look easy enough, but the problem lies underneath and all the costs involved in moving that plumbing. A remodel and design team will be able to keep your existing layout, without boring you with the same old bathroom you are tired of.
DIY bathroom remodels end up costing you more than you expect. Our advice is to leave the remodeling to the professionals who do this kind of work every day.

Changing out all the hardware, such as drawer pulls, faucet handles and shower heads, can make a big impact. Small cosmetic changes will save you money and help give you a new looking bathroom.

Don't underestimate the importance of lighting in a bathroom. Sconce lighting at the vanity is the ideal way to get even lighting on your face, and installing it at eye level will help diminish unflattering shadows. Dim lighting is nice for a relaxing bath; bright lights are great for shaving or applying makeup. Adding more overall lighting can make a small bathroom seem larger.

Ventilation. Ventilation. Ventilation. Moisture is your bathroom’s greatest enemy. Mold and mildew will make quick work of any renovation you’ve done so be sure to install a vent fan of appropriate CFMs for the square footage of your bathroom. The rough guide is one CFM per square foot for bathrooms of one hundred square feet or smaller. New designs are quieter and more stylish than ever and are a must have for any bathroom remodel; they even have stereo speaker ventilation systems.

November 23, 2016

Feng Shui and Décor for a Romantic Bedroom

November 23, 2016/ admin

Feng Shui and Décor for a Romantic Bedroom Set the scene for love in your bedroom by practicing the ancient art and science of Feng Shui that uses your environment to activate your personal intentions. Here are 7 ways you can trigger positive energies for your love life, or spark one if you are searching.

1. Hang Mirrors and Crystals

The actual placement of your bedroom is critically important to your love agenda. If it lies in what’s called the “dragon’s mouth” - at the end of a long hallway or corridor - or is lined up with the front door, it can cause issues in the romance department. To counteract potential problems, hang mirrors diagonally opposite each other in the hallway just outside the bedroom door in order to slow the energies down.

2. Use Red Bed Linens

7 Powerful Feng Shui Tips to Bring Love to Your Bedroom-red sheets. Red is the color of love and passion, a must use color in the bedroom. Alternate your choice of bed linens among bright red, gray or white to create more pizzazz and bring more passion into the bedroom too. Red sheets will make your love life sizzle but don’t use them too often or your romance could ‘burn out.’

3. Create a Spark with Candles

A pair of candles in the back right-hand corner of the room can add both a spark and a glow to your love life while also attracting a new flame if you’re single. Just make sure to light them every once in a while.

4. Create Space for a Partner

7 Powerful Feng Shui Tips to Bring Love to Your Bedroom-empty a dresser drawer for a potential partner. If you’re single and looking, you should create space for your ideal partner. This whole idea of creating a place for two is critical and key in the bedroom. There should be two bedside tables and two lamps on them. In fact, it’s really important to take an objective look around the whole room and make sure that is says that a pair of partners love each other there.

5. Add ‘Scentsual’ and Visual Stimulation

7 Powerful Feng Shui Tips to Bring Love to Your Bedroom-aroma and visuals. Use essential oils to create an aroma that sparks lust and inner peace. Pictures or images of couples in love, or really any image or symbol that speaks the language of love to and/or for you, should be placed with intention in the bedroom, especially across from the entryway and across from the foot of the bed. These are said to be the two most important locations for visual stimulation in this room.

6. Don’t Mix Work and Play

If you want to work up some steamy romance in the bedroom then make sure you keep your career out of it! Work and play don’t mix in this space, but if you must have a work space in the bedroom, cordon off your workspace by using a screen or even a beaded curtain.

7. Use This Bedside Lamp Trick

7 Powerful Feng Shui Tips to Bring Love to Your Bedroom-turn on bedside lamps. Here’s one last ‘secret’ Shui tip that I love. Whether you’re looking for love or already in a relationship that can use a little spicing up, turn your bedside lamps on at the same time each night and keep them on for at least three consecutive hours. Then, turn them off at the same time.

November 16, 2016

9 Tips to Revamp your bathroom without a Remodel

November 16, 2016/ admin

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9 Tips to revamp without a remodel Maybe you don’t have the budget to fix up your guest bathroom, or maybe you are just trying to save that budget – either way you came here because you want ideas to revamp without a remodel. Even without a bathroom remodel, there are still plenty of things you can do to make your bathroom a new sight to see. Here are nine ideas to spruce up that guest bathroom that gets no love.

