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Posts tagged Home Improvement

Economic Interior Design

Jun11
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

decorating

When it comes to the costs of improving your home, most would assume that interior design is not an area worth considering right now. Interior designers are expensive to hire and they choose uppity items that are way out of your economic means, right? Not necessarily. Most interior designers understand that people are pocket-pinching right now, and they know the best techniques and places to shop to help you find the most affordable items. Hiring an interior designer might even save you money in the long run.

If however you’re looking to update your home without professional help, here are some tips that were gathered right from the mouths of interior designers. The goal of decorating right now, according to one designer quoted in the 2010 issue of Home & Design Magazine, is to “go into what we call the soul of the home.” This means updating the items in the house that you find most important or sentimental, while also saving money and being more environmentally conscious.

Repurposing and reupholstering items that you already have is the most popular method of design right now. This allows you to keep pieces that hold meaning and memories, to reuse a worn piece rather than throw it out, and to update the look of your piece at a low cost.

Another popular designing tip right now is to decorate with neutral colors. Some interior designers consider this the number one tip for home designing, because neutral colors never go out of style. Ten years from now, your neutral décor will still look fresh and chic. So when you go to paint, use no or low VOC pain in tans, chocolates, grays or eggplant shades, including dark purples, plums and mauves. If you are updating your countertops or floors, you should use neutral colors and renewable materials, such as bamboo or cork. When you reupholster your furniture, use neutral colors as well.

When do you embrace current trends? Since trends are always changing, a popular rule of thumb that interior designers recommend is that you paint and update permanent items in neutral colors, and then you accessorize with trendy colors. For example, turquoise is the current color for spring and summer of 2010, so home designers should accessorize with turquoise artwork, curtains, dishware, throw pillows and any item that you can easily switch out and replace with a new trendy color down the road. Also, metal art and animal prints are both popular accents right now, which also both coincide with neutral décor.

There is always a way to update your interior design and keep up with current trends while still saving money in the process!

Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged cost cutting, interior design, saving money
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Embrace Outdoor Living!

Jun04
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

outdoor living

If you live in an area of the country with four pronounced seasons, you might think that spending money on your backyard is a waste. If you can only spend time in an outdoor oasis for half the year or less, why not stick to updating the inside of your house instead? However, right now, when the warm summer sun graces you with its presence more often than not, you might really regret not having a place to soak up the rays and breathe in the fresh air. How do you solve this dilemma?

Embrace the outdoors. Nowadays, there are so many options for updating your backyard so you can enjoy an outdoor oasis year-round! Instead of viewing your backyard as separate from your house, landscape supply companies recommend that you view your backyard as an extension of your house.

For example, instead of setting up a portable grill that you can bring outside in the summer and store away in the winter, incorporate a permanent outdoor kitchen in your backyard. Not only will the appliances be more sturdy and weatherproof, but you will also have no excuse not to use them in the winter! You can brush the snow off your patio and fire up the grill. Heat your hands over the stove while you cook up a pot of chili or some juicy steaks. On a chilly autumn night, fire up the grill and roast some marshmallows or warm up some milk for hot chocolate. It is easier to bear the cold temperatures when you have warm kitchen appliances to make the atmosphere toastier!

Not willing to spend the money for a full outdoor kitchen? Opt to build a permanent fire pit instead, which will still be readily available year-round, and which will add more rustic qualities to your outdoor experience! If you stick with a traditional grill, clear a special area for the grill and add lots of outdoor furniture around it so you have no excuse not to cook outside. Loads of manufacturing companies are coming out with new weather-resistant furniture fabrics to keep up with the outdoor furniture trend.

Also, you should incorporate as much color and variety into your backyard as possible. Choose trees that burst with flower buds in the spring and bright colors in the fall. Plant evergreens that block wind in the winter. Grow perennial flowers that will reappear each year, a little more impressive than the last year. By having foliage to look forward to year-round, it will make you more apt to spend time outdoors so that you don’t miss any particular moment in nature’s transformation!

If you keep up with current trends, this will make you more apt to enjoy time in your backyard now. Why not invite all your guests over to awe over your contemporary, chic outdoor oasis? According to flower nurseries, current trends include raised gardens or flower beds that are easier to view than flat gardens. Vegetable gardens are increasingly popular because they are everything in one: visually appealing, tasty and environmentally and economically smart! While some plants and gardens become more popular, others lose their admiration, such as ash trees and yews.

Still not convinced that you can bear the Northern or Midwest weather without some sort of shelter? No problem. Gazebos can be added to your yard within hours, and most gazebos offer window options that keep the enclosure protected from winter temperatures. Another popular option is to build a patio or deck, and then to cover half of that terrace with a screened or glass enclosure. This allows you the ability to feel like you’re enjoying time outside while remaining protected from rain and wind. Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are popular features to add to these enclosures.

