Signs and Signs and symptoms of Drug Abuse-Overdose Assistance

Please keep in mind your purpose for trying to find out if someone is doing alcohol and/or drugs- To Identify and Help rather than Catch and Punish.

General: General and specific guides to detection of alcohol and drug use, and definition of addiction.

Contents:I. General Guide to Detection

II. Definition of Addiction

III. Pupil Dilation

IV. Signs and Symptoms

V. Paraphernalia a) S/S Chart Version

VI. Drug Facts

VII. Articles and Other Resources

VIII. Drug Pictures/Resources

IX. Topics

X. Additional Articles (Alcoholism, Drugs, Teenage Addiction, Interventions)

XI. Overdose and Emergency Intervention Techniques

I. Specific: General Guide to Detection

Abrupt changes in work or school attendance, quality of work, work output, grades, discipline.

Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper. Withdrawal from responsibility. General changes in overall attitude. Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming.

Wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate times. Continual wearing of long-sleeved garments particularly in hot weather or reluctance to wear short sleeved attire when appropriate. Association with known substance abusers. Unusual borrowing of money from friends, co-workers or parents. Stealing small items from employer, home or school. Secretive behavior regarding actions and possessions; poorly concealed attempts to avoid attention and suspicion such as frequent trips to storage rooms, restroom, basement, etc.

II. Specific: DSM-IV Definition of Addiction

A maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:

(1) Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:

a. A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect.

b. Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance.

(2) Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:

a. The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance

b. The same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. (

3) The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended (loss of control).

(4) There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use (loss of control). (

5) A great deal of time is spent on activities necessary to obtain the substance, use the substance, or recover from its effects (preoccupation).

(6) Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use (continuation despite adverse consequences).

(7) The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (adverse consequences).

III. Specific: Pupil Dilation

Before you do anything, consider this. There are two trains of thought prior to detection and intervention. One thought is to catch and punish, and the other is to identify and help- remember why you are doing this, and the intervention will turn out much better.

Note: A 6mm, 7mm, or 8mm pupil size could indicate that a person is under the influence of cocaine, crack, and meth, hallucinogens, crystal, ecstasy, or other stimulant. A 1mm or 2mm pupil size could indicate a person under the influence of heroin, opiates, or other depressant. A pupil close to pinpoint could indicate use. A pupil completely dilated could indicate use. Blown out wide pupils are indicative of crack, methamphetamine, cocaine, and stimulant use. Pinpoint pupils are indicative of heroin, opiate, depressant use.

Other causes of pupil dilation

IV. Specific: Signs and Symptoms

Alcohol: Odor on the breath. Intoxication. Difficulty focusing: glazed appearance of the eyes. Uncharacteristically passive behavior; or combative and argumentative behavior. Gradual (or sudden in adolescents) deterioration in personal appearance and hygiene. Gradual development of dysfunction, especially in job performance or schoolwork. Absenteeism (particularly on Monday). Unexplained bruises and accidents. Irritability. Flushed skin. Loss of memory (blackouts). Availability and consumption of alcohol becomes the focus of social or professional activities. Changes in peer-group associations and friendships. Impaired interpersonal relationships (troubled marriage, unexplainable termination of deep relationships, alienation from close family members).

Marijuana/Pot: Rapid, loud talking and bursts of laughter linearly stages of intoxication. Sleepy or stupor in the later stages. Forgetfulness in conversation. Inflammation in whites of eyes; pupils unlikely to be dilated. Odor similar to burnt rope on clothing or breath. Tendency to drive slowly - below speed limit. Distorted sense of time passage - tendency to overestimate time intervals. Use or possession of paraphernalia including roach clip, packs of rolling papers, pipes or bongs. Marijuana users are difficult to recognize unless they are under the influence of the drug at the time of observation. Casual users may show none of the general symptoms. Marijuana does have a distinct odor and may be the same color or a bit greener than tobacco.

Cocaine/Crack/Methamphetamines/Stimulants: Extremely dilated pupils. Dry mouth and nose, bad breath, frequent lip licking. Excessive activity, difficulty sitting still, lack of interest in food or sleep. Irritable, argumentative, nervous. Talkative, but conversation often lacks continuity; changes subjects rapidly. Runny nose, cold or chronic sinus/nasal problems, nose bleeds. Use or possession of paraphernalia including small spoons, razor blades, mirror, little bottles of white powder and plastic, glass or metal straws.

Depressants: Symptoms of alcohol intoxication with no alcohol odor on breath (remember that depressants are frequently used with alcohol). Lack of facial expression or animation. Flat affect. Flaccid appearance. Slurred speech. Note: There are few readily apparent symptoms. Abuse may be indicated by activities such as frequent visits to different physicians for prescriptions to treat" nervousness", "anxiety"," stress", etc.

Narcotics/Prescription Drugs/Opium/Heroin/Codeine/Oxycontin: Lethargy, drowsiness. Constricted pupils fail to respond to light. Redness and raw nostrils from inhaling heroin in power form. Scars (tracks) on inner arms or other parts of body, from needle injections. Use or possession of paraphernalia, including syringes, bent spoons, bottle caps, eyedroppers, rubber tubing, cotton and needles. Slurred speech. While there may be no readily apparent symptoms of analgesic abuse, it may be indicated by frequent visits to different physicians or dentists for prescriptions to treat pain of non-specific origin. In cases where patient has chronic pain and abuse of medication is suspected, it may be indicated by amounts and frequency taken.

Inhalants: Substance odor on breath and clothes. Runny nose. Watering eyes. Drowsiness or unconsciousness. Poor muscle control. Prefers group activity to being alone. Presence of bags or rags containing dry plastic cement or other solvent at home, in locker at school or at work. Discarded whipped cream, spray paint or similar chargers (users of nitrous oxide). Small bottles labeled" incense" (users of butyl nitrite).

Solvents, Aerosols, Glue, Petrol: Nitrous Oxide - laughing gas, whippits, nitrous. Amyl Nitrate - snappers, poppers, pearlers, rushamie, .Butyl Nitrate - locker room, bolt, bullet, rush, climax, red gold. Slurred speech, impaired coordination, nausea, vomiting, slowed breathing. Brain damage, pains in the chest, muscles, joints, heart trouble, severe depression, fatigue, loss of appetite, bronchial spasm, sores on nose or mouth, nosebleeds, diarrhea, bizarre or reckless behavior, sudden death, suffocation.

LSD/Hallucinogens: Extremely dilated pupils, (see note below). Warm skin, excessive perspiration and body odor. Distorted sense of sight, hearing, touches; distorted image of self and time perception. Mood and behavior changes, the extent depending on emotional state of the user and environmental conditions Unpredictable flashback episodes even long after withdrawal (although these are rare). Hallucinogenic drugs, which occur both naturally and in synthetic form, distort or disturb sensory input, sometimes to a great degree. Hallucinogens occur naturally in primarily two forms, (peyote) cactus and psilocybin mushrooms.

Several chemical varieties have been synthesized, most notably, MDA , STP, and PCP. Hallucinogen usage reached a peaking the United States in the late 1960's, but declined shortly thereafter due to a broader awareness of the detrimental effects of usage. However, a disturbing trend indicating resurgence in hallucinogen usage by high school and college age persons nationwide has been acknowledged by law enforcement. With the exception of PCP, all hallucinogens seem to share common effects of use. Any portion of sensory perceptions may be altered to varying degrees. Synesthesia, or the "seeing" of sounds, and the "hearing" of colors, is a common side effect of hallucinogen use. Depersonalization, acute anxiety, and acute depression resulting in suicide have also been noted as a result of hallucinogen use. Note: there are some forms of hallucinogens that are considered downers and constrict pupil diameters.

