Home Interior Design – Connecting Little Rock

Archive for July, 2010

Re-designing a kitchen can be an exciting and fun project to undertake, but before you can even start to look at color schemes and flooring alternatives, there is the layout to take care of. For a lot of us, our kitchen is a very personal thing and what you want to integrate into your design will depend on certain issues, how much time you spend in the kitchen?, is the area to be used socially as well as for cooking and of course, how many people live in the house? Brand new kitchens are very expensive and not everyone can afford this option, the alternative is to go with kitchen cabinet remodeling whose results can be just as effective at a fraction of the cost.

The layout of the kitchen will depend on the size and shape of the space you have. Many people are aware these days of the kitchen triangle, basically this involves the main items used in a kitchen, the oven, the sink and the fridge, and how their placement in the room can save effort and time. Once it is decided where these main three items are to be placed you can get on with placing the kitchen cabinets.

No matter how small your kitchen, the L shape is likely to be one of the most suitable. By choosing a qualified kitchen remodeler to transform your kitchen into an efficient and well-organized workplace your life will be easier if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. A quality contractor will be able to recommend a style that will fit the size and shape and advice on the work triangle.

Before making any major decisions on how you want to design your kitchen look for inspiration and designs in magazines and on the internet. Spending all that money just to realize that the kitchen is impractical either because there isn’t enough space to move around in or cabinet space is limited will be very frustrating, at least. Take into consideration the number of cabinets you will require, where items should be placed for convenience and how practical the kitchen will be.

The area you set aside for food preparation also needs to be well thought out. If you are making food for a large family or enjoy baking, then you will need a large area to have room for mixing, kneading, rolling. The countertop material is also important as you want something that is easy to clean and not easily get scratched.

Sinks and draining boards come in a range of sizes, if you own large sized pots and pans you need to consider a sink roomy enough to accommodate them. Details such as these will ultimately make your kitchen life more efficient and easier. These are all aspects a competent kitchen remodeler should have knowledge about and able to assist you with.

The greatest improvement to any home is to remodel the kitchen and bathroom; they are major selling points for prospective buyers. Remodeling can change a kitchen from a drab, non-descript room into a fashionable and modern stylish kitchen and add value to your home, making you money when it is time to sell.

Brand new kitchens can be out of reach for many people, if this is the case then you should consider refacing your kitchen cabinets. Kitchen cabinet remodeling is a simple alternative to remodeling your kitchen and that is within most people’s price range. It is easy to do, just replace the outdated cabinet doors and drawer fronts with new ones and the kitchen has a new look that is cheap to do. Check out kitchen remodeling online for ideas and contractors offering a wide range of kitchen products.

Interior designers often enter a home armed with a veritable arsenal of creativity and subcontracted resources. In many cases, the secondary services a decorator brings in under his or her invoice adds a certain specialized expertise to robust décor. Professional lighting equipment and lighting design services are crucial to this mix. With the right levels of light, both glare and shadow are dispelled, and the texture and color of artwork springs to light.

Phantom Lighting Representatives, located throughout North America, Central America, and South America, are available to help the interior designer utilize some of the world’s most unique and aesthetically superb lighting equipment on the market.

If you are currently working with an interior decorator or interior design firm, we recommend you point them in our direction if they encounter any of the following scenarios relative to fine art and display lighting systems. While a great many interior designers are already working with Phantom Lighting products, many are still discovering us for the first time.

Your interior designer will most likely recommend new artwork as part of his or her overall plan for creating a new look within your home.

Private art collections can transform an interior into a realm of sophistication with very little physical change to the room. The trick is to find equipment from a lighting fixture manufacturer that will maximize the impact of your new collection without damaging the artwork itself or interfering with general room lighting. Any interior designer will tell you that the two biggest aesthetic obstacles to overcome when lighting art are shadows and glare. Any curator or experienced collector will also add that the greatest technological threat to art lighting is ultraviolet radiation and infrared heat-both of which can literally destroy priceless works of creativity and many hours of hard work on the part of your designers.

Retail grade art lights are never recommended because of this. Instead, specialized equipment is needed to maximize the presentation of your pieces and prolong the life of the pieces themselves. Phantom Contour Projectors offer your interior design specialist(s) a sophisticated, low profile light source that will both protect and magnify the handwork of its specialists. Consisting of a low profile fixture that hugs the ceiling unobtrusively out of the viewer’s line of site, the Contour picture lights directs a focused beam of light from a halogen lamp whose luminance has been filtered and stripped of UV an IR radiation. This light remains hidden from view until it strikes the object to which it is directed, causing it to glow with an aura of soft, ambient light.

You interior designer can install one or more Contour Projector models (we have six different lines to choose from) to illuminate oils, acrylics, lithographs, prints, professional photography, and 3-dimensional artwork and statuary.

