Recent Articles
What to Do After You Buy a House
Jan 9, 2010 Home Improvement Leave a comment
After months of searching for a house to buy, you found it, made and offer, which was accepted, got into escrow, went to the closing table and became the proud owner. Now what?
If the home that you bought needs some home improvements, there are some things that you can do before moving in. If you need to move in right away, follow these easy tips.
Before unpacking, take a note pad and go around the home to look for things that may need improvement or fixing. Categorize these in three columns: To fix right away, intermediate – can wait, and will become a future project.
Now that you know what you have to take care of right away, you can unpack, but try to leave room around the areas that you are going to work in right away. Since the rest of the items in the other two columns can wait, you can unpack on those areas. Stuff will be moved when it is time to fix those. The items in the first column are your priority.
Take each item that needs fixing and create a budget for it. Look at alternatives to save money, and for new and different ways to approach the project. Look for discounts and free resources too. Read More..
Making the Best of Your Small Space
Dec 11, 2009 Interior Design Tips Leave a comment
Just because you live in a small cottage or a small place does not mean that your space cannot be comfortable and relaxing. Many homes with tons of square footage are furnished in a way that they lack comfort or feel crowded. When looking to make the best of your small space, look beyond square footage. Instead, look at type of furnishings, room purpose, furniture placement and use, and of course, practicality. Considering this will help you in making your cottage a comfortable retreat.
If your small place is furnished, you may have to think of getting rid of furniture that does not serve the purpose of is not practical for the space. Sell it, donate it, or give it away. Look at the different rooms and ask yourself if they serve the purpose according to your lifestyle. For example, if you never have any staying- over guests ( and think that this will not change much in the future) but you work at home a lot, then get rid of the guest bedroom and convert it into an office. Buy a small size sofa bed that you can convert into a bed if the need arises.
Look at every piece of furniture and ask yourself if you really use it, or need it. In this process, you will have to pare down some things and declutter your home. Most important, you will have to get rid of any doubles. By doing this, you will find that you do not need some pieces of furniture that were just storing extra stuff. Get rid of any piece of furniture that has become an extra, and pieces that are too big or clunky, for the space. Read More..
How to Hang Window Blinds
Oct 20, 2009 Interior Design Tips Leave a comment
If you’ve decided to go with window blinds over buying curtains, there’s a few simple steps to consider on how to hang them. When deciding on where to put your roman blinds, it depends entirely on the window itself. If the window opens inward, your only choice is to put the blinds on the outside of the frame. If the depth of the window frame is sufficient – you can put the blinds on the inside of the frame or in the window recess. Another consideration is the window shape and whether the window is even square – if it is not, then placing the blinds on the outside is best.
How to Measure for Blinds
- For outside the window recess, you can choose to put the blind on the window frame itself, or to
measure approximately 5-10 cm on both sides of the recess and 5-10 cm above and below. - If measuring within the window recess, measure the width and drop of the area. Make sure to choose three different spots along the width of the window – and choose the narrowest measurement to ensure the blind can move up and down without hitting the sides.
When choosing blind or curtain material, consider your current decor. While polyester blends tend to be crease resistant, cotton, linen and even silk make excellent drapery choices. But keep in mind that silk, while gorgeous and decadent, is easy prey to sun and water damage.
How to Find Space in Closets
Oct 12, 2009 Interior Design Tips Leave a comment
Every woman wants more closet space—and she can have it if she knows how to store her clothes properly. Here are tips for arranging your closet for-maximum space usage:
• Take note of where the clothing pole in your closet is placed. Often it is placed in the center of the closet, neglecting the space in front and at the back.
See if you have enough space for two poles, by moving the “single” pole forward or backward and placing another one in front or at the back.
• Is there space above your first clothing pole for a pole placed higher up, for blouses and jackets? Many women have placed such a pole above the first clothing pole for shorter garments, and have found it very useful.
Garment bags take up space because they are often bulky. You might be better off keeping your garments in the plastic covers that come from the cleaners.
• Use thin hangers in your closet. The old hangers are wide and bulky and take up so much space.
• You can store shoes in several ways. You can just place them on the bottom of your closet, in rows. You can purchase a shoe stand that has raised prongs for each shoe. You can also use shoe boxes and label them clearly on the outside, so that you know what is inside. Then place them one on top of the other on your closet floor or on a shelf. You can also buy a shoe bag and place it on the inside door of your closet. Read More..
Home Improvements Tips – Home Improvement Loans
Oct 2, 2009 Home Improvement Leave a comment
Finding funding for your dream home renovation can be a challenge for a variety of reasons. Poor credit, creditor claims and defaulting on payments can significantly decrease your chances of being approved for a personal loan – and lower interest rates. Homeowner loans can be a better option for most people.
As a type of secured loan, a homeowner loan is a guarantee of payment for your bank. So while there is risk of the house itself if you cannot make payments, it is often possible to realize more options for the type of homeowner loan you are looking for. Smaller payments over a longer period of time may make your dream renovations possible.
In order to find the ideal homeowner loan for you and your family, it’s only a matter of doing your homework and shopping around. Just like finding home insurance quotes online, you can also find information and details about home owner loans. Compare interest rates, terms and conditions and what eligibility requirements may be. Vendors want your business and they will happily provide you with all of these details via email or phone. So don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you like – be the savvy consumer and shop around.
Ideas for Contemporary Interior Design
Sep 9, 2009 Interior Design Tips Leave a comment
Done well, interior design is a way to make your house look inviting, relaxing, and like an expression of your life and personality. Here are a few ideas you might try to make your house more beautiful.
Good interior design includes many processes: painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, lighting schemes, artwork, and furniture to name a few. Modern interior design is constantly evolving, and that’s a good thing. Wouldn’t it be weird to have a house that was exactly like the typical ranch house of the 70s? New design should always take into account some of the best of past designs without recreating them in their entirety. Read More..
