Wednesday, January 28, 2015

The Essentials Key Measurements To Help You Design Your Home

You know what you want in your new kitchen, bath or bedroom — but will it fit in your space? ArchitectSteven Randelhelps you answer that question with his Key Measurements series, which takes the guesswork out of room planning and design. In stories covering each room of the house, he details the standard sizes of furnishings, appliances and room features and the square footage in which they need to be placed. And he suggests ideal room layouts and dimensions for different architectural styles. Here are links to each of his guides, as well as tips from the series.

Traditional Kitchen by Quality Custom Cabinetry, Inc

Quality Custom Cabinetry, Inc The kitchen.A well-designed kitchen makes meal preparation and dining more pleasurable. Randel offers measurements and advice for storage areas, prep and cleanup spots, and cooking and baking centers.

Tip: To get your kitchen cooking, store pots, pans and baking sheets around the burners and oven. You can put your toaster and coffeemaker here as well to keep prep areas free. Seasonings, breadboards and potholders should go in nearby drawers and cupboards. Allow 21 to 36 inches (53 to 92 centimeters) of counter space on either side of your cooktop, and locate a wall oven next to an open countertop so you have a place where you can set down hot food.

Contemporary Bathroom by Hicks Fine Homes - (Hicks Interiors Inc.)

Hicks Fine Homes - (Hicks Interiors Inc.) The bathroom. Whether you install a single, double, pedestal, floating or braced sink will depend as much on your available space as on your needs and desires. And that’s just one element of the bathroom.This story examines your options for sinks, toilets, tubs, showers and towel bars.

Tip: Want to extend your countertop over the toilet tank, as seen here? Counter heights vary from 32 to 36 inches (81 to 91 centimeters), so you’ll need to consider whether your toilet will fit comfortably underneath. You also must be able to lift the lid without obstruction.

Contemporary Living Room by Folio Design LLP

Folio Design LLP The living room. Is your living room large enough for a sectional, or would you be better off with a smaller sofa or love seat and chairs? Randel provides measurements for these seating options, as well as for other furnishings and accessories, to help you decide.

Tip: Just as important as the furniture is a living room’s flow. Circulation paths that enable people to move to seating areas and exits need 30 to 36 inches (77 to 91 centimeters) of clear width. Coffee tables can be as close as 12 inches (30 centimeters) from the edge of the seating. Other furnishings might need at least 24 inches (61 centimeters) between pieces.

Traditional Porch by Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture

Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture Front porch. Many people fantasize about having a front porch where they can linger and relax, visit with neighbors and greet guests. But it’s not just a home’s architectural style that sets the tone of the space. The dimensions of a porch — along with those of its columns, steps, doors, railings and more — play a key role in making it comfortable and inviting. This story gives all the details.

Tip: Though 6 feet (1.8 meters) is a desirable depth for porches, 8 feet (2.4 meters) is even better.

McCroskey Interiors Bedroom. The design of a bedroom starts with the bed. Randel lists the standard sizes, along with the dimensions of benches, nightstands, dressers, chests, chairs and more.

Tip: If you wanta sitting area in your bedroom, like the one seen here, you need space for tables, chairs and love seats, as well as the circulation area to make it work. Allow an area of at least 8 by 8 feet — 10 by 10 feet is better — in addition to room for the bed, dressers and chests.

Pro Stone Laundry room. This guide describes the space needed for cabinets, washers and dryers, drying racks and counters. It also touches on how to integrate gift wrapping and pet stations into the room.

Tip: A laundry room can also double as a mudroom with a bench, hooks and cubbies, as seen here.If you go this route, make the bench height about 14 inches (36 centimeters) above the floor. Set hooks 54 to 60 inches (137 to 152 centimeters) above the floor and allow enough room to hang coats.

Traditional Dining Room by Michael Abrams Limited

Michael Abrams Limited Dining room. Traditional, contemporary, urban open plan, suburban open plan: Every style of dining room has different space requirements. This story looks at what’s needed for each of these styles, as well as the space needed for each dining table shape.

Tip:Round tables encourage lively conversation and family-style meals. A round formal dining table needs to be at least 60 inches (152 centimeters) in diameter and can easily be 72 inches (183 centimeters).

Traditional Powder Room by Elsie Interior

Elsie Interior Powder room. These popular rooms pack a lot into a small space. Randel outlines typical dimensions for powder room doors, toilets, sinks, outlets, windows and accessories.