Your interior designer may also install one or more displays in your home.

These display cases can contain anything from antiques to curious to collectibles, and many homes feature highly ornate pieces of furniture in their own right, regardless of contents. Puck lights and standard linear strip lights often do not work well in these cases because they are too difficult to conceal. They are also hard to control, and will often unevenly distribute illumination, creative unattractive combinations of light and shadows in the process.

If your interior designer is facing such a challenge, he or she can contact our Houston headquarters and speak with one of our linear display lighting experts about custom lighting strips.

Phantom LED strip lights are made with a patented glare shielding that prevents excessive spill light into surrounding shelving and cabinets. Festoon lamps that house incandescent, xenon, or led lamps create an ambient glow within displays that enshrouds contents in a radiant luminance. Wine bottles in racks can be silhouetted from behind with our 2800K Festoon lamps that mimic the lighting qualities of white incandescent. Under cabinet lighting can be installed whose luminance matches the color scheme of the kitchen, and Phantom cove lights can be bent to fit any radius or serpentine surface. In private libraries, the shelving within the book cases looks like is producing the light, when in reality it is coming from hidden Phantom strips Because a Phantom linear low voltage lighting strip is custom fitted to a specific set of dimensions in a shelf, case, valance, or cove, many areas in your home where your interior designer will be working can be showcased magnificently with our linear strips. Their inherently smaller design, combined with our custom manufacturing process and LED lamps, make Phantom display, cabinet, and cove lighting strips virtually undetectable to the naked eye.

Ashton Gardens is associated with everything good and unique. At this magnificent venue, you just do not find a perfect setting in a beautiful space, but lots more which are equally stunning. Whether it is your flowers, your food, or your music, every thing has been perfectly designed to make the ceremony a truly once in a life time affair. It is because of such top of the drawer personalized services that Ashton Garden finds favor with couples who share a taste for everything tasteful and matchless.

No other place can guarantee you an experience as priceless and peerless as Ashton Garden. The safe enclosure assures you a smooth ceremony at any hour of the day. The venue comes with spacious Bridal Dressing Suites and a cozy and warm Family Lounge. For the male members of the party there is a wonderful Groom’s Lounge meant for perfect relaxation.

The wedding reception comprises two spectacular ballrooms with floor to ceiling windows. After the wedding is over, guests can assemble in these majestic rooms and marvel at the sight of the lush dense private forest. If guests assemble here in the evening they can find themselves in fantastic atmosphere lit by the warm lights of crystal chandeliers and large colorful candles. The majestic staircase has been designed for a photo session with your guests.

Like the one of a kind setting of the venue, Ashton Garden can serve your guests food which also will be unique and one of a kind. Serving to your own idea of what a perfect wedding meal is, the unique food of Ashton Garden offers an array of flexible options. If you want, the team will tailor an exquisite menu for you. And what is great, is that you can get it for all budgets.

Choose Ashton Garden as your wedding venue, and cherish delightful memories for the rest of your life!

GotUWired proudly places itself as having San Diego home theater installation professional teamwork. We will help you plan and design your own home theater system, choosing from a large number of distinguished brands, till you get your well-designed easy to use customized home theater.

Wherever your San Diego home theater installation will be, GotUWired will skillfully mix creativity, innovation and simplicity to get you the home theater system you always dreamt of. Whether you want to install your home theater system in a bedroom, a family room, or even a wide hall, we promise you that you will experience new lively sounds and sights that best entertain you. You will know that passing your vacation at home has become far more enjoyable than before.

Once you decide on installing a home theater system, you will need to choose from three main categories of video, audio and control system equipments. Our staff will help you make your mind about which receivers, projectors, speakers, and controllers to use. Many people find it difficult to decide whether to use a plasma TV, LCD, or HD TV, we will let you choose from the well-known brands that best suit your design and configuration. But choosing the sets is only a part of the installation process, as there are still other important points to be taken into your consideration. For example, where the video screen is located in the room you selected? How the speakers are distributed throughout the whole place? And how to control all the system after it had been installed? Our professional staff will save no effort to let you set all these factors right, and you will be confident about every step you take through the installation process.

Because we take care of every little single detail, GotUWired is the best San Diego home theater installation service provider. We pay high attention to your individual taste and lifestyle so that we can turn your exact dream into a vivid reality. When we design your home theater system, we make it to be integrated in harmony with the structure of your home. Even when we finish the installation process, we do not leave you until you use the home theater installed system, try every feature of it, and be more than satisfied.

