Christmas Party in the USA

Check out this article for some awesome party tips for the upcoming holiday season from the one and only Clinton Kelly (yes, the guy from What Not to Wear and the fashion-tip advertisements in the dressing rooms at Macy's).

My favorite? The formula for how many people your house can hold for a party (square footage of your home divided by five) and then the tricks and tips for figuring out how many people to invite. Amazing.

PS... thanks to my mom for investing in this quality piece of holiday couture pictured on the left. And yes, it says NOG. Amazing.

Therma wha? Therma who?

So after meeting with my kitchen planner on Wednesday, I came away with mixed emotions... on the one hand, it was so much fun to pick out everything and see my kitchen actually laid out and on paper. I had drafted a floor plan, but to see elevations and perspective drawings of my house... that was awesome. But at the same time, the price was terrifying. My original quote was thrown out the window because I decided to add additional cabinets. I started dreaming big, which is never a good combination with a tiny budget. However, it was a necessary change, seeing as even a novice chef such as myself cannot work with virtually no counter space and three cabinets.

Now in an ideal world, I would have solid mahogany cabinets with premium granite counter tops and drawers pulls of solid gold. However, I am working on a budget and determined to keep it down. Because I am planning on staying in this home for 5-7 years, I want to use materials that will last and still look nice when I put the house back on the market. But I also need to consider the buyer--people looking in my neighborhood will most likely be single or young couples who are also staying on a budget. While extras like a super-nice kitchen would be cool, it is not something they are willing to pay an extra $10,000 for.

In comes Thermafoil. This synthetic material has a smooth coat and is significantly cheaper than solid wood cabinets... and is easier to maintain. They are more difficult to paint however, so be sure to choose a neutral color. While I personally prefer darker finishes on cabinets, I had to take into account that I am keeping the majority of my appliances and they are white... so I went with white. I like white, and it works with everything from my Tuscan-inspired design plan to some other person's country bumpkin Walmart border.

So while cheaper alternatives such as Thermafoil or (gasp!) laminate floors or counter tops may seem like a disappointment, take them into consideration before completely blowing them off. While they may not be as durable as the quality stuff, they will still look nice and most likely last long enough for you and the next few owners of your home to enjoy them!

Spreading Holiday Cheer for a Good Cause

This may be a shameless plug, but I am OK with that. I recently was contracted to work with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to take patients' artwork and turn it into holiday cards. Obviously, the real artists are the kids who created some of the cutest pictures ever, I just helped format them for cards. Best of all, you can upload your family photo to the site and it will be printed with the card... no printing a thousand pictures at Walgreens and sticking them in cards!

Holiday cards are an awesome way to keep in touch with friends and family (so is gchat, but that's another story). And with these cards, 15% of the profits go towards CHOA, which serves the entire Southeast with premier healthcare for children.

So check them out at www.choa.org/cards and spread some Christmas cheer twice over!

Note: make sure to access the TinyPrints/CHOA page through CHOA's website in order to guarantee your donation!

Raise the Roof!

Yesterday, my contractor Mike called to let me know that they had decided to go on and tear the roof off the back of my house. I mean, why not? This has always been part of the remodeling plan, we just hadn't planned on completing this step before Thanksgiving. Whatever, I say bring it on!

Unfortunately, this has put some more pressure on me to choose my shingle type. You would think it would be simple; however, I have found with roofing, nothing is ever simple. While the material is pretty much predetermined, style and type are very important.

Having a roof over your head is like, one of a humankind's basic needs. I seem to remember learning something about a pyramid of needs in high school psychology class, and I feel like shelter was pretty clutch. When it comes to the material you use to cover your abode, things have progressed from twigs and mud. Nowadays, you have two main options when it comes to shingles (other roofing options are a whole different story): ceramic tile and fiberglass-based asphalt shingles. Basically, if you have gobs of money you with the former--ceramic tile is beautiful, but they break very easily and require replacement. Asphalt shingles are more resilient and therefore, more practical.

The next thing to consider is dimensional versus three-tab shingles. The basic difference between the two is price and longevity. Dimensional shingles will run you about $600 more (on a smaller single family home), but they will last about five years longer and are more durable because they are much thicker. Dimensional shingles are a must if you live anywhere prone to high winds (you know, Kansas during tornado season or Florida during hurricane season). They also just look better. I think the choice is obvious, but you need to make the decision for your home based on location and budget.

