FURNITURE ASSEMBLY HELP & DESIGN BLOG

Disposing Debris The Right Way 101

2008-10-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Learn how to get cash for your trash! along with other money saving ways to reduce renovation waste.

Whether you're updating a room or gutting the entire house, chances are you have piles of junk taking up valuable Real Estate. No problem finding a ton of takers for the claw foot tub, but what about the stuff you can't unload on Craigslist or Ebay? You've got garbage, but you're not alone. Lets take a look at some ways you can do the right "Green" thing with what would be considered trash.

Carperting:

In the words of National Association of Home Builders, " The bulkiness of carpet and padding waste can make disposal VERY costly. Today's Manufactuers are making an effort to help give you a push in the recyclying way instead.

If your carpet is in good shape without stains or big worn patches, donate it.

If you have damaged carpet or worn carpet or area rugs, click on a map at the Central America Recovery Effort website (carpetrecovery.org/waste.php) where you can find a place to drop it off for recycling.

IF YOU MUST DUMP IT... ask the sanitation department when & how to put the rugs out on the curb.

White Goods

These Big, bulky items--- your dishwasher, washing machine, clothes dryer, Fridge, & Freezer--can push a job-site container to overflowing without even trying.

If you have a Vintage stove or refigirator, sell it to a dealer or restorer such as AntiqueAppliances.com

If your appliances still work and are somewhat on the new side, ask a second hand store if they will pick them up such places like the Salvation Army or Goodwill will give you a tax reciept in which you can use as a write off at the years end.

If you have no other takers and can use a few bucks, consider selling your old appliances for scrap. Dealers normally pay aout 10 cents per pound which can equal $30-$80 per appliance. However, Please note they WILL NOT accept appliances which contain coolaint.

Lumber & Scrapwood
It may grow on trees--- but all the more reason to recycle if you can.

If you have unused tongue and groove flooring, take it to a dealer or resale store. These places may also want large pieces of undamaged lumber and wooden doors. Even our company EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations will take old undamaged doors, locks,handles, as well as molding and furniture which we refinish and resell and donate the proceeds to local charities. You can contact us at www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

If you have lumber scraps or left over pieces of raw lumber, contact a wood waste dealer for recycling purposeing. You may have to pay a small fee, but it would be far less than what it would cost at a disposal agency.

Also place an ad on Craigslist for free scrapwood now that winter is here many people could probaly welcome it if they still have wood burning stoves and heaters.

This is all we have today but we will be posting more GREEN recycling tips throughout the next few weeks so keep checking back because YOU do make a difference!

Please contact us at www.ezfurnitureassembly.com with any questions or ideas on how and what else we can recycle.

New York City Home Improvement DIY Forum

2008-10-02T03:50:00.000-07:00

The Staff at EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC is proud to announce another addition to our growing website, which is an DIY Forum that is completely open to any Home Improvement related topics from Ikea Assembly Tips, Kitchen Cabinet Installation Instructions, Plumbing, as well Home Improvement stories or mishaps.

We are a New York City based company and we encourage NYC DIY to come and share your product rating, local stores having sales, the best flea markets in the City, and whatever comes to mind as long as it is Home Improvement related topics.

Our website recieves an average of 3000 unique visitors monthly and we are leasing Banner ads at a discounted rate of only $20.00 per month with a (6) month contract.

Visit us today and be the first to post CLICK HERE

New York City Company Provides Kitchen Renovations at Affordable Rates!!

2008-09-30T16:02:00.000-07:00

EZ FURNITURE ASSEMBLY

&

INTERIOR INNOVATIONS, LLC

WWW.EZFURNITUREASSEMBLY.COM

We were Awarded the SUPER SERVICE AWARD by Angie's List for Outstanding Service in which only 5% off companies Nationwide are even considered.

We are expert installers of IKEA kitchen cabinets. As a licensed remodeling company, we have high professional standards and work to provide top-notch customer service on every project we do. Why settle for less?

We can provide demolition of the old kitchen, electrical, lighting, plumbing, appliance installation, wall work, countertop installation, flooring installation, and general repair.

We also offer a low-cost "assisted installation" service for homeowners who want to spend the least on a professional installation result.

Please view our Previous Projects at our website www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

OR

Email us: contactus@ezfurnitureassembly.com

All About IKEA from Shopping to Return Policies

2008-09-30T05:10:00.000-07:00

How to shop

We want your next trip to IKEA to be as pleasant as possible. So, here are some tips on how to shop the easy way at our IKEA stores! IKEA stores have free parking and provide easy access for the disabled. Everything you need to shop is available at the entrance: pencils, paper, tape measures, store guides, catalogs, shopping carts, shopping bags and strollers.

Bring the kids!

The IKEA store is family-friendly. your kids can test all the toys in the children's department or have fun in the free supervised playroom while you shop. (Ask at the store about specific requirements.)

Everything you need!

Besides copies of the latest catalog for you to borrow, the store provides tape measures, and pencils and notepads for you to write down price tag details, like where to pick up your item. And grab a big yellow bag for those smaller items you like.

Relax, there's no hurry

The store has lots of fully furnished showrooms. You can sit on the chairs, lie on the beds and try out everything. IKEA sales people won't bother you. Need help? Just ask.

Price tag information

You'll find lots of details on the price tag - colors, materials, sizes, etc. You'll find the shelf number if you can collect the item from the Self-Serve area or a message to contact staff if you need to collect it at Furniture Pick-up.

Contact staff here

You'll find IKEA staff at information desks with this symbol. They will arrange for you to collect your item at Furniture Pick-up if you need to.

Time for a bite to eat

Our restaurant isn't just for delicious full meals - stop in for a quick sandwich, piece of cake or cup of coffee. Look for the special kids' menu, too!

Pick up your purchases

Check the notes you made of the shelf numbers to find your items in the Self-Serve area. There are plenty of carts and bags to help you get it all to the checkouts. Selected items need to be picked up in Furniture Pick-up after your purchase is complete.

How to pay

Our cashiers accept cash, credit cards, debit cards, and IKEA gift cards.

Take it home today

Since most IKEA furniture is flat-packed, you can take it home today in your car and enjoy it tonight. If you'd prefer, IKEA can arrange home delivery at a reasonable rate - contact your local IKEA store for details.

If you change your mind

If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return the unused item in its original packaging within 90 days unless noted below. A receipt is required for all returns and exchanges.

Mattresses: "Love it or Exchange it". You may return your mattress once within 90 days if you don't love it. Return your mattress with your receipt to the store and select your new mattress. We are unable to exchange your mattress if your merchandise is found to be dirty, stained, damaged, or abused.

Sorry, we cannot accept returns on used bedding (linens, quilts, pillows, and mattress pads), cut fabric, products from the As-Is department, and custom countertops.

Click here for further return policy details.

SWEEPSTAKES TO WIN HUMMER OR MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE!!!

2008-09-28T08:03:00.001-07:00

We were contacted by a company, actually a survey company that obtains information for thousands of retailers and in return for a minute of your time you get a chance to win a BRAND NEW MUSTANG or HUMMER, plus lots of other prizes. THIS IS NOT A SCAM!!!!! We had our Attorney review the sweepstakes and company and it has in fact given away several hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes. I wasn't going to bother with it, but then I figured I would list it and allow our readers decide if they want to try to win or not.

GOOD LUCK!!!

PLEASE POST YOUR EXPERIENCE & ANY WINNINGS!

How to Feng Shui a New York City Apartment, Loft or Condo

2008-09-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Feng Shui Manhattan Apartment

We look at the front hall and bedroom of a Manhattan apartment that was designed with the ancient Asian art of Feng Shui.

Using the principles of Feng Shui, a designer pays close attention to the flow of energy, or Ch’i, through the rooms of a home or office. Ch'i meaning "flow". A thorough Feng Shui design takes into account everything from the placement of the mirrors to the color of the walls, all with the goal of creating energetic harmony and balance.

This apartment, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, is owned by Kathleen and John Ullmann, and was designed with the help of R.D. Chin, a leading Feng Shui master based in New York City.

This room offers a good example of how versatile Feng Shui is; you don’t have to have an Asian-looking interior in order for the principles of Feng Shui to go some distance towards creating a home that functions well and makes the inhabitants simply feel good in their environment.

Here is a great, better yet the top website for finding ALL your Oriental & Feng Shui products

Looking at the living room, we see that not only does the room work in terms of Feng Shui, but it also adheres nicely to the Sheffield Guidelines of Interior Design: function, mood, and harmony. The function here is just what one usually looks for in a living room: to provide a public area of the home for entertaining guests, while also allowing for private activities such as reading.

In this living room, the furniture is grouped to allow for comfortable conversation among family members or guests. Two people could snuggle in to the corners of the sofa for an intimate conversation, or guests could spread out among the sofa and chairs to form a few different conversational groups, and everyone would have access to that wide coffee table for drinks and snacks. The oversized corner chair makes an ideal reading nook, with a side table with a lamp that provides good reading light.

One of the functions of this particular living room is to hold the collection of Russian gardener figurines. Before the home was re-decorated, Ullmann says, the figures, mostly white, didn’t show up against the white wall behind them. In fact, one reason Kathleen Ullmann wanted to use Feng Shui in re-doing her home was that the collections in the living room made the room like a museum. “It was dead energetically,” she said.

Now, the collection is lit by the recessed lights, and the bright yellow wall sets off the figurines, making them seem to come to life.

"It has helped my husband to remember the thrill when he started to receive these figurines from his father; he takes pride in the collection being something from his family home in England, and then in being successful enough to buy them on his own,” she said.

The redesign has shown the Ullmanns that the collection is “no longer just about acquisition,” but now can serve as a reminder of their accomplishments and positive life memories. In Feng Shui, each section of a home represents a different aspect of life, and this particular wall represents creativity, so the placement of the collection there encourages the creativity to flow into the home and therefore into the lives of the inhabitants.

“My husband, who is timid and conservative, is proud of the room, and I find he’s more likely to bring guests up and entertain in the living room. The Ch’i, the life, has come back in,” she said.

John Ullmann likes the home’s new look too. “He’s so proud he invites people over to see it,” Kathleen Ullmann said, something he didn’t do so much of before.

The color of the walls in this room was no accident. Ullmann says she elected to use the yellow because she “wanted any wall the sunshine kissed to be yellow,” and she wanted the color of the sky on walls that looked out of the apartment. “I wanted to feel the sense that I wasn’t blocked by walls, but it was an immersion in the sea and sky,” she said.

Because Feng Shui focuses on the movement of energy throughout the rooms, it’s important to consider all the entrances to a given room. This is the reason we’re showing you two slightly different views of this living room. In the first photograph, you’ll note that you can see a doorway to the left, which leads into the bedroom. This portal is open, allowing the energy to move through the living room and then into the bedroom, which is set far back from the entrance to the home, giving a more intimate and private feeling to it.

With the third Guideline, harmony, we evaluate whether everything comes together in the room, and here it does. Achieving harmony in a room’s décor is one of the main goals of Feng Shui, and here we see that the whole room works together. Harmony doesn’t mean that every piece of furniture must match every other piece in terms of period or style or fabric; it just means all the disparate pieces must work together.

In looking at this living room, we can see that the principles of good design and Feng Shui are not far apart from one another: achieving balance and harmony and making sure a room functions well are the goals of any designer’s project. For Kathleen Ullmann, Feng Shui has made what was once “dead space” come to life: “It is absolutely different. Every time I come in, I get happy because I feel that the sun is dancing and kissing my walls and saying Kathleen, look what I did with this wall over here,” she says. “It’s an interaction with the room.”

Can I use regular paint to refinish my Kitchen Cabinets????

2008-09-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

If the cabinets are made of real wood, frequently found in older homes, they can be painted with normal paint. They need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove any grease that has accumulated from cooking. Kitchen surfaces collect a thin film of grease and dirt over time. If the cabinets have a gloss or semi-gloss finish, the old surface should be lightly sanded before repainting to help the paint adhere better. Use a gloss or semi-gloss latex paint for kitchens and bathrooms. These paints are intended for use in areas with higher than normal humidity levels and are more resistant to wear.

It is a very good idea to remove the shelves, doors, mounting hardware, and the door handles before you begin to work on the cabinets. The cabinets are much easier to work on if you don�t have to mask the hardware and paint around it. This takes some time at the start and finish, but the cleaning, sanding, and painting go much faster and more easily. The final job will look better, by eliminating those brush marks around the door handles and hinges

The cabinets in many modern kitchens have a simulated wood finish or a non-painted coloured finish. These are fabricated of a synthetic material, such as melamine. The finish can be painted over with a normal gloss or semi-gloss latex paint for kitchens and bathrooms. It should be prepared as described for wood cabinets, with particular attention to sanding. The existing surface should be sanded until it is evenly dull everywhere. If the paint does not fully adhere to the old finish, it can chip, flake, or peel off quite easily. If the new finish becomes damaged in this fashion, you will need to sand the area around the defect to feather the edges of the paint around the defect. This will help prevent a visible ridge when the surface is repainted. A poor finish will look terrible once it begins to chip.

It is a very good idea to apply a coat of melamine primer, or other primer intended for use on synthetic surfaces, before you apply the final finish. These primers are designed to adhere to the existing finish more effectively than regular paints and they provide a good surface for the new paint to adhere to. If the cabinets had a dark finish, two coats of primer may be required. The use of a suitable primer is highly recommended.

We use this company on a regular basis for all types of home decorationg and staging because they offer high quality, brand name hosehold products at clearance prices. View them HomeCenter.com Storewide Sale!

Save 5% on orders over $500. Shop Kohler, Grohe, Blanco and more. Hurry, offer ends January 14th!

Learn Professionally Tiling in Just a Few Hours!!

2008-09-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

I want you to KNOW that if you are Remodeling your Kitchen or Bathroom where you more than likely want to add tile this is by far the BEST INVESTMENT you will make! We have a Professional Mason with over 20+ years experience and was AMAZED at how detailed these instructional videos are and he explained that it took him a 4 year apprenticeship you learn what is on these videos. I actually ordered this program and actually have a technician who NEVER did any masonry and who has just completed his first tile job on a countertop after watching the videos. The average mason will charge you anywhere from $16.00 to $32.00 per linear foot so you do the math.

Here is what our client had to say about the countertop our technician completed for his first time.

" The counter came out absolutely amazing! I wouldn't, and still don't believe the tiler never did this before "

"WHO ELSE Wants To Learn To Lay Tile In Less Than 6 Days By Taking Advantage Of My Easy To Follow Do-It-Yourself Tile Videos...?"

If you answered YES click below to watch how you can!

From the desk of: Randy Davis

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008.

Dear future tile setter,

I have laid ceramic tile my entire life. Well, roughly a little more than 20 years. So you should know you are getting advice from a professional tile setter. Not BS from some infomercial "guru".

Now, I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that everyone who watches my videos will be able to grab their tools, jump in the nearest pick-up truck they can find, and start making a living setting tile. That's ridiculous. As with anything, becoming a professional takes practice. Besides, most people are to lazy to turn this into a full-time profession.

But, assuming you have an average IQ of a twelve year old and the motivation it takes to pick up a few tools and watch me on TV for two hours you can do this and do a damn good job too!

