Where is a good place to buy a home bar?

Q. I am looking to buy a bar for my house. Nothing huge just a nice small bar. Few shelves, storage and such. Any ideas where to find one?

A. I work for Durham Bookcases (www.thebookcaseshop.com) and we build various kinds of tables and have built host stands and other furniture for restaurants before.

Depending on the kind of bar you are looking for you could get a table and cut a hole in it for a bar sink and other fixtures. If you want a closed bar, then you could add some panels between the legs to enclose it. As far as shelving, if you could either add a small bookcase or cabinet under the table or have it built into the bar. If we built what i described it would probably be around $360 plus the cost of finishing ($135 for stain $176 for painting), and the sink and other fixtures.

Fletcher Hardison

Buying or building a home bar?

Q. I want to install a bar in my new "MAN CAVE" basement. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy a nice one? I have just moved to an area about an hour north of Atlanta, GA. Or, if buying is not an option, can someone direct me to a website, book, person, or instructional DVD to help me out?

Thanks

A. Sam's Club and Costco often carry bars that are made like a piece of furniture. You might also check with a local kitchen shop--a bar would probably only require two, maybe three cabinets and a top, and might not be expensive.

What kind of bar stool goes with a victorian sofa?

Q. I just bought a beautiful victorian style sofa, but I also need bar stools. I'm in a one bedroom apartment and have used the dining area as an office area, so I want to put two bar stools at the pass thru to the kitchen. The only problem is that this is directly behind the sofa. I really would like something comfortable - a broad seat with a back. Please send your ideas - links to pictures or places I could purchase are most welcomed! (I'm in TX)

A. Heaps of bar stools here:
http://www.homedecorators.com/Furniture/Home_Bar/Stools/

I think one of these would look good with your sofa:
http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Aberdeen_Berkely_Swivel_Bar_Stool/250/
http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Hand-Carved_Amboise_Round_Swivel_Bar_Stool/120/
http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Briarwood_Rounded-Back_Bar_Stool/850/
http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Brookside_Swivel_Bar_Stool_with_Diamond_Back/810/

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Do they make a conducting gel or compound to put in my loose outdoor lighting sockets?

Q. I have Malibu outdoor lighting with pinch type pieces of metal that hold on to the little bulbs. I've tried pinching the 2 pieces closer, but this works for about a day before it loosens and the light goes out. Is there any type of product that conducts electricity I can put in this socket to make the connection more stable?

A. Yes go to your local electrician and ask for nolox. This is used to stop corrosion caused by the outside elements and the corosive effects of copper on aluminum. This will help a little with the warping effects of heat. If that doesnt work get a refund.

What size screw do i need to mount something (outdoor lighting transformer in this case), to vinyl siding?

Q. Just got a new transformer for outdoor lighting and the screws provided could not even touch the wood behind the vinyl siding (at least I think there is wood behind it). The screws provided were about an inch long. What size do I need to penetrate the wood deep enough to hold a 4lb transformer?

A. A 3/16" or 1/4" lag bolt 2 1/2" long is stronger ..... pilot drill ( just the diameter of the screw core) .... test for strength, if too weak , find the nearest stud .......tiny amt rust wont be seen

How to replace one of the three regular outdoor lights for motion sensing light?

Q. I have three outdoor lights operated by one switch and I'd like one of them to replace with motion sensing light. I do not want the rest two lights to be ON all night, i just want one light to bi sensor operated over the night. And again, all three are on the same switch. How do i do this?

A. You'll need separate wiring to the motion light in order to not go through the switch.

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Is there anything I can do to the matte painted walls in my house to make the paint more resilient?

Q. I have matte painted walls in both my childs bedroom and our entryway, and the matte paint is not very forgiving and hard to clean. Im wondering if there is any kind of wash or clear paint coating I can put on it to make it more resilient. Also, any cleaning tips? Any input is greatly appreciated-I really dont want to have to repaint!

A. Buy yourself a good brand vinyl paint such as Dulux of Johnson's paint. Vinyl paint is washable and easy to clean after the children have drawn all over it. I was a decorator for nearly 20 years.
I hope that helps.

What shipping option should I use on Ebay for large items?

Q. I've got 2 teen/children bedroom sets: 2 beds, nightstands, dressers, and matresses. When I first listed the items, I put them up for local pickup because shipping would probably cost a lot.

A. Shipping items like this are very expensive. In addition they will need to be boxed. I would suggest Craigslist or Backpage.com locally.

How hard is it to remove/hide a fireplace no longer wanted.?

