perFORM House Design Competition
http://hammerandhand.com/perform/design-competition/ Learn about the annual perFORM House Design competition, sponsored by Hammer Hand. --------------- Ham...

By: Hammer Hand

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perFORM House Design Competition - Video

The Santa Fe Association of Realtors recently hosted a presentation by Katherine Mortimer, sustainability programs manager in the citys Environmental Services Division, to learn more about the newly adopted City Residential Addition and Remodel Green Building Code.

The new code is part of an effort by the city to meet the 2030 Challenge, a U.S. Conference of Mayors agreement on climate change. The revisions were tailored to the climate of Northern New Mexico and designed to provide a number of benefits to homeowners, including lower operating costs, increased comfort, improved environmental quality, enhanced durability and less maintenance.

Two new chapters were added to the citys Land Use Code: Chapter 11 on large remodels and additions, and Chapter 12 covering small additions and complete kitchen, bathroom or basement remodels. The new chapters will go into effect Aug. 1.

Chapter 11 applies to remodels affecting 50 percent or more of the floor area and additions greater than 400 square feet. There are mandates in addition to points from sections similar to the point system required by the citys Green Building Code. Chapter 12 applies to small additions less than 400 square feet, complete bathroom, kitchen and basement remodels, and will add mandates for building thermal envelope, air sealing and insulation, recessed lighting, high-efficiency lighting, boiler supply piping, appliances, gas-fired equipment, solid-fuel-burning appliances, HVAC system protection, duct insulation, recycling, universal design elements, showerheads, faucets, water closets, radon control, flashing, ice barrier and architectural features.

At a public hearing, the Santa Fe Association of Realtors requested that the proposed Green Remodeling Code be postponed to allow for more time to engage homeowners and prepare a cost analysis. The association was concerned with the scope of the code.

While SFAR believes the principles behind the Green Remodeling Code are worthy, the housing market and our local economy in Santa Fe are still recovering. These new mandates might add financial burdens to homeowners already struggling to make ends meet when renovating their homes. We remain concerned that homeowners have not had the appropriate opportunity to weigh in on these new mandates to go into effect in less than three months. During the debate, several councilors acknowledged Realtor concerns and asked staff to provide an analysis on 10 remodeling projects before the code goes into effect. The association looks forward to seeing the analysis and encourages city homeowners to learn more about the new code by visiting http://www.santafenm.gov/greenbuildingcode.

Paco Arguello is chief executive of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors. Contact him at 982-8385 or paco@sfar.com.

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News From SFAR: New rules for city remodels set for Aug. 1

Friday, May 2nd, 2014 Issue 18, Volume 18.

Buying and selling a home is typically a very stressful situation for both the home seller and the buyers in any market. There is no magic pill that can make it easier. Your professional REALTOR should be able to make the process run smoother and help keep a cooler head to keep emotions, misunderstanding and hurt feelings from ruining a perfectly good transaction.

There are, of course, things that each party must do to show respect to the other and not upset the apple cart.

Perhaps this list of "Buyers Donts" has been the unwritten protocol for so long, our compliance is expected. Yet, there is always that one buyer who has to do it "their way." With that being said, no longer consider the list to be unwritten, but read and heed.

Dont skip appointments: It may be alright to text a friend five minutes before you are expected for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but it is not alright to skip a showing of a home under any circumstances. Please realize that the homeowner has been frantically rushing through the house removing the daily day-to-day clutter that accumulates and cleaning where cleaning is warranted before rushing out of the house with the kids, and possibly pets, for a few hours to allow you complete access to their home. Its just rude.

Follow the house rules: If there are multiple pairs of shoes neatly aligned at the front door go ahead and remove your shoes. Dont smoke in a house. Dont use the bathroom. If there is a pet in the home, dont let them out. If a door is locked, leave it locked. Dont let kids run wild or bounce off of furniture. Never touch anything personal. Dont go through drawers or closets it is one thing to looking at a closet for space, it is another to flip through the clothes or other items.

Please note, in this day and age of technology, many homes have both video and audio monitoring devices (both are legal). Not only may inappropriate behavior be observed it just might leave a bad taste in the owners mouth if you want to negotiate for this home. On that note, never discuss your negotiation strategy or price range while in the house.

