DIY Home Improvement Guide

What To Do Before Installing A Wet Bar Sink

If you’re considering installing a wet bar sink in your home, there are a few things you have to consider before starting this project.  Bar sinks are an incredibly popular trend right now, and they’re ending up in places other than the home bar.  For the sake of the home bar, which is generally in a room other than the kitchen, there may be more to it than you think.  This post is geared toward the DIY-type, but it’s still important to know this stuff before discussing ideas with the pro that will do the installation for you.

Whether you are installing your wet bar sink indoors or out, you’re going to need water.  I know that’s pretty obvious, but there’s quite a bit of work involved with getting running water to somewhere new in your home.  Water has to be run from somewhere nearby and to your bar faucet.  If you already have running water, consider yourself lucky!  If not, it’s best to get a plumber to help you out because this is the kind of project that has very costly mistakes, leaks and ruptures inside your walls are going to create expensive leaks and a possible flood.

With water running to your sink it’s time to consider actually installing the bar sink.  If you already have a sink there and don’t want to change your counter top, get a sink that is the same size or bigger than what’s there already.  If you get a smaller sink you have to figure out a way to fill in the extra space (not easy!).  If there isn’t a sink, your options are limited by the space on hand.  I don’t recommend that you do the cutting into the counter for the sink unless you are very experienced, it’s much easier to blame a carpenter than it is yourself!  After the hole is cut for the sink it’s just a matter of securing the sink and connecting the drain.

Having a wet bar sink in your home is awesome, but many people underestimate the amount of work that goes into installing it.  I don’t want to steer you away from installing a new sink, just understand what needs to be done.  If you aren’t comfortable with the work, hire a pro!

Small Bar Sinks

Bar sinks are small by nature, but when you’re looking for a sink with an even smaller footprint, those are available as well.  This post is aimed to help you find the small bar sink that you’re looking for by giving you the information about different types and materials.  Installing bar faucets and sinks is something that you only want to do once, so learn everything about them now so you don’t regret the installation later.

Small bar sinks are usually rectangle shape to maximize their footprint, and fall in around 12″x14″ with various depths.  Having a sink that is at least seven inches deep is important because anything shallower will splash water all over the place every time that you rinse a glass or wash your hands.  Larger sinks can be shallower, but when there isn’t the area to catch the splashing water you need something deep.

Stainless steel is the most common material of small bar sinks.  This is because of it’s neutral look, it blends with just about any style and theme that a bar can have.  It’s also very easy to clean and maintain.  Stainless is also more lightweight than materials like ceramic and copper so installation is easier, especially with an undermount bar sink.

Like with all bar sinks, small one vary incredibly in price.  There’s a good chance that you can find a stainless steel bar sink for less than $100, but it will take some searching.  Designer bar sinks will usually run upwards of $200-$300.  The key to saving money is to find the retailers that are offering free shipping.  Even though your bar sink is small, it will still cost a bit to ship.  Cruise around the web between retailers to see who offers this kind of discount, they probably only offer it for a limited time.

Small bar sinks are perfect for the home bar or as a prep sink in the kitchen.  Do some smart shopping online and you’re going to find the exact one that you want at a great price.

Undermount Bar Sink

An undermount bar sink provides a clean and sophisticated look to any home bar (or any sink for that matter).  The clean line of the counter that surrounds the sink creates a style that is hard to achieve any other way.  Bar sinks are a hot trend right now in interior design, and you can take that trend to the next level with an undermount sink.

In this post I want to show you what to expect when shopping for undermount bar sinks and what installation will be like when you decide which one you want.

Stainless Steel Undermount Bar Sink

A stainless steel undermount bar sink is the most common type that people choose for their homes.  This is because of their fantastic price when compared to copper, fireclay, or some of the other materials, and their light weight makes them much easier to install under the counter top.  An added benefit of these is the price of stainless steel bar sinks compared to other materials.  A stainless undermount bar sink usually costs less than two hundred bucks, but some of the more designer models cost a bit more, especially when you’re dealing with shapes rather than a square or circle.

Copper Undermount Bar Sink

A copper undermount bar sink is a good way to show that you have the finest, yet classy, tastes.  I’ve never seen a copper bar sink that wasn’t stunning, and when you combine that with the clean look of it being mounted under the counter you have the ultimate recipe for style.  While copper isn’t a precious metal, you do pay like it is!  Most undermount copper bar sinks are going to cost over $400, but that’s the price that has to be paid for something so exquisite!

Installing an Undermount Bar Sink

Most people will have their bar cabinets built to fit the sink that they want to install.  If you already have a bar and are looking to install the sink on your own, it’s not too tough but you’ll probably need the help of a pro.  Before you start cutting, you need to have the sink (socks before shoes), so figure out what size of sink you need and get it before starting any sort of installation.

I say that you need a pro’s help because cutting the hole in your counter top isn’t the kind of stress most people are willing to put on themselves.  Think of it like trying to cut a hole in the roof of your car to install a sun roof, you really don’t want to screw up!  There are also tools needed that you might not have, especially if you have granite or marble counters.  So hire a pro to cut the hole, you can do the rest.  Also figure out if you need to cut a whole for the bar faucet, and have the pro do that as well.