PCP: Unpredictable behavior; mood may swing from passiveness to violence for no apparent reason. Symptoms of intoxication. Disorientation; agitation and violence if exposed to excessive sensory stimulation. Fear, terror. Rigid muscles. Strange gait. Deadened sensory perception (may experience severe injuries while appearing not to notice). Pupils may appear dilated. Mask like facial appearance. Floating pupils, appear to follow a moving object. Comatose (unresponsive) if large amount consumed. Eyes may be open or closed.

Ecstasy: Confusion, depression, headaches, dizziness (from hangover/after effects), muscle tension, panic attacks, paranoia, possession of pacifiers (used to stop jaw clenching), lollipops, candy necklaces, mentholated vapor rub, severe anxiety, sore jaw (from clenching teeth after effects), vomiting or nausea (from hangover/after effects)

Signs that your teen could be high on Ecstasy: Blurred vision, rapid eye movement, pupil dilation, chills or sweating, high body temperature, sweating profusely, dehydrated, confusion, faintness, paranoia or severe anxiety, trance-like state, transfixed on sites and sounds, unconscious clenching of the jaw, grinding teeth, very affectionate.

V. DRUG SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Stimulants (Cocaine, Ecstasy, Meth., Crystal)

Depressants (Heroin, Marijuana, Downers)

Hallucinogens (LSD)

Narcotics (Rx. Medications)

Inhalants (Paint, Gasoline, White Out)

PCP

Alcohol

Note: Paraphernalia- Keep in mind, that you may not find drugs, if you are searching for them, but you can usually find the paraphernalia associated with use.

VI. Specific: Drug Facts

Includes identifiers, definitions, language of users and dealers. Drug Terms Slang and Street Terms

VII. Specific: Articles and Other Resources

This the additional information for brain chemistry and the drug user)

VIII. Specific: Drug Pictures/Resources from the DEA

CHEMICAL CONTROL

INTRODUCTION TO DRUG CLASSES

NARCOTICS Narcotics of Natural Origin

Opium, Morphine, Codeine, Thebaine

Semi-Synthetic Narcotics

Heroin Hydromorphone Oxycodone Hydrododone

Synthetic Narcotics

Meperidine

Narcotics Treatment Drugs

Methadone Dextroproxyphene Fentanyl Pentazocine Butorphanol

DEPRESSANTS Barbiturates

Controlled Substances Uses and Effects (Chart) Benzodiazepines Gamma

Hydroxybutric AcidParaldehyde, Chloral HydrateGlutethimide 7

MethaqualoneMeprobamate

Newly Marketed Drugs

STIMULANTS Cocaine Amphetamines

Methcathinone, Methylphenidate

ANORECTIC DRUGS hat

CANNABIS Marijuana Hashish Hashish Oil

HALLUCINOGENS LSD Psilocybin & Psiocyn and Other Tryptamines Peyote & Mescaline MDMA (Ecstasy) & Other Phenethylamines Phencyclidine (PCP) & Related Drugs Ketamine

STEROIDS

INHALANTS

IX. Specific: NICD Topics

Do you have questions relating to addiction /addictions / substance abuse? Contact us...Health Info and Videos Medical issues updated weekly. Family Resources for the family, intervention information, support, and counseling. Medical information, doctor and specialists directory, terminology and dictionary of terms. Treatment.

The Villa at Scottsdale- Providing a full continuum of care for the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction.

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Survival Kit

General: A series, for the individual, family, friends, employers, educators, professionals, etc. on prevention, intervention, treatment, recovery, relapse prevention, support, and other issues relating to alcoholism and drug addiction.

1. Prevention- Includes tips on how to talk to your kids about alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

2. Detection of Signs and Symptoms- A guide to detection of alcohol and various drug usage.

3. Definition of Addiction- A DSM-IV definition of exactly what constitutes alcoholism and drug addiction.

4. Intervention- Interventions can and do work. We will show you how to do it effectively.

5. Treatment & Housing- A treatment center and halfway house locator.

6. Support- Some guides to how to support someone while they are in treatment.

7. After Care- What to do prior to and after release from treatment.

8. Recovery / Relapse Prevention- Addiction can surface again, in the form of relapse.

9. Other Issues- Issues to think about regarding those affected by substance abuse, as well as those around them.

10. References- A list of those who contributed to this series of articles.

Articles Medical Today Dr. William Gallagher takes us through his use of DNFT with his patients. Psychotherapy Today Psychologist Jim Maclaine keeps us up to date with his articles of insight, therapy, and healing. Counseling Today Therapist Thom Rutledge gives a creative approach to dealing with life on life's terms via his unique counseling sessions. Big Book Bytes Author Shelly Marshall shares via the Big Book on issues of concern to those in recovery. All pages are set-up to copy, for use by counselors, professionals, sponsors, and others.

Recovery Today Interviews of people in recovery, about alcoholism, drug abuse, addictions, recovery, sobriety, spirituality, wisdom, experience, strength, and hope. Tune in monthly for new articles!

A.A. History Author Dick B. will take you back to a time when the recovery rates were as high as 93%.

Journaling Today A series of informative articles by Author Doreene Clementon how, why, and what to write about.

Spirituality Today Author Carol Tuttle takes us to new heights on our spiritual journey.

Articles of God and Faith Features 100's of topics relating to God, faith, spirituality, and more.

Life Today Everyday life experiences from people all over the world. Life, Addictions, Recovery, Hope, Inspiration, Wisdom, Advice, and so much more. Tune in on a regular basis to see what others have and are going through. Find hope from the experiences of others.

Steps Today Recovery Peer and Advisory Board Member Dean G. gives creative approach to dealing with life on life's terms via his unique recovery sessions.

Step Work / Relapse Prevention This service is designed to assist with step work, with quotes and pages from the Big Book, with forms ready to copy and utilize. There is a section devoted to relapse prevention as well.

X. Specific: Additional Articles

Health and Medical News, videos, text from the world of medicine, health, and medical.

Ecstasy information.

How Do I Talk With My Kids About Alcohol?

How Do I talk to my kids about drugs?

How Do I talk with my teenager about drugs and alcohol?

What does a crack pipe look like?

Family assistance for substance abuse.

Addiction treatment for my teenager.

Overdose or OD Information

XI. Specific: Overdose & Emergency Intervention Techniques

Drug Overdose- Drug overdoses can be accidental or on purpose. The amount of a drug needed to cause an overdose varies with the type of drug and the person taking it. Overdoses from prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, "street" drugs, and/or alcohol can be life threatening. Know, too, that mixing certain medications or "street" drugs with alcohol can also kill.

Physical symptoms of a drug overdose vary with the type of drug(s) taken. They include: Abnormal breathing Slurred speech Lack of coordination Slow or rapid pulse Low or elevated body temperature Enlarged or small eye pupils Reddish face Heavy sweating Drowsiness Violent outbursts Delusions and/or hallucinations Unconsciousness which may lead to coma (Note: A diabetic who takes insulin may show some of the above symptoms if he or she is having an insulin reaction.)

Parents need to watch for signs of illegal drug and alcohol use in their children. Morning hangovers, the odor of alcohol, and red streaks in the whites of the eyes are obvious signs of alcohol use. Items such as pipes, rolling papers, eye droppers and butane lighters may be the first telling clues that someone is abusing drugs. Another clue is behavior changes such as: Lack of appetite Insomnia Hostility Mental confusion Depression Mood swings Secretive behavior Social isolation Deep sleep Hallucinations.

Prevention- Accidental prescription and over-the-counter medication overdoses may be prevented by asking your doctor or pharmacist: What is the medication and why is it being prescribed? How and when should the medication be taken and for how long? (Follow the instructions exactly as given.) Can the medication be taken with other medicines or alcohol or not? Are there any foods to avoid while taking this medication? What are the possible side effects? What are the symptoms of an overdose and what should be done if it occurs? Should any activities be avoided such as sitting in the sun, operating heavy machinery, driving? Should the medicine still be taken if there is a pre-existing medical condition?