Tip: The wall behind the toilet, and sometimes the sink, needs to be thicker than a standard wall framed with 2-by-4s. A 2-by-6 construction allows for plumbing 3 inches (8 centimeters) in diameter to pass through the wall space, which is necessary for sewage.

Farmhouse Home Office by Ty Evans, Windermere Real Estate/BI, Inc.

Ty Evans, Windermere Real Estate/BI, Inc. Home office. Get your office layout right with this guide to the space needed for various desk setups, filing cabinets, seating and electronics equipment.

Tip: Though printers vary in size,plan on a footprint of at least 18 by 24 inches (46 by 61 centimeters). Be sure to allow room for opening printer doors to change ink cartridges and add paper.

Traditional Staircase by Katie Rosenfeld Design

Katie Rosenfeld Design Stairways.Careful attention to staircase design is what makes stairs easy to climb and descend. Building codes set standards; configurations also are guided by average human proportions. Read Randel’s guide on stairway measurements to learn the ideal dimensions for staircase width, risers, treads, head clearance, railings, landings, balustrades and more.

Tip:A rule of thumb for planning stairs is that two risers plus one tread should equal 25 inches. For example, you might have stairs with 7-inch risers and 11-inch treads (7 + 7 + 11 = 25).

Contemporary Family Room by Laura U, Inc.

Laura U, Inc. Recreation room. Rooms with pool tables need a lot of elbow room — at least 5 feet — around the table. Table tennis also needs a roomy space. Foosball and game tables for cards and for chess will fit into a more compact space. Learn the typical game table sizes and read Randel’s advice on seating, clearance, lighting and table weight in this story.

Tip: A pedestal design is best for game tables for cards, as it offers plenty of knee space and room to move around.

Read more: Key Measurements: Recreation Rooms Rule

Transitional Entry by Joe Carrick Design - Custom Home Design

Joe Carrick Design - Custom Home Design Entrances.Entryways are high-traffic areas that help you transition into your private life, and they are the first and last room guests see. This guide looks at their size and scale and offers dimensions for common elements, such asdoors, sidelights, transoms, archways, ceilings and walls.

Tip: The ideal foyer has a coat closet in it or nearby. The closetshould be 24 inches (61 centimeters) deep and at least 36 inches(91 centimeters)wide.

Traditional Garage And Shed by Three River Stone

Three River Stone
Garages. Randel notes that garage dimensions have remained roughly the same since the time of the Ford Model T: about 9 to 10 feet wide and 18 to 20 feet long per car. The difference is, we store a lot more in our garages now. This story discusses the dimensions of various vehicle types, one- and two-car garages, garage doors, cabinets and heating systems.

Tip: Details around garage doors often stand out because of their scale. They should complement the architecture and be in line with other elements on the house.

Read more: Key Measurements for the Perfect Gara

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Ideas For Making The Most Of Your Hallway

plumb architects Design quandary: Open or closed storage?Open storage (as in the last photo) has the advantage of being easy to access and a boon for visual organizers. If your hall is in an area with lower traffic, open storage can be a good choice. For areas that get more foot traffic, consider closed storage because it has a neater, sleeker look. The hall shown here got a major storage boost with closed closets, while a full-length mirror provides a convenient outfit-checking spot.Sigmar Design idea:Wine storage niche.
How: Install a wine rack in an existing hall niche to house a growing collection of bottles, or have a new niche made specifically for the purpose. If you’re using an existing niche, measure carefully. Depending on the dimensions of your niche, you may be able to use ready-made wine racks; otherwise hire a carpenter or handyperson to craft a wine rack to fit your space.
Cost: Ready-made wine racks can be purchased for $20 to $100 and up per piece. If you need to have a new niche created, expect to pay a carpenter $300 to $500 and up.
More:
From Awkward Corner to Multipurpose Lounge
A New Drop Zone Keeps the Clutter at Bay

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Clever Ways To Rethink The Linen Closet

If you've been living with a linen closet crammed too full or jumbled and messy, bring order to the chaos by rethinking this hardworking space. From dividing and conquering (towels in the bath, sheets in the bedroom) to installing smart closet organizers, these solutions can help.

Hardworking space: The linen closet.

The challenge:Keeping an entire household’s sheets, blankets, towels, extra pillows, duvets and tablecloths in one little closet is asking for trouble. Too-high piles teeter and fall, and pretty soon the whole closet is a mess. Get things under control by thinking through exactly what kind of storage you need and where to put it.