Now, obviously, the most important thing to consider are the aesthetics of your roof... primarily, the color of the shingles you choose. There are all sorts of options, from variations of the traditional blacks and grays, to more "unique" choices like light blue or white. Surprisingly (ha), I am more of a traditional kinda gal. My current roof on the new house is a kind of reddish brown... which would be fine... if BRICK weren't also reddish brown. I would immediately go for black, but you have to take into consideration the heat it will contain... that might be awesome in the winter, but will I be very happy about it the summer?

Decisions, decisions. The important thing to remember is that a roof is a 20-30 year investment; stick to quality neutrals, both for your sanity and resale value.

Hey good lookin'... whatcha got cookin'?

When I set out remodel my house, I originally only planned on adding a bathroom upstairs. That led to expanding the two bedrooms up there. Which led to adding walk in closets in both rooms. The, since I was already getting a contractor, I figured, why not have them knock out the wall by the stairs? And while we are knocking out walls, I guess we could get rid of this door here... and add on to the porch... and enlarge this window... and get rid of the side door and window... and extend the kitchen into the family room... you get the idea.

So from that laundry list of things we are fixing, the biggest surprise was the kitchen. I am not a super cook who needs warming drawers and granite countertops, but this kitchen was a tiny bit ridiculous. There was a total 24" of counter space. Two feet. The dishwasher was one of those European deals that is super skinny and only meant for people who shop at the original Ikea or live in New York City. There were three cabinets. Soooo I may have gotten a little carried away, but now we're redoing the kitchen!

I met with Laura, my kitchen planner, for the first time this past week. Kitchen planners are great because unfortunately, things like cabinets and appliances aren't really standard or anything. Every kitchen is different and comes with a unique set of needs. So here are some things to keep in mind when setting up your kitchen (even if you are not remodeling, keep these in mind when putting things in drawers, etc.):

- Keep in mind your three primary work spaces: refrigeration storage, cook top, and sink. Technically, these three spaces should be no more than 9' from each other (not a problem in my kitchen, haha). They should also be no closer than 4' in order to leave room for prep spaces. There should be no obstacles (such as an island or trash can) in the middle of the triangle.

- There should be at least three feet of counter space next to the sink for food preparation.

- Your dishwasher and trash receptacle should both be within two feet of the edge of your sink.

- Keep in mind landing areas. Each of your primary work spaces should have 'landing areas' nearby... basically, that is just a fancy word for counter space to drop food as you retrieve it from the refrigerator or before you throw it in a pot on the stove.

- Keep the clutter to a minimum. Your mixer, blender, food processor, coffee maker, etc. can all be stored in a cabinet when not in use. OK, maybe not the coffee maker. But things that you don't use all the time, store away. It will make you feel like a neater person and all your guests will be so impressed! And by "guests," I mean your mom.

- Don't forget to consider your primary uses for the kitchen when defining the space. Expert baker? Spring for the marble countertops. But if that is not something you consider a huge deal, save your pennies. I am not a great cook, though I love to dabble. I am also keeping in mind resale, so my kitchen won't be crazy specific as far as extras.

- Height matters. When I lived in South Carolina, I had this great loft apartment with 18' ceilings. Awesome, right? Yeah except the cabinets were proportional to the space, meaning I could only reach the first two shelves. Anything higher and I either had to hop up on the countertop or get my hand dandy reach extender. Not OK. Now I won't be designing my kitchen specifically for someone who is 5'3", but it will also not be for a giant.

Above all, when considering your kitchen set up, think logically. Cups and glasses should be close to the refrigerator. Utensils should be below dishes. Cooking utensils should be near the stove. Use your head, and enjoy an easy cooking experience. Now, learning to cook is a whole other story... I'll be working on that for awhile. Until then, I can subsist on spaghetti and scrambled eggs.

Tearing Down to Build Up

I think I scared a few of my friends the other day when I sent them messages saying, "There's a hole in my floor!" What I didn't clarify is that there was supposed to be a hole in my floor... it was all part of the demolition (but thanks to the friends who offered condolences and/or places to stay).

Demolition is the important first step in any construction process. Not only are you getting rid of all the stuff you don't need (like a roof), you are also getting an intimate look into the internal structure of your home.

If you aren't using a contractor, make sure to check out what sort of permits you need to do your renovations. Most contractors will take care of this for you, but be sure you spell it out before you begin the project. If you are getting your own permits, check not only with the neighborhood "city" in which your property is located, but also the metro area, or your actual city.