Q. We are turning this room into a childs bedroom.

A. The easiest way I can think of would be to attach studs to the existing walls around the fireplace. Then you can build a box that will fit over the fireplace and attach it to the studs that you already put up. This way if you decide at some point in the future that you DO want a fireplace in that room it will be fairly simple to take down the "false" wall or box. Any more questions, feel free to shoot me a message.

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What color kitchen cabinet finish would best go with mahogany flooring?

Q. Kitchen Remodel

A. Go to this web page http://onlinedesigner.hgtv.com/visualizer/GettingStarted.do;jsessionid=23152D44CA959BEB25FC6832BB81A3D0 and look at all the options...it may help you. I am partial to colored plastic front cabinets...go wild! You can do mahogny cabinet with glass fronts too...that would be pretty...

How much should I expect to spend on new kitchen cabinets?

Q. I'm on a shoestring budget for our kitchen remodel. It is a tiny galley kitchen, with cabinets (top and bottom) running about 12.5 feet along one wall. Is it possible to find cabinets that would fit this space for under $2000 (including labor)? Thanks for any input!
I should say - I don't care how plain and simple they are. Just going for a clean, updated look with no frills.

A. That is a tight budget but doable if you dont include tops in that price. You have to forget about all the bells and whistles and not be afraid of that horrible curse word "particle board' which by the way is far superior to plywood cabinets. The other thing is you have to stay away from the big orange who only wants your little green. They charge full list price. You would not pay list price - MSRP - sticker price for your new car so dont pay it for cabinets.

There are discount kitchen dealers in every major city. Most everyone today discounts from list. Do not be tempted by those ads that say all complete wood cherry kitchen for $895. What that is would be cheap junk formaldehyde and sulfur infested Chinese made junk. Fall for these and you will be putting your families health at great risk.

Want to completely remodel kitchen. How best to start? Where to go first?

Q. Is it ok just to ask cabinet company people to just come out and give me estimates? How do I know if I am getting an accurate estimate? How many estimates should I request? How much information do I need to give the estimator? I am concerned about "offending" companies by asking them give me estimates then not following through with the work. We are planning a complete kitchen remodel, floor, cabinets, fixtures appliances. Where should we start to get the best estimate?

A. I used to design kitchens. This is the best advice I can give you:

Establish a budget for your work BEFORE you start. If you have $10,000 or $100,000 to spend, know that amount and work with it. Being unsure of your total possible expenditure is the fastest way to get ignored by designers and contractors. A kitchen is not a cheap room re-do.

Investigate what you like and what you want your room to look like in advance. Designers need parameters to work with. No one knows your tastes and desires bettter than you. Having any less than an idea of what you want to project to be like finished is a sure way to be disappointed in the outcome.

Know the scope of the work you want to do. new cabinets? countertops? Flooring, wallcovering, lighting, appliances, etc?? do you need to upgrade your plumbing, wiring, ventilation? These and many other questions should be answered first. If your budget doesn't allow for any of these items, you may have to set your sights lower.

Hire a designer.. a kitchen designer. This is someone that you PAY to handle drawings and design. a qualified designer will help you answer all of these questions and give you a good idea if your budget is close to adequate. Expect to pay this person and be sure that you are comfortable with them. In many cases, the designer will credit their fees if you buy the project from them. Hire a CKD if you can (Certified Kitchen Designer)

With drawings and specs in hand, you can look at different types of products and talk intelligently to prospective contractors to handle your work. You will be working on an even plane with all parties involved since there is one set of parameters with which to work.

A kitchen renovation is a BIG project and can be a lot of fun, but there are also heartaches involved. It takes time, can be messy and you will be eating a lot of meals out. Expect the project to take a little time and be patient.

A new kitchen will make life much better in the long run and will increase your home's value. It's a good investment.

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is fine sanding the same as screening a wood floor?

Q. I am tackling a floor refinish on my old oak wood floors soon. I bought a house and found worn (but good shape) old oak wood floors under the carpet. I am planning on screening and re-staining and finishing the floors. will something like 200-grit sandpaper have the same effect as a screening pad? Which option would you suggest?

A. If you were just going to apply another coat of clear finish (polyurethane), then screening is fine. You want to re stain, so you have to remove all the clear finish first. You need to be more aggressive than 200 grit.

Will chatter marks come out of a new refinished wood floor?

Q. I just had my wood flooring refinished and my contractor said it was due to the fact that my subflooring was not concrete. He said the floor vibrated from sanding. He also said that even if he did the job over, it would produce the same results. He also said the chatter marks will go away after a few months. Anyone know if this is true? Or is it just a crap sand job?

A. they should go away but watch them to make sure if not, talk to a professional about how to get it done

I have a hardwood floor that is very dull. How can I clean it well and shine it up?

