Cost of re-doing kitchen.

By on September 12th, 2008

I know the answers for this question can vary, but my boyfriend and I are thinking about re-doing the kitchen in the house to help with resale value. The people who owned the house before basically gutted the whole thing and changed the layout of the house to make better use of the space (it is a very small house - two bedroom, one bathroom, and the kitchen and living room are open concept now to make the house seem larger). However, in trying to save money, they did most of the work themselves, and the kitchen is sort of make-shift, with the counter/bar area being handmade out of wood, and no cupboards or drawers. There are two open pantries without doors on them. We don’t mind the way the kitchen is set up, but I think in order to more easily sell the house later on, a more traditional kitchen would make sense. We have looked at Home Depot and were planning to do laminate cupboards and the cheaper counter-tops (not granite or anything like that.) We don’t want to spend too much on the kitchen, and since the kitchen area is very small, we want to know if it can be done for under $2000-3000. Has anyone else put in cupboards and countertops for a small budget.
I’m not really talking about a huge upgrade - just something that does not look homemade like what we have now. I know plenty of people who have laminate cabinets that look very nice. It’s a small house, and if we spend a lot of money on the kitchen, we will never get the money back in the resale. The house was already a lot for the size of it, and I think the most that we could add to what we paid for it when we go to sell it is maybe $10,000. So we don’t want to spend more than that on the house/kitchen since we won’t get it back, and since we are only going to be living there for maybe five years.
DeltaDawn - thanks, that is a great idea that others should do as well, to benefit Habitat for Humanity. And actually, last weekend my boyfriend and I went in the local store to check it out, and found some other great things (closet doors, etc) for the house, but unfortunately I think our kitchen needs something a little more custom since it is so small.

And actually we are in Ontario, about two hours outside of Toronto, and you can join DirectBuy out here, but is the membership expensive if you are only going to use it once.

Where could i get a cheap price on granite countertops.

By on September 9th, 2008

i am remodeling my kitchen and i would love to have granite counter tops but everywhere i look it seems expensive. any one have suggestions on where i could get it cheap.

Do you have a Neff steam oven.

By on September 8th, 2008

I’m having my kitchen redesigned and am thinking of having a Neff steam oven installed along with another oven and microwave. At the moment I use a Tefal electric steamer for all my vegetables and like the idea of being able to do my vegetables in the new oven. Are these steam ovens a valuable addition to a kitchen or should I stick to my Tefal.

How to ship belongings by sea to another country.

By on September 6th, 2008

I’m helping someone to move to another country and we would like to know how to ship all their belongings by sea. I have no idea how to start calculating the cost, i.e. how to measure furniture/boxes, etc. Companies ask the weight to provide a quote. Any on-line tools to help. or Anybody with that experience. (moving living room, bedroom and kitchen furniture)
Thank you much.

What does my dream mean.

By on September 5th, 2008

Ok, I’m not very good at remembering my dreams, and I don’t remember all of it, but i’ll tell you the parts I do remember.

I was in a hotel room, but it almost looked like a condo. the window was huge, and it took up almost half the wall. If you looked out of it, you would see that you were taller than almost any building in New York, and could see the top of all the other buildings.
The bed wasent on anything, and if the blankets were covering it, I think it would just be two mattress’s.
Everything was white, except for the few small things that would be any random color.
It was very fancy, and modern. Like a bedroom you would see on Cribs.
I can only remember that it had this room, a kitchen in the same room, and a smaller room connecting with it.

Laying on the bed, was a black man.[Not racist at all, for the people who assume the worst.]
I could tell I was dating him. I’m white, by the way, if that has any significance.
I walked up to him, and said something, though I dont remember what It was.
I kissed him on the lips, and the whole thing going through my head while kissing, was if I was doing it right, and how weird it felt.

Next, I remember that we were sitting on the bed, with me on his lap, and cuddling, and all that crap, when someone came in from the other room.
It dident look like anything like my brother in real life, but in the dream, I could tell it was.
He ran into the room, with a white chair, and was about to hit the man and I with it. I could tell her was only aiming at the man though.
I stood up, yelling at him, and pushing him away.
he dident hity me with it, but he swung it my way, trying to get me off of him, and I can remeber little white, bead like things falling out of it.
He wasent trying to hurt me, but I could feel that he was trying to hurt the man, almost like protecting his little sister, from any guy trying to use her or something.

