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Tips For A Kid-Friendly Home

A beautiful and kid-friendly home is within reach, here are a few tips as you design or remodel your bathroom, living room, and kitchen to create a stylish and family-friendly home. The Bathroom To achieve a safe and convenient bathroom, consider installing a separate shower and bath, instead of a combination of the two. Design a “wet zone” to keep the water confined and place the shower next to the bath with a glass wall dividing space from the rest of the room. For flooring, large-format tiles are easy to maintain, and the designs are both modern and classic, so you can enjoy function and style. The Living Room A living room adjacent to the kitchen not only gives a communal feel to your home, but also allows you to keep an eye on your children while they’re playing or doing homework. This layout will bring your family together in unexpected ways that matter most. Unless you have a separate playroom, you’ll need to keep this space tidy while housing the kid’s toys. Find furniture that’s stylish and storage-friendly, like an ottoman or sofa with hidden storage. Designate a few bookshelves or cupboards for books and toys. This way, your...

4 Summer Home Improvement Projects

The first day of summer is this Saturday and it’s already warm and sunny in Minnesota. If you’ve been thinking about tackling a few home improvement projects this summer, now’s the time to do it! Here are four summer home improvement projects to think about: 1. Powerwash Your Home’s Exterior Give your walkways and home exterior the high-power shower that they need, just make sure to follow the sprayer’s instructions to prevent any damage to your siding. The summer months are especially perfect for power washing your home as the sun rises earlier and goes down later. The extra hours in the day allows more time to get the job done, and this means more time to enjoy the outdoors. 2. Replace Your Windows Old windows cause major heat loss during the winter months, which results in higher heating bills and lower levels of comfort in the home. If your last summer’s caulking of the windows didn’t stop the chill in the winter, it may be time to call a professional to replace your windows this summer. 3. Re-side Your Home Nothing increases curb appeal quite like new siding. The right style transforms your house into the best looking house...

5 Home Projects

There’s only so much Netflix you can watch before you start getting restless. Renovating your entire home or yard isn’t likely right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some great changes while you’re at home. Here are five home projects that the whole family can do together: Straighten, Fix, or Redo Your Wall Decorations From TVs to artwork to photos, wall decor becomes crooked after a while. Take a moment to stroll through the house and straighten them all up; it makes a big difference in the overall look of your home. If you’re feeling especially motivated, take down all of your old decor and rearrange it, or create a new gallery by moving art around the house to keep things fresh. Rearrange the Furniture One of the easiest ways to freshen up your home is by rearranging your furniture. Try moving the couch to another wall, adjust your armchair, or mix and match prints from another room. This is a great way to introduce your kids to interior design and home projects, so let them take the lead on this project. Touch Up Your Paint Most of us have at least a few cans of paint stowed...

Designing Your Home Office

While you’re working at home, you need a space dedicated to your work that’s breathable, comfortable, quiet, and designed just for you. So how can you design a functional and striking home office? Here are some things to consider: Location Choose a part of the house that’s quiet or more private, ideally a room with a door and natural light. For added privacy and accessibility consider installing your home office adjacent to your bedroom. Wherever you decide to put your office, make sure it’s a place you can remain focused. Equipment One of the benefits of designing a home office is the level of personalization that’s available. Whether you want a stand up desk or a large table, you can tailor your office space to your dream. After you install your technology, plug everything into a power strip behind your desk so the cords are hidden for a safer and cleaner look. Invest in an elegant ergonomic-friendly chair so your eyes and body are protected while you work. Decoration You need a space that’s comfortable and stylish. Choose overall neutral colors like white, grey, tan, and ivory. These neutrals aren’t distracting and can be paired with your favorite accent color...

Top Updates Before Selling

To impress potential buyers, there are five areas of your home to focus your decorating efforts. Don’t worry — these are quick upgrades. Your real estate professional can help you determine your target buyer so you can tailor your upgrades to the local market. Here are the top upgrades for the five high-impact areas in your home: 1. Curb Appeal First impressions matter in real estate, increase your curb appeal with these simple changes: Reduce clutter: if your porch or yard has been cluttered for a while it’s easy to ignore it. Tidy up your yard and pressure wash your driveway, porch, and garage. Upgrade accessories: pick out a new welcome doormat and add a simple, seasonal wreath. Choose timeless accessories so your photos won’t look dated if a holiday passes. Add accessories: your porch shouldn’t be bare but don’t go overboard with accessories. Think of your porches’ accessories like jewelry; they should enhance your home, not overpower it. Add some colorful and stylish potted plants to your exterior entryway or an understated outdoor cafe table and chairs for coffee and morning showings. Paint your door: a beautifully painted front door is always a favorite. It’s an important part of...

