Wall Painting Ideas for Your Home

When it comes to home interior decorating, the primary elements will be wall colors. However, it could be really difficult to choose the right color for your wall because the choices are almost limitless. Continue reading this article to find some wall paint ideas that will help you to choose colors and other features to create the look that you want at home.

There are essentially three kinds of color schemes: cool, muted and warm. The warm colors are red, orange, yellow and their combinations, all of which are bright shades that will be ideal for the wall. Green, violet and blue will be cool colors and can make a small size room seem much bigger. The muted colors tend to be the most popular shades for painting walls and will also make a room seem larger.

While selecting the colors for your walls ensure that the shades will complement the furniture in the different rooms. In case you are not able to visualize whether you are choosing colors to match your walls and balance the furniture, its best to get help from virtual interior painting.

After deciding on the wall colors, you have to think about the type of paint that you want to use. Different kinds of paint will give a different feel, texture and finishing. Here are some wall paint ideas:

Flat Finish Paint: This will not shine and reflect light, plus they are easy to maintain. However, they are not durable or washable.

Gloss Finish Paint: This will be the shiniest paint, but it's extremely durable.

Matte Finish Paint: This will have a bit of shine when compared to the flat finish paint with some similarities, but will be semi-washable.

Satin Finish Paint: These have a shiny finish that will reflect light perfectly in the room. Walls painted with this paint will be durable and washable. They give the walls a soft glow and as a result they aren't suited for walls with flaws.

Selecting a painting technique

When you choose the colors and paint types, you have to select the painting technique. All the painting techniques will give the walls a unique look.

Trompe L'oeil: This French word means "to fool the eye", but it's one of the distinctive techniques to paint walls. It will require painters to have artistic qualities to add images to wall that looks real.

Faux Painting: One of the most well-known wall paint ideas, this will help to mimic natural elements just like wood, marble, granite and more.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6284042

Natural Stone Floor Tiles Give Your Kitchen a Great Finish

Ask any realtor and they will tell you that the most important room in a home is the kitchen. You simply must get this one room right or so much of what you may have invested in the rest of your home simply won't deliver 100% when it's appraised.

So now the hottest trend in kitchen design and decorating, is natural materials, and looks. Soft earth tone colours on the walls, finished hardwood cabinets, and yes natural stone floor tiles to complete the look. Just think how much square footage your kitchen floor occupies.

So then aren't there faux or cultured stone floor tiles now that are quite a bit cheaper to buy? The answer to that is yes and in fact huge advancements have been made in duplicating the look of polished granite in particular.

The truth is told though, as hard as product engineers and developers have worked over the years, they just haven't been able to come up with a fake stone product that is 100% indistinguishable from the real McCoy. Some come awful close, but in the end, none look completely real.

Now one of the more popular choices today in natural stone floor tiles is polished granite, and this is for a couple of good reasons. The first reason is that granite with its metal flecks interspersed in white, gray, and black translucent cottage cheese texture looks simply amazing.

Then granite is hard. Real hard! In fact the darker the granite is, the harder it is, with black granite being the hardest of them all. It's the high iron content that makes it so dark and the hardness of the iron is also why polished black granite will also be the most expensive of the granite floor tiles.

Hard granite costs more to quarry, cut and polish. Don't get the impression though that softer stones like lighter granite or any of the other more exotic stones that are being made into floor tiles today wear quickly because they aren't as hard as black granite.

It's simply not the case, and besides the nice thing about some of the softer natural stone floor tiles is that should they get a scratch, it's more easily polished out. Also some of the softer natural stone tiles come with amazing colours, and incredible designs in them.

Travertine tiles are a great case in point. Because they are a type of limestone, they come in several variations of soft earth-tone colours ranging from white, to tan, and even a light brown. Also because the stone is not as rare or hard to work as so many others, these tiles are also some of the more affordable to buy.

Even so, just because they're less costly doesn't mean that they don't feature interesting designs, because they do. You see travertine as formed by rapidly forming lime deposits around hot springs, and ancient caves. Stalagmites and stalactites in caves are made out of travertine.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6288441

A Facelift For Your Bathroom - In One Weekend

While you might not think twice about doing things to make yourself look younger, what about your bathroom? It often becomes the most used, yet neglected room in the house. Even if you don't have the time or money, you can freshen up your bathroom's appearance--in just one weekend. Contemporary bathroom remodeling no longer has to be a major, time-consuming project.

