In large bathrooms, the personal spa environment can be enhanced with glass tile patterns for visual effect. Many bathrooms are modest or small in size, and splurging on decorative tile can turn these tight rooms into charming oases.

Since tile is such a distinctive design element, whatever style you choose will set the tone for the overall bathroom, and it doesn’t take a lot of tile to make a statement. A brightly patterned tile backsplash in the space between sink and mirror can make as bold a statement as a whole room done in tiles of similar hue and texture.

For the eco-conscious, tiles made of recycled glass are now available, along with the customary stone and ceramic options so much easier by offering segments of small tiles attached to mesh backing. This ensures accurately placed tiles with little work on your end.

There are incredible tile artisans who specialize in crafting tile murals and borders. Many will custom-design special projects, working with elements that indicate specific colors, motifs, and overall style requirements.Whether you’re hiring a professional or you’re going to roll up your sleeves and do a smaller project yourself, you need to begin by choosing the tile and design plan. Know your options and expand your creative thinking by looking at projects that others have done. You may even want to consider installing floor-warming elements in the subfloor while you’re at it!

Related links:

• A Bathroom Guide
• Remodeling My Space
• Daniels Kitchen and Bath

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Specialists in high-end building & remodeling excellence are, of course, easily accessible among CalFinder’s growing group of certified contractors. These professionals deliver spectacular results for gracious living. Let’s take a look at some of their high-end projects!

This home was remodeled by Ekman and Associates, based in Oakland. Committed to quality, Ekman develops projects with cutting-edge technology to make homes wonderful and exciting.

A “Design and Build” Firm, Samuel Sinnott & Company provides both architectural and construction services. With its Menlo Park, CA, location, high-end projects are the name of the game.

Don’t you love this huge white bathtub on a dais of tile? Definitely a luxury home spa experience waiting to be had! PB Construction provides top-quality craftsmanship and design in Seattle and Puget Sound.

With a patio and extensive landscape pulling your gaze outdoors, staying home is the way to go. Antigua Landscapes specializes in landscaping and offers hardscaping as well. Based in Clayton, CA.

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I once read an article about a man who bought an old house for $1. The purchase agreement contained the caveat that the house had to be removed from the property on which it sat, so that the property owner could repurpose the building site without having to demolish the old house first.

Photo Credit: aka kath

That story was so colorful, it made me curious about the process of moving an entire building from one place to another. As I delved into the topic, I discovered a company that specializes in moving houses and other buildings around the country. Wolfe House & Building Movers talks about some of the benefits of moving an entire structure:

• The structure changes locations, intact
• All the plumbing, heating, and HVAC systems go right along for the ride
• A wonderful house can go from an unsavory location to an appealing one
• A building with historical value can be saved

House-moving services include oversight by qualified engineers (they must be!), who utilize high tech moving and lifting equipment such as remote-controlled dollies and hydraulic jacking. Wolfe’s house raising experts say, “We can raise your building, rest it on our state-of-the-art dollies in order to create a smoother and more accurate ride, and then gently lower the structure onto its new foundation without compromising its integrity in any way.”

But what about big, big structures? A major builder relocated an entire factory to supply a 1,000-unit subdivision in Ontario, Canada. The factory, which was dismantled and moved, was built to create a warm, secure working environment for the construction of prefab homes.

“To move a building of 1,200 square feet, it typically takes 2-3 days,” says Davis Construction Building Movers. This company’s website is chock-full of important considerations for the would-be house-mover, including arranging for permits and preparing the new site to receive the structure intact. Another issue that needs addressing is the removal of existing landscape to allow for house relocation, along with ensuring that the new site has a foundation in place to receive the structure.

It can be done by boat, too! Nickel Bros. House Moving moves recycled homes in neighborhoods and by barge in the Puget Sound area. The company claims that home relocation reduces landfill waste by an average of 80 tons and 60 trees. In addition to moving the houses, the company will sell you a house to “recycle” onto a new location. Their website has a great Before & After gallery that shows examples to educate as they inspire many ideas for moving entire homes.

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There’s a lot of variety in the region, and CalFinder’s SoCal contractors provide you with boundless options for customizing your own personal version of Southern California style. You’ll enjoy these gorgeous examples!

Goodfellas Construction is based in Encino, home of some of the loveliest addresses in the San Fernando Valley. They’re a family-owned business specializing in general remodeling, kitchens, bathrooms, and roofing & gutters.