To avoid medication overdoses: Never take a medicine prescribed for someone else. Never give or take medication in the dark. Before each dose, always read the label on the bottle to be certain it is the correct medication. Always tell the doctor of any previous side effects or adverse reactions to medication as well as new and unusual symptoms that occur after taking the medicine. Always store medications in bottles with childproof lids and place those bottles on high shelves, out of a child's reach, or in locked cabinets. Take the prescribed dose, not more. Keep medications in their original containers to discourage illicit drug use among children: Set a good example for your children by not using drugs yourself. Teach your child to say "NO" to drugs and alcohol. Explain the dangers of drug use, including the risk of AIDS. Get to know your children's friends and their parents. Know where your children are and whom they are with. Listen to your children and help them to express their feelings and fears. Encourage your children to engage in healthy activities such as sports, scouting, community-based youth programs and volunteer work. Learn to recognize the signs of drug and alcohol abuse.

Questions to Ask:

Is the person not breathing and has no pulse? FIRST AID Perform Cyprinids the person not breathing, but has a pulse? FIRST AID Perform Rescue Breathing AND is the person unconscious? FIRST AID lay the victim down on his or her left side and check airway, breathing and pulse often before emergency care. Do CPR or Rescue Breathing as needed. ANDdoes the person have any of these signs? Hallucinations Confusion Convulsions Breathing slow and shallow and/or slurring their words

Do you suspect the person has taken an overdose of drugs? FIRST AID Call Poison Control Center. Follow the Poison Control Center's instructions. Approach the victim calmly and carefully. Walk the person around to keep him or her awake and to help the syrup of ipecac work faster, if you were told to give this to the victim. Also, see "Poisoning". AND is the person's personality suddenly hostile, violent and aggressive? FIRST AID Use caution. Protect yourself. Do not turn your back to the victim or move suddenly in front of him or her. If you can, see that the victim does not harm you, himself or herself. Remember, the victim is under the influence of a drug. Call the police to assist you if you cannot handle the situation. Leave and find a safe place to stay until the police arrive. AND Have you or someone else accidentally taken more than the prescribed dose of a prescription or over-the-counter medication? DO NOT perform any technique unless it is a matter of life and death! If you are unsure of what you are doing, please follow the instructions given by a 911 operator.

Note: If doctor is not available, call Poison Control Center. Follow instructions given.

Create Your Bathroom Utilizing a Six Step Process

Step 1 - The Study of Space:

Space - How much can I have? The next step is to find out more about the space that is available for this new bathroom. Is it restricted to the existing bathroom footprint? Can you remove the linen closet and use that space in a different way? Do you really use the whirlpool tub? Can you use an adjacent closet, a coat closet or part of the adjacent bedroom? Empty nesters may be very willing to give up a bedroom to make a new master bath. Master baths with all the amenities can take up a lot of space in a hurry. Look at all the options. Be creative and think outside the "box".

Now look at the room(s) available. Are there windows that will dictate the design? Is there a finished or unfinished basement below? Is there a crawl space below? How much access is there to the plumbing and electricity and HVAC? What is above? An attic, or a finished room? In a two story home, it is likely that the baths are stacked. Note this and start to think about the waste lines and supply lines (waste lines are by far more important and more difficult to re-configure). What walls do you think the waste lines are coming down? Are the walls thicker than the normal walls in the house?

Other questions to ask yourself are whether the existing configuration is a good one. Does it fit your new needs? Is it safe, efficient, attractive, comfortable, inviting? How much natural light is there?

[Tip: An easy way to get light into a bath with little or no natural light is by using a light tunnel. Velux Sun Tunnel skylight and SolaTube make easy ones to install and they work fantastically. Of course you'll need attic space above the room in question.]

If you are going to use an adjacent room, then you need to look at what is bearing on the wall(s) to be removed. If they are bearing, then you will have to put in a beam to support the load. Most of my clients would rather see no evidence that a wall has been removed. In other words, they want a flush ceiling, which means you have to cut the joists apart and install an in-ceiling beam. It's not that hard, but there is a definite technique to doing this. I suggest you use a qualified remodeler to do this.

In summary, you are looking at how much space is available, the existing configuration, the design restriction that openings or other physical objects place on your design, how the existing mechanical parts are run and your access to them, and the bearing points that may come into play with your design.

Step 2 - Function:

Ask yourself, "How do I want to use this space?" What do you need in this space? How would you like the room to function? How will the bathroom be used? Who will use this bathroom? How many at one time? Who wakes up first? Is there a need for privacy? Does one partner get up earlier and let the other sleep? Does the room require better than normal soundproofing? Do the water closets (toilets) need to be separated? Is there a need for door(s) on the water closet(s)?

Are the kids going to use this room? How old are they? Are they neat or a bit scattered? Is a tub a necessity in this room? Will a person need to dress in this room? Should a walk-in closet be attached to this room? If so, who will use the WIC the most? Is accessibility a primary concern? Are there any special needs that should be addressed?

As you write down the answers to some of these questions, you are beginning the design. As many designs as I have done, my clients have always been very involved; usually to the point that they are designing the bathroom themselves. Use these design tips as your guide. Gather all the pieces of the puzzle. Place everything in the best position. Create the look and feel you want. When you are all done, contact a trustworthy contractor to make sure that the design is feasible, within your budget, functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Step 3 - Budget:

Why do you need to have a budget? It costs what it costs, right? Nope. Part of your research has to include what you may possibly spend for this project and what is included. This will require some conferencing with a potential contractor. Don't think you can figure this out by yourself, because you'll be off by a wide margin. I've met lots of people who have tallied up all the materials, thrown in a few dollars for labor and think that is all there is to it. The contractor knows all sorts of things that have to be done that you couldn't guess. That's why they are contractors. Don't forget that they do this for a living, so they have to be paid for their work.

Bathrooms are expensive. The second most expensive room after kitchens. Your potential contractor (PC) can at least give you a range that he or she can pull from their past jobs. Do this early in your planning. It would be a huge waste of time to do all the planning and design, only to find out that this project, as designed, is way out of your budget.

After your PC, who has listened to what you expect from your bath, has given you some examples and ranges of price, you have to decide whether to move ahead or not. In reality, the job as you want it, will cost a finite amount, and there is no escaping it. There has to be some degree of trust as you discover these realities. It's kind of a give and take. Neither you nor the PC will want to show all your cards. The PC can't possibly know what the final cost will be, and doesn't want to make a false guess, and you won't want to tell him how much money you have. When the contract is signed, that will be the moment of truth.

Remember that the design and your material choices will be a major factor in the cost. The finishing touches can be a large part of the cost of the project.

Phil Rhea, a noted remodeler and speaker for the industry told a story of a visit with a potential client. When asked what an addition costs he said, "I can build you an addition for ,500 or I can build you one for 0,000. I can build your job for whatever you want to pay, but you'll only get what you pay for." In other words, he was telling them that he can build a dog house or a really good addition, but he needed to know what they were willing to invest in the project.

And your remodeling costs are investments that will give you years of pleasure as well as a return on your investment. A well designed project will give you a better return on your investment. Unlike cars, or boats or RV's, which depreciate rapidly, investing in your home will give you a positive return on your investment. So spend your time doing the research. Remember how much time you spend when you are planning to buy a car or a product. Those are small investments compared to what you may spend on your home.

Let's summarize what you have done so far. You have earmarked the available space and how it will be used. You have come up with a budget range for the project. You have started to "paint a picture" of the new bathroom and it is getting exciting. Now onto Step 4.

