Kitchen Home Improvement

By Chris Carson

Comparing your electricity bill to others in the area, or nationwide, won’t make it any lower or any less painful, but can be interesting. Also, comparing with the average in your area can help you recognize if you need to try some conservation measures to lower your energy consumption. The Energy Information Agency issues figures on a lot of issues related to energy.

The average electricity bill nationally is $95.66, with average consumption being 920 Kilowatt hours (kWh), and the average price per kWh being 10.4 cents. Compare how you measure in reference to others and it can suggest how you are doing energy-wise. If your bill is way above the average, look at kwhs used. If it is way above, then you might be wasting energy. But, that is not necessarily true. A number of factors affect both consumption and cost of electricity in your household and region of the country.

National average costs per kWh by state or region ranges from a low of 7.58/kwh to a high of 24.20/kwh. The overall average nationwide is 11.51/kwh. Different regions vary in average costs per kWh. This can be due to a number of factors, some being fuel costs to produce the electricity, whether energy must be purchased from other states, and the amount of consumption based on weather conditions.

The breakdown of average kWh prices are: New England–17.47; Middle Atlantic -14.84; East North Central – 10.92; West North Central – i9.14; South Atlantic – 11.32; East South Central – 9.61; Mountain – 10.18; Pacific Contiguous – 12.15; Pacific Noncontiguous – 21.31.

One factor that affects the overall amount of your electric bill is the source of the energy to produce the power. Cost is not the only factor, however. The ecological cost is a big factor. Renewable sources can save big so far as conservation is concerned. The renewable sources include: hydropower, biomass, biofuels, wind generation, geothermal, and solar energy. Each year these alternatives sources are used in increasing numbers. In 2008, the percentage of electricity that was produced from these sources was 19%. It is estimated that it will increase to 23% by 2035.

Remember to compare apples to oranges. Compare the amount on your electric bill to others in your state or region. If yours is well below the average, maybe you should teach a class in your area to help others. If it is way above that average, then maybe you should be taking that class. There are many ways to conserve energy. Check for options, and pursue them to decrease your charges. Even if you are near or below the average, if you can decrease it even more, go for it.

One possible solution to lowering your costs is to contact your power company. Most have excellent printed resources. They will have materials specific to the needs of your region. In addition, most all of them will do an energy audit to help you discover where your energy consumption is more than the normal.

You can also research online for energy conservation suggestions. It may mean you need to replace old windows, or old appliances that are not energy efficient. Tax credits are available to offset some of the installation costs. The changes can mean a lowered electric bill. Think of what you could do with that saved money.

About the Author: If you want to know more about kwh, you can visit our site to know where you can find wind energy.

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Submitted by: William Scott

So you have decided that your kitchen is outdated and could use an entire remodel. You may have a few thoughts about what you want but maybe you have been unable to tie it altogether, or perhaps you may be stuck and have no idea where to start, but you have definitely decided that you will no longer suffer with that antiquated kitchen for another moment. In either case there are several things that you should consider along the way that will help turning your remodel into the kitchen of your dreams.

Start With the Cabinetry

One of the best places to start is with the cabinetry. This, most likely, will be the item that will not only dominate the area but also take the majority of your budget. Many people make the mistake of ending with the cabinetry and end up having to cut out some options because they are running out of budget.

The best place to start when you begin laying out your cabinetry is with someone who actually specializes in the cabinetry business. They will understand what you are looking for and will lay the kitchen out properly so you can get all the options that you would like in there. For instance, if you want lazy Susans in all your corner cabinets they will make sure there is the proper amount of space left to accommodate them. A professional will also know if there could be any problems with your layout. For example, your pluming may need to be moved so you have enough room to accommodate a new dishwasher.

Get Your Appliances

If you are completely redoing your kitchen you should also upgrade your appliances. The new appliances are better designed. The new designs and features actually make life a little easier for you. They are also more energy efficient so they will save you on your monthly utility bills.