Before You Get Started

Needless to say, when you're thinking about remodeling, you need to have a plan in place. Start with a thorough cleaning and get rid of everything that looks tired or worn. Replacing the shower curtain, for example, will cost only a few dollars and take just minutes--but it changes the entire look of your bathroom. Add a few new matching towels and voila(!)--your dingy bathroom will be bright and fresh again.

Next, consider what parts are showing their age the most. Your bathroom faucets may be disintegrating, or your mirrors may have become cracked or too dirty to give a pleasing reflection. Make a list of the problematic areas and determine what your budget can bear--then decide what you want to fix this weekend and what can wait 'til later. Visit your local bathroom-supply store and fill up your cart with the things you want to replace as well as any tools you'll need to do the job.

More Ideas for Freshening Up Your Bathroom in a Weekend

• Try replacing your bathroom faucets. Many of the newer faucet systems are simple enough for a homeowner to replace. Head to your local hardware store or an online retailer for a kit that includes not only the hardware but installation instructions too. Make sure you understand them thoroughly you so you won't be left with a flooded bathroom when you're done--or another weekend repair project to undue the damage!

• Look into new bathroom mirrors. Hanging a new mirror that has a different frame, size, or shape can have an instant impact on your bathroom's overall appearance. It will provide not only a new focal point for the room, but also draw eyes away from any features you're unable to replace just yet.

• Painting the cabinets. Another idea for a quick renovation project is to consider painting or stripping your bathroom cabinets. If you have real wood cabinets, stripping and re-staining can take a single day, maybe two. Or you can paint over the existing color to give them a new personality. Neutral colors are best as they allow you to update other features to accommodate emerging trends.

• Painting the walls or trim. Nothing beats a fresh coat of paint to make a room inviting. Choose light colors to make a small bathroom feel more spacious, dark, vibrant colors to give a feeling of drama or intimacy. Experiment with a different color for the walls and any molding as a way of introducing a decorative accent, or try textured or patterned finishes. And just to be sure you've picked exactly the right color, don't rely on paint chips: instead buy a small quantity of whatever hue(s) you're considering, and paint a different 12"-18" piece of cardboard with each color. That will give you a much better sense of how the paint will actually look on the wall.

Just as you might want to nip and tuck certain parts of yourself, your bathroom might be feeling the anxiety of aging too. But by adding just a few small touches, you can easily turn your bathroom from "blah" to "bravo" during a single contemporary bathroom-remodeling weekend.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/725235

How to Improve the Resale Value of Your House

When you consider selling your house it is important to execute minor and major home improvement ideas. These will help highlight the best features of the dwelling and increase its sale price. First impressions can make a strong impression. To increase the curb appeal of the house you will need to ensure that the garden and the yard are well-kept. You need to keep the grass mown, bushes trimmed and dry leaves cleaned away.

Energy bills account for a large chunk of a family's monthly bills. By taking steps to make your residence energy-efficient you increase the chances of getting a better resale value. You will want to look into issues such as insulation and tinting of windows. These will help keep the interiors cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

The color of the walls can make a room appear big or small. A fresh coat makes the interiors as well as exteriors look appealing. When you are ready to open your house to buyers, you should ensure that each room has minimal personal possessions. This makes it easier for people to envision the place as their own. You may like to put away some of your things into storage. This will make certain that the space available in the residence is shown off to the best effect. This is especially true of the floor and cupboard space.

The kitchen and bathroom are key areas that will help increase the resale value of your dwelling. It is important that buyers do not cringe when they enter these areas in your home. Employ home improvement ideas that make the kitchen and bathrooms attractive. You can opt to replace the old sink and countertops with newer and more contemporary designs. The same can be done with the taps. Do ensure that there are no drips and leaks, and the plumbing is in great condition. Add energy-efficient light fixtures and extra storage cabinets to the bathrooms.

You could choose to invest in a new deck or patio. Similarly, you can augment the space available in the residence by remodeling the basement or the attic. When you sell your house you need to focus on every nook and corner. This will help you choose home improvement ideas that will work well for the house. It will also need to be cleaned thoroughly and get rid of things that you do not intend to take to your new home.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6465719

Add Value to Your House - Interior Remodeling

Interior remodeling can have an amazing impact on the look and value of a house. I would definitely recommend getting professionals to do the job for you unless your good at renovation yourself. Here is some advice on how the get the most bang for your buck when remodeling.

