Looking to Start Decorating? Learn How to Start Your Project Here!

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Redecorating a new or existing home can be a really big project. ALso depending upon how much you’re planning on doing it can cost a lot. In order to help you reduce the stress surrounding such a big project we found this article that breaks down how to start such a big project. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

Congratulations. You???ve decided to decorate your home. Now what?

Whether you???re furnishing your first place or redoing the house you???ve owned for decades, decorating can be a challenging task, filled with costly decisions whose outcomes could haunt you for years. How do you figure out what style is right for you? Should you tackle the job yourself or hire a pro? How much should you spend? And what steps can you take to ensure you???ll be happy with the results?

In this series I???ll take you through the entire decorating process, from initial inspirations to final floor plans. We???ll talk about choosing colors, shopping for furniture, arranging furniture, where you should scrimp and where you should spend.

But before you do any of that, look around you.

Take a critical look at your current home. What do you like about it? What do you dislike? Are your feelings prompted by the aesthetics of the decor? The comfort? The fabrics? The colors?

Learn from that. Repeat the things you like, and don???t repeat the things you don???t like just because they???re familiar to you.

Write your list for Santa. Create a wish list ??? your Santa Claus list. Write down everything you would like to do if money were no object. Then figure out which things you can do, which things you can???t do, which things have to be done now and which things can wait.

???If you don???t have that master list, it???s hard to prioritize,??? says interior designer Amy Luff of Viva Luxe Studios in Bristol, Virginia.

Collect photos. Start collecting pictures of rooms you like. Even if you???re going to hire an interior designer, this will help him or her get a sense of your taste.

Naturally, Houzz is a great place to begin, as you???ll have more than 10 million pictures at your fingertips. You can save everything into one ideabook or make individual ideabooks for each room or each aspect of the design (wall colors, furnishings, fireplaces etc.).

Don???t try to do this in one sitting ??? give yourself a few weeks or months to compile your photos, as your tastes might evolve during the course of the exercise. Something that appealed to you on Day 1 might seem trite by Day 23.

Get your better half involved. For many couples there???s often one person who???s more interested in decorating than the other. The other person might say, ???Do whatever you want.???

Do not do whatever you want. Because as soon as you start buying things, Mr. or Ms. No Opinion will suddenly have an opinion. So make him or her spend some time with you at the very beginning just looking at pictures of interiors. ???Spend an hour or two on the computer and look at some things together and talk about them,??? says interior designer Alana Homesley of Woodland Hills, California. As you review each room, ask your partner, ???What do you like about it? What don???t you like about it????

Alternatively, you can each collect a file of images independently, then sit down and compare what you???ve chosen. This way your initial selections won???t be swayed by the other person. As you review your selections together, your differences and similarities will immediately become apparent.

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Looking for information on how much a redesign will cost? Checkout this article about cost to design that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/26609229/list/decorating-101-how-to-start-a-decorating-project

Designing a Kitchen? Learn About the Different Countertop Choices Here!

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

There are so many different options of countertops out there. It can be hard to make the right decision for your kitchen or bathroom. In order to help you out we found this article that breaks down the different kinds of countertops. We hope it helps you make the best decision for you and your home!

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From the article:

From contemporary quartz to rustic wood, these stylish, durable countertops to complete any kitchen or bath.

Daltile
The newest expansion to Daltile’s One Quartz line is developed specifically for builders. Along with traditional 2 cm and 3 cm thicknesses, the Builder Series offers a 1.2 cm slab. The thin, lightweight slabs are ideal to match bathroom and shower walls and tub enclosures with thicker products used for countertops, the company says. The Builder Series is available in four neutral colors, provides a waterproof seal on installation, and is VOC-free. www.daltile.com

Caesarstone
Ten new colors in the Classico collection bring the look of natural stone and concrete to the firm’s quartz surfaces. Among the new patterns are designs with bold veins; colors that offer an interpretation of traditional granite a refined finish; and three concrete-inspired colors that mimic the material’s coarse texture. Engineered to be durable and low-maintenance, the slabs are non-porous, and heat-, stain-, and scratch-resistant. www.caesarstoneus.com

