Thankfully, Giani Granite offers an amazing product that allows the basic do-it-yourselfer the ability to paint their chipped, discolored or outdated countertop and transform it into the look of luxurious granite at a fraction of the cost. Giani’s kits include everything you need to make this transformation, plus they offer five pleasing colors that will match a variety of kitchen or bathroom interiors.

If you follow the three simple easy steps, you will have an entirely new look for your kitchen or bath that you will be thrilled with!

Besides being beautiful, this paint is functional and features a unique blend of polymers and minerals that lock out moisture. It is also the perfect way to conceal scratches, stains or burns that often occur to countertops from basic everyday wear and tear.

Visit www.GianiGranite.com or call 1-800-650-5699 for more information.

The lawn and garden industry continually introduces new and improved gardening tools to make gardening easy for even the most skilled gardener. But when it comes down to it, employing basic gardening tools can be the best method for dealing with most any situation and environment. If your ready to get your garden blooming, hit up your local home improvement store to stock up on these common gardening tools that should always be kept on hand in your house plan.

• Gloves – Whether handling thorny plants, pulling weeds, or digging holes, a good pair of work gloves will keep hands from a variety of damage.
• Kneelers- Much of gardening grunt work takes place low to the ground and can wreak havoc on knees. Kneelers come in numerous materials, from thick foams to basic outdoor cushions, but all serve the same purpose – saving your knees from discomfort, stress, and potential long-term damage.
  
• Spade/trowel – These small hand tools allow gardeners to plant and weed with an extra degree of comfort and control.
  
• Shovel/rake – The larger versions of the hand spade and trowel, shovels and rakes help save time and energy during large scale planting, weeding, and garden maintenance.
  
• Cart – Whether a cart with drawers or a large open wagon, garden storage on wheels is ideal for keeping everything you may need right at hand.
  
• Long hose – Even with a sprinkler system, a long garden hose is a must. Homes that have numerous plantings spread around the home will find the extra length to be a great advantage. For easy care, invest in a storage system that helps keep the hose rolled neatly.
  
• Shears – Plant type will determine the size of shears needed. Even plants that don’t need regular trimming may have moments where clipping will be necessary. Proper shears make this chore manageable and keep gardens tidy.

While gardening outside Spanish house plans may require a little more time and investment than others due to the warm seasons, regular maintenance can become overly frustrating for any garden without the proper tools. Even the simplest garden needs basic care that can be made easier with the correct equipment on hand.

Below are the most popular color palettes for 2010. With the downward shift in economic growth, people are gravitating towards more neutral tones that incorporate vibrant bursts of color as accents.

Which color palette is your favorite?

Greenmarket   Includes colors that come from healthy, artisanal food, farmer’s markets and greenmarkets.

Resourceful   Focuses on colors that show concern for natural resource management and the trend for the need to preserve.

Transformations   A nostalgic or idyllic palette with a romantic feel in both style and mood.

Ambiance   Understated and sophisticated, the Ambiance palette has a thoughtful appeal that can work in many interiors.

Gatherings   Inspired by the continents of Africa and featuring bold, yet creative colors typically found in artifacts.

Galaxy   This palette combines the hues found in the noctural sky while also featuring the greens of the earth with storm colored violets.

High Definition   Elegantly combines clarity, classicism and modernism creating a simple, yet glamorous feel including white, black and gray.

Pastiche   Influenced by Japanese anime which now has strongly influenced the world of color and design.

Of course, building an energy efficient home gives you the opportunity to create an energy efficient environment right from the start. And thankfully, “green” homes are not limited to style or size whether it’s French country house plans or even Spanish house plans that catch your eye. There are, however, three basic components to focus on to ensure your home will conserve the most energy no matter where you live. These are plenty of insulation, proper exposure to the sun and the use of energy efficient heating and cooling systems.

Insulation. Whatever the climate, insulation is the most important way to keep warm and cool air from entering or escaping. Areas needing insulation are the exterior walls, basements, floors, cantilevered areas, walls and ceilings between heated and unheated areas.

Types of insulation are compared according to their R-values, the resistance to heat flow. The greater the R-value the more the insulation stops heat or cool air from leaking out.

The most effective insulation materials are polyurethane and polystyrene, known as “foam” insulation. They have the highest R-values, but also are more expensive. Mineral wool, a generic term including fiberglass, glass wool and rock wool, is the most widely used insulation type because it is versatile and fairly inexpensive. Another type of insulation, made out of wood fiber, is called “loose fill.” It is poured from bags or blown with special equipment into cavities that are not easily reachable. Its low cost is offset by a higher risk of fire, rot and insect infestation.

Doors and Windows. Since most heat escapes from a home through the cavities in its exterior, created by doors and windows, insulating these areas is crucial. Use double or triple-pane windows throughout the house.

Multi-pane windows allow just as much heat to enter as do single-pane windows, but they sharply reduce its outward flow. Double-pane windows can cut heat loss by 50 percent over single-pane windows. Triple-pane windows can cut heat loss by 65 percent, although they can be very costly and too heavy for some window frames.

In addition, caulking should be applied along window and door frames, as well as around pipes, vents and other perforations of your home’s outer shell. Long-life silicone or latex caulking work best.

Heating and Cooling Systems. Outfitting your home with energy-efficient heating and cooling systems will keep your family comfortable on the coldest and the hottest days, while saving a large sum of money. Items to look for may carry the EnergyStar® logo. Some local electric and gas companies even offer rebates to homeowners with systems backed with this certification.

Solar Heat. Another attractive way to heat your home is with the simple, natural sun. Think about the site you’re going to build on and the home’s orientation in relationship to the sun. You should position your house so that most of the window glass faces south to take advantage of the sun’s heat. In addition, solar panels may be built in throughout your home to increase the use of this energy source.

There are many decisions that go into building a new home. But energy efficiency is one component that should be considered to create a more energy efficient lifestyle for your family. Investing a little more time and money now can dramatically increase the value of most any home from compact ranch style house plans to sprawling contemporary home plans.

Here are few tips to think about as you go about your daily life.

• When nights are shorter in the Summer, adjust your outdoor lighting timers to save money and extend bulb life.

• Shelter sun-exposed windows, and keep blinds and drapes closed on hot, sunny days to minimize heat penetration.

• Keep windows closed in the heat of the day. Open windows in the cool of night.

• Make full use of microwaves, toaster ovens and slow cookers versus the traditional oven.

• Only run the dishwasher on a full load and use the range hood to vent excess heat and humidity.

• Shade your air conditioner from direct sunlight.

• Line dry laundry to save money and get summertime-fresh smelling clothes.

• Only wash laundry on full loads and with cold water whenever possible.

• Close off any unused rooms.

• Turn off lights when not in use.

• When baking, keep the oven door tightly closed and use the oven light to check on progress.

Builders, take note – this is the perfect time to focus on smaller, more efficient floor plans with open rooms and flex spaces. These smaller, efficient homes will feature less rooms that typically only have one purpose like media rooms and instead feature an open, flexible living space with a “media wall”.

Also, say goodbye to formal dining rooms which are being replaced by larger family rooms. These types of changes are being driven by younger consumers who also are looking for energy efficient products and features within the home that will lower utility costs.

Although homebuyers are willing to sacrifice square footage, they still are in search of a floor plan that maximizes space, includes tall ceilings for an open feel, features plenty of windows and offers easy access to the outdoors. So, architects and designers do have their work cut out for them as they create a home with all of these features.

Even though the price point of a new house today will probably fall under $200,00o and the square footage will be below 2,000 square feet in order to meet the needs of home buyers, homebuyers expect to have great function, style and curb appeal.