Long Beach Home Bathroom Remodels

Long Beach Homes - Bathroom Remodels

Long Beach Homeowners want more space in their kitchens and bathrooms.  Bathroom remodels are reflecting many of the same design trends and choices as kitchens. 

Long Beach Homeowners want their bathrooms opened up.  They want more space, more light and room for more than one person to be comfortable in the room at the same time.  Adding windows and skylights, or enlarging existing windows brings light into the room, cheering it up and creating the illusion of more space.  Using lots of glass and glass block helps achieve this goal. 

We all know that the choice to live in a beach close Long Beach Home generally means higher prices and less square footage.  How can we create more viable living space when we only have just so much in the way of usable square footage?  

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Posted on 2007-07-21 @ 10.32:56 am by Laurie.Manny

Long Beach Backyards-Ponds and Nasty Swimming Pools

LONG BEACH CA REAL ESTATE

Do you have a nasty old pool detracting from your Long Beach backyard?  Don't use it anymore?  Takes up valuable space?  Costs a small fortune to maintain!   Afraid it may get in the way of selling your Long Beach Home?

Not all Long Beach Buyers are interested in maintaining a swimming pool.  For many first time buyers the expense of maintaining the pool is just too much for them to deal with.  If the pool is not in pristine condition it could turn off a buyer, nobody wants to take on potentially unknown expenses.  Removing an existing pool can be very expensive. It is time to get out of the box in your thinking. 

Wouldn't you just love to have a beautifully landscaped pond instead?  Apparently you are not alone! 

Imagination!   It amazes me!  Some people are blessed with not only a fabulous imagination, but also with the ability to bring their dreams into reality.  Erik, of Portland Oregon is such a man. 

Erik purchased a home with a swimming pool and made his dream of a large pond come true.  His blog recounts the entire conversion process with beautiful photos.  His talents are limitless.  He not only converted the pool, his landscaping talents are unparalleled.  Erik designed a biological vegi filtration system for his pond which keeps the water crystal clear, uses no chemicals, the pond is self-sustaining and he makes it look effortless. 

The kicker is, he did this for only about $2,000.  Yep, here is his estimation:

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Posted on 2007-07-15 @ 7.29:15 pm by Laurie.Manny

Self-Healing Homes

Self Healing Homes

The Wave of the Future?

The University of Leeds' Nano Manufacturing Institute (NMI) is involved in the European Union funded project which will develop special walls for a high-tech villa being built on a mountainside in Greece.  Along with other advanced technology the walls will contain nano polymer particles and sensors to monitor the stress levels on the building.  When the building is placed under stress, the polymer particles liquify, fill the cracks and then harden. 

Nanotechnology involves making things with useful scientific properties on a tiny scale - less than one-hundred thousandth the width of a human hair.

What a great inovation this is. 

More details can be read in the original article at Science Daily.

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Posted on 2007-06-02 @ 6.54:01 am by Laurie.Manny

Unusual Mailboxes

UNUSUAL MAILBOXES

Just for Laughs 

Gigi received this "Buzzard"mailbox from Keith, her boyfriend in N. Tonawanda, NY.

These mailbox's came to us from New Zealand via the Netherland

More wacky mailboxes:

This bicyclist mailbox picture came from California

This Rascal needs four legs to really be "mean".

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Posted on 2007-05-13 @ 11.40:43 pm by Laurie.Manny

Summer in Long Beach California - Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool

Long Beach Real Estate

Summer in Long Beach California

Reduce Your Energy Costs and Stay Cool

Lazy days and cooler temperatures are a normal summer, if you live in Long Beach California. Unlike the hell of the valleys and the inland empire, in Long Beach the breeze travels in over the ocean cooling the air as it wafts in over us divinely. Most homes anywhere near the beach dont even have air conditioning. For the most part we dont need it. We have adapted to our lovely weather.

Does that mean it doesnt get hot in Long Beach? Not on your life! It can get absolutely molten here, and does, but usually only for about 2 weeks of the year total. I keep a window air conditioner in my garage, which I can pop into a bedroom window in a hot minute, if necessary. I think I used it a grand total of 5 nights over about 5 years when it was just unbearable.

Even with our lovely climate our homes do hold in the heat, and an attic temperature can reach in excess of 120 degrees, holding unwelcome heat in your home. Our homes can stay uncomfortably warm until about 10:00 PM, while the air outside is cool. Using fans to move air through your home can help but doesnt really cool down the house, because the air in the attic is still cooking.

Solution:

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Posted on 2007-05-05 @ 1.56:11 pm by Laurie.Manny