We Needed Lots Of Flooring

We recently purchased an existing home well below market value. The house was structurally sound, but almost all of the flooring was a mess. Flooring can be very expensive, and we certainly didn’t want to spend back all the money we had saved on the price of the house. After doing plenty of research and talking to friends with first-hand experience, we chose Simple Floors for the hardwood and laminate flooring we used in several locations. We liked the fact that HGTV recommends them and that DIY Network users had nothing but good things to say about their experience with Simple Floors. We’ve joined the legion of those who would gladly use them again, and here’s why.

Great Prices

First, the prices for their products were very appealing. They matched or beat their online competition, and were quite a bit below our local home improvement stores. Savings are even greater when a half or full pallet of the same style is purchased, so we were able to extend the hardwood flooring into our home office for what it would have cost us to use inexpensive carpeting.

Great Selection

Secondly, they offer fantastic selections of the various flooring products they sell. What good are low prices if the selection is terrible? Simple Floors features quite a few different manufacturers and their various lines, with a wide assortment of colors and patterns in each one. Good descriptions of the products are also part of each page.

Great Website

Using the Simple Floors website is a pleasure. It’s easy to navigate to the style of flooring you want to peruse. The brands are shown, pricing is displayed very clearly, and the samples load quickly. A feature we really like is the information section that tells where the floor can be laid, e.g., over concrete or wood subflooring, how it can be applied, and what exactly the product is made of. We called customer service with a list of questions, since this was our first foray into do-it-yourself flooring. The representatives patiently answered all of our questions and got us to the right people when necessary.

Overall Rating

We will use Simple Floors again…and again, and think a 5-Star rating is well-deserved!

Better Coffee Begins At Home
Does the coffee from the local diner taste better than the stuff you make at home? Many java lovers have had that experience, and gone searching for a coffee maker that will deliver a tastier cup of coffee. Many seekers have found the answer in the Bunn BTX Coffee Maker, patterned on commercial restaurant-style makers, employing commercial-grade materials and a patented brewing technique that delivers 10 delicious and hot cups in just three minutes. Silver and black models are offered.

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A great cup of coffee from the Bunn BTX begins in the stainless steel tank that resists taste-destroying sediment and corrosion. The internal thermostat heats the water to exactly the right temperature to extract rich, full flavor from the coffee without burning it, while the patented spray head caresses the goodness out of the grounds without forcing out bitter oils. Here’s another nice option – if you live at high altitude, try the Bunn BTX(D) ThermoFresh Coffee Maker that adjusts for lower temperature requirements. Both good looking units feature sleek, modern design and a double-walled insulated carafe that is dishwasher safe. The safety switch that will turn the heat off if you forget, for security and peace of mind.

Take A Second Look
Some users find that the Bunn BTX Coffee Maker cannot accommodate a permanent, washable filter, so paper filters are the only option – and users trying to go green object. A smaller permanent filter won’t hold enough grounds for a full pot of coffee.

Overall Rating – 4.5 Stars
No one argues about the flavorful coffee produced by the Bunn BTX Coffee Maker. Stay home and get the rich, quality brew you’ve been going out to find. Good durability is an added bonus.

Renovations Can Be Scary

Have you thought about doing any home renovations lately? It seems like a lot of folks I know are choosing to make changes to the homes they have, rather than try to sell and upgrade their living situation. They want a kitchen that functions better, with new appliances and a new layout that makes their work more efficient. Adding a work island that has power to it seems like a popular choice. Or, they are having the basement remodeled to provide more living space, and many are turning their bedroom over to one of the kids while adding a master suite addition.

Some of my friends and associates have had pretty bad experiences hiring a contractor to do the work. They don’t show up when scheduled, make a horrible mess they never clean up, or do a poor quality job. I started looking for a way to find reliable contractors to hire, and came across Renovation Experts.