Exlart Group prides themselves on meticulous craftsmanship and intelligent, functional design. They’re headquartered in Granada Hills and help homeowners transform their living spaces with an exciting sense of style.

Beach City Builders operate out of Carlsbad, down in the general San Diego vacinity sometimes known as “North County.” They’re family owned and say they’re defined by a Midwest work ethic and integrity.

Sea Pointe Construction is based in Irvine, the heart of Orange County. They can help bring your outside indoors with glass walls that open into spacious kitchens. General and bathroom remodeling services are options as well.

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Photo Credit: Desktop Nexus

These are the dog days of summer, so named because of the annual conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the red-hot sun. Now’s the time to check on the health of your A/C system. If you discover that it needs a tune-up, you’ll want to call an experienced professional that can trouble-shoot any problem asap. CalFinder’s certified air conditioning contractors can help you chill out, either by upgrading your existing system or installing new energy-saving equipment.

Most of the major residential A/C systems are manufactured in conjunction with heating and ventilation systems (HVAC), so the whole picture must be taken into account before making a decision. Lennox, Rheem, and Carrier are a few of the major brands available, and your CalFinder speciliast will know which one is right for your home.

Explore the air conditioning experts in your area at.

Or check out some of our newest A/C contractors:

• ARS Comfort Solutions in Gilroy, CA
• SENS Mechanical, serving Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia
• Sunflower GC, based in Brooklyn, NY

The Detroit News (yep, it’s hot in Motown, too) featured an article by “The Handyman” Glenn Haege, about making your air conditioning system more efficient. Lots of helpful tips and tidbits give you ways to think and feel cooler. He suggests, “If you are planning to replace your old air conditioner, make sure your contractor does a heat gain study and replaces it with a properly sized and Energy Star-rated air conditioner that will make you more comfortable and save you money.”

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Here’s a company that’s serious about helping you save energy and improve comfort. Serious Materials develops and manufactures sustainable green building materials that reduce the impact of the ‘built environment’ on the climate. According to Serious Materials, “The ‘built environment’ is responsible for 52% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide — which compares to only 9% for cars and light trucks.”

Some examples of their energy conserving products include:

• Serious Windows high-performance insulated windows and glass that can reduce heating and cooling energy costs and emissions up to 40%.
• QuietRock soundproof drywall. The company claims that a single sheet of QuietRock is equivalent, acoustically, to eight sheets of standard drywall.
• EcoRock, a green alternative to standard gypsum drywall. It’s made using 80% post-industrial recycled waste. It’s also said to outperform other mold resistant drywall by 50%.

Serious Materials takes a strong stand on educating consumers and there’s extensive focus on the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on the company’s website. Educational material on their website talks about “the large opportunity for saving energy and taxpayer dollars that has been created by the ARRA for your community. For the ARRA to be successful, we need to interpret what has actually been passed and what funds are available.” And you can link to a video clip of President Obama commending Serious Materials for its efforts.

Serious Materials has as its goal to save one billion tons of greenhouse emissions per year. Considering that the world today produces over 30 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, this is a serious commitment for a company to make. It’s no wonder, then, that there is such a strong tie-in to government, educating the public, and all the focus on various green awards, labels, and technologies. Serious Materials’ approach might seem overwhelming to the consumer who is simply shopping for green building materials. But it does make a strong impression.

To bring the larger company goals down to what’s relevant for you and your home, a visit to the photo gallery gives you examples of Serious Windows in a variety of styles.

There are no prices or shopping carts on this company website, so purchasing their products directly does not seem to be a consumer option at this point. You can learn more by submitting an e-form describing your product interest and asking questions, and you’re encouraged to do so if you’d like to be contacted by the company.

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Choosing among the many types of siding products available can be an easier process when you’re working with an experienced, reliable contractor. CalFinder can connect you with reputable and seasoned siding specialists who can take a lot of the guesswork out of deciding which style and type of siding will work best for you and your home.

The advice to look for a siding material that suits the style of your home is simple and solid — and yet, in this day of seemingly limitless options, it can be challenging to hone in on the most effective solution. Stucco, stone, wood, brick, shingles, and shakes are all popular siding types that have been around for a long time. You can also choose from composite wood, aluminum, seamless steel, and vinyl. Looking at resources like Better Homes and Gardens’ Siding Options for Your Home will give you the basics to consider as you start meeting with contractors for more specific advice and estimates.