GIVING YOUR KITCHEN A COMPLETE MAKE OVER…AND DOING IT ON A LOW BUDGET AT THAT— DEMOLITION: PHASE ONE Um Um good, good old home made banana pudding and chocolate cake. I can almost smell it now, the aroma slowly filling the air with delicious foods and tasty treats that makes your mouth watery just to think about it. And what about all the main entrees that go along with the tasty deserts? It’s no wonder that in our house the kitchen is our favorite place for food and good conversation and I suspect that is true for most American families…and probably for families around the world as well. What better place for friends and love ones to gather than in the kitchen for good things to eat and good things to drink. With mom in the kitchen mixing a whole lot of love with everything she prepares, how can it get any better than that? Practically every home, condominium, townhouse and apartment has a kitchen in it, however sometimes after years of much use and abuse, kitchens can become worn, outdated; no longer functional and in some cases down right depressing. Ceilings that have collected smoke, soot, dirt and even insect bile no longer make looking up a pleasant experience; not to mention drywall (sheetrock) that looks like it might fall down any given day. Walls that have accumulated layers of thick almost immovable grease and cooking oil that looks gross. And the floor looks like it has been a long, long time ago since it was new and attractive looking. You see, kitchens take more abuse and have to endure some of the most extreme conditions, unlike any other room in your home, therefore, it is only natural that over time it will need a complete upgrade and that is what this article is all about. We did a kitchen total makeover for one of our clients and we are going to tell you just how we did it…and on a very meager budget as well. Perhaps, this can be some sought of informative guide that can help you with your kitchen make over—at least we hope it does. So sit back and take a ride with us as we offer pointers and tips on how you can transform your kitchen into a beautiful new and exciting place for a much lower cost than if you hired a contractor to do it. Let’s get started.

DEMOLITION: OUT WITH THE OLD

Before you can begin implementing new and exciting changes to your kitchen you must first take the time and get rid of the old. When it comes to demolition I like to begin at the top and work my with down, in other words, I like to start with the ceiling and work my way down to the floor. Your approach may be just the opposite and if that is what you’re comfortable doing than so be it. But before you begin make sure you have on all your safety gear and safety goggles. The operative word is safety and working safely is paramount to everything else. If you need to file a permit with your local officials by all means do so. And if you feel uncomfortable doing this type of work hire a contractor. This type of work is dirty and nasty and it can be very, very dangerous; so be careful and avoid any and all accidents. We do this for a living and we abide by these same rules and safety measures that I’m giving you, so practice safety every step of the way.

Before I begin to tear out the old drywall in the ceiling, I remove the lighting fixture in the ceiling and then I cover the expose electrical wires with electrical tape or electrical twist caps. If need be, go to your breaker box and turn off the electricity that leads to the kitchen. Again, if you’re uncomfortable doing this, then be sure to contact a reputable contractor and leave all the cares and responsibilities for him to deal with. This type of work is not for everybody and everybody is not comfortable doing it. But for those who are and those who want to do it than let’s continue on. Generally speaking, when it comes to tearing out old drywall you can use any number of tools to get the job done, but I prefer to use a hammer and sometimes even a shovel. Ceilings are usually eight feet high and higher, so I use a tool that allows me to stand on the floor and reach up and tear the drywall out. If your ceilings are higher you may need the use of a stepladder or even scaffolding, it just depends on what is more comfortable for you. Most of the tools used for demolition can be rented from your local rental center, or you can buy tools and equipment from your neighborhood home improvement center—the options are open.

Once the drywall has been removed from your ceiling you will need to go on and remove the nails/screws that held the drywall in place. Simply remove the nails with a hammer and the screws with a screw gun/cordless drill. You must remove all nails and screws from the ceiling joists in order to install the new drywall.By now all the appliances, cookware, dishes and counter top items should have been removed from the room, if not, you should do it now. If you can’t remove your stove and refrigerator make sure it is covered well. It would be ideal to have everything removed from the room, however, sometimes that is not an option; so all that you cannot remove from the room just make sure it is completely covered to protect it from dirt, dust and flying debris. If your ceiling is a plaster ceiling and it is in need of repair, you might want to call a plaster contractor to take a look at it, but if it is in relatively good condition with the exception being a few hair line cracks then you should be able to do that yourself. And if you have a ceiling that is wood then by all means check to see if the wood is warped: bowed; broken; splintered or just plain old ugly; if so, it should be repaired or removed. In order to give your ceiling a fresh new attractive look you must do away with the old and start anew.

