If you’re looking for remodeling ideas that will give you the best return on your investment when it comes
time to sell your home (not to mention making your space more beautiful and functional in the interim)
then a kitchen overhaul is one of your best options. This common room is utilized by the entire household
and many buyers see it as a pivotal space for family togetherness. So whether you gut it and start from
scratch or opt for a cosmetic facelift, you’ll likely increase your own satisfaction with your home as well
as the resale value of your property in the process. And incredibly, you can undertake some amazing
upgrades even on a budget. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

Let’s go from the ground up, literally, by starting with flooring. Laminates, linoleums, and faux stone
may seem like the best deal, and in many cases these options can offer not only a good price but also a
warranty of some sort (which is a good deal for kitchens, considering the number of spills that occur in
this room). However, you may also want to consider second-hand options like reclaimed hardwood or
natural stone; in many ways these may be better than going faux. For example, they can cost as little
as (or even less than) than their artificial counterparts while offering you the beautiful and desirable
products you crave. In addition, choosing these items is better for the environment because it requires no
additional manufacturing and it keeps old (but still usable) flooring out of the landfill. And P.S., reclaimed
hardwood cabinetry and stone countertops are also an option you may want [Read more…]

When it comes to the lighting in your home, obviously, more windows mean more light, but also more places to drafts to come in through. Or even the dreaded stray beam of light on the first Sunday in months you are able to sleep in. This evil sliver of sunlight will creep across your face at 7:01 a mere minute after your normal wake up time. Its sole purpose is to awaken your deep slumber, doing nothing more then standing still over your eye lids. The most dastardly enemy of stray light beams and drafts? Good curtains. Good curtains make all the difference on a windy, bitter winter night or particularly bright mornings.

Check out the Open and Closed visuals.

Think of a good curtain as a blanket for your windows. Not just something pretty to ornament the windows with, but also an easy way to cut those utility bills. Be it gas/oil/wood in the winter or electricity running those all important air conditioners in the summer. Check out the Room Darkening Series by Sound Asleep. These curtains are so good at insulating the room not only in terms of temperature but also light and sound [Read more…]

When you think of décor for your home office, the term “high-tech” may not be your first priority. And
yet, items that do double duty by being both functional and attractive are certainly more appealing than
a bunch of equipment that makes your space look more like a starship than a room in your home. And
often, the term high-tech comes with a connotation of compact size, which is great for the mom that
doesn’t have a lot of space to spare, what with toys underfoot and craft supplies filling every cubby. So
if you’re looking for a few ways to update your office space while you work from home, here are a few
high-tech décor solutions that just might suit your needs (both practically and aesthetically).

The first thing you’ll probably want to consider is furniture, and you might be scratching your head over
how it can be high-tech. For starters, there are computer desks, which come with plenty of storage,
spaces designed for basic computing elements, and built-in channels to corral your many cables. And
you should also look into ergonomic solutions. Since you’re likely to spend quite a bit of time in your
home office, you should have an ergonomic chair and possibly even a keyboard to ensure that your body
is in proper alignment. This will correct your posture and help you avoid physical ailments related to
sitting at a desk all day.

Next you should think about a computer. This is the main piece of equipment you’ll need to do
your work. And your best bet is a laptop. It has all the power of your average PC these days and it
is compact, lightweight, portable, and easy to store out of [Read more…]

When the cold months of winter start to set in, with shorter days, longer nights, and biting winds that
makes you long to wrap your hands around a warm mug of cocoa, you may find yourself going into
hibernation mode. You’ll likely have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and you’ll want nothing
more than to come home and snuggle up under your favorite down comforter or drink some wine and
eat some cheese with your honey next to a blazing fire. Or perhaps your fondest wish is to settle down
on the couch with the family, pop some corn, and watch a few holiday flicks. The point is, much of the
winter will be spent indoors, which means you’ll likely want a home that is warm and cozy. So here are
just a few decorating tips to create the perfect space to wait out the winter.

1. Pillows and throws. Unless you want to pay beaucoup bucks to heat your house, you’re likely
going to lock the thermostat at a temperature that is a little chilly for most people. But since
you can only pile on so many sweaters and socks, it behooves you to create some areas for
members of your household to nest. This is where fluffy pillows and fuzzy throws enter the
picture, and you should have plenty handy in cupboards, bins, and baskets around the house.
As for color, you can’t go wrong with winter white (it gets dirty, but cleans up well with bleach)
or a bright accent color that goes with your décor. Various shades of green are always nice
when there’s no greenery outside.

2. Door draft stops. While you can certainly add some weather stripping for exterior doors or
place practical rubber draft stops under entryways, you can use your drafty house as an excuse
for some cute (yet functional) accessorizing. Decorative draft [Read more…]

Whether you have purchased a plot of land to build your eco-friendly home from the ground up or you
are looking to tackle some upgrades on your existing structure (but reduce your carbon footprint in the
process), there are an amazing number of products on the market to help you meet all of your goals.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking; you’re going to end up with a concrete hobbit-hole of a home or
else it will look like it was cobbled together, shanty style, from whatever particle board castoffs you can
find in the “recycled” section of the lumber yard. Oh, and you’ll spend considerably more for this ill-
designed domicile. Right? Well, decades ago you may have been correct in these assumptions. But
thanks to the increased consumer demand for all things green, plenty of building manufacturers have
seen fit to offer products and services that are not only eco-friendly, but also attractive and affordable.
Here are a few that you may want to check out.

If you’re taking a ground-up approach, the obvious place to start is at ground level. While most people
are familiar with concrete foundations, few have heard about insulated concrete forms (ICFs), which
can be used in place of a wooden framework. They are strong and durable and they have insulating
properties, which make them a great option for areas that suffer severe weather (hot or cold). They are
also resistant to many environmental dangers that can adversely affect wooden structures, such as fire,
flood, mold, and termites. They are also fairly affordable and so much greener than deforestation.

And when it comes to fleshing out the walls of your home, consider structural [Read more…]

Times continue to be tough, and the housing market can be scary. If you’re thinking of selling your
home someday, you probably want to begin figuring out ways to improve the resale value of your
property without breaking the bank. Think about these tips that will help you save money as well as
bring your house into a more inviting condition.

The exterior. Consider the curb appeal of your home, which simply means looking at your from a more
objective viewpoint, usually that of a potential buyer. The first thing anyone will see of your home is
the outside, including your yard. This is one place that doesn’t take a lot effort to keep up. Make the
sure lawn stays mowed and watered. Pull any unsightly weeds. If you feel that you are lacking in the
landscape department, add a tree, a hedge, or some flowers (window boxes are attractive). Fix anything
that is broken or ugly. Add a coat of paint to windowsills or trims.

The bathroom. Along with the kitchen, this is one of the most important rooms in your house, and one
that buyers are going to want to investigate before they make any decisions. Replace the toilet seat or
even the sink, or simply add new handles. If the floor has seen better days, you can apply new tiles or
sheet vinyl directly over the old one.

The kitchen. Rather than hire someone to do it for you, practice your own kitchen remodeling
skills. Visit a home improvement store and [Read more…]