Make sure that the finish you choose for your appliances is going to go well with your cabinetry. Some cabinetry will not look as well with a white appliance and you may need to consider stainless steel. It is also important to let your cabinet company know if you choose any appliance that is not considered standard size as this will change your layout. An example of this might be if you choose a Sub-zero refrigerator. They are much larger than a regular refrigerator and will need to have the correct room allowed for it.

Other Considerations

Another thing that you should keep in mind when you are laying out your dream kitchen is incorporating seating into the kitchen. In many homes the kitchen is the hub of the house so you may want to include seating. Often times you can do this by adding an island in the kitchen for people to gather around.

When you begin to look at flooring make sure your keep in mind the ease it which it can be cleaned. Many people end up disappointed because they paid a lot of money for beautiful flooring only to find out that is next to impossible to keep clean. Do your homework and ask around before you choose your flooring.

When trying to design your dream kitchen keep a few things in mind. Start with a cabinet professional, they know the ins and outs of kitchen design and they can properly lay out your kitchen so that all the extras that you were hoping for will come together perfectly.

About the Author: William Scott contributes kitchen remodeling advice to

KitchenDecorTips.com

, a site dedicated to helping people find the right

kitchen remodeling services

.

Source:

isnare.com

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By Bob Fischer

Beadboard wainscoting is often associated with older homes, especially since it’s been around since the 1600s, and was originally used to protect walls from damage. It can be found in any room of a house, from bathrooms to hallways to kitchens, where it can cover all or part of the walls. It can be distressed, stained, painted, or even left in its natural wood tone. With so many options, beadboard is a great addition to your kitchen, whether you choose it as an accent or install it more liberally.

What is Beadboard Wainscoting?

Beadboard consists of tongue and groove strips of wood that are fitted together and nailed along the wall. The bead, or indentation, that runs between each board is what defines beadboard. This bead can be various widths, depending on the width of the boards themselves and the type of beadboard you purchase. Beadboard wainscoting generally goes partway up the wall, although beadboard can certainly be both vertically or horizontally over the entire wall, if desired. Traditionally, it is placed vertically with a decorative chair rail and molding along the top and bottom, framing the beadboard wainscoting along the wall.

Although real beadboard is tongue and groove and comes as separate boards, you can purchase sheets of beadboard at lumber yards or home improvement stores. They are available in primed and unprimed, pine, oak or a composite. It’s best, for authenticity’s sake, to choose a real wood product. If you plan to paint the beadboard, pine is the most cost-effective, and primed options will save you a step. The real wood also looks more realistic than the composite sheets.

Beadboard Wainscoting in the Kitchen: Where Should it Go?

There are several ways beadboard wainscoting can enhance your kitchen. It can be a focal point or an accent, depending on your taste. For example, if you want it to be a focal point, you can choose to reface your kitchen cabinets with doors that feature a beadboard center. You can also make beadboard wainscoting you backsplash, both of which help draw attention and will define your kitchen’s style.

For a more subtle approach, consider adding beadboard wainscoting to the outside of your kitchen island or put it along your walls, especially if you have a large, eat-in kitchen that will show-off your beadboard wainscoting addition. If you have a built-in seating, such as a banquette or bench seat, perhaps beneath a window, consider facing it with beadboard wainscoting for a cottage feel.

Finishing Options for Beadboard Wainscoting

Beadboard wainscoting does not have to be white, but can be painted to complement your existing kitchen color, perhaps a darker shade if you plan to put it on the wall or highlight seating. You could distress it for an aged, antique look or you might stain it, especially if you plan to use it on cabinet doors or along the outside of a kitchen island, although a painted finish will work well here as well. Of course, if you prefer its natural color, simply apply a clear varnish to it to preserve it and make it shine.

About the Author: Bob Fischer writes about creative applications of kitchen design, and he shares his kitchen ideas and writings with a worldwide readership of home improvement aficionados.

