Farm House Inspired Bathrooms

Farm House Inspired Bathrooms

Currently, the “farm house” style has been a significantly popular theme when decorating or tieing together a home. Not to mention that you can turn any room or space into this look with using simple ideas that can come at a reasonable cost. The main focus of the style is keeping it modern with a cozy feel. Making any room or space welcoming with its warm and “homey” feel.

 Besides practicality and simplicity, the farmhouse style also combines the beauty of rural architecture and the comfort of modern structures. Place comfortable pieces of furniture, use warm or cool neutrals or earth tones, add metal accents, and get yourself a farmhouse-themed home. The coziness promises a “home sweet home” vibe and relaxation and fun at the same time for you and your guests.

What makes the farmhouse style attractive to homeowners is that it doesn’t limit creativity. There are no hard rules in sporting a farmhouse style. You can use different textures, such as metal, stone, and wood, and mix and match your favorite pieces in a unique but appealing way. If you plan on buying farmhouse decors, consider sourcing them out from one store.

Barn Doors

Not only just a functional, the barn door style make a great statement to any home. Different styles or worn wood and colors of stain are used to match or mix match complemetnign colors in a home. Doors are typically large, heavy wood held up on a track to slide the panel for entry.  Bold brass handeles or knobs are picked and attached if the door didn’t come with them already.

Colors

Tradionally colors are kept simple and basic. For example walls are usually left a fresh clean whites, greys and even light blues. This way accessories or acomaning wall art or furniture stands out against the blank slate. Statement pieces are usually bold primary colors. Such as blacks, blues, and different shades of brown depending on the wood furnishings.

Staple Pieces

The farm house theme usually has a few things come to mind immideatly; shiplap, hardwood, and the wash tub style sink. All once considered old fashioned at one point but are now being treated as back in style with a modern facelift. Utilities most commonly are porciline or stainless steel. Big washtub style sinks held in a warn wood utility cabinet. Yiu can dress these up with mix and match knobs or handles to give them a unique and personal characteristic.

Keep it Simple

Simple and clean are the guidelines to live by in this case. No over crowding with knickknacks, busy colors, or clutter. A clean space for a clean mind. The farmhouse theme is a simple design to welcome you to your home and keep it inviting to guests. Decorating should include, simple but rustic pieces. Examples of pieces could be antique objects, woven baskets, worn wood furnihsings, and even that looks weathered and tarnished. Old is new in this case.

Guest Contributor, Klaudia Schueler

7 Ways a Nebulizing Diffuser Can Improve Your Home

7 Ways a Nebulizing Diffuser Can Improve Your Home   

A nebulizing diffuser can greatly improve your home. From the wonderful supply of savory scents, to microbe-fighting power, there is so much to look forward to. Before diving into the many benefits, let us consider what a nebulizing diffuser is. The market provides a host of diffusers to choose from; among them being nebulizing diffusers. A nebulizing diffuser works in a superior way to give you optimal aromatherapy benefits.

The Nebulizing Diffuser and How it Works

The nebulizing diffuser achieves the highest rate of essential oil dispersal into the air. This optimized rendering makes it possible to enjoy all the wonderful therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy. In addition, this diffuser is quiet, safe and does not need any heat or water to function. The Nebulizing Diffuser by Organic Aromas is also aesthetically pleasing; it is a piece of inspired art in your space. This aromatherapy tool works by using pressurized air employing a fluid dynamics formula known as the Bernoulli principle. When you get the nebulizing diffuser, you can improve your home in the following ways;

1. Fight Odors Effectively

Garbage disposal mechanisms in your home can present with many challenges. Blocked drainages are prone to unpleasant smells as well. Even after drainages are cleared, dealing with foul smell can be an issue. A nebulizing diffuser can help you transform bad smells into pleasant scents. Essential oils are highly aromatic and incorporating them into your garbage disposal and drainage management can improve your home drastically. You can play around with many aromas to keep your home crisp. Citrusy scents as well as lavender or rose are popular when it comes to adding freshness into your home. Choose the scent that fits your home best.

