Archives for August 2012
How Are You Listening to Music?
August 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
30 Modern And Very Creative Sink Solutions
August 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
We all know what a sink is. A bowl-shaped plumbing fixture used for washing hands, for dish washing or other purposes. Sinks generally have taps (faucets) that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing. They also include a drain to remove used water; this drain may itself include a strainer and/or shut-off device and an overflow-prevention device. Sinks may also have an integrated soap dispenser. Take a look at some very creative designs.
In these article, as you see in the picture above and as you will see in the pictures below, we bring you some very unusual, modern and, above all, very creative sink solutions. This kind of design of wash basin will, certainly, bring your bathroom a very nice refreshment. Wash your face before looking!
IMAGE SOURCES Copyright @ Colored Wal
Roofception: Sky Garden House Takes Green to New Levels
August 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Stuck in a small lot with nosy neighbors? No worries: just built up instead of out, like the architects of this home on the remote island Sentosa (near Singapore).
Guz Architects‘ plan was, in part, to create something that felt like a one-story dwelling but sat up above the neighbors, treating the first floor like a basement (conceptually) and the second story with its green deck like a main-floor house and garden, with yet a third story and green roof on that.
A central stair and atrium channel light, breezes and occupants up and down through the core, connecting a sublime terrace above with the more secluded living spaces below.
None of this focus on the upper levels is meant to suggest the actual entry floor was not well-designed, with its own secluded outdoor space as well as relatively-small exterior deck leading out to the water’s edge.
How To Become A Mowing Master
August 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
How short and how often should homeowners mow their lawns? Master Gardener William Moss shares his answers on these and other grassy queries.[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA0ZmsRJ2q0″ type=”yt” w=”600″ h=”338″]
10 ways to increase the value of your home [video]
August 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Whether you just bought a house or you have lived there for a while, the fastest way to increase your home’s value is by making a plan.
You will fare better if upgrades are made intentionally and not on impulse. Home improvement projects cost about 20 to 25 cents on the dollar. The other 75 to 80 cents spent go directly back into the home through increased value.
Start slowly. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If your home is new, get to know it. If you have already been there a while, get started. List the things you want to change and the updates you would like to make. Don’t worry about organization, just write it all down. Take a guess on how long you may want to live in the house. If you’re planning on selling, talk to your realtor and make a selling plan.
Take the list and categorize by how much it may cost, including your time and money. Be realistic. It’s OK to list an outdoor pool with a waterfall, but keep your financial picture in mind.
Once you have a categorized list, take a look and prioritize what is a real "must have" and what is more of a dream. See if you can come away with a reasonable balance.
Once you have made a plan, do research or give me a call or contact me, to see what sort of return those improvements may bring. Some improvements will add considerably more value to your home than others.
Space Saving Storage Solution
August 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Use wooden, I-shaped racks to hang up bins in your garage easily and save space and get better organized. Seems like a simple, relatively affordable solution.
Why didn’t I think of that?!
Inventories Hover at Historic Lows
August 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
While buyer demand is picking up, many consumers increasingly are finding fewer choices in housing these days. The number of homes for sale continues to remain at record lows with the nationwide inventory of for-sale single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops is about 19 percent below inventory levels from a year ago, Realtor.com reports in its analysis of July housing data of 146 markets.
“Low inventories, combined with rising list prices and lower times on market, are positive signs that the overall market is in a stabilization mode,” Realtor.com reports.
Median asking prices were 2.63 percent above list prices in July, and the median age of the housing inventory has fallen about 9 percent in that time period, Realtor.com reports.
California cities have seen some of the largest drops in inventory levels in the past year, as well as some of the largest price increases.
13 Metros With Largest Inventory Drops
The following metro areas have seen the largest drops in inventories of for-sale homes in the past year (July 2012 compared to July 2011):
1. Oakland, Calif.: -59.30 percent
2. Fresno, Calif.: -47.81 percent
3. Bakersfield, Calif: -44.71 percent
4. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.: -42.23 percent
5. San Jose, Calif.: -41.76 percent
6. San Francisco, Calif.: -40.26 percent
7. Stockton-Lodi, Calif.: -40.24 percent
8. Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.: -40.03 percent
9. Atlanta, Ga.: -38.27 percent
10. Sacramento, Calif: -36.43 percent
11. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif.: -34.89 percent
12. San Diego, Calif.: -34.55 percent
13. Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.: -34.37 percent
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News