As you can see, outdoor options are seemingly endless, and the possibilities continue to increase as the popularity of spending time outdoors increases! Now is definitely the time to embrace the outdoors.

Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged home decorating, outdoor living
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Remodel the Right Way

May28
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

remodel the right way

Want to increase the value of your home? Want to remodel or upgrade a room? Want to make everyday life more comfortable? You can do all of the above by choosing to remodel a room with smart upgrades done right. To show you what we mean, here are three examples of possible upgrades that you might not normally think about; upgrades that will make life easier and will increase the value of your home if done right.

Kitchen Island

Adding an island to your kitchen could increase countertop space, cabinet space, organization, efficiency, sitting space and overall appeal. However, in order for the island to work in your favor, you must measure correctly. Your cabinet and appliance doors must be able to open completely without hitting the island. You must be able to comfortably move around the entire island. If you can’t measure 40 to 50 inches between the island and your cabinets and appliances, forget the island.

Floor Heating

Since hardwood flooring is considered more eco-friendly and attractive than carpeting these days, converting to hardwood could increase the value and buyer interest of your home. However, hardwood could also result in cold floors in the morning and evening. To decrease discomfort as you prepare for your day, consider not only upgrading your flooring to hardwood, but also adding heating pads to the upgrade. Since the heating pads are placed underneath the flooring, the perfect time to add this feature is when you are tearing up your current flooring anyway. Otherwise, the costs will outweigh the value.

Irrigation Systems

Landscaping is a huge hit in areas with warm weather and houses with large yards. To decrease the amount of work that you need to do in the yard, adding an irrigation system to a significantly landscaped yard is ideal. The system allows you to set when you want the system to turn on and how long you want it to run. However, contractors will need to tear up parts of your yard in order to install the system’s piping, so the best time to add this upgrade is when you’re planting new grass or ripping up grass for a garden, pond or patio. Otherwise, your yard will suffer.

As you can see, timing is everything when it comes to remodeling. Tons of options are available when it comes to remodeling or upgrading, so make sure your upgrade of choice suits your house and is worth the cost and labor.

Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged home decorating, remodeling
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Green Painting

May27
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

Experts say that one of the easiest ways to spruce up a room is to repaint it. Even if you choose neutral colors, the fresh coat will brighten the walls and hide any signs of wear and tear. As long as you’re making a change, why not make it as green or eco-friendly as possible? Because so many types of paint are available, we’re here to assist you in choosing the safest and greenest type for your house!

Tips to follow when choosing paint:

  • Always choose paint with low volatile organic compound levels, or VOC levels. These levels can pollute your air with dangerous chemicals when used in high dosages. Look for paint with less than 150 grams per liter of paint, or for paint labeled low-VOC or no-VOC.
  • Natural paints are a smart option for houses located in dry conditions. These paints are naturally made from plant ingredients, do not contain preservatives and are not synthetic.
  • If you need a synthetic paint, choose water-based latex paints instead of oil-based alkyd paints. The water-based paints have less chemicals and lower VOC levels.
  • Milk paints contain no preservatives or solvents, but they do contain some synthetic ingredients. This natural, odorless paint is made with milk protein and comes in powder form. Once mixed with water, it needs to be used quickly.
  • Recycled paint is available for rooms where consistent color is not required. This paint is literally made from recycled and consolidated old paint, so numerous colors may be mixed together to create a unique hue.
  • If you’re painting your walls white, opt to use whitewashes, which are paints naturally made from lime paste. These paints are affordable and great for stucco exteriors, basement walls, garages and more.

Deciding which type of paint to use will depend on what room you are painting and what purpose you have in painting it. Once you decide on a type, make sure to keep the room ventilated while you apply it, no matter how eco-friendly the paint is. Afterward, donate or recycle your leftover paint and enjoy your freshly painted room with low levels of toxins!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged decorating, eco-friendly tips, Green Living, paint
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The Non-Handy Guide to Selling

May10
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

non-handy selling

When you’re trying to sell your home, you want to get it in top condition. This can include staging, making energy-saving improvements and fixing anything that’s broken. But what should you do if you’re not especially, well, good at those kinds of things?

How can a non-handy homeowner get his or her property ready for sale? Are there easy-enough-for-anyone improvements to work on? Absolutely. Here are a few ideas:

  1. Paint: You don’t need any special skills to repaint a room, other than an able body and some supplies. For particular advice on changing dark rooms to light ones, see this article.
  2. Add organizers: Buyers like to see custom features and, with closets, these are as easy to add as buying organizers and putting them in.
  3. Add new linens: Simply replacing your sheets and comforters can give your bedrooms a fresh new look.
  4. Add new bath accessories: Similarly, adding a new shower curtain, a bath mat and/or towels can spruce up your bathroom’s appeal.
  5. Go green! You don’t need a green thumb to add a few plants inside or outside your home. Just keep them watered and trimmed, and watch the overall effect on your rooms!

