Archives for 2018

These Social Media Trends Are On The Rise In 2018

There’s no doubt social media will remain center-stage in our lives this year, but what type of content will make you shine this coming year?Unsurprisingly, video will remain the preferred vehicle for information. By 2020, around 80 percent of global internet traffic will be attributed to video, so it’s smart to get in right away! Choosing video makes sense when we look at the stats: almost 95 percent of video messages are retained by viewers, compared to only 10 percent of text content. Who wouldn’t want a piece of that?

Another trend? Generation Z is filled with true digital natives, with more than 30 percent using YouTube, 25 percent using Instagram and 14 percent using Snapchat. This year also brings good news for every content maker out there: investment in influencers is on the rise across all platforms and has even trumped classic email marketing campaigns. The increase in investment has its reasons: influencers can increase your conversion rates tenfold. Not bad in our book!

Another trend that won’t comes as a surprise? Smartphones gain more popularity every day, and by the end of the year, the world will see nearly 2.5 billion of them in use. That’s why social media platforms are developing better functioning mobile versions: more than 50 percent of screen time in the U.S. is on the phone, so it’s only logical mobile versions need to be up to the task. We wish you luck creating winning content this year!

 

A New Survey Reveals How Much That Kitchen Remodel Might Cost You

It’s a good starting point, but the true cost will depend on regional and other factors

Many things in life can be boiled down to one central concern: What’s this going to cost me? When it comes to remodeling a kitchen, the answer isn’t always straightforward. The size of your space, the scope of work involved, your DIY abilities, the quality of materials you choose and even your geographic location all play a part. But if you’re going into it blind, a new study from Houzz, which surveyed more than 1,700 users about their kitchen renovations, can give you a solid jumping-off point and offer ideas on how you might allocate that budget.

What Does a Pianist See? | Eye Tracking

Using eye tracking glasses, this video answera the question of what a pianist sees while playing.

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A Language Made Of Music

You might have heard of Esperanto, an language that’s supposed to be internationally accessible. You probably haven’t heard of Solresol, a language entirely based on music. Its creator was an idealist, and hoped that he could unite all humankind with a universally accessible language built on something we all know: music. Solresol combines the do-re-me syllables used for teaching music into two-, three-, and four-syllable words, grouped into categories of similar words. Because there are only seven syllables, the language easily translates to hand signals.

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Steinway & Sons – A World of Excellence

A World of Excellence is the first documentary of its type in China to focus exclusively on the history, philosophy and heritage of the global luxury brands.

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Before and After: Revamped Master Bathroom Shines Bright

A layered lighting scheme, muted color palette and bevy of reflective finishes transform this Minnesota master bath

Bathroom at a Glance 
Who lives here: A professional couple
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: About 300 square feet (28 square meters)
Designer: Paul Knutson of Knutson Residential Design

The master bath was the only area left in the house that hadn’t been remodeled since the homeowners moved in. But just because it was the last room transformed in the house doesn’t mean it was the least important. “Our clients desired a glowing transitional bathroom with the same sophistication and cohesive architectural vocabulary found throughout their home,” says designer Paul Knutson. “They wanted a more open plan, better lighting and storage, a more luxurious bathing experience and a more defined connection with the master bedroom.”

The Superhero Theme

A look at the way hero themes are written.

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How Tiny Tiles Can Elevate Your Bathroom’s Style

Thanks to their ability to add texture and subtle pattern, petite hexagonal and penny tiles may be here to stay

For a bathroom to stay fashionable, it’s usually a good idea to stick to tiles that are classic and fairly neutral. But that doesn’t mean they have to be boring: Small-scale hexagonal tiles add texture, pattern and even a touch of glamour. Penny tiles, their softer-edged sister, can give a similar effect and are included here.

Should I Wait Until Next Year To Buy? Or Buy Now?

  • The Cost of Waiting to Buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices & interest rates were to increase over a period of time.
  • Freddie Mac predicts interest rates to rise to 5.1% by 2019.
  • CoreLogic predicts home prices to appreciate by 4.3% over the next 12 months.