Easy Ways to Modernize Your Kitchen

Are you looking to update your kitchen, but you're not ready to commit to major renovations? There are a lot of methods a homeowner can use to add much-needed touch-ups without breaking the budget. Try these five easy ways to modernize your kitchen.

1. Add a Touch of Paint

Paint can do amazing things to your kitchen – brightening and updating the space. Choose a warm and inviting color, as you and your family will spend a lot of time in this room preparing and eating meals together. When selecting paints, remember the finish varies on a scale from low to high gloss. This scale can help you determine which paint is most appropriate for your project.

When choosing paint for your kitchen walls, select satin or eggshell-based paint, as both provide durable and stain-resistant finishes – wise decisions for a kitchen setting. If food stains your paint job, you should be able to wash the mess from your walls quickly and without removing the color.

If you decide to paint your kitchen cabinets, choose a high-gloss or semi-gloss paint option. Both paints are highly durable and stain-resistant. Before you paint your cabinets, ensure you prepare them properly. Caulk as necessary and sand away imperfections, because the high-gloss and semi-gloss paints have a reflective finish showing most defects.

2. Revamp Your Cabinets

After you’ve painted your cabinets, you can consider purchasing different types of hardware to complement the new cabinet colors you’ve selected. Think about mixing and matching knobs and pulls to give your cabinets a unique feel. Hardware comes in various styles – antique, modern, country, and nautical – it’s all up to you to decide what’s the best look for your kitchen.

Another option to consider for your kitchen is to add variety to your custom kitchen cabinets. One way to do so is by swapping some of your closed cabinets for open cabinet space. This gives your kitchen a relaxed, clean feel. You can also display beautiful glassware or china in your new open cabinet space. Converting your existing cabinet space into this new unit is a relatively simple makeover when you follow a few simple steps. First, remove the existing cabinet doors. Then apply putty in all holes. Next, caulk and paint as needed.

3. Cover Your Countertops

After you’ve overhauled your cabinets, you might find your countertops lacking – the color might not match, or you may find the material stands out. Thankfully, there are quick and easy ways to fix your countertops. One option is to cover a section with a beautiful slab of marble or a large cutting board.

Another option, if your counters are laminate, is to paint them. To paint your countertops, you'll first need to clean them thoroughly. After that, fill in any holes and sand it, so everything is smooth. Then you can apply your layer of primer and paint. You can get creative and paint your countertops to look like granite or marble to modernize your kitchen.

4. Upgrade Appliances

At the moment, you might not have a lot to invest in for significant renovations, but one sure-fire way to modernize your kitchen is by upgrading your appliances. One way to do this is to look around your kitchen and list the machines you need to replace based on their age or how they work. You can then prioritize based on your budget when you should replace the appliance.

Know that if your refrigerator is over 10 years old, you can likely save money over time by upgrading to an approved Energy Star appliance. Energy Star helps you calculate the savings, most of which is made through the device being more energy-efficient and requiring less power to run.

If your appliance still is in good working order but looks a little worse for wear, consider giving it a good clean. You can also purchase panel kits to give your washing machine or refrigerator a makeover or match your new cabinet color. The panel kits come in a variety of colors and even stainless steel.

5. Alter the Lighting

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars, but consider adjusting your kitchen lighting to update your look. You can easily add LED battery-operated lights to apply beneath your cabinets to add a soft glow to your kitchen, giving the space a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Bring in table lamps to add character to your space and give off some ambient lighting. You can place the table lamps on a counter or on either side of an island. Include mirrors in your kitchen to catch the light and amplify the luminosity. All these features will contribute to the unique and beautiful qualities of your kitchen.

Update Your Kitchen Today

When you apply any of these five simple methods, you’ll save money as you go about modernizing your kitchen. What are you waiting for? Get started today!

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

4 Bedroom Color Schemes to Inspire Your Space

You probably know that colors affect a person's mood. That's why it's very important to choose the colors right, especially when it comes to your bedroom. 

Needless to say, you want to achieve a comfortable, calming, and relaxing space that will help you achieve a good night’s sleep.

Whether you’re renovating your bedroom or building a new one, below are some of the best color schemes for your inspiration:

Black + White + Brass

There's nothing as timeless as black and white. 

While some people will think this color scheme is quite too heavy especially if the dominant hue is black, these colors are actually remarkably serene when used together.

You can create an entirely different mood depending on how you style your room. 

If you want to further elevate the look of your room, consider incorporating brass. It makes the space inviting, elegant, and dazzling.

Bright Blue + Gray

Blue promotes calmness and relaxation, which makes it perfect for a bedroom. Meanwhile, gray is a neutral color so it goes nicely with other hues and accents.

Blue + gray is a great option since you don't want your room to be overly colorful or vibrant.

Natural wood details make a wonderful accent for this color scheme.

Charcoal + Gold

If you love gold and would want to incorporate it in your room, go ahead. Just make sure to pair it with warm, deep-tone neutrals, such as charcoal gray.

