Last of My Notes

Okay - I am done reading books. I have to be done. There is way too much out there and I would never get done. Just say I am done and be happy. What I don't know I can't miss. I know this seems boring - but at least I have all the important info in one place where I can't lose it. Sorry.

1. Have large over-sized framed mirror in the bathroom or two smaller framed mirrors over each sink in the bathroom. Both look nice, I do like the framed look though versus unframed.
2. Colors of the master bath and bed are extensions of each other.
3. Get details on to what is all included in the bid - materials, garage door opener, labor, towel racks, etc.
4. How much extra cost to have built in shelves, book cases, etc.
5. Look at kitchen and bathroom design of cabinets/cupboards, closets, closet doors, bedroom doors. Make sure it is what I want. Ex. spice racks, pull out drawers, shelves for lids, etc.
6. Have a change order statement that homeowner has right to make changes after contract has been signed.
7. Yes, want to keep any surplus materials.
8. Siding - durability and longetivity, buy best can afford as lower maintenance and replacement cost over years. Vinyl is good - thicker the gauge the better, but dark colors tend to fade. Aluminum and steel siding can be dented and may bend or warp if lower gauge, bet are fire and rot and bug resistant. Both need occasional washing. Use a PVC finish coating to protect and for easier maintenance.
9. Make entry nice, charming, serene, make sure light and not the same as the living room light and switch. Have a table with a runner, flowers and a book or two or else treasure box of scriptures. On the wall have a mirror or large picture. Put a rug on floor. Make sure difference between living room and entry.
10. Moldings add architechtural detail, easy to do it yourself. Also bead-board, paneling, and chair rails.
11. Storage under stairs?
12. Have wall rugs that go pretty much from one wall to the other.
13. Windows with low-emittance coating that reduces heat loss.
14. TV - decide if going to have rear-projection, front projection, picture tube or flat screen so can plan electrical. Same for DVD and surround sound. Plan for acoustics in floors and walls and ceiling - sound absorbing material.
15. If want a good flow from room to room need a continuous look for rooms, so select hues that complement one another, staying with light tones for a calming effect. (Good way to tell if colors will work well together is look at a color wheel and select colors with the same amount of saturation.) Bring home paint chips and examine at home in the lighting and even can get a small sample and paint a sqaure on the wall to see what you think.
16. Kitchen - choose semi-gloss or high gloss finish for paint. The higher the gloss the easier to clean.
17.Wall paper, wall cover. Make sure stain resistant and what' appropriate for a bathroom or kitchen.
18 If have solid surface counters (which are the easiest to clean) have it run up the wall for a backsplash as well.
19. Moldings - base (millwork adhered to bottom of wall), chair rail (horizontal molding mounted at chair height and often used with wainscoating), crown molding (angled molding generally applied close to ceiling to visually soften connection between ceiling and wall), dentil molding (type of trim that resembles teeth). Fluting, roping, corbels.
20. Remember the ceiling is a fifth wall to make appear taller paint ceiling lighter color than on wall.
21. Kitchen triangle - each leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet long, total length of all 3 legs should equal 12 - 26 feet. General traffic shouldn't interfere with work triangle. Cabinetry shouldn't intersect any triangle leg by more than 12 inches. www.nkba.org
22. Most reasonable to clean for the cost for counters is laminate, solid surface and quartz surface. For floor it is sheet vinyl, linoleum and wood but make sure sealed very well.
23. Give room a sense of height by running curtain rod as close to ceiling as possible rather than top of window and will heighten room. Flowing draperies that pool at bottom will also add elegance to a room.
24. Over stuffed chaise loune or plush armchair and ottoman - create a sitting are in the master for curing up with a book or watching TV etc. I also like having a bench at bottom of bed with a cushion on it.
25. Serene feeling in bedroom - neutral tone textures and fabrics and colors.
26. Decide what kind of shelving, rods, drawers, shoe holders, dressers, etc. for inside closets. Also decide if having a TV in the master and where it will be placed. I would like the kids closets to have drawers inside the closet like the closets at BYU and that we had in Greece.
27. Silhouette shades have translucent effect - giving privacy while allowing light to ender. Check on cellular shades as well. Sheets can make good curtains too. Airy canopy - run inexpensive netting from mounted drapery brackets on ceiling above bed to a pair on wall behind it.
28. Have overall ambient lighting and can add task lighting if want.
29. Multiple head shower. What kind of shower door do I want? Are curtains fine?
30. Washerless faucets are best. Make sure kitchen sprayer is what we picked.
31. One piece units for toilets give a sleek look and are usually easier to clean than two piece units.
32. Ask yourself - how would you like to spend your time outdoors?
33. Deck - composite surface or PVC vinyl. Roof for patio - pergola, gazebo, canvas, arbor
34. Stamped concrete - how is that done?
35. NO wasted space, ex. under stairs, in upper cabinet corners, etc.
26. Check top of cabinets and molding to see what I picked. Do I still like it?

Pictures I scanned - pg. 21 - 2 fabrics on the arm chair - one plain and the other striped ticking. Page 50 - Wall striped vertical wall paper. Page 101 built in vacuum pan in kitchen where you brush away crumbs and there is a receptacle in the basement that would need periodic emptying. Page 116 - molding and baseboards. Page 126,127,132 - curtains and rods/pulls that I like. Page 144 polka dot bathroom. Pretty quilt on bed, striped painted walls. Page 148 - Stars on walls. Page 152 - pillows. page 163 - built in shelf over toilet. Page 192 - Pillows, striped fabric on chair cushions. Page 197 - colored beach chairs seem really fun. Page 207 - room just makes me feel happy. Page 215 - organized shelves, cupboards and bench in mud room as well as ironing board from wall cupboard.