Good to know:Check your linen stash before settling on any new storage system. Count the total number of towels, sheets and duvets to get a full picture of the storage space you’ll need.

Von Fitz DesignDesign idea:Built-in chest of drawers and cabinet in the hall.

Why: Drawers keep smaller linens contained, while upper cabinets provide more room for bulky items like spare pillows. The counter makes a handy surface for folding and sorting laundry.

How: Work with a cabinetmaker to design a chest of drawers and upper cabinets with the right combination of storage space to contain your linens. A built-in unit like this one puts every inch of space to work, butif you rent or are looking to keep costs down,a freestanding dresser would also work.

Cost:About $900 to $1,200 (and up) for built-ins, depending on size, materials and regional rates.

Heartwood KitchensDesign idea:Linen cupboard in kitchen.

Why: Storing things where you use them makes life easier. Store tablecloths on pullout hanging rods to keep them wrinkle free, and napkins and placemats in a sliding drawer.

How: If you are planning a kitchen remodel, speak with your kitchen designer to get the details you desire. If you want to add this feature to an existing cabinet, you can install ready-made components yourself or contact a cabinetmaker to make them for you.

Cost:About $200 to $300 for a cabinetmaker to add a pullout linen hanger and drawer to an existing cabinet.

Traditional Closet by San Francisco Organized Interiors

San Francisco Organized InteriorsDesign idea:Outfit a traditional linen closet with organizers.

Why: Avoid the dreaded toppling pile of linens by subdividing your linen closet using smart organizers, and find what you need without a fuss.

How: Shelving, towel racks on the back of the door, shelf dividers, and storage baskets and boxes make a linen closet far more functional. Pick up components yourself at an organizing store or a home improvement store, or hire a closet designer to create the perfect linen closet for you.

Planning tips:Think about the type and quantity of linens you need to store, and pare down before going shopping. A bit of careful planning will prevent unnecessary purchases.

Cost:From about $200 for a bare-bones setup for a smaller closet to around $700 for a more elaborate design with help from a pro.

Traditional Closet by Organize Don't Agonize

Organize Don't AgonizeSpace saver: Use adjustable shelves.Being able to lower or raise shelves easily will help your linen closet work harder. That way when something changes (say you take off your big duvet at the end of winter), you can quickly make space for it in the closet.

Farmhouse Bathroom by Hager Cabinets Inc.

Hager Cabinets Inc.Design idea:Customized bathroom cabinet.

Why: Storing towels in the bathroom is convenient, and incorporating a spot for dirty laundry and bath essentials makes the space work even harder.

How: Outfit an existing cabinet with a pullout laundry bin, wire door storage and adjustable shelves. If you are planning a bathroom remodel, work with a bath designer to incorporate the features you want.

Cost:About $150 to purchase a pullout laundry bin and door storage unit for an existing cabinet.

Organized LivingOrganizing tips:

Use labeled bins for storing small items to save time and avoid confusion.
Place sheet sets inside a pillowcase or basket, so you can grab the entire set at once.
Tuck a slim stepladder inside your linen closet to make reaching the upper shelves easier.

Tess FineDesign idea:Glass-front cabinet in the bedroom.

Why: In a home without much closet space, a freestanding cabinet can provide storage for bedding and can look good doing it. Kept in the bedroom, it also is convenient for making the bed.

Extras:If you need to store more utilitarian items in a glass-front cabinet, use labeled bins to keep things neat and easy to find.

Cost:Expect to spend $800 and up for a freestanding glass-front bookcase or cabinet, either new or antique— although bargains can be found if you’re willing to hunt around.

CRG ConstructionDesign idea:Open shelving.

Why: Keeping storage open makes it easy to find what you need quickly, which can be a blessing in busy households.

When this works: This works well in a home with the bedrooms and bath upstairs, so you don’t need to worry about visitors seeing your linens if it gets a little messy. If you know that members of your household aren’t likely to manage putting things away relatively neatly (and if that will bug you), it may be better to go with closed storage.

Safety tip:Whenever you use a tall, heavy piece of furniture (especially if kids are in the house), it’s a good idea to anchor it to the wall.

Cost:You can purchase basic bookcases for $100 and up each. Expect to pay much more for bookcases made from solid wood.