This color combination helps you achieve an elegant and relaxing ambiance. When working on this palette, enough lighting is important so your bedroom won’t look too dark. 

This color scheme works well with well-lit rooms or those with larger windows that allow natural light in.

Aside from charcoal gray, gold also works with chocolate brown, rich olive green, and beige.

Navy + White + Yellow

Navy and white go beautifully together and a punch of yellow makes this color scheme much more exciting. 

You can set the tone with a deep hue accent wall or some navy blue furniture, decor, or cabinetry and a backdrop of crisp, white walls.

You can use yellow for the curtains or your mattress.

For an even more dynamic color scheme, you can pair navy blue with mustard yellow or soft butter yellow. Such color offers warmth and brilliance that stands out against the coolness of the navy color.

Emerald + Mint + White

Emerald adds cheerful energy and freshness to any room. It's a little too bright for a bedroom but it makes a beautiful option when paired with a complementary shade of mint. To tone down the vibrance of emerald, make sure to incorporate white in your color palette.

For example, you can paint the walls white and add touches of emerald wall decals or cabinetry. Then, you can choose mint green for the curtains and accessories.

Emerald also works amazing with neutral shades, particularly earth tones like gray, charcoal gray, and beige.

Factors To Consider When Choosing the Bedroom Colors

The above color schemes are just ideas. There are so many color combinations that are perfect for bedrooms. It can be a challenge deciding what colors to use for your room. To make the process easier, here are the most important factors to consider:

Start With a Mood Board

Every interior design starts with a mood board. 

A mood board lets you visualize your ideal bedroom and helps you organize your ideas for the style, mood, and colors of your dream room.

Your mood board should incorporate different elements, from the overall feel of your bedroom to the accessories, window treatments, and furniture pieces.

Don’t Forget About the Floor Color

Floor color is an important element to consider because it helps create a cohesive layout with your chosen color palette.

When choosing the color of your flooring, consider the mood you want to create, how much natural light you get, your room size, and your furniture's color and finish.

Gray is the most popular flooring color because it's the ultimate neutral, but you can always choose something else as long as it matches your interior design.

Pay attention to what carpets and rugs to use. Carpets should always be clean and fresh. If you can’t manage to wash your carpets deeply, there are lots of budget-friendly yet professional carpet cleaning services that will have you covered! Remember, carpet color should match your whole bedroom style. 

Consider the Orientation of Your Bedroom

Another important factor to consider when choosing paint colors is room orientation.

For example, a north-facing bedroom will have cooler light so it works well with warmer shades like pinks and yellows.

Meanwhile, a south-facing room is naturally bright so it can take cooler tones like blue or grey.

Make it Personal

Bedrooms are deeply personal spaces. Thus, you want to make sure it fits your lifestyle. If you're a morning person, choose clean, light, and energizing paint colors.

If you're an evening person, opt for dark, womb-like shades.

Conclusion

Creating a relaxing bedroom starts with choosing the right colors. Keep in mind that a color scheme doesn’t just involve the walls, but also the floors, accessories, and furnishings of your bedroom.

More importantly, it should reflect your personality and lifestyle.

Guest Contributor: Leila Amber

Commercial Unit of Electric Energy is kilowatt-hour (kWh)

Electrical energy is derived from the kinetic and potential energy of the charged particles. In a general aspect, electric energy is referred to as energy that is converted from potential energy. It is defined as an energy that is generated by the motion of electrons from one point to another. The motion of the charged particles constitutes the current and electricity along with a medium.  Determining the kinetic energy seems to be challenging but you can use the kinetic energy calculator to find the kinetic energy produced by the movement of objects.

What is Kinetic Energy Electrical Energy:

The energy produced by the potential and kinetic energy of the charged particles is called electrical energy. In general, it is the energy that is transformed from potential energy. You can say that the energy created by the passing of electrons from one location to another is called electrical energy. While the current and flow of electricity is said to be the flow of charged particles through a medium such as wire. You can easily calculate the linear & rotational kinetic energy of a moving body with the free assistance of a kinetic energy calculator. The online calculator generates the results depending on the kinetic energy formula.

Commercial Units of Energy:

The commercial unit of electrical energy is kilowatt-hour. It is considered as an amount, which is consumed by a machine working at a constant rate of one kilowatt per hour. As a result, joule represents the SI unit of the energy, while kilowatt-hour is the commercial unit. There are few of things that you need to remember are:

• A kilowatt per hour is equal to one joule.

• How this unit is different from the unit of house electricity.

• How the electrical equipment uses the one kilowatt energy for one hour in a commercial setting such as the business sector, factories, etc.

Relation between commercial & SI unit of energy:

Kilowatt-hour has a direct relationship between the power and energy. While in terms of energy electric power is defined as the amount of energy, which is consumed per unit of time. For instance: the electric energy is divided by time that is equal to electrical power and the SI power unit is “watt” expressed by w. in terms of energy the formula for power is as follows:

P = E/t here, p represents the power generated, e is the energy consumed, and t is obviously the time. after rearranging the formula it looks like : E = Pt.

