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Posts in category Decorating on a Budget

Ceiling Fans are the Energy Efficient Way to Cool/Heat Your Home & Save $$$!

Jun26
2020
Written by mary.w

Did you know that the simple and fairly inexpensive process of installing ceiling fans will not only create more energy efficiency but will also save you $$$ on your utility bills! With even the lower end fans including remote operation, cooling your home and fattening your bank account is as easy as click click click!

Q: Can I use a ceiling fan instead of air-conditioning?Image result for Ceiling Fans
A: Not only can you, there are many benefits to doing so.

  • Ceiling fans are quiet. You don’t hear anything when you turn it on or off, or even when it is running constantly.
  • Ceiling fans save energy. They only use 50-75 watts of power. That is the same as a light bulb and less than one-tenth of the power it takes to run a medium-sized air conditioner.
  • Ceiling fans save money. Running a fan costs considerably less per month than running an air conditioner. Plus so many also have lights that you can add more lighting, including dimmer type, to your room for style and savings.    Silver Orchid Finlayson 52-inch Lighted Ceiling Fan with Reversible Blades

Q: How are ceiling fans beneficial in the summer?
A: Although a ceiling fan will not lower the temperature in your home, it will make a room feel cooler. When you open doors and windows, warm air is circulated from inside the room to the outside of your home. This action can make you feel up to eight degrees cooler! Inside tip: During the summer, run your ceiling fan in a counter-clockwise direction for maximum efficiency to lower electricity costs and to conserve energy.

Q: What kind of ceiling fan should I buy?
A: Energy Star fans are a good choice and boast being fifty percent more efficient than conventional fans!

Q: What size ceiling fan should I buy?
A: It is a grave mistake to install a huge fan in a big room or a tiny fan in a large room. Not only will it look awkward, but you might not get enough airflow.

  • Large rooms (15-by-15+): Use a fan with a blade span of 50 – 56 inches.
  • Medium rooms (12-by-12): Use a fan with a blade span of 42 – 44 inches.
  • Small rooms (8-by-8): Use a fan with a blade span of 32 inches.

Q: Where should I install a ceiling fan?
A: You should install ceiling fans in the rooms that get the most use. Once you choose the rooms, you should hang your ceiling fan in the center of the room, 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling. If the blades are too close to the ceiling, the air will not circulate.

NOTE: A great often overlooked benefit of ceiling fans is that by reversing the blade direction in the winter, you can help your furnace also be more energy efficient as well and keep your home comfortable while saving money!! In Image result for Victorian Style Ceiling Fans With LightsImage result for Ceiling Fansaddition, there are so many beautiful styles, now you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. Overall a good home purchase!

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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Re-Purpose a No Longer Used Trampoline for Outdoor Fun!

Apr17
2020
Written by mary.w

 

Looking for a great way to add a comfy lounge area for your yard this summer while utilizing an old trampoline? This is just one of many options how to reuse something your family has outgrown.  Great as a reading/resting retreat or perfect for a kids sleepover with more room and imagination building than a tent!

Photo from Facebook page  La Roue De Secours En Corse

Image may contain: outdoor

Posted in General Information, Green Living, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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Quick Budget Friendly Kitchen Updates!

Mar04
2020
Written by mary.w

The open design of most contemporary and recently renovated homes, places the  Kitchen as the centerpiece of the layout.  It’s important to note that the Kitchen is one of the rooms of most importance to potential buyers. Do you want your kitchen to radiate a contemporary and upgraded appearance that will be remembered, without the hassle of draining your bank account?

Here are some quick upgrading tips that will allow your outdated kitchen to show off some modern flare:

• Upgrade the lighting. A simple task like this will brighten the entire room, while diminishing the old fixtures that look like rusty antiques. Scattered track lighting is the Image result for small kitchen recessed lighting ideasbest approach, and adding dimmers will provide even more lighting options. If you have a little bigger budget or are handy yourself, recessed lighting is always a plus because it automatically creates the sense of higher ceilings and an expanded space. Put on dimmers for an added bonus that buyers love!

