Friday, August 10, 2012

Turning Your Bathroom Into a Spa


We’ve all been there, we’ve seen the commercials, we’ve seen the movies. You know, the ones with the masseuse by the poolside and the hot tubs in the bathroom and the perfect weekend getaway but let’s be serious, THEY COST TOOOOONS. Here are some surefire ways to turn any old bathroom into your own personal getaway!
  • Install a vanity where you can sit and do your makeup and set up some incense and candles. It’ll give you a vintage feel while being very efficient as well. (If you happen to be doing a full bathroom remodeling in Los Angeles, you can call LA Build Corp for a free vanity this summer.)
  • You don’t have to install something as expensive as a bathtub to enjoy a relaxing water treatment. Get some quality showerheads for your shower and you’ll love taking showers after a long hard day.
  • If you already happen to have a bathtub add whirlpool attachments for a wonderful Jacuzzi feel for the perfect night to yourself.
  • Natural stone flooring not only gives you a nice massage-y feeling when you walk on it, but it gives you a serene spa atmosphere too. It’s only about $10 per square foot.
  • Install glass shower doors, they’re easier to clean and give a better overall atmosphere to your bathroom.
  • Heated flooring is a fantastic way to spruce up any bathroom and make it feel so much more luxurious.
  • Heated towel racks, only about $50, are a great way to keep cozy post-bath or shower. An even better thing to do is to heat some aromatherapy towels or blankets for maximum relaxation.
  • Tub caddies keep everything you need within arms reach so you don’t have to struggle too much to get your tea or book while in the tub or shower.
  • Dimmer switches to control lighting set the mood of the bathroom to a much more relaxing feel. They’re very versatile and inexpensive as well.
  • Speakers! Nothing is better than having a facial in the bathtub and listening to great music at the same time.
  • Set up a special basket for spa products like bath salts, aromatherapy candles/washcloths, eye masks, body masks, aromatherapy masks, body lotions, creams, oils, etc.  You can even store a bottle of your favorite wine nearby.
  • Lastly for an even better shower, install a wooden or stone shower seat (fairly inexpensive) for a zen vibe and a way to relax while showering.
There you have it, just a few ways to ensure you have the perfect bathroom to relax in, and it won’t cost you a ton of money either! Make sure you do not do major bathroom remodeling without a general contractor because if you mess up plumbing or wreck a sink or wall by accident you’ll risk the safety of you and your home. Happy Bathroom Remodeling Los Angeles!

Monday, August 6, 2012

7 Ways to Easily Raise Home Value

Source: LABuildCorp.com


1. De-Clunk!!
You absolutely need to get rid of junk lying around your home and if need be, your yard too. Bring in a trusted friend or a family member to help you discard anything that doesn’t belong or is trash. You need someone who is brutally honest and will not hold back on telling you that the vase you bought for $3 is really tacky and needs to go.


2. Do a Cabinet Makeover:
The kitchen is the heart of the home and it has huge potential for an ROI. Speak with a Los Angeles home remodeling expert about how you can go about this task and they will help you install and design a great kitchen.


3. Paint!
One of the easiest and most effective ways to spruce up any room or house or whatever really, is a fresh new coat of paint. It can easily liven up or even completely change the look of any room. If you’re already happy with your home’s paint, you can opt for a touch up of the current paint and/or fix anything on the walls that require attention. Once again, Los Angeles home remodeling experts can help you tremendously here.


4. Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal, Curb Appeal!!
Curb appeal is so important for any home because it is what sets the first impression. Homebuyers more often than not, judge a home just because of the appearance. People tend to make up their minds before they actually get a chance to see the rest of the home. A general contractor in Los Angeles can really help you change the outlook of your home and ultimately get you a great ROI. Read up on easy ways to raise home value through curb appeal; click here.


5. Fix Your Outdated Lighting:
I cannot stress how important lighting is and how much it changes a room. It can take a room from dull to exciting in seconds, and you can add a dimmer switch for an even better effect on the room. They are fairly inexpensive and with the help of a Los Angeles remodeling expert, you can easily get a good deal on lighting because of their connections and experience.


6. Flooring:
Throw out that outdated 10 year old beige carpet and opt for something more appropriate for each room. By that I mean, you should generally go with tile for bathrooms and showers, wood or tile for kitchens, and wood is usually better for dining rooms because food and water build up in the carpet and make it dirty really fast. For an office it is simply preference between wood and carpet but for family rooms and sitting areas in general, carpet is a better idea. Bedrooms are also from preference but make sure they all match and make sure that your house doesn’t just look like a giant miss-matched puzzle. There should an overall design and to help you with this a Los Angeles home remodeling expert should be able to help


7. The Little Things:
You know, like door knobs and hinges and leaks and… Well you could name a thousand but you should take the time and tackle all of these important details at once. Fix all the leaky faucets, grease all of the squeaky door hinges, buy newer, more modern door accents, etc. These little things show that your home is not just all show and no substance.

Friday, August 3, 2012

How to Do Green Bathroom Remodeling



In Los Angeles, bathrooms are usually very large in size and relatively easy to make green. Hire a Los Angeles bathroom remodeling company that offers green renovations and you’re good to go. Bathrooms are affluent with opportunities for green remodeling. It not only saves the Earth but it saves you tons on water and power expenses. Here a few steps you can take when planning for a green Los Angeles bathroom remodeling.


Select resilient green resources...

  • Begin by mounting low-flow showerheads and spouts. After that, make sure that you fix any leaks as soon as possible. You can try installing a gray-water system; it gathers water from the sink and shower and feeds the toilet and the garden, pretty neat huh? You can leave the work for your Los Angeles generalcontractor to deal with because if they are certified green, they will know exactly what to do. 
  • Think about a faucet with a sprayer because that allows you to rinse the sink much easier and you can even wash your hair without having to take a full shower. Next, you wanna think about the inner workings of your bathroom; hospital-plumbing brass sinks ensure paddle handles that enable you to use elbows so you don’t have to touch them with unclean hands. Try to do this with natural ceramic or non-toxic cement.
  • Install a solar powered water heater. This should not be hard because many Los Angeles home remodeling companies offer evacuated tube water heaters.
  • Bathrooms are warm and humid which is unfortunately a breeding environment for mold and mildew. You can use chemical cleaners and bleaches or you can control the humidity. If you don’t already have one, an HRV is a necessity. Bringing in fresh air requires balance with exhausted air; this guarantees that there’s a continuous stream of air and constant exclusion of surplus moisture. Surge the air current in your bathroom more by exhausting a low power depletion fan with an automatic timer switch.