1. Fight odors effectively

Garbage disposal mechanisms in your home can present you with many challenges. Blocked drainages are prone to unpleasant smells as well. Even after drains are cleared, dealing with foul smell can be an issue. A nebulizing diffuser can help you transform bad smells into pleasant scents. Essential oils are highly aromatic and incorporating them into your garbage disposal and drainage management can improve your home drastically. You can play around with many aromas to keep your home crisp. Citrusy scents as well as lavender or rose are popular when it comes to adding freshness into your home. Choose the scent that fits your home best.

2. Fight Disease-causing Microbes

Viruses, fungi and bacteria always pose a threat to your health. In your home, getting rid of these dangerous microbes can reduce flus, colds and other illnesses. A nebulizing diffuser will disperse essential oils into your home to kill these microbes. In fact, dangerous airborne microbes are greatly reduced by the oils. Most oils are potent antimicrobial agents that cleanse the air and surfaces of your home to keep your family protected. Dangerous microbes are able to conveniently hide in carpets and other conducive areas in the home.  A nebulizing diffuser action reaches every inch of the home for optimal cleansing. Keep in mind that studies have shown that some essential oils are more effective in killing microbes than most conventional cleaning agents. Diffusing fights germs without causing any harm to your health. It is therefore a safe way to cleanse your home. A diffuser also improves the air in your home; keeping your airways moist; this also prevents flus and colds. Some of the best essential oils to diffuse for the ultimate antimicrobial effect include lemon, thyme, sage, tea tree, rosemary and grapefruit.  

3. Repel Bugs Naturally

Bugs are always bothersome; and if you are grappling with insects such as mosquitoes and ants in your home, a nebulizing diffuser is what you need. Studies have confirmed that using essential oils in your home can repel bugs like mosquitoes and ants effectively. You don’t have to buy expensive harmful chemicals to achieve good results. In fact, mosquitoes carrying the notorious Zika virus have been effectively repelled using essential oils. Modern bug repellants indeed come with a host of ill effects and to this end, a diffuser is the best way to protect your home. Some of the best oils for this application include lemongrass and clove essential oils. Bugs do not only cause serious diseases; but they also affect the hygiene standards of your home.

4. Inject Positive Energy into Your Home

It is no secret that essential oils have mood-lifting power. When you are feeling low, diffusing some oil can transform your outlook and leave you feeling much better. These oils can also cultivate a romantic atmosphere as needed. A nebulizing diffuser works best to deliver the perfect aromatic balance in your home. Some of the best mood elevating oils to diffuse include vanilla, rose, jasmine, sweet orange, sandalwood; the list goes on. A positive inviting mood in your home is invaluable.

5. Control your Appetite Naturally

With a new realization on healthy living, more and more people are considering adopting healthy habits. If your appetite is over the roof, a nebulizing diffuser can actually help you. New studies are now revealing that some essential oils such as peppermint oil can curb appetite naturally. The oil works by helping you feel full when you are craving for your favorite unhealthy snack. The new research also revealed that peppermint oil triggers more energy in the body and this helps control appetite. A healthy you makes a healthy home.

6. Save money

As hinted to above, a nebulizing diffuser helps control microbes, repel bugs, fights stress among many others. In the long term, you save money because you do not have to buy expensive pesticides, antibacterial agents, sleeping pills and so on. Investing in a diffuser means investing in better health; and this saves you money. You will be delighted to learn that a nebulizing diffuser does not cost an arm. This aromatherapy tool is affordable and available in the market.  

7. Add a Beautiful Centerpiece in Your Space

    Nebulizing diffusers such as the ones made by Organic Aromas are not just functional; they also make for artistic additions to your space. Carefully crafted with plantation hardwood bases and hand blown pyrex glass, these diffusers are designed for display. Choose a design that appeals to you most. As you can see, your home has  a lot to gain when you choose a nebulizing diffuser. Keep in mind that some diffusers such as ultrasonic types use water to diffuse oils. This affects the potency and efficacy of the oil. When it comes to oil lamps, they are not just messy but they are highly flammable and dangerous. Candle diffusers use heat and heat will denature essential oils leading to less effective results. Therefore, a quality nebulizing diffuser will make all the difference in any home.