• Upgrade the cabinets, without replacing them. If new lighting displays more nicks and stains than you knew existed, sand the cabinets and paint a glossy finish over them. Or paint them white. To add a unique feature, replace a few cabinet doors with glass doors that allow you to show off your fancy dishware. If the finish is in good shape, you can create a whole new look by changing up the hardware. Check current magazines and online articles to see what kind of hardware their decorating articles are highlighting.

• Upgrade the seating arrangements. If your kitchen includes a breakfast nook,  upgrade the light fixture or the window treatments. Add a rug, in order to separate it from the rest of the kitchen. Purchase new breakfast bar stools or add pendant lighting over the bar. If your large kitchen displays wasted space, add an island! This doesn’t have to be expensive. There are so many portable islands on the market that are quite affordable.

• Upgrade the sink. A dirty, scratched up sink doesn’t allow a potential buyer to imagine a clean environment. Polish up the existing sink, purchase a new faucet for the sink. You might even consider adding a garbage disposal or a water filtration system.

• Upgrade the countertops. Decorative laminate is available for a reasonable price, and the décor looks much like the expensive options, such as granite. Laminate also lasts forever and is easy to clean, which a potential buyer should appreciate. If your area has many competing homes with granite check on prices on a basic bullnose style at a wholesale granite business. This eliminates the middle man costs of buying from a big box or design store.

If you’re really adventurous, try shopping at stores like “Restore” which benefits Habitat for Humanity. This is a great place to find that new cabinet hardware, portable island, light fixtures or even some new cabinets or cabinet faces.

Posted in Buying Tips, General Information, Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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Autumn Flowers Add Color and Life to Your Curb Appeal

Aug28
2019
Written by mary.w

As we move into Autumn and our summer flowers are starting to wither into dormancy or just outright dying, adding the deep oranges, rusts and mustard yellows to your landscape can give your curb appeal the boost it needs.  Mums are a great choice because you can get several different rich colors and types to blend into a dynamic foray of Autumn colors. If you don’t have the time or style of landscape to plant the mums, use potted ones just as effectively, either individually or grouped together.

If you’re selling, try to keep what you’re adding seasonal but not “holiday focused” such as halloween decorations. If you are a die hard Halloween decorator, keep it limited to the day before and only on Halloween. Then pull it down and focus on getting sold!

If you’re lucky enough to have nature screaming autumn around your home and you’re How-Much-Is-A-View-Worththinking of selling, DO IT NOW!! The most effective and cost effective landscaping you could hope for!

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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Garage Organizing Heaven!

Jul18
2019
Written by mary.w

Having an organized, maximally usable garage can be exciting if you’re moving into a new home and have not had this advantage before.  It can also make a huge difference if you’re selling for potential buyers to realize they have an organized space immediately that can accommodate not only their car but also the oodles of storage needs they haven’t been able to utilize before.

So, though organizing the garage may seem like a daunting task,  it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just like any other large or small organizing project, break the process up into segments. Start by going through your garage and figuring out what you are keeping, what you are giving away, and what you are throwing out. Get rid of anything you really don’t need. Then organize by separating things into groups. The pruning shears should not be mixed in with the tennis rackets and the soccer balls. Categorize these groups by how you use them and how often you use them. For example, keep all your gardening items in one spot and your sports equipment in another.