DEMOLITION: PHASE TWO

With the ceiling completely removed and the ceiling joists cleaned of old nails/screws we can proceed to remove the walls. This can be difficult to do if some of your large appliances are still in place. Getting behind the refrigerator and stove will be hard to do with them still in place, but if you are doing a complete make over to your kitchen then nothing should be left in place. You really have to find a place to store your large appliances as well as the smaller ones. If you are going to replace them then you should be able to get the company that’s delivering your new appliances to carry them off for you, if not, then you might have to arrange to have an independent trash hauler pick them up for you at an additional charge, I’m just not sure how that works in your area. But if you plan to reuse them as part of your new kitchen decor then make sure they are well covered and protected. Plastic covering should suffice, but be sure to use multiple layers of plastic for added protection. Make sure the dishwasher has been disconnected and moved out of the room and remember to turn off the water supply line so that you will not flood your home and possibly your neighbors as well. This part can get really serious so you might need to consult with a plumber to assist you and removing faucets and so forth. Remember, if you’re unfamiliar with this aspect of demolition don’t hesitate to call in a professional plumber that is reputable in your area. You could be in for a very large lawsuit(s) if you make a mistake in this area, so tread these waters with the utmost of care.

TEARING OUT THE CABINETS AND WALLS

Somehow old kitchen cabinets really get a bad rap, although for years when they were in their prime they were the darling of the kitchen, they were loved and adored, but now that many moons have come and gone and they have lost their luster and charm, they have become the scorn of many a housewife. So now is the time to say good riddance to them—both top and bottom set. They are no longer needed or wanted and the time has come for their demise. Say goodbye to your old friends and let the demolition commence. And now that they have been completely removed somehow your kitchen look miraculously larger…and much more roomier. This can only start your imagination to begin running non stop at all the possibilities for your new kitchen makeover, but wait a minute there, we have more work to do…much more work to do.

Before you begin taking out the old walls in your kitchen, first check to see if there are any baseboards, trim or even shoe moulding that needs to be removed before you proceed. If indeed it is then by all means remove it before you attempt to tear out the walls; it will make it much more easier to do then to leave the trim and baseboards in place. This is also a good time to remove all doors and doorcasing too. You really don’t want any hindrance when it comes to tearing out your walls. Again, a good hammer will suffice when it comes to tearing out your walls, but you may prefer a sledge hammer or a short handle shovel, or a crow bar; whatever feel comfortable and workable for you—use that. Make sure the electricity is still off because you don’t won’t to be electrocuted due to negligence on your part, so be ever watchful and stay alert. Like the ceiling, you must remove all the old drywall that’s covering your studs in order to facilitate a complete kitchen makeover. So get rid of all that old drywall and start fresh. If there are some pieces and panels of drywal that looks good, then by all means allow it to remain, but in my opinion it would just be best to remove the remaining pieces/panels and go with all new drywall.

REMOVING THE FLOORING

With everything practically cleaned out of the kitchen there should be only one thing left—the floor. Whatever it is; vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, natural stone, or whatever, it must be removed in order to make way for the new flooring. If you choose to keep it; that might be a viable option if it is stable and in good condition, that is, if it is in good enough condition to apply a new floor on top of it without causing a problem or premature floor failure. I personally like to remove all existing flooring to avoid any possible problems down the road and not only that but I am just as concern with the subflooring that lies underneath the finish floor. And my concerns don’t stop there because the foundation is the key to a successful flooring project. It doesn’t matter what type of flooring you choose to install, one thing is for sure, if your foundation is bad your flooring project will subsequently end in failure…and that’s a written guarantee you can bank on. Make sure your foundation is solid and level and ready to receive a finish floor on top of it. If you need to call out a foundation contractor don’t neglect to do it.Assuming that you have chosen to remove your old finish flooring, make sure you have done it thoroughly.

DEMOLITION:CONCLUSION

In your quest to remodel/renovate your kitchen it is imperative that you remove the old in order to make room for the new. Personally, I really do enjoy doing demolition work. Although it is hot and sweaty work (doesn’t matter what season of the year), I truly enjoy removing the old and making way for the new. But in caution just let me say this: demolition is not a time for indiscrimanate destruction, instead, it is a time for careful planning and even more carefulness when it comes to executing your plans. Demolition can be a real opportunity for irreversible destruction cause by a careless worker that’s working in a mindless way. Instead of using this as an opportunity to get familiar with the anatomy of your kitchen, a foolish person will use this as an opportunity to vent rage or worst to have fun. Both attitudes or inappropriate for this type of work and both attitudes are responsible for countless injuries and many deaths that have occurred while doing demolition work. So be smart and stay safe.

Disclaimer: This author assumes no responsibility for any injuries or deaths that might occur base on the content of this article. This article is written for the sole purpose of informing and entertaining. Please be advise to call a reputable contractor in your area. Thank you.

About the Author

Donald Thomas is owner and CEO of AMERICAN PAINTING AND PRESSURE CLEANING,INC.He has been in the home improvement business since 1984. Please feel free to visit our website for more full length feature articles and a whole lot of neat tools and equipment. http://www.americanpaintingandpressurecleaninginc.com

The first rule for buying art is to love it.  The second rule is to be able to pay for it without taking out a bank loan.  And, rule #3?  Feel good about what you paid for it.