After the hole is cut it’s just a matter of test fitting the sink and securing it in place.

Undermount bar sinks are perfect in nearly any home, and now that you’ve read through this and have a good idea of what’s ahead you’re ready to start shopping!

Sealing a Slate Floor

There is one simple answer to this question. It will not hurt your slate flooring if you seal it. In fact it will only make it stronger and less susceptible to future damages. The best time to seal slate floor tiles is before you install them, but it is still okay to seal them after installation, in fact it’s a very common process. The following article has been designed to answer any questions you might have about the sealing process.

The first thing to ask yourself is if you want your floor to have a shiny of natural finish. If shiny is what you are looking for than proceed to seal. If you want the floor to continue having an aged and natural look than I wouldn’t suggest sealing. It is not a must, and your floor will still continue to be beautiful.

Secondly, try to avoid high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds when applying your sealant. VOCs are present in nature but they can be harmful and toxic if you are working in a closed off area. Be sure to open the windows and get fresh air often. I would recommend using a water-based polyurethane sealer. They’re low in VOCs, dry quickly and can be cleaned up with warm water.

If you’ve already installed your floor than be sure to clean all the tiles and let them dry before adding any sealant. Also fix any mortar or grout problems, and let them dry before beginning the process. This can sometimes take three to four days to dry. Once everything is dried and clean, you can proceed to seal the tiles. For the best results follow the grains of the tile when applying the sealant. Let the first coat dry for a few hours before starting the second coat. Once the second coat is finished and dry you should be all set to walk on the floor and return the furniture.

If you are installing and sealing a slate floor then I would recommend coating the Slate Tiles with one coat of sealant before setting them in the mortar. You can simply let them dry and install them just as you would if they were new. I would wait for the mortar to dry after the tiles have been set in place. Once that is finished drying then you will be all set to grout the tiles. To improve the water resistance of the floor and strengthen the bond between the tiles and the grout, mix some sealant with the grout instead of water.

Once the tile has been set and grouted you must clean the surface very well. I would suggest cleaning the tiles at least two different times, before adding a second coat of sealant. Once the slate tile flooring is ready to be sealed follow the same instructions you would if you were sealing an installed floor.

For more tips about floors please visit www.floors-web.com

We’ll help you make the right choice.

Stainless Steel Bar Sinks

Stainless steel bar sinks are the standard for the home bar.  This stems from the fact that actual bars, pubs, and restaurants use stainless for their bar sinks because of it’s extreme longevity, ability to take the punishment of daily use, and ease to clean.  You probably don’t have the same needs as bars and restaurants do, but stainless bar sinks look great anyway!  In this post I want to show you how to get these sinks at bargain prices.

It might seem wrong to think this way, but you can take advantage of the poor economy by finding restaurants that are going out of business to buy their bar sinks from them.  Once the restaurant goes under and becomes the property of the bank they’ll go and sell all of the fixtures at rock bottom prices.  Keep your eyes peeled when out and about in your town to see who’s shutting down.

To take advantage of restaurants in a more positive light, you can ask owners/managers where they get their sinks from.  These will usually work great in your home, and you can be assured that a restaurant isn’t going to pay $300 for their sinks!  Restaurant supply stores commonly stock bar sinks, but you may need to be part of the industry to be able to shop there.

Shopping online is another great idea.  Here the selection will be geared towards the home buyer and you’ll find many more creative designs.  Hammered stainless steel bar sinks are becoming very popular and affordable online.  You’ll also be able to find undermount stainless steel bar sinks.

The trick to saving money online is shipping.  Stainless steel isn’t that heavy when compared to granite or ceramic, but if you can score free shipping you’ll save a good chunk of cash.  Many online retailers will have a dollar minimum that you have to spend to qualify free shipping, so if the sink that you want is less than the minimum search the other retailers.  Price gouging on shipping costs is becoming the norm online.

Stainless steel bar sinks are great anywhere in the home where you need running water, but don’t want the fuss of a huge sink.  The easy steps outlined above will help you get exactly what you want without having to spend a ton of money on it.

Copper Bar Sink

A copper bar sink is the ultimate accessory for any home.  Copper sinks are by and large one of the coolest ways to get water out of your house around, and it only gets cooler when it’s in your home bar!  Enough of my own copper sink envy.  They really are one of the most impressive things that you can add, and this post will show you how to get them without spending a small fortune on them!

Bar sinks are becoming a trendy addition to new and existing homes, and copper ones are what you get when only the best will do.  Another popular trend is the hammered copper bar sink that is created by hand and have the texture of the hammer that made it.  Either way you go it’s a stunning addition to any home.

In order to save money on your copper bar sink you have to have patience.  This goes for shopping online or in your town because when these go on sale you can pick them up at unbelievable prices.  If you don’t have time to wait for a sale, shop online because it’s much easier to find free shipping deals that will save you a ton.  Keep in mind that an 8″x22″x22″ copper bar sink is going to weigh at least 20 pounds and have a bulky footprint that will drive shipping costs through the roof.  Look for retailers that have offers for free shipping on orders over X amount of dollars.