Expressing the kilowatt-hour for the above formula. Consider that the power is equal to1 kW, while time is equal to one hour.

E = P t

1 kWh = 1kW × 1 h

1 kW h = 1000 W × 1 h

1 kW h = 1000 (J / s) × 3600 s

1 kWh = 3.6 × 106 J.

Instead of using the above kinetic energy formula, try the kinetic energy equation calculator that delivers the output in watt-hours, joules, calories, and foot-pounds. 

Final Words:

In this guidepost, we discussed the commercial unit of electric energy, how to calculate and most importantly what is kinetic energy. By reading this informative article, you can easily understand how to convert the electric energy into a commercial unit kilowatt-hour. You also use the kinetic energy calculator that displays the outputs in different units depending on the kinetic energy equation.

Guest Contributor: Abdul Rehman

Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt in Frankfort, IL

Are you looking for a new frozen yogurt place to go to to get your sugar craving fixed? Look no further than Sweet Frog located at 9645 Lincoln Way Lane, Frankfort, IL 60423. This place is family friendly, and has tons of different options to choose from, from the flavors of frozen yogurt to the toppings to put on the yogurt! Everybody is sure to find something they like at this place.

Wondering what type of yogurt flavors they offer?

• Pumpkin Pie

• NSA Blueberry

• NSA Cheesecake

• NSA Chocolate

• NSA Coffee

• NSA Irish Cream

• NSA Praline

• NSA Raspberry

• NSA Strawberry

• NSA Strawberry Banana

• NSA Vanilla

• NSA Yellow Cake Batter

• Irish Cream Irish Coffee

• Cake Batter

• Chocolate

  And many many more flavors! You can check out their website here, to see the many different flavors available.

  NSA stands for No Sugar Added.

Now for the best part… the toppings! Here are some delicious toppings they offer.

• Fresh Fruit

  Bananas

  Blackberries

  Strawberry

• Candy

  Butterfingers

  Caramel Cups

  Gummy Bears

  Kit Kats

  M&M’s

  Jolly Rancher

• Nuts & Cereals

  Almonds

  Cap’n Crunch

  Fruit Loops

  Fruity Pebbles

  Granola

  Peanuts

• Sauces

  Caramel

  Chocolate Hazelnut

  Chocolate

  Hot Fudge

  Strawberry

  Peanut Butter

• More

  Boba Poppers

  Brownies

  Cheesecake Bites

  Chocolate Chip Cookies

  Chocolate Chips

  Coconut (shredded)

  Cookie Dough Bites

  Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cups

  Dark Chocolate Shavings 

  Frosted Animal Crackers

  Fruit Snacks

  Graham Cracker Crumbs

  Maraschino Cherries

  S’more

  Sprinkles

  Vanilla Chips

  Whipped Cream

  And many more!!

This place is a must see if you’re craving a sweet treat, you’ll find something you like with their many different options and variety!

All Information was taken directly off of sweetfrog.com

Renovations to Consider When Buying an Old House

When you buy an older home, you preserve a piece of history. You also have a unique property worth more when you go to sell. Although, these houses often require structural upgrades to keep your family safe. Here are seven renovations you may want to consider.

1.  Electrical

Older homes tend to have outdated electrical systems. For example, your home may still have knob and tube wiring installed. This was popular before the 1930s but isn’t safe for modern homes. The system used porcelain knobs to the run wires. However, the rubber insulation can dry out, leading to cracks and exposed wiring. Also, insurance companies may not provide coverage until you replace it.

Along with an outdated structure, here are some other signs to look out for:

• Frayed wires

• Excessive heat marks

• Tripping circuit breakers

• Smoke

• Dimmed lights

If you notice any of these issues, upgrade your system before moving in. To do this, hire a professional electrician. It can cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to rewire an older home. However, the price may vary depending on labor and material expenses. Your home’s size and the scope of the project will also impact the cost.

2.  Plumbing

Your plumbing is another system that could be upgraded. Materials used to construct pipes in older homes often consisted of lead. Over time, the tubes become corroded, and the lead can seep into your drinking water. This causes health concerns, such as abdominal pain or memory loss. Galvanized pipes were also commonly used, but the zinc corrodes over time. This leaves the pipes susceptible to breakage.

Another issue is if your home is using a well system. This could lead to higher levels of sulfur in your drinking water. Too much sulfur can cause diarrhea or dehydration. It can even damage your pipes. So, consider disinfecting your water heater with chlorine to remove the sulfur.

Also, be sure to hire a professional plumber to update all your pipes. Consider installing copper pipes for their durability and heat resistance.

3.  Replacing Your Roof

An outdated roof can cause structural issues. The worn-down material leaves your exterior vulnerable to the elements. Also, a weaker awning can lead to water leaks and mold growth. Keep in mind slate or copper tiles last about 50 years, and asphalt shingles last about 20 years. So, if your roof is past its prime, consider replacing it.