Step 4 - The Layout:

Configuring the bath - So far you have thought about the available space. You also know who is going to use the room and how it will be used. And you have come up with an approximate budget. Now its time to think about the layout of the bathroom, or the configuration of everything that you plan to put in your bathroom. In this fourth, and very essential step you will list all of the items you want in the bathroom, and roughly where you would like them. Items such as the soaker tub, the toilet, the walk-in shower, the sauna, the sink(s) and other fixtures such as lighting and faucets.

The layout consists of these five parts:

1. General Rules of Thumb

2. Accessibility

3. Configuration

4. Accessories

5. Lighting.

(1) General Rules of Thumb - First you need to put the toilet in the most inconspicuous location. When you walk in the bath, (or someone else does), the first thing you see should not be the toilet. This is especially true in powder rooms, where those not familiar with the home will be entering. Put the toilet behind a door or a knee-wall about 48" high. Allow at least 36" - 42" width for the toilet area. An absolute minimum should be 32" wide. If you are limited by space in front of the toilet, consider a round bowl; otherwise use an elongated bowl. Kohler sells a wonderfully efficient unit that is a Class 6 and uses only 1.28 gallons of water per flush.If you have a large room, you may want to build a separate room for the toilet. Some master suites even have two separate water closets. Use windows or sun tunnels to bring in daylight at a minimum cost. For your shower, allow as big a space as you can. There are hundreds of ways to configure showers. Even so, pay close to attention to water usage and other expenses such as tile quantity and those fancy valves and diverters. Let me give you a water usage example: If you use 4 body sprays at 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), one overhead shower head at 2.5 gpm, and if two people take a 15 minute shower each, you will use 375 gallons each day. That will give you pause won't it? If you go this route, enlarge your supply lines to at least 3/4" pipe and buy a bigger water heater. The smallest shower I would recommend is 3' x 3'. 3' x 3' Neo Angle showers are sold as a unit, and are handy in small baths or bathrooms that are rarely used. A good starting point is a 4' x 3' shower. A 4' x 3-6" shower would be even better. You could also install a tub shower, where the tub doubles as the base of the shower. It is a good idea to have at least one tub in a house for a variety of reasons. I like larger tubs for this purpose such as the Kohler Bellwether K-876. They are a little bit wider and have higher sides. Adding a curved shower rod even gives you more room. Moen has an easy-to-install model. When placing the shower valve(s), see if you can put it on an interior wall rather than an exterior wall. Less chance of freezing. If you can access the valve from the other side of the wall (such as in an adjacent closet) it is even better. It is cheaper and easier to repair sheet rock rather than tile when a repair is needed. Also consider putting the shower valve near the entrance to the shower so you don't have to enter the shower and get wet when you turn the water on. The valve doesn't have to be right under the shower head. Make sure that light is plentiful. Keep the floor space as open as possible so the bathroom is easy to navigate. Use tall cabinetry instead of framed linen closets because they take up far less space. The tiles on the floors should have a minimum coefficient of friction of 0.5. The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, recommends 0.6. Use a tile baseboard rather than wood baseboard. Much easier to maintain. When painting the walls, use a high quality paint. The walls get a lot of moisture, usually daily. I like to use semi-gloss on the bathroom walls because it holds up well. Be aware that a semi-gloss has quite a bit of sheen, so it won't suit everyone.

(2) Accessibility - Whatever your age, make the bathroom and its fixtures easily accessible. Make your doors 32" wide or more, and keep the floor plan open. Making your shower curbless costs a little more (custom showers), but they are a joy to use. And if you ever need a wheelchair, no further modifications are needed. Eliminating the door will make the shower much more accessible and saves money on a major item. Do some research on Universal Design, which promotes accessible design for everyone, regardless of age. Use grab bars in all your showers and tubs. Grab bars make a lot of sense. If you are retrofitting grab bars and can't put the wood blocking in the wall, which you need to fasten the grab bar, Moen has a really clever grab bar you can install right in the tile. It uses a fastener called SecureMount. They also have some of the best looking bars in the industry with matching finishes and styles.

(3) Configuration - Configuration is dictated mostly by what space you have and the locations of doors and windows. Leave at least 18" from the center of the toilet to the nearest bathroom fixture or wall. Code requires a minimum of 15" from the centerline of the toilet to an obstacle, a bath fixture or a wall. If you have an older home you may have a window above the tub. You can replace the window with a good quality vinyl window that can withstand the moisture. Tile around the window. Or cover the window with a piece of tempered glass, either frosted or clear. If you have room, install a linen closet or tall cabinet. If you don't have enough room, use nooks, hooks and shelves for towels and linens.

(4) Accessories - Accessories are items such as towel bars, toilet paper holders, and medicine cabinets. Usually you'll need about two 24" towel bars, a small hand towel bar, a towel ring, one toilet paper holder, a robe hook or two. Medicine cabinets that double as mirrors can be very useful too. I like the Kohler Archer K-3073 that has a front mirror, a mirror on the backside of the door, and a mirror in the back of the shelves. With two of these installed with doors open, you can look at yourself from all sides. Heated towel bars are a luxury, but such a nice one. Some of the larger ones can even add a little heat to the room. Choose your accessories during the design process. This is necessary because you need to put wood blocking in between the studs in specific locations so that the accessories can be easily and securely fastened. Blocking needs to be done during the rough-in (the first phase of building). 2×8's, 2×10's, and 2×12 scraps makes good blocking.

[Tip: Make a diagram or "map" of your bathroom when all of the blocking is in place. Instead of the height above finished floor (AFF), it is best to measure off the ceiling, since the finished floor may not be installed yet. Don't measure to the center of the blocking, but rather from the top to the bottom, so that if a location preference changes, you will know how much latitude you have. Measure from an adjacent wall from one end of the blocking to the other end and note this on the drawing. Also make sure that you photograph your rough-in thoroughly. You'll find this to be a real life saver someday.]

(5) Lighting - Lighting is very important in the bathroom. You need to see where you are going, and you need to see yourself clearly to carry out the usual everyday bath tasks such as shaving, applying makeup, grooming and showering. Besides being very practical, lighting can also be quite beautiful. Well designed lighting can create a variety of effects using different kinds of fixtures. The simplest way to add some zest to your bath is to install dimmers on the lights, my favorite being the Lutron Maestro. Be sure that you put a dimmer on your "entry' light, so when you enter the bath in the morning it doesn't blind you.

[Tip: I usually put the shower light on the first switch you come to as you enter the bathroom. The shower light is usually out of the way enough so that it doesn't blind you in the morning. Or you can even use it as a night light.]

It is unfortunate that some of the most functional light fixtures for applying your makeup, are downright ugly. You've seen them in theatrical makeup rooms where the lights are on both sides of the mirror and above the mirror. This is about the best way to position makeup lights. Many times I put two attractive sconces on the sides of the mirror and a 4" recessed low voltage in the ceiling. Although this is not the best solution, it works fairly well. Be sure to put a dimmer on the recessed light to you can control the amount of shadow that it throws on your face. For all your lighting needs, you will hard pressed to beat the selection and service at Southern Cabinets and Lighting. Be sure to allow space in the ceiling for a good exhaust fan, such as the ultra-quiet Panasonic WhisperCeiling exhaust fan. Install one or more vapor-proof recessed lights in the shower area. If you have a large bathroom, put some lighting near the door and over the toilet. If you build a linen closet in the bathroom, put a light in it with a switch near the door to the closet. Check codes for the proper type of light fixture. We usually use a fluorescent bulb.

In summary - You now have a general checklist of items you should consider as you plan your bathroom layout. Most of it is just common sense. Some of it comes from experience and research. Look over your progress now that you have completed 4 of the 6 steps. It sounds like you are all done by now, but there's more to come. In Step 5 we'll discuss material selection. With what you are about to spend on a bathroom, material selection will play a big part in the price of the bathroom and it durability.

