At first thought it sounds wonderful to have someone come in and help you design your interior décor. What better way to be certain your style is current and tastefully done? Not everyone embraces interior designers, however, for some understandable reasons.

An interior designer can take care of a lot of the legwork for you, hiring sub-contractors, choosing furniture, negotiating prices, and overseeing the work. If you have a busy life, this can be incredibly helpful for you. Just be sure to sign a contract ahead of time that clearly states what you are willing to pay for, and what they will provide in return. Because you are authorizing them to make decisions and purchases for you, the budget can quickly get out of hand. Be sure to specify that your budget is fixed, and should be enough to cover taxes and additional fees. Discuss ahead of time what you can do if you don’t care for a decision they have made, and be sure it is correctable. Check to be sure the designer is certified either through the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) or the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). Whether they are certified or not, reference previous clients and ask to see a portfolio of their work. …continue reading Would I Hire An Interior Designer?

As a homeowner, you are probably like many of us, anxiously watching each new report on the housing market, wondering where is this headed and what is my home going to be worth when it is all over? Uncertainty of the current or future value of our homes makes many of us reluctant to invest more funds into renovations.

Encouragingly, in case you’re wondering whether it is wise to invest more into your home, surveys show an increase in the remodeling market. It may seem surprising, but makes sense. Many homeowners are taking advantage of less expensive materials and construction rates to fix-up their homes for future gains. “Homeowners interested in remodeling are in the driver’s seat compared to a few years ago, when swamped contractors might not have even returned their calls.” -The Boston Globe …continue reading Exterior Renovations Taking the Lead in Today’s Market

Just about a month ago, the New York Times published an article titled, “What’s Lurking in Your Countertops?” Since then there has been a flurry of news reports, weblog rants, and rebuttals with links to this study and that finding. All the while radon testers and competing countertop manufacturers bask in the glory of yet another fear-based run of business. But is any of it true? Are granite-owners right to be scared? For me, research was initially confusing as I read through ridiculous potshots among consumers and contractors. Yet, once I’d found the right track, it was just a few clicks (including a study of the NYT article itself) and most fears were assuaged and rationality again began to win the day.

To sum it up, the Times article and subsequent news stories dealt with a handful of consumers who found unusually high levels of radon in their countertops (radon is emitted via the slow decay of uranium found in granite products, not to mention the ground outside your front door). Yet it seems that, even at relatively high levels, radiation content in 99% of granite countertops is moot. Recently, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) conducted a study of the 13 most-used granite countertops on the market. Each type of granite, which combined make up 80% of the market, was tested regularly over four months for radon emissions. In all cases the granite was found to be plenty safe for use. Apparently, it would take years of constant contact with the countertop to have any significant impact. …continue reading Is Granite Cancerous? On Granite Countertops and the Latest Radon Scare