Archive for the 'Remodeling' Category

Aug 28 2010

General Outline on Remodeling of a Home

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

All of us look out for change as it brings new energy into our life. Purchasing a home is one of the largest investments in many people’s life. Everyone desires to enhance the existing structure of their home in accordance to the current trend and if it is their own home, people generally used to give more attention towards it. Remodeling or renovation is a term which is often used in reference to houses. If you want your home to look fresh, new and elegant and if you think it needs to be improved, then you can choose home remodeling as your best option.


In what way is home remodeling is beneficial?


- Home remodeling can be considered as an investment, because in the future, when you have an idea of selling your home, at that time your property value gets increased, so this will fetch you more profit.
- Remodeling helps to add new amenities to your home. By adding some new materials, it brings charm to your home and makes your home look even better.
- When you are remodeling your house, you could find out the damages in your house and you can repair it as well.


Before remodeling your home, the following things should be considered


1. First decide which part of your home needs to be remodeled either the interior or exterior and estimate the budget to fulfill its task.
2. To make your work easier, it is better to contact a professional contractor and make use of their services, so that they will information on prices and viability of aspects.
3. You can clarify your doubts with the contractor regarding the prices of the materials, as it will consume most of your budget. Choose the material which seems to be affordable to you, which is available at all the times and that which suits your budget.
4. You can also try your own ideas in remodeling your home without seeking the help of the contractors. When you remodel the exterior of your home, it is good to share all your plans to your neighbors.


Why should a home be remodeled?


The following are some of the reasons for remodeling the homes.


- You can design your home according to your lifestyle.
- To update your home with new materials to make your home lively and functional.
- It is possible to get a bigger service from a smaller budget.
- To provide energy efficiency to your home by replacing some doors and windows.


The companies which provides home remodeling services in Houston provides initial design to final inspection. For the past few years, the Houston home market have developed in home improvement and remodeling techniques. The steps in Houston home remodeling includes initial consultation, designing the space, ordering the required appliances and installing it. Therefore, home remodeling is considered to be the best solution to your home problems.

The author is an expert for Houston home remodeling. For more information visit: http://www.allphaserenovations.com.

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Aug 26 2010

How to Get More Money For Your Home

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

It is safe to assume that when you are looking for ways to get more money for your home, you were thinking of selling it. There are people who buy houses as investments, and they have all the intention to let it go down the road. But no two houses are created equal so if you want to get the best value from your investment, here are a few tips for you.


1) Property is about location. If you want to invest, buy a house in a strategic location preferably with everything in place, like public facility for education, transport and others.


2) Invest in the right type. Do you have a buyer in mind? If you are aiming for singles, then an apartment might suit your portfolio. Other buyers’ profile will match with different type of house so spend some times looking into this.


3) Financing issue. To put it simply, if you bought a place with cash money and need little help from financial institution, when you do a transaction, you are going to maximize your profit because you owe minimum amount to the other party. That is not the case if you finance it fully.


4) Interest rate. Your future buyer might need to take up loans to finance a purchase. If that is the case, a good interest rate will greatly help to facilitate the buying process. Hunt for a bargain once you have decided to sell off your place.


5) The right remodeling. A standard house will probably sell better than a remodeled house done wrong! If you fall in love with the place and start adding things to please your eyes only, it might look different from your prospect point of view. Before you do anything to your house, make sure you have given it a thought to its long term profitability.


6) Right timing. Obviously, if you have buyers lined up to grab your property, it is a good time to consider letting it go. Time is not going to stay prosperous forever so when the sign is right, just follow along.

For more tips like this, head over to: money making ideas

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Jun 08 2010

Temporary Walls to Section Off Your Apartment’s Space

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

A lot of individuals these days are choosing to have a roommate live with them in order to be able to make ends meet. The recession is still affecting a multitude of people adversely. So, in order to cut back on some of the stress it is fairly common to see people in NYC asking for roommates. All you need to do is install temporary walls in your present apartment, and you will be able to have a roommate stay with you, without being burdened by having them in your living space.