Simple And Hassle-Free

The way they work is pretty simple, and it gives homeowners the confidence the work is going to be done by a contractor they can trust. You fill out a 3-step information form, and they send you a list of contractors in your area that specialize in the type of work you want done, from bathrooms and the plumbing issues involved, to kitchens which require a significant amount of electrical work. You contact the companies you want, have them out to look at the job, and they give you a no cost, no obligation estimate. Renovation Experts makes sure the contractors they put homeowners in touch with are qualified, licensed and insured, and have the expertise to do a great job.

If you are planning a renovation project to the interior or exterior of your home, it might be worth taking a look at Renovation Experts.

Convenience And Flavor In One Package
Cuisinart has been making life in the kitchen easier and more delicious for years. And nothing is more convenient or tastier than a fresh cup of coffee delivered by the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal Coffee Maker. This line features a burr grinder which produces a more flavorful cup of coffee, never bitter or stale.

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Coffee from the can never matches the flavor of fresh ground beans, and all the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal Coffee Makers keep the beans super fresh with a sealed lid to prevent moisture from compromising the flavor. Other reasons to select either the 12-cup DGB-700C or the 12-Cup DGB-900C include a large, 8 ounce bean hopper, a one-touch strength selector for a customized pot of coffee, and the 2-4 cup selector when making smaller quantities. The Commercial grade permanent water filter removes impurities, so every cup is pure delight. Program it up to 24 hours ahead, to have a fresh cup waiting, or hit the pause button once brewing is under way to pour yourself a hot cup when you don’t have time to wait.

Take a Second Look
Some users have found that the units shut off before brewing is finished, and that the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal Coffee Maker is somewhat difficult to clean. Cuisnart does offer a good warranty on defective machines, and when cleaned, these makers produce a great cup of java.

Overall Rating - 4 Stars
All coffee makers require some cleaning, and with proper maintenance, the Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal Coffee Maker is a good choice as a personal coffee maker, or for use when you have a house full of guests.

The Right Choice for the Coffee Connoisseur

Coffee lovers can be very precise about the flavor and strength of their favorite brews. When they become really picky, uh, we mean precise, they are called connoisseurs! We can all relate to that, because at times we need a rich, dark brew, maybe to get going in the morning, and at other times we want a lighter cup, that serves as a perfect complement to our raspberry cheese cake. You get the idea, and Keurig does, too. They have designed the Keurig B70 Single Cup Coffee Maker with us in mind. Also known as the Platinum Brewing System, the B70 offers options that include the choice of 5 sizes, water temperature, and strength of the brew. That translates into “ah, perfect” results every time. The B70 also offers Keurig’s 60 ounce reservoir that makes this well-crafted unit perfect for entertaining.

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When you enjoy a thoroughly customizable cup of your favorite hot beverage, the B70 Platinum Brewing System will deliver, especially when used with the K-Cup system that features delicious hot brews from some of the tastiest names in the beverage business. The coffee maker is fast enough to make 6-8 guests each their choice of hot drink in about the time it would take to brew a “one taste fits all” pot.

Take a Second Look
This is a fairly pricey coffee maker, let’s be honest. But if you’ve decided to spend a little more to get a lot more for your coffee dollar, the K70 will not disappoint. You’ll cut down on your purchases of coffee at the gourmet shops, since you have better variety and more convenience at home, and suddenly the cost is much more reasonable.

Overall Rating – 4.5 Stars
The B70 is fantastic for its customizable options. It may not deliver as many extras over the B60 as the price jump would suggest – our only possible concern in an otherwise stellar product.

Make Your Home the “Go To” Place for Gourmet Coffee!