Here are some suggested categories that seem pretty universal:

*Gardening equipment
*Sporting goods
*Tools
*Seasonal items

So now that you have everything separated, how can you maximize your space while again, leaving room for your car(s)? Here are a few tips:

  • Floor to Ceiling Wall shelving or portable shelves will maximize all the available space that does not impede parking your car. If you have a standard size garage, you might See the source imagewant to park your cars in the garage with their doors open to determine how deep your shelves can accommodate without being a challenge.
  • Hang gardening tools on racks and hooks. Again, considering space, perhaps have your shelves start at 5-6 ft off the floor so you have space below for your hanging items.
  • Image result for free images of garage interiorsTo create a more finished look consider tiling or epoxy painting your floor!
  • Pegboards are always a great option for tools. Make them even more effective by outlining the shapes of the tools on the pegboard so everything goes back and fits in their own spaces.
  • If you have room for cabinets, they’re a great way to create a cleaner and clearer appearance. This also can add storage for oversized pantry items that won’t fit in your Kitchen pantry.
  • Locking cabinets placed high will help keep dangerous items out of the reach of little hands!
  • Use labeled or color coded bins on your shelves to create more organization. If you can’t afford to add shelves, purchase stackable bins that can be piled on top of each other.
  • If you have a high garage ceiling, consider lofting shelves or hanging bikes, skis, snowboards, etc. from the ceiling. There are great hooks available to Image result for free images of garage interiorsaccommodate all these items.See the source image
  • If you have the height and funds to add a stand up or crawl height attic to your garage, this is a great space to store seasonal items or items you only use once in a great while.

No matter how much or how little you can do, any form of organization will help you feel refreshed and far less stressed!

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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Transition from Christmas/Holiday to Winter Decor with Ease!

Jan10
2019
Written by mary.w

So you did a lot of Christmas decorating and now want to sell your home but haven’t had time to put away all your decorations or like the wintry look if only they didn’t look so much like the holiday. Here are a few ideas to help you transition your home for showing while it’s still winter without dating your listing by having Christmas hanging on.

  • Take berries and Christmas ribbons out of your front door wreath and replace with deep winter colored ribbons and winter faux flowers.
  • Do the same with Christmas plants so you can still enhance your home with live greenery. Remove the holiday wrapping around a pot and if the pot is great on its own, perfect. If not, replace the holiday wrap with winter toned fabric or paper or for an even quicker change, simply drop that pot into a larger pot that matches your home’s decor.
  • Holiday candles can blend beautifully with your home’s winter theme if they are winter hues with evergreen, cinnamon or spruce scents. If the candle’s label (ie: yankee candle or other well known companies) screams Christmas, soak it with sudsy water and simply remove the label. Same with the candle holder. If it looks like a poinsetta, Christmas tree or other holiday decor, take out of that stand and put in one of your own.
  • Downgrade your holiday table setting from holiday to winter by simply changing up the placemats, tablecloth, runner or napkin rings. Quick, easy changes that still maintains the beauty of the winter season.
  • Replace your holiday blankets thrown over  chair or couch with  rich, soft, winter white, cream or deep toned blanket that blends with your decor.

Since winter and winter holidays share so much in beauty, decor and presentation, take advantage of all it offers while easily and swiftly transitioning your holiday decor to a warm, inviting winter ambiance and show your home confidently as a new addition to the marketplace.

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas
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Creating the Feeling of Space in your Too Small Kitchen

Aug23
2018
Written by mary.w

Always want the feel and storage of a larger kitchen? There are a few things you can do to maximize small alcoves or inset nooks. Perhaps you have one of those built in desks that have been nothing more than a catchall that then makes your room appear even smaller due to the paper clutter.  Some tips below can take your small out of date and claustrophobic kitchen from your least favorite place to your favorite family hangout!

Remove the built in desk and add a free standing cabinet that fills tImage result for images of cabinets with glass front topshe whole space but feels open due to at least the top having glass fronts. This allows you to showcase your glassware or lovely teapots, dishes, cookbooks or other special items that have been crammed in a box somewhere. By keeping solid bottom doors you have a place to store dishes, pans and other items you want handy but aren’t pretty enough to showcase.

