Hui Anne and Stephen's basement is a multifunctional space that does triple duty as office, TV room and playroom. Their family room is spacious, but it had way too much going on, and none of it was working. When you walked in, you just didn't know where to look there were distractions everywhere. The room had become a repository for old, mismatched furniture and storage boxes. But the space had huge potential, and I focused on creating a stylish yet hardworking room, perfect for this young family.

First, I focused on the bulky, broken fireplace. Transforming this eyesore into an eye-catching focal point was as easy as expanding the width and refacing it with gorgeous, 12- by 24-inch natural stone in "wooden beige" color. We popped in a sleek gas insert and flanked the fireplace wall with playful wooden tiles made of oversized jigsaw-puzzle pieces. The black-onyx puzzle pieces provide the perfect backdrop for the fireplace wall, giving it dimension and subtle pattern, and attracting the attention it deserves.

Beside the fireplace we positioned a big-screen TV on a funky high-gloss gray media cabinet. To provide loads of comfy seating, I selected the mother of all sectionals a mammoth charcoal three-piece sofa that will stand up to the kids while offering space for the adults to entertain downstairs after hours. Wall-to-wall rich espresso-brown carpeting is soft underfoot and grounds the space, while a creamy area rug positioned under the seating area really sets off the sectional. A couple of funky white stools and a two-piece solid wooden coffee table complete the furnishings in the lounge area of the family room.

When they're not relaxing on the comfy sofa, Hui Anne and Stephen can get to work at the other end of the room. A stylish salvaged wooden desk was given new life with some walnut stain, and we installed the same high-gloss gray cabinetry on both sides of the desk, as well as beside the fireplace, to provide plenty of storage and surfaces to display fun accessories and artwork. The entire wall behind the desk is made from a magnetic dry-erase board, making it the one wall the kids are actually encouraged to write on.

To light up this basement family room, we removed the old acoustic-tile ceiling and installed recessed pot lighting. We selected wonderful new ceiling tiles styled to look like white wooden planks, and the effect is marvelous. The new lighting changes the whole mood of the space, and we accented with task lighting at the desk and with lamps on either side of the sofa.

Maximizing the illusion of height at the small windows, we hung floor-length draperies and custom graphic printed shades that truly create the feeling of larger windows and instantly banish that below-ground basement feeling.

Finally, to finish off the wall behind the sectional and give it a personal touch, we selected several different salvaged frames some painted and some raw wood and hung them on the wall empty. Then, we positioned conversation pieces inside the frames we selected large old white keys, an antique bicycle horn and some of the kids' artwork. But you can try this idea at home with any kind of eclectic filler. Have fun and let your imagination run wild.

The basement had huge potential, but it was a diamond in the rough. The broken fireplace was a problem, and the room lacked focus and a focal point. We transformed the fireplace into the centerpiece of the room, and created a stylish and inviting lounge area with lots of seating for family and friends. The couple also has a working office space now, with tons of storage and some fun touches like the whiteboard wall.

Best of all, we banished the basement blues with floor-to-ceiling window treatments that give the illusion of larger windows, and installed more-inviting lighting fixtures that complement the room's funky yet functional style.

Now, all we need to add is the family to make this room really come alive.

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Fireplace becomes an eye-catching focal point for family room

There is no perfect house. No matter how hard you look or how many homes your real estate agent shows you, getting everything you want when buying a home -- and getting it in perfect condition -- is impossible.

Even new homes will have a feature or two you may not like and will want to change.

If you've ever toured homes for sale, or watched hard-to-please homebuyers on HGTV's "House Hunters," you know there are always kitchen cabinets that are outdated, pink walls to be repainted or bathroom wallpaper that looks like it is 100 years old.

After shopping around for the lowest mortgage rates, you don't want to walk away from a house you like because it needs a few minor repairs, real estate experts say. The repair's price should be factored into what you're paying for the home, and mortgage lenders can help you pull money out of a home sale. For example, sellers may contribute to the repair bills, and some mortgages, like an FHA 203(k) loan, factor repair costs into the overall loan amount.

Sep Niakan, a real estate broker in Miami, says he's had clients walk away from homes because they can't see past minor flaws.

"Many buyers want to see an end product. They don't have a vision for what it could be with just a couple of tweaks," Niakan says.

So before you decide to cross a house off your list, here eight minor home flaws that shouldn't deter you from buying a home:

No. 1: Unappealing paint. This is one of the easiest and cheapest fixes, especially if you do it yourself. Don't let someone's poor taste in paint colors convince you not to buy. Most buyers who Niakan has worked with would rather pay a premium for a house that doesn't need fixes than take the time and money to do the repairs themselves. That's true even when the changes will cost less than a "perfect" house, he says. Even buyers of premium homes that don't need many changes still alter the home after they move in, Niakan says, and painting is often the first change.

