For many families, the kitchen is the most important room in the house, topping the list of rooms where they gather most. And its almost always the busiest room when entertaining friends.

But if your kitchen is outmoded or looking just plain drab, some easy, cost-efficient updates can make it more inviting, without undertaking a major remodeling job.

Walls

Wallpaper styles come and go. And if your walls were papered more than a few years ago, you are probably living with a design thats no longer in fashion.

For a timeless look, strip the dated wallpaper and replace it with a bright new coat of paint. Be sure to choose a color that nicely complements the floors, countertops and cabinets.

For a modern take on wallpaper, look for mosaic tile collections that showcase beautiful tiles and patterns, providing texture for any wall in your home. For example, Trend USA offers patterns ideally suited to give tired accent walls a fresh twist.

Countertops

Inconvenience is a major factor with a full kitchen remodel. But you can update the overall appearance of the kitchen by redoing just the countertops. For example, Granite Transformations, a kitchen and bathroom remodeling company, can transform a kitchen in one day by replacing your countertops with heat, cold and scratch resistant glass or granite.

Excerpt from:
Quick And Easy Ways To Update Your Kitchen

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Bill O'Brien is still living out of a hotel room nearly three months after arriving at Penn State to take over the football program.

At least O'Brien is back in his element at work with spring drills finally starting for the Nittany Lions.

The start of practice Monday allowed the first on-field glimpse into the transition to the first new head coach at Penn State in nearly a half-century. O'Brien made his presence known during a fast-paced day of drills.

O'Brien is slowly leaving his own mark of the program, from a remodeling of the weight room to an overhaul of the offense.

The late Joe Paterno ran the program 46 years before his ouster in November in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against a retired assistant coach.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Penn State begins first spring under O'Brien

Some remodeling, some new menu items and a new name has converted Memes Antiques & Tea Room in Reeds Spring to MeMes Antiques & Country Caf.

According to owner Judy Thornton, the restaurant features breakfast and lunch with all homemade meals such as country fried steak, cashew chicken and four kinds of quiche. They also have pies and cakes, including their specialty, fried pies. Thornton said one of the unique features of the restaurant is that customers can shop for antiques, glassware, books by local authors and more while they wait for their food.

Everything is for sale, including the table you eat on, she said.

The restaurant also hosts book-signings by local authors, through Homegrown Books, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month.

The restaurant is at 17 Spring Street, near Missouri 413 (Old Highway 13) in downtown Reeds Spring. Hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 417-272-0009.

Jordan Heinz State Farm Insurance opened earlier this year in Nixa.

Located at 504 E. Mount Vernon Street, Jordan Heinz Insurance offers a range of services from auto, home, renters, life, mutual funds, mortgage products, annuities and State Farm Bank products.

Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call 417-725-2621 or visit http://www.jordanheinzinsurance.com.

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Reeds Spring cafe has new name, look

25-03-2012 18:40 A Major Renovation - Custom Kitchen Remodel completed in 4 weeks in San Diego

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The Remodel Process - Video

Conventional wisdom, as it relates to houses, is often too much convention and not enough wisdom.

Every year, somebody publishes a list of which conventional home improvements will give you the best (or the worst) return on your remodeling investment.

Remodel a bathroom. Replace your siding. Don't build a swimming pool. Paint everything neutral colors.

Sit up straight. Get a haircut. Call your mother.

If "return on investment" (ROI) is why you bought a home, or why you're remodeling one, you can stop reading now. Because the rest of this article isn't for you.

Three, two, one still here?

You invest in your home to improve livability first, not value. If you get more value in the process, consider it a bonus, but don't make ROI your prime directive.

Otherwise you'll end up like the potential client that came into my office a few years ago with a three-page single-spaced typewritten (as in made with a "typewriter") list of things he wanted in his house.

His list included this line: "A large dining room, near the kitchen. Although we don't need or want a dining room." Why would he want to build a room he didn't need?

Because he's

Read more here:
9 unconventional ways to improve your home

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Starting Monday, the core exhibits at the LBJ Library on The University of Texas campus will close to the public as renovation work on the ground floor and Great Hall begins. The redesign will take the remainder of the year to complete.

The last major renovation of the LBJ Library was in 1984, and the redesign calls for a more contemporary, interactive experience for visitors.

Not all areas of the museum are yet closed, however. The public can visit exhibits on the 10th floor, which include the Oval Office and First Lady's Gallery, until mid-July, when they too will close for renovation.

