I've got a few kitchen cabinet ideas from major and not-so-major cabinet makers Merillat, Kraftmaid, Armstrong, Thomasville, and Starmark.

I'm continually being surprised by Armstrong.  I didn't even know until today that they put out kitchen cabinets.  And I'm supposed to be knowledgeable about this stuff or something.

• Merillat - Nice cabinets with solid wood construction.
• Kraftmaid - Mainstay of The Home Depot.
• Armstrong - Linoleum, vinyl tile...ceramic tile...and kitchen cabinets.  What next?
• Thomasville - Very good line of practical kitchen cabinetry.
• Starmark - an upstart from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

In the picture here, Armstrong tossed together a kitchen-cabinet-and-banquette combination.  An interesting kitchen cabinet idea...

Image:  Armstrong

Tile floor ideas?  Well, I've laid 'em out for you--good, bad, or ugly.

My favorite?  Not the checkerboard shown here.  I've always been partial to octagonal bathroom floor tile, or to these fine 1" x 2" Ice White Tiles.

You can always swank it up with the full complement of tiles from American Olean's Candalara Series--what I term a "Roman" or "imperial" look.  But watch out:  you've got to have the house to match these pretensions, right?

Image:  American Olean

The built-in assumption from home remodeling shows, sites, and books has always been:  Remodeling adds value to your home.

I sometimes wonder if we say that--me included--to ensure job security.

It's difficult to figure out exactly what is adding value to your home.  Add a $50,000 kitchen, sell the house 5 years later, make $50,000 "profit":  conclusion is that the kitchen had something to do with it.  But with so many factors are at play, it's hard to know what's what.

This article from Money Magazine's Walter Updegrave does a great job of coming at the issue from the money angle, not the aesthetic angle.

The bottom line:  for investment purposes, remodeling doesn't pay off.  Even the highest-return remodels still fall far short of paying you back at the time of sale.

So, a bathroom remodel like the one shown here won't do you much good.

But Updegrave is no kill-joy.  He does mention that there are reasons for remodeling--comfort maybe?--other than so that you can eventually sell them off.

Image:  Hispano Azul

I'm always interested in easier, cheaper ways of doing things.  Vinyl siding.  Tub refinishing.  Replacement windows.

Not that they all have merit, but I like the fact that there is an alternative.

Countertop refinishing is just such an alternative.  I spoke to Tyler Murphy of Miracle Method at the Seattle Home Show 2 some while back, and saw examples of Miracle Method's refinished countertops.

I have to say they all look great, though I cannot comment on durability (check back with me in a decade or so).  They do claim that their finishes will last between 5 and 10 years.  Other companies say 5-7 years.

If you're head-over-heels in love with your grout, though, you'll be disappointed.  Countertop refinishing, since it's basically a high-end paint job, covers up everything, grout included.  Who knows?  This could be a good thing.

Another nice thing.  Counter refinishers will fill in divots and minor cracks before applying the bonding agents and finishes.

Image:  Courtesy Miracle Method