A temporary wall is nothing like a traditional wall, where excessive work has to be done to it. In fact, a lot of landlords do not have any problems with one of these walls being erected, because they go up pretty easy and they can be taken down accordingly as well.


The benefits of having one of these walls installed are abundant. The main reason why a lot of people are choosing to rent out a portion of their apartments is because they are trying to gain an extra income, so they can afford their financial obligations. These walls can easily be constructed and they will not cause any damage to your present apartment. In fact, once they are taken down you will never even notice that the walls were put up at all.


If you do not consider yourself to be a handy person, you should have the temporary walls installed by a professional company that engages in this type of work. Screws are normally the only thing that is used to install the wall, therefore there will be no indication after the wall is removed that there ever was a wall to begin with.


Ever since these walls were first introduced to the general public, people loved the idea that they could still have their privacy and still rent out a certain portion of their apartments to an additional person. You can easily create your own living space the way that you want it, simply by choosing to have one of these walls installed.


Obviously, one of the first things that people tend to ask when it comes to having to decide upon these walls is how much the walls will cost them. The price of having temporary walls erected is actually extremely reasonable. In fact, chances are that your roommate will simply adore the idea that they will be willing to help you obtain the necessary funds that you need in order to have the wall installed.


The largest benefit of having one of these walls is that you have the ability to keep a roommate in your apartment in NYC, without ever having to see them. The walls make it seamless to create additional space within a small secluded apartment, so you can make room for a roommate. Also, upon deciding that you no longer need the wall, or the roommate to stay with you, simply remove the wall to have your old apartment back, without any damage done to it.


So, if times are tough and you really need help making it on your own, you can always rent out some of your space to another person that is in your same predicament. The walls give you the option to add more space, or at least enough space for another person to be able to live comfortably with you, without disregarding your privacy.


To add to the benefits of having temporary walls in your apartment, most contractors will offer to paint the new wall, so it will match the existing walls that are already erect in your present apartment.

To divide a big open area into smaller units, temporary walls can be easily set in place. Temporary office walls provide privacy for workers handling sensitive information.

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Jun 03 2010

How We Managed to Get Our Apartment Owners to Pay For Our Apartment’s Renovations

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

I love living in New York! I get to live in a neighborhood almost as old as America itself. It’s the kind of ‘hood that’s fading away with the Yuppies’ penchant with knocking down buildings and putting up condos. It’s the kind of place where people nod at each other, sometimes even know each others’ names. I’m also blessed to be situated in an old brick walk-up, probably almost a century old. It’s a shame, but these places with “age character” also come with some inherent problems with their age. No elevator, drafty windows (and walls), shaky steps.


The apartment complex was broken-down when I first arrived in the city. Vestibules scented of bum urine, doors without locks, and my bedroom had some disappointing attributes. Nothing looked “nice.” Thank God, my Super realized that renovating everything would be worthwhile in the long run. We worked out a way to “pay” him by my paying for renovations, and we were on the way! First step is to find your New York restoration construction company.


As the people in charge of our New York restoration, corporations were hard to choose. We were forced to look around for a NYC Restoration Corporation and select the one we thought was best. Then, we drew up plans, worked out a budget, and got approval from the Super. Finally, everyone signed off on a contract, and away we went!


Sure, it was noisy. It was kind of a pain in the butt, honestly. But the transformation was incredible! When you suddenly see that stupid wall knocked down for the first time – the wall that’s inexplicably cutting off access from the living room – you’ll be overjoyed. Our New York restoration company fixed up the bathroom and the kitchen, then moved on throughout the apartment. We had real electric plugs! The kind where you don’t have to buy 16 adapters just to plug in your laptop!


I can’t tell you how great it is to be able to live in a neighborhood and building like ours AND have the joys and benefits of a modern condo! It’s amazing. I’m the envy of all my friends. Every time I fretted about having a contractor in my house, first thing in the morning, I look over at the new kitchen/living room area that knocking down a stupid wall added. Now I can have wine with my friends and watch a movie, or have a dinner party for more than say… the maximum of maybe 3 people who could fit in my apartment, before the renovation.


