Curb appeal is important for many homeowners who want to feel good about where they live or attract a new buyer. Whether you want to freshen up a home you’ve owned for years or plan on selling, here are some exterior makeovers you can give without spending a fortune. Focus on designs that make a big impact.
A fresh coat of paint
Outdated brick and worn concrete rejuvenate with lighter paint selections. For shutters, window casings, eaves and the front door, consider khaki in a shade just a bit darker than the house.
A makeover for focal points
Thoughtful improvements like an updated roof, glass front door or new windows can make a vast difference. Consider also revamping your pathways and planters. Create a focal point with landscaping for one of the easiest and most effective ways to transform a house from blah to beautiful.
Accentuate the positives
If you have a charmer hidden under overgrown shrubs, bushes and trees, clear away the clutter to allow the home’s frame to speak volumes. Reveal a stunner simply by getting rid of anything in the way of the authentic style of your home. Doing a bit of research into your home’s beginnings may offer some ideas for enhancing its character.
Showcase your entryway
Create visual appeal and a welcoming environment by showcasing the entryway. Go with a new color for your door, add an inexpensive portico or tear down one that hides your home. New garden beds around the entrance warm up a bland exterior. Clustering plants along your home’s foundation near the entryway ties in the natural surroundings and makes it more welcoming. Make the most of the grand entrance to your house.
Green up the walls
Choose decorative vines or crawling foliage with fruits and vegetables. This is a great way to develop a formal look for your exterior or maximize space for a garden. The key to growing on your home’s walls is using an anchoring system that works with your siding and keeps plants from rubbing against the walls or adhering to them. This can damage your house and your vertical garden. Blend landscaping into your home by growing plants up the sides of walls.
Soften hardscapes
Large slabs of stone on a patio or steps can look handsome or cold. Take the edge off by surrounding them with small-leaved ground covering like deadnettle or creeping thyme. Plant crawling ground cover around rock edges and in between pavers. It’ll add warmth and color contrast, and offer an aesthetic that says “natural” instead of “ignored.”
Expand or add a deck or porch
By expanding or adding a deck or porch, you can make your exterior a haven for relaxing and gathering. Think about how you can craft an outdoor living space that works year-round. For instance, include built-in benches with storage, plenty of space for flowers and seasonal greenery, pull-down clear porch curtains to keep the elements out, and maybe even a firepit to warm things up.
Working with local home exterior design professionals or contractors can make the job of revamping your exterior much easier. But, if you have the time and motivation to attack the project yourself, it can be truly rewarding.
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
You always know a luxurious bathroom when you see one. It sparkles, shines and looks like something straight out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. However, a luxurious bathroom makeover doesn’t have to be expensive. You can increase the value of your home and achieve the effects of a luxury makeover by implementing these unique, budget-savvy renovation tips.
1. Pay Attention to the Decorative Details
The details in your bathroom make a powerful statement. Ignoring them can make the space look mediocre and plain. To achieve the effect of a luxurious bathroom on a budget, place importance on the small things instead of large, costly items.
Ornamental items, such as artwork, statues, candles and other décor can change the appeal of the entire space. Think about the tones that are often associated with luxury, such as gold, silver, chrome and sparkling, shiny elements. Focusing your decorative details on fancy materials and colors will add a spark of luxury.
Additionally, the color of your bathroom holds great power, as it can create an astonishing visual effect that impacts the ambiance. Keep this in mind when choosing decorative elements.
2. Add Character with an Accent Wall
If you’re not looking to do a complete renovation, focus your luxury design aspirations on an accent wall. Pick one wall and add crucial details that will take your bathroom to the next level of luxury.
Finishes and textures can be expensive if you’re adding them to the entire room. They’ll also blend in rather than making the powerful statement you want to achieve. An accent wall is an affordable way to add impact.
Add textured wallpaper that has the appearance of luxury materials, such as stone or marble. It’ll instantly add dimension and elegance into the space.
Match luxury finishes to your accent wall to create the effect of a luxurious bathroom makeover. Add large decorative details such as mirrors with a gold frame, or large art pieces that will turn a plain wall into a masterpiece.
3. Natural Materials are Timeless and Luxurious
If you look at any luxury bathroom, you’ll see one common element – almost all of them incorporate natural materials into the space. Whether it’s on the walls, floors or in the small details, fancy spaces take advantage of natural aesthetics. They’re timeless, elegant and can instantly increase the value and style of your bathroom.
Marble and onyx are certainly among the top natural materials used in luxury bathrooms. However, they’re also among the most expensive options. The good news is that any natural material will work wonders when trying to achieve a fancy ambiance.