However, just so that you don't think I'm some weirdo who is just trying to take you for a ride I want to let you in on a few facts..

5 Reasons Why You Should Believe My Videos Are Everything I Say And More...

1. I have worked in the ceramic tile industry for over 20 years. I've done just about every kind of tile job you can think of many times over.

Here's just a small sample of the companies I’ve worked with and helped…

University Of Southern Mississippi
Pier One Imports
Applebee's Restaurant
Wards Restaurants
Burger King
Moore's Funeral Home
Barnhills
The Pain Center
Subway

Wal Oil Gas Stations
Anderson's Paint
B And S Appliances
Engle Construction
West Lake Manor Retirement Home
Forrest General Hospital
William Carey College
Seashore Retirement

Note: If you prefer individuals that you can call personally and check their references call me and I will be happy to give you a list of numbers. However, I can't do it on this web page because it gets thousands of hits a month and I do not want my clients to kill me.

2. Also, I'm not just a "tile setter". I'm also a certified teacher. Anyone can "show" someone how to lay tile but can they teach them?

Well, look at my credentials. I spent five years of my life working for the State Rehabilitation Center of Mississippi where I taught troubled teens and disabled veterans how to master many lines of work.

Have you ever read a book or watched a how-to video and asked yourself, "Huh? What the heck did I just learn" as if someone filled your head with hot air? Well, you will not get that from my videos. I'm very precise and I teach it in a way that you can understand and pick up what I'm saying fairly quickly. I am trained to do so.

3. I am a real person! I do not hide behind a P.O. Box. My home phone is listed at the end of this page. So if my package is not everything I say and more you can call me and cuss me to the moon. And you can do it in front of my wife!

4. While most people will only guarantee their product for 30 days I give you 8 weeks! It's simple. If my package isn't everything I say simply request a refund. No questions asked.

I don't care if you break my CD in half, mix it in with two tons of manure and use it to fertilize your plants! I am still going to give you your money back! Period!

Try getting a guarantee like that from Joe Schmoe's info package.

Bottom line:

You will not find this being sold from some guy on an infomercial that knows about as much about setting tile as a monkey knows how to ride a bike! This is a real educational course that comes with years of pride and experience.

5. No waiting for your mail to arrive! After your order you are sent directly to a private download page where you can download all my videos straight from your home computer. So you can literally be watching my videos within minutes of placing your order! Burn it to a dvd if you like or simply watch it on your monitor!

Note: Orders will also be sent to your home. So you get both access to our private site where you can download the videos and our entire package by snail mail!

Never downloaded videos online? I'll show you. It is literally as easy as clicking a few buttons. If you like I have no problem mailing them to you. However, I seriously doubt you'll find that necessary once you see how easy it is.

So how much money and time will these videos save you...?

Here's Proof!

Let's assume you do have a small job that doesn't require all the information in my package. Can you afford to make one simple mistake?

Let's take Caesar for example:

"That worked perfect!"

(in audio)

Caesar

New Orleans

Click play to listen

Hey Randy my name is Caesar and I'm calling from New Orleans.
I went ahead and downloaded that video on how to cut a circle out of a tile and that worked perfect! Thanks for the tip and I hope you make some more videos.

Caesar had a simple problem. He simply needed to know how to cut a circle out of a tile. It only took me about 3 minutes in one of my videos to show him how to do it.

How much do you think that one simple problem would have cost him if he didn't watch the video?

We're not even going to take into account the time and headache it could have cost him. Let's simply talk brass tax.

On average a piece of tile costs about two dollars. Even though Caesar is trying to do this all by himself, we are going to be modest and assume Caesar is a total genius with an IQ of 180 (his mom must be very proud) and he only breaks 10 tiles while trying to make a circle.

Money saved:

$10.00 × 2 = $20.00

That's 20 bucks for one simple problem!

Aren't you glad Caeser got my package?

"After watching the video I figured it out in a heartbeat!"

(in audio)

Jonathan Brewer

Tennessee

Click play to listen

Hi, this is Jonathan Brewer. I'm calling from Tennessee.

I ordered Randy Davis's videos from the Internet. I was a little skeptical at first because it seemed it wasn't going to be what I needed. But, I ended up watching the videos.

One of my problem areas was what to do around the toilet in the bathroom. After watching the video I figured it out in a heartbeat. He did a real good job explaining it. I was just calling him to let him know I appreciate it and thanks again.

Oh, the bathroom toilet. That can be a nasty job. However, once again we will try to be modest (Remember we're pretending Jonathan did not get my package).

Obviously there is a number of things that could go wrong with this job such as flooding, or even severe plumbing damage. However, let's assume the best case scenario for Jonathan.

Besides, he seems like a pretty smart guy. I bet he was a straight A student in high school!

Perhaps he only causes a small leak that is quickly repaired resulting in the staining of his grout stretching only 6 feet of his tile job. Six feet = about 28 pieces of tile he's going to have to chip up in order to replace the grout (we're not even going to count the cost of the new tile he's going to have to buy).

Money Saved:

The average piece of tile = two dollars.

28 × 2 = $56.00

Wow $56.00 for a simple leak!

I don't know what your project is or how big. But I do know any job worth doing is worth doing right. Furthermore, I sincerely believe you will find my videos to be a household staple for years to come. Also, nothing is going to compare to the money you are going to save every time you run into a simple problem.

Here Is Exactly What You Will Discover...

Making Cuts On The Cutter Board. As with anything, there is a right way and a wrong way. Warning: Do this the wrong way and it could cost you a lot of money in broken tile.
I'm going to show you the correct way to cut your tile to ensure you get the slice you need. Don't worry it is as easy as doing what I do!

Making Cuts With The Tile Saw. See it in action! You may not even need the saw but just in case you do I show you exactly how to use it safely and effectively.

Watch Cutting Around Faucets, Jams And Wall Plugs. Sound difficult? Once you watch this video, not only will you be able to perform this task effectively but with speed. You will not believe just how easy it can be!

Using The Tile Nippers (When And How). This is another critical task that could cost you big if not done correctly. However, once you master this bad boy you can literally cut the time of your tile job in half!

Sizing The Joints. The size of your joints can mean the difference between a professional tile job and an amateur job gone bad.

However, using this one short cut I'm going to show you, you could not only save the entire tile job but it is so effective that...your friends will swear you've been doing this for years!

Installing Backer-Board. How hard can it be? A hammer and a few nails and you're ready to go right? Not so fast. First, let's go over the do's and dont's. The last thing I want you to do is end up ripping it up and starting over. Watch as I walk you through the correct process.

See How To Lay It Out. Don't go by your instincts alone. Watch my video as we get this down to a simple science using up-to-date short cuts that even many seasoned tile setters don't know about!

How To Mix And Spread Thin-Set. Without proper instructions you could waste a lot of thin-set (and money) trying to figure this one out! You don't want to mix your thin-set to thin and you sure as heck don't want lumps in it! I will show you exactly how to mix it to a perfect stir. It is easy as one, two, three!

How To Grout Ceramic Tile! It's really simple once you learn it. Let's make sure you get it right the first time by leaving no pinholes in your grout (trust me they are ugly). I'm also going to show you the easiest way to clean it so you don't end up with smudges covering your beautiful tile job!
These are just a few of the topics I cover in my videos.

Let me break it down. You will receive...

Videos 1-2

The Basics

How to install floor tile

Installing backer-board

Make cuts using the cutter board

Using the saw (just incase)

Installing decos

Laying the tile out correctly

Using spacers

Sizing the joints

Using the tile nippers

Dressing the joints

Cutting around faucets, jams , wall plugs , and more

Video 3

How to Mix and Spread Thin-Set!

Including...

Measuring and thickness

Why gray or white

Avoiding lumps

Using the correct tools

How to correctly spread

Video 4

How to Grout Ceramic Tile!

Including...

Measuring and thickness

Choosing the right color

Spreading of grout

How to get it clean the first time

Mixing the grout

Grouting with epoxy

You could always try setting tile without the help of my videos. But is it worth the risk...?

Warning: These Mistakes Could Cost You A Fortune!

How much money do you think you could save simply by avoiding just one of these costly mistakes?

Let's do a rough estimate...

Mistake Example #1 Laying out floor tile incorrectly: of course this one problem alone could cost the entire job. However since we're trying to make a point, let's assume the best case scenario. So, your job is off course causing a small curve in your floor.

Nothing a small grinder can't fix. We will even take it a step further and assume the curve only stretched out 6 feet resulting in only 12 ruined tiles and a hand full of grout. $12.00

Mistake Example #2 Breaking or chipping more than 20 tiles: count yourself lucky if you don't have any knowledge about cutting tile and you only break or chip 20 pieces = $18.00

Mistake Example #3 Ruining only one good bag of mortar: once again we're assuming the average newbie is very lucky = $12.00

Mistake Example #4 Ruining only half a bag of grout: you would be surprised at how easy this could happen simply by not following a few simple instructions = $11.00

Mistake Example #5 Not correctly spacing your tile: depending on how many tile you misplace this one mistake could really add up. But let's just say you only misplace about 20 tiles = $18.00

Mistake Example #6 Using random size tile: it happens all the time. You think you're getting a good deal on your tile, pop your line, make your cuts, then before you know it you notice the tile you spent your hard earned money on is all different shapes and sizes. How did this happen? Let's assume that this is just a glitch (very unlikely) and you only come across 17 odd shaped tiles. Wasted tiles = $16.00

Mistake Example #7 Not cleaning the grout correctly: you may not even notice the mess until the next day. One minute you have a nicely done grout job and the next minute you notice smudges all over your beautiful tile! Hiring someone to clean this mess could cost a fortune. However, let's be modest and assume all it needs is a good buffing. Cost to rent buffer = $40.00

Mistake Example #8 Re-assembling pipes, toilet or sink incorrectly: obviously there is a number of things that could go wrong when making this mistake such as flooding, or even severe plumbing damage. However, let's just assume the best case scenario. Perhaps you only cause a small leak that is quickly repaired resulting in the staining of your grout stretching only 3 feet of your tile job. Three feet = about 14 pieces of tile = $28.00

Mistake Example #9 Incorrectly grouting with epoxy: this could cause a real problem with your grout not setting up properly. However, once again, we're going to be fairly modest and assume you were only grouting a small area resulting in a loss of only half a bag of epoxy. = $19.00

Mistake Example #10 Not properly preparing the surface: once again, this is something that could cost the entire job. However, for the sake of proving a point we will assume the best case scenario. Let's assume there were no problems with the actual "surface" itself. Although, it wasn't properly cleaned resulting in loose tiles. Furthermore, we will assume this was a fairly small tile job resulting in the following losses: half a bag of grout, only 5 chipped tiles and half a bag of thin-set. Modest estimate = $22.00

Note: Those are just a few of the small mistakes people make. Much bigger ones could cost the entire job. However, I think you get the picture.

Join now and save BIG.

Join me on my private site where I will personally take you by the hand in my videos and show you everything you need to know to give your home a beautiful tile job. Where else are you going to get this information?

Besides, even if you do find something similar I can almost guarantee you that they won't have nearly the amount of experience I have. Plus, my private site is jam packed with nothing but the goodies. No fluff and no hype.

_______________________________________________________________________________

If you order today I will throw in these Fantastic bonuses!

50 Answers To My Most Frequently Asked Questions In Full Detail!

All In Audio!

Don't let the sight of "frequently asked questions" fool you. There is a heap of information in this section that if sold separately could cost a bundle. With each question I go into complete detail and discuss the concern, the solution and perhaps the alternatives.

Are Cheap Tiles Good

Can Floor Tile Be Used On The Wall

Can I Install Tile In A Mobile Home

Can I Lay New Tile On Top Of Old Tile

Can I Lay Tile On Wood Floors

Can I Lay Tile On Vinyl

Can I Put Anything On My Tile To Make it Shine

Can I Stain My Grout

Can Wall Tiles Be Used On Floors

Can You Drill A Hole In Tile

Can I Install Tile Out Doors

Can I Clean Old Grout

Do I Need To Remove My Wall Paper

Hardy Backer Or Wonder-Board

How Thin Should Grout Be

How To Clean Grout Haze

How To Measure For Tile

How To Remove Vinyl

Is My Shower Leaking

Adding Color To Grout

Mixing With Only Half A Unit Of Epoxy

Should You Use Grout Release With Epoxy

How Does Epoxy Set Up

What To Do In The Case Of A Warped Blade

What To Do If Your Thin-set Is Drying To Fast

What Size Saw To Use

Nails Or Screws In Backer-Board

Replacing A Chipped Tile

Sanded Grout Or Not

Should I Seal My Tile

Should I Tape Backer-Board

Should I Use Spacers

Should I Tile Under My Toilet

What Color Thin-Set To Use

What About A Creak In The Slab

What Is The Difference Between Marble and Granite

What Kind Of Thin-set With Backer-Board

What Size Backer-Board

What Size Grout Joint

When To Grout The Tile

Will Tile Chip

Will I Need A Saw

Is Epoxy Good Grout

Is Porcelain Better Than Ceramic

What Kind Of Tile To Use Around A Fireplace

Lay Tile Over Formica

What To Do If Grout Begins To Crack

Cutting Tile Without Water

Removing Old Grout

When Using Glue With Tile, How Long Should You Wait To Gout

The Saw And Safety

Should You Use Sanded Grout With Marble

What Size Cutting Blade Should You Use

Look, I doubt very seriously you're going to need my help after viewing the videos. However, I don't want there to be any problems whatsoever. I want to be absolutely sure that your experience with my package is nothing less than superb.

Therefore, I am making myself available to you in a way very few people do by offering one on one mentoring.

Meaning: After you watch my easy to follow videos ( which a twelve year old could follow) and you STILL need assistance I will personally be there to assist you! Once again, this is something I could easily charge extra for but I'm not. Try to get this bonus anywhere else!

_______________________________________________________________________________

So, how much would you expect to pay for this amazing offer?

I know I could charge a fortune for this information considering the money you'll be saving (not to mention you won't find anything like this anywhere else).

However, my goal is to make my package affordable to everyone and not just some tile setter that wants to make a quick buck using my strategies.

So, how much would you expect to pay for these killer shortcuts? $300.00? $150.00? Well, even if I sold it for $150.00 it would be a steal considering how much it would cost to hire someone. However, I'd like to go overboard a little...

*** WAIT! ***

NEW! For those who act by Saturday, September 27, 2008.

This is absolutely crazy. Believe me when I say I will go up on this price soon. It could be as early as tomorrow.
However, I just launched this course and I need more testimonials.

So, if you promise to email me your experience with my videos (good or bad) then here is the killer deal I have to offer you today.

If you order now you will receive this full package at the ridiculous price of only $27.95!

As anyone with two brain cells can tell I'm practically giving this masterpiece away.

I repeat this is a limited time offer. If you think this is nothing more than a sales pitch then you're wrong.

Feel free to check back as often as you like because I will be going up on the price. You can count on it. I didn't put my blood, sweat and tears into this project for nothing.

If you're waiting for the right opportunity to order then the time is now.

Also, don't forget my rock solid guarantee! There's nothing to lose and time and money to save!

Two Month Unconditional Money-Back GUARANTEE!

Acquire Tile Made Easy™ and take advantage of this great opportunity for eight weeks. If you are not 100% satisfied you will receive a complete refund. No questions asked. Period!