I won’t go on to recommend one New York renovation company over another, but I will say that doing your research is important and valuable. Try looking up online all the various New York restoration corporations who’re available, and read reviews on Yelp or Google. Make sure you get everything on paper, and make darn sure your landlord’s got his signature on everything, too.


I don’t know if our situation was unique, but we couldn’t be more happy with our apartment, the way we were treated by our york restoration corporation, or how quickly everything came together. Before you dismiss this out of hand because someone else owns the property, remember: you have to pay someone for the right to live where you live. Why not pay the guy who’s going to make your apartment into a living dream? Our York restoration construction was a dream come true. For me, and probably for you, too, it’s well worth the headache.

Lefty is based in New York City and spends his time with construction york restoration, doing whatever possible to make his apartment more beautiful and livable day in and out. He plays softball in the summer and enjoys fishing when out of the city.

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May 26 2010

Damp Specialist

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

All too often in our industry we receive calls from the general public, builders and industry professional alike who have fallen foul in one way or another of a supposed ‘damp specialist’. Finding the right person or company to undertake damp proofing or waterproofing work is often the key factor in firstly getting the correct diagnosis of the problem that you have and secondly in achieving the correct solution.


We will always recommend that our systems (particularly below ground) be installed by trained and assessed specialists. They will ultimately be responsible for both the design and the installation which means that they will give meaningful, insured installation guarantees for the work they undertake and with most of our recommended contractors having design liability insurance this also allows you to delegate the full design liability for the damp or waterproofing aspect of the project to them. Associated Specialists are approved installers of a number of waterproofing products and as such will,without bias, put forward a design using the system or systems which they feel will be the most suitable trouble free and effective in the given circumstances.


There are many people out there who purport to being damp specialists and able to carry out surveys and ultimately the required damp or waterproofing works. Unfortunately there are a fair proportion who shouldn’t be within 50 miles of this type of work. Here are a few things we would recommend you look for when deciding upon a specialist.


How long has the damp specialist being trading?
What relevant and/or industry qualifications has the specialist achieved?
What examples, case studies, testimonials can the specialist provide to prove their experience and competency?
Have the damp specialists attended the school of waterproofing course?
Are they affiliated to relevant governing bodies and associations and ask for proof.
Check out the damp specialist’s website.
What guarantees and insurances can the damp specialist offer. (Beware of anyone offering a manufacturers warranty)
Does the damp specialist employ his own labour to carryout the damp proofing/waterproofing.


Our Specialist Contractors are a select group of waterproofing and damp specialist contractors chosen by us as the recommended installers of our products. In conjunction with their own training programmes the specialist waterproofing and damp specialists are trained by our staff and constantly assessed to ensure they are worthy of the name. This may sound a little conceited but we feel by making the people we recommend jump through lots of hoops and over some very high hurdles we go further than most to achieve quality assurance from the start to the finish of any damp or waterproofing project.


No matter where the project is in the UK we will be able to provide those who want it lists of Our Approved Contractors in any post code area.

Warren Muschialli is a Director at John Newton & Company, the leading independent provider of basement waterproofing and damp proofing solutions in the UK. John Newton & Company have provided basement tanking solutions for thousands of properties in the UK

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Apr 30 2010

Non Toxic Adhesive – An Eco Friendly Product For Upgrading Homes

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

All the products, which are being used, while construction; ranging from cement to flooring material, adhesives are the most toxic supplies. Usually, people overlook to check for the toxicity of these adhesives, glues and sealants, but it is very crucial to opt for a non toxic which is free from all kinds of synthetic materials. As compared to other bonding agents, non toxic adhesive proves to be the best material which offers far better results.


An adhesive can release volatile organic compounds in large quantities, especially when it is toxic and is based on SB latex. For the emulsification of the resin, different kinds of volatile agents are used, which actually works as an adhesive. A non toxic adhesive which is water based releases volatile organic compounds in very less quantities and therefore it is considered as eco-friendly.