1. Paint your bathroom a bold color. For the cost of a can of paint, you can take your bathroom from boring to energizing. With a little elbow grease of course. You would be surprised how much a new paint color can really make a difference and create an almost remodeled appearance.

2. Transform your space with textiles. Beautiful towels don't have to cost a lot of money, and displayed prominently, they can really change the look of a space. Add funky towel holders that aren’t the typical ones you see in bathrooms. A boldly patterned shower curtain can also make a big difference!

3. Add an unexpected rug. Try an oriental or fancy rug in the bathroom, because why not? No one said you must to stick with basic bathroom mats. Change it up! Check out DIY river rock mats for the bathroom for a taste of nature in your bathroom.

4. Add some shelves into the empty spaces. Add decorated shelves for extra storage space, and a little architectural interest, too. If you have no extra space for shelves, pick up a wheeled storage cart.

5. Work some wallpaper into your bathroom. Not cheap, but cheaper than remodeling – wallpaper can really change your bathroom. And if you pick really crazy prints or textured wallpaper, people won't be looking at much else.

6. Add a little art. Nothing transforms a bathroom like a little art or custom decor. Just save your precious pieces for spaces with a little less humidity.

7. Paint the ceiling. Painting the ceiling makes for an unexpected, dramatic look, and draws the eye upward. You can even get ceiling tiles for that antique look!

8. Pick out interesting fixtures in bright colors. Your necessities don’t have to be boring; you can supplement your basic colors for cheerful colors and prints. Try painting your fixtures an unexpected color – for instance mustard yellow!

9. Add a statement mirror. An interesting mirror is sure to draw the eye — and brighten up the room as well. Without breaking the bank you can find a second hand antique mirror or even try framing your current mirror to save money.

November 14, 2016

Pros and Cons of Flooring Options

November 14, 2016/ admin

Pros and Cons of Flooring Options When remodeling your home you may feel overwhelmed with the many choices of Flooring Options. And there are many options! You may want to consider a few things before you lay down that floor solely because it looks good. We will help you make smart choices before your regret the floor you picked out.

Spazio LA will break down the options and factors that will help you make the right choice.

Things to consider when doing your flooring are:

1. Cleaning and Durability:

If you have pets and kids you may want to consider an option that is easy to clean. Choosing an option that will hold up to traffic and accidents is important.

2. Cost and Value:

It is important to consider the quality of the flooring and the value for your money. You don’t want to throw away money to replace a floor that you had remodeled only a few years back because you went with a cheaper option. Also, installing quality flooring adds value to your home for years to come.

3. Location, Location, Location:

The ideal flooring can change based on where you are installing it as well. Rooms used more often will require durable flooring. Bathrooms will require flooring that is moisture and water resistant- and safe! Some flooring options and the way it is installed can make an area look larger, or smaller. You want durable flooring in a kids rooms but it needs to be safe and warm also.

Here we lay out the pros and cons of only a few different flooring options. Never the less if you are in doubt call a professional to help you with your home remodeling needs.

Pros & Cons

Carpet

Pros -Carpet can act like another layer of insulation and help keep cold or warm drafts from seeping through the floor.

-It goes without saying that carpet is always going to be the softest of any type of flooring. -Carpet helps to reduce sound and noises from one floor to the next. Cons -Regular vacuuming is needed (every one to two days for high traffic areas) frequently. Spills need to be removed immediately to prevent staining and liquid to seep deep into fibers to cause mold and mildew.

Hardwood

Pros -An upgrade to hardwood floors will add a lot of value to your home. -Hardwood floors are easy to care for by sweeping or vacuuming them daily and wiping them with an approved wood cleaner. -There are many different types of woods, stains and plank sizes to choose from.

Cons

-Every step that is taken on wood floors can be heard. Not to mention, furry friends can slip and slide because their padded feet can’t grip the shiny, smooth surface.

Laminate

Pros -The protective layer on laminate helps protect it from something that would normally stain easily. -Vacuum away loose dirt and debris and mop with a damp mop.

Cons -Laminate may look like hardwood, but doesn’t have the value like hardwood. -Laminate flooring is easily dented. Laminate flooring cannot be sanded or refinished. Areas with large scratches or gouges need to be replaced with new laminate flooring.

Tile – Ceramic/Stone/Porcelain

Pros -Easy, fast clean up – and great for high traffic.

-Adds a clean and elegant finish to a room.

