real "while you were out".

*Project Steps:

Renovating is a little trickier than starting from scratch. After speaking with the Home Depot Expert I felt pretty confident. The issue that came up was the existing holes in the stair treads and the banister. One end of the rod iron rails is square. I tried to cut the holes in the banister. I got half way, in the night and thought there has to be another way. By morning I ran back to Home Depot, bought a chisel set. This time I chiseled corners in the tread holes and that worked much better.

Advice:

All in all this was an easy and quick project. It makes a dramatic statement. My big tip is "try to preplan materials and take advantage of coupons/no interest if paid in full". Any project can be affordable in small monthly payments. I saved 40-50% by DIY, it was well worth it.

Materials:

140 Iron Shoes - $0.00

70 Iron Rails - $0.00

Metal Jigsaw Bits - $0.00

Chisel Set - $0.00

Liquid Nails - $0.00

Caulk Gun - $0.00

it made a huge difference! #Bestof2012 #MyKitchen

painting everything a crisp white. I love my kitchen now!

absorb light rather than reflect it back to the eye “look black.”

Black is also associated with power, strength and intelligence; so if you’re trying to decide how to decorate your home office space, try accenting with black. It will help keep you focused when you’re trying to get down to business!

Here are a few of our favorite uses of black: http://blog.brightnest.com/2012/08/16/color-...

Over the years, the very cool architectural details of the house had fallen into disrepair. The pillars and columns were crooked, the concrete porch was cracked, and the wood was rotting from years of neglect.

Heirloom Design Build’s goal was to restore the home’s original charm. In addition, we wanted to add the comfort and convenience of the 21st century to the home’s interior, while retaining the historical character of the home’s exterior. We spent a good portion of this project deconstructing the changes to the home and recreating the original single-family layout.

To ensure the best outcome, we used top-quality building materials—the kind that are usually found in much larger and more expensive home renovations—while keeping the house’s footprint small and it’s design tasteful and in keeping with the look of the neighborhood. Modern improvements included the vaulting of the ceilings, the exposing of brick chimneys, and the installation of Carrera marble, recycled hardwood flooring, custom cabinetry, and beautiful light fixtures throughout the home.

We also added new landscaping and hardscaping to the home's front and back yard, including a new stone patio with a built-in barbeque pit--a perfect spot for entertaining!

Some of the high performance features include a high efficiency HVAC system, and all paints and sealants used were were non-VOC, ensuring better air quality for the home’s future residents.

Red cabs and buttercream yellow walls were changed to white cabinets and khaki walls. I love my "new" kitchen and this is a testament to the power of paint. Go Paint! :0

#Bestof2012