Click play to listen

There you have it!

I've shown you my credentials, so that you know I am capable of backing up my offer.

I've shown everything you will receive through my private site by taking advantage of my special offer (or by mail).

We even broke it all down to a science by doing the math and proving that this package could pay for itself simply by preventing just one small mistake!

Furthermore, on top of all that, I have given you my rock solid guarantee that is good for eight weeks.

How could you not order my package?

You wouldn't attempt to repair a car without the proper tools would you? Neither would you attempt to build a house without first designing a blueprint. Do you honestly feel doing this tile job without my videos is the right decision? I can't make you order my package, all I can do is recommend it. However...

I will leave you with one final thought:

Over the years I've employed several different tile helpers to assist me with my jobs. It was never hard to teach them simple things like grouting, laying tile, cutting, etc. However, there is one thing I found myself repeating several times over...

"Do a perfect job," I would say, "because, if you do a perfect job then you will only make a few mistakes. That comes with being human. However, do anything less than perfect and people will notice."

There is no doubt about it.

Millions of people all over the world will go about their tile jobs without knowing about these videos. Some will waste hundreds if not thousands hiring a tile setter to do the job for them. Some will try it themselves without any professional advice at all and it will cost them a fortune in losses.

I don't want that to be you.

I want you to do a perfect job!

Why leave one stone unturned? Let's do a perfect job!

Let's do it together!

May every tile you lay be as beautiful as the home you live in.

Sincerely,

I want to take advantage of this special offer today and receive Tile Made Easy.™

I understand the members area is full of goodies and by ordering today I will have full access to all the videos plus bonuses.

I also understand I have eight weeks to request a refund if I am not 100% satisfied and if your private site is not everything you claim I will do just that!

So, stop trying to convince me of what I already know and let me in now!

Today Only $27.95

[Your order is processed by Clickbank and is 100% safe and secure!]

PS Remember you have two full months to try them out for yourself. If they aren't everything I say and more simply ask for a refund and you will get your money back. Its really a no brainier.

PPS Call me on the phone! Is there anything I haven't covered? If so call me at home or email me so I can ad it to my package! Remember, I'm a real person. Let me know if I can assist you in any way.

©Copyright 2005 Tilemadeasy.com All rights reserved.

Below Wholesale Prices on Furniture, Designer Clothing, Jewelery, Liquidators, & Travel!

2008-09-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

The team at EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC has spent several weeks working with several home interior retailers to furnish your apartment or home for a fraction of the retail costs. We have found kitchen retailers such as Shop Kitchen Collection's Clearance selection and save!
,Kitchenetc.com contact us
, and Save up to 40% on Brand Names for Your Kitchen and Bath at eFaucets.com
. We also found some beautiful high end furniture and accessories from Up to 50% Off Retail for Kitchen & Bath! Save an Extra 12% off $249 or More + FREE Shipping. At Checkout use Coupon Code: COOLDEAL
, Kitchen and Bath Products on Sale at HomeCenter.com!
, and Save up to 70% on bathroom vanities with factory-direct prices at ModernBathroom.com
. We also know how important & how hard it is to find beautiful, unique childrens furniture and other accessories from Summer Sale and Clearance at roomstogokids.com. Shop Now and Save!
& CuteKid Photo Contest
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We also included several liquidators where you can find all types of designer clothing, furniture, jewelery, and so much more at BELOW WHOLESALE PRICES. Please go to these retailers to see if we are telling the truth Low prices on over 70,000 brand name clothing items for men, women & children! Clothing Warehouse.com
, Save on hundreds of top brands for your home and office furniture needs.
, Save up to 75% on Designer Jeans at LabelSpree
, Auctions Closing Today at Liquidation.com
, and Best prices on all "insert keyword here" - click here!
If you are short on money and need a loan or some credit we found the best companies to give you a short term loan or credit from CreditProvide - Tips, Tricks, & Secrets to Erasing Bad Credit. Click Here.
, PayCheckToday.com - Click here to get up to $1000 by tomorrow! Nothing to Fax!
and if you are in need of a vacation or absolutely BELOW WHOLESALE Airline Ticket Prices from Top 10 Vacation Destinations!
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Satellite TV for PC - NEVER PAY AGAIN!!!

2008-09-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope that all is well on your end. I just purchased this new ABSOLUTELY AMAZING guide to getting FREE satellite T.V. on my laptop and P.C. at home. I rarely endorse or advertise something outside of furniture or household products, but this thing is just GREAT! In my last post I listed the IKEA KITCHEN SECRETS which has been worth every cent and I am a professional kitchen cabinet installer, so you could only imagine what a novice could pick up from that book. Anyway, if you enjoy FREE satellite T.V. then you have to check this out. I got it because sometimes we do big projects in upstate N.Y. and there is nothing but local news but if I use my Verizon satelite Card I get WiFi anywhere and that means FREE MOVIES!!!

2008 ELITE EDITION

Why pay over $90.00 a month for Cable or Satellite TV services?

Get over 3000 STATIONS on your PC or Laptop!

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Sample Stream - One of the channels available (If below video does not load make sure you have installed the Active X controller- Look at top of the browser)

Here are just a few channels out of the thousands available to you:

Satellite TV for PC ™ is the product of more than 7 years of dedicated research and development to create an easy-to-use computer program
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RUSSIAN FED

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*THIS HUGE SELECTION IS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE*

You don’t need a satellite dish, receiver, or any cable or satellite service! All you need is an internet connection and a computer.
Watch all these channels anywhere in the world. More than 100,000 users are already enjoying the incredible variety.

This package retails for over $99.95. Through this special limited time offer pay only $49.95!

You save $50.00!

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This is pennies compared to what satellite and cable services can cost you month after month over many years.

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We are the exclusive distributors of this software and you can only get it from us...
(Don't be fooled by the cheap imitations out there on the internet)

• Watch all your favorite shows on your Computer & TV!
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• Watch from anywhere in the world!
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Still not convinced?

Once you download our software you can watch just about anything you want! This includes:

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You are moments away from watching over 3,000 stations on your computer or laptop from anywhere in the world.

Take advantage of this special offer... Click Here to Purchase.

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Our software package comes with over 3000 Stations (News, Movies, Sports, Music, Clips, Radio, etc.) from all over the world including local, regional and international broadcasts.

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You can watch baseball, football, soccer, basketball and many other sports from around the world.

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Satellite TV Satellite TV For PC

Copyright © 1998-2008 SatelliteSoft All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The trademarks, logos, and service marks that are displayed on the Site are the registered and unregistered marks of their respective owners. Specific Channel availability may change from time to time. We do not host or offer video content of our own and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the companies or web sites listed here. If you would like your site to be removed from our directory of video, audio or Internet TV, please contact us.

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IKEA KITCHEN REMODELING SECRETS TO SAVE THOUSANDS!!!!

2008-09-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

"Discover How I Saved Over $10,000 on My Kitchen Remodeling Project Using Ikea Kitchen Cabinets and You Can Too!..."

Plus Get Insider Tips to Help You Plan, Design, Organize, and Install Your Ikea Kitchen Project Like a Professional - Even If You're a Complete Remodeling Rookie with No Skills and Have Never Swung a Hammer

From: Bret Spottke
Wednesday, 11:24 a.m.

Dear Friend,

If you're considering remodeling your kitchen using Ikea Kitchen Cabinets and are completely overwhelmed with the process, I have good news for you.

You see, I used to be a lot like you and I know what you're going through. I once was all consumed by my kitchen remodeling project too!

I thought about it at work, I dreamt about it at night, I daydreamed about it when I drove my car, and I spent hundreds of hours hunched over my computer on numerous kitchen forums obsessing about it into the wee hours of the morning...

To be honest, the whole process almost drove me to the point of madness! The more time I spent trying to do research for my new Ikea kitchen, the more confused I got.

I was about ready to give up on myself and scrap the whole idea of remodeling my kitchen until I had a revelation that changed my entire outlook...

What if I could go through the entire kitchen remodeling process (using Ikea Cabinets) and document every single detail of the process so other people could see how to do it right, and avoid the costly mistakes I made?

Chronicling my kitchen remodel looked a good idea on paper, but it was harder to implement in the real world where things don't always run as smoothly as they do on those HGTV shows.

I had to figure out the entire Ikea Kitchen Process alone while still keeping my life from completely disintegrating, I had to...

work my regular 9-5 day job, then work another 4 hours each night on the kitchen
take care of two small children (that's another full time job right there)
keep my wife happy (very important, she was headed for back surgery a month later)
complete the remodel on budget and complete it on a tight time table
take 100's of pictures and copious amounts of notes along the way that I could share later

"Very Helpful"

We have started installing our kitchen (the upper cabinets are done) and yes, your instructions were really helpful.

I was barely using the Ikea diagram while assembly, instead, I refered to your manual, which is much easier to understand.

Sylvie Pajot

How To Remodel Your Ikea Kitchen the Right Way

As I sit here and type you this letter, it's difficult for me to look back on my project and not cringe about how much time and money I wasted trying to find all the answers to my Ikea kitchen remodeling questions.

I eventually did find the answers I was looking for, but not from visiting forums. I had to learn the hard way (my loss is your gain, you get to take a shortcut).

In order to learn how to do something the right way, you either need to do it yourself, or get help from someone who has done what you want to do.

The wrong way to solve your kitchen remodeling problems is to listen to someone who is in the same boat you're in (i.e. Kitchen Forums, Ikea Chat Groups). It's not that the people on those websites are trying to do your project harm, the problem is they try and give advice about a subject which they have no experience (i.e. they're in the same boat you are).

The right way to get the beautiful new kitchen you're dreaming of is to get advice from someone who's been in your shoes and can show you how to turn your dreams into reality. I'm not promising I can wave a magic wand and you'll have a perfect new kitchen, but I can promise you I can help you avoid making costly mistakes, and give you money and time saving tips that will keep your remodel running smoothly from start to finish.

How to Go from an Ugly, Outdated 1980's "Nightmare Kitchen"... To a New and Stylish Modern Kitchen on a Tight "Shoestring" Budget of only $13,133 dollars!...

Here's a before picture of our 1980's nightmare kitchen that was made with cheap, flimsy "oak" cabinets with non-working drawers, scratched up laminate counters and dirty, worn out vinyl flooring with ZERO visual appeal...

Before: 1980's Nightmare Kitchen Cabinets

Here's what the new kitchen looks like with brand new stainless steel appliances, beautiful birch cabinets, exotic Sapele hardwood flooring and laminate granite counter tops...

After: New Ikea Kitchen Remodel 3 Weeks Later

(When your neighbors see your new kitchen they'll be green with envy - and they'll probably think you spent $50,000 dollars on it! Of course you'll just smile knowing that you saved enough money on your Ikea kitchen to pay for a luxury month long vacation to the Caribbean!)

Do You Know How To Remodel Your Kitchen
Without Making These Costly Mistakes?

Before you start your kitchen remodeling project using Ikea Cabinets, honestly answer the questions below to find out if you're completely prepared for your kitchen project or if you're about to make an expensive mistake that will leave you "high and dry" without a working kitchen for 6 months...

Are you thinking about using Ikea Cabinets for your kitchen remodeling project but you don't know the first thing about you're getting yourself into?

Do you have any Idea how to build cabinet boxes without wasting time and making costly mistakes that can sabotage your project from the beginning?

Do You know how to install your kitchen cabinets correctly so it look like a professional did it?

Do you know how long your remodeling project will take? Or are you only guessing, hoping that somehow everything will just "workout fine" if you keep your fingers crossed?

Do you know how to avoid having lost or missing parts on your order when your Ikea cabinet delivery arrives before the delivery truck is pulling out of your driveway and you're stuck with the wrong cabinets?

Do you know how to save $1000+ on hardwood flooring installation by using my secret contractor tip on exactly where and how to buy your flooring?

Do you know how to save over $1500 on your kitchen counter top installation and have a professional contractor do the work for you?

Do you know what time of day to buy your cabinets so your order doesn't get screwed up and you have to postpone your installation for 3-6 weeks?

Do you know how to phase your remodeling project so you're not left high and dry without a working kitchen for 6 months?

Are you sick and tired of searching all over the Internet trying to find answers to your kitchen remodeling questions and not having any luck?

Do you get cold sweats in the middle of the night thinking about your project because it all seems so overwhelming that you're thinking of giving up and scraping the whole idea of remodeling your kitchen all together?

"Saves Time & Money"

"This is a great manual for those of you out there looking for help installing IKEA cabinets. Often instructional guides are dry and don’t have practical insight.

NOT SO with this one! Tons of illustrations, and insightful tips that could have only been learned by doing.”

"Do yourself a favor, if you are looking for some great been there, done that advice, buy this manual.

It will save you time, money and aggravation when installing IKEA cabinets."

George Stevens
www.Build-YourOwn-Home.com

Before you throw in the towel and think that your new kitchen is just some crazy dream that you'll never achieve, DON'T GIVE UP YET...

"How to complete your kitchen remodeling project on time, and on budget...without making any costly mistakes!..."

"I'll teach you all the tips and tricks I learned building my own kitchen - and show you how to save time, save money and give you step-by-step "plain english" instructions with over 300 detailed pictures to help you build your dream Ikea kitchen project on a shoestring budget."

"Here's how I Organized the MASSIVE MOUNTAIN of money
saving tips, 300 detailed pictures, insider information and step-by-step
tutorials I compiled during my Ikea kitchen remodeling project"...

Complete kitchen remodeling overview with commentary, shortcuts, money saving tips, and complete budget number breakdown

How to prepare for your kitchen remodeling project so you don't get left high and dry when things don't workout like you planned

How to design your kitchen floor plan the right way (includes my personal AutoCAD PDF drawing files to show you the entire process of designing a functional kitchen floor plan)

The exact time and day to order your cabinets from Ikea (order at the wrong day and time and you're guaranteed to have at least 3 errors on your invoice)

Preparation steps for taking delivery of your cabinet order from Ikea (don't make these common mistakes or your project is doomed from the beginning)

How to stage your cabinets to eliminate assembly and installation mistakes

Kitchen demolition tips that will save you time, money and headaches

How to plan your installation without turning your life upside down (I show you how much work you can expect to get done each day so you can plan ahead and stay on schedule)

Construction phasing secrets to keep your kitchen usable during installation and during demolition. Includes my AutoCAD PDF phasing diagram drawings (if you don't phase your installation you could be without a working kitchen for 3-6 months!!!)

How to install the mysterious Ikea suspension rail system using "the grid system"

Step by step cabinet box building tutorial with over 20 detailed pictures and hands on tips shows you how to build the cabinets right the first time

How to install the upper cabinets so they're plumb, level and square every time

How to install the base cabinets (don't make this common mistake or you're cabinet installation will be screwed up from the beginning)

My secret "base cabinet cleat tip" that will make your base cabinets as solid as a tank

How to make a custom kitchen peninsula using stock Ikea base cabinets and cover panels

Money saving tips on kitchen sinks and faucets (I'll show you how I screwed up buying a faucet and how to save $300 on a kitchen sink)

The Ikea Lazy Susan and how it saved my kitchen design (includes AutoCAD PDF layout drawings showing how to incorporate them into your plan - you don't need AutoCAD to view)

How to make a cool pull out garbage from stock Ikea cabinets and save $100

Over 300 up-close detailed pictures of the entire remodeling process from start to finish and everything in between!

