Ideas from the New American Home 2011

A trend gaining popularity  - breakfast bars in the Master Bedroom. You don't have to go all out but the New American Home has room for a coffee pot, refrigerator, sink and plenty of storage. This one is housed in what would be a regular closet with bi-fold doors,  hiding the area when not in use. I think the only thing that would make this one perfect is a dishwasher drawer!

This picture from the New American Home is a view looking down into the two-story Great Room.  The designer used four different floor materials. This pattern adds to the interest of a very muted room. You don't have to go around your whole room to create interest, just try accenting the corners or center for something special without a huge cost.



Debra

Not your mothers appliances!

Mom never had choices like this and they are NOT for the color shy.

This first item is by Best - A RED "Lipstick" (really that is the name) range hood. This hood is the perfect accent to a contemporary style kitchen.  Personally my tastes range a bit more traditional but this one will leave an impression on guests.

 

Not in need of a Lipstick inspired range hood? Well how about a washer and dryer duo in GREEN? Not your 70's avocado green but a new hue with sparkle by Kenmore. To be honest, I really like green so I might be inclined to purchase this over the standard white appliance. Who said the laundry room can't look just as nice as the rest of your home?

 The units above are sitting higher because they are shown on the optional drawers. Honestly, I really like them raised up it makes accessing the clothes easier. I doubt if I would ever use the drawers since they are so low to the ground but it would be nice to have extra storage.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Debra
DesignHouse Inc
www.Design-House.com

New ADA features for your home

Aging in place means being able to live as close to independent in your older years as you did when you were younger.  Companies are making it easier to live in your existing home as you age using new technology. Granted these ideas are not rocket science but little things can make a big difference in the quality of life in years to come.

Here are a few items I saw at the IBS2011.

 The Auto Pantry by Storage Motion gives you lots of storage that is easy to reach with the touch of a button.

Shoe select from Storage Motion can hold up to 40 pair of shoes and with the touch of a button you have access to them all. http://www.storagemotion.com/

Enjoy... and have a great day!

Debra

Ideas from the IBS2011

Well, we are back from the IBS2011 - the International Builders Show 2011 to those that may not know what that stands for. I have to say that I am a bit tired but excited to show you some of the new products we saw.

It has been a while since I have posted on this blog.. forgive me, but I will try to be better this year! :-)

With over 500,000 sq.ft. (more than that if you count the show homes) we saw lots of items. I will be uploading information and pictures for you in the next few weeks.

So here we go.....

Kohler always has an impressive booth. I just had to share these pictures of a few new bath sinks with you.



I have to say this is my favorite. :-) I love the detailing.



It appears that vessel sinks are going to be hot again this year. Just remember if you order one of these make sure to buy a faucet that is tall enough to work with the size/style you choose.


Debra

House Refinance - HOUSE PLANS

When to do a house refinance

When considering doing a home or house refinance, every homeowner is unique. The right time for a house refinance will vary with each case. Typically, effective house refinancing means lowering your current mortgage loan rate by at least one percent. Within the house refinance you might also want to consider changing the length of your loan or receiving cash from the house equity. There are many house refinance calculators available online to see which mix of variables will give you the houses refinance result that you are searching for.

House refinancing benefits.

House refinance that lowers your monthly payment can help in achieving better cash flow. This is often done to offset the short term costs of perhaps a business loan or another short term need such as providing an education for the children. Again a house refinance calculator can assist in seeing the benefits that the house refinance could have. If the goal of the house refinance is to shorten the term of the house loan, it is sometimes advantageous to move from an inflexible house loan arrangement taken out many years ago, to refinance with a progressive income offset or other more modern institution. A quick search for house refinance on the internet will provide you with a huge array of companies that will often give you a free house refinance quote.

House equity considerations.

House equity is often used to borrow against and the cash utilized to make house improvements. Commonly, up to 90 percent of the appraised value of your house can be used to make home improvements. Useable house equity is based on the value of the home and what you currently owe, subject to individual state laws. Often, if you do a house refinance with a new rate and term, you may still qualify even if you have little house equity. Sometimes up to 90 percent (LTV) loan-to-value. In this case, for a house refinance to be accepted, a reappraisal of your home may be required.

Costs of a house refinance.

To do a house refinance, you will have associated closing costs that include various processing fees. Often you will be able to roll these into your new house refinance package to help minimize out of pocket expenses. The online calculators for the different house refinance companies should include these costs in there quotations.

House refinance in conclusion.