Replace the carpets:

One of the best things you can do for your house to improve the feel and value is to replace a dirty and distraught carpet. If there are stains, big chunks missing, and color fading a new carpet is what you need. Again, if the carpet is matched to the theme and style of the room it will look very impressive.

Tiling:

In some cases you should rip out your carpet and put in tiles. Generally these are recommended for the kitchen and bathroom. You'll have a range of options of textures and color when tiling your floor so it's important to make sure it matches the theme and style of the room.

Install new light fixtures:

Light fixtures tell a lot about a houses age, so it's important to have more modern looking fixtures to make the house seem newer.

Creating more space:

Sometimes if a room is too small it is not common to have larger mirrors in it. This creates the illusion of space, making the room seem bigger than it actually is. A very common example is a bathroom with one wall just a mirror.

Kitchen:

The kitchen is one of the main features of any house and one that greatly shows the age of a property. Think about installing new appliances such as disposal units, dishwashers, sinks, and stoves. If you are really looking to get a modern look from a terrible it is recommended that you get a company to do a complete make over for you. These often come out looking very professional and although they might be expensive ($5,000-$30,000) you will generally increase the value greatly.

Bathroom:

The bathroom should have good lighting, be free of dampness, have well placed and large mirrors, and respectability modern and fitting chattels. Again consider letting a company do this because if done correctly can a bathroom can have the highest rate of return for any room in a house.

The great front door:

The front door will have a big impact on the buyer or appraiser when they are at your doorstep, so its important for the front door to be in great condition. Either oil it and repaint it or replace it if it's in horrible condition.

Put in new curtains:

Curtains are used to create privacy and warmth by being insulators. Some great reasons to replace your curtains are if they are faded, torn, out of fashion. If matched with the color and theme of the room new curtains can do wonders for the feel and value of the house.

Skylights:

Similar to enlarging windows, sky lights will bring a lot of light and fresh air into a room. These are especially good for poorly lit rooms with bad air circulation.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/53236

7 Secrets to a Smooth Remodeling Project

"AREN'T YOU FINISHED YET!?"

The larger the project the longer it's going to take. At some point during the project everyone realizes the honeymoon is over and YOU wish "they'd get out!" At the beginning of a remodel things seem to go rather quickly, then a feeling of loss sets in; loss of control, loss of your home and loss of being able to continue your routine(s) as usual. The invasion of your private space and the dirt created are sometimes unbearable.

The best way to prevent this is to be prepared.

Get set and psyched up for the inconvenience this will cause. A remodeling project turns your home, and sometimes your life, upside down. Depending on the project, be prepared to set your kitchen up in the laundry room or plan on the whole family using one bathroom for the duration.

Make sure you've "secured" a safe space in your home where you can escape.

Make sure either you or the contractor guards against dust as much as one can guard against dust. It does tend to get into places you'd never think of.

1. Seal off doorways.
2. Turn off central air and heat while sanding is happening and keep extra filters on-hand.
3. Designate one entrance where deliveries can be made.
4. Make sure all bare floors and carpets are "draped" out thoroughly and completely. Covering all flooring and pathways can prevent the tracking of dirt throughout the home.
5. Have an upfront conversation about cleaning - when will it happen, how thoroughly and how often? Will the contractor or one of their crew do it or should you get your cleaning service to handle it?
6. Keep your sense of humor. Remember that many parts of a remodel are out of your control and laughing can keep you from blowing up or losing it; and help you to have an honest conversation about what's disturbing you. It's all about clarity.
7. See this as an adventure. Celebrate each finished stage of the project. In the long run you can control how you feel about things even if you cannot control the time frame. This will translate to a happier family and better working conditions as well.

Remember, it takes how long it takes and if you've had that conversation prior to starting the job it will make a huge difference when you want to know, "Aren't you finished yet!?" It's like taking the kids on vacation and hearing continually "Aren't we there yet?" You must exercise patience with the kids just like you must exercise patience during your home improvement project - both with yourself and the workers

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6622224

Successful Real Estate Sale Technique: 7 Must Do Bathroom

Real estate agents will tell you bathrooms can make or break the sale of your house. Prospective buyers will look at your bathroom as though they were in a public restroom if it's not clean, functional, and stylish. What you want is the buyer to feel as if they are entering their own home, not a messy public restroom.