So, how do you know that a piece of art is worth the asking price?  If you love it, and can afford it, should you buy it?

We asked over one-hundred interior design professionals for some help.  We asked them to review pieces of art and tell us what they think about the quality of the work and the asking price.  Each designer chose five pieces of art to review from over 4000 original and limited edition artworks created by independent, fine artists whose work is available at www.DiscoveredArtists.com.

Designers were asked to comment on how they might use the art in an interior room design, and were asked to only review artworks that they felt were worth the asking price.  In other words, would you recommend that your client buy this piece of art at that price. Here’s what they said:

Terry Symington is principal designer and owner of T. Symington & Co. Interiors in Brenham, Houston, and Austin Texas.  She is a big fan of using art in her interior designs and suggests that “For rooms lacking a proper focal point, an oversized painting makes a great statement!”

Ms. Symington reviewed Fleurs Rondes #19, a 12″ x 18″ contemporary collage by Canadian born artist Lisa Carney.  The artwork is a mixed media original on panel priced at $115.  Lisa Carney is a formally trained, emerging, full time artist who is represented by galleries.  She creates abstract, modern, and fine art using multi-media methods and materials.  Her work is especially suited for decorative interior design.

Symington’s review of Fleurs Rondes 19: “I would love to see a grouping of several of Ms.Carney’s collages in an interior to make a really big statement.  Her combinations of materials, textures and colors are very pleasing … the the pricing makes it very affordable!”

Elaine Buderer, principal designer for Restoration Interior Design, LLC in Columbia, Maryland writes, “Good art brings some life into a space,” and adds that she approaches design by, “Using color, texture, furniture, art and the existing elements of a home.”

Ms Buderer reviewed Drayton Hall #20 a 21″ x 25″ limited edition by fine art photographer John Michiels.  The artwork is an edition of 40 that is signed and numbered by the artist, matted and framed with glass, and sells for $525.

John Michiels’ primary style is fine art, his signature style is southern gothic.  He is a mature, juried artist who is represented by galleries.  Michiels personally completes every step of the printmaking process in his studio in his Charleston South Carolina studio currently offering prints in editions of 45 or less.

Interior Designer Elaine Buderer’s review of Drayton Hall #20:  “This is a spiritual piece.  It hints of serenity (provided by the classic balance) with a vision of hope beyond.  It would be a soothing vista in a quiet room.”

Nicky Quartermaine Scott is owner and principal designer for Quartermaine Interiors in Plainfield, Illinois.  Her advice to art buyers in general is “If you’re stuck choosing a color scheme for your home, look to art for your inspiration. Select a piece that you truly love, and start from there. Art will reveal some wonderful colors that you can use as a foundation for your project.”

Ms. Scott reviewed Italian artist Mauro Celotti’s large, landscape titled Follow the Clouds.  It is a 50″ x 40″ original acrylic on gallery wrap canvas priced at $3600. Celotti is a mature, professional artist, formally trained and juried, who paints abstract, modern, surreal and figurative subjects.

Scott’s review of Follow the Clouds: “This piece is reminiscent of Van Gogh, but with a twist.  I love the color combination of orange, grey and white.  It has a masculine quality to it, with diagonal line and strong movement, but the soft, undulating earth reflects back nicely to Mother Nature herself.”

So, going back to the rules for buying art, if you need a second opinion you certainly should get one.  But, it seems that the driving force behind each of these professional reviews is how much they liked the artwork and how they might use it in a room.  So, if you love it, and can afford it, it deserves a place on your wall.

To read more about any piece of artwork featured in this story go to www.DiscoveredArtists.com and type the name of the art or the artists name in Keyword Search.  To read more designer comments or to contact a featured interior designer click on Search Interior Designers on the DiscoveredArtists.com home page.

About DiscoveredArtists.com
DiscoveredArtists.com is a marketplace for buying and selling original and limited edition artworks.  Independent artists sell directly to the general public.  Prices are set by the artists and artwork is shipped from the artist’s studio.   All major credit cards are accepted.  Artwork may be purchased online and is backed by a satisfaction guarantee of a full refund plus return shipping expense.

Perfect soil

What is the function of soil in our yards and gardens? Simply put, soil provides plants with mineral nutrients, water and anchorage. The basic types of soil are clay, sand, and silt. The percentage of each determines whether you have sandy clay loam, silt, loam, etc.  There are so many variables that affect soil that your yard may have a different soil type than the one across the street.

Some soil properties that are influenced by the texture of soil include aeration, drainage, water holding capacity and temperature. For example, sandy soil has excellent aeration, warms quickly in spring and has a low water-holding capacity. The exact opposite is true for clay. It has poor aeration, warms slowly, and has high water-holding capacity.

