Dear Clients and Friends:  Hopefully all of you are well.  I haven't seen some of you for awhile and I hope its okay to stay in touch this way. The Residence Redesigns newsletter has changed. You are now receiving it in html format. If you’d rather get a paper copy, or have any other subscription needs, please go to the “Subscribe/Unsubscribe” hyperlink.

This issue focuses on kitchen redesign, the single most expensive remodel homeowners embark on. Unlimited choices and options have made a once simple makeover project incredibly complex! If you are thinking of adding value to your house by redesigning your kitchen, read on!

Spring in the Bay Area has quickly turned into summer, and many of our clients want to add a fresh look to their homes – try some new color! Brighten your windows with new grass blinds, and open the heavy draperies! Get that bold look! I assure you it will energize home life!

Wishing you a wonderful early summer – and stay cool!

Our Topics are:
• Introducing Purcell Murray
• Kitchen Countertops – Corian® and Zodiaq®
• Time to Sharpen Your Presence on the Internet
• What Does the Flea Market Painting Have in Common with my Favorite Bowl?
• Reading Corner – “The Color Design File” by Leslie Geddes-Brown
• Subscribe/Unsubscribe

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Introducing Purcell Murray

Purcell Murray
185 Park Lane - Brisbane CA 94005
Phone: 800/892-4040
www.purcellmurray.com

For those of you who are remodeling your kitchen and find the choice of appliances mind-boggling and confusing, a visit at Purcell Murray is a must! I recently attended a private showroom event hosted by Culinary Director Larissa Taboryski. Not only did we receive a warm welcome, an expert presentation of features and benefits, but also a delicious lunch – prepared right before our eyes!

In the well designed and elegant Purcell Murray showroom buyers can familiarize themselves with products from Thermador, Bosch, Gaggenau, Broan, U-Line, Best, and Franke. Even if budget does not stretch to a handmade La Cornue old-style stove from France, - this is the place to learn. The beauty is that you can spend hours and never feel any pressure to order as they do not sell directly to consumers. These Purcell Murray exclusively imported lines are distributed through local appliance stores like Atherton Appliances & Kitchens.

Let me tell you – the learning curve is steep! I know from experience how fast some decisions have to be taken along a remodel project. When your contractor is ready, you better be, too! Don’t start reading up and educating yourself when it’s five minutes to twelve. Be proactive. You can book a complimentary “Product Education Class”, or attend one of their “Culinary Classes” (around $40). Register at 800-863-7133.

Visit my website at: http://www.purcellmurray.com/larissa.html

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Kitchen Countertops
Your Alternative to Granite - Have You Done Your Homework on Countertop Choices?

No time or patience to visit all the countertop stores and get overwhelmed by the plethora of options? Here is a short summary of what to expect from Solid Surfaces and Engineered Stone.

You will likely know these not by their technical descriptions but as Zodiaq® – or Quartz, and Corian®. Both are DuPont trademarked brand names, not product names, and there are many other manufacturers.

Both products were created approx. 35 years ago, and along with natural stone they have recently seen incredible popularity. Current estimates are that by 2006, 172 million square feet of surfaces will be covered with Corian, and approx. 46 million square feet with Zodiaq. At this growth rate, engineered stone is rapidly overtaking the use of natural stone.

Corian and Zodiaq have distinctive characteristics that make them clear choices for your project. What they have in common is that they are non-porous, stain resistant, heat resistant (not heat proof), sanitary, and very strong. However, there are important features where they differ enormously, and you must consider these when you make your choice. The key difference is that Corian is “thermoformable” i.e. because it is acrylic based, it can be shaped in unlimited ways. Here are some other helpful criteria:

1. Corian seams are inconspicuous – Zodiaq seams are visible
2. Corian finish is matte – Zodiaq highly polished
3. Corian offers unlimited color options, Zodiaq is chosen for its depth, clarity and radiance
4. Corian scratches white (because it’s made from alumina trihydrate which is a white powder), Zodiaq is more scratch resistant
5. Corian countertops can be extended without support 6”, Zodiaq allows 12-18” extension, depending on thickness. This can be important for kitchen bar areas – standard stool clearance requires 12”.
6. Corian is easy to repair, and can be installed with common tools, neither is true for Zodiaq.
7. Zodiaq looks more elegant because of the polish, however shows fingerprints etc. more.