If you must shop locally, look for local up-and-coming artisans.  Copper is becoming a popular medium for sculptures and metal workers, and they may be able to craft you a custom sink for a low price.  They get added experience and you get the perfect sink for your home, plus you can say that your sink was “commissioned” just for you!

Copper bar sinks are the best addition to a home bar that you can add, and if you follow the steps outlined above you can get it while still having enough money left over to stock the bar!

Bar Sinks

Bar sinks are for more places than just your home bar!  They are versatile and handy small sinks that can be used in nearly any room of the house that needs running water.  In this post I want to show you everything thing you need to know about a bar sink so when it’s time for you to make a purchase you’ll choose the one that suits both your home and your needs.

At it’s core, a bar sink is just a really small and shallow traditional sink, but it’s really a lot more than that.  They usually come with a single hole for the faucet, which fits bar faucets perfectly.  Their small footprint allows them to easily be installed into existing counters, as well as in corners.  All you need to do is get the water running!

Bar Sinks In The Home

The home bar is becoming a very popular addition and it’s not a “real bar” until you get running water in there.  A bar sink allows you to rinse glasses, get water, and clean up without having to continually run back and forth between the kitchen.  When you pair a faucet/sink setup with an ice maker you have the ultimate home bar!  There are two different styles of home bars, and both work great with bar style sinks.  The front serve bar is what most homes will use where the bottles and glasses are on a counter or wall unit that is accessible from one side.  Usually the sink and faucet will be to the side of this arrangement.   The other setup is like a traditional bar with a counter in the front and the wall with drinks and bottles behind.  With this arrangement the sink is usually centered behind the front counter.

If a bar isn’t your style, these sinks also work great in other areas of the home.  Many homes will have a sink set up just out of the way of the entry way or in the laundry room so kids and guests can wash their hands.  Having a bar sink in the kitchen, apart from the regular sink, with a water filtration system allows you to have clean drinking water on demand without using up the filter too fast with the regular faucet.

Bar sinks come in all of the standard materials; stainless steel, ceramic, fireclay, copper, granite, and concrete.  Brass sinks come in finishes like chrome and oil rubbed bronze.  They also come in the standard mounting arrangements; under mount, top mount, and in the cabinet like farm sinks.

Installing Bar Sinks

The hardest part with installing bar sinks is getting the water running into the room.  This can be made easier if the bar is placed along a wall that has water on the other side, like the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room.  If you’re unfamiliar with plumbing, I recommend getting a pro to help you out with this part.  Mistakes with running water into different rooms can mean serious flood damage.

The type of sink that you get will determine how it’s installed, but if you’re planning on building the bar where it’s going to be put in it’s best to have the sink beforehand so you can build it right in.  Most installations into existing counters require some reconstruction of the cabinet to support the sink, so you may need to call a pro for this part if you aren’t particularly handy.

How To Find Cheap Bar Sinks

If you’re looking to build your home bar on a tight budget shopping around on the sink will allow you more money to stock the finished bar.  The internet is the best place to buy bar sinks because the selection is huge when compared to your options at Home Depot or even specialty sink stores.  Saving money is easy when you have patience.  In many cases, the shipping is going to cost you almost as much as the sink will so if you can hunt for the retailers that are offering free or discounted shipping you’re going to save a huge amount of money.  Then you can start calculating how many more bottles of pinot you can afford to stock your bar with your savings!

Bar sinks are perfect for just about any home.  This post was geared towards the home bar, but they really work everywhere that you need a small sink.  The key is to plan beforehand so you can get the one that fits your home and your style, without busting your budget!

What Are Farm Style Kitchen Sinks?

Farm style kitchen sinks are a style of sink that stretches all the way out to the front of the counter.  Traditional sinks are mounted to the top or underside of the counter, whereas farm sinks are supported by the cabinet that it resides in.  In this post I want to share what makes them so special and some of the other considerations that are needed when considering them for your home.

Big and dramatic are how many farm style kitchen sinks are described as.  They really make a statement when they’re installed in a kitchen because so many of us are accustomed to the traditional ceramic sinks that come with most homes.  They certainly aren’t for every kitchen, but big and open kitchen really benefit from them.

Common materials for farm sinks are copper, concrete, granite, fireclay (high end ceramic), and stainless steel.  These are all heavy materials, which means that serious support has to be provided by the cabinet that they sit in.  Custom cabinets are almost a necessity when installing farm sinks because the cabinet must be designed to fit and support the sink.  Some kitchens forgo the cabinet and have large stone or concrete pillars that hold up the sink, which creates an even bigger impact in the kitchen!

If you’re planning on installing a farm sink in your kitchen it’s best to do it while remodeling the entire kitchen.  You’re probably going to need new cabinets, so it’s best to have the sink first so the cabinet can be designed for it.

Farm style kitchen sinks aren’t for everyone, but if the kitchen is a central part of your home and you’re looking for a way to make a huge improvement in it, consider them.

What Makes A Fireclay Farm Sink So Special?

Installing a fireclay farm sink is the ultimate kitchen upgrade.  It shows that you have a strong eye for design and quality, but what makes these farm sinks so much more special than their stainless steel and copper brethren?  This post aims to answer just that!

