HOME IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
A Choice Granite and Marble LLC Company
Bring this ad in for 10% off
One-stop shop for your next
home renovation project!
Come in and work with our design team.
Hundreds of granite slabs on site to choose from.
More than 10 quartz brands to select from.
Six cabinetry lines available,
from stock to custom.
Several tile distributors for
flooring and wall accent options.
P: 412.821.3900
www.ChoiceGraniteandMarble.com
803 Geyer Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Monday thru Friday 9-5
Saturdays 9-1
TOUGH ON PIPES,
NOT ON PRICE!
WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY
OF PLUMBING SERVICES:
• Water Line & Drain
Line Repairs
• Interior Gas Line Repairs
• Water Heater Repair &
Replacement
• Faucet
Repair &
Replacement
• Drain Cleaning
• Dye Tests and
much more!
Licensed & Insured Master Plumber
412-360-4262
Call for a Free Estimate
www.petrackplumbing.com
Visit our website for a list of testimonials
Home Advisor Screened and Approved
30
724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
❘
IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES
If your family always seems to be darting
about in different directions, perhaps a game
room might entice them to spend a bit more
time at the old homestead.
A ping-pong table is a great way to get some
exercise on rainy days and evenings, and a Wii
will also get your family off the couch for a
workout. If you’ve always thought you didn’t
have the space for a pool table, it may be easier
to fit than you think. Tables come in 7, 8, 8.5
and 9-ft. options.
Above all, your game room should reflect
who you are. It can be fun and funky or classy
and elegant. It’s all up to you!
HOME SWEET OFFICE
Are you one of those lucky individuals able
to work from home? The world just seems
like a nicer place when you’re dressed in your
pajamas, doesn’t it? But work is still work. You
need a place that’s organized, designed well,
and in which you feel comfortable. Chances
are, you may also need a degree of privacy to
do your best work.
One of the most overlooked factors
in productivity is lighting. Many studies
demonstrate that natural lighting is best
whenever possible, and results in more
productivity among workers and a more
positive attitude toward the work itself.
Lighting can have a profound effect on your
mood and can even influence your hormones.
If placing your home office in an area with
windows is not possible, try the soft lighting
icmags.com
of a lamp instead and try to avoid harsh
fluorescents. Adding a silk plant or two, along
with a picture of the outdoors, will help to
transform a windowless area into a more
inviting space. Warm colors such as reds,
yellows and orange will also help warm up an
otherwise dark office area such as a basement.
Next, you’ll want to design your workspace
with cabinetry where office supplies and files
can be tucked neatly out of sight. Shelving
that is custom-designed for the way you
work can transform even a tiny space into
an efficient work area. Having cabinets and
shelves that are suited to your exact purpose
will eliminate a great deal of frustration and
overwhelming feelings of disorganization. A
designer and expert carpenter can help you
get the most from your workspace.
Just because you don’t have an entire room
in your house to dedicate to your home office
doesn’t mean that you can’t have a dedicated
workspace. Even a closet can be transformed
into a workspace with the right planning, and
the whole office can be put away at day’s end
by simply closing the closet door.
If you have even less space to work with,
try a wall-mounted desk that can be extended
when in use and can collapse flush with the
wall when it’s not. Cubby holes built into the
interior wall area can also provide places for
storage in a tight space. A creative builder
can help you make the most of your available
space.
If your office is not separated from the
rest of your home and building a wall is not
an option, there are still attractive ways to