Here are the four major components of soil:

The solid portion, or rocks and minerals Decaying organic matter, microorganisms, living or dead plants and other organic matter Liquid Soil air

Amounts of each of these components determine whether or not plants will grow and thrive in the soil. Ideal or perfect soil consists of 25% air, 25% water, 40% mineral matter and 10% organic matter. As you already know, this never happens!

However, what we do to improve our soil will affect our plants.

You can re-mineralize your soil by adding Minerals Plus or Texas Greensand. You can increase organic matter by adding a good organic compost. This also increases earthworm activity and beneficial bacterial growth.  Spray-N-Grow increases microbial activity that helps keep air and water moving in the soil. To find out more about your soil, use the Sunleaves Three Way Meter.  It allows you to test your soil for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and will give you immediate results.

Naturally, some soil needs more work than others, but with a little work and some good organic garden products, you can pretend that your soil is perfect! All of the gardening products listed in this article can be purchased from Spray-N-Grow.  

Summary of FHA Home loan Advantages for Florida Home buyers.

Florida Mortgage,  Florida FHA Loan, FHA home loan,  FHA mortgage refinance

For the Florida mortgage applicant the FHA mortgage program can simplify the purchase of a home, making financing easier and less expensive for Florida mortgage seekers. Some highlights of the Florida FHA loan program include:

Minimal Down Payment and Closing costs.

Down payment less than 3% of Sales Price Gifts are allowed

Seller can credit up to 6% of sales price towards closing and prepaid costs.

100% Financing available

No reserves required.

FHA regulated closing costs.

Easier Credit Qualifying Guidelines such as:

No minimum FICO score or credit score requirements.

FHA will allow a home purchase 2 year after a Bankruptcy.

FHA will allow a home purchase 3 years after a Foreclosure.

To take advantage of the FHA program in Florida, give us a call 1-800-570-0448.

Many Florida mortgage applicants are confused about what types of FHA mortgage programs are available to them. In the Florida real estate market that has been hit with large declining values, this is especially true. So, let me try to help you understand what is available to the average Florida home owner or purchaser as far as FHA mortgage loans in Florida are concerned.

In a market such as Florida, FHA works great because even with the declining values that Floridian property owners have experienced, a Florida FHA buyer can borrow up to 97% of the Florida home’s appraised value or purchase price -whichever is less. Apply now for a FL FHA home loan with a HUD approved Florida FHA lender.

The maximum loan amount varies by which county in Florida the property is located. The FHA mortgage may be used to purchase or refinance a single family home, 1-4 unit projects, Condos, PUDS, Modular and Manufactured homes.

The FHA mortgage is available to U.S. Citizens, permanent resident aliens, and non permanent resident aliens may qualify too, so talk to your licensed Florida loan officer to check your eligibility.

The income ratios allowed are up to 31% for housing and up to 43% total payments, but may vary depending on compensating factors. So again, make sure you ask your licensed Florida loan officer. Florida is considered a high closing cost state, which means the costs are at or above 2.1% of the sales price. One of the reasons for this is that Florida has a 1% Mortgage tax; even on a refinance, the state of Florida requires you to pay tax of 1% on the new mortgage amount.

FHA Loans in high closing cost states such as Florida can have a loan to value on a purchase of up to 98.75% if the property is valued at less than $50,000, and 97.5% for a value of $50,000, up to $125,000. For all values above $125,000, the rate is 97.15%.

FHA mortgages are insured with up front mortgage insurance, referred to as (UFMIP) and monthly mortgage insurance (MIP). UFMIP is 1.50% of the base loan amount excluding UFMIP, which can be rolled into the loan or paid all in one shot at close. FHA/HUD charges an annual premium which is split into 12 payments – this is what is known as MIP.

Some Florida borrowers may be entitled to a partial refund of the UFMIP, if their loan closed on or after January 1, 2001, to pay off or refinance an FHA loan within five to seven years of its original closing date.

When making a decision on taking out a Florida FHA mortgage on your purchase or refinance of a home, you must make sure that you can qualify for this type of loan. So again, make sure that you work with an experienced FHA licensed Florida loan officer.

FHA loans require full documentation of income and assets. You will be required to show 2 months most recent pay stubs, 2 years W-2s and/or tax returns, a written verification of employment, as well as 2 most recent statements for all checking, savings, 401k, and like accounts with a verification of deposit from your bank. Also required is a 4506 form, which gives the IRS permission to verify your taxes.