What is fireclay?  It’s a type of ceramic that is non porous and won’t stain like normal ceramic does.  Most manufacturers use an environmentally friendly mix that helps you get the look you want without putting any extra strain on the planet.  It’s used in sinks because for these reasons and that it’s less likely to chip than traditional ceramic.  Fireclay is also used for tiles.

So what does that have to do with farm sinks?  Having a fireclay farm sink that is as pure white ten years from now as it was the day that you bought it is a big deal.  It’s extremely low maintenance, and can be cleaned with just soap and water.  By nature sinks are very low maintenance, but when it comes to many of the high-end sinks it takes a lot more to keep them looking great.  Copper will tarnish, concrete can be porous, and glass can break, but fireclay almost takes care of itself.

The trade off for this extreme quality is that they’re very heavy.  I’m sure you know that you need special cabinets for farm sinks and fireclay ones will need the same kind of bracing that a concrete sink would.

Fireclay farm sinks are made of the quality that will last longer than you and future generations do, and their clean styling has lasted many generations before us.  For these reasons they are the ultimate in kitchen sinks.

Cabinets For Kitchen Farm Sinks

Kitchen farm sinks usually need custom cabinets built to house them.  Those that are exceptionally craft may be able to reconfigure an existing counter to house a farm sink, but custom cabinets are more common.  In this post I want to share what it takes to have a cabinet built for your new kitchen farm sink.

For those that aren’t sure what a farm style sink is, it’s a period style sink where the front of the sink extends to the front of the cabinet.  They’re usually made from ceramic, copper, stainless steel, or even concrete and granite.  Their unique design doesn’t allow them any support from the counter top, like most sinks, instead they are supported by the base of the cabinet.

Since farm sinks are made from such heavy materials (concrete!?) they require some serious support underneath.  The weight of the sink grows quickly when there is water in the sink since water weighs a bit under 8.5 lbs/gal, so there could be another 60 or 80 pounds of weight while doing dishes.  This leads to two common designs for farm sink cabinets.  The most common is the braced cabinet which works to hold the weight in the cabinet.  The other is to have a gap in the cabinets and allow pillars or pedestals to support the sink.  Pillars are generally made from stone or concrete, and have to be mounted into the wall or cabinet to keep the sink from falling over.  This creates an extremely dramatic effect.

The best time to get a kitchen farm sink is when you’re updating your kitchen cabinets so you can get it all finished at once.  If not you’re going to be stuck with a sink and nowhere to put it!

Farm Style Sink

When you’re shopping for a farm style sink it’s easy to be taken aback by their price, but with some smart shopping you get them at much lower prices than you think.  In this post I want to share some different ways to save money on farm sinks so you can get exactly what you want and still have enough cash left over to buy the sponges to wash dishes in it!

A farm sink is defined by the apron (the front) of the sink sitting out in the front of the cabinet.  They’re supported by cabinet, rather than mounted into the top like a traditional style sink.  They’re made from heavy duty materials like stainless steel, ceramic, copper, and even concrete.  Because of these heavy materials the cabinet that houses the sink has to be heavily braced to support the weight of the sink.  Many times people have cabinets custom made for their sinks, but some existing cabinets can be reworked for farm sinks.

The trick to saving a ton of money on your farm style kitchen sink is to shop around.  I know that this sounds pretty obvious, but there’s a smart way to do it.  Start your search online to see which styles catch your eye and start to get a feel for how much they cost compared to your budget.  Once you have a good idea of what you want, take your search local and see what the interior design stores in your area carry.  Buying locally can help you get the installation taken care of at a good price, but you may pay more for the sink.  If you can’t find your style of farm sink in your area, go back online and start searching for shipping deals.  Kitchen farm style sinks are incredibly heavy so if you can find a retailer that offers discounted or free shipping you’ll save hundreds of dollars that can be used for installation!

By following the path of online -> local -> online you’re not going to miss a good deal.  You’ll get the exact farm sink that you want and still have some cash left over!

Stainless Steel Farm Sink

Adding a stainless steel farm sink to your kitchen or bathroom is one of the most dramatic fixtures that you can install.  Farm sinks make a big impact by design, but when they’re stainless steel you also get the clean, industrial look that accompanies it.  In this post I want to share with you some tips for finding these sinks without having to spend a fortune on them.

The best thing about choosing stainless steel for your farm sink is that they weigh a fraction of ceramic, concrete, or copper.  This means that the installation is much easier since less bracing is needed.  Concrete farm sinks weigh over a hundred pounds and need a custom designed cabinet to support it, stainless doesn’t have this problem since it only weighs 30 or 40 pounds.

To save money on stainless steel farm house sinks it’s best to shop online.  The selection is huge compared to what you can find in any store, so the chances of you finding a good deal are increased exponentially.  To make the most out of shopping online you should search until you find discounted or free shipping.  These sinks weigh much less than other materials, but shipping will still cost a lot because of their large size.  Without getting a deal on shipping you may wipe out all of the savings that you worked so hard to find.

Another weigh to save money on stainless steel farm sinks for kitchens to get a single sink, rather than a double.  It doesn’t make much sense that a double sink would cost nearly double the price of a single, but it’s an unfortunate truth.  Being diligent with the drain to prevent rings and jewelry is necessary with a single sink, but the savings may be worth it.