Depending on your circumstances and goals, a house refinance can be a profitable option. Be aware of noting all of the set up costs involved in the house refinance, and balance the total end of loan figures against any momentary gains. There are many house refinance companies vying for your business. Do not be afraid to ask for a better deal than what is being offered, as the amount of house refinance competition is huge and companies can often come up with a better house refinance package when pushed to do so.

Happy refinancing.

How to Sell Your House For the Maximum Price - HOUSE PLANS

How to sell your house for the maximum price:
To sell your house for the maximum price is probably the most important outcome that yourself and every other homeowners wishes for. There are several areas of the house selling process that you can control to help sell your house quicker while achieving the maximum sales price possible. In this article you'll discover what improvements you can make that will increase the saleability of your house to help you not only sell your house faster but they will also assist you to sell your house for the maximum price.

Sell Your House Tip # 1: Make small improvements to your house
Making small, inexpensive improvements to your house will create a massive difference in the appeal of your house to potential buyers. And in most cases you can complete the improvements yourself thereby saving you more money, providing you have the time to do the work. Here are some ideas for minor house improvements within several budget ranges. Under $1000 (DIY) - Re-paint the house inside and out, mow lawns and cut back trees and plants, tidy up gardens, place fresh flowers throughout the house $1000 - $3000 - All of the above plus re-carpet/polish floors/re-tile, pressure clean paths, driveways and roof, plant new plants and shrubs, new prints on walls, small furniture items.

Sell Your House Tip # 2: Have an interior decorator decorate your house
If you're not sure what needs to be done to 'freshen up' your house or how to go about it, hiring an interior decorator is a great way to ensure your house presents well at sale time. For a couple of hundred dollars you can have an interior decorator come into your house and provide an assessment of what can be done to improve the cosmetic appeal of your house.

Sell Your House Tip # 3: Rent or buy display furniture while your house is on the market
To sell your house for the best price it's essential to either rent or buy new furniture for your house while it's on the market for sale. It is an excellent way to liven up your house and present it in the best possible light. Regardless of the style of your house, you could hire or buy modern, country or classic furniture to match the existing theme of your house. You'll be amazed at the difference it can make.

Renting furniture for an extended period of time can get expensive so depending on your budget you could choose to rent, buy expensive furniture (if you're selling an expensive house) or buy budget furniture from places like Ikea. Coupled with other cosmetic improvements to your house, new furniture can make an amazing difference to the appeal of your house.

Sell Your House Tip # 4: Improve the 'smell' of your house
Have you ever walked into a house where there is a smell, odour, stench that hits you as soon as you walk in the door? This doesn't just happen on older houses either; it could be an odour from a pet, cigarettes or even dirty laundry in new houses too. This can turn off buyers as soon as they walk in the door. Ways to overcome this type of situation is to have the house professionally cleaned, freshly paint walls and ceilings, air out the house, replace carpet or simply place pot puree around the house. Often, if you're living there you don't notice any odour because you're amongst it all the time. Remember, to sell your house for the maximum price you have to approach everything from the perspective of the buyer. They are your main priority when you're trying to sell your house, so make sure you go the extra mile and have it cleaned to avoid this type of situation.

Sell Your House Tip # 5: Add color to your house
By adding some simple color to your house you can create a completely different look and feel to your house. You can display fresh flowers around your house, paint feature walls, add new pot plants around the house and add color wall prints. On the outside of the house, you could paint the guttering to a livelier color or simply repaint the outside of the house for a huge impact.

Sell Your House Tip # 6: Get the best agent
Having the best real estate agent representing the sale of your house can literally be the difference between a quick, easy sale or a drawn out, frustrating situation. In order to have the best agent you'll need to interview several agents that you've sought out yourself. Before you begin to sell your house, in the weeks leading up to putting your house on the market take notice of which agents are selling houses in your area and who seems to have the lions share of listings and sold signs on their listed houses. Approach existing homeowners that have just sold their house and ask them about their experiences with their agent, they'll be more than happy to tell you. I can't empasize how important this one step is to sell your house for the maximum price.

Sell Your House Tip # 7: Market the house better
Generally it is the real estate agent that will provide direction in terms of marketing but one of the questions that you should ask prospective agents is what is his/her specific marketing plan to sell your house. Will they be doing open houses, print advertising, database marketing, flyers, the Internet or a combination of some or all of these methods? Ask them what type of results they've experienced using the various marketing methods for houses similar to your's that are located in the same area as yours.

