Fireplaces: Adding Warmth and Beauty to Your Home

With the heat and humidity of the summer fading, it is time to consider how to stay warm year around. A fireplace is an excellent way to make sure your family makes it through the winter in comfort and warmth. Whether you decide to add a new fireplace or embellish an existing one, a fireplace can be the centerpiece where family and friends can gather when the weather turns cold.

A Fireplace as a Focal Point

 

A fireplace can be a major feature in a home. Making a fireplace a true centerpiece of the house can be done by creating a beautiful space that family members and house guests will appreciate. It can provide an alternative to gathering in front of the television and somewhere to resign to once the workday has ended and dinner is done. “Like all remodel projects, tailoring the fireplace to suit the tastes and needs of the homeowner is what makes the end result of a project worthwhile,” said David Juarez, owner of D.J.’s Painting and Remodeling. “We specifically strive to ensure the customer is getting exactly what they want, whether it is a fireplace or any other project.”

Adding a Fireplace

Starting from scratch can be a large project, but the reward is sensational when a once blank wall is transformed into a beautiful hearth. “This is where the help of a general contractor can be the greatest benefit. When a homeowner is taking on a remodel project like adding a fireplace, having a contractor that will listen to what you want, pay attention to the details, and make sure the final product is perfect can make a big project a great experience,” said David Juarez. The dream of having a fireplace in your home can quickly become a reality.

Sprucing up an Existing Fireplace

Small changes can make a great difference when a homeowner is seeking to enhance an existing fireplace. Adding trim, brick, or a beautiful mantel can change not just the look of the fireplace, but change the feel of a room. If the brick or trim is in need of touchups, re-staining the wood or resurfacing brick could be the touch that is required to update a fireplace inherited from a different era or a worn out hearth.

The Comfort of a Fireplace

A fireplace is more than a heat source. It adds beauty to a house, but can also create a warm gathering space within the home. As the weather grows colder and the winds start to blow, a fireplace is a feature of a home that can be added or altered to make it the space you always craved in the midst of frightful winter weather.

This article can also be viewed in the November 2012 issue of Pastelle Magazine or online at www.PastelleMagazine.com.

The Emotional Impact of Color

Years of color response research proves that color arouses a strong emotional response and impacts our mood, appetite, and energy level, so it’s important to be aware of this when decorating your home. While people may have an individual association to certain colors, there are some color effects that are universal.


Colors in the red, orange, and yellow families are known as “warm colors” and usually evoke emotions of warmth and comfort. Blues, greens and violets are known as “cool colors” and generally elicit feelings of tranquility and calm. We discussed the 6 steps to selecting the right paint color last month, let’s delve a little deeper into the emotional impact of specific colors and how you might want to consider this when choosing paint colors for specific rooms. What emotional impact would you like a room to have?

Red: This powerful color increases blood pressure, heart rate, brain wave activity, and even respiration. It often produces feelings of intimacy, energy, passion, and sexuality. It also stimulates the appetite and is often used in restaurants and is an excellent choice for dining rooms in the home.

Orange: Like red, orange warms a room but in a less dramatic and passionate way. The mood and attitude of orange is more friendly than fiery; more welcoming than seductive, as it is said to be the color of fun and sociability. Warm and energizing orange works well in living rooms and family rooms and is also a good choice for children’s bedrooms.

Yellow: Yellow grabs attention and catches the eye like no other color as it inspires a sunny disposition and optimism! As a reminder of happiness and a memory stimulator it’s often used in offices. In poorly lit foyers and hallways, yellow shows the way. In their bedrooms, elderly people report that yellow lifts their mood. But bright yellow can be too strong and may actually cause anxiety in infants, young children, and the elderly as it is also said to cause fatigue.

Blue: Blue is a relaxing color and has a calming effect on the body and is said to create feelings of cleanliness, healing, and wisdom. As the best liked color and a reminder of the ocean, sky, and time off work, it is an ideal bedroom color choice for adults and children. However, that same blue that lulls us to sleep also suppresses our appetites, possibly because there are very few naturally blue foods. Put blue to bed, but try and keep it out of the dining room.

Green: As the dominate color in nature, we are at home with green anywhere in the house as it is associated with freshness, coolness, clarity, and growth. It’s calming and soothing effect provides a tranquilizing effect. Light greens work well in baths and living rooms; mid-range greens are a great accent for kitchens and dining rooms. The calming effect of green makes it popular in hospitals, schools, and work environments.