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to quick and easy improvements. We can’t say enough about cleaning, for example, which makes things look newer and more valuable. Also, simple reorganizing can do wonders for a home’s sense of space and style.

So what are you waiting for? Handy or not, now’s the time to get your home looking its best.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged fixing up home, how to prepare for sale, how to sell, non-handy, selling a home, selling fsbo
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Quick ideas to freshen up your home

Apr30
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

With spring well under way and May just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to spruce up your home! Take a cue from your bright and thriving surroundings, and freshen up your residence!

To get you started, here are a few decorating tips:

  • Mix it up: Today’s decorating isn’t matchy-matchy. You want to mix textures and patterns in similar color schemes to create more visual interest. For examples of how to do this well, check out rooms like this and this!
  • Think of scale: Small pictures on huge walls is a definite don’t. Think about what goes with the size of the space when you’re trying to decorate.
  • Depersonalize: Sure, your baby’s adorable, but home buyers will see that room covered with junior’s photos as YOUR home, not theirs. Sure, they can use their imaginations, but you can make it easier for them by depersonalizing. Get rid of the knick-knacks that make your home scream you. Take down your framed degrees. More ideas on depersonalizing are available here.
  • Go green: Bringing the outdoors in is a sure way to spruce up this season. Whether this means adding a few plants or setting fresh flowers on the counter, going green can add just the right touch to your decorating scheme.

Implement these simple ideas, and you’ll be on your way to a spruced-up home! And remember: getting your place looking its best isn’t just valuable for you and your loved ones; it’s also a sure way to improve selling appeal!

Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged freshening up, home decorating, may, spring
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Add Dollars by Decorating

Apr02
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Call it decorating, call it staging, the fact remains: the way you furnish and accessorize your home can dramatically affect its value in the minds of buyers.

It’s true. Beyond cleaning, organizing and repairing your residence, the way you decorate has the potential to turn an average home into an impressive showcase. Rooms will look larger, features will stand out and, when done right, buyers will be pulling out their pocketbooks.

So what can you do to make your home look more expensive?

OPTION 1: Hire a Stager. Professional stagers make it their business to know what decorating options will change the look of your home and which will give you the most bang for your buck.

OPTION 2: Stage It Yourself: You might not be a professional stager, but you might be able to do a little personal research and come up with the basic strategies that one would use. To help you get started, here are a few ideas:

  • Scale: A very large room should have larger furniture, which fits with the size of the space. Have an enormous wall in your two-story entryway? Don’t use two or three small prints to add color—use large paintings or tapestries or artwork that helps fill the space!
  • Lighting: The day of a showing, pull back the curtains and turn on the lamps in your (freshly cleaned, ideally) rooms. This will make everything look brighter, more inviting and better to buyers.
  • Personality: When you’re living in your home, of course you can put out family portraits, albums and knick-knacks. When you’re selling, however, you are trying to help buyers see themselves in your home, not help them see YOU in your home. Do everything you can to depersonalize.
  • for Inspiration: One of the best things you can do in terms of decorating ideas is look through magazines and books for inspiration! Find ideas you like and then implement them in your home.
Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged decorating, increased value, selling a house, Selling Tips
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Go Green With Your Hot Tub

Mar25
2010
1 Comment Written by Carrie

Remember this article about eco-friendly plumbing?

According to Mindfully.org, “the average [American’s] individual daily consumption of water is 159 gallons,” while people in other countries live off of a small 25 gallons. Americans use a lot of water by performing everyday activities like bathing, going to the bathroom, washing dishes, cleaning the house and doing laundry.

The article goes on to list several plumbing fixtures that will help you conserve water and energy inside your home. But did you know that you can conserve water and be more environmentally conscious when using your outdoor hot tub, as well? Here’s how:

Try a portable hot tub. Portable hot tubs are slightly smaller than heavy, mounted spas, so they hold less water. You won’t need to worry about draining excess amounts, and they require less energy to reach and maintain your desired temperature.

Use solar covers. Not using your hot tub? Keep it clean using a solar cover! It does double duty by holding in heat and keeping debris out of the water, which does the filter a favor, and you won’t need to put as many chemicals in the water to cleanse and purify it.

Opt for a 100% no-bypass filtration system. Looking for another way to keep the water clean longer? Find a hot tub that features a 100 % no-bypass filtration system in which all water passes through before it enters the spa. Some hot tubs also boast a special technology that uses a three-dimensional surface area in order to maximize filtration power to extend time between cleanings. Instead of draining the water every three months, as you would with most of your typical hot tub models, you may only have to do it twice a year!

