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People renovate their houses for different reasons, one of the most common reasons being to increase the total value of the house. The most recommended renovation for your house is the bathroom renovation. Your bathroom renovation is not only a good way to hike your house’s worth, but also an effective way of increasing the space and hence the efficiency of the bathroom. You will need a couple of things for a successful bathroom renovation, as explained in this article. These necessities not only include the choice of bathtub designs or tile patterns, but also unexpected expenses and other unpleasant requirements that you have to think about.

1.    Budget

The budget should be your first priority. The first thing you need to recognize is that the more work you need on your bathroom renovation, the more you will spend. The larger the bathroom you intend to build, the more the budget increases. The best way to go about this is to set a limit on the amount of money you intend to spend on your bathroom renovation. The discussion with the contractor will then determine the amount of work and number of items you will be able to purchase for the resonation.

2.    Time requirements

You need a lot of time for the renovation. This time includes the time you need for planning the renovation as well as the amount of time you need for the entire remodeling process. You need to ensure that you plan all the required time to the completion of the renovation. Ensure that each process discussed with the contractor gets enough time.

3.    Unexpected needs.

It is possible for your project to have extra requirements that are foreseen by neither you nor the contractor. Systems such as plumbing systems or electricity systems might have faults that you did not know about. A complete bathroom renovation should include a complete replacement or repair of such systems to ensure that the functionality of the bathroom is at its peak. You should also ensure that you have extra time and money to deal with such issues when preparing the work schedule and the budget.

4.    Contractor

Although it is possible to perform the complete renovation without the help of a contractor, it is important that you consider hiring a professional one, especially when you have limited skills in the project. A contractor will help you decide the appropriate and precise measurements of the renovation and advice you on various factors such as the requirement for any replacement or repair of certain parts of the bathroom such as the plumbing, electricity and the best position placement for certain elements of the bathroom including cabinets.

5.    Measurements

Measuring the current bathroom is important. Even more important, is the measurement of the new bathroom. You need to how you will gain the additional space for the bathroom. You should understand that these measurements might affect additional aspects of the bathroom including the plumbing and electricity systems. It is also important to realize that the items you need to purchase for installation in the bathroom will also depend on the measurements. Your precision when making measurements and calculations will determine the success rate you have in the renovation.

6.    Style and preferences

Why do you want to renovate? What do you intend to replace? What improvements do you have planned? All these surround your preferences and the type of changes you intend to make. You should research on the available designs for certain elements of the bathroom including the tiles, wall paint, sinks, toilets and any storage, for instance cabinets. You should research on the best designs, alignment, and placement of different components and make efforts to choose a combination that complements each other.

7.    Walls and floors

Your walls and floors should have a certain waterproof element considering that it is a bathroom. You should choose different styles and designs for the color and the patterns of tiles on the bathroom floor. Ensure that they match you preferences and bring out the best of your bathroom.

8.    Lighting

The amount of light for your bathroom, whether night or day, is important. Without adequate lighting in the bathroom, you increase the chances of a fatal accident happening to the users of the bathroom. Adequate light per square area should be enough. Ensure that you make use of natural light during the day and that you have great artificial light for the dark times of the day.

Your bathroom’s efficiency depends on a number of aspects that include the arrangement and design of the different components of the bathroom, the lighting, as well as the space. The renovation project would greatly improve the functionality of the bathroom. However, when you do it wrong, you will face a loss as the bathroom will still have problems, which you should have eradicated during the planning phase.

Food and Drink

Duomo 51 Hit or Miss With a Great View

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Are you looking for a summer rooftop terrace with a view of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center?Duomo 51 is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails. Finding the restaurant is not the easiest as there is no sign outside, as of yet. Duomo 51 is located on the seventh floor of the DoubleTree Hotel directly across the street from Rockefeller’s Center.

You take the elevator to get up there and it is under renovation and dirty, but once the elevator opens there is an expansive dining room that leads into the glass-enclosed terrace, with views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The terrace features a retractable roof and heaters. On either side will be cocktail bars and chairs that over look Rockefeller Center.

Duomo 51, opened a month ago and it really needs time to get the kinks out. The terrace is not finished and seems a little sterile. The servers are not exactly trained. When my first server poured my water, he got more on my phone, glasses and table and then walked away without cleaning it up. When I asked for a paper napkin he reached over and took the cloth napkin and didn’t even wipe the top which would have had more water flying, until I asked. Thankfully I ordered a drink and that was perfection. Lost in Rome ($20) is Vodka served with a blueberry Puree, lime, mint and ginger beer served in a shaker.

The menu is Tuscan-Italian inspired, so for appetizers we started out with Burrata ($20) with tri colored Herman’s tomato’s lightly glazed with balsamic and olive oil. The Burrata melted in your mouth and was delicious with the sun-dried tomato olive oil served with the bread. Delicious.

The fabulous olive oil with sun-dried tomato’s

We also had the Gamberi al Brandy ($25) grilled shrimp with cannellini beans, fresh tomatoes, and cognac sauce, but the sauce is non existent, so basically grilled shrimp with beans, that lacked flavor. Yeah for the delicious olive oil infusion.

I ordered a Malbec, Aymara ($15) that had a nice balance and body.