You will want to hire a roofing contractor. The cost will depend on many factors, such as the roofing material and the square footage of your roof. Also, consider hiring a contractor during the off-season to reduce costs.

4.  Strengthening the Foundation

Older homes may have foundation issues that you need to address. Check for signs of cracked walls or uneven flooring and keep an eye out for any signs of rotting wood. These may appear on window frames or siding. To fix any foundation issues, call an expert.

The cost to repair your foundation could be hundreds or thousands of dollars, but a successful outcome means the investment keeps your family safe. Professional contractors can also help prevent any costly or unsafe mistakes. Plus, some areas may require a permit for this type of renovation.

5. Repairing Your Windows

You may not necessarily need to remove your windows entirely. Making simple repairs and adding weatherstripping can be a suitable alternative. You can even glaze them or add additional carpentry to minimize heat loss. These updates can keep the character of your home intact while improving its function.

6.  Checking for Lead Paint

Many older homes feature lead-based paints, which can cause health issues. Check to see if your paint is crumbling or cracked. Also, one way to determine whether its designers used lead paint is to find out the year your home was built. For example, 87% of houses constructed before 1940 used some type of lead paint.

You will also want to hire a certified professional to conduct an inspection. If you have any lead-based materials, you’ll want to remove these from the surface. You can do this through various methods, such as wire brushing or using liquid paint remover.

7. Updating Your HVAC Unit

Your older home may come with an outdated furnace, boiler, or air conditioner. Updating this can make sure you have a properly functioning and efficient climate control system.

When updating your heating unit, consider upgrading to an Energy Star-rated one. This can improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your electricity bill. In 2019, Energy Star-rated products saved residents about $39 billion in energy costs.

How to Remodel Your Old Home

Historic homes have such a unique charm! When it comes to renovations, the key is increasing functionality while keeping its character intact. Consider these renovation projects to do just that.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

Favourite Outdoor Design Trends of 2021

Spending most of the time outdoors has become the new normal for many. Following the rules of social distancing, homeowners with large backyards made the most of their gardens with a variety of trendy furniture, privacy solutions as well as an array of tech solutions. From having fire pits in their garden to enclosing the property with fencing solutions, homeowners have made a lot of effort in turning their gardens into their favourite hangout spot. Want to know more about the outdoor trends that we loved in 2021? Keep on reading. We may just let you know what’s coming in 2022 too.

Furniture to die for

Multipurpose furniture gives you a full spectrum of possibilities and uses. Having a comfortable sofa to sit on while also having a spacious storage space underneath is very beneficial. Modular tables are another favourite trend of ours. Who wouldn't like a table that can be pulled apart to accommodate seating and social distancing? How about a table with hidden beverage compartments? All of those sound perfect and have been very popular among homeowners everywhere in 2021.

Outdoor kitchens

Taking the indoors outdoors is another trend that many followed. Instead of cooking delectable meals inside, homeowners decided to have outdoor kitchens and do all the work in the yard. The convenience of preparing food outdoors allows you to spend time with everyone as you cook. A satellite kitchen features several additional cooking elements, including pizza ovens and grills. Another option is an independent kitchen that features prep space, a sink, storage, and refrigeration. On top of that, you’ll also have cooking elements to complement the rest of the kitchen space.

Added privacy

While lounging outdoors tends to be very enjoyable, it can be rather uncomfortable if you have neighbours’ prying eyes on you. That’s why they need for secluded spaces in the garden skyrocketed. Whether you want to lounge with friends, practice yoga or sunbathe, having an outdoor drapery panel or an outdoor screen. You can also consider various fencing products to enclose your property and make it both more secure and private as well. Having a fence will increase the net value of your property too, so if you ever consider selling your house, that will be a good investment in the long run.

Making the most of the outdoors with technology

The more time you spend in the fresh air, the more you realise what you could use to entertain yourself. When hanging out and landscaping finishes, you can easily continue on with streaming movies. You don't have to go inside, just to watch your favourite film. All it takes is a Wi-Fi booster to allow you to have a strong signal in your yard and enjoy your favourite flick whilst kicking back in the garden. Bring along outdoor music speakers or portable sound systems and have a full-on cinema-like experience. Incorporate LED lights for added comfort and ambience by stringing them across your fence or the privacy structure you chose. As announced by trendsetters, in 2022, designer metal sconces and floor lamps in the garden and at the corners of the terrace or balcony will be another huge trend that will allow you to make the most of the outdoors and extend your time in the garden.

Fire pits for added warmth and ambience

You can never have too much cosiness. That’s why adding a fire pit to your yard is one of the most popular outdoor trends in 2021. Whether built-in or freestanding, they’re breaking records in popularity in 2021. Making you feel maximally cosy at any time of the day is the goal. Once the sun has set, you won't have to go inside to be warm. Just decide on having a fire pit between your outdoor sofas and chairs to keep you warm and comfy. Heat lamps will do a similar thing, making you prolong your outdoor times by keeping you warm. For cooling down, consider misting systems and fans.