New wood flooring, wooden vines and green plants can add a spark of nature, ambiance and luxury into the space for a fraction of the cost. You receive all the benefits of luxury without the big price tag.
4. Lighting is Everything
If there’s one thing you’ll continuously hear associated with flawless interior design, it’s lighting. Lighting holds the power within any space. It can make a small room appear larger, a dark room appear livelier and a boring room appear more luxurious. Lighting affects the ambiance and design of your home, which is why it’s so important when creating the effect of a luxurious bathroom makeover.
There are two options available. You can go grand and extravagant with large, statement light fixtures, or you can go with a subtler approach and use strategically placed accent lights. Both will have a similar affect when used properly.
Large light fixtures such as a gold-toned chandelier will achieve a powerful statement of luxury, while spotlights throughout the space offer a sweet, softer glow.
Since the bathroom is one of the most important rooms in your home, it’s time to give yours a little TLC. Bathrooms are a huge selling point when you decide to list your home. Create the effect of a luxurious bathroom with these home decorating tips, and increase the value, aesthetics and enjoyment of your home.
Source: www.bhgrelife.com
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
Curling up with a good book is the perfect way to relax. Every bookworm can agree that where you read is just as important as what you read. We can all relate to reading the same sentence for 15 minutes as a result of being in the wrong place. Noisy, crowded and uncomfortable are not adjectives one wants to use to describe their leisure spots. Reading nooks are little areas within a home that are comfy, cozy and free of distractions. Explore the must-have elements every reading nook needs.
Get Cozy in a Corner
You may think you need a lot of space or to rearrange for a reading nook. All you need is a little corner or any space that is secluded from everything else. Reading nooks can be anywhere; consider a corner in your bedroom, a bay window or even a shed.oftness is a Must
Increase the coziness of your reading nook with softer fabrics. Invest in a plush blanket to create a welcoming cocoon. Paint the walls softer hues to ensure a cozy, distraction-free space. If a big rug beckons, consider faux fur or a great shag rug to spend a few hours with your favorite author.
Softness is a Must
Increase the coziness of your reading nook with softer fabrics. Invest in a plush blanket to create a welcoming cocoon. Paint the walls softer hues to ensure a cozy, distraction-free space. If a big rug beckons, consider faux fur or a great shag rug to spend a few hours with your favorite author.
Comfort with Cushions
Soft fabrics are great, but they won’t give you as much comfort as you need to finish a few chapters of your latest read. Grab some cushions and layer them on the floor, bench or bay window. They are a much cheaper alternative to purchasing a chair. You may also want to purchase larger pillows to line the wall for increased comfort.
Lighting is Vital
A reading nook in front of a big window is always a nice addition. You get an ample amount of natural light, fresh air and peace. The only catch is when the sun goes down, your reading nook will no longer be the ideal place. To get the best light possible, add a lamp or hang a few strings of white lights. Better yet, opt for a with a dimming option to set the mood as you please.
Keep it Simple
Too many distractions can take away from your reading experience. There’s no need for tech gadgets, save for an e-reader. An abundance of framed photos, home décor and other distractions can also take your attention away from the page. Keep it simple by sticking with basics to get the most out of your reading nook.
Source: www.bhgrelife.com
People often assume that the kitchen or living room is at the heart of the home, but when you see these ideas to help corral the chaos in your mudroom, you might decide that the area just inside your front door is the true command center of your house. If you don’t have a dedicated room or hallway carved out for a purpose-built mudroom, don’t despair: a few hooks, storage baskets and designated shoe racks can make all the difference in a house where multiple family members use—and abuse—the front hallway as a dumping ground. Good mudroom design can be just what you need to corral clutter and get an entryway you—and potential home buyers—absolutely love.
Establish a mudroom zone
Even homes with grand entries sometimes find themselves challenged by the lack of front- or back-door space to store daily necessities. A few options can help. A slim drawer underneath a bench offers a spot to stash seasonal items. With no room for traditional shoe storage solutions, boots and other footwear sit close by; place them in a tray to catch loose moisture and dirt. A tray makes it easy to clean up melted snow or mud that comes in on boots; simply take the entire tray outside to dump accumulated dirt or snow, then replace.
