Know Your Cabinet Hinges

Apart from just serving the enhancement purposes in most homes, cabinet hinges also add strength, style and durability on any door. They are known to aid in the smooth functions of your cabinet doors, when opening and closing them. There are two main types of cabinet hinges, namely: wrap hinges- that are normally fastened at the front of the cabinet’s frame, and have a tendency of wrapping round the sides and back- and the concealed hinges (or the European hinge)- that are hardly visible once the cabinet door is closed.

Nonetheless, the hinges often come in fabulous finishes like polished brass, wrought iron; oil rubbed bronze, rustic bronze, weathered nickel, steel, aluminum and satin brass. In case you would like to install the hinges, start by measuring all the locations for the hinges on the cabinet doors. Then, position the hinges on the doors and mark points with a special pencil.

Thereafter, pin-point the positions for the mounting screws on the hinge locations by drilling small holes. Afterward, mark with a special pencil, the exact perimeter of the hinge leaf by placing the door firmly in place, and slightly over the cabinet’s frame. Once you are through with that, you can begin drilling the mounting screws into the frame.

If wanting to replace the cabinet hinges, make sure you first remove the cabinet doors, and the old hinges on it. With the aid of the combination square, mark positions for the new hinges together with their screw locations. Thereafter, fix together the new hinges and screws, attach the door to the frame, and pay close attention to any kind of overlapping that might occur.

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Accessibility Options for the Home

As we age we often need to adapt our homes to make them user-friendly. Residential homes are expensive, and there are no longer any reasons why we should move. A better option would be to adapt your home to suit your changing needs. This lets you stay in the home you love, and worked hard for over the years.

Our homes can be made more accessible, and thanks to modern technology, there are ways of doing so at a reasonable price.

Before you decide to contact a home remodeling or home renovation contractor, identify the areas of your home that are giving you the most problems. Start from the outside and work your way in and around the home. You will be surprised to find obstructions that may not be causing a problem now, but could potentially do so in the future.

Outside Access to Your Home

The first key issue is to make sure your home can be easily accessed from the outside. Even a few small steps may be a problem should you come to rely on a wheelchair or mobility scooter.

If, you are only dealing with a few small steps, a ramp may be the ideal solution. A ramp may mean a permanent structure alternatively there are mobile options available. Some ramps can even be folded away, and you can take them in the car when you go shopping. Mobile ramps offer best solution when one homeowner faces physical challenges.

Rails should always be fitted to any longer or shorter outside stairs. They will be their just in case you need them, and do not look obtrusive. Most rails, or grab rails, are easy to fit and can be fitted in less than an hour.

Stairs

The vast majority of senior homeowners complain about the stairs in their homes. As a matter of fact, many homeowners sell their homes as they find they cannot longer manage the stairs. Moving home can be a costly process, but there are alternatives which may cost less than moving home.

Stair lifts offer a fantastic alternative to selling your home, and many options are available. Straight stair lifts are only suitable for straight staircases however there are stair lifts available for both curved and spiral staircases. Even outside staircases can be catered for if you have to cope with a lot of steps on the outside of your home.

Elevators used to be the only option, but stair-lifts have come a long way in recent years. They are quiet and smooth running, and with regular maintenance they will continue to work for many years.

You can order stair lifts with a variety of seat options. A perched seat option is available when you find it difficult to bend your knees, and the seat itself can be made to swivel allowing you to get off and on more easily.

Kitchens

Kitchens can become difficult places to make effective use of as you get older. You may find that cabinets are at the wrong height, or you may a problem standing up for a longer period of time.

Kitchen cabinets can be easily lowered to make sure that you can reach them safely. Once you come to sell your home, cabinets can quickly be repositioned if the new homeowners are more able bodied.

Standing up for longer periods of time is often a challenge as we age, and you may want to consider investing in a tall stool or perching chair.

Bathrooms

Your bathroom may become difficult or awkward to use. Discuss the options available with a plumber or house remodeling contractor, you will find that there are options such as walk-in showers that can easily be installed.

Stepping over a curb to take a shower can be both difficult and dangerous, however, curb less showers are a good option. A shower chair, or dedicated seat in the shower, will go a long way to make the shower a safer place.

Specialist Contractors

Some home building contractors specialize in making homes more user-friendly for seniors and the physically challenged. Discuss all the options available to meet with your current needs, but at the same time make sure you are thinking ahead.

This type of home remodeling projects are often better trusted to a contractor with previous experience, and don’t hesitate to ask for his credentials or proof of previous jobs.

It is a good idea to work with a local contractor. Working with a local contractor will make it easier for you to resolve any problems, and it is better to have someone close to hand should your stair lift need servicing.

Linda Annie joined at HireContractor.com. She covers a variety of topics, in

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3 Tips How to Improve Workspace at Home

Beautiful workspace enhances your creativity, helps to find unique ideas without a stress. Thus, design of personal, home workspace is now the issue that interior designers pay attention to. To be beautiful and work enhancing the workspace should be:

1. Unique
One unique element (modern sculpture, lamp, sophisticated plant or designer glass table) can improve the character of the space. Instead of traditional partition screen consider mounting in front of your desk, behind the computer screen, some original, artistic saturated color and futuristic shape item or glass wall illuminated by special lighting with changeable color variants. There are many opportunities. It is proved that visual contact with aesthetically attractive object during the work can enhance your creativity and stimulates you to effort.

2. Comfortable
Comfortable seats or sofa that you can take a break on are essential accessories in your workspace. To be more efficient you need to find a moment for relax and the best way to do it is to refresh the tired mind with a short nap – this is where elegant, eye catching sofa and seats come in. If you invite your clients or partners to your home office, need to ensure the meeting space. It can be part of the interior separated from the rest with some fantastic work of art or mosaic glass wall. The coffee table is the focal point during your meetings. Thus, according to the rule “attractive interior design enhances the efficiency”choose this item carefully to be tailored to whole interior design. For the cabinet in traditional style wooden, decorated coffee table is suitable, in the modern one – glass coffee table work really well.

3. Useful
Usability is crucial and essential feature of home cabinets. The arrangement of your workspace needs to ensure you the order and easy access to all stuff that you need. Limit the number of items in the cabinet to necessary minimum: books, bookmarks, files should be ordered alphabetically and topically (exact directories are great solution if you keep a lot of documents in your home office).

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