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The Laundry Room Plus
This beautiful example of the Family Studio concept demonstrates how the laundry appliances and other
items can be concealed behind
cabinet doors.
The face of American homes has been rapidly changing over the past several years. Today's large, open kitchens have turned into family
gathering places. Bathrooms are luxurious spa-like getaways. Family rooms have become great rooms, complete with entertainment centers.
Laundry rooms, however, have for the most part remained an afterthought - a washer and dryer placed in a room the size of a closet, along with a few storage cabinets.
Well, that is no longer true! Forward-thinking home planners have begun to focus on the laundry room. Whirlpool® Corporation, for example,
introduced in 2002 their exciting new concept for the laundry room, which they call "The Family Studio."
After extensive consumer lifestyle research, Whirlpool envisioned an area that can function not only as an every day fabric care
room, but also as a space that supports an endless variety of stay-at-home activities. With the average family spending up to 400
hours per year doing laundry, a flexible laundry room helps homeowners be more productive. For instance, families can use it
for arts and crafts, gardening and sewing projects, gift-wrapping, pet care, kids' homework projects, and much more. This is
also an ideal space for an internet computer, a television, or an extra refrigerator. The Family Studio conveniently keeps
projects, daily tasks, and potential clutter organized so the rest of the house stays neater.
Basic to the idea of a Family Studio are expansive storage areas and spacious countertop surfaces for projects. In
addition to this, Whirlpool has designed modular, state-of-the-art fabric care appliances, each of which can
be discreetly enclosed within cabinetry for a tidy, streamlined look.
Some of the innovative appliances Whirlpool introduced with the Family Studio concept are: the Personal Valet clothes
vitalizing system, the DryAire™ drying cabinet, and the SinkSpa™ jetted sink.
The Family Studio offers a fresh new perspective on the traditional laundry room. Now let your imagination take
over and
see how you can incorporate some of these ideas into your home.
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Remodeling & Parade of Homes Show Schedules
2003 Spring / Summer
Home Design Show
International Market Square
March 21st - 23rd, 2003
Friday 1:00 - 8:00 pm
Saturday 10:00am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 10:00am - 5:00 pm
Home Building & Remodeling Expo
Minneapolis Convention Center
May 30th - June 1st, 2003
Friday 2:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturday 10:00am - 9:00 pm
Sunday 10:00am - 5:30 pm
Fall Parade of Homes
September 6 - October 5th, 2003
Thursday - Saturdays - 12 noon - 6pm
TJB Parade Homes Located at:
~ 2106 Arnold Palmer Drive, Blaine
~ 9291 Hunters Court, Minnetrista
~ 1234 - 128th Circle NW, Coon Rapids
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Countertops: Glass
The idea may still seem "out there," but it is definitely on the way in. Glass, beautiful and stylish, was singled out
by designers as an emerging material for countertops at both the 2002 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, as well as the
2003 International Builders Show.
Glass countertops are fashioned from 3/4" annealed glass, which is the same process by which window glass is made.
The edges are highly polished and for safety purposes, rounded.
Some of the exceptional qualities of a glass countertop are that it is non-porous, and therefore very sanitary. The
countertop is shaped all in one piece, so there are no seams. It has a heavy tensile strength, and therefore can endure a
great deal of weight. A 300 lb. weight, placed on a glass countertop, will not affect it. A hot pan will not scorch the
surface, which can endure heat of up to 700 degrees without cracking.
To care for a glass countertop, always use a cutting board to avoid scratching the surface. Light scratches, however,
an be taken out by using a product like "Soft Scrub." Certain acidic substances, such as vinegar, if allowed to rest
on the surface for a length of time, will eventually "oyster" the surface (give it the appearance of the
inside of an oyster shell). This does not affect the strength of the glass, just the appearance. Of course, with glass
one always has to be careful not to drop a hard, heavy object on it because it may shatter.
The sizes and shapes of glass countertops are infinitely varied. In addition, the glass can be processed in a range
of colors and textures. Curvet, for example, offers 199 different colors and/or textures for their custom glass
countertops. In price, a glass countertop compares to granite or marble.
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A Room With a View
"An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth."
Bonnie Friedman, in the New York Times
After the stresses of a normal hectic day, the top priority for most Americans is to spend time relaxing and letting the
pressures slip away. They often wish for a quiet, peaceful place set apart from the hustle and bustle they have just
experienced.