Use baskets for outdoor items
It makes sense to have some items close at hand for out-of-house comings and goings. A shelf above coat storage in this mudroom has space for containers with various items such as sunscreen, bandages and more. Keep similar items, such as bug spray, together and label the containers (adhesive or tied-on tags work well). You might also consider assigning a basket to each member of your family, then letting them use it however they like to corral their personal clutter
Tuck shoes out of the way
Although it’s handy to have all mudroom storage together, sometimes a dedicated shoe-storage solution just isn’t feasible. Instead, carve out nooks and crannies where you can. A small recessed area offers a just-right spot for multiple shoe shelves.
Sliding shelves are a useful tool in mudrooms, too, helping to streamline access to items. Choose heavy-duty, easy-to-clean surfaces in a mudroom, particularly for the floor, that rely on color and texture to mask any messes or daily dirt. And don’t forget to put a tray under a shoe rack to catch the debris from several rows of shoes above.
Use extra storage for essentials
Some mudrooms are hidden and expansive enough to store more than just coats and shoes. For peculiarly shaped items that may not easily stay grouped—toilet paper, for example—use decorative baskets (lidded or not) to keep them in order.
Source: www.bhgre.com/bhgrelife
The entryway of your home holds a lot of power. Although it’s a small portion of your house, it’s the first thing people see when they walk through the door. If your guests are greeted with a pile of shoes and a heap of clutter, it can make the entire atmosphere seem chaotic. Instead, you want your entryway to be welcoming and beautiful. However, with so many essentials needing to be near the front door and with such a little space to work with, it can be hard to find a way to make the entryway effective as well as stunning. Fortunately, with these entryway ideas, you’ll see just how easy it is to turn your entryway into a practical masterpiece.
Open the Space with a Large Mirror
Entryways are small. The area is often crowded, and even more so when you have a plethora of guests arriving. However, hanging a large mirror on the wall will open up the space, making it seem significantly larger. It can also distract people from a small entryway. In addition, natural lighting from your front door will reflect in the mirror, making the space appear lighter and more inviting.
Separate the Entry from the Entryway
When people enter your home, they stop just after the front door. They take off their shoes, remove their jackets, set down their keys and handbags. This can quickly make your entryway crowded, especially if it’s a small space. Designate a portion of the entryway for practicality. Move the shoe racks away from the front door so people can enter without tripping. Also, trade in the floor coat rack for one mounted on the wall to free up more floor space. It’ll make coming and going within your home easy.
Prioritize and Organize
Decide what actually needs to be in the entryway. If it doesn’t serve a purpose, consider moving it elsewhere, even if it’s just down the hall from the front door. Look beyond the large furniture pieces. The smallest items can sometimes be the biggest culprits, taking away from the aesthetics of your entryway. Hats, mitts, scarves, magazines, newspapers, flyers, and anything else that is currently being collected in a heaping pile of stuff should be moved. Install more hooks in the hallway. Additionally, place decorative baskets to hide the clutter.
Add in a Multi-Purpose Storage Bench
Multi-purpose furniture pieces are excellent, especially in smaller areas of the home. A storage bench is the perfect piece of furniture for entryways. It allows your guests to sit down to remove or put on their shoes, while you get the added benefit of hidden storage compartments. Storage benches also come in various shapes and styles. Some look like actual benches whereas others look like vintage trunks. Either way, they’re perfect for your entryway.
Display Personality
Don’t put everything away. Your entryway should still showcase the things that make your house a home. Hang photos on the wall and little mementos with sentimental value. The best decorating tip is to make your home perfect for you.
Your entryway doesn’t have to resemble that of a schoolyard when the recess bell rings and all the kids are trying to squeeze through the door at once. Gone are the days of tripping over shoes. With a little TLC and these decorating ideas, your entryway can be just as practical as it is beautiful.
Source: www.bhgre.com
A mantel is often the focal point of its room, so it can be the perfect place to set the tone and ambiance of your interior. With this incredible amount of potential, you may need some tips and tricks for decoration. Luckily, with these 10 ideas on how to decorate an inviting mantel, yours will bring warmth, dimension, and personality into the room.
www.bhgrelife.com
By: Rich Binsacca
Adding a basement bathroom is a big and expensive decision. It may be desirable—who wants to run upstairs each time nature calls?—yet not practical, especially if gravity isn’t on your side. Here are the issues to ponder.
It’s easy to imagine putting a bathroom in your basement remodel. It’s harder to figure out how to get waste and sewer gasses out.
Just like bathrooms in other parts of your house, adding a basement bathroom means wastewater must drain to the existing city sewer or to an on-site septic system, and sewer gasses must be vented directly to the outside in compliance with building codes.
Create falling waters
In most basement bathrooms, you must create “fall,” or you must give the waste a push.
