Though washers with lids that open from the top are most common, today stackable washers and dryers or front-load washers and dryers are becoming more popular since they take up less room and can be built into cabinetry or under counters. Bosch Appliances is just one of many manufacturers making these machines. Epinions’ What You Should Know About Front Load Washing Machines is a good resource and worth reading before you buy.
If you like houses with views of the water, it’s hard to beat living on the water in a houseboat. Buying a houseboat is a little different (ok, a lot different) than buying a house, though. Some of the things you have to consider are mooring fees, insurance, national titles and winterization. If you’re buying a used houseboat, you’ll need to have a marine survey done before you can secure a loan.
Thinking of remodeling? Looking for some bathroom design pictures to help your brainstorming sessions? Here’s a few pictures I found around the net.
A Handsome Kohler Bathroom
Bathroom Dominated by Wood with Gold Accents
Carpet, Windows, and a Large Bath Tub
Bright Bathroom with Marble Floor
A Modern Miami Bathroom
If you’re looking for more, I suggest picking up some of those remodeling magazines at the book store. They have great glossy pictures that you can cut out and dump on your architect’s desk.
Fireplaces provide nice ambiance. As do waterfalls. I’ve never seen them two combined, until now. The
Max Blank Niagara Free Standing Wood Burning Stove with Waterfall has a wood-burning fireplace on the bottom and a waterfall gliding down the stainless steel top. The waterfall can be activated by remote. The sleek looking unit comes with a hefty price tag of $15,000. Time to start scrounging in the couch cushions…
For the last couple years, people have been saying goodbye suburbia, hello downtown. Reasons range from empty nesters downsizing to smaller but more luxurious homes to young professionals with no children who enjoy the city scene with its museums, restaurants, sporting events, and theaters. What does this mean for the housing market? Urban lofts and condominiums are highly desired.
Ever tried one of those new smart thermostats where you’re not sure if you’re programming the air conditioning, the heat, or telling it to order a pizza? For a user-friendly, programmable thermostat, the Nov/Dec 2004 issue of Smart Homeowner suggets the Honeywell VisionPro thermostat. Its touch-screen interface walks you through the programming much like an ATM.
Today’s RVs are taking on the luxuries of today’s houses. Technology is drastically changing what the field offers. Whatever your idea of an RV is, you’ve probably always assumed they’re just for land… Think again. The Terra Wind, an “amphibious motorcoach,” is an RV that can go on land and in the water. For more information and pictures, visit the Terra Wind homepage.
It’s been “Las Vegas Week” on the Travel Channel and I got sucked into watching some of the shows. Apparently, Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in the U.S. One of the shows touched on vacation home options, mentioning that condominiums in secured buildings made a great choice since you don’t need to worry much about maintenance or break-ins when you’re not using your vacation home. Las Vegas’ Park Towers was mentioned specifically as luxury high-rise living with great views and a location close to the strip. Prices for a condo start at $750,000 and go up into the millions. More at High-Rise Living in Las Vegas.
The show also suggested gated communities for those who prefer houses to condos. Likewise, security is less of an issue, since there are generally neighbors around all year, and entrance requires a key or special remote.
Is your existing fireplace on the ho hum side? Elegant fireplace surrounds can turn a run of the mill fireplace into a handsome and impressive focal point. Elegance in Stone is one of many companies that can help in this area. They offer granite, limestone, and marble surrounds. With a full color/style chart, you can have your fireplace surround made to order.
Planning to sell your home? Wondering what you can do to increase the value without actually spending a ton? According to MSN Money’s Speed your home sale with these fast fix-ups, spending a few hundred dollars on landscaping can increase the value of the home by $1,600-$1,800. Likewise, a professional cleaning and “de-cluttering” priced at approximately $300 can increase the value of your home by $2,000.
Beyond that, be careful because remodeling gigs might not always bring a return equal to their expense. For more on that, read Remodeling risks often outweigh returns.