Matt Adams is Author of the book: 9 Secrets to Sell Your House For More in Any Market. In his book Matt shows homeowners how to quickly and easily sell their house for the highest price in the shortest possible timeframe, it's so simple, anyone can do it.

If you'd like to:
- Sell your house for more money (regardless of market conditions)
- Sell your house fast (even when the media says houses aren't selling)
- Save thousands of dollars on advertising (how about free?)
- Discover the most effective house selling methods (my little-known secrets)
- And be in a position of power when selling your house (we'll put you in control)

The 10th House In Vedic Astrology - HOUSE PLANS

What is the importance of the 10th House in a natal horoscope? The 10th House is the zenith point of the passage of the Sun through the 12 Houses, Sun being the natural atmakaraka or representative of our Soul. 10th House is where the Sun shines most visibly at maximum strength. It is where the Sun's hot rays, the radiance of our soul can make the most impact. It is where the soul's role is most important.

The 10th House is an Artha House. Artha means wealth and relates to resources. In a simplified way, the 10th House can be seen as our value as an individual during our short passage of time on this planet. It is really what our lives have amounted to at the end of the day when all is said and done. It is the very validity of our existence in the eye of a higher authority, the universe itself. 10th House is often attributed as being the House of profession but it is much more than that. It as our 'collective identity', where we fit in the bigger picture.

When analysing the chart from a mundane perspective, our daily job can be better determined by other factors in the chart even though the 10th House might give the type of professional backdrop we work under. we often find the 6th House (nature of our daily work), or 2nd House (earning money) more reflective of our professional role. The 10th House is related to those who have authority over us ie. father, employer, government, God. The employer or professional backdrop for a Scorpio Ascendant who has exalted Sun (10th lord) in Aries in the 6th House might be a renowned hospital or healing centre. But the nature of that person's daily work might be more reflected by the position of their 6th lord. If Mars, their 6th lord was exchanging with Mercury (11th and 8th lord) in the 6th and 8th House , they may be a secretary in the financial department of that organization. In the case of authors who have no regular 2nd House income and generate their income through 11th House (mass sales), their professional role is more easily seen via the 3rd/5th (publishing authorship) and 11th House.

10th House can be called the House of status.A well fortified 10th House will often give someone an esteemed position whether this is recognized by the masses or not. Mass popularity is not a direct result of 10th House, but more to do with factors such as 11th House (widespread influence on others), 7th House (dealings with the public) 4th House ( effect on the masses), 5th House (House of fame) and Moon (popularity).

Sun represents many things, ego, pride, father, authority, fame and finally soul. We don't perceive our soul's nature directly with our conscious intellect but our soul is the invisible observer or deep motivating force which propels us along. So even our greatest role as signified by the esoteric 10th House is not necessarily something we are always completely conscious of. A person with Aquarius Ascendant might have their 6th lord of daily work placed in the 3rd House of creative expression. Their daily work might be as a musician. They might have Rahu (anarchist) placed in their 10th House in the sign of Scorpio (upheaval) and their 10th lord Mars placed in the 2nd House in Pisces (nature of reality), so their 10th House role from a deeper universal perspective might be a revolutionary who is here to convey deeper truths on the nature of reality. The person doesn't call themselves a revolutionary, as far as they are concerned they are a musician or a poet (10th lord in 2nd House of poetry). But the 10th House will play out its role regardless of how they identify with it. The 10th House is unable to act out its role alone, everything depends on the chart as a whole. In this instance the nodes would be placed along the 4th and 10th House axis, so alot of this person's revolutionary potential depends on what they make of their 4th House (inner stability and psychological harmony) which provides them with the inner security needed to defy a greater establishment and the emotional maturity needed to awaken higher states of awareness. To be great at their role, their Ascendant would need to be strong, so that they can direct their basic energy or talent constructively. They should have a powerful 9th House, philosopy,higher wisdom,integrity. The strength of their 3rd House would reveal their motivation, courage and communication ability. So when we really try to understand the 10th House, a summation of our life's role on the planet and how well we play that role, all the other Houses of the chart either contribute or deflect from that role.