All this pushing and falling costs money: Adding a basement bathroom could add $10,000 to your basement retreat budget. Wastewater from your basement bathroom sink, shower or tub, and toilet must have enough slope (another word for “fall”) to drain properly and effectively.
Achieving proper fall may require removing and rebuilding a small section of the basement slab and excavation of the ground underneath. The process involves digging a trench for a drainage pipe to connect the new bathroom to your home’s existing sewer or septic system.
Installing basement toilets
To give gravity an extra push, install a pressure-assisted toilet ($150 to $800) with a pressure valve that forces waste through the pipes and into your existing sewer line. This pressure assist may help you avoid digging into the foundation and creating a host of other hassles when adding a basement bathroom, including leaks.
If possible, locate the toilet (and other water-using appliances, such as a clothes washer) against an outside wall when adding a basement bathroom, which saves pipe and reduces the cost of draining away waste and venting sewer gasses.
Rich Binsacca is the author of 12 books on home-related topics and a contributing editor for Builder and EcoHome magazines.
Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association just released its 2011 kitchen and bath study to predict trends for this year. While some trends are definitely on the rise, others that were hot (or not so hot) last year are gaining (or losing) momentum.
Here is the definitive list of what will be big in the coming months:
1. The Case for Space
If you recall, opening rooms was also one of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s predicted trends for 2011. It seems that today’s chefs don’t want to be stuck in a stodgy room. And for those who are more frugal, simply knocking down a wall may be enough: “Knocking down a few walls costs a lot less than adding square footage. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, though, make sure you’re not destroying load-bearing walls.”
2. Tough Counter to Crack.
Quartz is back in a big way. People are going for the hard mineral because it is the “perfect alternative to granite and marble for low maintenance and high durability” in both the kitchen and the bathroom. In fact, 85 percent of NKBA bathroom designers incorporate quartz into their designs.
3. Going Green.
While it is important to be eco-friendly, this year people are quite literally going green, especially in bathrooms. The calming, earthier tone saw a rise in popularity late last year; at the beginning of 2010 only about 1 in 7 people requested green in their remodel, but by December 1 in 4 wanted the color.
4. Shake It Up.
Shaker-style kitchens - an organized, wood-paneled, cabinet-centric approach design - are having a major comeback. While people are still leaning towards traditional models, the Shaker utilitarian approach has been used by 55% of kitchen remodelers last year.
5. Dark Times.
Dark natural and deep reddish-brown maple finishes are in this year for cabinetry and even floors. With more people turning to the dark side, medium natural, white, and glazed finishes have fallen by the wayside.
6. Relax in Style.
People are turning up the volume on in-home luxury; maybe because of the economy, people are finding ways to pamper themselves at home. From spa-like bathrooms to a rise in unchilled, wine cabinets being installed, homeowners are creating spaces in their homes to simply relax. For those on a budget, MSN Real Estate suggests “adding multiple showerheads to a shower typically costs just a few hundred dollars, making it one of the most economical ways to add a spa feel. Also, try to avoid moving fixtures, since that can add enormously to a project’s cost.”
7. Kitchen 3.0
Most people love new tech toys, so why should the kitchen be any different? From French-doored refrigerators with customizable freezers to an 8% rise in requests for induction stove tops, the future kitchen is here. Surprisingly, as people are integrating more high-tech gadgetry in the kitchen, they are leaning towards more traditional and functional designs (see #4).
8. Going Green…The Other Way.
Some choose to paint to be green, but homeowners are also becoming - not surprisingly - more eco-aware in their choices. From bamboo flooring to installing LED lighting, remodeling is taking a turn for the sustainable. NKBA members even said that 89% of the kitchens they designed included some consideration for pull-out trash and recycling bins, and a distinct rise in both garbage disposals and trash compactors.
9. You’re so vain.
Piggy-backing on the spa bathrooms, vanities are getting a redemption. Remodels are taking a turn from the super-industrial look with finished metal to vessel sinks and integrated sink tops, which have a warmer, more classic feel. The bathroom vanity is also seeing double-dual sinks are now a “given” in master baths.
10. Hit the (Hardwood) Floor.
While carpeting may have never been the best choice for the kitchen or bathroom, this year it is being panned for the entire house. Hardwood and tile remain a staple, but bamboo flooring is also gaining popularity. Liz Pulliam Weston of MSN Real Estate adds, “high-end linoleum - which sounds like an oxymoron, but isn’t - is being used in more fashionable homes.”
Source: Ilyce Glink, CBSMoneywatch.com