Friday, January 16, 2015

DEAL OF THE CENTURY IN MESA ARIZONA

on this magnificent brick estate with resort-style grounds. Custom finishes throughout and quality craftsmanship abounds in this architectural masterpiece. Imported marble tile, Brazilian Cherry and Mahogany French Parquet wood floors, and a grand foyer with floating Cherry Wood staircase set the tone of elegance you can expect throughout this home. Stately office with detailed coffered Cherry Wood ceiling, built-ins and impressive wood finishes. The formal living and dining rooms are elegantly appointed with Venetian Plaster ceilings, Custom built-in display cabinets, an inviting fireplace and handcrafted ornamental moldings. Chef’s kitchen with imported granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, large pantry/storage room, custom wood crafted cabinetry, exotic wood flooring, and beautiful Pella windows with views to the rear grounds. Spacious in-law suite on lower level with wall to wall Travertine and an updated bathroom with custom vanity, separate shower and tub and beautiful stone accents. The family room will surely be the favorite spot with its rich Cherry Wood finishes, built-ins that surround the massive fireplace, soaring wood plank & beam ceilings, and intricate lead glass French doors that open to a private garden room with 180 degree views of the rear grounds. Impressive master retreat on the lower level features Venetian Plaster ceiling, romantic fireplace, French door access to the rear grounds, and ultra lavish bathroom featuring his & her vanity areas, separate shower and jetted soaking tub. Bonus room on upper level with endless uses (once a dance studio used the Phoenix ballet), spacious guest quarters along with a second office with custom built-ins and French doors that open up to a balcony that overlooks the professionally landscaped grounds below. The resort-style grounds features a salt water diving pool with 16' NCAA Diving board, grotto, 2 amazing waterfalls, spa and expansive flagstone decking. This awesome backyard is equipped with a $30,000 dive in sound system, rock coustic earthquake speakers, large 8x8 screen that mounts over the waterfalls for an incredible rear projection display of outdoor entertainment. Full outdoor kitchen with stainless appliances and a custom made ice cream machine, all under a Ramada complete with outdoor restroom. Multiple entertaining areas, fireplace, two BBQ's, children's play area with swing set, and in ground trampoline. But wait there's more! There is an RV garage with extra insulation, 240/110 power supply, a ½ bath (plumbed for full), 8' service door (pull through), service door to rear yard, and pull down attic ladder for extra storage above the shop area. All of the wood work in the home was milled onsite in the RV garage! Formore homes like this click the pictures below

Click here for all the results

Your Connection To The PF Changes Rock And Roll Marathon January 17th And 18th 2015

YOUR CONNECTION TO THE PF CHANGES ROCK AND ROLL MARATHON JANUARY 17TH AND 18TH 2015

Grammy Award winning bands, The Wallflowers and OK Go will both headline the 12th annual P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & ½ Marathon on Sunday, January 18. For the first time ever, the event will showcase two headliners atthe Finish Line Festival. The post race concert will take place at Tempe Beach Park and is free and open to the public.

Billboard chart toppers, The Wallflowers rose to fame in the mid 90’s with the release of multi-platinum album “Bringing Down the Horse.” Led by Jakob Dylan, the son of legend Bob Dylan, the band has released more than five albums winning two Grammy Awards.

OK Go is known for their fun over the top music videos and won a Grammy Award in 2007 for Best Music Video. The band has released four albums including Billboard Chart topper “OK Go” and are known for hit songs “Here it Goes Again,” “The Writing’s on the Wall” and “Get Over It.”

“We are staying true to our rock ‘n’ roll roots this year and are thrilled to have both The Wallflowers and OK Go headline our post race concert,” said Bekah Holt, event manager of P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona. This is the first time we have had two headliners at this event and both bands will be a great race day finale. Registration is open and we encourage all runners to sign up for what is sure to be an unforgettable weekend.”

In 2015 the race will feature a new 5k on Saturday, January 17. Participants can now run two days and earn more medals by completing the Remix Challenge.

P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona will take runners through the scenic sights of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. Live bands, cheerleaders and thousands of spectators will help motivate runners to the finish line.

The event will once again feature two different start lines, with marathoners starting in Downtown Phoenix at CityScape and the half marathon, 2-person relay and 10k runners at University Dr. near McAllister Mall. All races will finish on Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway at Tempe Beach Park.

Race weekend will kick off with a two-day Health and Fitness Expo at Phoenix Convention Center, featuring more than one hundred fitness retailers, exhibits and interactive clinics on Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17. For complete details click the link http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/arizona

And after your run take a moment to check out our beautiful Arizona Real estate

Click here for all the results