The library's reading room will not close, but remain open for researchers' use Monday through Friday each week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The reading room is always closed on federal holidays. Researchers who plan to visit the facility are asked to notify the library's supervisory archivist of their research topic and travel plans as far as in advance as possible.

Some of the collections housed at the LBJ Library include the Pentagon Papers , LBJ's daily diary , selected speeches and messages , Lady Bird Johnson's oral histories and audio recordings made on Air Force One after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

This is a new day for LBJ, says Mark K. Updegrove, LBJ Library director. President Johnson insisted that the LBJ Library present an unvarnished look at his presidency, along with the triumphs and turmoil of the times. Now is our opportunity to present this story using 21st century technology with state-of-the art interactive elements.

The remodeling is being funded by private donations from the nonprofit Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation, which also provides grants for scholars and researchers who utilize the library's collections.

A grand opening will be celebrated in December, in conjunction with what would have been Lady Bird Johnson's 100th birthday. The library was dedicated on May 22, 1971.

The new features of the redesign include:

Online exhibits of an LBJ timeline and his daily diary records will remain accessible to the public.

Original post:
Remodeling starts at LBJ Library

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Tribune photos by January Wetzel / Sydnee Long, 9, lying down, brother, Joey Long, 6, center, and Tristan Clawson, 6, watch television in the newly renovated living room at Anchor House in Seymour. The shelter%u2019s kitchen, pictured in the background, also was completely redone thanks to donations and volunteers from Home Depot, Seymour Jaycees, Skaggs Builders and Bill Sons Handyman.

Tribune photos by January Wetzel / A closeup of the new counters, stove and appliances in the remodeled Anchor House kitchen is seen this this photo.

Sitting around a new kitchen table, three young children laugh and tease each other as they enjoy a healthy snack.

Their stick-figure drawings and coloring pages hang on the doors of a new refrigerator.

After cleaning up, the kids head into the living room, an area divided from the kitchen by a breakfast bar that is often occupied by adults.

Plopping down in bean bag chairs on the floor, they flip on the television to watch cartoons.

This could be the scene from any home in Jackson County, but thanks to donations and a major remodeling project, its now also an everyday occurrence at Anchor House homeless shelter in Seymour.

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House becomes a home

MADISON The Wisconsin National Guard Armory in Onalaska will get an overdue remodeling as the State Building Commission Wednesday approved a $3 million upgrade of the facility.

Built in 1959, the armory at 910 Oak Forest Drive has never been extensively renovated and has become outdated. The air conditioning and ventilation systems are failing and it lacks fire alarms and a fire sprinkler system now required by code, said Lt. Col. Daniel Pulvermacher.

"This isn't a complete remodeling but it does address a lot of building's major components," he said.

The work will include upgrading the telephone and data systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in 8,300 square feet of offices and classrooms. Also, it includes installation of sprinklers and alarms, upgrading the arms vault and supply room, electrical upgrades and asbestos removal.

The project is entirely federally funded. Construction bids will be awarded in July for renovations to begin in September and be completed by June 2013.

Troops won't be relocated during the renovations but will be moved within the building as needed to accommodate remodeling.

"This will provide a more efficient and effective facility as well as bring it up to current codes," Pulvermacher said.

The armory is home to Company A, 32nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and U.S. Army Reserve units.

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State commission OKs $3 million armory remodeling

19-03-2012 14:27 hey everyone so i am really sorry that i have not been making any videos lately as you can see from the title and the video i am remodeling my room and its alot of work so i do not knw when i am going to be done with it.

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Quick update (i am remodeling my room) - Video

20-03-2012 21:01 losangeleshomeremodeler.com Call (888) 704-2758 for a fast free quote on your home remodeling project in LA Whether it's a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation, room addition or a whole house remodel, we can take care of your home remodeling needs at up to 50% off what other home remodelers in LA are charging. Yes, that's right! Just give us a call and we will explain how. No catch, no gimmicks, just the honest truth about how some other remodeling companies in Los Angeles charge you up to double what we charge. We are fully licensed, bonded and insured and can provide you with as many references as you need of satisfied clients. Thanks for viewing our video and please do not hesitate to call us at (888) 704-2758. We will be glad to answer any of your questions about the remodeling and construction process as well as give you the most competitive quote. Have a great day!

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Home Remodeling in Los Angeles (888) 704-2758 - Video