Do you have a small alcove in your kitchen that is not deep enough for extra cabinets or Bakers Racklarge enough to accommodate even a small table? Always wanted a china cabinet to display your loveliest dishes?  Try a bakers rack (like this one from the Container Store).  Showcase your dishes, platters, pitchers, cookie jars….all the pieces of your set and then, if you choose, use the hooks to add the shimmer of your stainless or copper pans as a highlight. You can sometimes find items like this that will fit perfectly within the area you’re trying to fill and create a beautiful display to be both admired and functional while keeping your cost to a minimum.

Don’t have spaces to add a baker’s rack or cabinet? No problem. See the source imageChange out the top doors of some of your cabinets to glass fronts. This allows you to display your glassware and dishes while expanding the visual imprint of the space itself. You can keep this affordable by replacing only a couple but the results will be immediate. Also, painting dark cabinets white can create instant visual space at a minimal cost. BUT if you decide to paint your cabinets make sure and do your research and do it well!

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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Increase Your Kitchen’s Value Without Decreasing your Bank Account!

Jul05
2018
Written by mary.w

The following affordable Kitchen upgrades can increase your value while being mindful of your pocketbook.

1.Update your cabinets by painting them and installing new hardware. Of course this is less costly if you do the work yourself BUT if you’re not great at diy projects, you might KITCHENwant to either hire someone to do the work OR reach out to a friend or family member who has proven themselves to be very handy and a good diy-er. If your cabinets end up looking repainted instead of looking like new, you can actually decrease instead of increasing the value of the ‘upgrade’. Changing out the hardware will be easier if you choose new hardware that uses the same number of holes as the old. Then you can simply unscrew the old and install the new. Maybe your cabinets don’t need painting but look like builder grade. Adding crown molding will immediately upgrade the look of your upper cabinets. Simple and effective upgrade!!

2. Change your sink and faucet. Stainless always a good choice but certainly if your home’s design warrants, farm sinks are very popular and stand the test of time because they are considered as trendy as they are retro.  Faucets should also reflect the style of your home. Big box stores along with home bargain outlets have great options at surprisingly minimal costs.  If you don’t know how to install a sink or faucet, again, don’t be afraid to ask for help or shop around for a local handyman who comes with great references for quality of work and cost to value!

3. Update or add a backsplash that blends with your countertops (if you have granite, try to match the tones with glass tiles so it looks like it was all done at that same time!) There are so many great and affordable backsplash options right now that for the minimal work involved, the value can be strong.

4. If you have old, dingy, linoleum or vinyl floors, replacing them with newer flooring or upgraded options like ceramic tile (which can be very very affordable and one of the less difficult diy projects). There are even fabulous new ceramic tiles that when installed, look like hardwood floors! Refinish hardwood floors instead of replacing but if they are too far gone, you might even consider scraping and painting them. There are sooo many great flooring ideas online. Take time to look at several and choose the one you believe you can do yourself or with a friend that will enhance your room and your pocketbook!

NEW Kitchen Appliances5. Get rid of the countertop microwave and old fashioned over range vent and replace it with a built in microwave. This can be done for under $400 and will immediately update the look of your kitchen. OR if you already have a built in microwave but an old fashioned hood, install a ductless range hood (will keep your costs down by not requiring you to add new venting). This will definitely create the look and feel of a gourmet kitchen. Anytime you’re adding or changing a hood, make sure that the height from your range to vent will fit before you do all the work and then discover you won’t pass inspection. Simply read the box before you buy and adjust accordingly.

6. If you’ve already made lots of updates and are wanting to take it to the next level of upgrade, replace your ceiling light with recessed lighting. This can certainly be more costly if you don’t know someone who can do the work, but if you do, this can certainly improve the wow factor. If you can’t afford to install recessed lighting and you have outdated or a blah overhead fixture, replace that fixture with a more current and upgraded look. Again, big box stores and outlet stores have great options at surprisingly affordable prices.  If you have a high ceiling, consider installing a fanlight!

