For those eager to get a head start on any home and garden expansion no matter the size, make plans to visit more than 250 exhibits featured at the Eighth Annual Katy Home and Garden Show to be held this weekend at the Merrell Center and Robinson Pavilion in Katy. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Consumer interest and spending in home remodeling and DIY projects continue to rise for many reasons, said Robyn Cade, President of RJC Productions and organizer of the Katy Home and Garden Show. Baby boomers may now find themselves as empty nesters with disposal incomes to refurbish, redecorate and reinvest in their homes, creating beautiful living spaces which reflect their individual personalities and an emphasis on entertaining at home.

Additionally, low interest rates make remodeling affordable. Some of the other reasons to consider remodeling a home include modernizing it.

Research shows that investing in your home pays for itself

in the long haul, particularly with kitchen and bathroom remodels, said Cade.

In fact, an American Housing Survey found that adding a half-bath can increase home value 10.5 percent and a full bath contributes 20 percent to home value. Lower heating and cooling bills by replacing outdated windows and doors with energy efficient ones.

Were especially excited about the range of exhibitors, demonstrations and experts wholl be part of this years show, said Cade.

Fall in love with your home all over again. Get inspired to kick start or finalize renovation plans with the help of design and renovation experts and two buildings of one-stop shopping including: decorating, gardening, remodeling, window treatments, home theater, landscaping, kitchens & baths, do-it-yourself, flooring, windows & doors, siding, heating/cooling, pools, outdoor entertainment and a myriad of other home related products and services. Whether planning a major renovation or smaller home updates, youll be right at home at the Katy Home & Garden Show with the ability to comparison shop in one convenient area. Find out how to make green improvements which can reduce electrical and heating bills or creative ideas to improve your homes curb appeal.

For those interested in a new garden, landscaping tips or other home improvement how-tos the Katy Home and Garden Show is brimming with ideas; experts and workshops. Foodies can get in on the fun with more than 20 food sampling booths.

On Saturday, attendees will meet celebrity DIY TV Host, Jason Cameron, who helps bring life to dreary landscapes and or specialized man caves.

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Katy Home and Garden Show set for this weekend

Corvus Construction Is Seattle #39;s Go To Company For Kitchen Remodels
Visit http://corvus-construction.com to meet the kitchen and bathroom remodeling experts at Corvus Construction. Founded in 2006 by Denis Vladyko, Corvus Con...

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Corvus Construction Is Seattle's Go To Company For Kitchen Remodels - Video

Think a renovation is out of your reach? It's not! We lay out some kitchen remodel ideas for every budget, from $50 to $10,000.

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Use this road map to create the kitchen of your dreams -- no matter the reality of your budget.

BUDGET: $50 OR LESS Paint is the easiest, least expensive way to transform a tired looking kitchen. Choose a semigloss latex paint, which will allow you to easily sponge off the inevitable food splashes and spatters. Also, opt for a semigloss finish on the trim, such as the baseboard and around windows and doors. For best results, don't skimp out on prep work. Kitchen surfaces accumulate grime, so be sure to wash all walls and the ceiling with a TSP (trisodium phosphate) or a TSP substitute before painting. This will help clean and prepare the surface so that the paint adheres to it properly.

Schulte

Pot racks, lid holders, shelving, drawer organizers, pullout trays, and utensil crocks are affordable ways to keep clutter at bay and let the charm of your kitchen shine greatly. Open shelving takes advantage of empty walls and gives the kitchen an airy feeling. Stretch your makeover dollars by DIYing your storage organizers.

MCT

Replace those dim CFL floods with halogen floods. You'll still save energy over traditional incandescent bulbs, and the light will be a substantial improvement. Install a dimmer switch so that the halogens last a longer and save even more energy. As for those still-good CFLs, don't toss them. Save them for use in utilitarian spaces, such as the garage, basement, attic, or closets. Add under-cabinet lighting to existing kitchen cabinets and bring countertop work areas out of the shadows. Use decorative lights over kitchen tables to change the mood when it's time to dine.

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Cabinets are often the most expensive items in any kitchen makeover. If yours look worn and have become soft and gummy around the pulls, consider refinishing or repainting the doors and frames instead of replacing the entire units. This will make a big impact in your kitchen at the fraction of the cost of brand-new cabinets.

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Kitchen Remodel Ideas for Every Budget - DIY Life

JOHNSTOWN Rick Jefferson was sound asleep when fate awakened him Dec. 13.

At 7 a.m., the contractor and remodeler was awakened by a stranger knocking on his rear door.

Upon answering the door, he found a young woman asking for help.

I think I am going into labor, Jefferson quoted the mother-to-be as saying.

The woman did not have a telephone or a car so she started walking down the alley until she found someone with a vehicle to take her to the hospital, Jefferson said.

I asked her how far along she was, and she said eight months, Jefferson said.

Thinking that the woman was probably in false labor, he ran upstairs to change out of his night clothes before driving her to the hospital.

So Im upstairs changing clothes and I heard her scream.