Dont nitpick: Remember, you may be being observed in real time as you are going through the home. Start throwing jabs at the homeowner about their color schemes or decorating skills and you just may be talking yourself right out of the home, no matter how badly youd like to buy it.

Stay focused on the big picture: the location, natural lighting, floor plan, and amenities the issues that really matter when buying a home.

Laundry list: Occasionally a buyer will want to include a list of every little defect in a home when presenting an offer thinking that it will give them leverage to negotiate a lowball offer. The sellers obvious thought process will be to question if the buyer really wants the home at all.

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Home buyers, please dont aggravate the sellers

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) April 28, 2014

Propelled by a record breaking first quarter of 2014, Republic West Home has recently announced the need to hire additional office help and salespeople. Having just announced a record breaking January, February and March of 2014, its no surprise that the Valleys leading home improvement contractor feels the need to increase its staff.

As one of Phoenixs most decorated and awarded contractors having previously won Small Business of the Year and Contractor of the Year awards, Republic West Home is experiencing one of its busiest years on record for kitchen remodels, new window installations, front doors and now house painting.

Republic west has recently hired additional salespeople as well as back office staff to propagate their strong reputation for customer service.

When looking at overall installations and revenue, Republic West Home is up nearly 35% year over year. It seems that a surge in the housing market as well as a comprehensive marketing campaign have contributed to the uptick in business.

2014 is off to a great start and we always welcome the opportunity to add jobs to the economy, explained Linda Zimmerman, President of Republic West Home.

Boasting one of the Valleys nicest showrooms, Republic West Home is a step up from your everyday contractor. Those interested in visiting Republic West Homes state-of-the-art showroom and design center may do so from 9am to 5pm weekdays.

Republic West Home is a licensed, bonded and insured contractor servicing Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ as well as all surrounding cities. Free estimates can be obtained by calling (480) 423-9300.

About Republic West Home: Republic West Home is a company that stands for quality, honesty and the best value. Our vision, in an industry often lacking ethics and reliability, is to deliver the best home improvement experience possible.

To deliver the best possible experience before, during and after the completion of your project, an extensive team of professionals was put in place: employees driven to make the home improvement experience a great one for you, our customers. The formula works and the pleasant experiences we create for our customers have paid off. In an industry where repeat business averages less than 5%, Republic West Home and our 15,000+ clients generate an amazing 50% of our business from previous customers and referrals.

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Kitchen Remodeler in Scottsdale Staffs Up to Meet Remodel and Reface Demand

Golden, CO (PRWEB) April 25, 2014

HomeAdvisor released today the Home Repair, Maintenance and Improvement Quarterly Trend Report for the first quarter of 2014. The data* provides trends for the type of home projects that homeowners are planning, budgeting for and completing. Reports are available on a national level as well as regionally in Chicago, Dallas, Boston, Denver and Sacramento.

In the first quarter, 46.6 percent of the requests nationally were for additions and remodeling projects with homeowners most commonly requesting bathroom remodels, kitchen remodels and building home additions. Of the cities data was collected from, Dallas had the highest percentage of additions and remodeling requests (43.5%) with projects including bathroom remodels, upholstering furniture and building home additions.

More than half of the projects requested nationally focused on repair and maintenance projects (53.4%). Top tasks include replacing faucets, fixtures or pipes, installing or replacing electrical switches and installing or replacing shingle roofing. Of the cities data was collected from, Boston had the highest percentage of repair and maintenance projects requested (65.6%).

First quarter home improvement trends for 2014 are encouraging for the home improvement industry, said HomeAdvisors CEO Chris Terrill. While repairs and maintenance dominate the number of projects being requested, additions and remodels follow closely behind, suggesting a strong year for home improvement.

The most common style for interior design trends was a traditional style (43%) and the kitchen (23%) was the most common room that homeowners were looking to design. Most homeowners spent less than $20,000 on their home projects (57.2%) and most projects were being completed on less than 200 square feet of their home (63%).

