"Organizing your home just got easier"

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

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"Garage Makeover": Cabinet and Storage Solutions for your Garage!

Organize your garage and help simplify your life with unique garage cabinet and storage solutions. From garage storage cabinets, garage workbenches and storage walls, to storage lifts and overhead storage racks, you'll find everything you need to organize your garage.  We offer cabinets that are designed specifically for the temperature and humidity extremes found in the typical garage environment. From sealed exterior finishes to heavy-duty hardware, these cabinets are designed to last a lifetime, and still work and look great. Maintenance is minimal...just wipe with a damp cloth. Available in 10 colors, we have many products to suit your storage needs:


Workbench Cabinets - Need an area for gardening, a woodworking shop, or an auto shop? Workbench Cabinets will fill your needs. Workbench Cabinets will organize everything in easy reach. Doors open wide for easy access and full-extension drawers let you reach even the back corners. With a huge assortment of components and sizes available (more than 300 variations!), these garage cabinets can be configured in nearly unlimited combinations. The off-the-floor design comes in a rugged powder-coated finish, and are designed to take nearly anything everyday life can throw at them.

Slimline Cabinets - Unique in the industry, these cabinets are designed to fit into spaces other storage cabinets can't. Slimline cabinets are available in two styles; storage cabinets and lockers. They feature a tall vertical design and can fit in areas with less than 20" of depth and as little as 16" of width.  Lockers: 16” wide cabinets feature a single door, and are great for use as individual lockers for family members or employees, or for general storage. Available in 12” or 15” depths. Storage Cabinets: feature bi-fold doors that open wide for easy access, but need only 7” of clearance to open. Shelves adjust to fit any need. Available in 12” or 15” depths, and 16" or 32" widths.

Wall Storage Systems - Free up your cluttered floor space with these flexible, wall-hung storage solutions. StoreWALL™ features heavy-duty interlocking panels of industrial grade thermoplastic and are waterproof, mold and mildew resistant. These garage wall organizers are great for keeping everything from bikes to toys to garden equipment off your floor, in sight and in easy reach. A large selection of shelves, hooks and pegs are available to complete your organizer.

Storage Lift Systems - Need room for a garden tractor, motorcycle, snowmobile or other large item, but have no space on your floor? Our Loft-It™ Storage Lift System can lift 1,200 lbs. up to 6 feet off the floor. This motorized lift is key-controlled to keep it safe from kids, and everything folds flat against the wall when not in use. Easy to access at any time or great for out-of-season storage.

Overhead Systems - Our Super-Pro Ceiling Storage Racks are an economical way to add additional storage overhead. Ideal for boxes or storage containers and out of season items. Constructed of steel with a durable white finish, they feature adjustable heights to suit your needs. Multiple units can be used to increase your storage.

July Spotlight: Dan Duster - Motivational Speaker, Activist and Seminar Instructor

If you want to learn how to influence people; you’ve come to the right place. Dan Duster is known as The Influence Man! As a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, he's influenced over 50,000 people.

He’s been influential most of his life. His passions are youth empowerment, social justice and personal and community development. As the great grandson of Ida B. Wells, he talks about her struggles and triumphs in the late 1800’s to motivate audiences to overcome the obstacles we face today and Stand Up against injustices in the workplace and our communities. He is a qualified trainer with the Institute of Cultural Affairs where he designs and delivers programs and training in Strategic Planning and in Group Facilitation Methods.

He has helped people improve their personal relationships, dramatically increase their sales (as much as 50% in one month) and achieve their life dreams. Now he wants want to help you. He has a system for establishing your goals, improving your communication, mastering your ability to influence others and then developing your own personal strategic plan to enhance your life. If you feel that you are stuck in a rut and you are not achieving the things you are capable of, then 'Create Your Abundance Series' is for you. The series is designed to help you to progressively increase your ability to decide exactly what you want and be able to obtain it, and start THRIVING.