Upgrading Home with Non Toxic Adhesive


Summers are the seasons when majority of people make up their mind to do some upgrading and home improvement. Whether people choose to work with wooden stuff or wallpapers for their interiors the most important aspect is to opt for a non toxic adhesive. The reason behind this fact is to avoid hydrocarbon emissions that generally occur when people make use of toxic adhesives. All the customary sealants, glues and epoxy resins include the toxic material which results in the emission of hydrocarbons.


So, when it is all about home improvement, people should choose non toxic adhesive and have the benefit of upgrading their home skillfully. While making a purchase one should take various aspects into consideration, as it can help in buying the right product. The glues and sealants should not incorporate hydrocarbons, synthetic material and formaldehyde in them. Only the products which are free from such ingredients and are water based should be chosen for the home improvement purposes. Non toxic adhesive not only work well for upgrading the home and other recreational areas, but also proves to be an eco-friendly choice for the homeowners.


Online Purchase


These days, web shopping has become quite facilitating, as it allows people to save a lot of time and money. For purchasing a good quality non toxic adhesive, one can simply stumble upon the websites and look for a manufacturer that can provide such adhesives at reasonable prices. The facilitating websites presents numerous options which make it easier for the people to choose the best quality product. This also allows people to check the ingredients of the product appropriately and make a better purchase. So, if you are also making up your mind for home improvement, then simply opt for non toxic adhesive and have the benefit of using eco-friendly products.


If you are planning home improvement this summer, then make sure that you choose to have a non toxic adhesive for performing various tasks. These eco-friendly products are extremely easy on the pockets and can suit individual budget requirements.

To your increased productivity


Terje Sannarnes
Online Entrepreneur
Floormaster Systems a whole new way to lay a floor, increase production up to 75 percent.
Check out this page today! http://www.floormastersystems.com

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Mar 29 2010

Fire and Water Damage Restoration – Easy Renovation With a Professional

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

After fire and water damage you can easily renovate your home with a professional restoration services. Damages caused by water can make building renovations a very expensive issue. Therefore, if additions and renovations are complete, it is prudent to learn to deal in case it happens. There are a number of things that are affected by water damage for example lifts, Toronto kitchen, bathrooms causing renovated bathroom and remodeling. Thus, paying special attention to these factors can save a whole bunch of construction or renovation and redevelopment of housing in general. When poorly repaired damage to property can result in: reducing the resale value of a property, it can also cause insurance rates for property to increase. It ends up making the renovations to buildings bearable.


The first thing you should do if water damage is to react quickly. By realizing that as time passes, the risk of incurring higher costs on the construction or renovation process. When damage occurs, it is strongly advised to contact a well known or recommended renovation to the building society in Ontario, or any part of USA. The goal for initial contact is to prevent the growth of mold and mildew growth that begins in a period of twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the injury occurred. This makes the task of building or renovating a challenge.


For the period up to the water and then the moisture is extracted, it is recommended to remove all the furniture and other items on the site. This includes all furniture, whether AHS was in contact with water or not. Because high levels of humidity and poor sanitation may cause contamination to these items. It also makes it easier to make changes at home. If the water damage incurred is significantly extended, it is advisable to seek financial assistance to address home modifications and prevent ongoing and other damage. This can be done effectively by enlisting the support of his insurance company to deal with these damages. This can also reduce the cost of modifications to his home.


On the other hand, dealing with fire damage is just as important when it comes to home modifications. Overlooking some details may be detrimental to the overall structure of the building making the construction or renovation of a more complex task. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning should be meticulously checked and replaced if necessary. Because of smoke particles can cause cell damage when construction or renovation is not well done.


Equipment managers must be properly sealed before the paneling and the deck is done is to ensure that the home modification are performed appropriately. This is not the path will smell for a long period of time through the structural material. For just muddling and tapping the joints does not smell. Deodorization should be performed in sequence beginning with the regions that suffered the least damage to the area which has borne the brunt of the fire.

Rapid dry services specialist of Water Damage Restoration, Fire Damage services and water damage repair. In case of emergency, contact us now!

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Mar 20 2010

Why Am I Doing This?

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

Whenever a homeowner decides that it is time to add a few major improvements to the property, there is one very important factor that should always be given some deep thought. The all important question should be “why am I doing this; is it for me and my family or am I simply trying to add some extra resale value to my house?” This question is vitally important because the answer to it will automatically point to the type of remodeling project that should or should not be considered.