The data was collected from 400,000 service requests received through HomeAdvisor.com from January to March of 2014. The data was divided in two categories: additions and remodels or maintenance and repairs. Additional information was provided by HomeAdvisors homeowner tools: Cost Guide and DesignMine. Cost Guide provides the average cost locally and nationally of more than 800 home projects. DesignMine is an interior design tool that helps homeowners build and share personalized design boards before being matched with a professional to bring their vision to life.

Visit HomeAdvisors website to view the complete Quarterly Trend Report.

For more information on HomeAdvisor and its services, visit http://www.homeadvisor.com. Home improvement tips are available by following @HomeAdvisor on Twitter and by subscribing to the YouTube channel.

About HomeAdvisor HomeAdvisor is a leading website and mobile app provider offering resources for home repair and improvement projects. HomeAdvisors patented ProFinder technology matches homeowner projects to the nations largest network of over 80,000 pre-screened, customer-reviewed home improvement professionals. Homeowners can make informed home project decisions using resources including: Pro Reviews, featuring reviews from homeowners who have actually been connected with the service professionals they review; Cost Guide, providing average costs for projects coast-to-coast; Home911, offering dedicated 24/7 emergency home repair support; DesignMine, providing inspiration and collaboration for remodeling projects; as well as robust home tips and project planning tools. Access to all of the sites features is free for homeowners, with no membership or fees required. HomeAdvisor is based in Golden, Colo.

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HomeAdvisor Releases Home Project Data from the Quarterly Trend Report

Current Owner: Gary & Carol Arnold

Listing Price: $6,795,000

Beds: 4

Baths: 4

This entire home from the front curb to the rear fence was completely renovated since it last sold in 1999, boast the listing materials for the 2600-square-foot estate at 119 8th Street in Del Mar.

The home, originally built in 1970, sits on a double-sized lot just one house removed from the bluff tops in Olde Del Mar, a mile or so north of Torrey Pines State Reserve.

Inside, many rooms in the home are punctuated with white water ocean views, with expansive views to La Jolla and beyond. A glass entry door opens to a bright, tiled foyer. A den with fireplace along with three bedrooms and two baths are downstairs, but most of the living area, including the master suite, is situated on the second floor to better take advantage of the views.

Exposed wood-beam ceilings and hardwood flooring is prevalent throughout the property. The kitchen features the requisite granite-slab counters and high-end stainless appliances with the exception of a built-in wood paneled refrigerator and an island with prep sink and bar seating for casual dining. One of the guest baths is fitted with an antique-style claw-foot tub and distressed-wood dresser converted to use as a vanity.

Outdoor living, however, is where the property shines. The yard carries a tropical theme from the gated entry with custom brick drive and stone walkway to the backyard, where the centerpiece is what the listing office describes as San Diegos Pool of the Year.

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Almost $7M will buy you a pizza oven by the pool (and more!)

Centralia Plumbing KItchen Remodels and construction Centralia WA 503 313 3058
Call me to get here 503-313-3058 I will get you on google in 1 day.

By: ocean shores home contractors

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Centralia Plumbing KItchen Remodels and construction Centralia WA 503 313 3058 - Video

The design of your kitchen cabinets will greatly affect the outcome of your total kitchen remodeling project. Whether you're looking for custom kitchen cabinets or wholesale/discount cabinet manufactures, Kitchen-Cabinets-Design.com is the place for you!

Give your kitchen a whole new look by renewing your cabinets. Refacing your current cabinets can bring a fresh new look to your kitchen at a fraction of the cost of a full kitchen remodeling project. Find a reputable cabinet refacing company serving your area.

Not looking for a completely custom kitchen design? When budget is a major concern, count on Kitchen-Cabinets-Design.com to come through for you if you want to buy kitchen cabinets! Simply visit our kitchen cabinet estimate page to receive up to 4 estimates for discount kitchen cabinets.

This site not only provides a wealth of information related to kitchen cabinets, refacing, and remodeling, but also has valuable information about kitchen countertops, including how to find a countertop professional for a free quote. You are welcome to use these services, they are free to you.

Visit link:
Kitchen Cabinets, Refacing, Remodeling, and Design

We can only hope that these photographs touch on the exceptional quality and hard work that we have proudly put into our remodeling. For more information on kitchen remodeling projects such as these, visit any one of our 4 locations in Phoenix, AZ.

