Archives for 2014
Homeowner’s guide to saving money, energy & the environment
May 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Owning a house is a hefty financial undertaking, so where there are opportunities to save a little green (because, remember, there may be a lawn to worry about again, too) and be a little greener, there’s no reason not to take them.
This infographic from Living Direct provides some great suggestions saving energy, and therefore money, all over the house.
What to Know About Budgeting for Your Home Remodel
May 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Plan early and be realistic to pull off a home construction project smoothly, using these strategies from a pro
The budget conversation — it’s sometimes awkward, often slightly uncomfortable and usually comes with a bit of anxiety. Because of the nature of construction, things often cost more than what homeowners think. There are endless debates on why that is, but the result is that we designers often have conversations with clients that end with an awkward silence. The silence usually means that certain aspects of their project might be out of their reach. And truth be told, we really don’t like being the messenger in these conversations. We want our clients to be satisfied with the process and get what they really want.
But the flip side of that conversation is that budget constraints can make a project better. Just hear me out. What we find is that financial considerations make our team and clients focus on what’s really important. That pressure helps edit down the myriad choices and allows a more coherent story to emerge. And it all comes back to sticking to that budget. Here’s how.
Tiny Cabin Can Be Moved and Placed Anywhere
May 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Getting away from it all once in a while is something that we all look forward to, but a getaway that can be delivered to wherever you are? That’s just brilliant. ESCAPE is handcrafted from Wisconsin pine and designed by the folks at Canoe Bay. It isn’t a mobile home or an RV, exactly – it’s a beautiful, relaxing cabin that can be driven to and dropped off at your chosen destination.
Clocking in at just 400 square feet, the space in the cabin is used wisely to maximize the amount of functionality in the small area. Vaulted ceilings go a long way toward making the cabin feel much larger.
The ESCAPE is environmentally friendly and energy-conscious. It’s made of sustainable materials and the interior features Energy Star appliances and LED lighting.
Fully assembled when it gets to you, all you have to do hook the Escape up to utilities and get ready for some serious relaxation. A screened-in porch with a heated bed let you relax close to nature, even when the nights get a bit chilly. A fireplace lets you warm up the place even more.
Although the ESCAPE can be moved and set up anywhere, it’s not exactly a mobile home. It has to be moved like a manufactured home and is meant to stay in one place for long periods of time. That means you just have to find your perfect vacation spot and set down the ESCAPE, then get ready for years of simple but luxurious enjoyment.
Cabins this remarkable don’t come cheap, but at a starting price of $79,000 it’s cheaper than a high-end RV. And perhaps the added value of not having to find a spot with electricity and plumbing to park your RV is worth the cost.
Read more: http://dornob.com/eco-friendly-tiny-cabin-can-be-moved-and-placed-anywhere/#ixzz2xqnG2iac
Step Away From the Wallpaper: Why Decorating Risks Are Overrated
May 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Want to find your signature style? Try staying inside your comfort zone
In popular design shows in which designers compete against one another, “safe” is usually code for “boring” — it’s all about making a statement and standing out from the crowd. But your home is not a design contest; it’s real life. If you’ve been pressuring yourself to take more risks with your decorating choices, consider this your official excuse to let yourself off the hook. In fact, sticking with what feels easy or safe to you can actually help you tap into what you naturally love, paving the way to your own signature style.
THE POLE HOUSE Holiday House in Fairhaven
April 30, 2014 By Leave a Comment
The Pole House by F2 Architecture is one of Australias most iconic homes, and is available for rent! The spectacular beach front house is suspended 40 meters above Fairhaven Beach and offers unparalleled panoramic views of the beautiful coastline. The house was recently renovated and now features floor-to-ceiling retracting glass walls giving guests a sense of walking on air. The amazing property is currently available for rent, more details here.
5 Steps to Make Your Home Move-In Ready
April 29, 2014 By Leave a Comment
When it comes to selling your home and boosting curb appeal to the widest range of buyers, consider everything from front curb to your back fence. When you begin to think of putting your home up for sale – think like a buyer.
Thinking like a buyer will help you make your home move-in ready for the right buyer (or in some cases, the backlog of buyers with multiple offers). The less they think they have to change, the faster you’ll get to an offer, and ultimately, a sold property.
De-clutter
Closets get cluttered. Extra furniture get crammed into corners. Bookshelves overflow with a variety of nicks and nacks. It is important that the potential buyers see your actual home and not the stuff in your home by clearing out the extras. Every closet in your home should show off the entirely of the storage space. Every room of your home should scream “possibilities” instead of “I can’t fit one more thing in here.” An option might be to rent a portable storage unit. Box up extras, and they’ll be ready to be delivered to your next home.
Clean out the garage
The future owners of your home want to know that their cars can fit into the garage. While it might seem harsh (and everyone you know uses the garage for storage), no one wants to see the garage filled to the brim with bike parts, boxes, and haphazard clutter. Remember that portable storage unit?
Neutralize your colors
It’s hard for potential buyers to see themselves in a home that has you written all over it. This goes for brightly painted walls, wall murals, and wallpaper trim. Since your home is soon to not be your home anymore, consider taking any brightly or bold-colored walls or those areas with specialty wallpaper or mural trim back to neutral. A simple beige satin wall paint with a semi-gloss white or off-white pain trim can do wonders for giving potential buyers the “blank canvas” feeling. You want future owners to be dreaming of picking out paint — not how to get rid of not-right-for-them color decisions.
Restore grout, tile, and natural stone
Have your bathrooms and kitchen counters lost their luster? You might want to look into having them refreshed (and it’s much less expensive than having them redone). For just a little effort, you can kick up the shine on your tiling and counters and get that long-neglected grout back to clean. That “exploding pizza” incident in your kitchen and that red hair dye on your white bathroom grout could be history in an afternoon.
Shine up those hardwood floors
Get those floors gleaming. Wash all surfaces with a simple mild, soapy water first. Next, use a hardwood floor polish to bring the beauty back — and all for under $40-$50 for the average sized home. Be sure to use the cleaners recommended by each product to prevent buildup and to keep the shine going through your whole listing. There’s nothing that can kill a deal like your perfect buyer thinking that they have to refinish a few thousand square feet of hardwood. Help them see hope, not hardwood-related dollar signs. A trip to your local home improvement store can yield some recommendations for your specific types of floors and the desired sheen you want to achieve.