Step 5 - Selecting products for your bathroom:

Product selection - Now you've completed 4 of the 6 steps to designing a great bathroom. Your design is almost done. It's time to select the specific products and materials that you are going to use in this project. Your contractor can be a valuable resource. Especially if they are design-build contractors that specialize in this process during the design. They've probably built a lot more bathrooms than you have. Look at their pictures and ask questions about the products used. Go over your pictures once again and start making a list of materials and products that you are interested in.

Research and read reviews - The best place to review products in on the web. You can do a search on virtually anything and find it. Read reviews. Amazon.com is a good place to read reviews. Some sites allow people to place comments. You can "grab" pictures and information off the web with a handy program call Snagit. Collect these in a folder on your computer. Visit showrooms so that you can get the feel of products. Pour over brochures. Talk to co-workers. Visit your friends that have had work done recently.

Choosing a product - How do you determine what a superior product is? One major factor is whether the product is a good value - meaning it is the best product at the best price point. If it is durable, it may have good value. It may be a good value if it is well known to your contractor and their tradespeople. If you choose something too exotic, or unknown, it may be difficult to install, and if a repair is needed, it might prove to be difficult. For instance, some foreign plumbing fixtures, although gorgeous, may take a long time to get replacement parts if needed, possibly months. There are some very worthy American companies that have great products, such as Kohler, Moen, American Standard and Delta.

Cabinets - The most common bathroom cabinet is the vanity. Most vanities sold today are 34 1/2" high, which ends up with a finished height, when the countertop is installed, of 36". In the 60's, 70's and 80's most vanities were 32"-34" high. (For a height comparison, your kitchen counter is probably 36" above finished floor or AFF.) Cabinets also make wonderful linen closets. They take up less space than a built-in linen closet and add a better look to the bathroom. Classic Cabinetry is an excellent source for your cabinetry. Another very nice look for your bathroom is an antique replica vanity. These can be purchased at a very reasonable price now and look great in powder rooms.

Use your space wisely. Add open shelves in wall cavities. Carefully design your storage in the walk-in closet or linen closet. Chattanooga Closet does a wonderful job with their designs and installation.

Consider how long it will take to get your products. Do they fit in your time schedule? A missing part can stop a project dead. How long will the cabinets take to get? Are all your products coming from providers that have a good service track record? Trust your contractor on some of these points. In the end, it is he or she who will have to deal with this, and stay on schedule.

Now that you have a list, check it to see if fits in your budget, ships in a reasonable amount of time, and has positive reviews. If it does, keep it on your list. If not, steer away from it and look at other options.

Let your contractor help you - A good contractor will have gone to many trade shows and attended multiple seminars to learn all they know. They should only give you a few options for each item needed in your bathroom. Any more than that is just confusing. They will know what works for them. You then have to assess whether it is good for you. I can tell you from experience, that if you go out and buy all your products without consulting with your contractor, there are going to be problems. This is something that we avoid as much as possible, because we know the consequences.

In summary:

Make a list of products that need to be selected. Make a list of optional products. Determine where will you find these items. Determine if you will shop for an item with the contractor or by yourself. Make a product selection sheet or web page that can be shared. Determine the dates that the products need to be ordered? Determine who will order them. Set a date when the items will be needed on the job.

Step 6- Building The Bath:

Ready-Set-Remodel - You are ready. You are set. It's time to build that bathroom. Step 6 is about the actual building of the bathroom or the process that you can expect when you build your bathroom. Your planning and design work are going to pay off. It will be a lot easier to build your bathroom because of your diligence.

Every contractor has a different method of building, yet they will all follow some basic steps. Some companies have a pre-construction conference (PCC) before the job begins. That meeting may be just you and your designer or your contractor, going over for the umpteenth time all that is involved in the project. Most will conduct this meeting at your home. They may bring in the lead carpenter, or even the subcontractors. Each company does this differently. Some don't do it at all. The PCC should include a review of the final contract, and points that aren't in the contract, such as paint colors, location of the portable toilet, notes about your pet(s), starting hours, your routine, or noting some bushes or furniture that may require special protection. Be sure to get a copy of the PCC after it is transcribed.

Finally the long awaited day arrives. It is time to start the project. Your contractor may set up a job sign, with your permission of course. Next, it is time to protect your property from dust, and dirt and traffic wear. And there is going to be a lot of this. Your job may last from a few days to over a month, depending on the complexity. And that's a lot of in-and-out traffic. Mentally prepare yourself because this is a total disruption of your usual routine.

Dust protection may include floor runners or carpet mask (adhering plastic runners), plastic set up at doorways, painter's plastic on beds and furniture. Don't forget to cover the clothing in your closet. This can be a costly oversight. The dust will get in there, even with the door closed.

Ask for a schedule of the job, so that you are prepared for the different phases. The schedule may be detailed or very basic. Realize that this schedule will change on a daily basis. That is the nature of remodeling. The schedule at least gives you an idea of when something will occur, and defines the different phases.

It is a good idea to set up a message center at your home, or a collaboration web site such as Basecamp. You have spent a long time planning this project, and it is important to keep the paper trail going all the way to the end of the job. Stay in touch with your contractor, realizing that he or she has other irons in the fire, so to speak. Nevertheless your job is very important, so you need to keep the line of communication open.

Your job may be run by the owner of the company or one of their lead carpenters. You may even have a job supervisor that keeps the job organized. Be sure that you are clear who is responsible for the job at this point.

You have hired a contractor that you trust. Now let them build your dream bathroom. This is the reason for all the planning and design work. It will all come together. The first phases will make it seem like they will finish the entire bathroom in a few days. Don't be deceived by how fast the demolition goes, or how quickly the job is framed and roughed in. When the sheet rock finishing starts, the job will seemingly come to a screeching halt. That's just the way it is. The finishing of the sheet rock will take about a week, during which time, not much else will be done. Then a first coat of paint on the walls and maybe some trim. The finish work has begun. Finish work takes a long time. A custom tile shower may take 3 days or more. Hopefully your vanities and cabinets arrive on time, along with your fixtures. If you have granite counter tops, there will be a delay. They can't measure the tops until the cabinets are in, and then you have to wait 3-7 days for the installation of the tops, depending on the granite company they use. The sink fixtures can't go in until the counter tops are installed. Everything has to be done in a certain sequence. Be patient. Soon it will be over and I assure you that it will be worth it.

In closing, I hope you have enjoyed these design ideas and that this process leads you to a better bathroom design. Be sure to take daily pictures of the job site. Keep notes. Communicate with your builder. Get a written warranty. Write a testimonial for the contractor, telling them how much you appreciate their hard work. Most of all, enjoy your new space that was once only a dream.

You may email this article to your friends or copy it into your newsletter, blog or website, as long as you don't make any changes to the article and you include a credit to ChattanoogaRemodeler.com.

Home Staging Necessities - 50 Ideas To Enable You To Get Began in your Home Staging Journey

"Home staging" was coined by Barb Schwarz back in the early '70s, and the concept has become well known as "house fluffing," "dressing to sell," and "home presentation" to name a few, but the concept has not taken hold among home owners when selling a home because many people do not understand the idea or cannot create a workable plan for staging their home correctly.

The focus of staging is to make a home more marketable by creating the most appealing home to the greatest number of prospective buyers. It should be impersonal enough not to infringe on a buyer's own sense of style.

Decorating is optional. Staging, on the other hand, is essential - that is if you want to sell your house for the most possible money in the shortest amount of time. Staging - it is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary.

Since home staging is truly an essential part of selling your home, I wanted to share these 50 Tips To Get You Started on Your Home Staging Journey.