"Invaluable"

"The Ikea kitchen manual is great. I found tons of information in it that I haven't been able to find anywhere else.

I really enjoyed the step-by-step guide as well as the pictures that helped me make sure I was on the right track with my project.

If you are even considering installing IKEA kitchen cabinets, the information in the manual is invaluable."

Christine Krason

Discover the Secret Weapon To Getting Your
Ikea Kitchen Remodeling Project Completed
On Time, On Budget and With No Mistakes!

The Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual is jam-packed with over 155 pages of hard hitting information including...

step by step picture tutorials that clearly explain how to take your project through the entire remodeling process - from designing the perfect layout, through cabinet installation and every step in between
money saving tips and advice that will help you complete your project on time and on budget with beautiful results you will be proud of for years to come
Over 300 close-up candid pictures of every step of the entire remodeling process that will show you exactly what to do, and how to do it...

Claim Your Copy of The Manual Now!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When You Use My Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual,
It will Feel Like You're Right There With Me "Looking
Over My Shoulder" As We Successfully Complete
Each Task Together Step-by-Step

The thick 155 page Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual is packed full of all the hard hitting DIY information you need to be able to confidently rip out that ugly old kitchen and install the new beautiful Ikea Kitchen of your dreams...

Imagine how good you'll feel saving thousands of dollars and how proud you'll be that you did the whole job yourself.

Follow my step-by-step manual during your kitchen remodel and easily complete your project for less than 1/2 of what a professional contractor would charge you for the job!

Save time and money on your Ikea Kitchen Remodeling Project with my insider's tips and tricks including...

Step-by-step tutorials that show you exactly what to do and how to do it

How to complete your project on time and on budget without any costly mistakes

How to save over $1500 on your counter top installation

300 detailed pictures of each step of the process - up close and in living color

How to save $1000+ on hardwood flooring with my little known contractor's secret shopping tip that allows you to buy your material at wholesale pricing

How to organize your entire kitchen remodeling project from start to finish eliminating all the usual headaches and frustration of trying to figure everything out on your own

The Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual Will Easily
Pay for Itself *20* Times Over... or More!

When I created the Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual, I made it with you in mind. It's exactly the type of time and money saving information I wish I had before I started my remodeling project.

Even if you're "on the fence" about using Ikea Cabinets for your kitchen, you should still get my Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual because it dives way deeper than just showing you how to install and build Ikea cabinets.

It's jam-packed full of great money saving tips and practical advice like this...

How to design a kitchen floor plan that's perfect for your space

How to install kitchen appliances (photo tutorials with commentary)

How to save up to $1500 on your kitchen counter top installation

How to establish a budget for your kitchen remodel and stick to it

How to save $1000+ on hardwood flooring

How to avoid making a $100 mistake (like I did) when you buy a kitchen faucet

How to phase your kitchen construction and avoid being stuck without a working kitchen for 6 months

and on, and on and on.....

Learn insider tips and shortcuts that can save you $1,000's of dollars on your project by following along with my up-close, full color tutorials and picture guides of the entire kitchen remodeling process...

Take a "Sneak Peek" Inside the Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual

Step-by-step tutorials to help you avoid costly mistakes

Insider tips and tricks that assure a perfect installation every time

How to organize your parts list when you order to save time and headaches
when you're ready to assemble your cabinet boxes (this tip alone could save
your entire project from blowing up in your face, costing you hundreds of
dollars and weeks of wasted time waiting for your "forgotten" parts to ship
from across the ocean)

How to save $1000+ on your hardwood flooring installation

How to install the upper cabinets like a professional contractor

How to install the Ikea suspension rail using the "grid system"

How to make a kitchen peninsula from stock Ikea cabinets

How to save over $1500 on your counter top installation

How to install the ledger board to make your cabinets 2 times more sturdy

How to save $100 dollars by making your own pullout garbage station

Plus over 300 detailed pictures that show every step of the entire process!

***The pictures above are just a small sample of the over 300 pictures and
step-by-step tutorials waiting for you inside my Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual!***

"Loved the Manual"

Loved the manual – quite a complete volume!

Thought you did a nice job of making it human and more fun than your standard instruction sheet. Very accessible!

Richard Hovel

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Find out just how much easier your kitchen remodeling project will be with my manual and take a FREE "Sneak Peek" at one of the many Step-by-step tutorials that are included in the Ikea Kitchen Secrets Manual...

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IKEA BY WAY OF HELL!!!!

2008-09-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

When my girlfriend woke me up early last Saturday to say that we needed to go to Ikea, I was not a happy camper. Negotiating the outer reaches of the North Circular, with a screaming infant in the back is bad enough, but the idea of spending the best part of a day there was daunting.

From the long queues to the vast size of the place, the Swedish megastore is one big nightmare. The pine veneer furniture looks cheap. And don't get me started on the kitchen units, which you know any future buyer will recognise instantly, before whispering to their partner that they will need to be ripped out. The worst part is if you have ever tried to take something back to Ikea it can take hours. They make you sit in their bus station, or hell-like waiting area for your ticket to be called out, so you can get your money back for that thing you didn't want or need in the first place.

One interesting fact is that Ikea is an acronym of Ingvar Kamprad, the seventh richest man in the world, who founded the business in the 1940s. He is still alive, and god knows he has a lot to answer for. How does he sleep at night I wonder? Is it in a bed from Ikea that came in a flat-pack? And does he lie awake thinking of those queues and stampedes like the one in his Tottenham store when it first opened. People were killed in the crush when Ikea set up shop in Saudi Arabia, after many had camped outside overnight.

Anyway, I had to shoo Lucy along when she stopped to browse. Naturally she hates shopping with me – but I am unrepentant. Go there with your list, stick to it, and know where the item you want is located. That is the best tip I can give to anyone who has to go there. Don't browse. Don't think "how about one of these?" or "those look nice". At best it will end up in the charity shop in a few months, at worst in landfill.

The arguments had all been made before we set off. My little baby Jesse needed a cot of his own. He refused to sleep in his Moses basket, and was starting to take over my side of the bed slowly but surely. If successful, the mission to Ikea could mean that I might be allowed back in, and that I would no longer have to spend the night on the flimsy Ikea futon mattress in the living room when Jesse can't sleep.

The turning to Tottenham Brimsdown, after Angel Road railway station is perhaps where Albion ends and purgatory begins. You can see the chimneys of the industrial estates along the way. Maybe they are the fires of hell.

Back home, after needing to take all the parts out of the box in Ikea's underground car park because it didn't fit in the Skoda, Lucy, my better half, promised to put the cot together. Only for me to be roped back in to finish it after her offer was withdrawn.

Putting it together, for once it all seemed so simple. It was as if Ikea had spent a lot of time and thought into making their flat-packs more foolproof. Gone are the days of taking it all apart again to start again, just because you missed out a screw, or thought you could save time by jumping a step. Mistakes seemed easier to rectify, I said to myself. In the event, telling Lucy it would only take five minutes more may have been a bit premature, tempting fate you might say. Something in retrospect I should never have promised.

Finally, shortly before midnight, it was ready. I had worked out how the adjustable design worked to take the side of the cot off, allowing it to pushed up against the bed. And I only needed to repeat a few of the steps along the way.

I was proud of my achievement, and with my chest pumped out like a peacock I called Lucy in to inspect. I thought that with my expertise I could probably build my own conservatory next. That was until she saw it, and cried: "It's the wrong one, it isn't high enough off the ground. We need to take it back. I knew I should have bought the one from John Lewis, the more expensive one."

Instead I persuaded her to invest in a set of plastic coasters I found on the internet to put underneath the cot. The coasters are £15 a pack, and we will need two packs to raise the cot to the same level as the bed. Thirty quid, that's nothing. Anything not to have to go back ... ever.

Picking the RIGHT Contractor or Service Provider

It is VERY IMPORTANT that if or when you decide to get a company or contractor to do work for you, that you find the right one who will provide quality work at the normal rate. I am sorry to say this, but it seems like more and more fly by night contractors and service providers are popping up taking deposits and not finishing work or getting paid and doing shoddy work. When I founded our company I had not much more than our name and workmanship to build up a competitive company. I told all my techs and subs that no matter how many services we offer... customer service must remain #1. Thanks to a great team and God we are ranked #1 on all the major search engines, have a 5 star rating on Ikea Fans, and was awarded the Superior Service Award by Angie's List in which ONLY a mere 5% of all companies listed Nationwide are even considered. Angie's List is the BEST way to find a reputable customer because a contractors rating isn't subject to what size ad space they purchase, the only way to get a good report is to do quality work and provide top customer service. Because the whole network is set up to allow its members to grade the particular contractor or service provider they used on everything from punctuality, workmanship, cost, overall job out come, plus it allows the customer to write in their own words what exactly was done and what the "real deal" with a particular business is. Angie’s List - Find thousands of unbiased ratings and reviews on service companies in your area, join Angie’s List today.

I strongly stand behind Angie's List because it saves so many customers the headaches and possibly financial nightmares of dealing with a shoddy company.

By: EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC

www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

The Best Flea Markets in New York City!

2008-09-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

I am an avid antique and vintage furniture collector and reseller. I have decided to provide a list of New York City's Best Flea Markets where you can find almost everything, including the kitchen sink. Last year I had a very unique and intresting client from the U.K.. They more or less gave me the keys to the loft, what they were looking for, and a substantial payment to cover materials and my services. I purchased 90% of the household furnishings from the below listed flea markets at less than a quarter of what they paid me. Upon their return I explained my findings and went to return the balance for the materials, but they were so pleased that they felt it was worth every penny they had initially paid me. Now if I purchased these goods at Vintage and antique stores I wouldn't have been able to get what I got. Whether you are on a hunt for some new digs for your nest, or just like being a flea I strongly suggest the below listed marets. Good luck, and please list any good finds.

NYC Flea MarketsYou can find anything at a flea market, from beaded jewelry to antiques. There is usually quite a range of prices, so shop around if you have time. For farm fresh produce, visit one of the city's many Green markets.
Columbus Circle Market, 58th Street and 8th Avenue, (212) 242-1217
Open Daily from 11am to 7pm
Clothing, accessories and crafts.
-->Annex Antique Fair & Flea Market, 6th Avenue from 24th to 27th St, (212) 243-5343 Saturday and Sunday, Sunrise to SunsetFurniture, Decorations, Jewelry, Clothing, Silver, and Works of Art.$1.00 admission fee
The Garage, 112 West 25th Street, btw. 6th and 7th Ave, (212) 647-0707Saturday and Sunday, 7am-5pmIndoor antiques market
SOHO Antiques Fair, Grand Street and Broadway, (212) 682-2000Saturday and Sunday, 9am-5pmAntiques and crafts, leather jackets and lots of random stuff.
PS 321, Seventh Avenue btw. 1st and 2nd St. BrooklynSaturday and Sunday, 9am-5pmFurniture, clothing, misc stuff
Greenflea, Columbus Ave. btw. 76th & 77th StreetsSunday, 10am-6pmA huge market with indoor and outdoor vendors selling wonderful imports and handmade crafts as well as antiques and books. It's called "greenflea" because there are farmers selling fresh produce as well as flea market vendors.
Noho Market, Broadway and West 4th St.Open seven days a week.This market next to Tower Records has lots of clothing and jewelry, along with tapes, sunglasses, bongs, etc.

Christopher Purnell

EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations,LLC

www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

Creating unique treasures out of wood

2008-09-18T04:42:00.001-07:00

Creating treasures out of wood

by Angelica Blenich

Photo by Angelica Blenich

ROCKER’S DELIGHT. Stephen Sprague is all smiles as he strikes a pose in one of his handcrafted rocking chairs. Sprague is a woodworker with a studio located just outside Bracebridge. His furnishings will be on display during the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour on September 27 and 28.

Autumn is just around the corner and Stephen Sprague is surprisingly calm. While a shift in seasons might not normally stress a person out, it could if you were gearing up for the 30th annual Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour scheduled to take place September 27 and 28.

But with less than two weeks to go before the show, Sprague appears both at ease and pleasant.

“When you’ve been doing the show for about 10 years you don’t get quite as anxious,” says Sprague reassuringly. “You just do the best you can.”

And that’s exactly what Sprague is doing.

Sprague is a designer and maker of fine furniture, with a studio located on the outskirts of Bracebridge. He has been working with wood for more than 30 years, enjoying both the creative and manual aspects to his job, a far cry from the science degree he earned back in the 1970s. But even as a woodworker, Sprague has incorporated his knowledge of biology and interest in the environment into his designs and creations.

“The other aspect of my life that I try to integrate in my work is a small environmental footprint,” says Sprague. “So what you see here is all material that I’ve found myself. I rarely buy commercially harvested timber. Instead, I look for unusual material or material that otherwise might have just gone to firewood, but was perfectly good to build furniture out of. I try to use primarily native hardwoods. Generally I think there is plenty of great material right in your own backyard. Every tree has some treasure.”

It is these treasures, says Sprague, that make for good furniture. Some of the things that can be found inside his studio include a variety of unique and distinct pieces, such as rocking chairs, desks and home accents, all crafted by hand using natural woods and finishes. Sprague believes it is these qualities that are showcased on the tour.

“It’s really nice to have people come in. I probably see more people in those two days than I do all year,” says Sprague referring to the studio tour. “It’s really encouraging to have them come and to see the work and to give me the kind of feedback they give me, and, of course, hopefully they’ll become customers. But that’s not the reason I do the tour. I’d rather have people come in and see how I work and see my shop space, and try to get an appreciation for custom furniture as opposed to going to Ikea or Leon’s, which have mass-produced industrial furniture.”

So far the tour has been a successful component in accomplishing this goal.

“A funny thing happened during one particular studio tour,” explains Sprague. “I met a fellow who worked at Lakehead University with one of my former professors, who is now the president of Lakehead.” After striking up a conversation with this man, Sprague was able to reconnect with his old professor, who in return ordered three rocking chairs and had them designated as alumni gifts given by the university.

But don’t expect Sprague to retire from woodworking any time soon, even with the amount of success he has had.

“Woodworking is my passion,” says Sprague. “I’ll continue doing it until it’s time to make a pine box for myself.”

Furnish Your Apartment Without Breaking The Bank

2008-09-18T04:42:00.000-07:00

If you're sprucing up your property to sell, let or simply live in it, it doesn't have to cost a lot to look good. Nicole Swengley goes in search of chic at half the price

The credit crunch means that fewer of us are moving home or undertaking major refurbishments. But it's still possible to refresh your property's interior even on a restricted budget.


	Chic styles from Ikea

Anyone looking for high-style designs at minimal cost should check out the supermarkets' home ranges. Asda, for example, sells a glossy black mushroom lamp at £15 (above right) which wouldn't look out of place in a chic hotel, while Sainsbury's has attractive ceramic vases from as little as 75p.

"There's no reason to be out of fashion or compromise on style and design," says Simon Stevens, Sainsbury's head of home design. "Our in-house design team has put together four looks to revamp your home without breaking the bank - rich purples and gold for an opulent feel, monochrome black and white for a contemporary look, teals and inky blues to refresh your bathroom or bedroom and rustic greens and chocolate to snuggle up with downstairs."