Guest Contributor, Gayle

Including Buffet Furniture for Home Improvement

Placing cabinets around the dining area in order to store crockeries or for displaying them enhances the beauty of the place. This piece of furniture that is constructed with a combination of cupboards and drawers is perfect for optimum storage. The initial design of this furniture was called sideboard which has evolved over the period of time.

The Purpose of Having Buffet Furniture

This furniture serves a similar purpose to a sideboard but with the exception in design. Buffet is a system of serving food in a manner where diners can serve themselves. This concept of displaying is applied at households where extra crockeries are kept in this storage space along with dishes that might be consumed later.

Having this furniture can avoid a lot of clutter and mess on the dining table. In the early times, butlers would use this place to set up the platter properly before presenting it on the dining table. Cutleries like spoons, forks, knives, plates and bowls can be kept in these cabinets in order to make more space in the kitchen. A  buffet furniture  is considered to be more substantial than the other similar furniture styles.

One of the greatest advantages of these is that any item store inside is at a hand’s reach but inside a closed storage. This provides a closed intimacy and privacy that the owners might prefer. There are some people who do not like displaying their belongings. Here are some of the creative ideas for optimum utilization of buffet furniture:

1. For storing casseroles, plates, spoons, napkins, table mats, and more.

2. Displaying certain treasured collections.

3. Creating a place to store children products.

4. Placing decorative lights and lamps.

5. Arranging drinks, spirits and brews.

6. A place to keep tea and coffee machines.

7. Keep cooking books or magazines.

8. Managing clutter in the house.

The Different Designs of Buffet Furniture

People often make a mistake between the concept of a buffet and a sideboard. To put it in simpler words, when the furniture is placed and meant for a living room, it will be known as a sideboard. Subsequently, when the furniture is designed for the dining room, it becomes a buffet. These are basically the two differences between the furniture with the same built that are used in different rooms.

• Buffets have a lower countertop in comparison to the sideboard. This speciality makes it easier to serve drinks and food. However, despite of the popular concept of this furniture, alterations can always be made. These changes depend on the style and pattern of the entire room in which the furniture is being placed.

• Other than this, the number of cabinets and drawers that are included in the buffet can also be more or even less depending on personal preferences. The other advantage with buffet is that they can be used as console tables as well.

• Different types of materials can be used to make this piece of furniture but people mostly prefer oak and mahogany for the aesthetic and polished finish. Metal is very rarely seen when it comes to using it in buffet furniture due to the inconvenience and unpleasing look. Having a wooden finish compliments it with the rest of the room as well.

Households would furnish their houses with sideboards even in the early 18 th  century but the design was different in comparison. This concept was only common in those households who could afford to dedicate one room for the sole purpose of dining. The present version of this furniture is commonly known as buffet furniture.

Guest Contributor, Jessica Curry

The Best Locations and Positions to Place Security Camera Systems

The Best Locations and Positions to Place Security Camera Systems

If you are reading this article, then chances are you already know or want to know about the importance of security camera systems. Security camera systems keep your property safe from burglars and other mischievous perpetrators who damage or vandalize your property. They have become very much prevalent and you can find its usage in both residential and commercial purposes. Whichever security camera system you choose for yourself, placing it correctly is the primary aspect that will define its effectiveness. While installing the security cameras, one of the key factors that you need to take into consideration is that it should be placed well so that it covers the maximum area.  This article will summarize the best locations and positions to place your security camera system to maximize its effectiveness.

Right Place to Install A Security Camera System:

#1. Near the windows that are situated off-street - Place a security camera system near the windows that are facing towards the street, it will deter the burglars who mostly prefer to use a rear window that is cut off from the view from the street that protects them from getting caught. A security camera system will keep those windows and thereby your home safe from thieves and vandals.

#2. Near the main door - The most important placement for your security camera systems is the main door of your home. Not only does it saves you from burglars entering through the front door, it can also act as a peephole and let you know who is at the door so that you can get some time and safe distance to decide whether or not you want to open the door for the visitor.

#3. Near the back door - It is one of the most vulnerable areas where the burglars are going to enter your home. Hence, you must also take this place into consideration. Installing security camera systems at the back door is a must for the independent homeowners. As suggested before, keep your cameras out of human reach and keep it protected from the possibilities of things being thrown at them.