1. Be sure that your home is staged before you or your realtor takes the photos for the web. Over 70% of all new apartment/home searches are started on the Internet. It is imperative that the property looks good in the photos so that it can attract as many people as possible to see the real thing.

2. You should not have one person look at your house until it has been staged completely. It should not go through the broker walkthrough, MLS, open houses, or anything. Stage first!

3. Kate Hart of Hart & Associates Staging and Design LLC knows that home staging works for all properties regardless of the price point because home staging is about preparing your home for a faster and more profitable sale and marketing your property to the most potential buyers for its target audience. "I have staged homes ranging from 0,000 to million and have had the same result- the homes sell faster and for top dollar compared with the competitors within their price range."

4. If you have dark cabinets, a light colored handle or something in shiny gold will enhance them. If you have light cabinets, you can give them the sleek look by using handles of the same color so that they are hardly noticeable or by using brushed silver handles. With light wood, you can also use darker handles, gold, bronze, or even colors.

5. Sometimes renovations are needed. However, here are five that you should avoid:

· Adding high end appliances to a modest home

· Adding hand painted tiles to the bath or kitchen

· Adding a central vacuum

· Adding air conditioning (unless you are in an area that all homes have it)

· Replacing windows with newer models

6. Be sure to check with your city or county building inspector before beginning a new project. Many departments require permits, even for things as simple as changing a dishwasher.

7. Everything in its place is a good motto to remember. Always find appropriate places to store your items. Litter boxes in the kitchen and trashcans in the pantry are just two examples of inappropriate placement.

8. Julie Dana of The Home Stylist has the following tip: Do not have any cleaning products visible. You want the buyer to think that the house cleans itself. You do not want to remind buyers that there will be work to do in this house, so put away laundry baskets and dish drainers as well!

9. Lisa Wonsey of Space/Lift explains that selling an empty home can be a huge mistake. Buying or renting furniture is especially vital in an empty home. Empty homes do not show well and can sit on the market for months until a buyer with a good visual imagination comes along, or until the seller drops the price so low that the home is a steal.

10. Your refrigerator will need to be cleaned, even if you are not leaving it. People will still look inside and a dirty refrigerator will turn them off. If you are taking it with you, you may as well clean it now. If you are leaving it, then it is imperative to have it sparkling.

11. Ruthanne Hatfield of Art of Interior Placement emphasizes that taking away items is needed, but adding back is essential, too: Each room should be embellished with accessories artwork, mirrors, accent tables, silk trees and florals, as well as dishes, bedding, and towels so all areas look inviting.

12. Check for unusual odors in your house. It may come from a pet or even from your upholstery.

13. Cleaning is rarely fun for anyone, but it does not have to be a terrible chore. Play some fun, lively music. Before you know it, your adrenaline will start pumping and you will be dancing your way through the house.

14. To clean those irritating stains in the bathtub, make a paste by using hydrogen peroxide and cream of tartar. Use an old toothbrush to rub the mixture into the stain and rinse thoroughly.

15. To clean the microwave, fill a paper cup with water and a few tablespoons of baking soda. Nuke it for about 30 seconds, or until you see the contents explode. Then just take a paper towel and wipe it all off. The explosion spreads the cleanser over the entire area, and you can even use the moistened rag or paper towel to wipe outside the microwave and its surrounding area.

16. Mary Larsen of Larsen-Trochlil Designs offers the following professional tip: Do not offer money towards painting or installing new carpeting. Remember, if you are not willing to do it, your buyer is not likely to either.

17. Take a look around you. Do you have items in your home that are unused and have no real sentimental value? If so, get rid of them! These types of items can often be found in closets, cupboards, basements, and garages. Sometimes they are on bookshelves or even in your everyday living space. The more you are able to move out the more the next buyer will want to "move in."

18. If you do not have a plan for what to do with the stuff you no longer need, it will get put in the basement or the attic or the garage or simply stay in a pile in the room where it began. If this happens, then you really did not get rid of clutter - you just moved it to another location. When you are clearing the clutter for home staging purposes, you will have many different piles. Some things may go to a thrift store such as the Salvation Army, some things may go to the dump, some things may go into storage, and some things may be set aside for a garage or yard sale. Knowing what you are going to do with the extra clutter is essential to really decluttering your home.

19. Sylvia Beez of m.a.p. interiors inc. reminds us that: A home for sale should always be presented in its best light and immaculate condition, which is not the reality of everyday life. Potential buyers do not want to see how you live, with your children, cats and dogs, and mess. They want to see themselves in a perfect house under perfect conditions and that is how a home on the market should always be presented.

20. If your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers - even your refrigerator - look jammed packed, it sends a negative message to the buyer. This message is that there is not enough room in your kitchen. If they were looking for plentiful storage space, after opening your crowded cupboards, they will believe that they will not find it in your kitchen. The best way to change this negative first impression is to have as much "empty space" as possible.

21. Marlene Feldman of Marlene Feldman Associates has the following suggestion for small dining rooms: If the dining room has an oversized china cabinet, consider removing it. Or, if has a top and bottom, remove the top. This will open up the space considerably

22. Take a look at your bathroom. If you are like most people, you will find half-used shampoo bottles, a jumble of hair accessories, a curling iron, foam curlers, several cans of shaving cream, tub toys, lotions, medication, books and magazines, oils, candles, toilet paper, and on and on and on. The amount of stuff we store in our bathrooms is far greater than the storage capacity for these small rooms, especially, if like many bathrooms, you have just a medicine cabinet and a very small vanity. The "stuff" that is not in use needs to be boxed up and moved out.

23. Katie Joanow of Star Staging explains that: You should remove extra chairs from the tables. Unless you have a massive space, you will not need more than 4 chairs around a table. Also remove extra leaves from the table. This will make the room feel larger.

24. Buyers want to see your carpet or your hardwood floor or your linoleum. Most home stagers suggest removing all area rugs, unless you have a large area of hardwood, where one rug is acceptable. Area rugs make spaces seem more crowded. Without them, your floor plan opens up.

25. Closets are great for accumulating clutter, though you may not think of it as clutter. Perhaps the clutter is wrapping paper, or Christmas items, or an old sewing machine. Maybe you have some keepsakes, or photo albums. Then of course there are the extra clothes and shoes. None of these things are likely to be in the throw away pile, but they should not be in your closet if you want to reduce the look of clutter.

26. Gail Greer of All Rooms Great and Small gives this tip about painting your home: You need to be willing to change paint colors. There are certain universally accepted colors and these should be used when repainting your home. Yellow or shades of gold are warm and inviting. You should also accent with yellow. Your eye absorbs more yellow and therefore sees it first. Green or blue in the bedrooms are great colors because they are restful.

27. Stand a few feet away from the entrance to the bedroom. What do you see? Whatever you see is the first thing that a buyer will see. Is it pretty? Is it bulky? Does it make the room feel small? Move anything from the doorway that is not inviting.

28. A spare room should be viewed as a bonus. It is a "plus" feature of your home, but only if the buyers can view it as such. For example, if your spare room is used mostly as an office, then, during the selling process,you need to make it just that - an office! Get rid of the spare bed and the extra dressers full of last season's clothes. Get rid of the boxes of storage items in the closet. Keep the essentials of your office such as a desk, filing cabinet, bookshelf, and a nice chair in the corner with a small table and lamp.

29. Holly Weatherwax of Momentum Realty explains that whenever possible, she recommends leaving the garage free from storage. If people see that the seller does not have enough storage and has to use the garage, they will begin to wonder if the same thing will happen if they buy the house. People like to think that they might actually be able to use a garage!