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byAlma Abell

One of the most prized possessions a person can own is their home, they invest a lot of time and a substantial amount of money into finding the right dwelling to purchase. Over the years, a homeowner will invest even more into the home by completing renovations and repairs to keep the residence in top condition. But, what about the exterior and landscaping of the home that can contribute to the dwellings curb appeal? While repairs and remodeling can help provide aesthetic appeal, the lawn can impact the property’s appearance if the grass is neglected or less than appealing. Artificial turf in Tampa Bay can offer a solution to maintaining an immaculate yard year-round.

Perks of Installing Synthetic Grass

• Eliminates dead grass, muddy spots, and spotty patches that can affect how a lawn appears.
• Contributes to preserving the environment by decreasing the number of yards that need to be fertilized, mowed, and watered.
• Artificial turf in Tampa Bay can last up to 20 years with the right care to help save money on lawn care service.
• Multi-colored blades are entwined to make it virtually impossible to tell the difference from natural grass.
• Easy to maintain and reduces the amount of time spent on lawn are to allow the homeowner to focus on other aspects of their life.

Acquire a Beautiful Lawn Today by Scheduling a Free Estimation

EasyTurf offers a solution to your lawn care problem with their high-quality synthetic turf that is designed to last for years. Contact their office today for a free estimation for replacing your natural grass with their lush green turf that can provide a stunning lawn. Artificial grass created from top-of-the-line material that is easy to clean and provides adequate drainage to prevent water from accumulating on the turf.

By Terry Henman

Monochrome interior design styles are a popular choice in many modern and contemporary homes as they offer a chic and trendy look which is easy to achieve. The other great advantage of having black and white colour combination is the crisp, clean look it offers which ideal for any room in your home.

As people in the UK move away from traditional wall to wall carpeting and begin to adopt the continental approach of having tiled floors the monochrome look comes into its own.

Beautiful marble flooring in penthouse apartments is also being utilised to give sophistication and elegance which is a design style commonly used in Italy as well as by plush hotels.

The use of monochrome tiled flooring is not a completely new concept. Victorian houses often used the diamond patterning in hallways and entrances or on paths leading to front doors. Many of these are still in existence and are being ‘discovered’ as the trend for renovating Victorian homes to their former glory is being adopted by more and more people.

Black and white colour schemes also lend themselves beautifully for complimenting contemporary highly polished chrome and stainless steel fittings and fixtures, along with glass tables. Contemporary monochrome lounges look striking with a minimalist approach of clean lines and subtle injections of colour such as red being used in accent pieces.

Texture is also an important part of interior design of both tactile and visual appeal. Black and white cushions in suede or zebra animal print are ideal for this style of interior along with floor rugs to create a warm and cosy feel to the room, especially during the colder months.

Table lamps are a simple and effective way to produce ambient lighting in your home, those in black and white, of course, coordinate effectively with the monochrome theme.

Monochrome lends itself wonderfully for use a window treatments. Venetian or vertical style blinds in crisp white are ideal for enabling as much light as possible into a room, while black leather Venetian blinds are perfect for bedrooms and bachelor style apartments.

If you prefer to have a pattern at your windows there are some superb roller blinds with wonderful scroll designs which compliment a monochrome interior beautifully, these are a good choice for bedrooms to add texture and a more cosy feel.

Metal blinds are perfect choices for bathrooms and kitchens as they offer both a clean, crisp look and are ideal for providing privacy and a practical style of window dressing in humid atmospheres. The latest designs are not the noisy metal blinds of the past, designers and manufactures have produced virtually noiseless running systems. These blinds are nearly always treated with acrylic finishes to produce high gloss or matt finishes which are resistant to humidity and water. Many also have a coating which helps reduce the amount of dust settling on the louvers which is a real time saver when it comes to keeping the blinds looking at their best as less cleaning is required!

About the Author: Terrys Fabrics offer a wide range of curtains, fabrics and window treatments, including metal Blinds for your home

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