I ran downstairs and she was lying on my kitchen floor.

She screamed again and said that her water just broke, he said.

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Hornerstown man an unexpected hero

Atlanta Classic Kitchens provides Atlanta kitchen remodeling, kitchen design, custom cabinets, and interior design to bring your new kitchen to life.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and itshould be designed around whats truly important family, friends, foodand life!

As a professional interior designer for over 20 years, I know that the kitchen is the heart and soul of your home. Thats why at Atlanta Classic Kitchens we will lead you through the process one step at a time, showing you how to make your kitchen work for the way you live and cook.

Atlanta kitchen design withfactory direct pricing on a complete remodel. This includes kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, sinks, islands, lighting fixtures and flooring. At Atlanta Classic Kitchens you will receive top rated designat discount kitchen remodeling prices. We will help you select just the right elements to transform your kitchen into theheart of your home.

While many kitchen design companies in atlanta can take up to 6 weeks to complete a kitchen remodel. Atlanta Classic Kitchens offers a unique customer service promise to remodel your kitchen in up to three weeks all while saving you up to 30% off ofcompetitors prices making your new kitchen more affordable than ever.

Withthis commitment to exceptional quality and customer service it isno wonder that Atlanta Classic Kitchens has been the preferred Atlanta kitchen design company for over 20 years!

As the owner of Atlanta Classic Kitchens I offermy clients the ultimate experience in kitchen remodeling, interior design and renovation. By removing the middleman, our prices will allow you to achieve the kitchen design of your dreams.

If you are interested ininstalling newcustom cabinets, updating your kitchen countertops, or simply brainstorming for some great renovation ideas- Atlanta Classic Kitchens offers you personalized servicewith competitive pricing on all materials, servicesand labor.

You wont have to manage multiple contacts for your kitchen remodeling project. I will be your one-contact project manager, from designing the space, selecting the materials, price quotes, sales of all selections, all contrators- from demolitionto the completed installation.

With Atlanta Classic Kitchens getting the kitchen of your dreams really is that simple!

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Atlanta Kitchen Remodeling | Atlanta Kitchen Design | Atlanta ...

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Low-flow toilets are now a requirement for building permits in additions or alterations to residential and commercial properties.(Ashley Gebb/Staff Photo)

All Chico E-R photos are available here.

CHICO -- Most people appreciate a little privacy in the bathroom, but a new state law now requires those doing remodels or additions to invite building officials right on in.

The passage of Senate Bill 407 in 2009 requires water-conserving plumbing fixtures in any property built before 1994 that undergoes additions, alterations or improvements.

The code change, which requires the work prior to final building permit approval, took effect Jan. 1.

The code change essentially means toilets, showerheads and faucets must be converted to low-flow fixtures for projects such as kitchen remodels and room additions. Noncompliant fixtures are toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush, urinals that use more than 1 gallon per flush, showerheads that flow more than 2.5 gallons per minute, and interior faucets that emit more than 2.2 gallons per minute.

The mandated conversion has building officials, contractors and those pondering potential home projects worried about potential implications.

"Was it the best of intentions? Absolutely. The problem is that things are just more complicated," said Kate Leyden, executive director of Valley Contractors Exchange.

Inevitable impacts

While goals for water conservation are admirable, the law may have unintended consequences, Leyden said.

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Low-flow water fixtures now linked to building permits; Butte County residents react

Clarke County Hospital is renovating the north side of the hospital facility to house the new Materials Management Department. Construction will be completed February.

The materials management department is responsible for all supplies and medical inventory throughout the hospital. By moving the department from its current location on the basement floor to the main floor, many challenges will be resolved.

We will be closer to the medical departments once we move to the main floor, so we will be able to distribute the supplies efficiently, said Deb Mathes, materials manager at Clarke County Hospital. Moving our receiving area to the north end of the building will also allow supply trucks easier access to our loading dock, improving the flow of street traffic.

Other facility improvements include a new emergency generator, new water piping in the kitchen area and new air handler for heating and cooling on the north side of the facility.

Just like our medical equipment, we keep our facility equipment up to date in order to provide patients best care possible, said Brian Evans, chief-executive officer of Clarke County Hospital. The new emergency generator, for example, will produce nearly three times as much power in the case of an outage. In disasters, we will be the place of refuge for anyone needing emergency medical assistance.

These renovations at Clarke County Hospital are the start of a five-year facility expansion. Funding for the $24 million project will come from hospital savings, hospital revenue bonds, general-obligation bonds and other identified sources. The financial forecasting of debt repayment does not include tax increases.

We are dedicated to the people of Clarke County and therefore feel that it is important to keep our commitment of not asking the Clarke County tax payers for additional tax dollars, Evans said.

Clarke County Hospital has reduced its ask for county taxes the past nine consecutive years. Savings to Clarke County taxpayers equal over $1.7 million to date.

About Clarke County Hospital

Clarke County Hospital is a 25-bed, critical access hospital with advanced diagnostic and telemedicine technology.