Sainsbury's style-conscious designs include velvet cushions, in warm berry colours, at £5.99 each; chenille throws at £14.99; shaggy chenille cushions, £8.99; metal table lamps with red or black shades, £14.99; and tall metallic vases for £4.99. Black candle-holders with matching candles are just £3.99. An eye-catching mango wood sculpture costs £9.99 - the same price as a four-pack of champagne flutes.

Tesco has drawn inspiration from the fashion catwalks this autumn with dramatic purple vases, £4 to £10 each; tall glass vases in green, brown or amethyst, £8 each; and ceramic vases and bowls with a retro-looking orange/green glaze (above right) for £6 to £8. Its sophisticated lighting range includes an all-white table lamp for £45 and a table lamp with a circular smoky-glass base, £50.


Tesco vases

New accessories can refresh a room without going to the expense of changing an entire scheme. Asda has chic ceramic oval-based table lamps in black or red, £15 each, tall metallic vases, £7 each, and a £5 pack of three small ceramic vases. Cushions include a retro-style wave pattern for £4, cerise-coloured silk at £4 and a black cushion with dramatic gold flocked design for £6. Bed linen starts at £10 for a double duvet set and even a pair of leather chairs costs only £160.

For seriously low prices, check out discount stores such as Matalan, which has a range including scallop-edged mirrors, £10; hammered metal bowls, £10; and chenille cushions with Art Deco-inspired patterns, £8. A modern table lamp with adjustable stand and cream shade costs £20, while a patchwork bedspread is £30.


	Cushion from Sainsbury's

Clever storage ideas include a set of three wicker chests for £30 and a pair of storage trunks at £20. It also offers basics at rock-bottom prices - dinner plates are £2 each, four-packs of mugs £4, while four-packs of wine glasses cost £8.

Homesense, a value discounter that arrived in Britain earlier this year with stores in Gloucester, Northampton and Manchester, offers a huge range of homeware at very low prices. The stock at each store changes regularly so it's worth snapping up bargains when you see them.

On the high street, Marks & Spencer has a metallic teardrop lamp, £15; silk cushions at £9.50; tapered bud vases, £5; classic etched wine glasses are £5 each and Ruby china starts from £5 per plate.


More vases from Tesco

"A chic home doesn't have to break the bank - there are heaps of ways to decorate your home on a budget without compromising on quality and style," says Sally Bendelow, head of M&S home design. "The majority of our cushions are three for the price of two and our Furniture-to-go range has essential pieces from £119 which are delivered free to your door within two weeks."

If you want to replace a sofa or armchair, it's worth visiting Ikea, where the latest designs include the Karlstad two-seater for £269, while the armchair costs £189. Meanwhile the Lillberg sofa-bed costs a very reasonable £215. A matching sofa (two-seat, £120; three-seat, £165), rocking chair, £85, and armchair (left), £50, are available in this range.

But if you're after colourful modern dining or kitchen chairs then head over to Habitat and check out Verdi, £69, in fuchsia or dark green plywood; Zucco, £99, in red nylon, and Palocco, £129, in transparent red or amber polyester.

Back at Ikea, the £49 Majby rattan armchair will be available from October along with Henriksdal, a traditional upholstered dining chair for £65. A new textiles range at Ikea includes Jorun Lov, a bold floral curtain design, at £45 for a two-pack, and Jorun Stra, a swirly wave design at £11.99 for a two-pack. Cushions in the same range cost £4.99 and a square 90cm rug £18.99.


	Palocco dining chair at Habitat

It's also worth checking out the Argos furniture range, which includes a beech-finish coffee table, £19.99, and three-shelf pine-finish bookcases from £9.99. Good-value dining sets, such as a rectangular pine table with four matching chairs or a circular glass-topped table and four metal-framed chairs, cost £99.99 per set.

With the digital switchover already under way, it's a good time to check out Argos's low-priced television sets such as the Mikomi 15in digital LCD TV, £129.97, or Bush 15in HD-ready digital LCD TV, £169.99. Digital set-top boxes for adapting an old-style analogue television cost from £16.85.

As for kitchen electrical, Argos has cordless kettles from £4.92 goods, and toasters from £3.94. Now that's what I call a bargain.

From Margeting GURU to Small Contracting Business & Loving it!!!

2008-09-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I am not sure many of the readers know this because the blog is supposed to be about interior design, New York City living, furniture assembly and styles, as well as companies we have found to offer quality products at fair prices. Nevertheless, I will make this as short and painless as possible.

I worked for 10 years in marketing in which I started as an entry level cold caller until the day I decided to leave in which I was the Regional Marketing Director for the West Coast, which consisted of overseeing 6 offices and 200 plus employees. When my little princess was born it made me rethink my life, and what I "really" wanted. Now, I loved the money I made in marketing but with it came an element of vices and things I no longer wanted to be a part of my life. I worked as a construction laborer since I was 13, doing everything from roofing to working 4 summers as a masons tender. The work was hard, days were long, but I couldn't explain the feeling I got when the job was done and knew what was there before and knowing I helped build this. Even today when I return to my old city I take a ride by some jobs with my daughter showing her what daddy help build. After leaving my marketing position and relocating to NYC I knew I had to find a job. Everyone told me to go back into marketing or sales, but I knew I wouldn't be happy. So, I learned about Craigslist & begun doing small handyman jobs and a majority turned out to be assembly of ikea furniture. I did my homework and saw that there was a demand for such a service and completion was limited. So, within a few months I got licensed, insured, a office/closet and started working. I took on a helper who is now my Project Manager, Lawrence Land. Today we are the City's #1 professional assembly & installation company and recently opened a subsidiary NYC HANDYMAN that does all types of handyman services and specialized services such as Home Inventory Recording & Childproofing.

Yesterday, I had to do a Childproofing Home Evaluation wher we take a complete inspection, including our basic checklist as well as measurements and pictures. We provide the client with a preliminary on site report of our findings and reccomendations. Then we locate all the materials and price them, configure our labor and send the client our final evaluation report with what they require, along with the total cost for materials and labor. However, what would have been just a normal job turned into a great reminder of exactly how important my services and employees are. The family we are working for has decided to adopt 3 children from S. America and it really touched my heart at how these people went out and did such a wonderful thing. I applied half of our evaluation cost to the installation and intend to do the project at a minimal profit. It just reminded me that I'm not just a handyman, carpenter, or whatever. I'm a person who provides a valuable service to great people and childproofing this home might possibly save a life or at least a serious injury.

Below are some companies I strongly suggest you patronize. The first one Angie's List is a GREAT website to find out about a company from actual previous clients. You will know if they are reliable, on time, clean, does quality or poor work, or are just out and out crooks. I believe that it is great to be able to look up a company to see what other people had to say about their workmanship because this is where we go when we need to hire outside subcontractors. The other links are to great retailers where you will find beautiful products at unbelievable prices.

For Professional Furniture Assembly: www.ezfurnitureassembly.com
For Professional Handyman, Childproofing, & Home Inventory: www.nychandyman.biz

COOLEST PICTURE MADE FROM IKEA FURNITURE!!!

2008-09-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Assembly Required.........

2008-09-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

September 15th, 2008 Dawn Posted in Blessings Abound, Blog 365, Blog Stuff, Champagne Time!, Frankie, Julian, V-e-ntage, Work |

Today, my old desk got kicked to the curb. The hutch part fell over this morning, knocking everything off into a heap with a massive crash. Nice way to start a Monday morning.

Anyhooo….

I paid a visit to my BSF Best STORE Forever), Costco this afternoon and bought a shiny new one. It’s dark brown and matches our bedroom furniture and it’s lovely. There were two VERY heavy boxes and the label said “some assembly required”. Ha. More like “one million tiny bits to separate and try to put together”!

After Joe and I lugged those suckers upstairs and dragged the old desk pieces downstairs, I began my assembly…pffft. I got to step 2 (of 26) and lost my patience. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how numbers 32 and 33 fit together. There was a diagram AND written instructions, but I just.couldn’t.get.it. Sigh. I looked at the clock and it was 2:45. Nice. Frankie would be home in 20 minutes. He ROCKS at this crap.

At 3:10, Nicholas comes in, sans Frankie. Crap. Cross Country tryouts started today. Frankie wouldn’t be home until 3:45. Crap. Crap. Crap.

I made a couple of business phone calls (from my office floor, with no desk) and FINALLY, Frankie arrived. I called him upstairs immediately. Poor kid didn’t even have a chance to grab a snack. Luckily, he advised me that he had no homework (except for Kumon) so I ~~chained him to my bed~~ asked him kindly to please help. He took one look at parts 32 and 33 and put them together. Little turd.

He then proceeded to put the desk together, methodically, piece by piece. That kid is amazing. He hardly even needed the instructions. We stopped at 5:30 for dinner and then he was back at it, this time with a little help from Joe…well, Joe just did what he was told by Frankie…and by 7:00, I was putting all my books and pens into my new cupboards and drawers.

Julian was extra-tired tonight because he woke from his single nap at 1:00…usually he either takes two naps or he goes down later for his one nap, but he was out and about with Joe and his Mom today, so I ran out of time to put stuff away…it’s just piled on my desk now. Sigh. Busy day tomorrow.

In other news, tomorrow is our School Council AGM…that means that it’s my last meeting as Chairperson. Praise.the.Lord. It has been really hard for me to deal with a baby, a full time job, two older boys AND being Chair of the School Council. I totally bit off more than I could chew with that! But, I think I made a difference. I did my best and I really think I did a pretty good job. Heck, at our school, stopping the parents on Council from killing each other is the main objective!!! So far, everyone is still alive and kicking…knock on wood.

Finally, this post is my 999th. Nine hundred and ninety-nine posts. Wow. That’s alot of blogging. I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I have enjoyed typing them. I also hope you will be here for my NEXT 999!

Toodles.

Compliments of www.mywhinecellar.com

GET YOUR NEW 2009 IKEA CATLOG MAILED TO YOU FREE!!!!

2008-09-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

GET YOUR NEW 2009 IKEA CATLOG MAILED TO YOU FREE!!!!

Get your sneak peek of the IKEA catalog before it arrives in your mailbox! View online catalog

My IkEA Short Story!!!!!!

2008-09-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

Here is another story about IKEA. Don't shoot me I'm only the messenger.

This week I went to the office twice... stayed up to listen to the US Open on the radio on whatever day that was..

Yesterday I went to Ikea for some shelves. God. I love Ikea furniture but the store sucks. There are no signs, everyone looks at you as if you're mad, and when I got the shelves we wanted, half the boxes were torn open and all over everywhere and the colour wasn't at all like it was in the catalogue. Its called 'Black-Brown' but its really just black. I wanted a nice deep brown really... But dad's started cutting the wood up already so I'll just shut up about it. It might look different in sunlight I guess.

Today I dragged myself out of bed to go to the NEC to a sewing show. It was pretty fun, I got a few jewellery buts and had a reallllyyy yummy pannini from Bebes. We went with mums friend and her daughter, whos really nice.

College starts tomorrow. I hope it cheers me up, I'm feeling pretty crappy at the moment.

Cardboard Furniture A.K.A.. HOBO FURNITURE is not only GREEN but Functional

2008-09-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

How many of you have heard of "Cardboard Furniture"? I'm in the business and never heard of it! Here is very clean, funny book of what they call Ikea Hobo Furniture

I believe that it is amazing and is even Chic for a SOHO pad or a Arts & Craft project for schools. I have decide to place the entire front page of a website devoted to cardboard furniture. I just think it's such a wonderful "GREEN" way to have fun while actually creating a functional piece of furniture that could be taken home, or be given to shelters,homeless people, anyone in need of a seat.

ABOUT \

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FOLDSCHOOL
PHILOSOPHY
NICOLAFROMBERN
DONATE
PRESS
CREDITS
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foldschool is a collection of free cardboard furniture for kids, handmade by you. The downloadable patterns can be printed out with any printer. Follow the instructions and assemble a stable piece of furniture.
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SUPER DEALS AT TOYSRUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

I believe it is important that we share our recent discovery of sales, coupons,hot websites with great deals, so keep checking back for coupons and links from ToysRus, IKEA , CB2, and other retailers.

The Force Unleashed Game

25% Off Battle Packs
Starfighter Vehicle

Star Wars LEGO: The Twilight

NEW First Act Sounds!

Save $20 on First Act
5 Piece Jr. Drum Set

Save $5 on Speed Racer
Movie Moments Track Set!

30% Off ALL Fisher-Price
Infant Toys!*

40% Off ALL Berenguer Dolls

25% Off CD Boomboxes

*Fisher-Price offer excludes Baby Gear, Sesame Street, Pooh, Dora, Diego, Backyardigans, Wonder Pets & Disney. Selection varies by store. Limited quantities available. Sorry, no rain checks. Infant toys are ages newborn to 12 months. TOYS"R"US RAIN CHECK POLICY: It is our intention to have every advertised item in stock at our stores. Should certain items be unavailable, we will gladly issue you a rain check at your request. Rain checks do not apply to special offers, limited supply items which are available only while supplies last or items available online or by telephone. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

**GIFT CARD: Limit one per guest. Gift Card valid on your next visit and expires 10/31/08, except where prohibited. See back of card for Terms and Conditions. Limited quantities available. Sorry, no rain checks.

Please add toysrus@toysrus.rsys1.com to your address book to ensure delivery of future sales and special offers.

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Feel FREE TO POST YOUR OWN COUPONS!!!

NYC Furniture Assembly

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Beginners Guide to Flipping houses

2008-09-13T05:07:00.000-07:00

Beginners Guide to Flipping houses

LISTEN.............many of you know in my furniture assembly & innovation business I must use CAD programs. You're Right, own this & several others and this is the best one with surreal graphics.

Christopher Purnell
www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

If you're dreaming of making money in real estate, it's time to stop dreaming and get to work, because making money in real estate isn't just a vague pipedream. It can be done, even by a young and inexperienced person, when you learn how to "flip" houses.

A friend of mine, we'll call her Tai, made a fortune in real estate, beginning at the age of twenty, with no help from anyone else. Here's how she did it:

Tai began by buying a HUD repo, which allowed her to get into the house for no money down. Then she fixed it up and sold it herself. At closing, she had made enough profit to by a second fixer-upper, but this time, she paid all cash. Tai went right to work fixing her second house, and when she sold that one, she collected profit of $44,000, which allowed her to pay cash for her third house!

By now, Tai was comfortable with her formula, and within a short time, she had flipped her third house, realizing enough profit to pay cash for yet another house, as well as being able to buy the custom pickup of her dreams. And all of this had happened in the span of just nine months!

Tai's formula was simple. She located houses that needed only cosmetic work, avoiding those that required structural repairs. She did all the painting herself, inside and out, and updated the home's lighting, plumbing fixtures, and carpeting. Once renovations had been completed, all three houses sold quickly, and at a significant profit.

Flipping houses is the most tried-and-true way to make a fortune in real estate, so don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you that it can't be done or that you need to have a great deal of start-up money. That's not true. You can buy houses with no money down through various loan programs, and sellers will often help you with the closing costs.

I know what I'm talking about. My husband and I bought our 27th house earlier this year, for no money down, and we expect to make a profit of at least $100,000 for just one month of hard work!