- Nontoxic and great for those who suffer allergies as it doesn’t harbor allergens.

Cons -Not a good insulator for heat.

-Dangerous when wet!

-Tiles can crack and need to be replaced.

November 04, 2016

Counter-Top Appliances you must have in your kitchen

November 04, 2016/ admin

From blenders to espresso machines, these small appliances add big convenience to your kitchen. Trust me when I say, I have tried to live without a few of them and it was not something I recommend. #1 Slow Cooker: This bad boy is a must have in your kitchen, and will never steer you wrong. The best feeling is coming home after a long day at work to dinner being cooked and ready to plate. (Of course you had to put a few things inside it and turn it on before setting it) Our busy Los Angeles lives leave us very little time to eat, unless we plan ahead or grab food on the go. The Slow Cooker is great for stews, one pot meals, and a whole slew of recipes - even bread! Get your hands on the Cuisinart voted best slow cooker of the year.

#2 Blender: Now I know you are thinking of hosting a margarita party in your new kitchen remodel, a blender is a must to accomplish this. The high power machines reduce fruits and veggies into healthy smoothies and crush ice into snow cones.

#3 Stand Mixer: Two words, Stand, Mixer. Once you have one you will never, I repeat never, go back to mixing by hand and whisk again. It's the ultimate machine to have. You can mix your favorite brownie batter, whip up some pizza dough, whisk soft meringue peaks - not to mention you can get attachments like an ice cream maker and ravioli press. Start out with a KitchenAid Stand Mixer and you will not be disappointed.

# 4 Coffee Maker: I know you are all thinking, "why wasn't a coffee maker #1 on this list?" Well that would have been to obvious, and I almost was inclined to make it the last on the list due to the fact that it is almost expected to be #1. Now that we are talking about your start to the day machine, today's coffee makers are not the old pot and coffee grounds your parents grew up with. We are talking a plethora of coffee makers that whip your creamer, froth your mild and brew cafe that has the local coffee shop jealous. We could write a whole blog dedicated to coffee makers if we really wanted to. But, this must have counter-top appliance is a must. I'm not sure a kitchen in america is lacking this appliance.

#5 Toaster Oven: Why do I need a toaster oven when I have a microwave? Because there will be a day when you want something toasted, and not nuked. For instance, left over pizza must be thrown into the toaster oven to avoid that soggy grease soaked crust. Another reason you need a toaster oven is due to the fact that you can cook almost anything in it!

This list covers strictly the must haves, and not the wants! There is a whole other side to appliances and specialty items you want to have. For this and more tips on remodels and decor - check out our blog.

November 03, 2016

Transform your home with the trends

November 03, 2016/ admin

Transform your home with the trends Keeping up with interior design trends is no easy task. When this requires a serious financial investment most of us prefer to ignore them. What if there were easy ways to transform the look of your home without having to replace the furniture? We offer you some simple home design transformations following recent trends in the world of interior design.

Contrasting Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen is often the most expensive to redesign. Because of this kitchen cabinets are the oldest pieces of furniture in many homes. Don’t worry! You can transform your kitchen cabinets by just putting a fresh coat of paint in the colors that are on trend now. The biggest design hit these days is painting the lower and upper cabinets in two different colors. The most popular is grey for the lower and white for the upper cabinets. You can pick from different shades of grey for the lower cabinets, ranging from very dark to very light. This stylish and timeless color scheme will add glamour to your kitchen.

Persian Rugs in the Bathroom

Opt for a colorful Persian rug instead of a bathroom mat. Bathrooms can feel somewhat sterile and adding a pop of color is a simple solution. Persian rugs are a hot trend at the moment. They are very graphic and colorful and they are often enough to transform the look of an entire room. They work well in the bathroom and make a perfect accent item.

interior design trends

Mixing Old and New

Mixing furniture and other design elements from different decades or even centuries is very on trend. For example you can mix ultra modern furniture with old vintage dressers and chairs. This brings an eclectic feel to living spaces. You would want to make your home to look like there are layers of history in it and this is easy to achieve by adding some antique pieces. Think again before you throw away old furniture!

Homier Bathroom

One of the hottest interior design trends of 2016 is bathrooms that feel like living spaces. There are several tips and tricks you can follow to achieve that cozy bathroom feel. Add a seating area in the bathroom or just a comfortable armchair. You can also add furniture with more shelving. Plants are also a good way to make the bathroom look more like your living room.

interior design trends

Source: www.persquare.com

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