"It is the best series that I've put together. I've talked with Millionaires to get their insight into what it takes to Create Your Abundance."

As a result of his ability to influence people, he has accomplished the following:

High School: Whitney M. Young
Student Government Parliamentarian
Junior Class President
Senior Class President
Homecoming King
Most Popular
Most Likely to Succeed

College: University of Illinois - Urbana in 1991
President - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Student Government – Executive Board
Vice President – Minority Commerce Association
Para-Professional Career Consultants
Member – Chancellor Student Advisory Committee

Activities:
TRC - Executive Board
Illinois JumpStart– Founding Board Member & Ex. Bd
Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention –Founding Board Member & Ex. Bd.
Member - University of Illinois Student Affairs Advisory Council

Businesses:
Owner/Founder – 3D Development Group (www.3ddevelopmentgroup.com)
Owner – Local Motivators (www.localmotivators.com)
Owner – Crafty Communication (www.craftycommunication.com)
Speaker – Dan Duster (www.danduster.net)

Duster’s family has had a positive influence in the Chicago area for decades going back to his great-grandmother; Ida B. Wells. He educates people about her legacy as well as the struggles and triumphs of other leaders in African American history. A community activist himself, Duster is a board member and advisor to several organizations. He also created the Life Readiness Program, a program focused on giving inner city youth the skills necessary to be successful in life.

He was one of the speakers along with Senators John Kerry and George Allen at the U.S. Senate press conference in 2005. He's presented at The Federal Reserve, Allstate, Exelon, Sears, DePaul University, Northeastern Illinois University, Loyola, University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin, filled in for Les Brown and Ryan Baker, and was the keynote speaker at McCormick Place for the CPS Model United Nations program and many more events.

Duster has impacted audiences across the nation through his workshops and keynote speeches. He has created several books and motivational CDs and has appeared in The Washington Post, on CNN.com, Fox TV, and dozens of publications and radio stations. In 2006, he was included in the first edition of Who’s Who in Black Chicago. He was also nominated to the White House for his volunteerism and impact on the community.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

"Fabulous Foundations": The latest in Garage flooring

Using garages as just a place to park the car is a thing of the past. Garages are now being utilized as workspaces for crafts, hobbies and home businesses. In many cases, the garage is the preferred means of entering a home. So, while considering the transformation of the walls and ceilings, complete the project by finishing the floor as well.

There are a variety of choices that fall under two categories: floor coverings and floor coatings. Some are do-it-yourself, and others require professional installation. Below are the pros and cons of each.


COVERINGS

Rubber Mats - these mats simply roll out onto the floor and are held in place along the edges with double sided industrial strength tape.

Pros: they are easy to clean from oil and other chemical spills, and can cover any surface from bare concrete to damaged floor coverings.

Cons: does not supply protection of concrete and may trap moisture which can cause deterioration of the concrete floor.


Plastic Tiles - durable plastic material that simply snaps together. The tension between the tiles is what holds it in place so no adhesive is required.

Pros: because each tile has to be laid individually, it allows for more creativity with the design, and once installed it can be driven on immediately.

Cons: deterioration of the concrete floor can still occur due to moisture being trapped underneath.


COATINGS

These products are painted on and they bond to the bare concrete providing an excellent protective barrier. Also, resin flecks are applied to not only provide aesthetics but to add non-skid resistance.

Epoxy floor coatings - The most popular type of floor coating

Pros: cost effective and available in a wide variety of colors and textures

Cons: takes several days to install, and requires waiting up to a week be driven on.


Polyaspartic/polyurea coatings - used for many years in industrial settings and now making it's way into residential garages.

Pros: provides better chemical and UV resistance than the epoxy. It also dries quickly and can be driven on within 24 hours. It is 98% more flexible than epoxy making it resistant to cracking. Can be installed in temperatures ranging from -20F to 120F, where epoxy range is 60F to 90F.