But we take the process a step further, making our houses outshine the competition by also using Design Psychology, although our buyers never know that. All they know is that they feel good when they're in our homes, which makes them want to buy them, even if they're more expensive than the house next door.

There's no other business that can make you as much money, with as little start-up cost, in as short a time, as investing in real estate. In fact, more millionaires made their fortunes in real estate than in any other business. And you can do it, too. You just have to stop dreaming and get started.

5 easy tips to assemble IKEA furniture

2008-09-13T05:02:00.001-07:00

know what you thinking: she must having a slow day today. Actually , no. I just heard another customer complained about how difficult it is to assemble IKEA furniture and how much they hate it. (But they are still browsing in the store to see what they can buy! ) Well, a little extra help will never hurt.

If you are a IKEA newbie, I won’t be surprised that you screw up your first piece of furniture. I know I did and I know my hubby did too. My very first piece was Billy book case. Simple enough. I thought I read the instruction careful enough to ensure the success. Nope! I was wrong. I put the shelf backwards and have one ugly unfinished side on the front. The worst part was I didn’t realize that until I put the back on and almost announced success.

Well, that was then…

So I thought, let’s share some insight with newbies and hopefully no one will ever have to return a messed up Billy book case ever again.

1. Open packing carefully with facing all unfinished side one way.
It is rather easy to tell if a piece has some unfinished side. I found it a lot easier to help me create the vision rather than look at the pictures and trying to find out what hole suppose to go where.

2. Also, put sort out similar pieces and group them together.
Not only it help you to understand the pictures better, it also make the pile look smaller and you don’t make a mess in your room. Do the same thing with hardwares so you can easily find what you need when assembling.

3. Read the instruction
Take some time and actually read the whole instruction will help you understand how is the whole coming together. I prefer read the whole thing before I start put anything together. In construction world there is a saying: measure twice, cute once. You are lucky enough because everything is already cute for you here. So read twice and assembling once is the golden rule here.

4. Brainless work
If something doesn’t seem to fit into the whole furniture easy enough, something is usually not right. Don’t force anything. I’ve done this many times to realize that the brainless way of work is always the easiest way. Everything is cut to fit perfectly to each other so there is no reason to push harder and see if something would fit.

5. Don’t use glue
A lot of people like to use glue because they think that is the only way to secure each piece and ensure the furniture will stay forever. My take is no no on that. Glue down each piece will make your fit harder and make the process longer. The worse part is, it is almost impossible to break it down later if you need to without damage the furniture. Besides, you never know if you gonna use the furniture for another use later. So better keep it “loose".

There you have it, my 5 little secrets to make your assemble life easier. We hope you enjoyed it.

Bonus tip:
Always invite friends and families to join a assemble party if you have multiple pieces to build. Not only make the building process faster, it is also a quality time you could share with them and make them proud that they’ve done something for/with you that would last for a while!

new tool for real estate buyers

2008-09-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

Thailand's property market is still on the rise and highly competitive. Advertisements for new real estate developments are everywhere, and with them are promises of freebies.

While some projects offer free air-conditioners, televisions and furniture, others promise gyms, swimming pools and even nurseries. Often such promotional gimmicks are not referenced in the purchase agreement. So what happens if, after project completion, the developer fails to deliver on its promises?

The real estate company would, of course, refer to section 456 of the Civil and Commercial Code, which states that an agreement to sell or to buy any real estate property, or a promise to sell such property, is not enforceable unless there is some written evidence signed by the party liable.

However, such companies fail to acknowledge a 2002 Supreme Court judgment (2729/2545) which stated that real estate companies who do not provide infrastructure as advertised are in default of the agreement. This ruling is typically interpreted as stating that real estate advertisements form an integral part of the agreement. This decision is one example of a law available to protect consumers better.

In addition, in 2007 the Supreme Court, viewing that sufficient legal tools were not available for Thai consumers to defend themselves against unfair business practices, proposed the Consumer Case Procedure Act (the Act) to the National Legislative Assembly. The Act was passed in February 2008 and became effective on Aug 23, 2008.

Under the Act, any law requiring the existence of a written and/or signed agreement prior to filing a court complaint, is not enforceable for consumers attempting to assert claims against business operators, provided that (1) the consumer has paid a deposit to the business operator, or (2) the consumer has performed part or all of his obligations under the agreement (Section 10).

In addition, any announcement, advertisement, representation or act of a business operator that leads a consumer to understand, at the time of entering into the agreement, that the business operator will provide services or other infrastructure or perform certain additional services for the consumer, will be viewed as integral to the agreement between the consumer and the business operator (Section 11).

Therefore, when purchasing property, if certain conditions or any understanding between the two parties are not set forth in the written agreements, it is important for property buyers to keep all brochures, flyers, information sheets, project layouts and other marketing materials, including pictures of billboards, relating to the projects.

Also, it is recommended that during the sales negotiations with the real estate company, the consumer be accompanied by someone dependable.

If things go wrong, although the agreement may have been made verbally, with such documentation in hand and a witness who is ready to testify, the consumer plaintiff may present to the court documentation and a witness to testify with respect to the unwritten conditions offered by the seller (Section 11).

The Act also contains several procedural rules aimed at easing the process by which consumers bring claims to the courts against business operators. For example: the burden of proof is shifted to the business operator; complaints can be filed orally in some instances; the court may consider awarding punitive damages. It is expected that this Act will change the landscape of consumer cases in Thailand.

Written by Ittirote Klinboon, Attorney-at-Law; Tiziana Sucharitkul, Co-Managing Partner; and Addy Punsan, Paralegal; Dispute Resolution Department, Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. Please send comments or suggestions to Marilyn Tinnakul at marilyn.t@tillekeandgibbins.com

IKEA COMING TO COLARADO???????????

2008-09-11T03:48:00.000-07:00

Centennial is set to get a big boost to their economy with the announcement that IKEA — the world’s leading home furnishings retailer — is planning on opening a store in the city.

IKEA submitted plans yesterday to the city of Centennial to build a 400,000-square-foot store along the western side of Interstate-25 in the Park Meadows area. Along with the 500 jobs that are expected to be created during the construction phase, IKEA Centennial will provide 400 jobs once the store opens and a great deal of sales and property tax to the city, according to Joseph Roth, director of public affairs for the Swedish retailer.

Local stores not worried

Local furniture stores didn’t seem worried that IKEA would hurt their business.

“Furniture Row Company looks forward to IKEA coming to Centennial,” said John Knippenberg, Furniture Row’s advertising manager. “They, like us, are an exciting national retailer who will create and add awareness and interest for home furnishings in the Denver region,”

“It’s a great thing to have happen to Denver,” said Mark Waldbaum of Woodley’s Fine Furniture. “It’s more choices for the consumer and a well established company.”

Roth said that IKEA could actually help business for other furniture stores by raising awareness of the possibility of affordable redecorating.

“Any retailer who offers affordable home furniture will benefit,” he said.

Good for all

There are more than 75,000 Colorado IKEA customers who have ordered products from the retailer online, said Roth. The Centennial store would join the over 280 IKEA stores in 36 countries, including 35 in the United States.

If the city approves the plans, the Centennial location will likely bring in a large client base. With 1,700 parking spaces, nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties, the store would be ready for business.

“We are thrilled to submit plans for IKEA Centennial where we can build upon our western U.S. presence,” said a statement from Doug Greenholz, real estate manager for IKEA. “This proposed IKEA store would bring existing Colorado customers a store of their own and would introduce other Coloradans to the unique IKEA product selection and family-friendly experience.”

Gene Davis, DDN Staff Writer

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Make a cool coat rack using an Ikea Grundtal

2008-09-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

Hang up your coat with a Grundtal

This Hack is compliments of my favorite site: IkeaHack

Another hat and coat solution, repurposed from kitchen items, from Joshua.

He says, "Here in Toronto, we’ve been searching for a coat rack that could also double as a shelf for gloves, scarves, and hats. All of which are necessary for living in a frozen wasteland. The problem was that all the coat racks that also had shelves were either too expensive or too large for our tiny apartment. They just couldn’t fit.

Our solution was to hang a Grundtal Rail and use the Grundtal S-Hooks for coats and hats. This just fit in the space behind our door. For hats and gloves, we hung a Grundtal Dish Drainer from the rail and put a Komplement Storage Box on it to hold the loose stuff.

IKEA Designs Affordable Boy's Bed That is Really ERasy To Assemble

2008-09-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

Ikea has designed a great affordable toddler bed that is a great bed for any boy's room. I am happy to see that they made a childrens bed that's affordable and easy to assemble.

For under $100, Kritter from Ikea is an affordable option for a children's bed. The bed was designed by Anna Efverlund of Sweden. The fun blue color of Kritter is a good choice for a boy's room and an easy color to decorate around. Like other Ikea products, there is assembly required. Measurements: 65" x 29 ½" x 26 3/8". Price: $89.99. Product: here.
Affordable Kritter Ikea Childrens Bed

If You live in NYC and require professional assembly visit us at www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

We welcome any and all tips, tricks, comments. & hacks!!

House Flipping Here I Come!!

2008-09-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!!!

I was very happy to receive all the emails of concern when I stopped posting for a few weeks in which I do appologize. I really didn't know so many people actually read the blog. I was doing some research lately and have decided that I want to put my construction and handyman skills to better use. I have decided to sell EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC. I am happy at where I have brought the company which was from a few ideas on paper to New York City's #1 professional assembly & installation service. Never in my life did I think the website I built would be ranked #1 on both Yahoo & Google! Well, nothing has been finalized but I have had several offers. To me this is just more than money, I hope to find the right person who can and will take this in demand service to the next level. Can you believe that my competition actually wanted to by my company just for the domain name?

Nevertheless, I have decided that I found my passion in flipping homes. I am looking for investors as we speak and already have found two who are ready to get this thing cooking, but I am awaiting the word from a realtor on a property in forecloseure that is a cake job and would make a nice flip for both me and my partner. I have a few other homes with less potential and am afraid to grab them and lose out on this home that is not only a steal but will generate a gross profit of about $100,000.00 in a month! If you are intrested in flipping I strongly suggest yopu get this course Click Here! because it will change your life. I will keep everyone updated on the sale and will keep the blog to tell you what the flipping life is like.

Thanks again!

chris

Installation of Kitchen Cabinets from Start to Finish

2008-09-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

I would like to tell everyone that I am very sorry for our absence from posting on the blog but due to changes within the company which included the expansion of our company we had to make decisions on what was more important at that time. However, I strongly believe that our readers are very important and now that we have hit calm waters I will begin to post on a regular basis on subjects that are interesting, informative, and helpful. I would love to hear from other people in our profession of construction, handyman, or assembly services that would like to be a regular contributor to our blog and our new newsletter we hope to launch in the near future.

Christopher C. Purnell

Reprinted with permission from Journal of Light Construction, January, 1999.

by Carl Hagstrom

I install about a dozen high-end kitchens a year, and have developed a system that prevents frustrating and costly backtracking. Since no two custom kitchens are the same, I have to tweak my approach to fit each situation, but many tasks I perform remain the same regardless of the kitchen.

Plumb Walls Are An Installer’s Best Friend
In my experience, the primary concern of most carpenters when they approach a kitchen installation is to find out if the floor is level. But what about walls that are plumb and square? I’ve found that in the overall scheme of cabinet installation, the order of importance is: plumb, square, and level.

When walls are plumb, I can make good time. I position the cabinet in place, screw it to the wall, and move on. When walls are not plumb, I’m forced to fuss with shims. Judging the right amount of shim to shove behind a cabinet is a matter of trial and error. I take my best guess, suck the cabinet tight to the wall, check for plumb, and then loosen the screws and adjust the shim until the bubble falls between the lines. It’s not difficult, but it is tedious.

Walls that lean away at the top are the most problematic — you have to shim the tops of the uppers, which is a tough reach. When a wall leans in, I can hang the upper from the top rail, then slip shims behind the lower portion of the cabinet.

Base cabinets can be even tougher in this situation. If the wall leans out, the base cabinet is forced out of plumb when it’s drawn tight to the wall. You then loosen the screws, the cabinets drop from the line, you cuss and swear, and then try and hold the cabinet to the line while gauging how much shim has to go in behind it. And then there’s a gap at the exposed end of the run where the plumb cabinet meets the out-of-plumb wall. This must be covered with a molding or a scribed end panel.

Square walls.
If a prefabricated laminate countertop is specified and the plan calls for an inside corner, I pay close attention to the squareness of the walls. Prefab counters that are mitered for inside corners install square. If the walls are out of square, there will be a gap where the backsplash meets the wall.

In production work, this gap is closed off with a molding. In higher end work, this is often unacceptable. Prefabricated counters can be special ordered to fit an out-of-square condition, but lead times are long.

Levelness affects appliances.
When the floor is out of level, I typically start the layout from the highest point. Many appliances won’t fit in their opening if the counter is less than 34 1/2 inches above the finished floor. Starting at the high point usually avoids this problem.

Laying Out Cabinet Locations
At any rate, the first things I check are the walls. I prefer to use a 4-foot level for this process (see Figure 1). Unlike a construction laser, my bubble stick lets me know right away when there’s a hump or bulge in the wall or floor. To those who argue that a 4-foot level isn’t accurate enough, I counter that accuracy is relative. A kitchen must be straight and flat — being 1/4 inch out of level overall will seldom affect the job. My goal is to find the high point of the floor and work from there. That way, I know right away if I’ll be working late.

Figure 1. While a helper unloads the truck, the author uses a 4-foot level to check the walls and floor. A level is better than a construction laser for finding bumps and dips in the wall — and plenty accurate for a kitchen installation.

After sizing up the walls and floor, I draw a level line on the wall at 34 1/2 inches from the highest spot on the finished floor (Figure 2). If the finished floor hasn’t been installed, I add its thickness (plus any underlayment) to the 34 1/2-inch dimension. Since most countertops are 1 1/2 inches thick, setting base cabinets to this height results in a finished counter height of 36 inches. Then I measure up 19 1/2 inches from this line, and draw a second line, which represents the bottom of the upper cabinets. If these dimensions seem at all confusing, just remember that finish counter height is 36 inches, and the distance between the counter and the upper cabinets is 18 inches.

Next, I mark out all the upper and lower cabinet locations on the walls. These aren’t precise layout marks, but they let me size up the cabinet placement, and review the layout for potential problems.

Figure 2. One hour spent laying out the job can save many hours of backtracking later. Check walls for plumb and square, and floors for level. Locations of all cabinets, plumbing, and wiring must be verified, and every cabinet should be checked against the plans — before installation begins.

Electrical placement.
The most common snafu I encounter is improperly placed or missing outlets and switch boxes. Moving or adding a device box before the cabinets are installed isn’t so bad — the “hack tracks” in the drywall can be easily hidden behind the cabinets.

The bottom of a device box should be at least 41 inches from the finished floor, and the run of device boxes should be level. If the electrician measured from an out-of-level subfloor when he set the boxes, they’ll need to be relocated. I also check for an outlet where the refrigerator is located, and for a feed wire for the exhaust hood. Unless the joists are open below, the feeds for ranges, ovens, dishwashers, and garbage disposals should be in place as well.