#4. Other places to cover - After you have protected the front and back door and the off-street windows, you may consider making your house even safe by placing your security camera system in some other places in your property’s vicinity.

• The garage

• Driveways

• Second floor

• The basement

Common Mistakes That Should Be Avoided While Placing Your Security Camera Systems

#1. Do not forget to secure your security camera systems - Security camera systems can be easily tampered, stolen with or even damaged by perpetrators if not secured properly. The camera should ideally be placed 9 feet above the ground to keep it out of trouble’s reach. Also, make sure that the outside cameras are well protected from the harsh weather conditions.

#2. Avoid choosing the highest point for camera placement - Although placing the security camera systems at the highest point in your property will give it a better view, a detailed look of a perpetrator’s feature will not be evident from such heights. You might not be able to identify the criminal at all. To know the best place to install the cameras, you  must consult the seller . They will assess the place and will also help you in the placement of cameras.

#3. Do not forget to provide proper lighting - Irrespective of how well your security cameras systems are placed, they will be rendered useless in dark places or during the night without proper lighting. There must be ample lighting such that the security camera systems can get a clear recording and picture. Security camera systems are fast becoming a necessity of every household given the increase in crimes in recent years. Keep this article in mind while placing your security camera systems for them to work effectively and you to have peace of mind.

Guest Contributor, Jessica Curry

Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Building an Eco-Friendly House 101: From Hiring a Contractor to Decor Styles

Great architecture and clever design has always been on high demand, but what if now we can take the best practices of residential design and apply them with sustainability principles? Many local governments are supporting eco house designs and floor plans that allow homebuilders to use advanced construction technology and create sustainable and low-impact homes. Eco-friendly practices can be applied in a variety of ways – through reducing waste during the construction, choosing sustainable and locally sourced materials, or even orienting your home to make the most out of passive cooling and heating. If you want to make your new home more sustainable, here are some ideas to consider.

Designs that Reduce Energy Use

A well-designed home has many ways of reducing its dependence on coal-powered electricity. This may include increasing the natural light with skylights or highlight windows, using energy-efficient LED fixtures, as well as WELS rated water fixtures and hot water-saving systems. Also, no matter how sustainable your building materials, a larger home will always have a worse energy footprint. This doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself at all costs, just be more thoughtful about the space that is available and that you need. Planning your eco house design with your lifestyle in mind is probably the best way when shopping for the design.

Make Your Roof Cooler

The materials you use for the roof can make a huge difference in your homes energy dependence. You should choose a product that reflects the suns energy from the roof, cools faster at night, and holds less heat for less time. Slate, terra cotta, white tiles, and special reflecting membranes, as well as metal roofing, are often cited as popular eco-friendly options. They are typically more expensive upfront, but you’ll recoup those costs through energy savings. A living roof allows you to hold plants that grow on the roof to catch and filter rainwater while providing excellent insulation to your home. While these green roofs are nowadays mostly used in commercial buildings, they are suitable for residential roofs as well.

Choose an Optimum Insurance Package

Although sustainable homes are in many ways different from regular ones, they are still liable to more-less the same insurance obligations. Some argue that finding the right home insurance is even more important in passive homes, as the value of advanced products such as smart home technology, and even rooftop solar panels need to be covered. Much of the sustainable materials you’ll use inside are naturally-sourced, which are often neither fire-proof nor watertight. When shopping for the right insurance package for your passive home, choose a provider that allows you to tailor your policy to your needs and budget.

Apply Passive Design Principles

Passive design refers to a set of sustainable building measures that rely on local climate and site conditions to maintain a comfortable temperature at home. While in traditional homes about 40% of the household’s entire energy usage is dedicated to heating and cooling, with passive design principles, this amount can be reduced to almost zero. This means that first and foremost, careful attention is given to the home’s position and orientation. In the southern hemisphere, eco houses designs and floorplans make most of the north aspect, harnessing the power of the sun. While in the summer this can be moderated with various shadings and overhangs, in winter this orientation allows deep sun penetration. To keep inside temperatures more stable, homeowners might use elements of higher thermal insulation, such as double- or triple-glazed windows, or natural cross-ventilation.