30. Find out what organizations in your area pick up items. Such organizations often include Goodwill, The Salvation Army, veteran's associations, and other local organizations. Another good way to get rid of items you no longer need is to use Freecycle. Here, you can list items you no longer need and then choose someone from a list of takers to have them. The best part is the person wanting the items comes to your home on your timetable to get them. You can find a freecycle group in your area by going to http://www.freecycle.org.

31. Get everything off the counters. Everything. Remove all appliances from the countertops. Even the toaster. Doing so will make you kitchen look larger and more spacious. It will also keep the buyer's eye from stopping on a particular item rather than getting a full view of the room. Put the toaster in a cabinet and take it out when you use it. Find a place where you can store everything in cabinets and drawers.

32. Charlie Ann Taylor of C.A.T.'S ROOMER has a lot to say about these focal points in your home: The kitchen and baths need to be model perfect because the kitchen and baths sell the home.

33. Have you taken away so much that your home no longer has any sparkle? Although YOUR personality needs to be removed, the personality of the house still needs to come through.

34. One of the most important factors to consider when placing items into a room is the idea of transition. As your eye moves around the room, you do not want it jumping from place to place or piece to piece. The movement of the eye should flow - not bounce. To accomplish this, you want to avoid abrupt changes in height.

35. Gail Jackson of Weichert Realtors explains that home staging does not need to be expensive: Paint is very inexpensive and gives you a big bang for your buck. Although a bit labor-intensive, painting is not expensive and gives your home a new, fresh, clean look.

36. Give each room a touch of the unexpected. This can be done with artwork placed in an unusual way, using a piece of furniture in a way that you normally would not use it, or adding a dash of color where the eye least expects to find it. Be creative.

37. Follow the "like-with-like" rule of the thumb. Tall with tall, small with small, wide with wide, and narrow with narrow will guide you throughout the decorating process. Mimic the shape of each space you are decorating. For example, a sofa should be accessorized with horizontal art so you are complementing wide with wide.

38. Marcia Smart's (Smart Interior Styling) tip is to: Recognize that your major competition comes from newer homes. People will take a newer home over an older home if all else is equal. That is why it is essential to give an older home something that puts it above the rest.

39. My favorite decorating tip is to look outside the box. You do not always need to use an item for its intended purpose. For example, do not just use a tablecloth for a table; make it a slipcover for your ottoman. It can save you lots of money and time when you purchase a tablecloth at a local chain verses buying yards of fabric and by purchasing the correct size it can become a no-sew project. Always keep your eyes open for new uses for everyday items.

40. Select a focal point for your room and subtly orient other furnishings and some lighting toward it. If there is a fireplace, it will nearly always be the focal point; other focal points might be bookcases or built-in shelving to house lovely collectibles, or a sofa with a striking painting on the wall above it.

41. Donna Reynolds of Home Rearrangements explains that there are two times that you can angle furniture: In a square room and if a room already has an angle in it, like a corner fireplace or a bay window.

42. In a bedroom, unless you have no other choice, you want to see the foot of the bed when you walk in. You do not want a bed to cross the doorway because it blocks the flow and makes the room look smaller. It is better to see the foot so that you can see the pretty pillows.

43. One of the easiest ways to create color is to add beautiful accent pillows to any room. Introducing a complementary accent color in a room can make a room "pop" and come alive. Accent pillows not only add color but texture and warmth as well. By adding throw pillows in a coordinating or contrast fabric to a couch chair, bench, or bed, you can transform your room and add instant warmth inexpensively!

44. One way to see if your home has curb appeal is to walk across the street and have a good look at your house. where did your eyes go? They should be drawn to the front door and entryway. If they are not, then you need to do something about it.

45. Kimberly Cash of ASPM Tidewater Home Staging Consultants, Inc. offers the following advice: People do not see their house as a product that you have to market and sell. However, selling your home is like packaging. People look at the outside before deciding to come in. Then they look at the inside before deciding to buy, and it is mostly based on looks. It is packaging. You need to wrap up your product, your home, like a beautiful package.

46. Once you have gotten the front yard in shape, it is time to work on the backyard. The most important areas of the backyard are the patios, decks, and porches. Getting these areas up to date will give the buyers a feeling that they are getting bonus space.

47. New window treatments can make a world of difference. They can add value and style to your home and be something the buyers view as a bonus - something they will not have to buy or replace when they move in. The caution, however, is that you keep the treatments neutral (keep your personality out of the room) and that you make sure they do not block the amount of light that comes into a room.

48. Debra Blackmon of Blackmon Design offers the following suggestion for your windows: Many homes have the louvers of the blinds turned down to face the floor. A more enhancing way to use blinds is to turn the louvers up to reflect much-needed ambient light onto the ceiling.

49. Sometimes, refreshing a room can be as easy as changing a light bulb. Bulbs like GE Reveal filter out yellow rays common in ordinary light bulbs, making colors, fabric, walls, and artwork appear richer, crisper, and more vivid.

50. Add pampering accessories! Things like bath bubbles, fluffy towels, and candles not only add the pampering feeling you are trying to achieve, they offer visual comfort with color and texture as well. Psychologically, we all crave that long soak with a good book, and even if we are only in the bathroom for 10 minutes to whip on some make up, just seeing those items displayed promises wonderful baths to come!

As you know, your home becomes a house - a product for sale. Staging your property gives you a more competitive edge in today's market by transforming it into a marketable product. A staged property helps you sell your investment for top dollar and is the first line of defense over lowering the price. Do not settle for less at the closing table simply because you did not understand the value of staging or did not want to take the time or spend the money to do it properly.

In this world of busy buyers, a property has to be staged to appeal to the their imagination. They want to be able to look at your home and know that they can live there. They want to know that their furniture will fit. They want to know that everything is in "move in" condition. That is why staging is so important. It allows buyers to imagine themselves living in your home with their stuff, not yours.

Presentation is everything and staging is presentation! The result is improved functionality and complementary space. Following the techniques in this book will maximize your equity while reducing the market time for your home.

A Record for Bathroom Renovation Plans

Meticulous planning is paramount to some effective bathroom-remodeling project. Before beginning any operate in the restroom, produce a budget, the ground plan, a listing of supplies, a timetable, and important legal factors. Let us break it lower by subject.

First, produce a budget. Determine how much cash you are able to easily spend, and save about 20 % for problems. Get estimations for that work that requires professionals, and try to include electrical, plumbing, cooling and heating, and drywall installation costs inside your budget.

Second, design the ground plan. Request yourself, are you dealing with the present space or are you including or knocking lower walls? Check to make certain you won't disturb the wires, plumbing, or zoning rules. Next, measure the quantity of space you've and draw the ground plan. In drawing the program, first put in most the products which are fixed. For instance, when the toilet should be in one location due to plumbing, it's a fixed item. Test out the way you much like your layout, using different plans, with various kinds of cabinetry, shelves, or perhaps walls. You could try pocket doorways in order to save space, and corner sinks, floating sinks, or pedestal sinks in order to save much more space. L-formed vanities and alcoves also save space. Additionally, corner showers conserve space, and obvious glass in showers produces the illusion of much more space. You might want to add home windows or mirrors to allow see how to avoid.

Third, make a listing from the supplies you will need and make certain they are offered when you really need them. Some typical supplies include sinks, flooring, wall tile, counter tops, lighting, medicine cabinets, showers, bath, cabinets and cabinet handles, toilets, extra storage, taps, toilet tissue holders, fresh paint or wallpaper, chairs, add-ons (like canisters and/or artwork), in addition to tools you've or can purchase.

4th, produce a timetable. Speak with experts or people at diy stores to organize the length of time you will need. If you are employing companies, use these to design a timetable all of you can follow.