I can't tell you how many times I've gone to a public restroom and turned around and left without using it. Or how unsafe I felt when I did use it after I've stepped over paper hand towels and other debris on the floor of a public stall. Or I've gotten to the sink and half the faucets didn't work and pink goop was beneath the soap dispenser. You get the picture.

Here are the absolute, 7 Must Do Bathroom Updates:

1. Probably the most important thing you can do before any updates take place is to scrub the bathroom as if your health depended on it. Use an old toothbrush to clean tile grout, cracks and crevices and around fixtures. That's what your prospective buyers expect--squeaky clean.

2. If there is a theme wallpaper, remove it. You don't want to limit your prospects to only those who may have your taste. Paint in a neutral tone and rely on accessories that can be removed for added color.

3. If there is no wallpaper and cleaning the walls can not restore them to a satisfactory finish, by all means, paint them. Ditto on the neutral paint.

4. Check all faucets, spigots, shower head, and under sink pipes for leaks.

5. Change faucet washers, if needed, if the fixtures are still in good shape and are not outdated.

6. If faucets and spigots are showing wear or dated, change them.

7. Change shower head and upgrade to something more stylish, such as a rain shower head or a multi-spray nozzle, depending on the value of your home.

The bathroom is the one room used by family, friends, neighbors, and the occasional stranger. People want new bathrooms even in old houses. So, whether your house is modern or vintage, cleanliness can give the appearance of new. Don't discount this. Good hygiene, is at the top of the list of a bathroom's first impression.

The bathroom is also the room that buyers least want to invest in renovating when they're looking for a new home.

So, follow these suggestions about bathroom updates and you are not only likely to sell your house, but you are more likely to get a full-price offer.



For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/247954

Patio Furniture for Your Family Weekend Lunch

The elegance inside your house could also be in your outdoor premises. You need to decorate and arrange your outdoor area to make it look attractive and useful. There is more to our patio and backyard than just flowers and trees. You can make this place as another place to spend some of your time to unwind and if you prefer a fresh air to soothe your senses.

To fully use of your patio, better be if you have a patio furniture that could provide you with comfort whenever you want to stay outside your house. This furniture could be a dining set, sofa and table set or the rocking chairs. They are both functional to their intended purpose. A dining set in your patio is perfect if you want to dine out for the weekend but don't want to spend too much amount in expensive restaurants. You just need to cook delicious foods and place it in your dining table outside, ask everyone in the family to wear beautiful clothes and be ready to for the lunch in the patio waiting for everyone. After sharing the mouth-watering foods for the lunch, give everyone their favorite dessert and together finish it while comfortably sitting in your cushioned sofa still in your patio.

This patio furniture is designed for outdoor use and with style that could give this area an appealing and relaxing atmosphere. The materials used for this furniture are durable teak or cedar wood. There is also the wicker furniture and resin finished furniture.

Transform your patio or backyard in to a luxurious place with elegant outdoor furniture available in the local furniture shops or online marketing. Choose your desired design and style and bring it home with you and start the renovation on your garden or patio. After the finishing touch, you will be able to enjoy the soothing effect this area gives to you.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page.

  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4973702

Relaxing Therapy in Home Saunas and Hot Tubs

Hot tubs and saunas are two of the most popular social hydrotherapy and heat therapy treatment options. They are both becoming the norm at gyms and fitness centers. However, they are also moving from luxuries to common home furnishings. So whether you're interested in a soothing way to transition from a stressful day at work to a relaxing day at home or for a relaxing way to loosen up your muscles before a workout, a hot tub or home sauna has become an attainable home therapy dream for many individuals just like you.

The Therapeutic Effect

No one doubts that home saunas and hot tubs have a therapeutic effect, but in recent years there have even been studies that proved many of the therapeutic effects of each. Doing your own relaxing therapy in an easy-to-install tub or sauna that matches the landscaping of your home could be an excellent way to heal your skin, relax your muscles, and relax your mind.

For the muscles, there is nothing like the feel of hot water jets massaging your muscle tension and muscle cramps away. If you have others with whom to relax and enjoy the experience, it will be all the more a relaxing experience. A hot tub or sauna is a great place to have relaxing discussions. Physical and mental health professionals, as well as natural healing practitioners, have prescribed the use of saunas and hot tubs for a variety of health conditions for many years.