Violet: Despite the favorable response violet elicits in children, many adults dislike purples, with rosier shades of violet being somewhat more appealing. Violet heightens our awareness and helps us give our very best. Children’s bedrooms and play areas may be good places to experiment with this color family.

Don’t be afraid of color! Experiment and find the colors that work for you.

This article can also be viewed in the March 2012 issue of Pastelle Magazine or online at www.PastelleMagazine.com.

A Helpful House: Home Automation

Imagine the convenience of controlling your entire home from your computer, phone, or tablet, the simplicity of having one remote for an entire audio-visual system, and the peace of mind from having access to the security system of your home from any location. It is more than just automation. “A home automation system takes a complex network of systems within your home and makes them easy to operate,” explained David Juarez, owner of D.J.’s Painting and Remodeling. “It means complete control of the home, with enhanced simplicity, security, and comfort that offers practical uses and real benefits to homeowners.”

Enhancing the Audio-Visual

A major benefit of having home automation is simplifying the audio-visual system. The need for multiple remotes is eliminated and consolidated onto one controller which can turn on music in all corners of the house, turn on the television, start a movie, set the volume, and could even be programmed to dim the lights and close the curtains. Not only does it provide simplicity for the audio-visual, but also flexibility for each family member to choose the music for the area of the house that they are in and to customize their own home theater experience.

The Practical Side of Home Control

Having an automation system can positively affect the security and safety of your home. Passwords for each family member alert the head of household when someone is home or when someone has entered the house that should not be there. In case of a fire, the system will alert the fire department, flash the outside lights so the home can be easily found, and light a direct path to the exits. The system can also inform you if a bedroom door is opened, a child is out of bed, or even if a family member has forgotten to take their medication. When a family member arrives home to an empty house, all the lights in the house can instantly be turned on. “I firmly believe that the system provides peace of mind by keeping track of and protecting the important things in your life,” explains Juarez.

Luxury and Comfort

Home automation is more than practical. It has the capacity to add comfort and luxury to suit your lifestyle. Screensavers on the television allow you to view pictures from family vacations and events that would otherwise remain unviewed in your computer; display recipes on a touch screen in the kitchen; or program the thermostat to adjust temperature when the family is gone and again when they return. Imagine the possibilities and learn how home automation can become a reality.

While this small glimpse highlights how home control and automation can make our busy lives safer, simpler and more comfortable, it’s nice to know that this home improvement project can start small and expand based on budget or necessity. What might begin as simplifying the audio-visual system could eventually encompass every aspect of a customer’s life so Juarez stresses the importance of working with a company who is knowledgeable about the possibilities and able to work with a customer’s needs, now and in the future. “What I like about home automation is the way it can be tailored to suit individual needs and the number of ways I can help turn a customer’s house into a helpful home.”

This article can also be viewed in the October 2012 issue of Pastelle Magazine or online at www.PastelleMagazine.com.

Transform Your Basement

 

Need more living space? First look to your basement! That dark and dreary storage room is just looking to be reinvented! Finishing or remodeling a basement can be inspired by many different desires –the need for a home office, a playroom, a fitness center, or an extra bedroom, for example. Try these ideas to turn your basement from a cold, gloomy afterthought into a warm, inviting centerpiece.

Game Room: When it comes to transforming your basement into a game room, the possibilities are truly endless, and it’s not just the younger members of the family that enjoy game rooms. Having a dedicated game room can really encourage the whole family to get together and have some fun rather than be stuck in front of the TV all evening not socializing. If you aren’t working with a lot of space, you can’t go wrong with a dart board and a small air hockey table that doesn’t require lots of gaming space. If you have the entire basement, anything you want to work with is an option! Just remember, good lighting is the key in any basement atmosphere!

Theater Room:As the prices of wide-screen and high-definition TVs, DVDs, and surround sound speakers become more affordable, home theaters are now an option for even the most modest of finished basements. Although a dedicated room creates more of a home theater atmosphere, a larger space can get the job done as well, as it depends on careful space planning and layout more than anything else. The basement disadvantage of poor lighting becomes a plus, because too much natural lighting can cause bothersome glares and reflections. Remember that it’s not uncommon to spend multiple hours watching a movie, so it is important to choose furniture with adequate support, and don’t forget the end and coffee tables where drinks and snacks are easily accessible.