And then, though I dont remember much, I can recall more people coming in from the other room.
Again, they dident look anything like my family, but one was my mom, and my Aunt.
My mom was really stuck up though, as if she was rich, and shallow.
She looked like she just came from the beach, and was wearing sunglasses and carring a really big purse.

Thats it.
Anyone know what it means.
:/

How many people knew Don LaFontaine, passed away.

By on September 4th, 2008

How many even knew, WHO he was at all.

Don LaFontaine, Voice Of Movie Trailers, Dies

LOS ANGELES - The omnipresent baritone and gravely bass undertones of Don LaFontaine’s distinctive voice had the unique ability to seamlessly embellish big-screen kisses, slice through over-the-top explosions, perfectly pair with robust musical scores, glide alongside car chases and effortlessly co-star with any A-list talent in Hollywood.”He was the originator of the modern voiceover for movie trailers,” said voiceover artist Jim Tasker. “He is the standard for which all other voiceovers for movie trailers are measured. For the past 30 years, his voice has been the gauge for all of us in the industry.”

LaFontaine, who died Monday at the age of 68 from complications in the treatment of an ongoing illness, was the world’s most recognizable announcer, thanks to his deft diction and a popular 2006 commercial in which he melodramatically retells a customer’s mundane account of dealing with her car insurance company — all while standing inside her kitchen.

“The truth is there’s only about 15 to 20 guys in the country who can do this,” said voiceover artist Tom Kane. “They’ll do their best to fill his shoes. It’s funny. You can hear it in their voices. To one degree or another, they’re all doing their best Don LaFontaine impersonation.”

LaFontaine got his start as an audio engineer in 1965. When an announcer didn’t show up for a recording session, LaFontaine stepped in and voiced his first narration, a promo for the film, “Gunfighters of Casa Grande.” The client, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, liked his performance. He went on to voice more than 5,000 trailers in a career that spanned 33 years.

LaFontaine, who made the phrase “In a world.” a movie trailer staple, was a neutral voice in Hollywood. He worked on promos for every major network and studio, many airing at the same time. He remained active until recently, averaging seven to 10 voiceover sessions a day. Kane said LaFontaine once admitted to working 50 sessions in one day, a personal record.

Smith once gave LaFontaine this testimonial to post on his Web site: “When you die, the voice you hear in heaven is not Don’s. It’s God trying to sound like Don.” When rereading that quote Tuesday, Smith said “I guess God is going to lose that gig when Don gets up there because Don is just that good.”

LaFontaine is survived by his wife Nita Whitaker and three daughters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080903/ap_en_mo/obit_lafontaine_19

how can my partner can stay with me.

By on September 3rd, 2008

hello. i’m devide i’m french and with my partner we live i uk since a year. She is roumanian. me I’m européen I like this country and I’m kitchen chef my partner receptionnist. ok my problem is she’s pregnant but in december she need to have the maternity holliday. but also she’s got a student visa and because she will not working she will not have her visa renew. so she will give birth here. but she will be ex-pulsed from UK. how can she can stay with me. we have a job we pay our tax. i’m European please help me. what can we do.
i’m a man she is a girl. not gay or lesbian. thank’s. and roumania is part of the e u but expended and until 2011 she need a visa not me.
hes has the right to stay here she can work he’s go a work permit. for a year. and she pass her level n december. but she need to renew here work permit. her boss need to do i think a letter that she’s employee. but she will be on maternity leave. Thank’s

Oblivion house question.

By on September 2nd, 2008

What is the best house in Oblivion. Not the most expensive, the one that you like. If u have the Bruma house what’s the best furniture to get. I have the kitchen set which was a disappointment and I have the bed set which is awesome.

How to approach him on redesign without offending him.

By on September 1st, 2008

Just moved in with my boyfriend. We’ve done ok with combining our furnishings. He is attached to most everything he has and is not open to changing things around or evolving. I have reorganized and cleaned the entire kitchen—(now he is feeling a bit displaced). He has a lot of STUFF in almost every empty space in the entire house. I hate clutter. There is even more STUFF with my things added. Any suggestions on how to approach the de-clutter and redesign. Every room is out of control. HELP.