With 2021 being in its final quarter, we thought we could sum up some of the biggest outdoor design trends for you. Some of them announced the arrival of 2022 trends, while others may prolong their ruling and stick in the year ahead of us.

Guest Contributor: Diana Smith

The best energy-saving hacks you should be using to save money right now

If someone offered you $50 for simply unplugging your electronics when you weren’t using them, would you do it? What about $100? Or even $500? 

That’s how much of your money could be going out the literal window if you aren’t taking advantage of these energy-saving tips and tricks. Find out how to save up to $500 per year — or more! —  with these easy home electricity hacks. 

Based on data from Energy Star, we surveyed U.S. homeowners and renters to see how many people are maximizing their energy efficiency. Energy Star is a “government-backed symbol” representing thousands of organizations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has partnered with Energy Star to boost energy awareness. 

And, as it turns out, many Americans (up to 50% in some cases) could fiscally benefit from simple changes. Keep reading to see where you can make small modifications with big returns.

Close window and door seams

Do you live in an older home? Do you notice drafty areas in the winter or find it hard to keep your living environment evenly cooled in the summer months? Then this next tip is for you. 

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), homeowners can typically save up to $200 per year by sealing their homes and adding insulation. And the good news is that these types of repairs can be made by yourself with caulk or even window film.

So how many people have taken this step to close off cracks or seams in their home? Our survey found that less than 35 percent of respondents had recently updated their home’s insulation. Even residents in colder climates of the northeast US states did not close off cracks and seams nearly 60 percent of the time. 

Put this home DIY on your to-do list before peak summer temps get here.

Replace light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs

The average household has 45 light bulbs. According to the DOE, the average household’s lighting accounts for five to 10 percent of its electricity use. But if you’re still relying on old incandescent bulbs, you might be making a “glaring” mistake. Here’s why:

The incandescent bulb gives off 90 percent of its energy as heat. Switching to LED (Light Emitting Diode) or CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) bulbs are much more energy efficient. Not only do they save 75 percent more energy, but they save you money as well.

For instance, a traditional 60-watt bulb found in your kitchen would cost you about five dollars yearly (if you kept it on for two hours per day). However, the equivalent LED or CFL would only cost roughly $1 per year. Take a look at this chart to see how quickly those savings can add up for you:

In 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which requires all standard incandescent bulbs between 40 to 100 watts to be phased out. Of course, plenty of these types of bulbs still exist in homes throughout the U.S. 

So, switch out those outdated incandescent bulbs in your home to start saving ASAP. As we found in our survey, many Americans have delayed cashing in on these savings by keeping old lightbulbs in their homes. 

Homeowners and renters in the southern region of the U.S. were the most behind in updating their lighting. On the flip side, the younger generation were the rising stars in this category, with over 60 percent of respondents aged 25-34 years old having replaced their bulbs with energy savers. 

Shut down your computer 

Slamming your laptop closed at the end of a long day can be a satisfying way of saying, “I’m done!” But if your computer is still running, then your energy losses might not be. 

Many of us perpetually put our computers in sleep mode and only turn them off when we need to reboot. But sleeping computers are still using power. According to data from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, desktops use almost 75 watts when they are left idle and 21 watts when put to sleep. Notebooks use about 16 watts when they are asleep. If your household has two or more computers, that number begins to add up.

Using our energy consumption calculator, leaving three computers (225 watts) in idle mode for 24 hours would cost $233.28 per year. Simply putting three computers to sleep would only cost $65 per year. However, you could save $168.28 per year by turning off your three computers instead of leaving them idle. 

In our survey, this is one area where most people could start saving immediately since only one out of every three people shut their computers off when they are not in use.

Unplugging your printer

Similar to computers, many other appliances are still working even when not in use. This is called “standby power.” Standby power is the minimum power used when something is plugged in. For instance, even if you aren’t using your microwave to heat food, it is still drawing energy to power other functions, like a digital clock.

Aside from the furnace in your house, a laser printer draws the most standby power in the house at 131.07 watts, which comes to about $131 for the year. We highlight this statistic because unplugging the printer was the least-taken energy-saving action of all our survey questions. Only 14 percent of respondents unplugged their printers when not in use.

By now, the proverbial lightbulb in your head has probably lit up when thinking about how much money you could be losing out on by ignoring your home’s energy efficiency. To learn about other energy waste around the typical home and more ways to save, check out this helpful infographic.

Calculating exact monetary values from energy savings is never an exact science. There are always several factors to consider when you look at state-by-state energy costs and usage variability across different times of the year. However, one thing is for certain, by using less energy, no matter how small, you are saving money.