We feel before and after photos tell a lot about a companys quality. We hope you compare and marvel over these kitchen transformations. For more information on remodeling transformations, visit any one of our 4 locations in Phoenix, AZ.

This plain looking kitchen needed new cabinets and appliances.

New Stone Creek cabinets and appliances livened both the kitchen and the home.

Ordinary wood cabinetry overwhelmed this kitchen.

The perfect blend of Stone Creek cabinets, granite countertops and high end appliances create a masterpiece.

With such a small area to work, it was tough to find a company that could remodel this area.

In a limited space, we were able to accomplish what the customer had asked for.

Original post:
Kitchen Remodeling | Stone Creek Furniture

MENLO PARK and LOS ANGELES, CA (PRWEB) April 15, 2014

Sunset, the leading lifestyle brand in the West, announced today that it has selected Manhattan Beach as the location for its 2014 Idea House, its first in Los Angeles.

Sunset and its expert editors, along with a team of design and construction partners, will create the ultimate modern beach house that exemplifies the sophisticated and eclectic modern aesthetic of this Southern California beach town. Additionally, Sunset will host its first Sunset Manhattan Beach Home & Garden Tour, a weekend tour of distinctive properties located throughout the unique neighborhoods of Manhattan Beach.

The 2014 Idea House, which will be featured in the November 2014 issue of Sunset magazine, will open August 1 and will be available to tour Friday-Sunday through September 7th. The cost to tour the Idea House is $18. The cost of the Sunset Manhattan Beach Home & Garden Tour, which will be held August 16-17, is $80.

Since 1998, Sunset magazine has built Idea Houses and Dream Remodels throughout the West that bring the pages of the magazine to life and showcase the latest innovations in architecture, construction, design, and sustainable building and gardening practices.

Sunsets version of the modern beach house is timeless, blended with modern architectural detail, simplicity, and coastal inspiration, said Sunset Editor-in-Chief Peggy Northrop. Manhattan Beach is the perfect location to develop this vision and to capture the excitement that is buzzing around the Los Angeles design world. We are very excited for our latest Idea House project and to launch our first home and garden tour, which will give visitors exclusive access to beachside properties that exemplify the Sunset lifestyle.

The 4,500-square-foot Idea House is being designed by LAs DISC Interiors, known for warm modern spaces and layered, textural rooms that reflect an effortless California vibe. Some of their plans for the voluminous, light-filled spaces include sustainably-crafted furnishings, wide-plank white oak floors, black-stained kitchen cabinetry, soapstone kitchen countertops, and handmade graphic concrete tiles for the spa-like master bathroom suite. Featuring four bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms, the two-story home will reflect a style that is both comfortable and effortlessly chic. The heart of the homethe adjoining kitchen and great roomwill feature large expanses of retractable glass doors that will allow the exterior to seamlessly merge with the interior, making it perfect for California entertaining, or simply relaxing with family.

According to Krista Schrock, co-founder of DISC Interiors, Seeking inspiration from the Pacific Ocean and California coastline, we were immediately drawn to the beauty of natural materials, calm color palettes and a blend of hard and soft materials. These are the elements that will be the foundation of the design for the Idea House.

The Idea Houses landscape will feature drought-tolerant plantings from the Sunset Western Garden Collection and ideas for creating a water-wise garden. The landscape will also include a pool with spa, modern conversation pit, edible garden, no-mow lawn, fruit orchard, and an outdoor kitchen. The backyard is designed for the casual SoCal beach lifestyle, where taking the party outside can happen almost any day of the year.

In addition to enlisting DISC Interiors as the LA Idea Houses interior designers, Sunset pulled together a team of experts from throughout the Los Angeles South Bay area to help bring the modern beach home vision to life. The team includes Tomaro Design Group as the architects, Mike Davis Custom Homes to build the house, and Masterpeace Gardens as the landscape designers. DISC Interiors will also be working with local artisans and makers to help express the true essence of the Los Angeles-inspired design.

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Sunset to Open Its First Los Angeles Idea House This Summer in Manhattan Beach