Archives for 2015
9 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Appeal for Less Than $75
April 6, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Whether you’re selling your home or just looking to freshen it up, check out these inexpensive ways to transform it
Adding value to a property shouldn’t be of interest just to those who are planning to sell in the near future. Many of the small improvements you can make when preparing to sell not only can add value, but can increase your enjoyment of your home. So whether you’re selling or staying put, consider these small improvements you can make for less than $75 (and a little elbow grease).
See Where Home Buyers are Going Green
April 5, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Check out this snapshot from NAR Research of the green and energy-efficient home features popular with recent home buyers. You’ll learn how many buyers cited green/energy-efficient factors as a reason for their new home purchase and how important various features were to them when they chose their dream home. Read more.
Clean Up Your Cleanup Zones
April 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Make chore time more pleasant by tidying up your laundry room and updating cleaning tools
Cleaning house is hard enough work already. Why make it even less pleasant by putting up with ratty scrub brushes, worn-out rags and disorganized, cluttered cleaning spaces? From the laundry room to beneath the sink, get your spaces and cleaning tools shipshape with these eight ideas. And while it may be a stretch to think this will inspire you to clean, at least you can feel good knowing that starting cleaning tasks will be a bit easier.
8 Cost-Effective Ways to Get a High-End Look
April 3, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Don’t discount that expensive material yet. By using a small amount in a strategic way, you can get a luxurious look without the expense
Buying materials and finishes from big-box stores can certainly save you tons of money on your project. But if you’re not careful, you can also run the risk of creating a space that feels just a bit too generic. That’s why I’m a big fan of buying just a little bit of a high-end material and using it in a way that maximizes impact. The high-low mix can really make your whole home look like you’re living beyond your means — even if you’re right on budget. To make sure your taste for the finer things is satisfied, here are my key ways to splurge.
Vintage Armoires and Cabinets Add Storage — and Character
April 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Traditional armoires and wooden cabinets can keep order beautifully throughout your home
A traditional armoire is ever so grand in the bedroom, but usher it into the dining room and it works in a different way. For storage that looks elegant and is also practical, take a fresh look at your wardrobe, wooden chests and cabinets.
FALL HOUSE | AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE
April 1, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Fall House is a spectacular holiday home located on a dramatic setting in Carmel Valley Village, California, winner of numerous awards. Designed by the San Francisco based architect studio Fougeron Architecture, the three-bedroom house is anchored in the natural beauty and power of the California landscape, embedded within the cliff 250 feet above the Pacific Ocean and offers breathtaking views from its floor-to-ceiling windows.
Wake Up Tired Furniture With Paint, Paper and Fabric
March 31, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Give ordinary pieces a new spin with crafty updates, like a fresh tabletop, decorated sideboard and wall-size pinboard
Not the DIY type but still hankering for a creative interiors project? The answer could be style hacking — shorthand for taking an existing piece of furniture, be it a tired old chair or an off-the-shelf bookcase, and adding some quirky, crafty personality. (The trend began a while back when clever folks discovered they could give Ikea staples new life with a few smart style tweaks.)
Style hacking sits in that happy space between DIY madness (new headboard built from scratch? No problem!) and mass-manufactured blandness. The result can mean an original piece for the price of a tester pot of paint or a roll of wallpaper — ideal if, like many of us, you’re on a budget but don’t want cookie cutter interiors. The following projects are achievable even for beginners.
11 Ways to Save Water at Home
March 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Whether you live in a drought-stricken area or just want to help preserve a precious resource, here are things you can do to use less water
Americans have been blessed with a steady supply of clean water, for outdoor as well as indoor use. It’s a privilege we often take for granted. But with much of the western United States in a severe, years-long drought, attention is turning to water use — and abuse. California regulators this week tightened emergency restrictions on water use, including for residential landscapes, and said tougher restrictions could be on the way. California governor Jerry Brown and lawmakers unveiled a $1 billion planThursday to address the state’s drought. Other areas of the country also are promoting water-saving programs.
Although agriculture and business account for a large portion of U.S. water consumption, residential usage is substantial — and it’s within each person’s control. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reportsthat the average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water a day. The agency says that by switching to more efficient appliances and fixtures, we can cut our water use by 30 percent. Being water wise takes more than just machinery, however. A little care and common sense go a long way toward minimizing waste of this increasingly precious commodity. Here are 11 tips for reducing water consumption at home. Not only will your water bills go down, but every drop you save will help ensure that our taps will never run dry.