CalFinder connects you with local siding contractors who can ensure that your project is done professionally for visual appeal and technical excellence. Here are a few examples of outstanding projects and contractors.

ABC Seamless serves North Dakota, portions of Minnesota, and also South Dakota. Their goal is to save homeowners time and money by providing the best products and utilizing the most advanced technologies for exterior siding.

J Reilly Construction is based in Pacifica, CA, and serves the greater San Francisco area. They pride themselves on reliability, work ethic, and performance, and know the value of maintaining excellent client relations.

JWS Custom Decks do a lot more than decks. Their services include siding and they say their goal is to make each finished project look like a magazine cover. They only take one project at a time. They’re located in New Hampshire.

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Here are a few of CalFinder’s recently certified contractors. Have a look at the quality, creative work they’re doing. All four of the contractors featured here are located in California — selected because the photos of their work are so exemplary of excellence.

Michael O’Leary Design & Build

Serving California’s Solano, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties, Michael O’Leary says that building houses is an art he loves. He and his staff care about protecting your investment in your home, and keep it clean and protected in the remodeling process.

Eberia Construction

The folks at Eberia, based in Los Angeles, specialize in kitchen and bath remodeling projects, and have extensive experience in home additions and complete home remodels as well. Their goal is make homeowners feel comfortable and secure.

G & L Design

G & L Design, based in Canoga Park, produces custom cabinetry, from traditional to contemporary, in their own manufacturing facilities. They’re “the ultimate kitchen and bath design and remodeling center,” and have professional designers to assist you.

Shad Construction

Based in Clayton, Shad Construction bases their business on pride, hard work, and commitment to excellence. Their remodeling expertise spans styles and budgets, and each project revolves around client relationships and exceeding client expectations.

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Allen Construction Services

Beautiful kitchen remodels by Allen Construction Services integrate environmentally friendly and sustainable processes and alternatives. They thrive on turning problems into opportunities to provide solutions for their clients.

Creative by Design
Founder Adam Seyler has painted murals throughout Seattle and got started in remodeling by buying homes at foreclosure auctions, fixing them up, and selling them. The quality of his work launched his remodeling business a decade ago.

Precision Design
Whether you want your kitchen remodel inside, outside or both, the folks at Precision Design have 30 years of experience to complete your project on schedule and on budget. They take pride in their specialty millwork installation, too.

Ranier Quality Homes
In the end, everything comes down to communication. This is the philosophy of Jim Collins of Ranier Quality Homes, and he claims that it’s the reason for their high referral ratings. The goal is for visitors to your home to say, “Wow, this is Beautiful!”

Gurnee Company Builders
Family owned and operated, Gurnee Company Builders specializes in high-end construction. They don’t cut corners and use products and people that they believe in and firmly stand behind.

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They offer a rich and diverse group of collections from both famous and emerging artists, and you’ll find high-quality prints of the works of classic masters, contemporary originals, and children’s art — just to name a few categories.

This English classic, The Apple Gatherers, by Frederick Morgan, is so summery! It’s available as a Giclee print. The Giclee printing process delivers a fine stream of ink resulting in vivid, pure color and exceptional detail. This print is produced on acid-free, watercolor textured paper.

Here’s an aspect of Art.com’s offerings really rang my bell: They have a team of professionals who specialize in anticipating trends, knowing the current — and next — season’s color palettes, and what the latest decorating trends are, too.

If you’re like me, you’ll agree that champagne is always in style — a trend that never dies. This Fine Art Print celebrates the French champagne house Taittinger and features Grace Kelly glimpsed through an elegant champagne flute. Can’t you picture this print in a powder room or dressing room? Tres chic.

You can search for prints from categories such as Art Styles, Subjects, Artists, and Collections. Within each of the main categories are subcategories that indicate the artist’s country of origin, whether the work is from a particular art movement, or era.

Here’s a Japanese classic by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Mount Fuji is in the background in this fine art print of “The Great Wave of Kanagawa,” which was originally done as a woodblock print. This print is so popular that its description page shows a variety of recommended framing options.

And why not take advantage of Art.com’s custom framing and mounting services so your selection of a top-quality art print comes to you ready to hang on your wall? With all the frames and mats to choose from, you can personalize and add polish to your artwork, and at affordable prices. It’s so much easier to order your art print and framing services from one place, and the 100% satisfaction guarantee Art.com offers makes working with them a very attractive option.

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