Splendid Rejuvenations

It’s stupendous, splendid, superb, stunning and spectacular.  It is in the center ring of all modern renovations.  Only Granite Transformations can renew, rejuvenate, rebuild and totally restore the look of your kitchen and bathroom with such ease.  No more three ring circus with the chaos, confusion, clutter and dust that you think of when you want marvelous granite counter tops.

These countertops are measured and build to fit right on top of your old countertops.  No messy room in disarray.  No cleaning up and wiping down the powder left throughout the house after the installation.

Although the price is about the same as granite counters, the quality is far beyond your wildest expectations.   You can put aside any anxieties or fears, they surpass any extraordinary standard you may have.

If you’re looking to rid yourself of that clown of a counter and replace it with a heat, scratch and stain resistant countertop, then just stop here.  These countertops are permanently sealed and maintenance free and come with a lifetime limited warranty.

Almost Perfect

The Christmas lights have been taken down from the yard and house and safely stored away for next year.  The beautiful white snow that covered our ground for only a day and removed all flaws from a winter landscape has melted and now all we have left are leaves and other debris covering our yards and driveways.

There is little beauty and almost no cheerful brilliance that the colors of spring bring to our senses when we gaze at our outdoor views; but the yards will bloom again in the spring, creating anew our love of warm breezes and the sound of a singing bird.  Oh dear, those driveways and walkways will still be gray, stained with oil, chipped, cracked and dull, making our homes look unkempt and unloved.

As you sweep and rake, think of refreshing that driveway damaged by time and weather.  New Crete has a very simple process.  One-fourth inch Polymer Cement is applied and then stamped over.  It can be walked on in three hours.

A variety of patterns and colors are available in New Crete’s one-component surfacing compound and it is designed for use on either new or worn concrete.  You may want the look of polished marble, flagstone, some old fashioned clay bricks, or maybe a cobblestone décor.  It can be applied on patios, driveways, walkways, pool decks and waterproofed balconies.

Don’t wait until the flowers have bloomed and the leaves on the trees have come back in all their splendor, leaving those ugly spots to mar an almost perfect yard.  You know what you need to do and so do I.

Oh my pool!

Oh my, it is winter and very cold.  Far from your thoughts are the pleasures of swimming in the warm sun. Still from your window you can see that sleeping, oversized hole, filled with water.  It may appear asleep, but it is only a few months away from becoming your center of attention.

Does it just seem to be a bland shapeless hole filled with water? Is it in need of a facelift?  Now is the time to take a hard look. If it is getting a little older, maybe some renovation is required.  Is the plaster is flaked, cracked worn, pitted or stained?  It may need replastering.  Does it need new tile?

Does it have character?  You will find that there are many choices when it comes to adding personality to your pool.

Your old pool can become anything you want it to be. If want a tranquil lagoon you can add a beautiful waterfall.

A pirate ship will delight your children.  Install half of an old wooden boat over the deep end of your pool, and design it to look like a shipwrecked pirate ship.  Adding a diving board will fulfill their fantasy.

There are many choices.  Don’t forget waterslides, waterline rock and cascades.  The designs are endless.

Identify your budget, your pool’s requirements, and make your choices based on the best advice from Desert Springs Pools.  You will be pleased with the results.

Ugly and Unloved

Does your kitchen, gleam, sparkle, and glisten?  Why not?  You have scrubbed and wiped and polished the counters, the backboard, and the sink.  Oh, but it still lacks that fresh, clean sanitary look.  That Oomph!

Mr. Clean did not visit your house with his energy and power while you slept.  He knows he cannot correct the lackluster look that keeps you from inviting friends in for a cup of coffee.  Even using low watt bulbs so your husband and children cannot see the scratches and stains does not alleviate your conscience.

But wait, as your fairy godmother, I have some wonderful news.

There is a way to eliminate the bad and the ugly.  It is a simple overlay process, no fuss, no muss, and no granite dust.  Most kitchen installs require only a day and very large kitchens, 2 days.  Clean up of these counters only requires soap and water.  No more stains, scratches, plastic gloves and smelly cleaning products.

Have you not heard of Granite Transformations?  Trend Stone slabs are a natural stone mixed with a specially formulated polymer that provides strength and durability. The surface is heat, stain and scratch resistant. Also available is Trend Glass and Trend Mosaic.  Trend Glass is a unique combination of quartz, semi precious man made stones and post consumer recycled glass. The Trend Mosaic glass tiles come already mounted and pre-grouted on large slabs, making their installation amazingly easy.

This year buy 100 watt bulbs, put on your party dress and best smile.  Your husband, friends and family will be telling every one of your decorating skills and your master decision making expertise.