Plan projects based on the time available for you. Include a new toilet and sink one weekend, for instance, and fresh paint another. It's not necessary to do all of it at the same time, so plan properly. Don't fresh paint the walls or install woodwork before the hardware is taken proper care of -- you won't want to damage work you've already done. Most importantly, be flexible and permit here we are at the unpredicted or perhaps problems to occur.

Fifth, bear in mind legal factors. Get and publish a building permit, pay any necessary costs, make certain you, your contractor, and then any employees have insurance policy, and children and creatures from the construction area.

By using these check-lists, your bathrooms remodeling plans is a snap.

Bathroom Furniture to have an RV

Existence within an RV could be wonderful or frustrating, based on that which you allow it to be. The writer resided full-amount of time in a motorhome for 2 years, focusing on a commissioned book. Really, she resided in 2 RVs, one by one. The very first would be a 20' mobile home. Individuals people who have been "full-timers" instead of travelers joked about the best way together with your partner in a tiny RV. If you meet moving in opposite directions, hug and pivot. We hugged and pivoted within the small 20' mobile home for one year. Only then do we "increasedInch to some 30' fifth wheel and ongoing to hug and pivot for an additional one year. It had been a part of keeping a contented marriage while living 24/7/365 in a tiny RV.

RV Bathroom Furniture

RV bathroom furnishings are another a part of living in a tiny RV. (Note: Every RV is small whenever you reside in it.) RV bathroom furniture must anticipate to "hug and pivot" to operate in very little space as you possibly can.

RV bathroom products have several needs. It should be...

1. Lightweight: Weight is essential when you are traveling within an RV. The greater weight you place into RV bathroom furniture, greater you'll work your engine. You may even slow your travels. Think lightweight! The wooden magazine rack may look better, however the plastic you can weigh less.

2. Practical and efficient: Add nothing that does not earn its keep. RV and camping stores offer 100s of appealing devices. Some serve no real purpose, or don't fulfill promises. Whenever you take a look at bathroom furniture, consider what it really is going to do for you personally. Browse around to ascertain if there's another item which will better get the job done. Small baskets will let you organize, but small boxes may get it done better.

3. Mildew-resistant: A Motorhome bathroom is really a small, closed space. Unless of course you need to spend hrs scrubbing mildew, make certain all bathroom furnishings are mildew-resistant. Shower curtains or pleated doorways ought to be treated to face up to mildew. Shower hoses should, too. Should you prefer a curtain or shade in the window, acquire one in mildew-resistant material.

4. Simple to clean: Many people make use of an RV for holidays and don't want to invest their time washing the bathroom. Search for bathroom furniture that's smooth, free from seams and cracks that collect grime, mold, and mildew.

5. Stable: Any RV bathroom furniture you set must remain in place when you are traveling rough streets. Even when you do not intend to set off-route to an online campground, you will come across tough patches in road construction. Products that won't stay there require frequent packing and unpacking.

RV bathroom furniture that doesn't meet these criteria should be thought about carefully. Odds are good that you'll trash it or change it soon whether it fails in a number of points.

RV Bathroom Redesign

A Motorhome redesign from the bathroom provides you with chance to place a few of these concepts into practice.

For instance, a motorhome tub could have a glass sliding door. It appears good, and also you found a bit of 2x2 that keeps it from sliding while you are traveling. Should you changed it throughout your RV model, however, you can lighten your load. Use a lightweight, accordion pleated door instead. The lighter door will secure spot for travel.

Your RV redesign may be much more radical. You might choose that nobody uses that tub. Showers are faster. Switch the tub having a whitened corner shower, opening space for storage. A abs plastic shower is a bit of bathroom furniture that's practical, efficient, mildew-resistant, and simple to wash. One-piece, seamless construction installs easily with Super Grip Foam Tape. At a lower price weight, make use of a shower curtain. Fasten a small fastener to carry it on the road.

A Motorhome redesign may also take bathroom furniture in the hall and set it within the bath. Example: Getting changed the bathtub having a corner shower, slowly move the hallway sink towards the space near the shower. You've free hallway space for any stacking washer/dryer!

Other RV bathroom furniture you might like to change:

1. better lights over a dark mirror

2. cleaning soap/shampoo dispenser mounted on shower wall

3. over-the-door towel holders

4. lightweight medicine cabinet above sink

5. taller, roomier wood vanity

6. additional, plastic shower curtain fishing rod for towels

Useful Tip

RV bathroom furniture are available online at any RV parts center. More compact add-ons are often available at camping supply stores.

Bathroom Online Design - 5 Online Bathroom Design Tips

Bathroom online design will help you produce the bathroom that's just made for you. Online bathroom design means learning around you are able to by what creating probably the most functional and engaging bathroom really requires.

The restroom could be greater than a room for individual hygiene or grooming. For instance, if you possess the space, you can include home fitness equipment along with a stereo system or TV inside your bathroom. While you proceed together with your bathroom online design, begin keeping a notebook together with your ideas and magazine cuttings of what you would like your bathrooms to become like.

Listed here are 5 bathroom online design tips that could affect the restroom that you are creating:

1. Bathroom Lighting - your bathrooms lighting could be natural or artificial. Lights are accustomed to illuminate and brighten the area and lighting can impact your feelings within your bathroom. Make use of a window, a wall skylight or roof skylight to usher in sun light or perhaps a nice outdoors view. Along with a skylight that opens is nice since the moisture produced by bathing or taking a shower could be reduced. Artificial lighting is definitely an overhead general light, an easy within the vanity mirror or wall sconces on both sides from the mirror to supply sufficient light for grooming.

2. Bathroom Ventilation - bathroom online design should evaluate bathroom moisture. Since your bathroom creates humidity and moisture, this airborne water may cause issues with the restroom finishes. A correctly-sized energy ventilator could be installed which will pull moist air from the bathroom towards the outdoors. Ventilating fans dimensions are shown by the number of cubic ft of air they are able to move for each minute (cfm). Make use of a ventilating fan which will remove air in the bathroom towards the outdoors about 7 or 8 occasions each hour. For instance, a 6'x8'x8' bathroom equals 384 cubic ft, divide by 8 occasions each hour equals 48cfm size fan.

3. Bathroom Tile - if you work with bathroom tile and can have solid-color ceramic ceramic tile, make use of a different color tile to produce a border round the bathroom floor. For a moment make use of the same color tile for that flooring and walls, choose another tile size for that walls or lay the wall tiles diagonally to produce visual contrast. Make use of a different color grout between your tiles to create a more interesting look.

4. Bathroom Wall Decor - in case your bathroom walls are soft or neutral colors, use colorful bath linens and bath mats to produce a nice contrast. Good bathroom online design means the add-ons for example towel rings and cleaning soap dishes should complement the types of materials, fittings and colours utilized on the walls and flooring. For instance, don't use modern-searching chrome towel holders with antique brass taps.

5. Bathroom Storage - plan how you will employ the restroom surfaces. Getting shelves or cabinets within the toilet, using corner shelves and placing towel bars above each other improve your available space for storage. Medicines cabinet with mirror holds grooming supplies, medicine and toiletries. A beautiful combination sink and vanity along with a shower basket inside your shower can offer additional bathroom storage.

Doing bathroom online design means reading through whenever possible, thinking and planning what you would like and want within this important room. From materials accustomed to the restroom layout towards the finished colors, getting a effective bathroom project is all about understanding what options you've, then selecting the very best ones for the project. Learn around you are able to about online bathroom design before building starts so that you can possess the best bathroom possible.

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NuTone CR94890 Beveled mirror - 6 Light Medicine Cabinet Accessories from Nutone

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This Frameless, Tri-view Cabinet has Beveled-edge Glass Mirrors and Matching, Mirrored Light Fixture. NuTone CR94890 Top Lights For Surface Mount Cabinet Overall Size: 48 X 4-1/2 X 5-1/2

Feature

• Installation type: Surface Mount