"It's very, very rare for a buyer to buy a house and not personalize it in some way," he says.

Read: Go green when renovating: Choose deconstruction over demolition

See more here:
Homebuyers: It's OK to overlook these 8 flaws

DALLAS, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (USHS) today announced that Murray Gross, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in the Benchmark Company, LLC One-on One Investor Conference on Thursday, May 31, 2012 at The Pfister Hotel, 424 East Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. The conference has a one-on-one format for meetings arranged by Benchmark with investors. Investors planning to attend the conference should contact their Benchmark representative to arrange a meeting.

About The Benchmark Company, LLCHeadquartered in New York City, The Benchmark Company, LLC is an institutional brokerage firm with a strong sales/trading presence in addition to its rapidly expanding research and investment banking arms.

About U.S. Home Systems, Inc.U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (www.ushomesystems.com) manufactures or procures, designs, sells and installs custom quality specialty home improvement products. The Company's product lines include kitchen cabinet refacing products utilized in kitchen remodeling, bathroom tub liners and wall surround products utilized in bathroom remodeling, and storage organization systems for closets and garages. The Company manufactures its own cabinet refacing products and bathroom cabinetry.

See the original post here:
U.S. Home Systems to Participate in 3rd Annual Benchmark Company Investor Conference on May 31, 2012

Reprinted with permission from Cecilia Paredes

Even new homes will have a feature or two you may not like and will want to change.

If you've ever toured homes for sale, or watched hard-to-please homebuyers on HGTV's "House Hunters," you know there are always kitchen cabinets that are outdated, pink walls to be repainted or bathroom wallpaper that looks like it is 100 years old.

After shopping around for the lowestmortgage rates, you don't want to walk away from a house you like because it needs a few minor repairs, real estate experts say. The repair's price should be factored into what you're paying for the home, and mortgage lenders can help you pull money out of a home sale. For example, sellers may contribute to the repair bills, and some mortgages, like anFHA 203(k) loan, factor repair costs into the overall loan amount.

Sep Niakan, a real estate broker in Miami, says he's had clients walk away from homes because they can't see past minor flaws.

"Many buyers want to see an end product. They don't have a vision for what it could be with just a couple of tweaks," Niakan says.

So before you decide to cross a house off your list, here eight minor home flaws that shouldn't deter you from buying a home:

No. 1: Unappealing paint.This is one of the easiest and cheapest fixes, especially if you do it yourself. Don't let someone's poor taste in paint colors convince you not to buy. Most buyers who Niakan has worked with would rather pay a premium for a house that doesn't need fixes than take the time and money to do the repairs themselves. That's true even when the changes will cost less than a "perfect" house, he says. Even buyers of premium homes that don't need many changes still alter the home after they move in, Niakan says, and painting is often the first change.

"It's very, very rare for a buyer to buy a house and not personalize it in some way," he says.

Read:Go green when renovating: Choose deconstruction over demolition

See the original post here:
8 Common Flaws Homebuyers Shouldn't Worry About

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U.S. Home Systems to Report 2012 First Quarter Financial Results on May 15, 2012

The Thornton kitchen after its listing agent and an Ace Hardware owner gave its cabinets face-lift. (The Denver Post | handout)

What if your kitchen's surfaces were never expected to have a 50-year life span?

The listing agent for a home in Thornton faced exactly that problem. But she had seen a product at a trade show that intrigued her.

So Kirsten Chapman called public-relations client Ann Cummiskey, who owns the Ace Hardware store in Greenwood Village, and enlisted her to test whether a few people with very basic skills could do a cabinet makeover.

Buyers who viewed the Thornton house said its solid '90s kitchen lacked excitement.

"It was kind of all over the place," Cummiskey said of the room. "Yellow walls and off-white walls, and it had those light oak cabinets that were kind of generic in homes from the last 10 years. So it needed

The kitchen before. It also got fresh paint on the walls and a new matching microwave.

When you're talking kitchen cabinets, though, change can cost big bucks. "There just wasn't $15,000 in equity in this home to tap," Chapman said. Refacing still costs in the low thousands.

But ... paint your own cabinets?

"It's kind of intimidating for most people," Cummiskey said. "They say, 'Will it really look OK?' We said, 'Let's give it a try.' And it changed these plain, builder-grade cabinets into something that looked like furniture."

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DIY cabinet face-lift is affordable, easy

Click photo to enlarge

Children talk with Waste Management s robot Cycler during the Builders Show in Waynesboro on Saturday.

Vendors offered products ranging from bathroom tiling, rainwater harvesting, flooring, landscaping, kitchen cabinets as well as financial services to fund future projects.

Bill Mooney, president of Appalachian Energy Systems, LLC, was at the show promoting the latest in solar energy - evacuated tube solar collectors to heat homes.