7. Last but certainly not least, upgrade your countertops. This is a definite shop around for your best options and deals.  Granite tiles are cheaper than a slab of granite so if you want See the source imagegranite, this might be an option you’ll consider. Cement is certainly popular right now and not surprisingly butcher block is back in style. Again, shop online and then in person. Take your time!

 

The key to all of this is to set a budget and work to stay within that because it’s very easy to get wooed by the more expensive options. Doing so can possibly eliminate any value that you might have derived from all your hard work. And again, don’t hesitate to draw on friends and family that you know have the expertise to help you. They most likely will be happy to do so and possibly offended if you didn’t even give them the opportunity to assist you with your projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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Maximize your Upgrades while Minimizing Your Costs!

Jan25
2018
Written by mary.w

Want to upgrade your home to receive maximum $$ you’ve seen other homes in your area receiving but don’t have a bundle of cash to do all you desire? Here are a few ways to maximize your offering while minimizing your cost!

Granite Countertops:  Eliminate the middle man (Home Depot, Kitchen Design Shop, Granite Specialty Stores) when shopping for new counters.

Search for wholesale granite companies that supply the middle men mentioned HOME INTERIOR 006 - Copyabove. You can cut your cost by 30-50%, have a better selection of granite choices and reduce your installation costs. Consider using granite tiles as part of your design in lieu of full  slabs. This can also reduce your overall costs. One other way to reduce your cost is to stick with a bullnose edge instead of getting lured into something fancier. It still looks great but is the least expensive option. Ex: The granite you see in the photo is the same granite sold by Home Depot for $78+/sf.  The cost at the wholesale company that actually supplies the local Home Depot was under $50/sf installed allowing the entire kitchen to be done in slab granite for under $2500 installed! Take the time to shop wholesale!

Porcelain or Italian Tile, Marble & Other Stone Wall & Floor Options

  • Again search for bargain outlet stores (ie: HOBOs – Homeowners Bargain Outlet) At stores like this you can find tile and marble at a fraction of the cost of buying it at big box stores. The key is that these types of stores get in inventory randomly so make sure you purchase more than what you think you’ll need (because you 16always need more) because if you go back it may no longer be available. Ex: The marble in the photo was used for the Master Bath floor and spa shower walls at a cost of $3/sf versus the $14/sf it was marked up to at Home Depot (the exact same tiles).

 

These are just two examples of how you can upgrade your Kitchen and Baths which always bring the best increased value to your home by taking the time to shop wholesale stores and suppliers, eliminating the middle man of the typical big box or retails specialty stores. It might take a little extra work but your savings will be vast and your reward plentiful!

 

 

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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A QUICK FIX FOR PENNIES

Oct28
2017
Written by mary.w

Sometimes we can see cosmetic issues in our home that, if addressed, will present a more finished look for ourselves living there or if we’re selling, for buyers considering purchasing. BUT it’s not so easy when we can also see that our bank account will not allow us to replace all the items that need a fresh look. Here are a couple simple ideas that will refresh your home without breaking the bank!

  • If you live in an area with high humidity and consistent use of central air, you may find your metal vents showing bits (or lots) of rust and loss of color. Now, buying one or two vent covers might be no big deal but when you need to replace several or the whole home, it adds up. So instead of replacing them, scrape, sand and then give them a fresh look with a paint like Rustoleum that you can easily spray on, let dry and have a great new look in a very short time for under $5!

                          IMG_0151IMG_0155IMG_0176

  • Other items that you can use the same process on to give a fresh look and spend pennies:  Old ceiling fan: take apart, spray the body and the paddles updating an 80’s-90’s brass look to an updated oiled bronze, black or other trending color.  Old drawer pulls and door knobs? An hour of your time and they can look all brand new.

Walk through your home with a friend you trust to be honest and take notes on what you can update and refresh while at the same time, keeping your costs to a minimum!

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized
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