Flipping a single light switch off may seem like a meaningless task for one person and one light bulb. But these types of small actions multiplied by the millions of households in the nation can add up. Learn about the ways energy sources power your home at SaveOnEnergy and choose the best fit for you.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 Americans per question listed above using Google Surveys to compile the results. Of the respondents, 47 percent were female and 53 percent were male.

• 15 percent were 18-24 yrs old

• 19 percent were 25-34 yrs old

• 18 percent were 35-44 yrs old

• 18 percent were 45-54 yrs old

• 17 percent were 55-64 yrs old

• 12 percent were 65+ yrs old

Sources:

• Treehugger.com

• Energystar.gov

• NationalGeographic.com

• InsideEnergy.org

• Energy.gov

• Standby.LBL.gov

• AmericasTestKitchenFeed.com

• Oregonstate.edu 

Guest Contributor: Lisa Iscrupe is a content writer and editor who specializes in energy, the deregulated electricity market, and solar power. Her work has been referenced by CNN, The Daily MBA, The Media Bulletin, and other national sources. You can find more of Lisa’s work at SaveOnEnergy.com.

[krisanapong detraphiphat]/Getty Images

10 Best Eco-friendly Kitchen Countertop Options

If you’re renovating your house, start from the kitchen. You can have a non-toxic cabinet finish and other sustainable materials, but what about the countertop? Are you sure if that’s eco-friendly? 

Installing a stunning countertop makes it the room's focal point, but not all countertops are eco-friendly. To illustrate: Granite is used for making countertops; granite is a non-renewable resource and often has to travel long distances, so if they are not sealed properly, it can off-gas radon, a colorless, odorless radioactive gas. 

Here are some eco-friendly countertop materials that can add a stunning look to your kitchen and also ensure you to be sustainable: 

PaperStone

This countertop material is made from recycled paper and petroleum-free resin. When it comes to durability, paperstone is as strong as steel. In addition, these materials are available in different sizes and thicknesses. Therefore they can be cut and optimized for your project. 

IceStone

Icestone is another excellent countertop material made from glass and concrete. Hundreds and thousands of wine bottles were dumped earlier. These glasses are diverted to icestone slabs by combining with concrete. 

Therefore, many glasses that were previously termed as garbage materials are now recycled into durable materials like icestone. Icestone is 75% recycled glass in weight. This makes an excellent sustainable option. 

Durat

Durat materials are made from 28% recycled plastic and over 200 tons of plastic have been converted from the waste and processed to make this countertop material. They are manufactured in Europe and the US. This is a sustainable option as this is made from recycled plastic. 

Lapitec Sintered Stone

Tired of stains and scratches on the countertop? Sintered stone is made by fusing the minerals into a completely impermeable surface by heat and pressure. Moreover, the integrated technology of sintered stone kills harmful bacteria on the surface. 

They are scratch and stain-resistant. But, most importantly, they also clean the air. This material has an integrated titanium dioxide technology that purifies the air and breaks down pollutants. 

Eco by Cosentino

If you prefer a quartz countertop, this is one of the excellent eco-friendly options. Eco by Cosentino is the company’s contribution to utilize waste. However, Cosentino still pushes the primary line on non-recycled quartz. 

Eco by Cosentino is 75% recycled material and contains materials like a mirror, glass, porcelain, earthenware and vitrified ash. Therefore, adding a quartz-like look to your kitchen can be a good option with a better background. 

GEOS

GEOS materials are made from recycled glass and resin surfaces and they sometimes offer a more durable surface than concrete options because they use petroleum-based or epoxy resins. At Least the glass is recycled in this process and not ended up in some landfill. 

TorZo

TorZo surfaces are appropriate for vanity tops or tabletops. They use wood fibers for manufacturing that would be left behind and use an acrylic technology that makes it ten times more durable. 

Reclaimed Wood

This is a great sustainable option if you don't mind the counter 'wearing in.' But, again, if you accept the wood limitations, reclaimed wood can be a very suitable countertop option.  

Richlite Composite Surface

Richlite is an FSC certified product. How is it made? Post-consumer recycled paper is stacked up and saturated with a phenolic resin and brought under heat and pressure. Due to the effect of heat and pressure, the resin sets permanently with zero off-gassing. 

Moreover, Richlite is a popular option for interior and exterior applications of kitchen and other bathrooms. This is gorgeous and attracts your attention. 

Bamboo

Bamboo can be a great surface option for countertops as it is economical and durable. However, not all bamboo surfaces are reliable enough. If you find a viable supplier like Plyboo, ecoFusion or Kerei, bamboo can be a good fit. 

Bamboo surfaces make a great vanity top or tabletop material. Bamboo is harder than many hardwoods and they last for a longer period like the wood countertops. There are also a lot of color options for bamboo countertops according to your preferences. 

Conclusion 

Kitchen countertops play a great role in your journey to a sustainable home. Cabinets and other kitchen options are quite easy to replace, but most of us are unaware of the countertop surfaces. Eco-friendly countertop options are not dull at all. They are just like the other countertop options, but the plus point is that they are organic and do not impact the environment and last longer than any general surface. Therefore, be wise to choose the right countertop according to your needs. 

