Thinking of painting?  Been putting it off because you don’t know where to start?  I just posted a bunch of great paint palettes to my pinterest account so be sure to check them out!

Closet door, about 5′ high, found during Broker’s Tour in Rockridge.  Great style!

This was taken directly from their website: www.vetrazzo.com

Exquisitely repurposed glass

With Vetrazzo Surfaces you can express both your styles and your respect for the earth without compromise. Vetrazzo is 85% glass, and all the glass we use is recycled – so it really is good for the environment.

Strong & Beautiful

Vetrazzo’s artful surfaces are incredibly strong, durable, and a joy to live with, now and for a long, long time.

• Remote energy usage reading by PG&E
• Allows you to view hourly and daily energy usage
• Faster problem resolution
• Faster power restoration
• Energy alerts via text, email or phone
• A positive impact on the environment by helping customer make better energy choices

Since getting the Smart Meter my husband and I have been able to discern exactly when we are using the bulk of our energy throughout the day.  We know that the heater takes up X-amount of energy when it comes on, we can now determine just how much the washer and dryer suck up, and our computers as well.  Very cool!

Watch your bills though, seems a few of the meters are faulty.  May take a couple of billing cycles to see the new meter results.

For more information about the PG&E SmartMeter program, visit www.pge.com/smartmeter or call 1-866-PGE-0263.

Federal law requires contractors that disturb painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Always ask to see your contractor’s certification.

Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement or demolition in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.

• Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet before starting work.

• Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, and the families of children under six years of age that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.

Click here for more information: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

Interested? Call me today and I will connect you with the best rehab mortgage guru I know.

Source: Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune

Checked the weather lately?
Did you know that it is supposed to rain for the NEXT TWO WEEKS?

A biologist friend sent me an email from a climate scientist that said “The next 2-3 weeks (at least) are likely to be more active across California than any other 2-3 week period in recent memory. The potential exists for a dangerous flood scenario to arise at some point during this interval, especially with the possibility of a heavy rain-on-snow event during late week 2. This is likely to be a rather memorable event.”

My friend also said that she remembers waking up a few years back to a flooded basement so it got me thinking:

Are you prepared?

Is your house prepared?

This is that time of year when you want to check that your sump pump is working, that your windows seal, that your gutters are cleaned out, that your roof is in good shape, that your outside drains and rain barrels are free of debris, and that you have fresh batteries in case of a power outage.

The scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting heavy precipitation, powerful winds, and dangerous flooding. I know I wouldn’t want to be wading through my basement when it could have been prevented. If you need a referral to a tradesperson to help you out, just let me know. Until then, here is a recipe for your rainy day forecast:

DVD’s? Check. Jammies? Check. Hot Cocoa? Check. Sump Pump? Uh oh.

Time to pull out your slickers and galoshes…hope you stay dry!

Top 10 inexpensive ways to freshen up your home

1. Buy new towels for the bathroom
2. Upgrade outdoor lighting
3. Install new doorknobs and caminet handles
4. Make a centerpiece for your dining room table
5. Buy a new mailbox
6. Polish or replace your house numbers
7. Place fresh flowers or houseplants around the home
8. Buy color-coordinated pillows for the sofa and bed
9. Replace your worn doormat
10. Set out subtle potpourri or scented candles

Current design trends

1. Warm it up.  Instead of doing a complete remodel, try resurfacing cabinets and replacing laminate countertops.  Instead of adding a whirlpool tub, try adding multiple shower heads.  Instead of changing out vanities, replace sink fixtures.

2. Choose hard flooring.  Get rid of your carpet.  Try bamboo, cork, laminate or vinyl.

3. Create storage.  Homes today must come with Costco-size cupboards!  Use built-in dressers, shelving systems in closets, adding shelving in your garage.

4. Design with light.  Use accent lights, undercounter lights, and dimmers to help brighten the mood.

Love “The Green Guide.”  Lot’s of great eco-friendly advice.  Check out this recent article on living roofs:

http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/garden/budget-green-roofs?source=email_gg_20090520&email=gg