Thursday, October 20, 2016

Interior Surface Renovations

There are times that a simple surface renovation of your home can refresh and update the look of every room. It is not as costly as some deep renovation projects, but just as effective in giving a new shine to your home. You can find a local remodeling contractor that can get these projects done quickly and affordably.

Drywall and Plastering
Cracks and holes in drywall and plaster can make a home look old and shabby. Moving furniture, accidental damage and uneven foundation settling can cause areas to crack and break away. These repairs can be done right and make the surfaces look like new again. You will not be able to tell there was any damage.

Painting and Wallcovering
A fresh coat of paint using contemporary colors can really brighten a home. A quality gloss product can even withstand the rigors of small children. It makes the wall surfaces washable. Specialized wallcoverings like wainscoting and paneling can bring a sophisticated look to any area of the home.

Flooring
Old tired carpeting, linoleum, broken floor tiles or scratched wood flooring can make a home look used and drab. Renovate the flooring using high quality modern products that will last longer and look newer for a longer period of time. It is possible in many cases to refinish natural wood flooring and have it look as good as new. There are also quality laminate products that look as nice as natural wood for a fraction of the price.

Counters
It might be time to part with the old, stained and ugly laminate counters. There are a variety of slab stone and compressed products that will make your bathrooms and kitchen shine like never before. You can go with a chic marble, stoic granite or everlasting soapstone, just to name a few.

Tile and Grout
Tile floors, counters and walls that are made of outdated colors, patterns and materials can be removed and replaced with products that are incredibly beautiful and contemporary. New grout will stay cleaner looking for longer periods of time. It can completely transform the home.

Call on home renovations specialists like renovationexperts.com to find a local contractor that can get started right away!

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Spice Up Your Clothes with Patches

Are you looking for an easy way to give your clothes a little extra personality?  With options from embroidered patches to satin, taffeta, or laser cut labels, clothing patches are one of the quickest ways to make a splash.   Patches can be placed on shirts, jackets, or jeans. It's really up to you what direction you want to go and what you want to say.

Northern Soul holdall

Here are some of the ways patches can be used:

Root for a Cause
Unique patches are ideal when you are supporting a cause. Whether you are standing up for a charity, an organization, or someone you love, you can give everyone involved a patch that represents your cause. You can also make patches a part of a fundraiser that will raise awareness while also increasing donations.

Promote Solidarity
When you want everyone to stand together, patches are an excellent way to demonstrate solidarity. When everyone has an eye-catching patch, you can make a powerful statement. Design your patch to fulfill your needs with a logo, graphics, and colors that work for you.

Make a Fashion Statement
Think patches when you are looking for some fun with your clothes. You can throw them on anything, choosing patches that are discreet, or going big to really make others notice your distinctive sense of style.

Enhance Your Uniforms
If you own a business and require uniforms, consider using patches to make sure everyone sees your logo. It is a great way to brand yourself. Even if you don't have a uniform, you can give all of your employees a jacket that includes a patch in order to spread the word about your company. It is an effective option to thank your employees as well when you give them a company coat.

Make Patches Work for You
Only you know the best way to use patches in your life. Whether you want it for your sporting event, your business, or personal use, you need to consider how patches can make a difference. Dress up the simplest clothes with a stylish patch. Say it your way with the patch that you have designed. Remember someone special or an important event in history. With patches, it is really up to you as you make the most of them. Choose what you want and your patches can be customized to work for you.

Why Didn't We Do This Sooner?

We haven't had an actual home phone in ages. Several years ago we transferred our home phone number to my cell phone and went to all cell phones.  It's definitely saved us money, and we haven't missed the home phone at all.

Except that I had to get used to keeping my cell phone close by and checking periodically to see if anyone had called.  And, of course, all those annoying telemarketer calls now come to my cell phone, but I have blocked a whole bunch of them.  I do still tend to leave my cell phone in one room while I'm off working in another, or downstairs when I run upstairs to do something.  Of course, that's exactly when someone I actually want to talk to decides to call.  And I don't always remember to check when I come down.

That problem is now in the past.  We got one of these cordless phone systems that connects to my phone via Bluetooth.  Now, when my phone rings, it also rings on both handsets, one upstairs and one down.  It's really loud and hard to miss, which is a good thing because sometimes I just don't hear the cell phone, especially when I 'm in the other room.  And, when I leave my phone downstairs and my son calls (somehow he seems to do this regularly), I can still answer the phone and talk to him.  It's been really convenient, and I keep wondering why we didn't do this sooner.  I know these phones have been around for a while, but I just didn't think to check into it.

I know our cell phone company offers a 'home phone' service, which is a separate line and costs $20/month, but this does the exact same thing with no new phone number and no monthly charge.  The cost of the phone system itself is only a couple month's worth of service, and additional handsets (the system is expandable up to 5 handsets) are only $20, so if you need more than 2 handsets, they pay for themselves in just a month or two.  That is, if you're thinking of adding a home phone service like this.  If you're still paying for a traditional landline, this is a great way to save a lot of money - unless the cost of phone service has decreased significantly since we stopped using it, which I doubt - by cancelling that service and still keeping the convenience of having a home phone.