Spend the time to shop around from all of the big online retailers and you’re going to find exactly what you want at an excellent price.  It’s a bit more work, but when you save four or five hundred bucks you’ll be very happy that you did it!

How To Use Bar Sink Faucets In Your Home

You don’t necessarily need a home bar to add bar sink faucets to your home.  That’s generally where they end up, but it’s not the only place to use this style of faucet in your home.  Bar faucets have their limitations, but can be used in almost any sink in the home.  This post will show you where you can install them in different areas of your home.

The biggest downside that these have is their limited range.  They’re designed to provide clearance for washing hands, veggies, and glasses in restaurants and bars, where faucets that stick far out into the sink are reserved for the dish washing area.  There are some Kohler bar sink faucets that the spout comes out from the end and can be used anywhere, which makes them work anywhere.

Using bar faucets in the bathroom is ideal.  Since the sinks don’t extend very far into the sink they work great for washing hands, brushing teeth, and all of the other bathroom functions.  Their tall height pairs extremely well with vessel sinks, since they sit so high off of the counter top.

In the kitchen they don’t make much sense to use as your main faucet, but if you have extra sinks for getting tap water or washing hands/veggies they’re perfectly designed for this.  If you add a filter to the tap water you can save money on your bar sink faucet by getting one that only does cold water and use it just for drinking water.

Obviously, the bar is the best place for bar faucets, but there are tons of other uses for them.  Put simply, they’re great looking faucets with limited range, so anywhere that you need style without much function a bar faucet is the perfect fit.

Unique Bathroom Designs To Accentuate Any Home

We spend a lot of time in the bathroom – it’s the first and last room of the day! Considering this it is surprising how little people think about bathroom designs. With a little bit of inspiration this room can become just as interesting and stylish as the rest of your house. You’ll enjoy the time you spend in the bathroom so much more if you’re not stuck looking at plain walls and simple fixtures. Here are some really unusual bathroom styles that might be just the ticket. Or, if they seem a little far fetched, might be enough to get you thinking.

A Zen bathroom combines flowing functionality with a sparse aesthetic value. Emphasis is placed on nature and simplicity. Zen is a great choice for smaller bathrooms because it makes the most of limited space. Shoji screens are partitions that can be used to divide or open the area as you see fit. Aim for clean, straight lines in simple colors. Light wood and white makes for a lovely Zen combination that makes a bathroom seem far more spacious.

For a more funky style, try Art Deco. Combine nickel fixtures with clean square tubs and sinks to create a simple, yet classy look. You’re aiming to include zigzagged, geometric, and jumbled shapes. An abundance of color and line is what really makes the Art Deco Style come to life. Consider having a multi-framed window or lots of tile. Tile can easily extend up the walls to create a really lavish feel. Stepped forms, zebra print, and inlaid wood and metal are all elements of the Art Deco age.

Lastly, a Victorian bathroom is a classic and graceful choice for those who prefer more tradition style. A lot of richly stained wood, elaborate hardware, and luxurious dark colors make this style perfect for larger bathrooms. A claw foot tub is a lovely and authentic addition that can be found in fiberglass and metal as well as ceramic. Stenciling the walls is another way to amp up Victorian style, and a simple and cheap way to add flair to a bathroom.

Whether one of these designs catches your fancy or the elements serve to inspire you, I hope you can see all of the options for small bathroom design. The styles are nearly unlimited, so look for something that will spruce up your boring bathroom and add a degree of style to your home. It’s never been easier to move away from the traditional all-white bathroom and incorporate elements of personal style and taste.

Bar Prep Faucets

Bar prep faucets work great in homes as well as bars and restaurants.  They have a simple and elegant design, even in the most basic of designs, that adds a creative touch to any sink.  In this post I want to take a look at the bar faucets that would be used in restaurants and how they work in the home as well.

No sane restaurateur would spend $500 on a designer bar faucet for the back of the house.  Instead, there are faucets that usually run about $40 and do the exact same job and it’s not a big deal when it breaks to replace it.  It’s pure function over fashion for these faucets in the restaurant industry, but the strange thing is that they also look really cool!

These faucets are usually the most simple design, finished in chrome, that serve to wash hands and clean glasses.  They will have a long spout with hot and cold handles, as well as be built like tanks so that they can take the abuse that restaurant employees will put on them.  Another major benefit of these types of bar faucets is that they are extremely easy to replace parts on, and most manufacturers also sell kits of all of the replacement parts.

How do these work in the home?  Their simple and no nonsense design provides a solid faucet that isn’t distracting or over the top.  If you have sinks at your home bar or hand/veggie washing sinks in the kitchen, these are the perfect choice when you don’t want your fixtures to take away from the rest of your appliances and design.  Also, the price isn’t bad, when you consider the fact that you can get an entire house’s worth of these for the price that you would normally pay for a designer brand faucet!

Bar prep faucets aren’t just for restaurants.  Use their simple and no nonsense design to compliment the other stuff in your home, rather than stand out!

Grohe Bar Faucets

Grohe bar faucets are the true sign of home elegance and beauty.  They are one of the most respected and revered designers that create faucets that work as well in your home as they would on the wall in a modern art museum. In this post I want to show you a few different faucet models that they have so you can make an educated decision when it’s time to upgrade your bar faucets.

