(ARA) - If your guest bath is trapped in the past -- don't despair! There are some quick and inexpensive changes you can make that will trick your guests into thinking you spent the time and money on a major remodel. Just follow this timeline and soon you will be showing the old bath the door.

One to Two Weeks Prior to Guests Arriving - Tackle the Walls

(ARA) - Are you doing everything you can to preserve water? You may be thinking to yourself, "Sure, I only water the grass on my assigned day and wash dishes when the machine is full." But if you run the water while brushing your teeth, flush tissue and bugs down the toilet instead of throwing them in the trash, and still have an old toilet in operation in your home, you are actually part of the problem.

Did you know that if you have a toilet from 1994 or before, it can use as much as seven gallons for a single flush? That's a lot compared to today's 1.6-gallon per flush (gfp) toilets -- the maximum allowable flush volume by law. Older toilets can also waste water through leaks, which are often undetectable. Worn rubber flappers degrade and warp and can leak up to 200 gallons of water a day. You can check for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank. If the coloring has trickled into the bowl over the course of 15 minutes, you've got a leak. (If you try this test, don't leave the food coloring in the tank more than 15 minutes or it could permanently stain your fixture.)

(ARA) - Buying a refrigerator can be a chilling experience. When you think about it, it is a pretty big investment of time, money and effort. With so many brands and features to choose from, selecting the right appliance can be daunting. You can make it a more pleasant venture by getting educated about the variety of options before visiting your local appliance retailer.

Size does matter
Before heading out to purchase your refrigerator, be sure to measure the space you have available. Most standard refrigerators measure about 65 to 70 inches high, 29 to 36 inches wide, and 24 to 32 inches deep. You should also decide how much space you will need inside your refrigerator to accommodate your weekly grocery list. The basic rule of thumb is to take the number of people in your household, multiply that by five and voila, you have the number of cubic feet you should look for in a refrigerator.

(ARA) - Can't buy a home with the kitchen of your dreams…then remodel your current home and express your personal style in every design element!

According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, business is booming for contractors and others in home improvement businesses. In fact, a recent study conducted by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates Americans will spend $160 billion on repairs and home improvements in 2007, a 3.2 percent increase over the previous year. The five most popular remodeling projects will be kitchens and bathrooms, additions, and changing the paint, floor and wall coverings.