Author bio:

Jared McMillen

Jared spent most of his working life in financial markets. He observed corporations making decisions for profit regardless of the impact on the environment. As these decisions were outside of Jared’s control, he decided to make changes in his own life to help our planet. 

Since then, he's been spreading the knowledge of how families and households can have a sustainable lifestyle and consume what's best for them.

Website: www.theecofriend.net/ 

8 Tile Design Tips for Bathrooms and Kitchens

Designing your bathroom usually revolves around heavy use of tiles. This is because both of these rooms produce a lot of backsplashes and the water-resistant properties of tiles make them perfect for these scenarios. Still, just knowing that you should use tiles and knowing how to actually use them are two completely dissimilar things. With that in mind and without further ado, here are the top eight ideas that you could use.

1. Not just for kitchen and bathroom

The first thing you need to understand about tile decoration is that it’s not just something for the bathroom and kitchen. Sure, its durability, ease of maintenance and water-resistance are the main reasons why in these two rooms tiles are an obvious choice. In the kitchen, a backsplash is a part of the iconic look, something that you expect to see in the kitchen, to begin with. However, you need to start thinking outside of the box. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it as a flooring option in your hallway or living room. After all, there are the areas with the most foot traffic.

2. Wall tiles

Wall covering tiles are an amazing idea for several reasons. First of all, they’re a natural extension of a tiled floor. This makes the entire area look much more natural and homogenous. It also leaves a lot of interesting decoration options. For instance, you can use various colors and patterns of tiles and make a wall mosaic. Keep in mind that some patterns may create an illusion of depth (thus adding a third dimension to the whole area). Remember that wall tiles may fit any setting that you have in mind.

3. Manipulating scale

Various tile patterns can be used to manipulate space so that they create the impression that your bathroom is either larger or smaller. The first is usually a more popular choice, seeing as how bathrooms are usually the smallest area of the home. By choosing the right size and type of tiles, you can create a scenario where the area gets visual depth, thus making the place feel a lot larger. Now, some ceramic tiles (especially in their base non-matte form) are quite reflective. This allows them to enhance the influence of natural light in the room.

4. Mimicking natural materials

The majority of tiles are ceramic but they come in all styles, shapes and patterns. For starters, you need to figure out what kind of style you want in your home. You see, quality porcelain tiles have all the properties that you’re looking for when it comes to choosing a wall and flooring option. At the same time, they come in shapes, finished and patterns that resemble natural materials. So, what makes them superior to the original materials? Well, it’s cheaper than stone, more durable than wood, PVC or laminate and simpler to install than the majority of other alternatives. In other words, it’s a perfect combination of cost and value.

5. Consistency of colors and patterns

One of the best aspects of the versatility of tile decoration is the perfect ratio of colors and patterns that you can achieve this way. For starters, you have so many options to choose from that it will fit virtually any style. You see, when painting the room, you need to make sure that your strokes are evenly distributed. Otherwise, you have to hire a professional in order to ensure this quality of works (as well as the absence of mess). With tiles, the majority of these problems will be nonexistent. Also, each tile is of the same size, color and other properties.

6. Combining with the carpet

Tiles are clean, easy to maintain and great for those who suffer from allergies. Sure, because tiles are cold, people usually solve this issue by adding a carpet, which is a vast contrast when compared to tiles. This is a good thing, seeing as how carpets are there to make up for all the shortcomings of tiles. They are soft, warm and don’t produce much noise when threaded upon.

7. Playing with contrast

One of the best ways to create visual contrast is to use tiles in your bathroom design. You see, while it is customary for tiles to be of the same shape and color, this is by no means the rule. The traditional 50s kitchen look revolves around a checkered black and white ceramic tile floor. In reality, you can go with any color you want. You could also borrow some of these ideas during your next kitchen remodel. You don’t even have to stick to the same size of tiles. The key thing is that you learn how to play with contrast to suit your own style.

8. Accent wall

So, you want to go for a tiled wall but fear that you won’t be able to make it all the way? Well, the best solution for you would be to go for an accent wall. This is a more common technique when it comes to wall painting but even with tiles, there’s a way for you to get things done. Just pick a wall and go all-in with tiles. Picking a different color from the rest of the room will give a great effect, especially if you’re going for a monochrome design.

In conclusion

Of course, tiles have their downsides, as well. We’ve previously mentioned that they’re cold but they are also quite slippery. While these are issues that are relatively easy to solve, it is worth understanding what you’re getting into before proceeding. All in all, ceramic tiles are one of the most cost-effective and versatile solutions for both your floors and walls.

Author Bio:

Gabriel Hill is an Australian blogger interested in various spheres from home improvement to health and management. 

Common plumbing problems people try to fix, but they shouldn't

A father and son cleaning the bathroom sink.