For example, a family that has several small children may indeed appreciate the installation of a very fancy backyard playground that is complete with the new style shredded rubber flooring. But, on the other hand, a family that is comprised of older children may really prefer to have an in ground swimming pool. Therefore, if you are thinking of selling your home sometime in the near future, maybe neither one of these things are worth spending your hard earned money on.


On the other hand, almost everyone appreciates having a garage that is attached to their home. The addition of this structure will not only provide a safe place to park the family car, but it will also create a whole lot of extra storage room. This is something that almost every family desperately needs. Expensive garden tractors, snow cleaning machines and sit down lawn mowers all require shelter from all of the harsh weather elements if they are expected to continue to operate properly. This is definitely an investment that will add a great deal of resale value to every piece of property.


Another great modernization project concerns the laundry room. Simply relocating the washer and dryer from the basement area of the home to a suitable place on the first floor of the house is a tremendous improvement. Many people just have a problem going up and down a whole flight of stairs. Maybe it is because of the onset of arthritis, dealing with the very debilitating effects of chemotherapy treatments, or perhaps a heart condition that is severely limiting their physical activities. At any rate, this is one change that everyone will be delighted to see.


Therefore, if constructing a playground, swimming pool, or tennis court will increase the quality of life for you and your family, by all means go for it. However, if you are just trying to make your home a lot more valuable to any of the future potential buyers that may enter the picture, it may be a much better idea to stick to the improvements that most people desire; especially a large garage.

Jonathan is the owner of Chicago Flat Fee Listing, a Flat Fee MLS company that specializes in placing For Sale By Owner (FSBO) properties on the Realtors Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for a low one time flat fee. Please visit Chicago Flat Fee Listing to learn more about their services and the Flat Fee MLS packages they offer.

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Mar 03 2010

How to Avoid the Common Home Owner Remodeling Mistakes That Can Cost You Tons of Money and Heartache

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

Remodeling your home can be a major undertaking or just as simple as a new color theme. There are so many choices out there as to what can be done it will make your head spin.

So you need a place to start to get the best job done for your money. I personally like to do the work myself so I get the benefit of creating the whole thing. That gives me a huge sense of pride too. It also saves me a ton of money on labor costs.

Now you might be thinking “I am not a contractor so I can’t do the work myself”. That’s simple not true. If you have a desire to do anything a little study of it and you can do anything. That goes especially for construction/remodeling. None of the steps of construction is particularly difficult if you know the basics of the step. The people that do this all the time have the basics and then they have the repetitive experience so it looks like you can’t do it like they can. Part of that concept is true. They are used to doing it. But know this. Before they ever started to do that work they were just like you. They didn’t know how to do it.

Now for those of you that know a bit about construction / remodeling work you have some skills to work with. There is still plenty to learn too. I’ve been at this for 35+ years and I learn new stuff all the time. I always try to take on work that I haven’t done before just so I can learn it and it puts another feather in my cap.

So here we go, this is a pretty good way to go about a remodeling project. First off you should do your home work. A very good way to find ideas to help you decide what your project is going to become is looking through magazines for interior design. There are several to choose from. I go to the big home improvement stores and I take my wife there as well and we look through their books and magazines. When we find ones that fit our desires then we purchase those. There are times I get ideas from these publications and I just go do it without getting the book.

For the most part those publications don’t tell you how to do the work they merely show you the pictures and have some write ups on the projects. My point here is to just get the pictures for the sparking of your own ideas. Or to simply copy something in there that you fall in love with.

When you get some ideas figured out it is a good idea to write them down. You can even cut out the picture and paste it to the list. Then it is time to go pricing all of the stuff you want so you can figure out your budget. Keep in mind that those pictures are sporting some pretty pricey fixtures and components so you shop around for the best deals of quality fixtures and components.

By this point in your journey you should have a very good idea as to the materials cost for the job. Now it is time to figure out the labor costs. This is where many home owners can get into trouble. If you choose to do the work yourself then you will be able to save a very large amount of money and be able to buy the more expensive components if you choose. If you decide to hire a contractor to do the work then you need to shop around for a good one.