Use Sustainable Materials

To build and furnish a more sustainable home, you should consider materials that are recyclable, reconstituted, or sustainably harvested/produced. Aluminum takes a lot of energy to produce but can be recycled over and over again. It’s important to extend the sustainable theme beyond the construction and make sure that every part of your house including cabinets, counters, insulation, floor covering, and even furniture is environmentally friendly. Some eco-conscious furniture manufacturers use reclaimed or recycled wood, glass, and iron. Wood is a popular reclaimed material as it retains its durability over the years even if mishandled. Other sustainable materials include bamboo, cork, and linoleum, all of which are natural, highly-renewable materials.

By their very nature, homes aren’t very environmentally friendly – a lot of energy is wasted in hauling the materials to the site, not to mention the construction waste, and all the industrial-grade materials that go into an average home. However, each of us can make an impact and minimize our footprint by using design, products, and practices that are sustainable, and created with water and energy saving in mind while reducing wastage and pollution.

Guest Contributor, Tracy Clayton

Make Plumbing More Eco-Friendly With These New Technologies

Make Plumbing More Eco-Friendly With These New Technologies

As all of the world’s industries tend to shift to a more eco-friendly approach, it is logical to expect that plumbing jumps on the “green train” too.

Besides the obvious benefits for the environment, greener technologies are in high demand. So if you’re a plumber, working with them will give you a competitive edge over companies who don’t.

On the other hand, if you’re a homeowner who wants to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint, you too will like what you’re about to read.

Today, I’m going to discuss how you can make plumbing greener and why you should do it. If this is something that you might be interested in, please, read on.

The Benefits of Greener Plumbing

In this section, I’m going to try to explain just how exactly can optimized plumbing be good for the environment.

You see, new technologies in this field focus on two interconnected things: energy efficiency and reduced water consumption. What many folks don’t realize is that using less water also means using less electricity or gas, which is a great way to cut one’s energy bills. However, there is another, more significant impact of green plumbing. As fossil fuels are required for water processing and delivery, reducing the amount of water we use will automatically lower the usage of the fuels that we extract from the Earth. To sum up, eco-friendly plumbing means less energy use, which results in lower bills and reduced fossil fuel expenditure. It is a win-win situation for you and the planet.

The Leading Green Plumbing Technologies of 2019

Now that you’ve realized the value that greener plumbing could provide you with it’s time to check out some of the latest technologies that plumbers use to achieve this goal. Let’s put those wrenches to good use!

Optimized Sprinklers

It is impossible to imagine having a green and enjoyable yard without a sprinkler system, so you know just how important these things are. However, sprinklers use up a lot of water, and the new technologies aim to change that. The new systems are all about efficiency, and they manage to use less water due to their optimized water delivery methods designed in a way that’ll spread water more evenly across your lawn. As I’ve mentioned earlier, this decreases your water and energy bills and has a positive impact on the environment.

Solar-powered Water Heaters

This is a big one, as all of us need large amounts of hot water every single day. In case you haven’t known, standard water heaters use up quite a lot of electricity, and solar- powered heaters are the polar opposite. The latter presents one of the most energy-efficient technologies utilized by plumbers today. To be frank, some parts of the world do not get a lot of sun, except maybe in the summer, so they might not experience great benefits from these systems. However, those who live in warm and sunny places should not think twice about using solar energy to heat up their water.

Water Heating Without a Tank

The usual water heaters with a storage tank require a lot more energy than their tankless counterparts. As a matter of fact, some estimates have shown that, in the long run, tankless heaters could lower energy use for more than 30%. This is a huge number, and although installing these systems is more expensive than going for a traditional tank, it pays off. If you want to know how they work, these systems use a device called a heat exchanger to provide your home with hot running water, thus removing the need for water storage.

Recycling of Greywater

Take a moment to think about how much greywater you produce every day. Now imagine if all that water could be recycled and repurposed, instead of just going down the drain. Well, this can be done with some of the latest plumbing technologies. Water from our showers, sinks, and appliances doesn’t contain as many dangerous bacteria as the water from the toilet, so it doesn’t require a lot of treatment to be suitable for reuse. Sounds great, right? It sure is, and the only problem with these systems is pinpointing the exact cost, as it depends on a lot of factors.