Windfall Lumber
Go rustic with Windfall Lumber’s solid-wood countertops, hand-crafted from various species of reclaimed and FSC-certified timber from the Pacific Northwest. Douglas Fir live edge countertops, made from reclaimed telephone poles, are designed to highlight the natural character of each piece of wood, the firm says. The live edge can be mounted up or down and four finishes are available. Countertops are made to order in sizes up to 3-feet-by-8 feet using 12- to 16-inch wide planks. www.windfalllumber.com

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Looking for more kitchen design tips? Then checkout this article about kitchen design tips that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.builderonline.com/products/finishes-surfaces/on-the-surface-five-chic-counter-options_o?utm_source=Social_FB

Considering Raised Garden Beds this Spring? Get Ideas Here!

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Now is the perfect time to start planning your spring and summer garden. Especially if you are wanting to build your own raised beds. In order to help you out we found this article with 65 different simple raised garden bed ideas. We hope they help!

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From the article:

Within the categories of garden, you can come across wonderful types. DIY raised garden beds are gaining popularity and more and more people want to have these kinds of gardens. This concept focuses on having a garden in suspended beds of soil. You do not have to spoil the garden for planting your desired veggies or fruits. You don???t have to buy these from the market directly; diy raised garden bed designs can help you a lot in this respect.

Raised garden beds, which are simply big, above-ground containers for growing plants, solve a range of garden problems. I???ll walk you through all the basics from choosing the right style, wood options, creative add-ons, free building plans, and unusual growing possibilities.

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Looking for more gardening ideas? Checkout this article about gardening ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://homeastern.com/2017/07/09/63-simple-raised-garden-bed-ideas-backyard/

Buying Your First Home? Learn What You Should Buy Here!

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

So you’ve bought your first home, congratulations! Now comes more joy and stress than you can imagine. In order to help you out we found this article with the things that you should buy for your new home. We hope it helps you make it yours!

From the article:

Whether you are getting married, buying your first home or simply moving into your first real place of your own, you will likely find yourself with some shopping to do. A plan can help you stay focused and avoid unnecessary purchases, saving money and time (not to mention clutter) in the long run.

Kitchen
What to choose: Hardworking multitaskers. High-quality stainless steel saucepans and saut?? pans, cast iron skillets, a great set of knives, a wooden cutting board and a Dutch oven that can go from stovetop to oven ??? these are the workhorses of the kitchen and are worth the investment. When it comes to cooking utensils, you can accomplish most cooking tasks with a pair of tongs, a few wooden spoons, a spatula and a ladle.

Small appliances can be quite useful, but think honestly about which you will use frequently and which you could do without. For some, a food processor is essential, while for others it would just sit in the back of a cupboard gathering dust.

What to avoid: Single-purpose tools and gadgets. Picking up specialty kitchen tools may seem harmless at first ??? but it???s a slippery slope, and before you know it you???ll have accumulated a drawer overstuffed with strange unitaskers you hardly ever use. If a tool you already own can get the job done, consider sticking with it rather than buying the ???special??? tool.

Dining
What to choose: Beautiful basics. You really can???t go wrong with classic stainless steel cutlery, white dishes and clear glassware ??? it???s worth shopping around to find sets you really love, because you will likely keep them for a long time. A good set of white dishes and clear glassware can be dressed up or down, and can elevate the everyday. A set of cloth napkins (cotton or linen) can be used every day or for dinner parties, and a tablecloth in a natural color can dress things up further.

What to avoid: China so fancy you???re afraid to use it. Beautiful china can be a lovely way to make a special occasion even more elegant ??? but be honest with yourself about how often you are likely to actually pull it out. Would you use it for a casual gathering with friends, for instance? Or would you ???save??? it for a once-a-year major holiday ??? if you host it, which you might not? Spending more on a really gorgeous set of everyday dishes is probably a better investment ??? and if you really want to add something extra special to your dinner table, consider a set of fancy dessert plates or a beautiful vase.