Q. I use Murphys Oil soap on it but i also have pets that don't help things much. I would love to have the floor refinished but thats not a possibility at this point. What kind of products/ideas are out there to clean this filthy floor and make it shine again?

A. Try Howards Restore a Finish available at most home improvement stores in the paint and stain aisle. You can buy it to match the wood tone or in clear. It hides imperfections like doggie claw scratches and leaves a wonderful shine. For your purposes, you can apply it with a sponge mop and follow the instructions on the back of the can. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results because in most cases it makes the floor look new again.

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What are some good stores to buy lamps at?

Q. I am looking for some lamps to go on the night stands in our bedroom. What are some good stores to buy them at? I would prefer to buy on-line, but I like to go shopping too!

A. Hi, try this. Go into Google or Yahoo image search. Key in lamps or whatever you think best describes the item you're looking for. Voila, you now have thousands of photographs to choose from. Most images link to a website for more information.

Where do you get the heat lamps they use in industrial buildings?

Q. Would like to buy and install one of those industrial type heat lamps - like the ones that you walk under at the front door when you go into a Costco or other large shopping building. We have a ten year old Ridgeback and Doberman and last winter they spent the days and nights in the basement when it got below freezing- I would leave one of the portable heaters on that turn off if you knock them over. My husband picked up a puppy from the pound and I am now back working so we do not trust to leave the heater on with the crazyness of the new puppy- but the Doberman has arthritis so i'd like to get some heat going in the basement. We thought a large heat lamp we could install above them would work great. Any ideas?

A. The product you are describing is not a heat lamp. They are infrared heaters. There are different types but the best and most commonly used are gas fired. Here is a link to a descent manufacturer but there are others.

http://www.rezspec.com/catalog-rihn.html

Where can I get all the experience lamps in runescape?

Q. I don't want any of the lamps from quests or achievement diary's. I've already gotten one of them from the safety dungeon or whatever it is called south of edgeville. I want the non-member ones.

A. but those two lamps arent availible to every acc. i have 4 accounts and it would only let 2 of them go down into the basement

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Interior Designs - Bedroom and Bathroom Designs?

Q. Hey people, my house is under renovation and I need a good website that is realted to Interior Designs, decoration, painting, bedroom and bathroom designs.
Thanks

A. Google your search, that is the best way out! You may also try http://www.smartken.com for Bedroom and Bathroom designs

What is the theme in western-style bathrooms?

Q. I'm doing bachelors of architecture and we have this project of theme-oriented bathrooms. and my theme is to design a western-style bathroom, so i can see the pictures on Google and know some basic things that there should be and i can easily design one, but the thing is that I have to give the theme first, so I need the basic theme on which a western style bathroom is designed.

A. The toilets are bigger than other countries typically. The showers always have some sort of enclosed area unlike other countries which just share the same floor as the bathroom. Besides a master bathroom, typically the size of the bathroom can be smaller, especially the half bath. I don't think other countries share the same concept of half bath.

where can I find bedding for a 20 somthing couple?

Q. My boyfriend and I (25 and 24, respectively) are getting our first apartment together. I looked up some really streamlined/classy marvel comics art and told him he could have the living room as his gaming space/man cave if I could have the bedroom and bathroom to design as I wish. While I find it would be easy to go with some soft pastels/florals, I really don't see him waking up to that. My biggest problem is finding a cheap, quality comforter/duvet cover. So far I've tried
urban outfitters
anthropologie
wayfair
jcpenny
macys
target
west elm
blisslivine home
allmodern
etc.

Where can I find quality for cheap?

A. If they have them in your area, check out the home goods department of the Ross Dress for Less stores. Most people think of them as just clothes but they have terrific deals on quality linens in their home decor area. I bought a gorgeous 400 count cotton steel blue and light brown damask design duvet cover and matching shams there last year for $25 ($15 for the cover and $5 each for the shams). The original prices were $160 for the cover and $30 each for the shams.

Have also picked up a teal blue 100% silk quilted queen sized spread there for $30. I have bought Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley and Tommy Hilfiger sheets for less than $30 a set and countless beautiful throw pillows (some down filled and hand-embroidered) that were $10 to $15 each. They also have drapes, drapery hardware, small furnishings (upholstered benches, night stands, small cabinets), lamps, framed art, mirrors and small area rugs. Obviously, the selection varies so you have to have patience and check their inventory regularly, but the prices are terrific for quality goods.

Also check out The Company Store, who may have the widest range of quality linens. They are not cheap but sometimes they have good deals in their clearance section. They have beautiful and classy designs that appeal to guys as well as women.

http://www.thecompanystore.com

L.L. Bean has nice bedding but the designs are not particularly exciting.

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