Easy to Install, Maintain, and Use

Long gone are the days when you needed to be a member of an exclusive club, have hydrotherapy prescribed, or have a wealthy friend to have access to a sauna or tub. As more and more wealthy people began purchasing them for home convenience, economies of scale have kicked in and made home saunas and hot tubs affordable relaxation therapy conveniences for the middle class. It is so much easier to get away for a 10-minute soak in your tub or sauna after a hard day at work when it's just right in your property.

While most of the home saunas and hot tubs sold today are very easy to install, transportation equipment and the desire to have it built into a deck or patio make relatively inexpensive installations more attractive. For safety reasons, you should look for a package deal that includes professional gas, water, and electricity hookups. This is true even if you go with a portable unit. Take note that built-in units tend to be more durable and less noise polluting, but more expensive to repair or replace.

 

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6596594

Vinyl Replacement Windows

Finding Good Replacement Windows

Finding good replacement windows may be one of the best moves you can make in managing monthly costs for your home. The savings in energy costs alone will often pay for the windows within just a few years. It also increases the resale value of your home, and, with the right windows, you can even get an insurance discount because of increased security. Here are some ideas on finding good windows for your house.

Brand

Look for brand names. Some big names are Marvin, Anderson, Pella, Milgard, and Jeld-Wen. These companies make some of the best windows in the industry. But, as always, be careful. They each make an off-brand, and a cheap version, too. You'll have to pay for good windows.

What To Look For

When you're replacing windows, look for double pane. They're usually sealed with argon gas between the panes, and that creates insulation, which is great for your energy savings. It also provides better security, because someone breaking in will have to break through 2 panes of glass. That will take longer and make more noise, two things that a burglar doesn't want.

You'll also want vinyl replacement windows. Usually, these are actually wooden windows that have been clad in vinyl, so they're water proof and never have to be painted. Aluminum windows can be purchased is some colors, but they're not as attractive on houses, and not as secure, either.

You can see what they recommend at the local home improvement stores, or call local contractors and see what they recommend. Most of these contractors will install the windows, as well, so they know which ones they have the least trouble with. They'll know about the company's shipping reliability, too, so maybe you can avoid delays with that.

Since you're buying new windows, anyway, look for Energy Star ratings. You may be eligible for a rebate on Energy Star replacement windows, and they'll save you even more money on your utility bills. Most houses lose 25% of their heating and cooling efforts through the window panes.

Contractors

There is never an easy way to hire a contractor. However, as a general rule of thumb, if the contractor is immediately available to install your replacement windows, then be forewarned-he may be available because he's no good. The exception to this, of course, is the housing market. If it is still depressed in your area, the contractors are desperate for work, and you may even have some leverage as far as costs.

Buying Your Own Windows

To most contractors, buying your own replacement windows and expecting the contractor to install them is a lot like going into a restaurant and ordering a bowl of hot water and a bottle of ketchup. Your version of tomato soup may end up in your lap. Expect to pay more for labor if you buy your own windows.

Forge ahead and improve your house with your new replacement windows. The benefits are well worth it.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6319366

3 Steps to Picking out Your Dream Paint

Moving into a new house can be quite an experience. You are totally in a new zone, surrounded by new ceilings and floors near stairs in an entire new layout. You want your home to look the best, so it's important to pick out the right kind of paint. Of course, in a single article, we can't show you absolutely everything that you need to know about moving into your new house, but we are going to try to give you some good tips on picking out a new house quality house paint.

1. Match it. By new house paint is arty difficult as it is in, and you definitely don't want to paint your house a second time. Make sure whatever kind of house paint that you buy matches up with your existing paint. Maybe take a picture or find out exactly what kind of paint you have in your house right now so that when you go to the hardware store, you can show them exactly what you need.

2. Buy high-quality paint. Take a look around at the different types of paint that are available for you to buy in the store. You will quickly notice that paint varies in quality drastically and you generally get way you pay for. Granted, you have to make sure that you're not getting ripped off and you really are getting a good deal, but if you are serious about making money on your house, try to buy the best type of paint that you can afford.

3. Ask a professional. It's okay if you don't know everything about home remodeling. Some people do it for a living. Builders, contractors, subcontractors and other home decorators might be able to give you some words of wisdom and help that you might not be able to get otherwise. Don't be afraid to ask. Just ask them for a little help and you might be able to save yourself some time and headaches.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/212644

Improving Bathrooms - The Specifics

One of the best ways to increase the value of your home is to improve the bathrooms. Here's a primer on things to consider.