Decor
What to choose: Plants, mirrors and art. When you are first starting out, you may need to make do with some hand-me-down or budget furniture pieces ??? but everything will look better when surrounded by lush green foliage, colorful artwork and bright, light-enhancing mirrors. Healthy houseplants make any room feel fresher and more inviting, and they clean the air to boot. If you are worried about keeping houseplants alive, get some plant recommendations and care advice from a local nursery, and use a phone reminder to alert you when it???s time to water them.

You can find beautiful, affordable artwork (both framed prints and originals) from local galleries that feature up-and-coming artists, at student art shows and online.

What to avoid: Too many purely decorative items. Focus on getting the basics in place (like a great sofa and proper lighting) before spending on accessories. Even then, consider accessories with a purpose ??? like a big art book or scented candle ??? before picking up that sculptural object.

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Looking for garage organization ideas? Checkout this article about garage organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2016/03/04/what-to-buy-for-your-first-home/#73c041627014

Have a Small Laundry Room? Learn How to Make it More Functional Here!

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

If you happen to have a large laundry room count yourself blessed. Most people don’t have a very large laundry room. Which makes keeping it organized and efficient can be quite a challenge. In order to help the people our that have the smaller laundry rooms we found this article with 20 helpful space saving ideas. We hope they help!

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From the article:

Small laundry room design is about creating functional spaces where chores do not get procrastinated but get done quickly and efficiently. A small functional room is an essential addition to tiny, busy homes but a spacious laundry room requires efficient organization also, as any space can get messy quickly. Lushome shares space saving solutions, organizing tips, and a collection of beautiful and functional small laundry room ideas that are inspiring and useful for improving homes and creating attractive laundry room designs.

The smart interior design prioritizes storage and organization. While improving functionality, space saving ideas offer practical solutions reflecting on well-organized small interiors can be. Often laundry rooms lack light, compact layout, and areas to fold and hang clothing for long-term drying. However, every tiny room can be neatly organized and brightly decorated.

Small laundry room design is about functionality, organization, and efficient lighting. Light neutral color tones or bright room colors, clutter-free design, and practical materials are essential for improving functionality and overall appeal. A fresh coat of paint, a small trash bin, storage shelves, a space-saving drying rack, hangers, a laundry basket and a small ironing board which is perfect for folding clothing, are practical ideas for a room makeover. Some of these items can take up a lot of space, but compact models, space-saving layout, and clutter-free decoration work well for laundry room design while maximizing small spaces.

Open shelves and small cabinets with storage bins and baskets, light room colors and clutter-free decor are excellent ideas for small laundry rooms. Sliding doors and built-in cabinets with integrated washers and dryers help create attractive and functional areas for doing laundry, folding clothes, and ironing in style.

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Looking for more laundry room ideas? Checkout this article about laundry room ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.lushome.com/20-space-saving-ideas-for-functional-small-laundry-room-design/171197

Planning on Selling Your Home? Learn How to Make it Look Great in Photos!

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Selling a home is a big deal. It can be very stressful especially if it has to sit on the market for awhile. In order to keep that from happening we found this article on how to make your home look great in pictures. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

A house hunter???s first view of your property is often online, and if the photos accompanying your home???s listing don???t impress, you probably won???t get a second chance to lure in that potential buyer ??? meaning your real estate photos are valuable assets when it comes to selling your home. The following tips can help your home put its best foot forward on picture day.

Check out agents??? listings. Before diving into photo-day planning, it???s important to be sure your real estate agent is prepared to deliver quality listing photos. Study a potential agent???s listings to get a feel for the quality of the photography. Here are a few questions you may want to ask about how the agent handles photos:

– Do you have a professional photographer on staff?
– If you take the photos yourself, what equipment do you use ??? professional camera and tripod or just a cellphone?
– Will the agent or photographer bring in additional lighting if needed?
– How much time is typically allotted for the photo shoot?
– What can I do to make my home look its best in photos?

