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All Things Home - March 2012

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If you have been searching for a custom home builder, remodeler, service provider, or just a tradesmen to complete a small home project, then All Things Home is the only guide you will need!

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Shweiki Ad

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Glass/MirrorsAnderson Glass 6 Bullseye Glass 14

Grout Staining/SealingGrout Works of Central Texas 15

Handicap ModificationsAccess Mobility 19

Home BuildersKevin Bearden Custom Homes 13, 23Weld House Homes 3

Home TheaterCustom Integrators 8

House PlansGreat House Plans 15

HVAC ContractorsComfort Air 7Lochridge Priest 2Oasis Heating and Cooling 19

InsulationDEK Insulation 13

Insurance AgencyTerry Strickland State Farm 6

Index March 2012

Featured ArticlesDesigning Your Custom Home 10

Organizing for the Dreaded Taxes 16

Taking The Indoors Out 20

Featured BusinessesBlinds and ShuttersPeg’s Blinds and Shutters 17The Blind & Shutter Gallery 7, 19

Building MaterialsRedwood Inc. 15

CarpentersRingo’s Construction 17

CountertopsGary Beam Formica Countertops 18Goldstone 14Red’s Quality Marble 17Unique Kitchen & Bath 7

ElectricianMr. Electric 8Zawadzki Electric 14

FlooringCustom Stain and Scoring 19

FurnitureFurniture Center 6

PublisherAll Things Home™

ArT DireCTiON & DesiGNJose Gonzales

TO ADVerTise PleAse CAll254.709.6045

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IrrigationStein Lawn and Landscape 7

Metal Roof SuppliesPioneer Steel and Pipe 17

Paint/SuppliesWigley’s Paint Inc. 17

Plumbing FixturesWaco Winnelson 18

RoofersTalbert Construction 9Wehrmann Metal Roofs 18

Real Estate LoansCommunity Bank and Trust 8 Loan Source 19

RemodelingKevin Bearden Custom Homes 2Talbert Construction 9

If you have been searching for a custom home builder, remodeler, service provider, or just a tradesman to complete a small home project, then All Things Home is the only guide you will need. Inside you will also find helpful tips and suggestions for various home projects. Thanks for showing an interest in All Things Home.

Welcome to All Things Home

© 2012 All Things Home™. Reproduction without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

To advertise in the next issue of All Things Home, please contact

254.709.6045 or email us at: [email protected]

Wouldn’t you like to be a part of All Things Home

and let people know about your services?

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Choose a designer who is a member in good standing of the local and state Builder’s Association. Builder’s Associa-tions provide a well informed network of support and have periodic training sessions to keep members up-to-date on changes to codes and local edicts. Ask for customer references and review some of the designer’s previous designs. Most designers will provide a consult at no charge.

Here are a few Helpful Hints:• Have a realistic budget in mind. How much house can you afford?

• Bring sketches/pictures of floorplans, features, and the exterior style you would like. (I’ve had customers bring 3” note-books full of ideas they’ve found). • Take your property plat/survey with you as well as “set back guidelines” and any deed restrictions to ensure the house fits and doesn’t violate any association or community standards.

The design process is usually a “back-and-forth” procedure. The designer will present the 1st draft of the plans per the customer’s specs and the customer will then provide feedback with changes/additions/deletions. This may occur a few times until the final plans are agreed

Building a custom home can be a daunting task for the “first timer ”. a good place to start is with an experienced custom home “designer”. an experienced designer will not only have a working knowledge of building codes and architectural concepts, but first hand knowledge of building practices.

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upon. The final plans should include Elevations, Floorplans, Electrical, Roof Plan, and Foundation Dimensions. Some optional drawings may include the Site Plan, Cabinetry, and Details. It is recommended that all foundations be engineered by a professional foundation company once the plans are finalized and a soil sample can be provided. The builder will take care of this step.

Buying home plans online is also an option, although many times the cost of the plans and any changes you would like to make may exceed the price of plans drawn from scratch by a local designer.

A few local designers (including Great House Plans) have 3D design software that allows the customer to view a fairly accurate rendering of the proposed design. The customer can choose trim

colors, roof type/color, stone and brick style/color, etc. to apply to their custom home plan in the rendering.

A designer can also help find a builder if the customer does not already have one. A builder’s input during the process if often helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. We all want the design and building of a new home to be a rewarding and pleasant experience.

For more information about designing your custom home, contact:

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tax season is among us and i am always surprised at how many people are not prepared…at all.  the ominous irs is enough to keep me tallying my receipts all year long, but for many, this is not so.  the question is, how can you be ready for the accountant once all of the w-2 and 1099’s arrive? The solution is really very simple. One basic three-ring binder and some sheet protectors. Label the binder or purchase one different from any others you may own. Label each of the sheet protectors with its intended contents.   W-2s go in one, medical receipts in another and so on. The more items you must have for taxes the more sheet protectors you will need. Not to worry, they sell them in boxes of 100. If your taxes are multi-faceted then use separate binders for each facet. Again…label – label – label!! If you don’t label them you will spend more time locating the appropriate place or even worse, just stashing information anywhere it will fit.  The plan is simple, diligence is the key.   Now, here is a firm recommenda-tion…when you purchase the supplies and prepare your labels for your 2011 taxes, make a duplicate for 2012.