Sinks

Villeroy and Boch makes a sink that mimics a boulder worn into a bowl by water flowing into it. It can be quite handsome in a minimalist home or a rustic one. You can see it and others at villeroy-boch.com.

Concrete Jungle makes some dramatically simple concrete sinks and vanities that surprisingly look very modern, or very farm-house. Check concretejungleonline.com if that idea appeals.

Walker Zanger's designs include a perfectly simple sink in white marble for a dressier look. They also have a sturdy dark wooden "table" base that gives it dramatic contrast. You might enjoy visiting walkerzanger.com for more ideas.

Showers

A shower separate from the tub is one of today's favorite luxuries. Some of them have been designed to feel like rain (at least part of the time). Dornbracht has one called "RainSky M" which can be checked out at dornbracht.com.

Large frameless (or nearly frameless) glass shower enclosures are showing up in more and more homes. MAAX makes a line of showers with features like overhead "waterfall" systems, hand held shower heads, and body sprays coming from the side that work well in a frameless enclosure.

I helped a family sell a home with a very interesting master bath not too long ago. It had a shower much like the one described above, but it was designed for two people. It looked like a glass room "floating" inside the large bathroom.

Tubs

As for tubs. Well. Would you believe a tub in an arched tile niche with a gas log fireplace at its foot? Believe it. Can you imagine a nice long soak while listening to flute music and sipping chilled champagne? (James Bond can keep his martini.)

Then there are the Acryline tubs which employ warm air hydro-massage to counter the effects of the daily rush-grab-dash of life. Explore their therapy theory at acrylineusa.com.

You get the idea. Updated means simple. It does not mean blah. It does mean coddled. It can give you and your family pleasure and comfort while you live in your home. It can increase your home's sale value. You'll be tempted, but don' overbuild your neighborhood with the Taj Mahal of bathrooms if you want to be pleased with the result when you sell.

For more information about buying or selling a home in the La Quinta area, visit our website at www.realtorsjl.com. To search like an agent in Southern California, sign up for a Listingbook account with the link on this page. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/97994

5 Quick Weekend Projects For the Home

What does the term "weekend project" do to you? Does it fill you with kittenish delight? Or does it make your chest feel like someone's sitting on it?

Weekend projects don't typically take the entire weekend. Of the literally dozens of potential home improvement project that you could tackle over a weekend, here are five quick and easy ones that won't take you away from enjoying your weekend.

Unclog the showerhead: If the water pressure during your morning showers has been declining steadily, you might need to clear up mineral buildup on the showerhead.

Get some distilled white vinegar, a rubber band and a plastic bag. Place the showerhead in the plastic bag that's filled with vinegar, and tie it shut with the rubber band. After soaking overnight, your showerhead should be void of any mineral buildup, and since vinegar is a natural cleaner and disinfectant, you won't be harming the environment.

Install energy-efficient light bulbs: A lot of us have already done this one to some extent. Both compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are gradually coming down in price, making them an even more worthy investment.

This doesn't really get much easier. Unscrew the old, inefficient incandescent bulb. Replace with new, super-efficient bulb. Rejoice in the money and energy savings.

Install LED under-cabinet lighting: I've talked about this one before, and it bears repeating. The counter area beneath your kitchen cabinets is an ideal place for lighting. This cost-effective and energy-efficient upgrade will rejuvenate the look of your kitchen.

After a bit of planning (how many LED discs and mounting brackets do you need, for example), this job shouldn't take you more than two or three hours-even less if you have a helping hand.

Update your kitchen with a new faucet: You might be surprised at the difference a new faucet can make in your everyday life in the kitchen. And with a massive selection of next-generation kitchen faucets available (water-efficient and pull-out fixtures, for example), it's well worth investing an hour or two to install one.

A number of plumbing manufacturers have simplified the installation process with fixtures that can be put in quickly and easily by even the most inexperienced layman.

Flush your water heater: When I first saw this project, I immediately put it on my must-do list. It had me at improved efficiency. This is a twice-a-year project that's surely worth the effort.

This is a multi-step process so for the skinny on how to flush your water heater, visit the blog at ConsumerReports.org.

Until next time, Happy Home Improving!

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