Demolition involves dumpsters... it is just one of those unfortunate facts of life. And as useful as dumpsters are, they are not exactly the prettiest things in the world. So if your home is within sight of your neighbors, which it most likely is, make sure they know what is going on and that you are aware of the inconvenience to them. I made cookies to take to my neighbors and introduce myself since they don't really know me. Unfortunately, after my strenuous labor breaking and baking, neither of them were home and my sister ate all the cookies. Whatever, next time I was around, I introduced myself and took my card to them. Let them know you are sympathetic and that they can call anytime if there is a problem. Not only will they feel better that you are not the new loud neighbor, you now also have someone who is keeping an eye on things when you are not there. Win win.

While your walls are open, check on the insulation situation. My house was built in 1948, and apparently energy efficiency wasn't a top priority in post-war Louisville. However, while the walls are open, I can choose to add insulation and get a tax credit: 30% of the cost up to $1500. Still not sure if I can afford to do it right now, but it will also save me when it comes to heat bills next winter. Good to know.

Just a few things to ponder while you are tearing down walls! So grab a sledgehammer and go!

Homecoming

It's true, I am back! The past month has been ridiculous and difficult and busy, but I am here. My work schedule has been completely different due to our holiday sale and things have been picking up with my class. Additionally, my computer crashed (that tends to throw a wrench into the act of blogging, I found) and earlier today my family said goodbye to our precious puppy, Chip. So not the greatest few weeks of life, but that is over now and I am back to Sweaty Equity and better than ever!

The house is coming along nicely. We've started construction and the whole place looks a little bit like a war zone. I have many subjects upon which to expound and I cannot wait to do so. Mostly, I wanted to let the diligent readers of Sweaty Equity (if there are any of you left) know that I am alive and well and knocking down walls! Let's get back to business, shall we?

Going Postal

When you move, make sure to fill out a change of address form.

Dude, you can even do it online.

My new mailbox is stuffed with letters and bills for the previous owner every day.

Not cool.

That's all.

Check It

Tomorrow, I have my final meeting with my chosen contractor before construction finally starts! So excited, but thought I would write a little something about how I came to my decision.

There were really three men in the running for my little job. One was a friend of the family who was just priced impossibly high and another was the misogynistic jerk who actually had the lowest bid. The one I chose was in the middle as far as price, but most importantly... I liked him! I mean seriously, that factor tends to be far from emphasized in this whole process.

Mike is a cool older guy who had done several projects around the area. I literally just saw a house he did that looked nice and went up gangbusters and got his number from a sign in the front yard. Is this a great method? Not really, but it worked.

Now, because I don't know anyone personally who recommended him, I asked for references, proof of insurance, whether or not he is registered with the Better Business Bureau, and licenses. This is just smart... you need to make sure you don't just have some total rando nailing things together and thinking that they look good. Not OK. All of these qualifications and references are necessary to make sure you are making the right choice when it comes to choosing a contractor.

I am very pleased with Mike and my best advice is just to be smart. Think before you leap in with someone and make sure you lay out all the specifications and ideas you have before you sign anything. Honesty is the best policy and hopefully your contractor will be straight with you.

Now if only all of life's other relationships were this straightforward...

PS: if you google image 'dubious,' this image is what you get. I thought it was great.

Wallpaper Scraps: Not Crap

In my line of work, we are surrounded by sample books. Literally. We have an entire room devoted to carpet sample, another to wallpaper, and yet another huge room--with workspace--for textiles. I have discussed the abundance of textile scraps before, but now we are moving on to the wonder of wallpaper scraps.

Wallpaper ain't just for an ugly kitchen border and Modge Podge ain't just for your scrapbooking granny. Get creative or follow a template. Recreate a piece of famous art... using scraps of decorative paper. Don't have access to discontinued samples? Make color copies or even use fun paper meant for scrapbooking (though that can be a little more expensive).

Sketch out your image on a pre-stretched, primed canvas. By thinking in blocks of color, not only are you tapping your inner printmaker, you are bringing out the spatial thinker within. Sometimes it is easier to just cut away; I personally prefer to make templates of my shapes on regular paper first. However, I might just be special. I had a little trouble grasping the concept behind holding scissors correctly in preschool. I am just creative. Lay off.

Even if you can't draw a straight line, this project is pretty difficult to screw up. Draw your shapes in pencil on the back of the paper to prevent any markings from showing. Glue them down using just a little watered-down Elmers and a paint brush (you can just use the Modge Podge, but I don't trust it). When you are finished, brush the whole thing with a coat of Modge Podge to keep everything seamless. And like magic, more wall art. You are awesome.