I also check the layout of any ceiling or soffit lighting. These lights are typically placed 16 inches or so from the wall, and can present a problem if they fall within the area of a 24-inch-deep overhead refrigerator cabinet, wall oven, or pantry.

Checking for symmetry.
The majority of kitchens I install have a sink base that’s centered on a window. In these situations, I use my layout marks to verify that the cabinet will end up centered, and that the upper cabinets on either side of the window will show the same reveal relative to the window jambs.

Proper piping.
I check that drain lines, supply lines, and toe-kick heaters are located properly. Finally, I use an electronic stud finder, and mark where all the studs are. I draw vertical stud lines within the area of the upper cabinets, and place a mark just above the 34 1/2-inch base cabinet level line.

The entire layout process takes about an hour, and once completed, allows me to focus on installing. My helper unloads and sets up tools while I do the layout. The last item on my list is verifying that all the cabinets are on site, and that they match the plan dimensions.

The Easy Way to Hang Cabinets
I’m not lazy, but I don’t like working any harder than I have to. I try to do as much work as possible before the cabinets are hung. As soon as the cabinets are unloaded, my helper or I remove the cabinet doors. Many of the doors must be removed for clamping purposes, but more importantly, it eliminates the risk of a door being damaged as the cabinets are installed.

Uppers first.
I always install upper cabinets first. They’re easier to install when I don’t have to reach over installed base cabinets, and there’s less chance the base cabinets will be damaged. I lay the uppers on their backs on the floor, and assemble them as a group (Figure 3). I clamp the face frames together, drill pilot holes, and then screw the face frames together. When the entire “block” of cabinets is fastened together, I lay a straight-edge on top of the face frames, then shim between the floor and the backs of the cabinets until everything is flat. Then I shim the spaces between the sides of the cabinets and run screws through the sides at the back of the cabinets to lock them together as a unit.

Figure 3. The author assembles the upper cabinets on the floor as a unit, shimming from the back until the fronts are straight and flush. Note the level used as a straightedge.

I use Fuller countersink bits (W.L. Fuller, P.O. Box 8767, Warwick, RI 02888; 401/467-2900) to drill all the pilot holes. They’re inexpensive (around $5 each), use standard twist drill bits, and are easy to adjust for length. I use square-drive screws (McFeely’s, P.O. Box 11169, Lynchburg, VA 24506; 800/443-7937) for all fastening chores. The square drives have a thicker shank than drywall screws (less chance of snapping them off when working with hardwoods), and the screw heads don’t strip out as easily as Phillips head screws.

Predrilling for stud locations.
After I’ve fastened the cabinets together, I stand them up and lay out the studs on the back of the cabinets (Figure 4). I then drill from the back of the cabinet through the hanging rail (at the stud lines), until the drill bit just pokes through to the interior of the cabinet. I finish the pilot holes by countersinking from inside the cabinet. This method is much more foolproof than laying the pilot holes out from the interior of the cabinets, since it eliminates the need to deduct for cabinet sides.

Figure 4. Marking stud locations on the backs of cabinets is easier than marking them inside (top). The author predrills holes for the mounting screws from the back (bottom), then finishes up with a countersink bit from the inside.

My next step is to get the block of cabinets in position on the wall. About two years ago, I was introduced to an amazing tool: the Gil-Lift (Telpro, Rt 1, Box 138, Grand Forks, ND 58201; 800/441-0551). This is a dedicated cabinet lift that allows me to lift up to 300 pounds of cabinets single-handedly and roll them into place. The lift mast removes easily from the dolly, which I use to move base cabinets around. Forget the leveling lasers: If you install any kitchens at all, a Gil-Lift is one tool you shouldn’t be without. I figure it took me about four kitchens to recoup the $475 cost of this lift.

If you don’t have a cabinet lift, then the size of the block of cabinets you assemble will be determined by the number of people available to help lift the assembly in place. Before I had a lift, I would fasten temporary supporting brackets to the wall. With these brackets, I could fasten the block of cabinets to the wall without the need for an extra pair of hands to hold them up.

Undercabinet lighting.
At this stage, if there is any undercabinet lighting, the feed wires must be fed through as the cabinets are positioned. A good electrician will leave a loop of wire 56 inches above the finished floor. It’s better to locate this wire too high rather than too low. I cut a trough through the drywall and lower the wire to its proper height (Figure 5). If the wire is too low, the wall will have to be patched after the wire is raised. I drill a 5/8-inch hole in the back of the cabinet just below the bottom shelf and feed the wire through as the cabinets are lifted in place.

Figure 5. Wires for under-cabinet lights are roughed in at a safe height behind the wall cabinets. The author then slices the drywall to bring the wire down to the correct height at the bottom of the cabinet.

Base Cabinet Basics
When all the uppers are in place, I install the base cabinets. Base cabinets come in two flavors: those with integral bases forming the toe kick and those without.

Base cabinets with integral toe bases are typically moved into position, the face frames are fastened together, and the rear hanging rails are held to the level line and fastened to the studs. Then the cabinets are leveled front to back using shims slipped under the toe bases. If you didn’t establish your layout line from the floor’s high point, you’ll be hacking away at these integral toe bases to adjust the cabinet to the rising floor.

Most of the cabinets I install do not have toe bases. Originally, the cabinetmaker I work with supplied plywood base frames that the cabinet boxes would sit on. I would level the toe base frames, set the cabinets on top, and screw the hanging rail to the studs. This made for a lot of work on my knees, and if the cabinet needed to be shifted left or right, the locked-in-place toe frames often had to be relocated. After rethinking the process, I now use adjustable feet called leg levelers. They fasten to the underside of the cabinet, and the threaded portion of the foot is extended or retracted by turning the base of the foot (Figure 6). The leg levelers we use cost about $1.50 each. They’re made by Camar and are available through kitchen component suppliers.

A typical kitchen might require $50 to $60 worth of leg levelers. The additional cost is more than offset by the elimination of the toe frames, and the labor savings when leveling the cabinets. Finish toe boards attach to the feet with spring clips, and can be removed to access wires or piping.

Figure 6. Plastic leg levelers (top) speed the task of leveling base cabinets (bottom). Finished toe kicks attach with metal clips — or can even be screwed directly into the plastic legs, according to the author.

New Clamp in Town
Aligning and clamping face frames can be tedious. For years, I’ve used Bessey clamps for this task (American Clamping Corp., P.O. Box 399, Batavia, NY 14021; 800/828-1004). Their smooth action makes for a first-class clamp. I’ve recently added a new clamp to my bag of tricks, a dedicated face-frame clamp called the Cabinet Claw, by Pony ($50 per pair, from Adjustable Clamp Co., 417 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; 312/666-0640). This dual-action clamp simultaneously pulls the face frames together and flushes them up (Figure 7). While these clamps can’t replace my Bessey clamps for every task, for face-frame work they’re well worth the cost.

Figure 7. Pony “Cabinet Claws” are the newest weapon in the author’s installation arsenal. They draw the cabinets together and keep the face frames perfectly flush at the same time, acting like an extra pair of hands.

Carl Hagstrom is a contributing editor for the Journal of Light Construction, and a builder in Montrose, Pa.

Reprinted with permission from Journal of Light Construction, January 1999. Subscription information can be found at their website: www.jlconline.com.

Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?

KnowledgeBase: Cabinetmaking

KnowledgeBase: Cabinetmaking: General

KnowledgeBase: Cabinetmaking: Installation

KnowledgeBase: Cabinetmaking: Residential Cabinetry

KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

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EZ Assembly Entire House With IKEA For Under $4000!!!

2008-07-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC started of as one man, a few tools and a passion to make it a business. He quickly saw the need for his services, and decided to take it one step further and get licensed, insured, and certified by most of the major manufactures. He also did his own schooling in interior design and decoration which has allowed him to meet and make friends with the city's top interior designers. However, for over two years most of his work was Ikea assembly so he knew it inside and out. He did his first kitchen about six months after opening. " I was so amazed at how easy they made the installation. The best part is that many of the condos he works at in Brooklyn have walls that were recently built and are not structurally sound with studs sometimes being 36"-60" apart. However, Ikea's support brace allows me to find a stud and drill into it and if needed make a sister between the two to support the weight. " Anyway, Christopher took us to a house of a past customer's friend who was coming from the U.K. in 2 months and wanted a furnished apartment upon arrival. Money was no object, but me and my past customer decided to do the entire house in Ikea. We did everything from the kitchen cabinets to the wardrobes for under $4000.00. Oh yeah... that also included a plasma T.V. and an Apple Gmac. When he arrived he said I know you went over budget but it looks so great just tell me what I owe. He sent twenty thousand!!! He couldn't believe we only spent under $4000.00 for an entire house. Ikea can make dreams come true!!

New York City Furniture Assembly Services Offers Discounted Delivery!!

2008-07-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC located in New York City has decided to provide their customers with an added benefit that will not only get their furniture delivered the same day, but for far less than what in store companies charge.

Whether you want to go to the Ikea in N.J. or Long Island, or Cotsco for a swing set, or Crate & Barrel for a household full of furnishings they only charge one flat fee of $139.99! Unlike other companies that charge per piece and can take weeks to deliver. Their service escorts you to the store of choice and waits while you get your furniture or articles and when you are done they will assist in loading and checking the order and deliver you and your purchases home. If you used their furniture assembly service they will have a technician(s) there upon your arrival to assemble and/or install you items.

While we offer many services our #1 service is Customer Service and we will continue to offer more services to make our customers life easier and provide quality workmanship to keep us New York City's #1 furniture assembly service.

One Local businessman welcomes Brooklyn Ikea with open arms

2008-06-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

Christopher Purnell, President & Founder of EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC was happier than a kid on Christmas morning when the Brooklyn Ikea finally opened. Purnell is an entrepreneur who has over 10 years of marketing experience and relocated to New York in search of something besides marketing, but just wasn’t certain what that was. While he pondered his next move the bills continued to come and soon he was forced to find something to tide him over until he found his dream job. Several friends suggested Craigslist where he could find temporary work also known as gigs. Purnell said “Right from the door I noticed all these postings for people wanting someone to assemble their furniture for them. I come from a family that is made up of handymen and construction workers hour days, 7 days a week.” It wasn’t long before he realized what he was searching for had found him. So, he went ahead and opened EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations, LLC and hired his first helper who is now his project manager, Lawerence Land. Purnell states “we went ahead and got licensed, insured, and built a web site and began marketing our services. It wasn’t long before we had more work than we could handle so we hired more technicians with a background in furniture assembly, repair, or at minimum carpentry skills.” Today Purnell’s company employs a dozen full-time technicians who are certified installers for several manufactures, are required to participate in at least two continuing education workshops per year & meet for a weekly meeting to discuss changes in products, new ideas to improve service, and keep everyone up to date on where the company is at. Purnell himself has obtained a certificate in Project Management, and got his company certified as by the National Playground Safety Council. The company has also expaned its services from just furniture to exercise & recreational equipment, barbeque grills, trampolines, swing sets, outdoor play sets, as well as building custom closets and assembling and installing kitchen cabinetry and works in conjunction with a delivery service that will actually meet the customer at the store and take them home with their purchases for far less than the stores in house service and have their furniture assembled the same day. The company is ranked #1 on both Yahoo & Google, has a 5 star rating on Ikea Fans, and was awarded the “Superior Service Award” by Angie’s List, an independent service that allows consumers to review a company’s rating and reviews from prior customers. Purnell explains “ I believe our success is definitely due to the demand for such a professional service because most of customers work long days, and the time they have they want to spend with family & doing things they enjoy not trying to assemble furniture all weekend. The competition is limited, there are really only two national companies providing the same services but they have forgotten who pays their bills, the customers. Some services that have contracts with a few big box stores have customers waiting 3-4 weeks for an appointment, where our goal is to get an appointment scheduled within 72 hours. I always stress to all my technicians and staff that no matter how many services we provide our most important service is customer service”.

From what we can see his company has found the recipe for success, and as long as they continue to make furniture requiring assembly his company will continue to grow. EZ Furniture Assembly & Interior Innovations currently serves all of New York City, Long Island, & Eastern N.J.. If you are in need of professional assembly and/or installation services you can visit them online at www.ezfurnitureassembly.com.

IKEA Hits Brooklyn! What's The Big Deal????

2008-06-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! I can't believe all this commotion about Ikea opening in Brooklyn. The worst part is most articles make it sound like they moved into Vietnam in 1968. Brooklyn is beautiful and many great stores are there and I am happy to see the addition of Ikea, but this criticism has to stop. You would have to be a fool to believe Ikea didn't do their marketing homework before going there. I wouldn't be surprised if that location does better sales than Long Island or N.J. They sell modern furniture at affordable prices to me an obviously Ikea it makes sense to put such a store in a middle class working area. It just seems like a shock to everyone that they didn't open in Manhattan. What is your opinion???

What Size A/C Unit Do I Really Need???

2008-06-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

We have been contacted over at least a thousand times over the last 2 years with this question, and now that we opened NYC HANDYMAN it has become ever more frequent but no less important. We have provided some useful information below.

A larger air conditioner will not always provide more cooling. It should be sized for the room area. If properly sized it should operate long enough to remove moisture from the air. It is the moisture removed from the room which actually produces the feeling of cooling. Unfortunately many people in their rush to purchase a window air conditioner buy too large a model.

Too large a unit can actually provide less cooling than a smaller, properly sized unit. This is because with an oversized air conditioner its run time is too short. Consequently it does not remove enough moisture from the room to produce a feeling of comfort. If you’re A/C seems to cycle off and then back on every few minutes and does a poor job of cooling, it is probably oversized for the room.

Air conditioners are rated in BTU’s. British Thermal Units are a measurement of how much heat is being transferred form the room being cooled to where the heat is dumped out of doors. This is why the cooing coil inside the room is cool to the touch, while the part that hangs outside is extremely hot.

A window air conditioner used in the average household room can be as low as 4000 BTU. While 5000, 6000, and 8000 are the most common sizes purchased.

How do I determine what size A/C I need?
Following is a basic sizing chart for calculating the window air conditioner needed for a room. Calculate the size of the room by multiplying the width of the room by the length of the room. Use your room size to determine what BTU's are required to cool that particular room size.

room in sq ft-----room in sq m-----A/C size in BTU's

100 – 250............9 – 23............5000 – 6000

250 – 400...........23 – 37............6000 – 8500

400 – 550...........37 – 51............8000 – 11000

550 – 875...........51 – 81...........11000 – 15000

Based on a room occupied by two adults, having an average insulation, number of windows, and sun exposure.

Which is the best room for placement of an air conditioner?

Wherever it gives the most comfort is where it should be installed. If you only have one air conditioner then we usually suggest the bedroom. This is because most people find that if they can sleep comfortably during a hot summer night then their next days work will be a lot easier. Getting through a hot day at work becomes a lot easier when you know you will sleep comfortably that night.

Some people do not like a cool sleeping environment so they will tend to place it in a living room or family room. Or some people will place it in the family room because the whole family can sleep there. Get out the sleeping bags and turn it into an adventure for the young ones. Beats waking up in the morning to find a dog, cat, and four kids in the bed with you.