Home Gym: For many, a trip to the local gym is just another stop in your already jam-packed day. Having your own home gym will allow you to exercise and sweat like a pig in privacy, plus it is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Before running out and buying all the latest equipment, take into consideration the space limitations of the equipment you want, and keep in mind that many pieces need additional space while they are being used. Another thing to take into consideration is the finish of the floor. Because you may be spending some time exercising on the floor, you want to make sure the floor is durable, easy to clean, and soft. Vinyl, linoleum, cork, and rubber are the best choices, and you will want to stay away from carpet, because although it is soft and absorbs noise, it also absorbs water and is hard to clean.

This article can also be viewed in the August 2012 issue of Pastelle Magazine or online at www.PastelleMagazine.com.

Sump Pump Woes

Our much needed rain has finally come around and, unfortunately, it seems to be catching up quickly. Therefore, we’re sure you have made sure your sump pumps are equipped and ready for the upcoming storms so you won’t have to make that wonderful insurance call for your flooded basement. 

But what if your power goes out?
 

 Below are a few options to consider so you don’t have that panicked, pit-in-the-stomach feeling when the lights go out. 

• Back-up battery sump pump that allows the pump to run while you do not have power to your house. While this seems to be a great solution, this would only allow for short outages (about 4 hours) as with any battery, they die over time.  During an extended power outage this would not be your best option.

• Homes with reliable public water supply of 40 to preferably 100 p.s.i. might want to consider a water pressure pump system.  Non-electric, this pump relies on the natural water pressure of your fresh water system to operate a vacuum that slowly removes water from the basin.  It’s nearly 2 to 3 times the cost of a regular system, but may perform better over time. 

• If none of these options are for you, a generator can provide practically continuous power for as long as the fuel is available. These can cost anywhere from $400-$2,000 depending on running watts and mobility.

Decorating DON'TS!

DON'T use an area rug that is too small. Postage stamp-size rugs are one of the most common decorating mistakes. All of the furniture should be sitting on the rug. If this simply isn't possible, the front legs of larger pieces can be on the rug with the back two needn't be. All four legs of smaller pieces should be on the rug.

DON'T choose the paint color first. Paint is available in thousands of colors and can easily be changed. Choose your most expensive pieces first then decorate around them. THEN you can have fun with the wall colors! 

DON'T hang chandeliers too high. You want to light up the room, not the ceiling.

DON'T hang artwork too high. People have a tendency to hang art closer to the ceiling than it should be. Artwork should be hung at about eye-level. Obviously this varies from person to person, so use your judgment. But it's better to err on the side of lower rather than higher.

DON'T use short curtains. Curtains and drapes should just skim the floor. It's okay if they're longer and they puddle a bit, but they should never be shorter. Curtains that are too short have the same effect as pants that are too short: they make the wall look truncated and shorter than it is.

DON'T use too many throw pillows. Throw pillows are great decorative accents but don't use so many that you have to move them all of the couch, chair or bed before you sit or lie down. Just because it's displayed that way in a store it doesn't mean the look should be repeated in your home. 

DON'T use tiny accent pillows. The throw pillows you use should relate to the piece of furniture. A tiny pillow on a large chair looks bitsy and lost.

DON'T create a theme room. While they can be fun to decorate, people tend to get sick of them really quickly. Theme rooms look old and outdated very quickly and then you're stuck having to spend more money replacing items you no longer want. Instead try to add elements of the theme you like into a regular room. For instance, if you like jungle themes toss in a few animal prints such as zebra print cushions or an ottoman. (This is excluding kids’ rooms!!) 

DON'T opt for style over comfort. There are a lot of great looking items out there that look great but are totally uncomfortable to sit in. Always think about how you're going to use the piece before you buy. 

DON'T push all the furniture against the walls. Sometimes the room size can make this difficult, but try to pull furniture away from the walls to create more intimate conversation areas. This is particularly important in living rooms and family rooms. Some people are hesitant to show the backs of furniture pieces but if they're finished there's absolutely no reason why this should be so. 

DON'T rely on overhead lighting. While it's good to have, it doesn't offer enough lighting, and it's not particularly flattering. It's better to have a mix of overhead, ambient and task lighting. Use table lamps, floor lamps, sconces – whatever you like. Just be sure to use a mix. It will provide more light as well as make the room and everyone in it look better!

HAPPY DECORATING!!

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