Archives for January 2016

How to Clean and Care for Your Mattress

Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 9.23.13 AMSee what the experts recommend to protect your mattress from dust, moisture and stains

Americans sleep an average of 7.7 hours a day, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor. That’s a lot of mattress time. And the caliber of that sleep depends a lot on your mattress — mainly its quality and how well you take care of it. Once you’ve bought the right mattress, you’ll want to know how to properly maintain it. “Taking proper care of your mattress will help you to protect your investment and promote better sleep,” says Lin Enilk, a representative of the American Sleep Association. Here’s what experts say about cleaning and caring for your mattress.

10 Ways to Dress Up Your Kitchen Island

kitchen isalnd thumbGive this key feature a style overhaul with new paint, trim or other decorative details

The kitchen island or peninsula is often the home’s hub, where family and friends gather to help with the cooking (or just the eating). This central position makes it an important design feature and a great place to add personality to your kitchen. Re-dressing the island can provide a dramatic face-lift on any budget. Here are 10 of my favorite ideas you can use to give the heart of the house a little love.

7 Bedroom Design Trends for Tweens and Teens

Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 9.21.08 AMYou can move toward a more grown-up look while still keeping it fresh and fun

Teetering between childhood and adulthood, a teenager’s bedroom can be challenging to decorate as it looks more to the future than the past. Not only a place to sleep and do homework, it’s also a space to hang out with friends and create memories. Here are seven design ideas for tween and teen rooms that help strike the right balance of function, fun and individuality.

14 Remodeling Projects That Increase Home Value

Here’s a cool inforgraphic from the folks at ContractorQuotes.us

Remodeling-projects-that-increase-home-value

The craziest instrument you’ve ever seen or heard

eigenharpOne of my favorite childhood movies is Mary Poppins. In the movie Dick Van Dyke plays an instrument that is rather complex.

The Eigenharp is even more complex than it looks. It sounds like cross between a sax, a clarinet, a synth, drums…actually, it sounds like all the instruments. Literally all of them, both electronic and physical instruments.

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25 Design Trends Coming to Homes Near You in 2016

2016 trendsFrom black stainless steel appliances to outdoor fabrics used indoors, these design ideas will be gaining steam in the new year

The modern home is always evolving. And to get an idea of what it’s evolving to, look no further than what’s happening within its walls today. With that in mind, we delved into our New This Week series, sifting through Houzz discussions and data to find out what materials, strategies and concepts will be coming to more homes in 2016.