Look for a hot tub that has an ozone system or ion purifier. Reduce the need to use harsh chemicals in order to clean your hot tub. A Fresh Water ozone system produces highly concentrated ozone bubbles in that neutralize contaminants on contact. A silvre ion purifier provides silver ions as a natural alternative to water care to limit the use of chemical sanitizers like chlorine.

Change the display temperature. Once the hot tub water reaches your desired temperature to the touch, try lowering the display temperature a degree or two. You won’t feel too much of a difference, but you will save energy. The less work your hot tub has to do, the less energy it produces.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged conserve water, eco-friendly, eco-friendly tips, environmentally safe, Fresh Water ozone system, Green Living, hot tub, ion purifier, no-bypass filtration system, plumbing, solar cover, varying temperature
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Brighten Up a Drab Day

Feb26
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

sunshinehouse

Unless you live in a state that shows off year-round sunshine, the month of February tends to be a little drab and dreary. The cold winter weather lingers while the spring rain tests its waters. It’d be easy to acquire a gloomy state of mind until the grass is green again. This year, fight the gloominess by incorporating color and brightness into your home! The perk of a personal living space is that it can be as bright and cheerful as you want it to be, without any regard to what the world looks like outside.

Aside from the fact that bright attributes in your home will brighten your mood, they will also grab the attention of those passing by or visiting and could create an interest in potential buyers, if you are or soon will be selling your home.

Here are some ideas on how to brighten up a drab day in your colorful confines:

• Visit a flea market or a local antique shop and purchase some affordable and unique table lamps, floor lamps or sconces to add literal brightness to any room.

• Trade in your thick window curtains with Roman shades or lacy curtains that allow light to seep through. Choose deep red tones or floral prints that will emphasize sunshine and sunsets.

• Purchase white or light wood furniture, and outline the drawers or legs in a bright color of paint. With stencils, paint a design all over the piece.

• Add colored panels to flank your outside windows. Opt for royal blue, maroon, deep red or off-white, depending on the tone of your exterior.

• Switch your front porch lights with colored bulbs. Opt for purple, pink, bright yellow or some other pastel that reminds you of the upcoming spring.

• Add some plants or flowers to your front porch or a visible garden. Research what types of plants will grow in your area in February, such as skunk cabbage, Russian sage, white fir or winter honeysuckle.

• Hang a wallpaper border in your kitchen or bathroom, displaying bright sunflowers or ruby red apples. It will brighten a room without changing the paint color. If you grow tired of it, you can remove it with minimal work.

• Cozy up by a fire or the television with a bright-colored blanket. When not in use, throw the blanket across the back of the couch. It can add a bright flare to any room.

If you have your own ideas on how to add color and cheerful brightness to a drab room, share your idea with other Buy Owner Blog readers. Warmer months are in our future!

Posted in Tips and Ideas - Tagged decorating, sunshine, winter
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Going Green In The Laundry Room

Feb25
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

laundry room

We here at the Buy Owner Blog have presented you with many ideas for Green Living in your kitchen, your bedroom and your bathroom. How about the laundry room? When it comes to eco-friendly living, it is possible to add green features to literally any room in your home!

  • Start with the obvious: your washer and dryer. Most department stores and appliance stores carry energy-saving washers and dryers. Try to look for appliances that are Energy Star rated and contain the baby blue label on the packaging or on the price tag. For another visual comparison, peak inside one of the washing machines. You’ll see that energy-efficient washing machines don’t contain the “alligator” column (which spins and twists your clothes) found in the center of most conventional washers.
  • In many cases, green flooring is both recycled and recyclable. From carpeting to tile to wood flooring, you have plenty of options from which to choose. Many homeowners prefer tile in the laundry room in case of spills. If your laundry room boasts a lot of windows, solar tile flooring is a good option that will reduce the cost of heating. Sustainable wood flooring (Bamboo is highly popular) is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, so you may track your floor from forest to factory to home.
  • Thinking about adding counter space? Consider a concrete countertop made from a combination of eco-friendly materials. Some of these green mixtures contain byproducts of industrial waste (like fly ash and slag cement) that are sustainable and reusable. Concrete countertops may even dip down into a sink, which would be great for delicate, hand-only washables.
  • How about using less electricity altogether? If you install a built-in hanging rack or purchase a moveable one, you’ll be able to hang your clothes to dry. You will not need to use the dryer, and you will not have to iron your clothing.

Subtle changes in the laundry room could save you thousands of dollars. They’re good for the environment, too.

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged bamboo, concrete, conservation, dryer, eco-friendly, eco-friendly choices, Energy Star rated, envrionmentally friendly, flooring, Green Living, laundry, tile, utilities, washer
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