Coffee is the communal beverage of the masses. What do we say to a friend we haven’t seen lately? “Let’s get together for a cup of coffee!” Gourmet coffee houses continue to be popular gathering spots in neighborhoods and malls. Now, however, Keurig gives you the option of bringing that gourmet coffee experience and convenience into your home, where you and your friends will be much more comfortable, with more elbow room, the background music you choose, and no door that opens every 7 seconds to let in another blast of cold air. The Keurig B60 Single Coffee Cup Maker is the perfect choice when you have an eclectic clan or bunch of pals that would never experience unity over one brand or flavor of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. This machine uses the revolutionary K-Cup brewing system that delivers one super quick, ultra-fresh, hot gourmet beverage after another, with total prep time for each being under a minute.

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If hospitality is your thing, and you regularly have a small crowd sitting around your table or living room, the Keurig B60 will keep a hot drink in everyone’s hand with ease and style. Brew the size cup and strength of the blend you want with digital control panel. The 48 ounce removable reservoir goes 6 cups deep before refilling, and the drip tray slides out so you can also slip in the monster travel mug for your morning commute.

Take a Second Look
If you buy a Keurig B60, plan to also keep a well-stocked supply of delicious K-Cup varieties on hand, to make the most of this unit, and to keep your friends coming back for more. Consider that cost when making your selection, and look around to find the most affordable online places to purchase them.

Overall Rating – 5
The Keurig B60 and the K-Cup system put a world of hot, delicious drinks on your kitchen counter. It will enhance every family meal or gathering of friends.

A Cup of Coffee Can Change Everything!

Coffee lovers know the value of a perfect cup of coffee, or two. Getting up on a Monday morning is something to look forward to when you know a hot mug of your favorite drink is just a few moments away. A groggy afternoon when your productivity is crashing takes on new energy with a fresh-brewed mug. Quiet evenings with a book or romantic ones with a lover are exquisite when something hot and gourmet is added to the mix. The Keurig B40 Single Cup Coffee Maker makes the difference. Add 8 ounces of water to this mini brewing system and it becomes your personal barrista. When it’s more than you and a friend, opt for the B40 Elite Brewing System that flawlessly delivers up to 6 customized cups at one refill. All K-cup coffee, teas, and hot cocoa mixes turn out rich, hot, and inviting.

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The Keurig B40 Single Cup Coffee Maker system is raved about by hot drink aficionados everywhere. They love its ability to turn out a rich, freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea in about the time it would take to make “instant” brands. And the K-cup variety means that every cup is perfectly customized to the taste of the individual, whether it’s just you at home with the 8 oz. model, or you and a handful of friends employing the 48 oz. version.

Take a Second Look
The K-Cup drinks are extremely convenient, but are fairly expensive. However, if you believe that life is too short to drink cheap coffee, tea, or cocoa, you won’t mind. And neither will your guests!

Overall Rating—5

A perfect cup of hot, flavorful coffee, etc., every time certainly garners our highest rating! The compelling assortment of drink options allows you to make every cup a memorable one.

More Than Company Profile And Buying Guides

When we first built this site, our goal was to provide quality information on how to select the right appliance for your kitchen remodeling project.  We wanted to give you guides to help you understand how an appliance could benefit you and help you see if it was right for your particular situation.  We also wanted to make sure that you knew something about the companies featured on this site.  We did a great deal of research and found companies that had long-standing quality records for the products they produced.  Sure, all companies have had products that hit a bump in the road and had problems.  Our goal here was to let you see that any manufacturer we featured also had a record of listening to consumers and fixing those problems.

This Was Not Enough

What visitors were telling us is that they needed more product-level information in the form of reviews.  We heard you and we are responding.

Starting next month, we will be adding a product review section to our site.  It will feature products from the categories and companies which are featured on this site and a few that are not.  We will give the low down on each of the products reviewed including pros, cons and opinion from consumers.  We hope to give you the skinny you need to know before you drop your hard earned money.

We Need Your Help

If you have a product you'd like to see reviewed please send us an email using our contact form and we'll look into it for you.  We'll let you know when we'll be able to have the review done for you.

First Up - Coffee Maker Reviews

We're going to kick off our reviews section with coffee maker reviews.  Keep an eye on your feed reader for the first installment of this series starting early November.