You will also have to show verification of rent or previous mortgage history, and depending on your underwriter, you may have to show cancelled checks for the last 6 months to one year of rent or mortgage payments made. Due to the tremendous amount of fraud that has occurred in Florida, expect that all FHA loans underwritten on Florida homes will be scrutinized.

 http://www.fhamortgagefhaloan.com/

GIVING YOUR KITCHEN A COMPLETE MAKE OVER…AND DOING IT ON A LOW BUDGET AT THAT— DEMOLITION: PHASE ONE Um Um good, good old home made banana pudding and chocolate cake. I can almost smell it now, the aroma slowly filling the air with delicious foods and tasty treats that makes your mouth watery just to think about it. And what about all the main entrees that go along with the tasty deserts? It’s no wonder that in our house the kitchen is our favorite place for food and good conversation and I suspect that is true for most American families…and probably for families around the world as well. What better place for friends and love ones to gather than in the kitchen for good things to eat and good things to drink. With mom in the kitchen mixing a whole lot of love with everything she prepares, how can it get any better than that?

Practically every home, condominium, townhouse and apartment has a kitchen in it, however sometimes after years of much use and abuse, kitchens can become worn, outdated; no longer functional and in some cases down right depressing. Ceilings that have collected smoke, soot, dirt and even insect bile no longer make looking up a pleasant experience; not to mention drywall (sheetrock) that looks like it might fall down any given day. Walls that have accumulated layers of thick almost immovable grease and cooking oil that looks gross. And the floor looks like it has been a long, long time ago since it was new and attractive looking. You see, kitchens take more abuse and have to endure some of the most extreme conditions, unlike any other room in your home, therefore, it is only natural that over time it will need a complete upgrade and that is what this article is all about. We did a kitchen total make over for one of our clients and we are going to tell you just how we did it…and on a very meager budget as well. Perhaps, this can be some sought of informative guide that can help you with your kitchen make over—at least we hope it does. So sit back and take a ride with us as we offer pointers and tips on how you can transform your kitchen into a beautiful new and exciting place for a much lower cost than if you hired a contractor to do it. Let’s get started.

DEMOLITION: OUT WITH THE OLD

Before you can begin implementing new and exciting changes to your kitchen you must first take the time and get rid of the old. When it comes to demolition I like to begin at the top and work my with down, in other words, I like to start with the ceiling and work my way down to the floor. Your approach may be just the opposite and if that is what you’re comfortable doing than so be it. But before you begin make sure you have on all your safety gear and safety goggles on. The operative word is safety and working safely is paramount to everything else. If you need to file a permit with your local officials by all means do so. And if you feel uncomfortable doing this type of work hire a contractor. This type of work is dirty and nasty and it can be very, very dangerous; so be careful and avoid any and all accidents. We do this for a living and we abide by these same rules and safety measures that I’m giving you, so practice safety every step of the way.

Before I begin to tear out the old drywall in the ceiling, I remove the lighting fixture in the ceiling and then I cover the expose electrical wires with electrical tape or electrical twist caps. If need be, go to your breaker box and turn off the electricity that leads to the kitchen. Again, if you’re uncomfortable doing this, then be sure to contact a reputable contractor and leave all the cares and responsibilities for him to deal with. This type of work is not for everybody and everybody is not comfortable doing it. But for those who are and those who want to do it than let’s continue on. Generally speaking, when it comes to tearing out old drywall you can use any number of tools to get the job done, but I prefer to use a hammer and sometimes even a shovel. Ceilings are usually eight feet high and higher, so I use a tool that allows me to stand on the floor and reach up and tear the drywall out. If your ceilings are higher you may need the use of a stepladder or even scaffolding, it just depends on what is more comfortable for you. Most of the tools use for demolition can be rented from your local rental center, or you can buy tools and equipment from your neighborhood home improvement center—the options are open.

Once the drywall has been removed from your ceiling you will need to go on and remove the nails/screws that held the drywall in place. Simply remove the nails with a hammer and the screws with a screw gun/cordless drill. You must remove all nails and screws from the ceiling joists in order to install the new drywall.By now all the appliances, cookware, dishes and counter top items should have been removed from the room, if not, you should do it now. If you can’t remove your stove and refrigerator make sure it is covered well. It would be ideal to have everything removed from the room, however, sometimes that is not an option; so all that you cannot remove from the room just make sure it is completely covered to protect it from dirt, dust and flying debris. If your ceiling is a plaster ceiling and it is in need of repair, you might want to call a plaster contractor to take a look at it, but if it is in relatively good condition with the exception being a few hair line cracks then you should be able to do that yourself. And if you have a ceiling that is wood then by all means check to see if the wood is warped: bowed; broken; splintered or just plain old ugly; if so, it should be repaired or removed. In order to give your ceiling a fresh new attractive look you must do away with the old and start anew.