Conclusion

As you can see, you have a lot of options on how to use up less water in your household and become more responsible towards our planet. Having all four systems installed right away might be too much of a financial hit for some, but I’m sure that most of the readers could start with at least one. Like I mentioned earlier, these might seem like big investments in the beginning, but be absolutely certain that they will all pay off in the long run.

About Ethan: Ethan Johnson is a mechanical engineer with a passion for all things DIY. He is the mastermind behind Manoffamily.com, a blog that’s going to teach you anything you want to know about home renovation, woodworking, gardening and more.

Guest Contributor, Ethan Johnson

Life-Changing Upgrades for Your Old Home

Life-Changing Upgrades for Your Old Home

There’s no denying that older homes have their own charm and character that makes them attractive to a wide range of buyers. However, they often come with a number of issues that need to be tackled in order to be kept practical, functional, and more importantly, safe. Some problems may pose minor inconveniences or slightly affect the cost of your monthly utilities. On the other hand, serious issues such as aging pipes, leaking roofs, bad repairs, or outdated wiring are just accidents waiting to happen. While tackling both major and minor issues is a must, it’s important to prioritize. Here’s a list of four life-changing upgrades that will make your home look and feel as good as new while also saving you money in the long run.

Updating the old and dated plumbing

The thing about old homes is that they were built using materials that aren’t used nowadays or the pipe system isn’t configured in the most optimal way. Some materials that were used in the past may even cause harm (e.g. lead pipes that were used to carry waste from the house) which calls for modern and safe replacements. Also, to be able to meet modern-day building codes, vents need to be installed near drains, which usually isn’t the case with old homes. To prevent any plumbing disaster from causing damage to your household (and making a dent in your wallet), be sure to update the old, out-of-date plumbing as soon as possible. Rely on experienced, licensed professionals to do the work properly and ensure your plumbing is modernized and brought up to date.

Having your roof repaired

Having a roof over your head is a necessity, but what’s even more important is keeping that roof functional. There is no point in upgrading your interiors if the old, worn-out roof fails and destroys all the items you’ve invested your hard-earned money into. Roofs, like all things, have their lifespan, and it’s important to keep them up-to-date in order to get the most out of them. Extreme weather changes that are more apparent in countries like Australia have many homeowners updating their roofs to ensure durability and resilience, with many turning to experts for roof repairs in Sydney as a way of providing a safe structure for themselves. With the help of these roof specialists, they manage to preserve the existing structure for years to come.

Bringing your insulation up to date

Another important aspect of functional home is proper insulation. Heat loss during colder months translates to higher utility bills, which is why you need to bring insulation of your old home up to date and into the 21st century. Old houses often have unfinished or unconditioned attics, so consider laying insulation batts and combine them with blown-in cellulose insulation for maximum effectiveness. If there is a basement, you can use the same method to insulate the floors above. By applying the same insulating technique on the stud bays of the floor joists, you’ll ensure your floors feel more comfortable throughout the year.

Upgrading old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones

In addition to insulating the attic and the floors, some other areas that may require insulation are doors and windows. Old ones often leak air and the result is cold air sweeping through the house, thus increasing your heating bill. Not only will you have to pay more, but you will also be letting in moisture as well as uninvited guests and critters through these uninsulated spaces. Upgrading your old windows and doors with energy-efficient ones will help save some money during heating and cooling seasons, but you can also try weatherstripping, re-caulking, or applying window film to draught-proof your existing doors and windows.

Charming, quirky period details and attractive, rich architecture – there are many reasons why many people fall in love with pre-war homes and decide to move into one. However, there are a couple of nuisances that come with moving into an old house, but if you manage to resolve these issues effectively, not only will you be able to trim the costs of living in an old home, but you’ll also help bring it up to standards needed for a modern lifestyle while still preserving a piece of history, which is in itself priceless.

