Keep it light

Keep ceramic tile light color in smaller rooms. Use paint and vanities color to accent the room.

Tile locks you in for years so staying neutral and light in smaller rooms is wise.

You do not want to walk into a dungeon

If at all possible open up the stairwell going down into a basement. The simples way to do this is to cut out a some area above the railing towards the bottom. This allows lights to flow into the stairwell which is so helpful. Another way is to add scones to the walls in the stairwell.

Ceramic for vinyl

Ceramic tile to replace vinyl is an easy yet cost effective way to improve any room. You can get tile for as low as $1 a ft. If you putting it on concrete, with a little reading, you can probably do it yourself.

Crown Molding

Crown molding is another very inexpensive way to dress up a dining room or for that matter any room. This can be done with either a one piece molding or 2 or 3 piece. The higher the ceiling the more pieces you can use. Paint it a brillians white to match your baseboards and this will allow you to bring some color into your room.

Molding sure helps

Dress up your dining room with chair- rail molding. This goes nrmally about 3 ft up from the floor an allows a great break point for painting. The safest way to go is with white on the molding and below and a color that draws from your curtains.

Adding color to a room

Most customers try to stay very conservative with paint colors, never knowing for sure how dark they can go. If you have alot of light coming into the room or bookshelves you can be a little risky.

If you not sure go one color lighter on the swatch and see how it looks. Adding an additonal coat one shade darker does not cost much. This will allow you to take the risk which can dramatically change the feel of a room.

Your not stuck with your old fireplace

If you are tired of looking at that red brick fireplace you do have options. One very basic idea

is to paint it. Yes, with a quality paint designed for this you can paint it any color you want. It is hard to go wrong with white, it really brightens up any room. If you want to spend more, normally around 2-3 k, another option would be to re-face it. In short, remove your brick front or go on top of it with a tile or faux stone/ brick.

Finishes matter

Choosing your paint finish. It is is a room with alo0t of windows, you may want to soften the finish with Satin or even flat. Light (sun) tends to show every imperfection in your wall so use a less shiney finish. The trim can still be semi-gloss.

Its a partnership

When hiring a contractor, make sure you think alike. It is important that you both have the same iidea/ goal of what the finished project should look and funtion like.

2 MIrrors may be better than 1

If you have a vanity with 2 sinks in it( it sometimes referred to a his and her usually in master bath) and one large mirror above it go with two smaller mirrors looks great. Oval mirrors really look good. It goes without saying that new smaller light fixtures will be needed.

Sean Castorina

Update your plumbing fixtures

Not everyone can afford a complete bathroom re-do so start with just your fixtures. It is
amazing what brushed nickel or rubbed oil faucet and light fixtures can do.

If you see blue tape come out your in trouble!

Let me let you in on a secret. Professional painters rarily use blue tape. Profession painters
free hand all their cuts. If they had to use tape the job would take forever. Just for fun, ask whoever is doing your painting if they use painters tape. The instances that a pianter would use tape is when they are painting above tile or 2 colors next to each other. If you have a simple room being painted just ask if tape will be used, if so, you may want to pass.

In-Law Suites

Least expensive way to add room

A screen porch will be your favorite room on your house from April through October.
Easy to keep clean, since you do not have to dust or vacuum, it is basically a maintenance free room. With some inexpensive furniture outdoor furniture, wicker is cheap and looks great, you have an outdoor haven. It is great for entertaining and just reading a book. I keep a wicker table
that I have a couple books that I only read when I am outside.

Add some warnth and atmosphere

Get some color on the walls! If your interior is still the builders grade white or antique white, it is time for some color. I am not saying every room, but some color can make a huge difference. Dining rooms need color, kitchens need color, master bedrooms need color. You need to have an atmosphere in these rooms. Color adds atmosphere and warmth.