Con: the most expensive to install.

May Spotlight: Katie Brady the Music Lady

Katie Brady the Music Lady will rock, wiggle and giggle with your little ones in an interactive, audience participation performance. Katie Brady the Music Lady specializes in music education and entertainment for ages 0-6. If you are looking for a playful, rockin' show for your children's venue, school or birthday party, go to www.katiebradythemusiclady.com and discover the fun. If you're happy and you know it, come dance and sing with Katie Brady the Music Lady.


Former front woman and co-writer for San Francisco-based bands CrackerJack Tattoo and Sweet Harriet, morphs into "Katie Brady The Music Lady" to create a playful and interactive show for children. Miss Katie fills a room with fun playing kid's favorites like "The Wheels on The Bus" and singing some of her original children's songs that are bound to become new favorites like "Crazy Day" and "Pet Rock"!

"This has been such a wonderful and natural addition to my music life. Having children of my own and teaching music to pre-schoolers has provided me with a glimpse of what music can do for kids and, well, for everyone. It can turn a grumpy face into a happy face. It can challenge, instruct and add joy to every situation."

Having been involved in various aspects of music her whole life, Katie wants to share her love of songs and creating songs.

"You can make a difference in someone's life with music. I want to be a giver in the world and music is my gift."

For more information on Katie Brady and the servcies she offers, please visit her website at http://www.katiebradythemusiclady.com/ or contact her via email at katiebrady@verizon.net

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

'Bright' Ideas: The benefits of accent and task lighting!

Accent lighting creates a mood, and highlights the paintings, photos, furniture, walls, cabinetry and the decorative items you have inside. Task lighting directs light to a designated area to illuminate work spaces or aid in making appropriate color choices with clothing and accessories. Explore your style from the list below to help you chose the lighting appropriate for your needs:

Track Fixtures are offered in a wide range of styles and finishes and are ideal for spotlighting apparel or illuminating those hard-to-light areas.

Monorail Systems are a flexible alternative to track lights as they can easily be shaped during installation to meet your needs.

Wall Sconces are an ideal way to use an empty wall to achieve a flattering and decorative lighting solution.

Recessed Fixtures have been upgraded from the large lenses with a strong glare to smaller lamps that come with a directional feature for precise task lighting.

Tape Lights are ideal for those small cove, accent or toe space areas and are available in a variety of colors.

Button Lights can be recessed or surface mounted to highlight cabinets or shelves.

Light Bars can be easily installed under cabinets and come in a variety of lengths.

Surface Mount Fixtures are a simple lighting solution and are available in a variety of colors, styles and finishes and are now available in a broad range of styles.

Many of these solutions feature long life and low energy use.  For a complete selection of colors and options, please visit your local home improvement store.

April Spotlight: Deb Keirce Fine Artist

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany


Debra Keirce is a fine artist living and working in Northern Virginia. She is a member of several art societies, and has exhibited and sold her work throughout the nation. Her signature style is realism that uses intense color and detail, and her passion is miniature art, which is created using magnifying lenses. In fact, she is featured as one of the Piedmont region's most successful miniature artists in the winter 2010 issue of The Piedmont Virginian magazine.


Debra has been creating commissioned artwork for the last three decades. Her regular clients include a custom puzzle company in New England, realtors, and collectors of miniature art. Currently, she is focused on entering juried art exhibitions and shows throughout the United States.

Are you are looking for a one-of-a-kind gift? A portrait of a loved one or pet, a painting of a special house, church, or building? These are all wonderful keepsakes to celebrate special occasions. All of Debra's materials are archival quality, and will last for generations. Consider commissioning a painting or drawing in acrylic, oil, watercolor, pen and ink, or pencil. Most pieces can be completed within 2 to 3 weeks.

For more information please visit Deb's website at http://www.debkart.com/.
You may email her at DebraKeirceArt@Yahoo.com, or call her at 571-236-0047