Lead paint

Many homeowners don't know that the EPA has established new regulations with regards to the removal of lead paint. Starting in April 2010, these new rules will affect homeowners with homes built anytime pre-19878.

The EPA rules about removal are pretty strict and will have to be followed by anyone working in the home including builders, painters, plumbers and electricians. Any renovation or repair work is going to be affected.

Homeowners will need to be restricted from the area, and contractors need to take extra precautions for performing the work, cleaning up, and verifying the work.

The home improvement industry is getting ready by attending classes, getting certified in government approved programs and taking on extra liability insurance for jobs completed. Extra care needs to be taken to remove and properly dispose of the paint.

One HomeSavvi member asked a question in our Forums about why the cost for a paint job seems so high. In any paint job, the labor for removal, disposal, preparation and application is the expense that drives up the cost.
- next year, the costs will go up, but we'll be more assured of healthy homes especially for children and pregnant women.

I'd say it's a cost worth paying!

Inches DO matter!

Ok, we all know the joke here - but when remodeling my home near Seattle, I found out that inches really DO matter - at least in my dining room. Here was the scenario - it includes scope creep and everything!

Our contractor had removed the sheet rock on the wall that separated the bedroom from the dining room. Once the wall was down, I had the bright idea to install a gas fireplace in the wall, thereby creating a fireplace in two rooms: dining room and bedroom. (Here is the scope creep: it cost about an extra $10,000 to do this: $6,000 to purchase the insert and install it and $4,000 for the mantels we had designed by LeeAnn Baker Interiors)

And here is where the problem started....The fireplace insert was 28" in depth. A wall is typically 6" deep. So we had an extra 22 inches to place between the two rooms. We debated about it for about 30 minutes, and decided to shift the fireplace box 15" into the dining room and create a large mantle, and only 7" into the bedroom.

So, the fireplace got installed, the sheet rock got put up, the beautiful mantels were crafted, the walls painted, lighting installed...and our dining room is now too small! We hung a chandelier exactly in the center of the room, which means the dining table is also in the middle. When someone walks around the dining table to take a seat, the wall with the fireplace juts out so far that they have to duck about 6 inches to avoid ramming into the mantel.

Once I realized this, I wanted to tear the whole wall down and start over, but of course that is unreasonable, because it would now cost another $15,000 for demolition and reconstruction.

Fortunately, no one has really complained too much. Except my nephew who hit his head when trying to avoid the fireplace mantle.

Do you have a story of some small change in your home that would make it more livable? If so, visit www.homesavvi.com and post your story there.

No remodeling needed here!

Three nights ago I had the good fortune to be included in a party at Club Cielo in the new high rise condominium project in Seattle called Escala. I was blown away by the decor, amenities, food, and service at the club. Built by developer Eric Midby, this sophisticated condo complex brings a touch of NY to downtown Seattle.

My experience started in the lobby where the roaring fireplace set against creamy stone creates a luxurious entrance. Then, my party bypassed the gorgeous staircase with custom iron railings and koa wood art installation to take the elevator, which was a delightful art deco inspired ride. Once out of the elevator, I was immediately struck by the backlit marble bar in the club. Staff members told me there are over 1,000 color variations that slowly change throughout the hours.

The food was delectable - an extravagant raw bar was overflowing with braised sable fish, petite oysters, marinated mussels, alaskan king crab, smoked salmon and other seafood delicacies. A carved kobe beef station included crispy onion threads and watercress with each custom made beef panini. And the dessert station sported a "frozen grill" which immediately froze chocolate and other confections into a perfect adult lollipop. Late in the evening, I was offered a tour of the spotless kitchen where the chef topped a spoonful of blueberry mousse with truffle and hazelnut. Delightful!

We took a quick tour through the workout and spa facilities which were very tastefully designed and complete with state of the art facilities. My group ended the party sipping scotch in the private theatre's luxurious and deep leather chairs.

Why am I mentioning it in a blog about home remodeling? While Escala's lifestyle may be a dream for many, some of the best Seattle design talent was involved in this project, and everyone can get inspiration for their homes from elements in this residence.

HomeSavvi unveils a new look

We're unveiling a new look and feel for design galleries and contributed articles today - we're really excited! take a look and tell us what you think.

Ventana Construction remodeling seminar

Event: Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop

Location: Ventana Construction offices, 5458 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136

Time: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 6 pm

Summary: If you are a considering remodeling the home you have or building a new custom home, this workshop is an invaluable first step in the process. Learn from experienced professionals about how to get started, what to expect, and the steps you can take to make your project successful. This 1 ½ hour workshop is open to the public and seating is limited. Call 206-932-3009 to reserve your space.

Remodeling shopping in SODO district, Seattle

On Friday last week, I spent the day in the SODO area in downtown Seattle, meeting with a number of store owners and managers. If you haven't gone there before, it's a cool shopping area for home remodeling needs. You can find a little bit of everything - including the kitchen sink! First, I went to Seattle Door and met a really friendly sales associate named Ryan. Seattle Door carries both wood and fiberglass doors and windows from companies such as Simpson, Marvin, and Thermatru. Seattle Door has recently started opening on Saturdays to help homeowners who can't get to their showroom during the week.

At Tile for Less, there is really great heated countertop just inside the door. Inspired me for my next luxury! They also rent tools if you are daring enough to try tiling on your own.

Allied Marble's owner, Jimmy Mai, is a third generation, highly experienced marble fabrication expert. His family has owned the business for over 30 years, and Jimmy grew up learning everything about marble, granite and other popular stones. His showroom has some gorgeous transparent stone to view and touch.

Bamboo Hardwoods is a locally owned store with four locations - three in Seattle and one in Redmond in the Whole Foods complex. The main warehouse and showroom is where I visited and found some really nice accessories for my home as well as interesting information on bamboo floors, poles and veneers.

Remodeling Seminar Last night

Last night, the HomeSavvi team had our first home remodeling seminar at the beautiful Albert Lee Appliance store in Bellevue, WA. There were five professionals who talked about ways to save money, save time, go green, and the best ways to improve your home's value. 13 homeowners were there, and 7 of them won raffle items. The pros who spoke were Rick Van Arnem of Kitchens Plus, Brian Hughes of Hughes Building Company, Vernon Learned from Lighting Universe, Bruce Donnally of Donnally Architects and Bonnie Bagley Caitlen of Bonnie Bagley Interiors. You can find all of them on HomeSavvi's local resource guide for the Seattle area.