India Cooper's Articles in Home Improvement - Free article content at The Dummies Guide to Everything

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India Cooper's Articles in Home Improvement

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Something Old, Something New For Your Home If you've got a period home it makes sense to reinstate period features. So where can you find the real McCoy and what's available? Outward Appearances Really Do Matter Exterior paintwork will give your house a new lease of life. And until the neighbours join the bandwagon you'll be the proud owner of the smartest house on the street. Current Market Conditions Mean Improving Your Home Is The Best Investment "Don't move; improve" is the new mantra of the property sector. Mortgages are more difficult to come by, house prices may be teetering on the edge of collapse and with high stamp duty thrown in to the bargain, it really does make sense to make the most of what you've already got. Give Your Windows A New Lease Of Life Windows are a vital part of defining the character and feel of a building. If you're considering changes to your windows then take time to assess what you'd like your window fitter to achieve. Beautiful On The Outside (As Well As The Inside) Much is written about interiors - doing up kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms to increase the value of your home. But what can a good builder do to improve the appearance of the outside? Save Energy And Get Funky! Fluorescent lights no longer provide just a dull flicker. Yes they are the environmental alternative to incandescent light bulbs, but they can also be funky and are a favourite of modern designers. Technology Wins When It Comes To Washing Dishes Want to hear some great news? Its more environmentally friendly to use a dishwasher than wash dishes by hand! So throw out those marigolds, get the plumber in, install a dishwasher and get ready for more "me time". How Many Window Styles Can You Name? Choosing windows is no straight forward task. There are so many styles, types of frames and glass to choose from, so here's a quick guide so you know what window fitters can offer. Glass Is Not Just For Looking Through... It's always exciting to get a craftsman in to do something special to your house. The choice is endless but one area where craftsmen can do work to stunning effect is glass. The Hub Of Your Home Isn't a new kitchen every home owner's dream? Designing a kitchen from scratch is a great opportunity, but it can be a daunting one. Where do you start? Create Your Ultimate Sanctuary... If kitchens and living rooms are the social hub of a home, then surely bathrooms are the ultimate refuge. Bathrooms are where we spend time alone, pamper and nurture ourselves and enjoy some privacy. Get A New Look With Plaster Plaster is a more diverse and exciting material than you might think. Even if you have modern plaster it can be made more interesting. Change Your House - Keep It Standing So you want to smash down some walls, open up your living space and put in big modern windows and folding glass doors. Just about anything's possible, but sounds like you need a good builder. Make The Most of Your Home With Fabulous Lighting Good lighting is essential if you're to make the most of your interiors and it's the first thing you should think about when doing up a room. Creating Space High Up on Top Loft conversions seem to be springing up in every street, so what's involved and how do you go about it? Make a Grand Entrance With A Welcoming Front Door! A smart, welcoming front door is always worth spending money on. If you have a period home, then getting a specialist in to get things back to the original is well worth it. Put Some "Va Va Voom" Back Into Your Homes! Chilli hot red! Burnt orange! Aubergine! Pea green! Sky blue! Its time to put some colour back in our homes. Doing Up Bathrooms - Where Does all The Money Go? 200 pounds to do up a bathroom? I think not! Renovating the bathroom is often one of the most expensive jobs when doing up a house - so why is it so expensive? Clean Up Your Act With Fitted Furniture! Carpenters aren't just the stars of bible stories - they are busy sawing, hammering and sanding today, still creating both practical and ornamental features in our homes. Building Work - It's Just a Big Jigsaw First fix? Second fix? What does it all mean? You look forward to gutting your new home and doing it all up but you don't understand the process. That's a risky place to be, so get yourself familiar with what your builder is up to and learn how the elements of a building project fit together. Wet Rooms Are an Exciting Bathroom Concept! Wet rooms are an exciting bathroom concept - sleek and streamlined they are a spa-like haven, with minimalist fuss-free design. Fancy Becoming a Plumber? Here is What it Takes! Plumbing is a highly qualified, skilled profession so how do you get yourself started? Firstly be patient. It takes three years or more to gain the basic qualifications and you should then work with an experienced plumber for at least a couple of years before starting up on your own. You need knowledge, skills and experience all of which take time to develop. How to Increase the Value of Your Home with Timeless Elegance You can't beat wooden floors. They are clean, durable and warm and look good in any style of home. They are timeless and never seem to go out of fashion, in fact they mature beautifully. And they will add value to your home. What you Can Expect From Your Bricklayer Have you hired a bricklayer and you're not sure what he'll get up to? Kid-Friendly Bathrooms Hooray it's bathtime! The highlight of any kid's day - all those splashes, bubbles and squirty toys are hard to beat. So if you're doing up your bathroom to cater for your children's needs think about how you can make bathtime even more fun and the room a safe and happy part of your home. Give Your Builder The Feel Good Factor! Everyone deserves a little respect - including builders. Increasingly the trade is hitting back at its media-led cowboy image. Many are fed up being labelled as dishonest, shoddy workers. Most are hardworking, honest and take pride in their work and feel its time we all recognised this. Rooftop Gardens Are Oasis In The Sky Rooftop gardens are surprising, impressive and fun. Maybe it's because they are so counter-intuitive that people view them with admiration and wonder. They are a step away from reality. An organic, natural phenomenon in a completely unnatural place.