Remove counter clutter. Gleaming, clutter-free counters will make your kitchen look more spacious. Put away everything, then clean counters well. It???s fine to leave out one or two small appliances, such as the toaster and coffee maker, but stash anything extra, as well as small appliances that have seen better days.

Hide toiletries and freshen bathrooms. Aside from a fresh bar of soap at the sink, the bathroom should be completely free of toiletries ??? too many products crowding the sink and shower suggest that there???s not enough storage space. Pull open the shower curtain, clean the mirror, put the toilet seats down and turn on the lights. Remove old towels and put out fresh, fluffy white towels if you have them. If not, just leave the towel racks bare.

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Looking for more home selling ideas? Checkout this article about home selling ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/83682567/list/selling-how-to-make-your-house-look-great-in-photos

Looking for Laundry Room Design Ideas? Start Here!

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Laundry rooms are one of those places, if you’re lucky to have one in the first place, that can easily look dishevelled. In order to help you out we found this article with 20 different laundry room design ideas. We hope it helps your laundry room become more efficient.

From the article:

Laundry room design is a very important part of comfortable, functional and beautiful house designs. Laundry room ideas can be inspired by decorating small rooms to create bright and comfortable home interiors. A large laundry room design is a luxurious addition to modern homes, but more often a laundry room is small and does not have a window. Still these functional rooms can be comfortable and attractive.

Lushome collection of beautiful laundry room design ideas and smart tips for decorating laundry room interiors from ergonomic design experts show how to create comfort and beauty with practical solutions and modern ideas. A washer and dryer, a workplace station, storage spaces, a built-in wall ironing board and a sink create very functional and attractive laundry room design.

Here are wonderful tips and modern ideas for design and decorating of a laundry room in elegant, ergonomic and comfortable style.

– Laundry baskets on wheels with soft or rounded edges are practical, convenient and modern ideas for laundry room design.

– An extra deep laundry room sink, place at 42 inches from the floor, is a practical and ergonomic idea for comfortable and modern laundry room design.

– Built-in a wall ironing boards are space saving and smart ideas for small laundry room design. Built-in wall shelving systems offer enough storage spaces for an ironing board and small items that everyone needs in a laundry room.

– A creative, simple and eco friendly rack for drying clothes is a nice Green idea that adds a unique accent in vintage style to decorating a laundry room. Handmade, suspended from the ceiling wooden racks look fabulous in a functional and bright laundry room bringing unique vintage style charm into decorating.

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Looking for more ideas to redo your laundry room? Checkout this article about laundry room ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.lushome.com/20-smart-laundry-room-design-ideas-tips-functional-decorating/143378

Looking to Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets? Learn How Here!

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Updating your kitchen can cost a lot of money or a little money depending upon how bad your kitchen is and how big of an impact you’re wanting to make. One option is to just reface your kitchen cabinets. We found this article that we hope will help you come up with a plan for your kitchen!

From the article:

It may not always be practical or affordable to rebuild the cabinets in a kitchen or bathroom. Refacing them might be the best solution. But what does refacing involve? As with most construction projects, the answer depends on lots of details.

Project: Refacing kitchen cabinets.

First step: Determine if your cabinets can take the restoration process well enough to be revitalized for at least another 10 years of life. If the cabinet body, or carcass, is in bad structural shape, is water damaged or will not take to refinishing well enough, you might have to replace the cabinets in a full kitchen remodel.

Why reface: In the most basic process, you will be leaving the cabinet intact and in its same place. This avoids the expense and effort of taking out and replacing the entire cabinet. So the advantages are less expense, less material going to the landfill and a less-complicated construction process.

Consider color an ally in making decisions about how to update the look of your cabinets. The verdigris tone shown here is a soothing complement to the hardwood floor, and allows a wonderful contrasting color pop of apple red at the range. Notice the rusticated patina of the finish, which adds dimension to the scheme. Other details, such as the beadboard panels, bottle cubbyholes, plate rack and arch impression, give this design lots of character.