Whatever choice you make, be sure to have your countertop installed by a certified fabricator. Important technical instructions must be followed in order to preserve the warranty. For instance, both products do no require an underlayment (usually plywood on top of cabinets), as they need to breathe.

For more information, visit
www.corian.com and www.zodiaq.com

Your presence on the Internet is critical in today's business marketplace. Even if you choose not to sell your goods or services online, a web site is a virtual marketing tool that you can update on demand and increase your visibility. More and more of today's companies' referrals are derived from searches on major search engines such as Google, MSN, and Yahoo.  A website is a useful marketing tool for providing richer pre-sale information or post-sale support and service. This will help bolster and differentiate your products or services from your competitors.

Real Estate Agents: With MLS (Multiple Listing Service) online and the increasing demand of prospective home-buyers/renters seeking quicker, more "real-time" information on the Internet, think about how much more impressed buyers would be to review your property listing on your own dynamic and personalized website! You usually only have one shot at impressing potential buyers, so it's wise to take the time to market the property effectively and as conveniently for the buyer as possible. You may be rewarded with a faster sale and a higher offer.

Small/Home-Based Businesses: You're working hard to establish your business offline. At Home Office Hosting, we work hard to help you establish your business online presence. Reach customers from around the corner to around the world with a custom website. You tell us what you want, we create it for you! Putting your business online shouldn't be expensive or complicated. We are dedicated to helping you build a quality, affordable web presence. Claim your place on the Internet today!

At Home Office Hosting, our operation is simple -- we design, build and host web sites and assist in optimizing your office networking needs. Our web team can turn your project around quickly, professionally and cost-effectively. Looking to start up your new company?  Need a fresh, professional website? Paying too much or need web hosting? No problem. We can do that.

For more information, please visit us on the web at www.homeofficehost.com, email us at info@homeofficehost.com or call us toll-free at 877-728-6600.

Do you sometimes go through your old stuff in the garage? Deem it “junk”, wonder why you ever spent money buying THIS? More often than not, innocent accessories get tossed in the garbage because they do not fit this year’s color scheme, or our new stylishly remodeled living room. Wait!

As professional home re-designers, we always ensure our clients during the first visit that it is OK to possess an eclectic collection of decorative items. Why? Because everything we buy relates to each other. It can be texture, color, theme, shape, material, anything! It goes for larger items just as much as for accessories. The principle here is that our decorating is an expression of ourselves, and there are reasons why we feel attracted to certain things and bring them into our homes. Look closely, you will find that the tea set your grandmother gave you (stashed away in embarrassment because it did not fit in) actually displays the same beautiful tone of red as a favorite collection you own.

One of my good friends calls it “home blind” – our decorations sit in the same corner for years and years, books and candles and paintings are arranged in the same way. Get a fresh perspective! Look closer! Take spring cleaning as an excuse to shuffle things around, and you’ll be surprised what you find! Life’s too short – embrace change, and stop trying to create that ‘designed all through’ look – who wants to live in a catalog??

Home rearrangements are fun! Book Residence Redesigns if you need the objective eye that spots the communality in your treasures! Most houses can be done in one day!

PS: The painting was picked up 20 years ago in Denmark because I was attracted to the blue coloring – guess why the bowl is my favorite!

AS SEEN ON 

“The Color Design File”
by Leslie Geddes-Brown

This book is in constant use at Residence Redesigns. British color designer Leslie Geddes-Brown, a former editor of World of Interiors and Country Life tells the reader “The main secret of using color successfully is to use your instinct”. On 160 pages of the beautiful hard cover book she teaches “Using Color” and provides useful information as well as resources. Also, large sections of the book are dedicated to “Neutrals and Naturals” and “The Colors” – so there is an answer for everybody. You’ll learn why color is important, and why we can’t live without a fair amount of neutral shades – which, interestingly enough, are not on the color wheel. Explore whether you are a monochromatic person or like contrast!

This book is a working book – there are pockets for your own samples, and a “Notes and Sketches” section. You’ll love to study “The Color Design File” – beautiful photography and print quality will help you visualize your own projects.

Published by Ryland Peters & Small. Sells for about $17.00 at http://www.amazon.com. (5 Star Rating)