"They're the most efficient solar collectors on the market," Mooney said. "Inside the tube is a heat pipe, which was invented by a Pennsylvania company in the 1950s."

Inside the tubes are two drops of water in a vacuum that boil at a low temperature, he said.

"As soon as the sun's energy hits the collection plates on the tubes, it boils the water," Mooney said.

With a 92 percent efficiency rate, Mooney said they are working on developing the tubes to use the energy for air conditioning as well.

"Using evacuated tubes for air conditioning is probably going to be next summer's hot buzz thing," he said.

Also for outside the home, Clean Energy Homes was demonstrating how homeowners can harvest their rainwater to use again.

Link:
Energy savings a hot topic at Franklin County Builders Show

DALLAS, March 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: USHS - News) today announced that on March 27, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. ET, management will hold a conference call to discuss its 2011 fourth quarter financial results. The financial results will be released following the close of trading on March 27, 2012.

Interested parties may access the call by calling 1-877-941-1427 from within the United States, or 1-480-629-9664 if calling internationally, approximately five minutes prior to the start of the call. A replay will be available through April 3, 2012 and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-870-5176 (U.S.) or 1-858-384-5517 (international), passcode 4523824.

This call is being web cast by ViaVid Broadcasting and can be accessed at U.S. Home Systems' website at http://www.ushomesystems.com. The web cast may also be accessed at ViaVid's website at http://viavid.net/dce.aspx?sid=000094E0. The web cast can be accessed until April 27, 2012 on either site. To access the web cast, you will need to have the Windows Media Player on your desktop. For the free download of the Media Player please visit:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/download/default.asp.

About U.S. Home Systems, Inc.

U.S. Home Systems, Inc. (www.ushomesystems.com) manufactures or procures, designs, sells and installs custom quality specialty home improvement products. The Company's product lines include kitchen cabinet refacing products utilized in kitchen remodeling, bathroom tub liners and wall surround products utilized in bathroom remodeling, and storage organization systems for closets and garages. The Company manufactures its own cabinet refacing products and bathroom cabinetry.

Read the original post:
U.S. Home Systems to Report 2011 Fourth Quarter Financial Results on March 27, 2012

Then throw in elegance, modernity, durability and sustainability. Having indoor and outdoor living spaces is a bonus.

First off, people want to save money - if not in upfront costs, then on the expenses of energy consumption and maintenance later. And as the housing market slowly improves, future home sellers want their houses up-to-date and competitive for the market.

Hardieplank, the fiber-cement product that looks and feels like wood, is marketed as weather resistant, insect and fire resistant, and more durable than wood siding.

Decreased labor costs have "revolutionized" the industry, Wes Hadsell of Hadco Services said about Galvacore structural panels. The galvanized steel system can be used to make a range of structures - from fire pits and courtyards to outdoor kitchens to fences and benches.

Kevin Murphy, a lawnmower salesman, talked about the benefits of propane-fueled mowers. Propane, which is cheaper than gasoline and diesel, burns cleaner and produces less toxic emissions, he said.

And many people are looking for heavier lawn mowers that last longer than smaller, more convenient models.

Granite continues to be a must for many homebuyers and on the list of upgrades that increase home value.

"Granite is still the most popular when it comes to countertops," Hawksworth said. It's what 90 percent of CTS customers come in looking to buy.

Others are looking at quartz because of its low-maintenance reputation. But these days, granite is just as easy to keep up.

In the way of bathroom remodeling, Hawksworth said many customers are focusing less on luxurious tubs and more on larger shower spaces.

Original post:
Home, garden show focuses on saving money

Arlene Phillips hangs up the phone. New customer, same old story.

Getting rid of oak is keeping us in business," she said.

Actually, the Kitchen Tune-Up franchise that Phillips owns with her husband, Jim, does a lot more than just redo oak cabinets. But that work has been a mainstay.

Asked what customers prefer over oak, Jim replied: Anything else."

The Phillipses started Kitchen Tune-Up in the summer of 2005, after Jim had spent 17 years working for Learjet.

Whats the politically correct way to say this?" he said. I was ready for a change."

Arlene, meanwhile, had just retired as a school secretary for Maize. That job, she said, prepared her for the customer service aspect of owning a small business.

Arlene answers the phone and handles the paperwork while Jim, who always has been good with his hands, oversees the physical work; both do estimates and sales. They work out of their home in west Wichita and employ two people Charlotte Martin and Austin Koehn whom Arlene calls gold."

Kitchen Tune-Up is a franchise operation headquartered in Aberdeen, S.D. The couple considered a dozen different business opportunities, including starting their own business from scratch, before finding Kitchen Tune-Up through a franchise broker. They are the only franchisees in Kansas.

Jim said paying for a franchise was worth it because of the associated benefits, from training to help with marketing to being part of a buying network.

Original post:
Cabinet makeovers keep Kitchen Tune-Up franchisees busy