Why choose Grohe?  Choose Grohe when you want the absolute best for your home! (No, I don’t work for Grohe, this is just my opinion!)

The Grohe Single Hole Basin/Pillar Tap Faucet is a stunning work that will take any room to extraordinary levels.  It’s made from brass with a flawless stainless steel finish.  There is only one handle, and it only does cold water, so it’s perfect for filtered drinking water.  The curved spout with rounded corners creates a beautiful and modern look that works with most home’s styles.

For a more traditional look, check out the Grohe Bridgeford Bar Faucet.  This is a one hole, two handled bar faucet that has a more “period” feel that would work perfect in homes that successfully merge antique furniture and LCD TV’s.  It has a very versatile design and comes in chrome, oil rubbed bronze, and stainless steel.  If you ride the fence between vintage and contemporary, this bar faucet is designed just for you.

If you want a clean and simple look, check out the Grohe Classic II Kitchen/Bar Centerset Faucet.  This is close to the traditional bar faucet in overall design, but the details are what make it stand apart (like all of Grohe’s faucets).  It installs with one hole and has two handles that take care of the hot/cold duties.  The handles are a triangulated cylinder that look stunning without being over the top.  The spout is a perfect cylinder, and it’s finished in their renowned chrome.

A Grohe bar faucet will turn any sink into a work of art.  Spend the time to shop through their collection and you’ll start to see the small design details that set Grohe apart from all of the other faucet designers.

Danze Bar Faucets

Danze bar faucets are one of the best ways to add designer style to your home without spending a fortune.  It’s easy to get the look of a high end faucet while spending less than 200 bucks.  Danze creates style and forward thinking design that rivals the finest companies in the world, while allowing those that are on tight budgets to add them to their home.  In this post I want to take a look at a few different models of bar faucets they have and show you why they’re a great addition to your home bar.

(disclaimer: I don’t have anything to do with Danze, this is purely informational!)

The Danze Como Single Handle Bar Faucet is a modern and elegant bar faucet that has a clean and simple design.  The long spout is completely straight with a square base and a single handle.  The handle controls the hot and cold duties by moving it forward or back.  The coolest thing about this bar faucet (aside from its clean style) is that you can get it for around $180.  That’s showroom/art gallery design for under $200!

The Danze Opulent Single Handle Bar Faucet is similar to the Como model in the fact that it only has a single handle, but it’s much more ornate.  Opulent is a good word to describe this faucet, it is well decorated and looks as if it should fit in a turn-of-the-century pub.  It also comes in three different finishes oil rubbed bronze, antique copper, and stainless steel.  Again, this high end looking faucet will set you back less than $200.

If you’re looking for something more traditional, check out the Danze Sheridan Double Handle Bar Faucet.  It has both a hot and cold stem and a traditional bar faucet look.  The spout has a swan-neck shape that differentiates it from the generic bar faucet.  This is true affordable beauty since it costs less than $75.

Danze bar faucets are the perfect addition to any home, including yours!  If you want elegance and beauty without paying out the ear for it, a Danze bar faucet is the way to go.

Home Security Signs May Save You Hassle!

Home security signs may save you a hassle for many reasons. First of all, having a home security sign in your front lawn can deter thieves and other criminals. If there is a home security sign in your front lawn, a thief or a robber may be less likely to try to break into your home and steal yours and your family’s precious belongings. Even if you don’t have a home security system, but you only have the home security sign, the potential criminal may see the home security sign and leave your house alone.

Second of all, having a home security sign makes you less vulnerable to other people who are likely to bother you. Many people may be reluctant to approach your house if you have a home security sign in your front lawn. If you have a home security sign in your front lawn, you may deter unwanted guests to your front porch trying to sell you unwanted belongings. People are often scared of setting off an alarm system and a home security sign from a reputable company may help to prevent you from having problems in the future.

The economy is not doing well these days, and there are a lot of people without jobs who are becoming desperate to try to make money for the basics (buying food, rent, etc). Some people are becoming so desperate that they are willing to steal from other people. Do you want to be one of those people without a home security sign in their front lawn and more vulnerable to criminals? By having a home security sign, you can protect yourself from being a target of crime. A home security sign is a very valuable thing to possess, as it could save you a lot of money and a lot of unwanted trouble. Visit home security signs or home alarm systems for further information.

Power Tool Safety

Men and their power tools… you know the stories from “Tim the Tool-man” and the like. Whether you’re obsessed with power tools or not, you should be obsessed with power tool safety. Whether you’re hanging a picture or chopping wood for your fire, power tools can be handy. But they can be dangerous when they aren’t used properly.

Each year, roughly 125,000 power tool accidents occur, as a result of people not taking into account the inherent danger that comes with handling drill bits, blades and other power tools. Accidents usually happen due to lack of experience or care, or inattention.

Take good care of all your power tools. If you don’t maintain them properly, they can develop grime or rust, which can damage saws, drills and sanders, particularly. Blunt and dull blades can skip and jump, causing irregular cutting, and also personal injury. This is particularly important for large tools like chainsaws. A chainsaw sharpener is an essential tool for anyone who uses these devices regularly.