Shipwrecked for the Summer

Although we have a cold, cold winter right now, summer is turning over in bed and setting her clock for our visit in a few months.
Consider a tiki hut for your summertime fun, once this structure used for entertainment and relaxation is erected, you can amaze and astonish your guests with your flair for decorating the interior. Their eyes will light up when they see your collection of towel holders, salt and pepper shakers, napkin holders, unbreakable dishes and glasses, pillows and towels, rugs, evening lamps, patio furniture, tropical music and maybe even a margarita machine.
It’s easy to shop for all matching decorations, but to make it really fun, try finding some eclectic and strangely interesting pieces at yard sales, second hand shops or use mismatched pieces that you love. The stories, you will remember and repeat to others, of these little strange items will fill the warm afternoons and evenings.
Whether you consider yourself Mary Ann or Ginger on Giligan’s Island, your skills can exceed the Professor’s when you create your own little island.

Happy New Year

A new year and it is time once again to take stock of ourselves, our homes and plans for the future. In other words, we walk through a new door.

Doors that let us in, keep others out, protect us, and provide privacy. A door is, most of all the entrance to your castle.

An entry point should reflect your own personal fashion; it is your guests’ first impress and the last. Doors can be seen as inviting, stylish, plain, suspicious, colorful and even mysterious.

When selecting a door you can choose benefits such as sound reduction, energy efficiency and safety. Many doors have three-pane hermetically sealed glass as part of their design. If safety is your ultimate concern, a product line aptly named “Secure-By-Design: is 180% more break resistant than tempered glass. Virtually impossible to break through, this energy efficient, triple-glazed construction offers a sense of security to any homeowner without creating the need to dig a large moat around your home. Those alligators just annoy the neighbors.

That dungeon of an entry way can be brightened up with an extensive selection of decorative glass for doors. Neomodern, abstract, or classic glass inserts are available.

A romantic look can be inspired by replacing outdated sliding doors with French doors. Viewing your kingdom, through those stylish French doors while having coffee and croissants in your satin robe will definitely make you feel like a king or a queen.

These new doors will dramatically increase the value of your home and reflect your young and sophisticated attitude. Every home is a castle and every castle should have an elegant door.

Desert Holidays

We are fortunate to have our Christmas holidays in the Southwest, where we can enjoy sunshine at a time of year when it normally shines only briefly, in areas of the northern hemisphere and darkness comes as early as 4 pm.  But even here, many people start wishing for festive and cheerful outdoor decorations, as it seems like Christmas is just the beginning of cold weather, cabin fever and the winter blues. Holiday lighting and decor can be a great antidote.

When deciding to build a pool in the fall or winter, you will find it a pleasurable experience!  Your pool will be ready when the warm weather arrives but most of all, it can be a visual pleasure during these holidays and the many holidays to come during the both the winter and summer months.

Consider using Christmas outdoor decorations in areas besides or in addition to your front yard, where face it; you are trying to impress and cheer up your neighbors. How about surrounding the pool with Christmas lights?  They are one of the most popular forms of holiday decorating simply because they bring light and color to our sometimes bleak winter days and nights.

For the family, Christmas outdoor decorating is a fun project in the month of December. You’ll be active in the crisp winter air, and when you go back indoors, you’ll be able to enjoy the results of your hard work for weeks to come.

Over the past decade the pool buying experience has overflowed into other areas of outdoor living.  The sophistication of the buyer has required the pool builder to not only plan and think through the pool construction and layout, but the overall master planning of backyard environments.

Desert Springs Pools is the leading pool builder in Nevada and their reputation continues to grow.  Backed up by the Valley’s sharpest construction team of coordinators and field superintendents, Desert Spring has earned a reputation as a quality and on-time pool builder.

Fondest Memories

It is now that we find ourselves wishing to experience the traditions that gave birth to our family histories and kept our loved ones close.  What was your fondest memory?  Most of these memories were made in the kitchen with mom baking buttery rich holiday cookies, while you and dad begged for just one warm cookie right out of the oven.  When we recall happy times with our families or re-create an experience we shared with our parents, it teaches us the value of simple times. Children love repetition; it creates a sense of security in their lives. To feel secure, a child needs to feel that his or her world is predictable.

Now it is your turn as a parent or a grandparent to set in motion the memories that will last a lifetime.  Your kitchen will most likely be that place where most of these memories will be created, so the need to keep our most used room in good working order with affordable updating is of utmost importance.

Granite Transformations’ surfaces are handcrafted to fit directly over your existing countertop or backsplash.  They are engineered to offer heat, stain, scratch and impact resistance, unlike traditional granite slabs.

There is no demolition, less mess to clean up and smaller projects can be completed in two days.  It is maintenance free with no grout to clean and comes with a 10 year warranty.

The hub of the family is usually the kitchen, where we meet our children after school or prepare family dinners while we discuss the events of the day.  You want it easy to clean, durable and maintenance free.  Make it a place where any and all family members can enjoy and share the family chores, without the constant worry of damaging a counter top.

Summer in the South Pacific

The sand is the color of light brown sugar.  There are plenty of tall palms and beach palapas to lounge under.  The water is warm and the gentle current wraps around your toes.  The beach lifestyle embodies contentment and we all know that whether we are living on the beach or just visiting for a while, it puts you at ease with ourselves and others.  Is it getting away from that busy lifestyle or is it the endless hours staring into the deep blue ocean, living moment to moment, that brings us back to what really matters?

