Remodeling Talk... Top 5 Websites for Remodeling Information, Inspiration & Ideas

inking about your next home remodeling project? ese are the ve websites we recommend most for information, inspiration, and ideas. Our full list is online at our “Remodeling Talk Blog.” Bookmark that page as your starting point and check out our recommendations. en join the discussion (with your neighbors in the user comments section) and tell us about your favorites, including any we may not know about.

1. Houzz.com

Need visual inspiration? e Wall Street Journal calls this site a “digital look book for interior-decorating ideas”. Start by selecting a category like kitchens, then a style like Mediterranean. You can even use Dallas as a selection lter. en scroll through the photos and add them to your personal “Ideabook.” Have some fun lling your Ideabook with both style and product inspiration, and then share it with us in our design studio. It’s a great way to participate in the artistry of remodeling and make your home uniquely yours. You’ll also nd plenty of great articles and interactive discussions on this site.

2. Letsrenovate.com ere are plenty of great tools on this site including forms, estimators, step-by-step guides, and tips on what to consider in di erent phases of remodeling. We especially love the project estimator. Just click on “Steps” and “Run Project Estimator.” e site will walk you through your options for any type of project you choose and give you a fair ballpark estimate for what that project should cost.

3. HGTVremodels.com

You’ve seen HGTV, but their website is just as good. e remodels section has tons of inspirational photos for your next project, as well as tips, guides, and references. Scroll down on the home page for some strategies on remodeling kitchens and bathrooms. What we love about this site is the intuitive interface. Everything is organized by sections of the home, and then by subsections. You’ll nd navigation easy, and the polished, colorful look of the site is, well…a lot like HGTV!

4. Remodeling.hw.net is site is for industry insiders, but we think it gives consumers an invaluable perspective on the issues and topics that are trending among industry professionals. ere’s also some great information we recommend reading on tax credits and green building. While you’re there, check out the blogs for some useful perspectives from builders, and see the section on new products that can be used in your home.

5. Remodelista.com is clever international blog site features lots of quality writing on content areas you can sort by topic, products, and rooms in the home. Entertain yourself and expand your creative horizons by learning about architecture, DIY, and sustainable design. Enjoy the crisp photography and interact with readers all over the world in the discussion threads.

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and then you have a family living there, that’s the kind of thing we like to see.

How do you make that happen?

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❏ Additional proof needed Signed

All the community prosecutors in the City of Dallas are assistant city attorneys. We go directly to ownership because at the end of the day, it’s the owner who’s responsible for the property. We want these owners to be putting their money back into these properties to fix them up, and not use it fighting us in court. However, we have a couple of tools in our toolkit — we have authority to bring a civil suit against these owners for failure to maintain their properties. The threat of many tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees can be a powerful motivator to get their properties up to code.

Thank you for your business!

What properties in Lake Highlands are your focus?

Please proofread carefully: pay attention to spelling, grammar, phone numbers and design. Color proofs: because of the difference in equipment and conditions between the color proofing and the pressroom operations, a reasonable variation in color between color proofs and the completed job shall constitute an acceptable delivery.

We try and pick a smaller area within the police division where we feel like we can get the most bang for our buck. We focus intensively for roughly six months and see how much work we can get done by getting code problems into compliance and seeing if we can get crime stats down. We work with code enforcement and work with the police department, so it’s a team effort. My primary focus right now is Whitehurst Drive at Skillman — Fair Oaks and Ferris Branch. It’s been a traditionally high-crime area. There’s a lot of apartment complexes and also Skillman Crossing retail center. All of us are paired with a code enforcement officer — they are really the experts. We do both interior and exterior inspections. The joke is that attorneys, we speak in language and writing; the code enforcement officers speak through their pictures. The pictures don’t lie, and the code enforcement officers’ pictures are time-date stamped.

And property owners are responsive?

When the owners realize: a) that the city is taking an interest in their property, and b) there are legitimate problems that need to be addressed, many of them are happy to do voluntary compliance. It’s a powerful motivator to go to an owner and say, “We want to work with you, but here’s what happens if you don’t work with us.”

Have you taken anyone to court?

I have not had to go to court, but I’ve had colleagues around the city who have. The idea is problems can get solved more quickly and easily in the community system as opposed to in the court system when everybody lawyers up and nobody is talking to anybody except in that setting.

What drew you to this job?

I grew up in the Plano area, and had been living in Washington, D.C., for almost seven years. My family is here, and I was looking for new opportunities. I was fortunate to stumble onto this. It’s public service and the ability to sort of effectuate a change that you can see. It may not be immediate, and it’s usually not, but one of the things that drew me to the job was speaking with my current boss. He said, “It’s a wonderful feeling when you can go down the street and see a property that you knew was a haven for criminal activity or a threat to the safety and welfare of the community, and now you look at it and that property is cleaned up.” It makes me feel like I’ve actually accomplished something. I worked for law firms in the past, and to the extent you accomplished anything, it was much more esoteric. At the end of the day I thought, “I don’t want to be spending my time doing this.”

As I’m sure you’ve already learned, Lake Highlands neighbors are very engaged. How can they help you?

If people have concerns about their neighborhoods, whether it’s code violations or criminal activities, there are many agencies they can contact — 311 for code, 911 for crime — but I also want to know about it. I can’t guarantee an outcome, but I at least want to know if there’s a problem. —Keri

CONTACT PATRICK SANDERS at 214.601.1091 or patrick.sanders@dallascityhall.com.

Mitchell

Brumley Gardens

Patio time is extra special with our exceptional Bloody Mary and Wine -a -Rita mix. Let the party begin! Makes great hostess gifts! 10540 Church Rd. Dallas 75238 214.343.4900 brumleygardens.com

Once Upon A Child

Lake Highlands. In addition to BUYING and SELLING new and gently used kid’s stuff (up through 18), we have gift cards for every family member! Check our website for specials! 6300 Skillman St. #150 Dallas, TX 75231 214.503.6010 onceuponachildlakehighlands.com

The Store In Lake Highlands

Lily and Laura - Beautiful Nepal handcrafted beaded bracelets created with the finest glass and sterling silver beads.. $15 ea/ $12 ea for 3 more. Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30. 214.553.8850 10233 E. NW Hwy., #410 TheStoreinLH.com

La Mariposa Imports

Discover the beauty of cool comfortable cotton. New shipments of clothing, jewelry, fiesta and folk art arriving weekly! 2813 N. Henderson Ave. 214.826.0069 lamariposaimports.com

Hospitality Sweet

Our irresistible cup cake push-ups are the perfect treat for your summertime event! Catering custom homemade sweets and savories. Kristen Scott and Meghan Adams 214.534.2241 thehospitalitysweet.com

PINOT’S PALETTE

Join us for an unforgettable evening of fun, friends, and art where you bring the cocktails and we provide the canvases.

Check out our calendar to book your class. PinotsPalette.com/Lakewood 214.827.4668

The Goods

More than 200,000 sets of eyes are checking out these items right now. Get your specialty items or featured products in front of your neighbors that love to shop local for unique items.

North Dallas Antique Mall

12,500 sq. ft. of great shopping for antiques, collectibles, vintage, furniture, décor, retro, art, glass, fashion, jewelry, garden and more. 11722 Marsh Lane northdallasantiquemall.com

Advocate Ornament

The Advocate Foundation’s limited-edition, numbered, and hand-painted ornament; perfect gift for the new home owner or Dallas transplant. Sales benefit neighborhood organizations. 214.292.0486 foundation.advocatemag.com