DEMOLITION: PHASE TWO

With the ceiling completely removed and the ceiling joists cleaned of old nails/screws we can proceed to remove the walls. This can be difficult to do if some of your large appliances are still in place. Getting behind the refrigerator and stove will be hard to do with them still in place, but if you are doing a complete make over to your kitchen then nothing should be left in place. You really have to find a place to store your large appliances as well as the smaller ones. If you are going to replace them then you should be able to get the company that’s delivering your new appliances to carry them off for you, if not, then you might have to arrange to have an independent trash hauler pick them up for you at an additional charge, I’m just not sure how that works in your area. But if you plan to reuse them as part of your new kitchen decor then make sure they are well covered and protected. Plastic covering should suffice, but be sure to use multiple layers of plastic for added protection. Make sure the dishwasher has been disconnected and moved out of the room and remember to turn off the water supply line so that you will not flood your home and possibly your neighbors as well. This part can get really serious so you might need to consult with a plumber to assist you and removing faucets and so forth. Remember, if you’re unfamiliar with this aspect of demolition don’t hesitate to call in a professional plumber that is reputable in your area. You could be in for a very large lawsuit(s) if you make a mistake in this area, so tread these waters with the utmost of care.

TEARING OUT THE CABINETS AND WALLS

Somehow old kitchen cabinets really get a bad rap, although for years when they were in their prime they were the darling of the kitchen, they were loved and adored, but now that many moons have come and gone and they have lost their luster and charm, they have become the scorn of many a housewife. So now is the time to say good riddance to them—both top and bottom set. They are no longer needed or wanted and the time has come for their demise. Say goodbye to your old friends and let the demolition commence. And now that they have been completely removed somehow your kitchen look miraculously larger…and much more roomier. This can only start your imagination to begin running non stop at all the possibilities for your new kitchen make over, but wait a minute there we have more work to do…much more work to do.

Before you begin taking out the old walls in your kitchen, first check to see if there is any baseboards, trim or even shoe moulding that needs to be removed before you proceed. If indeed it is then by all means remove it before you attempt to tear out the walls; it will make it much more easier to do then to leave the trim and baseboards in place. This is also a good time to remove all doors and door casing too. You really don’t want any hindrance when it comes to tearing out your walls. Again, a good hammer will suffice when it comes to tearing out your walls, but you may prefer a sledge hammer or a short handle shovel, or a crow bar; whatever feel comfortable and workable for you—use that. Make sure the electricity is still off because you don’t won’t to be electrocuted due to negligence on your part, so be ever watchful and stay alert. Like the ceiling, you must remove all the old drywall that’s covering your studs in order to facilitate a complete kitchen make over. So get rid of all that old drywall and start fresh. If there are some pieces and panels of drywall that looks good, then by all means allow it to remain, but in my opinion it would just be best to remove the remaining pieces/panels and go with all new drywall.

REMOVING THE FLOORING

With everything practically cleaned out of the kitchen there should be only one thing left—the floor. Whatever it is; vinyl, linoleum, ceramic tile, natural stone, or whatever, it must be removed in order to make way for the new flooring. If you choose to keep it; that might be a viable option if it is stable and in good condition, that is good enough condition to apply a new floor on top of it without causing a problem or premature floor failure. I personally like to remove all existing flooring to avoid any possible problems down the road and not only that but I am just as concern with the subflooring that lies underneath the finish floor. And my concerns don’t stop there because the foundation is the key to a successful flooring project. It doesn’t matter what type of flooring you choose to install, one thing is for sure, if your foundation is bad your flooring project will subsequently end in failure…and that’s a written guarantee you can bank on. Make sure your foundation is solid and level and ready to receive a finish floor on top of it. If you need to call out a foundation contractor don’t neglect to do it.Assuming that you have chosen to remove your old finish flooring, make sure you have done it thoroughly.

DEMOLITION:CONCLUSION

In your quest to remodel/renovate your kitchen it is imperative that you remove the old in order to make room for the new. Personally, I really do enjoy doing demolition work. Although it is hot and sweaty work (doesn’t matter what season of the year), I truly enjoy removing the old and making way for the new. But in caution just let me say this: demolition is not a time for indiscriminate destruction, instead, it is a time for careful planning and even more carefulness when it comes to executing your plans. Demolition can be a real opportunity for irreversible destruction cause by a careless worker that’s working in a mindless way. Instead of using this as an opportunity to get familiar with the anatomy of your kitchen, a foolish person will use this as an opportunity to vent rage or worst to have fun. Both attitudes or inappropriate for this type of work and both attitudes are responsible for countless injuries and many deaths that have occurred while doing demolition work. So be smart and stay safe.

Disclaimer: This author assumes no responsibility for any injuries or deaths that might occur base on the content of this article. This article is written for the sole purpose of informing and entertaining. Please be advise to call a reputable contractor in your area. Thank you.

About the Author

Donald Thomas is owner and CEO of AMERICAN PAINTING AND PRESSURE CLEANING,INC.He has been in the home improvement business since 1984. Please feel free to visit our website for more full length feature articles and a whole lot of neat tools and equipment. http://www.americanpaintingandpressurecleaninginc.com

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