To keep from having accidents happen to you, take breaks at regular intervals, which will help you to keep your concentration on your job. Make sure to drink plenty of water, and have a snack break during long chores, so that your body is running effectively, and is well hydrated.

Read the instructions on any tools you haven’t used before. There may be helpful guidelines for you. A few minutes spent looking over the instructions is time well spent. If you were to lose control of any power tool while holding it in an incorrect manner, it could result in injury or even death.

Check your work area, to make sure that it is set apart from other areas, and well-protected against someone walking in suddenly, which might cause you – and the power tool – to jump. If you will be working with saws or other sharp tools, make sure everyone knows that you’re busy, and ask them not to disturb you.

Replacing Flooring Can Become A Stressful Task

Replacing flooring can become quite a stressful task because there are so many different types of flooring available to choose from these days. Ultimately the main factor to consider when sorting through the many styles and colors of flooring is who lives in your home and who will be walking on the flooring? For example if there are pets in the home it is important the flooring material will stand up to possible dog messes and does not scratch easily from their nails. Also, if you have small children they are likely to spill food and drink once in a while.

If pets and children fall in the mix of the home there are some flooring choices that are better than others to take into consideration before buying. Vinyl, ceramic, or porcelain tiles, and wood or laminate flooring are the best choices. These flooring materials are more durable than most and retain their beauty after years of abuse that children and pets can put it through. As far as cleanliness goes, these types of floors are easy to clean. Just sweep or vacuum up the dirt and run a damp mop with a good antibacterial cleaner on it and it looks as good as new and is clean enough for the children to play on it.

For the home without children and pets, and a more elegant natural look is desired, then natural stone flooring is something to look at. This flooring offers a good strong, durable, stable floor and now comes in a wide range of colors and textures. Natural stone flooring is one of the natural materials used for flooring that improves as it ages. In fact this type of flooring is the one that will last forever. As the floor ages it takes on its own look with distinct coloring and texture and beauty.

How To Protect Your Family, Property And Home With Motion Sensor Lights

As many of us have experienced first-hand, crime rates in many cities in America have increased, and it seems that not a day goes by when the evening news does not lead with a story of a particularly frightening home invasion. Fortunately, there is a very inexpensive and highly effective way to minimize the chance that you or your family will be victimized at home.

Motion sensor lights are easily installed, and are typically comprised of an outdoor floodlight type bulb that is fitted in special ballasts. The ballasts contain mechanisms that are sensitive to movement. If there is no movement in the general vicinity of the light, the light will typically remain off (although settings can easily be overridden by flipping a switch if one wants to illuminate an area for a continuous period of time). When movement occurs, the motion sensor triggers the mechanism inside the ballast, and the light flips on immediately. Aside from the obvious fact that criminals prefer the darkness, motion sensor lights are particularly useful because criminals do not know if a person indoors has seen them and has manually turned on the lights as a precursor to calling for help, or if the motion sensor has “caught” them. In many cases, a criminal will think better of his plan and opt to leave the area in a hurry rather than risk identification, arrest and incarceration.

Motion sensor lights are most effective when installed on all four corners of a typical ranch style home. This ensures that if a predator is lurking in the back area of the home, he will trip one or more sensors and will be illuminated. If you are interested in protecting your family and property by installing motion sensor lights, your local alarm company can assist you not only with the installation, but with helpful recommendations regarding where your lights will do you the most good, where you need additional coverage, the brightness of bulbs you should use, etc. Visit motion sensor light or wireless motion sensor alarm for further information.

What’s Your Style Of Bar Sink Faucet?

There are a lot of bar sink faucet styles, and enough price ranges to make you dizzy.  The key is to know what you want before you go shopping so that you can navigate the mess of choices with ease.  In this post we’ll take a look at the three most common styles of bar faucets; restaurant, home, and designer.  This way you can get exactly what you want at the price you need.

The type of bar faucets that restaurants and bars use are the no frills type that serve to clean glasses and wash hands.  Just because these are designed for industrial use doesn’t mean that they won’t work in your house.  You can expect a long spout and hot/cold handles in a chrome finish and not a lot else.  If you have a traditional style bar in your home with a stainless steel sink, these look great.  The best part about the no frills bar sink faucets is that you can pick them up for less then $40.  If you are having a hard time finding them at that price, check restaurant supply stores.

The regular home bar sink faucets function the same as the restaurant style ones do, but with more style.  If you want something with a little more flair, but don’t want to spend $500 on it, this is your type.  These are the common styles that you’ll find at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or in most online stores.  You’ll get a long spout, different designs of hot/cold handles, and different finish options. For these you can expect to spend between $80 and $200.  There are tons of different brands and designs here, so be sure to determine what “theme” and finish you want for your bar sink faucet first before shopping.

Designer bar faucets are an entirely different animal.  These are the type that you buy then design a room to match!  My favorite feature that comes with most of these faucets is the motion sensing on/off which is extraordinarily handy when you’re pouring drinks!  High end brands like Rohl, Grohe, and Newport are what you’re going to be looking at here.  Watch how much the price jumps when you change finishes!

