Planning a remodel, major repair or new home construction? Looking for some terrific features to include that won�t be budget busters? We can help! We started collecting over 1,000 uncommon, affordable convenience built-ins in 1998, when we first began writing books and consulting to help people have truly extraordinary � but affordable � homes. Here are our favorite storage ideas as well as our 10 essential storage principles. Add any of these to your next project and you�ll be on your way toward creating a home that�s truly beyond the ordinary!
There is lower compartment perfect for storing remotes and magazines. For another way to tie together your family room, try the Lewis Wood Sofa Table. Finely crafted of solid hardwood with a rich espresso finish, this slender accent table can go against a wall or behind your couch and won't stick out due to its space-saving design that curves in from the outer edges. Padded foot glides will protect your floors while the lower shelf provides additional storage space. Freshen up the look of your living room with chic and modern accent tables that will complement any home decor.The versatile design can hang horizontally or vertically. Another stylish option is the Ariel Leather Storage Bench. The dark brown finish and bi-cast leather create an appealing look while the inner compartment is perfect for storing your extra blankets, board games, and more. Bring storage into your home that's disguised as extra seating with this handsome bench.You�ll love having closets and cabinets � the pantry, too � whose lights go on automatically as their doors open, the way a refrigerator�s does. (One of the many benefits of built-in cabinets is the inside lighting that�s possible.) No more groping to find manual light switches, especially when your hands are often too full to reach for a switch � or they�re wet! This is also wonderful for kids � and adults in wheelchairs � who can�t easily reach a closet�s traditional light switch. A plunger switch is inside most refrigerators, but magnetic contact switches � similar to those used in home security alarm systems � can also do the job throughout your house.For a futon that doesn't look like one, check out the Newport Double Cushion Leather Convertible Sofa. Hand-stitched and tufted leather provide classic elegance to this modern sofa that displays smooth, clean lines and comes in black or white. High-density foam will provide your guest with a comfy sleeping space, while the steel mechanisms ensure easy set up. No matter what type of sofa or loveseat you are looking for, it is easy to find stunning selections for comfortable seating.1. First of all, the purpose of good storage is to help you keep organized. (Contrary to what your spouse or teenagers might say, it�s not merely to hide monster messes where they�ll get forgotten or require tons of time to sort through whenever someone�s looking for something!) Start your storage planning by listing all your possessions, their dimensions and where each item is normally used.According to the recent openBench Labs validation test (available at openBench - Nexsan ), Nexsan storage solutions offer the following benefits in virtual environments:Hang a detachable hamper inside a pullout or tiltout lower cabinet door or storage bench, or inside a closet door. A cloth hamper hanging on a frame makes transporting clothes or linens to the washing machine especially easy, but wire or plastic hampers also work. No more dropping items on the way to the laundry room that you might trip over! Choose materials that allow ventilation in the hamper, to prevent mold from forming on any damp or wet items that remain inside for more than a few days.9. I�d also look at traffic flows in the house. If the most frequently-used items are stored in the major traffic paths, no one will have to go out of their way to get what they need and you�ll have a very efficient house. On the other hand, you can also affect where the traffic detours through the house via where you store popular items. So if you want to eliminate bottlenecks where people often collide with each other, move the popular items to different locations so some traffic will flow along new paths.There are many handsome options for home storage that can fit any style.Incredible Accent TablesRollaway storage � with lockable wheels � can tuck into a stall built into a lower cabinet, island, closet or under a sink. Or roll into place for being used under a table, desk or countertop. Ideal for laundry hampers and garbage cans; a cart for tableware (from walk-in pantry to the table and from the dishwasher back to the pantry); file cabinets; a stack of drawers; containers for toys, equipment, gift wrapping or craft supplies; an entire island; a wagon or cart to wheel around the house while putting various items it contains wherever they belong; and so much more.You can follow Nexsan products and news on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nexsan .3. Next, I�d be sure each storage area is appropriate for whatever you plan to store there, and that each has the appropriate hardware, compartments, etc. for its contents. That means your sports equipment requires space that's different from what your music and video collections need.4. Maximized I/O performance. In the openBench Labs tests, I/O throughput reached 1GB per second streaming 128KB reads and 128KB writes using a mix of SAS- and SATA-based RAID-5 volumes. When working with a Nexsan SASBeast®, vSphere 4.1 hypervisors transmitted I/O requests exclusively to the SASBeast FC ports on the controller servicing a target volume, which boosted I/O throughput by 20% for virtual machines.4. Plan storage scattered throughout the entire house. Ideally, everything will be stored near where it's used. No point in hauling stuff through half the house just to use it!Stylish Sofas and LoveseatsPlush Arm Chairs10. My final point is to make as many of your storage elements adjustable and removable as possible. The storage spaces that work for you initially can then be modified to remain as effective as ever as your needs change.Electrical outlets inside drawers, cabinets or in appliance barns on countertops allow small appliances to be stored out of sight and used without frequent plugging and unplugging. (Ideally, everything you store in these spaces will be used nearby so you won�t need any extension cords.) You avoid countertop clutter, the items never get dusty and are always ready to use, and no one needs to fiddle with the plugs � especially when their hands are wet or arthritic. Just be sure to measure the sizes of the appliances you plan to store before you finalize these spaces� dimensions, so you avoid any surprises about something not fitting inside.8. Make your storage areas accessible so none go unused just because they can�t be easily reached.Every living room should have ample storage and display space that's as stylish as it is spacious. With its contemporary design that will make anyone do a double take, the Magic Shelf will provide extra room to display photos and more while bringing a chic, artistic touch to your decor. The wall-mounted design means that this shelf won't take up valuable floor space and it comes in two sections so that you can create one long shelf or split it up into two pieces to best suit your wall. Condensed wood and a veneer finish ensure durability.
© Copyright 2005 - 2006 by Carol Abrahamson/ExtraOrdinary Homes. All rights reserved.
Author: Carol Abrahamson
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