 Guest Contributor, Chloe Taylor

Remodeling Your Home in 4 Easy Steps

Remodeling Your Home in 4 Easy Steps

No matter how big, new or fancy your home is, renovating it from time to time is something you simply have to do. Even though most people don’t like doing that, these things will take your home’s visual appeal to a whole new level, and make it more practical at the same time. However, not all home renovations are the same, and you need to pick the right ideas first. Doing that might take some time, so here are a few remodeling ideas you might want to look into.

Make it eco-friendly

More and more people realize that our planet is heading towards an ecological disaster, which is why they’re getting ready to do something about it. While you can’t do much on your own on the global level, you can certainly make a difference in your own area. Making your home eco-friendly and sustainable is one of the things you should do. Turning this idea into reality is easier than you think, so start simple, small and easy. Place your light bulbs with those LED ones, install double glazed energy-efficient windows, add solar panels to your roof, and switch to eco-friendly appliances. These things don’t look like a lot at first, but they’ll make a massive change, so start exploring them straight away.

Update your kitchen

This is one of those expensive and complex projects out there, but it’s one of those that make the most sense. Updating your kitchen and making it look amazing takes some time and energy, but it’s all worth your while. You can stick to simple projects like repainting your cabinets and replacing handles, or you can do something a bit more expensive. Remodeling your kitchen includes getting new cabinets, countertops, and appliances, but don’t forget to opt for energy-efficient models only.

Designing a home theater

This is one of the most exciting projects out there, and something every member of your family is going to appreciate. Turning a spare bedroom into a home theater isn’t just a great way to get your family another hangout spot, but will also boost the value of your property. This is particularly important, especially if you’re trying to sell your home in the future. Still, before actually creating a home theater, you need to get ready – logistically, financially, and emotionally. Doing this is quite hard, but if you spend some time preparing for a partial home renovation, you’ll be all right. Try to learn as much as you can in advance, and figure out what needs to be done, and your renovation will be smoother than you think.

Fix the façade

This is one of the most important features of every luxurious home, and it’s also something that will boost your curb appeal and make your home even more inviting. But, before you can enjoy your home better than ever, you need to check the façade and figure out what to do with it. Most people don’t do this and end up finding out about mold, ants, and other dangers only after purchasing the property. That’s why you should fix the façade – on your own or call a guy – and make it more appealing than it’s ever been. This will take your home to the next level, and introduce a new dose of luxury to your already luxurious place.

Regardless of their size and age, all homes require love, care, and attention, and your home is no different. If you put your mind to it and find a few projects that can go a long way, you’ll be making the right decision and spicing up your living space once and for all!

 Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Building Your First Home: The Essentials

Building Your First Home: The Essentials

Since the real estate market is currently not quite blossoming, many people actually decide to build their first home rather than buy it. Aside from the fact that this enables them to flat out create a house of their dreams it also allows them to choose the materials their new house is going to be built from, among other things.

That being said, building your first home is no easy job. Aside from making sure that you have the necessary budget for the project you also need to ensure that you’ve picked the right area, contractors and materials. With that in mind, let’s see what the essentials of building your first house are.

The budget

As mentioned earlier, you need to ensure that you have enough resources to see your project through before you actually get down to organizing it. This will require you to do some thorough research and try to find out the estimated prices of things your budget will need to cover. Chances are that you probably won’t have that amount of money stacked and ready to go, which means that you will most likely need to find some alternative budgeting options. This will probably require you to apply for a loan which means that you’ll also need to ensure that your credit history and credit score are healthy and optimal.

The location

Aside from securing the funds, you will also need to find the perfect location. First, you should check out all the available pieces of land and see which location suits you best. Here, you should assess how far away you’d be living from your job/your kids’ school if you were to build your home at a particular location. This will help you significantly with the elimination process. Another thing that can help you when choosing a piece of land is how much work will it require in order to connect your home on the water and electricity grid. The more work the piece of land requires pre-building, the more expensive the project will be, so keep that in mind as well.