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Clarke County Hospital remodels facility’s north end

Kitchen remodels creative design kitchen interior
Smart kitchen cabinets, convenient and modern housewives #39;ll really comfortable and inspiring in the kitchen. pictures:furniture.trendzona.com see more inspir...

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Kitchen remodels creative design kitchen interior - Video

Neil Kelly Cabinets in Portland, Ore., reports that homeowners are continuing to have an interest in environmentally friendly or green cabinetry options for their kitchen remodels and home renovations. According to a company rep, this information is based on anecdotal evidence from the companys 20+ designers.

But while the interest is there, as seen in an uptick in dealers looking for cabinetry options for chemically sensitive clients, there is some confusion about what constitutes a sustainable kitchen cabinet.

The sheer number of cabinets on the market can be daunting for consumers, states Mark Smith, president of Neil Kelly Cabinets. But new labeling programs, such as the Declare label, which acts as a nutrition label for building products, makes it easier for consumers to choose healthier products for their home.

With Declare, dealers, builders and consumers can use its product database and label to find manufacturers that have declared their product ingredients, source and manufacturing locations and determine which are free of Red List chemicals and materials. Imperative 11, Red List, is part of the Living Building Challenge certification program

Smith advises homeowners to also ask these questions when evaluating cabinet options:

1. Will it contribute to a healthier home?Chemical sensitivity is a serious and growing public health problem that affects people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds. Consumers struggling with chemical sensitivity should use less toxic everyday cleaning products and also select kitchen cabinetry with lower VOC finishes.Cabinets that optimize indoor air quality and healthful living feature: - No formaldehyde panels - Regional responsible solid wood and wood veneers - No formaldehyde and low VOC adhesives and finishes - Certified woods

2. Is it healthy for the planet?Many consumers want to minimize their environmental footprint, yet maximize a rooms style and design. One way to do so is to learn about a companys manufacturing process. Selecting U.S.-made cabinets also helps reduce a products overall carbon footprint.

3. Does it integrate well into a homes style?Consumers who want to make a responsible choice dont have to sacrifice style. There are many earth-friendly cabinetry options that let discerning homeowners create a truly original look and to feel good doing so. Homeowners should select a cabinet style that reflects the overall design of a space such as mid-century modern, craftsman, transitional or eclectic.

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Declare Label Helps Clients Choose the Best Cabinetry for Their Kitchens and the Planet

Annual Cost vs. Value Survey Finds Curb Appeal Improvements Deliver Best Returns

DALLAS Amidst a continually evolving residential real estate market, a national home improvement study has found that there is at least one constant homeowners can still bank on improving a homes exterior is money well spent.

For the third year running, Remodeling magazines annual Cost vs. Value survey has found that eight of the top 10 remodeling projects for return on investment (ROI) at resale are those that enhance curb appeal. Among those projects, garage door replacement again ranks high, whether homeowners choose a mid-level or high-end upgrade.

Regardless of whether a homeowner decides to replace their entry-level garage door with a mid-grade door, or change out their mid-level door for one at a higher price point, garage door replacement takes two of the top three spots for improvements that cost less than $5,000, said Joe Dachowicz, vice president of marketing at Overhead Door Corporation, one of the nations largest manufacturers of overhead doors and openers for residential and commercial applications.

At 75.7 percent on average, mid-range garage door replacement is the second-best ranked project for returning value when spending less than $5,000, the 2012-2013 Cost vs. Value survey found. Its also the fourth-highest rated project out of more than 35 projects evaluated, ahead of both bathroom and kitchen remodels. Meanwhile, an upscale garage door replacement delivers a 75.2 percent ROI, making it the third-highest ranked project under $5,000 and the sixth-highest rated home improvement project overall.

The surveys results confirm what industry insiders have known for years, Dachowicz says.

Many homes incorporate a design that places the garage at the front and center of a homes view from the curb, said Dachowicz. This is why garage door replacement is, and always has been, a great investment; its a relatively low-cost improvement that makes a dramatic impact on curb appeal.

As in past years, this years survey determined the ROI for garage door replacement by evaluating the typical $1,500 cost to replace a basic garage door with a mid-range door model. The survey found the value of that replacement at home sale to be $1,132, or 75.7 percent ROI. Meanwhile, the roughly $2,700 cost to replace a mid-range garage door model with an upscale one delivered an estimated value at sale of $2,046, equating to a 75.2 percent return.

Picking out the perfect garage door to match a homes style and the homeowners budget is as easy as going online, Dachowicz said, thanks to Overhead Doors DoorView Design Center. An online tool, DoorView allows homeowners to upload a photo of their home to Overhead Doors website and then test various Overhead Door garage doors to see how their homes curb appeal will improve.

Most busy families use their garage door as the homes primary entrance, Dachowicz said. Given that, garage door replacement is not only a great way to welcome yourself home every day, but a terrific way to make your home stand apart from your neighbors.

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Three Years and Counting, Garage Door Upgrades Return High Home Renovation Values