Here are some basics for finding a good contractor. Please don’t just grab the guy that worked for your friend just because your friend says he’s a good guy. You could actually lose a friend over it if things go sour. By all means do check out the friends suggestion by asking him to see some of his work and getting some references from other clients of his and contacting them to see how the job went for them. You want to be able to communicate well with the contractor you choose. Personality is vital because you are going to be building a relationship here and you don’t want to hire someone that grates at you because your two personalities clash.

So look around for at least 3 contractors and get bids from each of them to install exactly what you have chosen. Side note here, they will have their own ideas on how it should go and what to do so be advised. If you want your job done the way you have chosen then make that specifically clear up front. If you are still a bit unsure as to what you want you can ask them and they will usually have some good ideas.

Do not fall for the lowest bid right off the bat. Go look at some of this persons work and talk to the people he has worked for. You are about to spend a good deal of money and you don’t want to waste it and poor workmanship trying to save a few bucks.

Usually your best work comes from the middle bid. They are very good at their work and they know the value of it. The low bidder is generally trying to get any work they can with hopes they can charge more as the jobs goes along and the people want to change things. The contractor with the highest bid is usually having to support a huge overhead and the service isn’t always that great because they are off to the next job asap and don’t seem to have time to help you until you are on the phone yelling at them. I’m not saying they are all like that but it is something that does happen with your huge contractors and small alike.

That’s why I say check them out and ask their customers what their relationship experience was like.

With these simple steps to take you can be in control of your project and have a wonderful experience. Of course you will have to deal with the household disruption of a remodel but that will pass easy enough. A bad experience with a contractor will stay with you though.

I hope this has been of help to you.

Glenn Gehrke / Professional builder/remodeler. 35 years experience in the construction fields. I find it is time for me to pass on some of my knowledge to as many people as I can. I’ve done so much it’s become a bit of a task to keep track of it all.

My blog on remodeling: Fixing Up The House.

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Mar 02 2010

Tips on How to Lessen Basement Remodel Cost

Published by Modesto Decorator under Remodeling

Almost everyone has to deal with economic crisis, times are tough and sometimes we set things aside just so we can save our hard earned money for a good cause. Finishing a basement is not something that you just jump into especially if you have a limited budget. While it is true that you have to shell out money, I don’t think you have to spend an unbelievable amount to get the job done. There are ways on how you can lessen basement remodel cost. There is no definite cost to finish a basement because it will depend on the materials that you want to use, the purpose of your basement and sometimes the cost run up because homeowners fail to plan.

Planning is a very important part of basement remodeling. You can save thousands of dollars by coming up with a detailed plan and a layout because if you don’t, you’ll probably end up purchasing materials that you don’t need. Decide on everything at first hand to save on basement remodel cost including your lighting, paint, color scheme, carpet, furniture and fixture. Sometimes people waste money even just on paint. They don’t do canvassing only to find out in the end that the paint they chose doesn’t match the style that they want or sometimes picking out the wrong furniture and equipment can lead to a disaster. You can’t keep on buying until you find something that will suit your taste. There are websites in which you can actually try painting the room and it will give you an estimate how much the cost will be. All you have to do is measure the basement and input the numbers. That’s what I did when I painted my room. I made sure I did not underestimate nor overestimate.

Your basement remodel cost can run up from $10,000 to $25,000. Some homeowners spend more and we’re talking about $150,000 here. You don’t have to do that unless you’re Mariah Carey. Visit some local open homes and try to get some ideas. It will also be of great help if you will make a research about the materials used for basement remodeling these days. There’s nothing wrong with buying cost-effective materials as long as you can be sure that they will not cause any leaks or damages in the future. You can also look at basement remodeling photos so you can compare designs. In this way, you don’t have to hire an architect or a designer to do the job for you. A photo will lead you in the design, layout, color scheme, lighting and furniture to be used in your basement.

You can get exciting basement ideas here or you can go to http://www.basement-bar-ideas.com/ for more information.

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