You follow me? As your receipts come in throughout the year, slide them into the appropriate sleeve. This might help keep receipts more manageable throughout the year and prevent you (or your expen-sive accountant) from sifting through 300 Sonic Happy Hour receipts to find the important ones.   Now, I am not an accountant, by any means. I can simply help make tax time easier by providing some organizational insight. An ounce of organization can save you a ton of stress!

I would love to answer your organiz-ing questions. Please send questions to [email protected]. Names of those asking will not be used.

Jennifer Snyder is owner of Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts. For more info visit her at neatasasapin.net, call 254.715.3888.

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spring has sprung for those of us below the 35th parallel and that means it’s time to take the indoors, out! for those of us who recharge inthe great outdoors, we’d furnish our patios before acquiring a table forthe dining room. whether or not you fall into this category, i’ve got some tips for spicing up your outside spaces for any budget.

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There are 3 basic rules to decorating an outdoor space: color, clusters, and lighting. Any sized space can utilizethese guidelines although many of us are limited to one seating group and a place to park the grill. Some readersmay even be confined to an apartment patio just wide enough for a potted plant or two. Remember that outdoor livingis more casual and you can get awaywith much more whimsy than indoor decorating, typically. So how do you implement the 3 rules?

Color trends come and go butwhen decorating outdoors the key is to use it. Find a color that inspires you. Maybe blues/greens remind you of atropical paradise or bold reds andyellows take you back to trips throughthe streets in Mexico. Last year’s faded furniture can be reinvigorated with anew accent pillow or a bright tiled side table. In tight spaces I find it best tobring in “over the top” kind of itemssuch as a pink flamingo fashionedfrom lawn tools or a hand paintedceramic garden stool. Space islimited so make each item make astatement-unusual pieces makegreat conversation starters!

Next, make sure there are designated “areas.” Cluster seating together topromote conversation. If you are grilling for guests locate your seating nearthe grill so you can participate in theconversation and your guests can drool in anticipation of the delicious meal to come. Set-up appealing groupings of plants, pots, and outdoor conversation pieces. Find a bold pot to placeyour plants in or if money istight buy a plastic one anda can of spray paint. Addinga small garden statue ortrinket on the ground nextto it will make an interesting height variance.

Finally, lighting isone of the most importantelements in outdoor environments. Decide if an “area” is for cooking (more light), dining (maybe different levels for different occasions), or conversation (less light). Create the appropriate lighting level keeping in mind that fixtures should be appealing when lit and during the daylight hours. Bring in some of your own flavor with decorative strand lighting, classic Christmas lights, flaming torches, or outdoor pendants. Get creative, hide wires and outlets with a cluster of plants or under an outdoor rug. Now you’re ready to enjoy the outdoors in style!

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Do you remember how good that tile used to look in your home?Unfortunately, over the years that same tile has become dirty and stained. You’ve tried cleaning it, but let’s face it. It has never looked like it once did…until now! Now there is a company in Central Texas that specializes in bringing your grout back to life.

Grout Works of Central Texas has brought a new process to the area. With Color Sealing, both new and old grout can be professionally colored and sealed. Once the process is complete, you will never have to worry about your grout being sealed again. Color Sealing provides the highest degree of stain protection on the market. This will result in less tile maintenance and will increase the beauty and value of your tile.

What exactly is Color Sealing? The first step of the process is cleaning your existing grout. Next, the customized Color Sealer is applied.You can restore grout back to its original

color, or change it to a new color. The acrylic adheres

itself to the grout and creates a stain free

barrier.

Once Glen and his team Color Seal your grout, it will be

impenetrable and therefore stain proof!

This process is perfect whether you are wanting

to restore your grout back to its original color, or wanting to change the appearance of your grout. The bottom line is that you will have perfect stain free grout. Not just stain free for a while, but stain free forever.

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It’s A Girl Thing Magazine 5

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It’s A Girl Thing Magazine 6

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It’s A Girl Thing Magazine 3

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It’s A Girl Thing Magazine 4

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Index March 2012

Featured BusinessesClothing & Accessories Sassy Britches 5

FabricFrankly Fabric 6

Home/InteriorsThe Mix 3

Jewelry Design House 4For.Me.La 6Gholson Originals 2

Make-upKimberly Cutler 5

MonogrammingIt’s Personal Gift Boutique 5

TanningTuscanny Sun Tanning Salon 8

PublisherAll Things Home™

ArT DireCTiON & DesiGNJose Gonzales

TO ADVerTise PleAse CAll254.709.6045

© 2012 All Things Home™. Reproduction without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

To advertise in the next issue of It’s A Girl Thing, please contact

254.709.6045 or email us at: [email protected]

Wouldn’t you like to be a part of It’s A Girl Thing

and let people know about your business?

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It’s A Girl Thing Magazine 2

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