[caption id="attachment_622" align="alignright" width="281"]renovation_octobre_2013 iStockphoto LP[/caption]

Today, kitchen countertops come in several finishes that meet the requirements of all decors and all budgets. Whether you opt for moulded, wood, concrete, quartz or natural stone countertops, all of these finishes have advantages and disadvantages.

Here are the steps to follow if you opt for a ceramic countertop. Make sure that you have a suitable surface, preferably a plywood panel at least three-quarters of an inch thick. The panel must be firmly attached to the cabinet to reduce any risk of movement at the base of the ceramic. Take the time to place ceramic tiles various ways. If you have a counter with one or more corners, start your pattern in the corners. This will enable you to find the pattern that suits you. [……]

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Glass is often used in decoration: vases, knickknacks, lamps and stained glass windows. We often use it to erect a low wall in a bathroom to separate the toilet from other sanitary fixtures.

However, glass isn’t used very often as the base material for staircases. But if you look at the photo, you can see that it has quite an impressive effect.

[caption id="attachment_617" align="aligncenter" width="504"]decoration_octobre_2013 Thinkglass[/caption]

Wikipedia reminds us that glass is a very solid material. Primarily made of sand, of which there is a virtually inexhaustible supply, it’s ecological, especially since it doesn’t need a sealant. Its rot-proof and inflammable, which makes it very long-lasting.

And talk about durability! Glass panels measuring one and a half to four inches used in stairs are stronger than stone or granite. The thicker the glass, the stronger it is. Since glass isn’t porous, it’s easy to maintain.[……]

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[caption id="attachment_586" align="alignright" width="370"]financement_septembre_2013 iStockphoto LP[/caption]

Can a house really generate savings? We hear so many owners complain about all the money they can pump into a house that you might end up thinking that a house is a bottomless pit when it comes to your budget. The real pessimistic owners complain about always having to pay and pay.

Two writers offer various ways to reduce our household bills. They have opposite approaches. The first one opts for classic savings; the second one takes the road less traveled.

A reporter for the business pages of La Presse newspaper, Stéphanie Grammond offers her advice in her paperback Acheter sans se faire rouler. In terms of insurance, she invites owners to use common sense. You can save a lot over the years by doing certain renovations, getting an alarm system, not making insurance claims for every little thing and having a deductible higher than $300.[……]

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John Lennon said “Rock and roll will change the world.” He wasn’t wrong. The devil’s music, as everyone loved to call it in the 50s, changed the cultural habits of millions of people around the world. “The first time I heard the Beatles, I knew that the world would never be the same,” said Gabriel Garcia Marquez, author of Love in the time of cholera and 100 years of solitude and winner of a Nobel prize for literature.

Rock and roll has left its mark on the world of decoration. Pop Art has brought us the classic rock and roll design: jukebox, black and white tile floor, Coca Cola bottle, Cadillac, lithographs featuring Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lennon, rubbing shoulders with actors of the period like James Dean and Marlon Brando.

Did rock and roll influence architecture? At first glance, no. Unless it’s part of a modern movement by serving as inspiration for an architect looking for a new style. However, some buildings do have a rock and roll look, like the Experience Music Project (EMP). But the design is more 70s psychedelic rock than light frou-frou rock and roll of the 50s.

[caption id="attachment_588" align="aligncenter" width="600"]inusite2_septembre_2013 EMPSFM de Cacophony, Wikipedia[/caption]

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How would you like to have your home illuminated by the rays of the full moon, with a hint of the fantastic, all summer long? The light wouldn’t come from the moon or lamps, but from furniture that emits its own light.

[caption id="attachment_556" align="aligncenter" width="580"]Fauteuils_Lumineux_Exterieur_JARDINCHIC_decoration Luminous Sereno chairs. Available at JardinChic.com[/caption]

The variety of models designed with avant-garde materials will take you on a journey around the world. These two luminous statues in the lotus position are actual chairs that open the arms of serenity to you. Known as Sereno chairs, they are part of a collection of outdoor furniture designed by Moderndesign at Twentyfirst. [……]

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[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignleft" width="383"]Lambris_Installation_ISTOCKPHOTO_renovation iStockphoto[/caption]

Installing picture rails, wide baseboards, quarter-rounds and paneling gives interiors a rustic style that goes particularly well with old homes. And contrary to popular belief, the work is fairly easy to do.

There are several points to consider to improve the paneling’s installation and final appearance. In so doing, you ensure that the new decor will stand the test of time. And you also make the practical aspect a pleasurable one.

Since paneling is a living material, it’s essential to take a room’s humidity rate into account. Wood expands or contracts depending on the season. You have to expose recently-purchased paneling to a humidity rate similar to the room where it will be installed. To achieve this, you leave the packages of paneling lying around the room for a few days before undertaking the work. [……]

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We know a father who had the bright idea of introducing his two sons to the stock market. The kids’ ages? About 12. Oh, that’s so young, you think! But the father knew exactly what he was doing.

[caption id="attachment_558" align="alignright" width="383"]Jeu Enfants Hypotheque ISTOCKPHOTO financement iStockphoto[/caption]

The two sons were paperboys for years. The father said: “Give me part of your savings, and I’ll explain the selection criteria for companies. We’ll make choices together. If you make a profit, you keep it. If you lose money, I’ll reimburse you.” The two sons had made a tidy sum of money by the time their dad told us the story. And that doesn’t include the priceless knowledge that they acquired.

Can we teach children that young about how mortgages work? Yes, says author Gail Vaz-Oxlade, although the ideal age is around 14. As soon as a child shows an interest in owning a property in the future is the time to take action. Make the learning process like a game: You become the lender and your child becomes the future owner. [……]

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