Sooner or later, everyone runs into plumbing issues. Regular checkups and constant maintenance can do a lot to alleviate problems and prolong the life of your home's pipework. However, breakdowns will happen over time, and when they do, you should call a professional to repair them. This article will cover the five most common plumbing problems people try to fix, but they shouldn't. People indeed learn from mistakes, but perhaps you could learn from someone else's errors this time.

1. Clogged drains

Clogged drains may seem like a trivial issue that you can handle yourself. Most people make this mistake thinking they are up to the task and head to their local store. They end up pouring store-bought chemicals down the drain, hoping for the best. However, acids and soda-based chemicals can not only damage the tiles or the sink around your drain, but they can also cause wear and corrosion on the protective lining of the pipes.

Most importantly, applying chemicals yourself can lead to serious injury if you don't handle them with care. You could spill some on your skin or inhale the toxic fumes. Even other alternatives, such as utilizing a plumbing snake yourself, can damage your pipes. Although plumbers use some of these techniques, they are trained in a whole range of drain cleaning methods, including airburst and hydro jetting. They also have the right tools for the job.

2. Low water pressure

Water pressure issues are often symptoms of more serious complications. Multiple things could affect your water pressure. Fiddling around without knowing what you are doing is just asking for trouble. This is one of the more common plumbing problems people try to fix, but they shouldn't because they can cause a whole slew of problems. It could even turn out that the problem doesn't stem from your home but is an issue with municipal water. Therefore, you shouldn't try to fix or replace something yourself; just go ahead and call a plumber to find the root cause.

It will take a skilled plumber to find and diagnose the cause of the low water pressure. Usually, the guilty party is a cracked pipe, eroded water line, or a hidden leak. All of these causes are beyond the ability of a layman to accurately spot and repair.

Pipes often rust from leaks, so there could be more underlying issues.

3. Replacing pipes

Replacing even a few rusty pipes can quickly turn out to be a complex task and be more than you bargained for. You'll need to shut down water to your home, and if done improperly, it can leave you without water for a prolonged time. Worst of all, you could cause a leak or burst, which can cause your entire home to be in a state of disarray. It's best to store your possessions away before starting up a project like that. And it is all the more important if you have a collection of fragile items you don't want to lose in the battle with your plumbing. So, pack these delicate pieces correctly and ensure safe transportation for breakables and get them to storage. Sometimes the entire plumbing system of a house needs to be replaced. Call a plumbing service and get their estimate on how long the project will take. Unfortunately, if you have pipes that need replacing, it’s often more than just one pipe that is faulty.

4. Broken toilet

Broken toilets are probably the number one plumbing problem people try to fix, but they shouldn't. The mere thought of having to wait before they can use their toilet is enough to encourage people to look up various DIY solutions online. However, without the proper knowledge of how toilets are designed, you could easily make a mistake and improperly install a new one. 

Toilets use a siphon and rely on a water seal.

To ensure functional flushing, you will need a good connection to the pipework of your home. Water flow needs to be strong enough to get the job done, yet it needs to create a seal, isolating the toilet from the rest of the pipe network. A botched installation can cause water damage to your entire bathroom, and worst of all, you might not initially notice the problems. Keep in mind that if your toilet is frequently clogging, it might be preventable if you take the proper precautions. 

5. Frozen pipes

We've seen too many situations of people thinking they can defrost their frozen pipes with enough heat. Sadly, it's not so easy, and we've replaced pipes whose owners damaged them with blowtorches or other improvised tools. The intense heat will cause your pipes to leak or break, and there have even been instances of frozen pipes bursting when they are heated too quickly. Honestly, if you want to do something about your frozen pipes, the best course of action you can take is preventing the pipes from freezing in the first place. Pipe thawing is a complex process that requires specialized gear.

Don't try to thaw your frozen pipes by yourself.

The best time for plumbing work

Any seasoned professional will tell you that it’s best if you do a complete plumbing overhaul before you move in. The house will be empty, meaning that the work will be done faster and without any distractions or obstacles. Contractors may even give you a better rate if you aren't on the property while they are performing the work. Additionally, it will be easier for you as well. You can then focus on the move, get several moving estimates, and plan all the costs with ease. When you move in, the works will be over, and the house cleaned up and looking fresh. What’s best is that you won’t have to worry about any plumbing problems for a long time. Everything was done by professionals well before you moved in, and you can rest with ease and enjoy your new home.

In summary

Be very careful before attempting any improvised DIY solutions you looked up online. Having a professional plumber on call will be the fastest and most reliable way to take care of any issues with the pipes and drains in your home. Be mindful of these five common plumbing problems people try to fix, but they shouldn't, and avoid making those mistakes yourself. It's usually cheaper and more efficient to leave the work to the professionals.

Meta description: Think twice before you do any DIY plumbing. Here are five common plumbing problems people try to fix, but they shouldn't since that can only lead to trouble.

Guest Contributor: Sophia Perry