4 Ways to Smarten Up Your Home

Your home just got smarter, and more efficient. With smart home technology, you can control cooling, heating, doorbells, locks, and lighting from the comfort of your smartphone. Smart technology isn’t just a way to make your life easier, but also a way to save energy, strengthen security, and differentiate your home on the market when you decide to sell. The convenience, luxury, and security smart technology creates can change your life forever, for the best. To help get you started, we’ve highlighted some essential smart upgrades for your home below. Thermostat A thermostat may seem like the most basic feature of the home, but it has a large impact on your energy bills and overall comfort. Half of your monthly energy costs are controlled by your thermostat, and a smart thermostat can reduce your energy expenditure greatly. What if you could use your phone to tell your thermostat you were on your way home? Or what if your thermostat could sense your proximity and calculate the exact time to make your home warm and cozy when you arrive? A smart thermostat can learn these household’s patterns and adjust heating and cooling according to when the home is occupied or not....

Your Attic Space | A Transformable Room

Attics are no longer the place of dust-ridden antiques and mice. This home space is an easily transformable room that offers a prime opportunity for remodeling and creativity. Check out the ideas below for how to turn your attic into an aesthetic feature of your house. A Bright Dining Room If your attic is like most people’s, it has a few windows and room for improvement. You can create a unique dining experience by transforming your attic into a place where your family enjoys sun-filled meals together. Carve out space for more windows and let the light in! Workspace Whether it’s an in-home office or an art studio, use your attic as a productive and creative space. Dedicate the top level of your home for your passion or your obligations, and make it your own. Entertainment Center Who said your primary television area has to be in the living room? Turn your attic into a hangout space and fill it with board games, comfy bean bag chairs, and a stereo system. Designate this area for your kids when they invite friends over so they have their own space and you can relax downstairs. A Guest Suite Your family likes to...

Living Room Trends | Must-Haves In 2019

The people have spoken, and the hottest trends for 2019 living room design are in. We picked some of our favorites, so read below to learn about how you can bring your A-game to the interior decorating department. Compact Side Tables These are ideal for freeing up space in your living room while also offering a functional furniture piece in the space. Structures made of metal with gold, silver, and bronze colors are very trendy right now, and these give your living room a clean-cut and chic look. Ditch the Couch No longer are couches a necessary staple for living rooms. Break the rules and invest in furniture that speaks to your style and personality instead; perhaps buy a intricately-designed yet comfortable bench or a group of fuzzy and frilly chairs for lounging. Depending on your space availability and the amount of activity that usually goes on in your living room, you can opt for fewer, smaller, bolder seats or you can offer one long, functional piece to provide comfort to your frequent guests. The More, The Merrier While minimalism had its day in the sun, maximalism is here – and homeowners are loving it. Instead of naked surfaces, muted...

Building Up or Building Out

Renovating and making additions to your home may seem like a costly, time-consuming venture. With the right strategy and mindset, however, your vision can transform your home into the place you’ve always wanted. Read below to find out the advantages of building up or building out, both of which can add significant value to your home. More Space Oftentimes, homeowners are motivated by the need for more room in their homes. Whether it’s a growing family or a long overdue renovation to a cramped kitchen, your desire for a larger home is valid. Your opportunities are endless — a guest bedroom, another bathroom, a larger garage, etc. Simply adding three or four feet to your kitchen or living room can be the difference between claustrophobia and comfort. In addition, if you’re an empty-nester with college kids or you’re trying to find a home for your elderly parents, adding more rooms to your home can offer space for other loved ones to permanently stay with you. Rent it Out Not only can additions make your home more valuable if you decide to sell it, but you can earn money for your extra space by renting it out. In this manner, you...

Building a Deck – What To Plan For

Whether you’re looking for another DIY home project or you simply want to add a deck to your house for functional purposes, the process is completely doable and enjoyable no matter your handyman abilities. Depending on the type and design of deck you want, there are variations in the procedure. In addition, you should consider your needs and your lifestyle before beginning the design process. Planning Your Deck Before diving right into the construction process, it’s important to consider the type of deck you want, what function you want it to serve, the size you can afford, and your budget. It’s a smart idea to start small, and then if down the road you decide you want to upgrade the size and quality of building materials, you can. Will the deck be a simple aesthetic piece, or will it be a frequent place of gathering for your large extended family? You should also consider the current layout of your yard — trees, bushes, patio space, etc. — before creating a game plan. Size and Shape A common homeowners’ rule of thumb is that the deck size should be no more than 20% of the size of the house. If you...

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