The contractors

The contractors you choose for the job also play a huge role in this type of projects. By ensuring that you’ve found the best possible fit for the task at hand, not only will you guarantee quicker and more seamless completion but you’ll also ensure that everything’s done the way it was originally intended. With that in mind, in some countries, such as Australia, hiring different contractors for different parts of the project is actually quite a common practice. That’s why so many Aussies chose to hire professionals in Sydney Commercial Carpentry when building their homes to ensure that all their desires are being met – and sometimes even exceeded – and all the right materials are being used.

The materials

Finally, when it comes to choosing the right materials, the majority of homeowners want to ensure that they’ve gone green and sustainable as much as possible. It’s important to mention here that if green and sustainable is your goal as well, aside from looking at the material’s stats and traits, you should also see where it is from. What this means is that while bamboo, for instance, is a very sustainable material, the place it originates from is Asia. So, when you account for the distance it needs to travel to get to you, it will actually lose quite a bit of sustainability. That’s why it would be best to focus on finding salvaged and locally-sourced materials for your building project.

These were just the essentials of a house building project you should keep in mind when building your first home.  Aside from them, make sure you think ahead of time when deciding on particular features, layout and similar things because who knows? The fact that you’re building your first house doesn’t have to mean that you’re also building your forever home. So, consider including some popular elements in your house design that will boost your property’s value and make it more appealing to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell it.

 Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

7 Things To Do Before You Move Into A New House

7 Things To Do Before You Move Into A New House

Moving to a new place can be quite a stressful task. Anytime you move it comes with a lot of changes which can be uncomfortable. This is why it is crucial to put some things in place before you pack up and move. Doing these things would make you better prepared and would also make the new place you would be moving to more comfortable. Florida realtor, Danny Margagliano with 30a Local Properties (https://destinpropertyexpert.com) says, "Many of my customers that are moving asked me my number one piece of advice. Every time it's the same thing, you can't have enough of boxes." Here are some of the things you can do to prepare you for moving easily and stress-free.

Get proper supplies for moving

It is important to get appropriate supplies when moving so that your things do not get damaged during the moving process. Getting strong and adequate boxes for whatever item you want to pack is necessary. For instance, using a weak box to move dishes or valuable artwork is just calling for trouble. After sorting items and putting them in their proper boxes, the next step is to label all the boxes. When doing this be mindful that fragile items would be handled carefully. Reducing the risk of damaging them en-route.

Get a moving company

Moving can be quite a tedious task. Therefore it is essential to make sure you enlist the services of a trusted, licensed, and fully insured company. This way, you can rest assured that your property is in the hands of competent people.

Forwarding the mail 

As you would be moving to a new place, it is important to forward your mail before leaving your present house. You can get in touch with your local snail mail provider service and choose the day you would want to start receiving your mail at your new address. Neglecting to do this would make you miss out on receiving valuable letters or packages.

Transfer or cancel all utility service

 A few of the primary utility services to keep in mind includes electricity, gas, telephone, heating services. If you don't cancel it or transfer them to your current location, it could lead to several issues. First and foremost, it could delay service from being transferred to your new residence. Secondly, both services may remain on, and you will be paying for someone else's utilities. Either scenario is not a good one for you.

Look for suitable schools around

If you have children that are still going to school, the best thing to do would be to look for suitable schools and register them before-hand.

Finding new healthcare providers

If you would be moving very far away from your current health care provider, look for another one close to your new place of residence. You can ask your current health care provider to refer you to another Doctor. Be sure to verify that the new physician accepts your current health insurance. Alternatively, you can contact your health insurance company directly to find a doctor that is in your network of providers.

Clean up your new house

Before moving day either perform a walk-through yourself, I have your realtor do one for you. This way, you will know whether or not the home is clean and move-in ready. In some cases, the former residents will have taken care of cleaning the house for you, and in other cases, it will be up to you. Cleaning a space when it is still empty is much easier than having to clean it when it is filled with people and pieces of furniture.  

Final thoughts

There are still many other things to be done like painting the new space, changing the locks of the new place for security reasons, cleaning out your former home, sending out moving announcement to friends and family members, changing some electrical fixtures if necessary, hiring internet services, equipping the new place with fire extinguishers, and looking for a new pharmacy. The list can seem endless. If you follow the tips above for moving into a new home, the entire process will be a smoother one.

started on the moving process.

Guest Contributor, Daniel Margagliano