For our main course we shared the handmade pasta Carbonara style ($27) Spaghetti here is served with organic egg, pecorino cheese, smoked pancetta and ground pepper is offered. When the cheese was served it was not freshly ground and the dish lacked peas and had too much salt, so nice but not great.

We also ordered Dover Sole (MP) prepared table side. This delightful fish was lightly sautéed and was served in a lemon sauce, but not enough of it. Also though the fish was deboned, it was not served to us. They offer the wrong utensil, so when serving myself the fish slid off the spoon, but the dish itself was something I would order again.

For dessert homemade Ice Cream with warm berries ($12) and a homemade Panna Cotta with fresh berries ($12). Both of these were truly wonderful. My guest had a cappuccino ($6) with a heart on top, as well. It was a terrific ending.

Duomo 51 offers elegant private event spaces with many different attractive setups based on the size of the party and occasion and you can have a party up to 130.

The lavatory/bathroom is located down a flight of long basement stairs and is not so clean. Also on the elevator down there is no L button instead you have to push G for ground. All 6 of us in the elevator thought that stood for garage. Still there is much to admire about Duomo 51 and look forward to trying them again in another couple of months. However if you are planning an Easter brunch, this just might be the perfect place for Brunch.

Duomo 51: 25 W 51st St., 7th Floor

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Events

Hoodwinked from Heaven Looks At Alzheimer’s

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Hoodwinked from Heaven makes its NYC debut at Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton’s Symphony Space, 250 W 95th Street on Sunday, May 7, 2023 @ 3:00 PM

Elisa Brown wrote Hoodwinked from Heaven for her late father Bill who suffered with Alzheimer’s. In this heart-warming, knee slapping, one woman show, Elisa kicks up her heels and spins some Tall Texas tunes and tales inspired by true family stories. This show celebrates the deeply American music that kept Elisa’s family alive with hope and laughter and continues the legacy of her father’s character and love.

Originally trained as a classical singer, Elisa’s  has been thrilling audiences around the globe for decades. She sings a wide range of vocal styles – from country to pop to Spanish musical theater and opera. Elisa now  takes her to solo performances on Off-Broadway, The Bitter End, and Carnegie Hall, as well as to concert venues in South America, Spain, and China, and onwards. She had her own show on PBS, The Heart of Art with Elisa Brown. Her CDs, The Ave Maria Experience and New World, was co-written and co-arranged with Grammy winning producer Barry Goldstein, and has garnered worldwide praise.

If you know or have someone suffering from Alzheimer’s this show just might help lighten the load.

For Tickets ($45) and more info: www.elisabrownmusic.com

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Business

Maximize Your Money: 6 Simple Ways to Get Your Money Working for You

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When you want to build wealth and strive toward financial freedom, it’s not just about earning more money. It’s also about putting that money to work. Whether it’s investing in a mutual fund or working with tax accountants to find the best deductions, below are six ways to maximize your money:

1. Invest in a mutual fund 

Mutual funds are a great option for those who may not have the time, knowledge, or resources to manage their own investments. By pooling money together with other investors, mutual funds provide access to a more diversified portfolio than what an individual investor could achieve on their own. This reduces risk while at the same time providing opportunities for growth.

Mutual funds often have low minimum investment requirements, making them accessible to a wider range of investors. Before choosing a fund, ensure that it’s a good fit by reflecting on your risk tolerance and investment goals.

2. Methodically save for retirement

Prioritize saving for retirement when considering how to maximize your money. One way to do this is through an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a superannuation fund in Australia or a 401(k) in the US. 

Both plans allow you to contribute towards retirement savings in a way that helps you save more and reduce your taxable income. Ideally, you contribute as much as you can on a monthly basis to ensure a comfortable retirement. If you want to boost your retirement planning strategy, you can go for something like a self-managed superannuation fund or Roth IRA. 

3. Buy rental property

Rental properties can be great investments because they generate passive income month after month, year after year. The key to success with rental properties is understanding what types of properties will be most profitable in your area and finding good tenants who will take care of the property and pay their rent on time. 

4. Open a high-yield savings account

By putting your extra money into a high-yield savings account, you can potentially earn more interest over time, helping your money grow without any additional work on your part. High-yield savings accounts tend to offer better interest rates than traditional savings accounts, which means your money can work harder for you. 

This can be especially beneficial for long-term savings goals or emergency funds. Just be sure to compare account options and fees before selecting a high-yield savings account to ensure that it’s the right fit for your financial needs.

5. Start a side hustle (or two)

A side hustle is a great way to generate some extra income without having to put too much effort into it once it’s up and running. A great side hustle depends on what interests you have. Some popular options include freelance writing, selling handmade items online, and creating webinars or courses. You could even become an Uber driver or Airbnb host if you have the right vehicle or home space available.

6. Work with a tax accountant

Finally, working with a tax agent can be a smart move if you want to maximize your savings and minimize your tax bill. A tax agent can help you identify any relevant deductions and credits so you can take advantage of all available tax breaks. They can also help you develop a tax-efficient investment strategy that can help you save money over the long term.

Making your money work for you requires a bit of effort and planning. Start today with the simple tips above. Like compound interest, these simple changes can lead to big rewards over time.



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