The concept of outdoor rooms for outdoor living and maximizing outdoor spaces such as gardens and patios has really taken off in recent years. The reasons can range from shrinking square footage in modern housing to improved products for outdoor living, but we can all agree that the extra space provides added flexibility. Before you begin furnishing an outdoor room you have to decide how [...]
f you are thinking about a master bathroom remodel, consider these suggestions for a more spa-like luxurious bath. You might even think ahead about the needs of aging and make some changes with that in mind. 1. Place plywood behind the shower and by toilet rooms so that grab bars can be added at a later date. 2. Raise the heights of the countertops to [...]
With summer approaching, it is important to consider many things in protecting the condition and beauty of both your lawn and landscaping. 1. Keep all beds and gardens mulched to keep plants more hydrated. This will also ensure that micro-organisms that help with growth of the plants, continue to increase. 2. Empty all containers with standing water to eliminate the breeding grounds for mosquitos. 3. [...]
If you have a swimming pool and you need to get ready for the upcoming swimming season, consider these tips to maintain your pool and to make sure it stays in good condition in the upcoming months. 1. Clean out your skimmer baskets and skim out floating debris from the surface of your pool. 2. Vacuum the bottom of the pool and brush the walls [...]
When you do a kitchen remodeling project in your home, countertops will account for 10-15% of the total cost of the project. Countertops are a huge component in any kitchen since they make a statement in both color and design. Take your time in making the countertop selection form both a color and material standpoint. Here are a few ideas to help you: 1. Consider [...]
Just like the clothing industry, when a new year or season starts, there are changes and new trends that everyone is talking about. Listed below are several of the "must-haves" for our current year. 1. Take a look at an environmentally friendly way to charge your phone-the U-socket. It looks like a regular wall plug, but has 2 built in USB pots for charing your [...]
It is spring and a time when many of us begin the arduous task of "Spring Cleaning." It is especially difficult when we have all that clutter in the home to even begin the cleaning process. Here are a few ideas for you to consider in the "clutter busting" at your home: Find four containers and put a label on each one: Trash, Give away/Sell, [...]
Houzz.com recently conducted an interesting study for 2014 and it's all about trends for the bathroom! The bathroom that seems to take precedence when remodeling is the master bathroom, with 60% of the respondents indicating that this is their choice to renovate. Following that is a hall or secondary bath with a 34% response on this particular survey. Many bathrooms are not just adding new [...]
Granite countertops are both beautiful to look at and durable with little or no maintenance required. If you follow these basic steps for cleaning and stain removal, it will look great and perform as you expect for years to come: If you make the maintenance of your countertops a daily activity, you will save yourself time and energy in the long run. Clean the countertops [...]
Every year, just like in the garment industry, we are introduced to the new "fashion" and design ideas for the home.These include trends, hot new items and lifestyle changes for the home that lead to a variety of new features being marketed for the home. This year, the most important look for the home is call Transitional, which is a blend of contemporary and traditional. [...]