Category Archives: decorating

San Diego: Interior design pros offering $99/hour consultations now until end of June for charity

Posted on May 25, 2022 | Leave a comment

If your home’s interior could use a professional refresh, the San Diego chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) chapter has a solution.

From now through the end of June, members will conduct in-home design consultations during the ASID “Spring Spruce Up” fundraiser. The discounted fee of $99 per hour (minimum one hour/maximum two hours) is a donation to the local ASID chapter; the designer volunteers their time.

ASID can provide experts in all aspects of design, including space planning, staging, color selection, kitchen design, aging in place, art and furniture placement, outdoor rooms, historic preservation, media rooms, multigenerational living, universal design, window treatments and commercial design. Designers are chosen to meet each client’s specific needs.

Does wood flooring really have to be wood?

Posted on February 22, 2022 | Leave a comment

Engineered materials gaining in popularity among homeowners as lower-maintenance alternative

Engineered Hardwood: Where traditional solid hardwood is just that — all wood — engineered hardwood has a veneer of hardwood but is composed of several thin layers of backing, mostly plywood, but it could also be fiberboard or unfinished hardwood. According to Pinto, the layers add stability to the overall strength of the material. Where there can be issues with solid hardwood floors contracting and expanding, engineered hardwood’s composition makes that a nonissue. It also comes with different finishes. Urethane and oil finishes are very popular, said Pinto.

Laminate: Like engineered hardwood, laminate planks are layered materials, but instead of a wood top layer, it has a high-definition photographic wood-look layer, complete with graining, and sits above a moisture-resistant, stabilizing base layer topped by a core of high-density fiberboard, all finished in resin.

Porcelain Tile: Porcelain tile planks can resemble wood, even with a textured grain. They come in a variety of styles, colors, and designs — from sleek to rustic. They’re scratch-resistant, stain-resistant and water-resistant.

5 optional upgrades to think twice about when remodeling

Posted on April 11, 2019 | Leave a comment

1. Bi-fold doors

Bi-fold doors have become a standard fixture in new home builds, most commonly installed between the living spaces and al fresco zones. Ideal for blurring the boundary between inside and out, glass bi-folds look good and feel well-suited to the Australian outdoor lifestyle.

But Anchor Homes project consultant Laurie Raikes believes owners rarely take advantage of them.

“The concept is great but in reality they never get used,” he says. “You’ll pay a lot of money [on a project home] for bi-folds as an upgrade and they’re difficult to screen. You may want to consider allocating that money elsewhere.”

Bi-folds can also encroach on your living space, as they protrude once stacked, and may impair views as each panel has a wide frame.

On the other hand, sliding doors are generally cheaper and offer larger expanses of glass to maximize light and views.

2. Fancy Fittings

When it comes to designer fittings, Raikes says you risk alienating future owners with different tastes to your own. He also cautions against items like bar fridges and spa baths, which may have limited appeal.

Raikes installed a spa bath in his new home, but now regrets doing so.

“I thought it was a great idea, but I’ve probably only used it twice in 12 months,” he says. “A spa bath takes up a lot of space and might cost up to $2000.”

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Category Archives: decorating

San Diego: Interior design pros offering $99/hour consultations now until end of June for charity

Does wood flooring really have to be wood?

5 optional upgrades to think twice about when remodeling

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