10th House is part of a group of two other Artha Houses, the 2nd and 6th House. So alot of our 'role' in terms of value or wealth is also dependant on these two other Houses. The 2nd House reflects the wealth of our Ascendant or First House. The First House is that sum of energy we are born with, the basic individual potential we are given to work with. If we were making a pie it would be the basic ingredients. We might be given bad ingredients or good ingredients depending on the strength or weakness of the House. A person born under Jyestha Ascendant in the third portion of Scorpio will have as one of their basic ingredients authoritative power. Where they display this talent for leadership is indicated by the direction of the Ascendant lord. If Mars, the Ascendant lord was placed in the 11th House in Virgo, they might be the leader in a group setting where they learn to interact with others in a very organised or specific manner. The worthiness of their leadership is connected to the second House, how resourceful they will be with that basic ingredient they have been given. If they develop and enrich that potential they can use this to help or serve others, to defeat opponents and to reconstruct or mould themselves (all facets of the 6th House). This is going to elevate them to a certain status in life, and allow them to have impact on the environment, world, universe, something they can be proud of or which makes them shine as reflected by the 10th House.

10th House also belongs to the kendra group of Houses. It is the pinnacle of these angular Houses. These kendra Houses can be compared to the basic foundation of a building; the 1st House being the self, the 4th House being the environment in which that self is nurtured, the 7th House is where one engages the self to interact with the world around it, and the 10th House are the repercussions of that interaction, how one fits into the scheme of things, their piece in the puzzle.

The other grouping of Houses which the 10th House belongs is the Upachaya Houses, which are consideresd Houses of growth, or affairs in life which improve with time and effort. Our maturity of life experience enables us to focus our interests in life better (3rd House),to face life with less fears (3rd House), to become skilful at what we do (6th House), to become an authority in our field (10th House) and to share our influence with others (11th House).

Sun is the most important karaka for the 10th House.Other karakas for the 10th House include Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter. Mercury is our intellect and communication capacity, how we communicate our role to others. Saturn is the servant, the disciplining force, whether we are willing to humbly accept our role depends on Saturn's placement in the chart. Jupiter is the luck or growth aspect and a natural significator of wealth. The beneficence of our role is dependant on Jupiter, how well we are able to bring a worthy contribution through the role we are playing.

Whether we have high status or low status, does not matter, the identity bestowed by the 10th House is a universal recognition of what our contribution is to the collective whole, the nature of the role we have been assigned. It is not always judgement on how well we play that role, but the nature of the role itself.

A person might have a very weak 10th House. What could that mean? A person might have their 10th lord debilitated in the 12th House of obscurity and loss. They would go through life without any status. Still the soul might be playing an important role in this case. They may have been assigned a lowly position for a greater purpose. Of course karma works on many levels and this lowly position might also be tied to some important lessons in reducing attachment to pride or ego. However not all negative karma should be seen as a result of punishment, but part of a greater design to integrate the higher workings of destiny,which we can only glimpse from a careful study of the entire horoscope.

The more we get in touch with the deeper layers of ourselves, the more we understand our 10th House role on the planet and how to play that role successfully. How do we reach the heart of the Sun, the Sun at full strength, the Sun that sits in the 10th House, the deepest layer of our being? We do this through the vehicle of the mind, the Moon. We can awaken windows in the mind which allow us to get closer to our heart centre, or soul nature. We access the mind through the conscious application of our intellect, Mercury. We apply energy and effort in this process via Mars. This effort is purposefully applied when we have love or seek higher union, Venus. This search for union occurs through Jupiter, when our conscience awakens to higher possibilities. This conscious awakening to higher possibilities happens through Saturn, when we learn to master and control our lower nature. Rahu is either going to lead us into confusion through temptation or intoxication or act as a tool of opportunity to make the path easier. Ketu will either overwhelm us by identifying too much with our past or help us to purposefully maximise Rahu's opportunities.

If we really want to change our lives for the better, the House directly responsible for how well we handle our karmic destiny is the 5th House. The 5th House is the House of destiny, magic, prayer, intelligence, the intelligence we need to confront all our karmas. The 5th House works in direct par with the 11th House. The 11th House is the hunger to achieve, it represents the pinnacle of our desire nature. This ultimate desire to attain a particular goal helps us to align our life in a particular direction. If we improve our intelligence we aim for worthy goals, become more efficient navigators. We can alter our destiny through the power of magic or prayer. This propitiation of beneficient forces can help us achieve the grace of God (9th House)and magically avert the misfortune that might befall us from the past deeds or misdeeds. We create new life through the window of the 5th House. The 5th House is the House of love. The fact that love and our karmic destiny live under the same roof shows the power of love to change ourselves. It is not just any love, but the impersonal unconditional love of the Sun who shines on all things equally without preference or bias. With love we achieve great things, we awaken latent powers and can perform great acts of service (10th House is 6th from the 5th House) and eventually shine like Gods, sitting high in the midheaven of our 10th House.