Bar sink faucets are an excellent addition to any home, and the best part about them is that they fit into every budget!

Crown Molding On Cabinets – Is It Right For Your Home?

With cabinet crown molding being as easy as it is to install, and the huge impact that it makes in the home, many people are jumping to do install it.  Unfortunately, many kitchens and bathrooms just aren’t cut out for the look of crown molding.  In this post I want to share with you why this is and how to determine if your home is a good fit for kitchen cabinet crown molding.

It’s unfortunate that some homes just don’t jive with crown molding on cabinets, because when it does work it looks fantastic.  When it doesn’t work, it just looks tacky!  This is obviously my opinion, but I’ve helped clients decide on this before and many of them thanked me when I was able to talk them out of installing crown molding.  Take it for what it’s worth, I just don’t want you to be unhappy with your decision to install, if you pass on it now you can always install it later after you’ve forgotten all about reading this!

The key to kitchen crown molding is space.  Many people install it on cabinets that aren’t attached to the wall, and this is fine, but if there is only a few inches of space between the top of the molding and the ceiling it looks like you forgot the rest of it!  When there is more than 6 or 8 feet from the top of the cabinet very ornate molding can create a weird optical illusion that the walls are bowing inward (no I wasn’t drinking when I figured this out!).  Mellow crown molding works best with very tall ceilings.

When the cabinet butts up with the ceiling and molding is installed, it usually looks great, except in really small spaces.  Small kitchens and bathrooms feel even smaller when there is molding installed.

What’s the best situation for crown molding on cabinets?

If the ceiling does not butt up with the cabinets, having anywhere between a foot and six feet of space to the ceiling is ideal for balance and appearance.  This gives you the space to store decorations on top without creating negative space up there.

For ceilings that do butt with the cabinets, do it in large areas or you get a claustrophobic feeling.

Like I said above, this is my opinion and I don’t mind if someone were to tell me that I’m wrong.  If you want to send me pictures as a rebuttal, I’ll gladly use them in a post that explains how awesome your crown molding installation is!

Avoid Confusion With Your Covered Patio

Depending upon how you plan to use your patio, you may require a different type of patio cover than your neighbor.  Each homeowner may have unique features that they would like to include in their designs.  If you are building from the ground up, then you have a distinct advantage in this department.  The advantage is that you can get all of those features built into it from the beginning.  It is much harder, for example, to put in accent lighting or other features that you want hidden from site after the structure is built.  Sure, it is possible, but it will likely cost more in the end.  This is where covered patio designs come into play.  You may not be approaching this from such a ‘construction perspective’ though you might benefit if you did.  Designing your patio space first, either through some software programs or just sketching it out, will go a long way toward helping you to realize your dream patio.  If you are planning on doing the building yourself, this will save you time as you’ll have something to work towards.  Additionally, if you will be hiring pros to do the work, the patio design plans will be your insurance that you end up with what you wanted.

The last thing you would want to have happen is to see your covered patio sitting there just knowing that it isn’t what you had in mind.  From experience, trust me when I say that you’ll see that space every day wondering why you didn’t do it ‘right’ the first time.  Don’t let this happen to you.  Just as an example, let’s talk about a recent problem that we heard about.  There was some discussion between a homeowner and her contractor about the various patio roof ideas.  You see, there are closed and open styles, some with tiles and others with metal.  You can also have a lattice-roof that is partially open and lets in dappled sunlight.  These would be something like a pergola is designed to have.  Well, what happened was that the contractor thought they had agreed on a closed roof and the homeowner wanted that open style.  Next thing you know, it is being ripped apart and the whole new roof to that patio had to be built.  It cost more money and delayed the completion date.  Things like this can be avoided with the right designs and plans in hand when you go into the project.

Home Improvement Book Recall

In case you haven’t heard already, there have been nine books recalled because they “contain errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring.”  Obviously, it’s important that these books contain correct information and should have been recalled before someone killed themselves, but there is something even worse about all of this that I think many people missed.

This might turn into a bit of a rant, so I apologize in advance.

First, let’s dissect why there were nine books that all contained the same incorrect directions.  These books get fact checked by pros (probably electricians in this case) before they go to print, and the assumption must be made that if it was good enough for one book they would reprint it in eight others.  How much other information (right or wrong) is being CTRL+C and CTRL+V from one book to another, and why should we keep buying them if there’s nothing new in them?

Also, this dangerous information was first published in 1999, 11 years before someone caught on!  It must not be a major issue for their not to have been any deaths or house fires in 11 years, but you have to wonder how many houses there are with this faulty wiring scheme in them.  Maybe the one that you just bought?

I think that the solution lies in the internet.  I guess my job might be to make this type of book obsolete with this website (and the thousands of other people doing what I’m doing).  The biggest difference though, is that the internet is not static like a book is.  We get a ton of visitors each day, and on a couple of occasions our posts have been corrected by a reader.  This is a part of why we leave comments open and respond to people when they have a question or concern.  You can’t do that with a book!

The day may come when books are obsolete, but it probably won’t happen any time soon.  In the meantime don’t assume that everything is right, ask questions, and if you don’t get an answer go somewhere else.  Also, don’t be scared to tell me that I’m wrong, I have thick skin!

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