We yearn to dine by the water’s edge, under a palapa, with fragrant flowers in bloom all around us and fresh fruit set before us in abundance.  We want to live to eat, not eat to lie.  We want to enjoy all the smells and flavors on a huge plate containing a mixture of seafood, meat and vegetables, while songs and pulsating drums bring back the memories of youth and passion.

Mexico, the Bahamas, Hawaii and the South Pacific are full of romance and intrigue.  Those places of paradise bring hoards of travelers looking for an escape from the anxiety and frustration daily life has thrust upon them.  Yes, we want to go, too.  But those destinations are some distance from home.  You have only so many vacation days available and the cost is not to be overlooked.  Would visiting your relatives for a few days help?  Wait.  Don’t collapse into tears yet.  We have a solution.

We all know that there is more to relaxing than sitting in front of a television.  For your body to recover, it takes a touch of atmosphere or even a little activity.  This perfect atmosphere must tune out the distractions.  It must incorporate all your dreams of the perfect getaway. Luxury simply means that everything has been made easy without being soft or pretentious.  Your own backyard can be transformed into the place you are dreaming of by adding a cool palapa hut with a relaxing hammock or beach-style lounge chair covered by nicely padded cushions and pillows.  Soothing music and sounds will enhance the mood.  No phones and certainly no computers should be allowed.  Smell is a powerful reminder of a more peaceful time, so be sure to add candles or flowers to your island paradise.  A small palapa-styled bar nearby makes sure your chilled beverages and snacks are waiting for you.

You can have all this without waiting for hours at the airport or hoping you haven’t made your reservation during raining season.  You don’t need an excuse to escape, choose to simplify and relax.  Purposely create a more natural environment where you can explore a relaxed pace of life.  Leave a complex and artificial world and choose this summer to enjoy an effortless experience.

I have my paradise.  It was designed and built to my exact specifications.  You can have yours.  For your customized needs, feel free to ask for advice from a trustworthy, knowledgeable and here-to-stay Las Vegas husband and wife team, Juan Carlos or Marjorie Mattison of Palapa Depot.

Call Palapa Depot now at 702 432-1986 to enjoy your Palapa all summer.

A Full Yard Makeover

The greatest home improvement is often a front yard makeover.  A beautiful home is so much less appealing when the front area is just another dreary-looking section of the street.  The front yard is a space that demonstrates respectability.  Your house need not look like other people’s homes; it is an expression of your taste.  Let your outdoor expression show cheerfulness and optimism.

Allow me to share a few inspirational thoughts which can make your home more beautiful and I will also share with you a place to go so all of this can be yours.

There is usually a straight outdoor path connecting the door to the sidewalk.  This is not the natural movement of life.  You will find curves are easier to traverse and more appealing to the eye.  The non-color of cement, or beige, is for the fearful, the boring or the weary.  Experiment with your dramatic, playful side.  Change the entire appearance of the entry to your home by first increasing the size of the walkway, then by “stamping” over the concrete with colorful, attractive patterns, as it winds it way through your landscaping and to your front door.

Refresh your patio floor.  Match the design of your garden.  Do you have a Japanese garden, formal landscape, tropical, desert or natural style?  All your outdoor surfaces should reflect the same style.  When our senses are satisfied, our minds and bodies relax.  Consider adding a patio to your front yard landscape, in an alcove or near the front door.  It provided a place to chat with the neighbors who walked by; a great, old-fashioned, American tradition.  Finding the best design may take some effort, but what a great way to get to know those who live nearby, make new friends, renew acquaintances with old friends, or just to spend some time relaxing in your front yard.

Once you have an attention-grabbing pool area you may never want to leave your home for an exotic vacation.  During a pool party, more time is spent sitting around the pool chatting or sunbathing than actually swimming.  The ideal pool decking will match the architecture of your home and the rest of your landscape.  Continuity of color and texture helps, so keep in mind the colors of the house and its surroundings when making your choices.

There are many reasons for redoing a garage floor.  Perhaps it has 20 years of stains and cracks, or you might want to renovate and give the garage area a new purpose.  Personalizing the garage with a dazzling new garage floor can help you achieve a unified look for the entire home and yard.

Driveways should be safe place, not an obstacle course.  Check for cracks, holes and chips.  A neglected driveway will only get worse.  It is easy for your driveway to fulfill its practical purpose, while feeding your artistic side.

For any or all of these projects, contact New Crete.  They can stamp right over the existing concrete with patterns like slate, natural rock, feather edge and fanfare.  All are easy to maintain and beautiful.  New Crete’s workers are professional who take pride in their work.  Their stamped product can also be used for interior applications for both commercial and residential flooring.  There is nothing like experience if you want the job to look absolutely beautiful.

Astonish your visitors, delight your neighbors and you will find yourself de-stressing when your home is truly your castle.  Make some positive changes for all to see and enjoy.