mbvoelker

adventure_girl, posting in do_it_yourself @ 09:24 am: bathroom tiling questions

 We are considering updating our two bathrooms this winter/spring, and I had a couple of questions I thought I would throw out to the universe (AKA do_it_yourself community).

Basically, here's what we're looking at doing...
In both bathrooms:
          - tear out oh-so-fabulous 1970's style vanities
          - rip out cheap 1970's style vinyl flooring
          - tile floors
          - install beadboard/waitscotting stuff(?)
          - paint

In downstairs bathroom:
          - paint linen closet/replace hardware
          - install pedestal sink

In upstairs bathroom (here's where it gets crazy...):
          - install smaller/more modern sink/vanity/something
          - LEVEL FLOOR (gulp!)
          - REMOVE SHOWER TILE AND REPLACE
          - Install a fun whirlpool-y bathtub thing(?) <- this might be a pipe dream, because the bathroom is tiny, but I figure since we're ripping everything else out, we might as well do this too, right?

Here's where I have questions:
          1) Has anyone here removed and replaced existing shower tile? Is it worth doing ourself, or should I hire someone? I imagine it involves a sledgehammer and re-installation of wallboard, because (oh yeah, i forgot to mention) our walls aren't straight either, and it's VERY evident where they tiled the shower. I can't really tile over it. If it's not a huge cost savings, or could create too many other problems, I think maybe I might hire out that part... But it seems like something we could do. (it's just terrifying!)
          2) Leveling floors -- How, exactly, does one do this? I don't want to lay tile on an uneven floor; I feel like if we're going to do it, we should do it right. I just have no clue how to go about it.
         3) Choosing tile... I saw some tile I loved at the Home Depot last week, that I would really consider seriously for the floors. It's a 12"x12" dark grey colored stone, with some natural green and black variations. (I'm not totally sure how to describe it... I think it was called "Montana") I'm a little concerned, though, about what I put in. I want anything we add to the house to make it easier to sell in the future (say, 2-5 years from now), and I'm not sure what I should be looking at for that. Right now, we live in The House of Beige. And I hate it. I'm gradually changing it, but mostly just with paint. Tile seems so permanent! Is grey a bad idea? Also, what do you think about large tiles on the floor of small bathrooms? Good idea? Bad idea?

Sorry this became so verbose... that wasn't really my intent. I guess that's what happens when you're in the planning stages and have too many ideas/questions. 

Thank you for any insight/opinions you can offer! 

 

theljstaff, posting in news @ 04:59 pm: Basic Accounts, India, and LiveJournal Inc.

Development Goals and Basic Accounts

Last week we updated our development goals for 2008. Generally we noted a number of cool enhancements and investments to LiveJournal that we are working on, including improved search, usability, and site development.

We also wanted to let you know how we hope to accomplish all these things, and how we plan on paying for them. In order to accomplish our stated goals for this year and beyond, we need to increase the revenue gained from both groups of LiveJournal accounts: paid subscription accounts and ad-supported accounts.

As of August 28th, all users will be able to choose to downgrade their account to Basic through their Manage Account page. Additionally, we will start showing advertising to visitors who are not logged in to LiveJournal when they are looking at Basic Account journals and communities.

Basic Account users themselves will not see ads on any Basic journal or community while they are logged in to their account. If you want more information about this, take a look at our new post on lj_2008 where we outline our reasoning.

Indian Flash Fiction Contest

In other news, we are excited to tell you we've launched "Quick Tales" LiveJournal's first initiative for users in India, in celebration of India Independence day, August 15th. "Quick Tales" is a flash fiction writing contest in which we're partnering with Caferati.com, one of India's largest online literary communites. The contest's winners will receive some great prizes and it is open to anyone with a mailing address in India. We hope that users with an interest in Indian writing or just India will watch LiveJournal's india_writing community. That's where the finalists and winners will be announced, so keep an eye on it towards the end of September! If you're in India then enter the contest - if your story is slick and quick (under 500 words) then you could be the lucky winner!

Meanwhile, back at LiveJournal Inc.

We have updated and redesigned our corporate site. The goal of the redesign was twofold: first, to update the look and feel (Dystopia users will appreciate it!); second, we want to provide a destination for prospective employees, partners, and members of the press where they can access important information about the company. Kudos to our design team.

yesididit, posting in do_it_yourself @ 09:59 am: adding a kitchen in the basement
as a possible way to save my house, i am considering moving into my basement and renting out the main floor. i would prefer to have my own kitchen, and am wondering what all would be involved in putting in a kitchen where there wasnt one before.

the area i'm considering is right next to the laundry area, where the is a laundry sink, and directly below the existing kitchen. what would be involved in adding plumbing for a kitchen sink and maybe even a dishwasher? what kind of ventilation do i need for the stove or exhaust fan? how might i rig that up from a basement? i know how to add circuit breakers and outlets for a fridge and stove, and there is room in the existing electrical box. i already have a second fridge, and i've inquired about some great ads for used kitchen cabinets and counters. so the main costs as i can see it would be rerouting the plumbing, and venting the stove. am i missing anything? how much work would this be? tell me all you know! :)

om_shanthi, posting in do_it_yourself @ 08:00 am: Spray in insulation for a crawlspace
Anyone have any suggestions on insulating a crawlspace? I bought a 1945 home with no insulation at all. There are vents in the foundation and duct between the joists. I was thinking of getting the sprayin foam from Foam It Green and doing it myself. Anyone used it?

chimericpeloria, posting in do_it_yourself @ 03:57 pm: Basement question
Hi there! I just joined, and am starting to go through the archives, but I wanted to ask:

Does anyone have any great ideas about utilizing a basement with reaaaaally low ceilings? I'm talking 5.5 foot ceilings.

Our basement is about 725 sf and I'd love to be able to use it in some good way - it would be great to see some ideas about storage spaces and the laundry is down there as well.

Look forward to it, thanks!

ljspotlight, posting in lj_spotlight @ 09:54 pm: 08/11/08 Homepage Spotlight
olympicgames08
The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Community.

ljspotlight, posting in lj_spotlight @ 09:53 pm: 08/11/08 Homepage Spotlight
babyidols
A photo contest community for babies aged 0-3 years, in the format of American Idol.

ljspotlight, posting in lj_spotlight @ 09:52 pm: 08/11/08 Homepage Spotlight
muslimgirls
Where Muslim girls from all walks of life can share articles and discuss issues regarding Islam today.

velochicdunord, posting in do_it_yourself @ 01:59 pm: Recoat times for Krylon Fusion spray paint?
Hey everyone,

I spraypainted a fifties period console last Sunday. According to the instruction on the can, you are supposed to recoat within 24 hours or wait 7 days until the finish is completely cured.

I didn't notice that the final finish was a little uneven until after the 24 hour window to recoat had closed. (I was spraypainting over laminate and some areas have enough paint to be shiny, others are still at the semi-gloss stage. I've been patiently waiting through the 7 days. I'm now halfway through Day 6. Precisely seven days will be at 10 pm Sunday evening. Has anyone else used Krylon Fusion on wood/plastic laminate furniture and what happened if you didn't wait that last twenty-four hours?

Part of the reason for my impatience is that I've been living with a painting tent in my dining room for a month now... and I'd like to take it down sooner rather than later. Have a decor completion schedule to keep!