For this reason, the passion for creating secluded outdoor living areas at home has really taken off in the past few years.
Something about being outdoors and soaking up the timeless beauty of nature is the perfect medicine.
The traditional open, grassy back yard with a deck has been giving way to walled patios or interior courtyards, paved in brick
or stone for easy maintenance. Flowers, trees and other plants are carefully chosen and placed for maximum enjoyment
and privacy. In addition, small outdoor balconies and porches are designed to flow out from breakfast nooks and master
bedrooms. Just picture being able to step outside your bedroom and enjoy the beautiful night sky from a comfortable lounge
chair on your private balcony.
Depending on the size of the space and its location, your outdoor room could also include a small built-in satellite kitchen
with a sink and refrigerator for those late-night hunger attacks. Or, perhaps you prefer a more complete kitchen set-up,
with a grill and rotisserie for barbecuing.
Other additions to your outdoor space that increase relaxation might be a whirlpool bath, or a swimming pool. The sounds of
water flowing have been found to be very stress relieving. Adding a waterfall to your pool multiplies the enjoyment. And there is
nothing like the crackling of a fire in an outdoor fireplace to enhance any evening spent on your patio.
These outdoor rooms are often furnished with cabinetry, tables and chairs that add to the feeling of a family room or great
room. Manufacturers who anticipated this trend now offer furnishings designed specifically for exterior use, but with the
look of interior products. It is getting ever easier to create an outdoor room where the time you spend helps you unwind and
refreshes your mind and body.
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~ Protect Your Investment
Spring Home Maintenance ~
PROTECT YOUR HOME
Your home is probably the biggest investment you
own. However, we see many homeowners take better
care of cars than their homes. The car is a depreciating asset and their home keeps going up in value.
People change the oil on their cars every 3000 to
5000 miles, but fail to check the filters on their
HVAC equipment. They will regularly check the air
pressure in their tires, but fail to properly regulate
the humidity levels in their home, Car owners will
rotate the tires on their car, but fail to check the
caulking around the windows and doors. Your home is
no different then your automobile. It requires maintenance on a regular basis. The following are some
tips to take care of your home this spring.
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CAULKING
The homeowner should thoroughly examine the
exterior of the home for any areas that need to be
re-sealed. Careful attention should be paid to door
and window openings and light fixture openings.
Spaces around the foundation and other penetrations of the exterior should also be checked to
prevent unwanted pests, animals and water from entering your home. Many of the exterior finishes,
including stucco, shrink after installation and may need
re-caulking even in the first year and possibly every
year due to weather exposure or overuse by the homeowner.
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| CONCRETE SEALING
All exterior and garage concrete should be sealed
to prevent the erosion of its surface from salt, and
weather. Salt damages the concrete. In fact, your
car picks up a lot of road salt from the freeways
and this drips on your concrete and causes severe
damage. Safety salt can also be dangerous to your
concrete. Plain sand mixed with some straight fertilizer does a very good job on your sidewalks when
there is ice buildup. Use a top quality commercial
sealer, not Thompson water seal.
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FILTER CLEANING
Your furnace filter should be checked and cleaned
every 30 days. The Vanee/Venmar Air Exchanger
has two filters inside the unit that need regular
cleaning. The Air Exchanger also has an air intake
hood and an exhaust hood that are on the outside of
the house. There is a filter there that also needs
cleaning. You should also inspect for wasp nests or
other pests that may have plugged up these openings.
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| HUMIDIFIER
The humidifier has water pads that must be
changed once a year.
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WATER HEATER
Every six Months, the water heater should be
drained from the bottom to remove any buildup that
can shorten the life of the heater.
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| ROOF VENTS
Roof vents should be checked to insure there are no
bird or wasp nests that could block air to your attic.
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Remodeling Design Centre ~ Now Open
"TJB Homes & Remodeling Does It All"
Porches
Rec Rooms
Lower Level Finishes
Designer Kitchens & Baths
Bars & Entertainment Centers
Room Additions - Porches & Decks
License #1845
New Showroom Open
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Other Times By Appointment
See Kitchens, Baths & More
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Credentials
27 Years Experience
Guaranteed Pricing
Expert Design Service
763-780-2944
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Physical Address
9100 Baltimore Street NE #102
Blaine, MN 55449
(NE Corner of Hwy 10 & Hwy 65)
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