Is this a good project for you? If your cabinets have sturdy frames, refacing can be a good solution. The degree to which you refurbish the cabinets is up to you. Simply painting or restaining them can have a dramatic effect. In some cases it is desirable to replace the doors and drawer fronts with a completely different door style or wood species. Replacing the hardware, pulls and knobs is another option to consider, and can make a nice difference inexpensively. Repairing damaged wood can also be part of this process. Combinations and variations of each of these options defines refacing cabinets.

Permit: As long as you are not changing any electrical or plumbing, you probably can do this project without a permit. Check with a design professional or ask the local building department and describe your intentions in detail to find out for certain.

Project length: Simpler modifications can be accomplished in a weekend, and even the most involved projects can probably be completed within one month.

Best time to do this project: This is a project for the winter, after the holidays and before Easter, or in the fall before Halloween. Summer might be too hot, depending on your climate, or it might be best in milder climates.

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Looking for cheap ways to update your kitchen cabinets? Checkout this article about that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/21506444

Looking to Start a Garden This Spring? Learn Beginner Tips Here!

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

It might be a strange time to start thinking about starting a garden now that it’s officially winter but planning is a crucial first step to gardening. Especially if you’ve never had one before. In order to help you out we found this article with 10 different tips for beginning gardeners. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

The rewards of gardening are great ??? fresh air, exercise, beauty and relaxation, to name a few. But designing and planting your very first garden can feel like an overwhelming task. Luckily, gardens are surprisingly forgiving creations, and the best way to learn is by simply diving in. Here are 10 tips to help get a new garden off on the right foot.

Get to know your site. Take your time to get familiar with your property before beginning a new garden. Here are a few things you may like to try while you???re getting to know your landscape:

– Take a leisurely stroll around your property with a notebook and make a rough sketch of the existing planting areas.
– Add notes to your garden ???map??? about which areas get the most sun and which are shaded.
– A simple soil test from your local garden center will tell you whether your soil is well-balanced in nutrients and pH.
– If you???re thinking of growing edibles (vegetables, fruit or herbs), it???s a good idea to have your soil tested for lead. Most at-home kits aren???t reliable indicators of lead in the soil, but you can send your soil samples to the Lead Safe America Foundation for a free lead test. If you find that your soil has an unsafe level of lead, you can still grow edibles in raised beds or pots with new soil.
– List which existing plants and features (such as fences or paths) you???d like to keep and which need to be replaced or removed.
– Spend time just hanging out in your garden. Let yourself daydream and see if any creative ideas present themselves.

Determine your style and goals. Gather a few images that inspire you and look for a theme. Are you drawn to lush flower-filled gardens or more crisply defined modern outdoor spaces? It helps to pair a few words with the pictures you???ve chosen, so try to come up with something that evokes the sort of garden you want, even if it???s not an ???official??? style term.

For instance, maybe you???ll decide your style is Industrial Zen or Playful Modern or Simplified Cottage. While you???re figuring this out, it helps to keep a photo of the exterior of your home at hand ??? whatever style you choose should be able to work well with the architectural style of your home as well as your personal preferences.

Once you???ve named your style, take a moment to jot down the activities and features you imagine enjoying in your landscape. If you have children, you may need a lot of open space for running around. Or perhaps you dream of relaxing in the middle of a big wildflower meadow ??? whatever it is, write it down.

Make a plan. Even if you???re planting only a single raised vegetable bed or cluster of potted flowers on the patio, having a plan is key. If you???re not sure which plants to buy, take a ???research??? trip to a local nursery (without buying anything!) and snap photos of plants you???d like to consider adding to your garden. Look at the tags and note down when they bloom, as well as sun and water requirements.

Pulling this information together into a sketched-out plan (no artistic skills required) takes extra time initially but will make for a more successful garden in the end. Choose plants that bloom in different seasons for year-round color, and be sure to pick plants with similar sun and water requirements to plant together.

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Looking for more garden ideas? Checkout this article about garden ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/61948110/list/10-tips-for-beginning-gardeners