Also window air conditioner can be noisy, which may disturb sleep. Others find the drone of the fan actually promotes sleep because all the neighbourhood noises are drowned out. Some people say the air conditioner works as well as a sleeping pill

But whichever room you eventually pick don’t expect the impossible from you’re A/C. It is not meant to cool more than one room or one open area. Air conditioners will not cool other rooms? This is because the blower in a window air conditioner is not very powerful. It is sized to cool one open area, not a number of interconnected rooms. Therefore once again a couple of smaller units may be better for your home than one large unit.

Lastly, remember to properly secure the air conditioner in the window. Once installed a piece of wood to stop the window from being lifted up is a good idea. If you have wooden sills the simple addition of a wood screw at the top of the raised window (the one you had to raise to install the A/C) will only take a minute. Otherwise an intruder could gain access to the house by lifting the window and letting the A/C fall out. This could result in the loss of both your valuables and the air conditioner

* PLEASE READ: NYC Law requires ALL units above the first floor to be secured by a support bracket and be Professionally installed. If you need Professional Installation please visit us at www.nychandyman.biz. We will be happy to answer any questions and get you cool quick!

Some Papers Are Warning NYC IKEA Shoppers To Expect To Be Robbed???

2008-06-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

I saw this article in GAWKER and had to post it! It's like the same old stereo type of the Big Apple is coming back!!

Prepare To Be Robbed, IKEA Customers

The first-ever IKEA store is opening in the borough of Brooklyn tomorrow, a development which has the local media all atwitter. Close to 40 people have lined up for the chance to be the first ones in the rapidly gentrifying Red Hook neighborhood to buy mass-produced Swedish furniture. To celebrate the occasion, the gruff and hilarious Park Slope guy who goes by the name of Blognigger (just to make you uncomfortable) has posted his own Onion-esque take: "Red Hook Blacks Line Up to Rob First 100 IKEA Customers." But he doesn't forget to make the scheduled robberies a multicultural endeavor for the Curbed.com-reading gentrifiers themselves, too:

Surprisingly, not everyone camping on line is African American - two white Park Slope residents, Rob Tanzer, 24 and Jake Feingold, 23, have also joined the group.

"We read about this on Curbed, and we just thought that being on this side of the fence seems like a far more authentic Brooklyn experience," explained Mr. Feingold, "We basically want the black community to know that not all white people are here to displace them; That really, we're part of the solution. And of course we're also down to get paid."

Can You Believe People Are Camping Out For IKEA Opening in NYC????

2008-06-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

So the new IKEA store Brooklyn officially opens two days from now, on Wednesday June 18, but as of 11 AM today, Monday June 16, there were already 18 people waiting in line with sleeping bags. Yes, they are planning on camping out. (Does IKEA make sleeping bags, by the way?!)

Sure, IKEA is a popular store. But it’s safe to say that one reason for the enthusiasm is the fact that the first 35 people in line will get a free couch (too bad they can’t sleep on them before the store opens). The next 100 get a free armchair. And the first 100 kids (separate from the adults waiting for the furniture) get a toy.

Anyone having flashbacks to the iPhone mania last year outside the Apple stores?

IKEA's line is clearly driven by the company's incentives to get shoppers to exercise the same sort of cult-y excitement that once was seen only when tickets for rock concerts first went on sale. Now that sort of excitement is seen for brands, not bands. Last year, everyone was wondering how to mimic Apple and its lines outside its stores. Before that, it was how to mimic the fan queues for the new Xboxes in late 2005. Maybe IKEA has figured out how to have the sort of cult-y brand that usually is only found in the tech sector.

But what is particularly interesting is how the IKEA lines differ from last year's iPhone lines. Last year, people could ostensibly afford a $500 phone. This year, with the economy gloomy, they're camping out for free furniture at a store known for its inexpensive goods.

But what both IKEA and Apple share is, of course, their reputations for simple, appealing design. In the case of IKEA, is that what's driving the brand loyalty? Or is it simply the low prices? Would love to hear your opinions.

NYC New LAW on A/C Installation!!!!

2008-06-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

This is part of Local Law 11/98, which concerns safety related to lack of maintenance in building facades; periodic inspections are required in which a professional submits a report to the city . There is a requirement that “appurtenances” to the façades be secured, which includes window AC units. Lately, the city has been cracking down on unsafely installed window AC units, thus the new focus on proper installations. Many buildings have had their inspection reports rejected by the city lately. This ends up being a big pain for the co-op or landlord, so it’s in your best interest to do the installation properly from a liability standpoint, and most co-ops and landlords are updating their rules to require an installation that allows the windows to still be operable when the unit is in place. A lot of old installations have the unit bolted to one of the window panes, however in many windows, the panes can be removed pretty easily for cleaning, and whoops… your AC unit drops out. SO, there is no real ‘grandfathering’ of this requirement for older installations. But, you might just wait until your landlord or co-op makes you update your installtion.

See the following explanation (and nice picture of a good installation!):

http://www.randpc.com/AskTheEngineer/genAsktheEngineerWindowAC.asp

Also:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/pdf/ac_tips.pdf

Most property management companies are requiring tenants to remove their a/c's and have them professionally installed.

For professional installation by a licensed & insured service visit www.nychandyman.biz

The Ikea That Never Was

2008-06-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

On a visit to Washington, D.C. many years ago, a slick advertising supplement fell out of my morning newspaper. It was for a store I had never heard of, but immediately wished there was a branch in the New York area. The booklet was filled with the kind of furniture that would appeal to people who appreciated modern design and incredibly low prices, in other words many New Yorkers like me.

o I celebrate the opening of the city's first Ikea branch in Red Hook, Brooklyn. I had hoped that the store would come first to my home borough of the Bronx.

Certainly on the surface, the Bronx would be the ideal location for this particular Ikea branch. The ABC Carpet Warehouse store is already here, proving that the borough is fertile ground for this kind of retail operation. And we have plenty of large sites, arguably better transportation infrastructure, and a large pool of labor that is ready and willing to work.

The store originally was to be built at New Rochelle, in nearby Westchester County. But the plans for it required assembling a huge site that necessitated leveling a handful of homes. This created tremendous opposition to the project in an era when, as the late Senator Moynihan noted, we celebrate those who prevent things from being built rather than those who actually get things constructed.

As the fight in New Rochelle dragged on month after month it became clear that this development simply would not happen. Finally, the company threw in the towel. Ikea would have to look elsewhere.

Nabbing Ikea would have been a much-needed shot of adrenaline in the ailing Bronx economy. It even might have attracted some young people to give us a hard look and see that the Bronx is as ripe as Brooklyn as an emerging, upscale place to settle.

Ikea certainly attracts recent college graduates. Upon my younger son's graduation from college, he cleared the shelves at the Ikea in Elizabeth, N.J., furnishing his brand new apartment in Riverdale. And my older son, now with a growing young family in the Atlanta area, a place that young people have flocked to in recent years, celebrated the opening of an Ikea in a quickly gentrifying section of town.

Unfortunately, my hopes and aspirations were not shared by those in leadership positions in the borough. The former president of the Bronx, Fernando Ferrer, led the borough through 14 years of economic stagnation. His successor, Adolfo Carrion Jr., has been even more ineffective, especially since his term has coincided with a period of remarkable economic growth in the city.

The Bronx president controls an entity called the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation. When Mr. Ferrer called the shots, the BOEDC was led by his boyhood pal Jose Ithier. During the critical period after the New Rochelle project fell through, they insisted that they were negotiating a deal with Ikea. But when students from the Bronx Beat, a paper that is published by the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, contacted the furniture company's U.S. headquarters, officials there insisted that there was never any communication between them and Bronx officials.

Shortly thereafter, the Brooklyn deal was announced, and a golden opportunity for the Bronx was gone.

As a New Yorker, I'm glad to see Ikea, along with its hundreds of jobs, and infinite purchasing opportunities for bargain conscious consumers here in Gotham.

I note that northern New Jersey now has two Ikeas — one in Elizabeth and a newer one in Paramus. That gives me hope that with our larger population, and favorable highway access, some future Bronx president who is more concerned and more creative — perhaps the one we elect next year — will be successful in achieving what Messrs. Ferrer and Carrion failed to do. There is room for an Ikea serving the Bronx, burgeoning northern Manhattan, and Westchester, and beyond.

awolf@nysun.com

A/C MAINTENANCE IS A MUST!!!!!!!!

2008-06-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

Schedule Your Window A/C Maintenance

Summer is finally here and before we know it, summer will be breathing hot air down around us. NYC HANDYMAN recommends that anyone utilizing window air conditioners for their comfort cooling needs consider scheduling a maintenance check on their units as soon as possible to ensure the unit is operating to its maximum capacity. A maintenance check will not necessarily stop failures, but it can minimize problems and keep units performing within their maximum operating capabilities. Scheduling early also provides time to resolve any issues that might arise from the inspection before the weather gets too hot.

Maintenance checks include the following elements:
• Cleaning the evaporator and its filter if necessary
• Cleaning any dirt and debris blockage from the condenser
• Checking the discharge air temperature for proper parameters
• Cleaning the drain pan
• Addressing specific reported problems
• Performing an over all inspection of system components

NYC HANDYMAN mechanics will share their professional opinion on whether the unit is repairable or needs to be replaced, and discuss possible options with you. If removing the unit is the only option, keep in mind that air conditioners are considered hazardous waste, and when discarding older units or units that are not repairable, the refrigerant and the oil must be properly recovered and disposed of according to EPA guidelines. NYC HANDYMAN has procedures in place to dispose of your unit properly, avoiding any environmental violations or potential fines.

To prevent an extensive waiting time, NYC HANDYMAN suggests that the departments service their window air conditioners early in the season, rather than wait for mid summer. Those departments who have window units that are exposed to near-by construction work are especially encouraged to get those units cleaned due to the extensive dust and dirt in the air.

To schedule a maintenance check for your window air conditioning unit, submit an online request through the service website www.ezfurnitureassembly.com

NYC HANDYMAN Runs Driveway Seal Coating Special in NYC!!!

2008-06-08T17:59:00.001-07:00

NYC HANDYMAN, New York City's #1 Handyman Service is running a 10% Off Special on all their services including Driveway Seal Coating which can make any driveway look Brand New Again!! Visit them today to view all their services & specials!!! www.nychandyman.biz

What does it cost to have my driveway sealed?

The short answer is that it depends. With driveway sealing, there are enough factors to consider that it is difficult to zero in on a price for every different type of driveway in every city. What we can do is provide you with some guidelines so that you know how to figure the approximate driveway sealing costs of your particular home and how often you should have it sealed.

How Often Should You Seal Asphalt Driveways?
If you look around the web you will find differing opinions on this matter. Some say that you only need to seal your asphalt drive every 3-10 years. Others, every year. The real difficulty in determining what's right for you is weather. If you are in an area where you receive a great deal of rain and snow, or in an area where it freezes and thaws often, or in an area where the temperature reaches well over 100 degrees in the summer and your driveway is unprotected from the brutal rays of the sun, then you need to seal your driveway at least every other year. If you have some moderate weather, then maybe every three years.

Let your vision be your guide. If your driveway is cracking or chipping before it is time for a new coat, then have it treated again.

*Note. Do not seal a new asphalt driveway. This material needs to cure for 6 months before treatment is applied.

How Often Should You Seal Concrete Driveways?
Concrete driveways are more durable (and more prevalent) than asphalt driveways, so they don't need to be sealed as often. Even in the harshest of conditions, our contractors tell us that every five years is the right amount, and even longer in moderate climates. However, just as with asphalt, let your vision be your guide. If you notice cracking, even very slight cracking, contact a NYC HANDYMAN who will be able to tell you if you are in immediate need of sealing or if the problem is a deeper issue.

What Does Driveway Sealing Cost?
Driveway sealing costs are going to be different all across the country because of the demand. In New Mexico, the average driveway sealing cost may be higher because the weather conditions don't demand that it to be done that often. In Upstate New York or northern Minnesota driveway sealing costs are likely to be lower because this needs to be done every year to some asphalt driveways.

While we can't really pin down your exact price, here are some general estimates that should help get you in the ballpark on the cost of driveway sealing.

First, if you don't already know the square footage of your driveway, measure it to find out. Most contractors are going to figure the job by the driveway size.

Now that you have the square footage, here are some figures. In the east, the average cost for driveway sealing is typically between $.10-$.16 per square foot. So for a 1000 sq. ft. driveway it will cost between $100-$160. In the upper-midwest, many driveway contractors charge per 1000 sq. ft., typically between $85-$100 per 1000 with a minimum charge of $100. Lucky is the homeowner with the 1990 square foot driveway.

Final Word
Most of the cost of sealing driveways is tied up in prep work. If your driveway is particularly dirty or covered in oil slicks, then it takes more effort and thus costs more to treat. The application is pretty standard. However, the pricing listed above will help you to figure out the range of what this task should cost. If you talk to a driveway contractor who is way over these amounts, get a few more estimates to see if that is the standard charge in your area.

IKEA Furniture Assembly Have You Nuts?

2008-06-07T21:00:00.001-07:00

EZ Furniture Assembly
& Interior Innovations, LLC

I Hate Flat-Pack Furniture !

...well,
obviously I don't actually hate it once it's "up and running" - otherwise I
wouldn't buy it! I just hate the hassle of having to put it
together.

That's wht we wre
her to help. We have a trained staff of 10 certified technicians that are
licensed & insured so you eill have the furniture you biught on the showroom
or online, not a bunch of boxes with a bag of nuts and bolts witha piece a paper
they call directions. Well, I'm certain at leat the asprin companies are
rooting for them since sales must've sky rocketed when IKEA hit the
market.

Anyway, we are a
Professional company that has assembled thousand of pieces rnaging from,
furniture, exercise equipment, storage units, custom closets, Murphy beds, and
hundreds of Kitchen Cabinet installations. We are a Certified member of the
National Associatopn of Professional Assemblers, maintained a 5 Start Rating on
IKEA Fans, ans was presented with the "2007 Super
Service Award" by Angie's List.

We are the City's
leader in Professional assembly, so you don't have to worry about how long it
willl take you to build that entertainment center, or if you should buy a drill
or not. Don't waste your weekend and late nights trying to assemble something
when one simple call or email will do it all. No need to ask friends if they
know someone who does this kind of work or search on craigslist because God
only know who will show up at your door. We have been in business going on three
years and we have built on our name on Quality Customer
Service, Honesty, Guaranteed, Workmanship, and the ability to schedule all
appointments within 72 hours of contact. You can spend time with
your family, or relax and read your paper while our trained technicians
professionally assemble your furniture.

No matter
the size of the job,
whether commercial or residential our trained
staff can handle the job and do their best to exceed your expectations. We
encourage you to visit our website WWW.EZFURNITUREASSEMBLY.COM by
Clicking Here. Or call us at the number below to be
connected to one of our own managers. We look forward to hearing from you
soon!

Christopher Purnell, President
( 718) 541-9863

Lawrence Land,
General Manager (803) 553-4988

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I Hate Flat-Pack Furniture !

Discover the Secret Weapon To Getting Your
Ikea Kitchen Remodeling Project Completed
On Time, On Budget and With No Mistakes!

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155 Page Manual via Instant Electronic
Download for a small One Time Investment
of $47 only $27!

45% Discount On The Next 10 Orders
Only! $47 just $27!