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Get Your Decoration Ideas For Kitchen From Pros!

The kitchen is a part of our home where family spend most of the time. When we put our mind on re decorating or renovating the kitchen, we’re always stuck! The hardest parts are where to begin and what exactly to do. To ease your mind we have tips from professionals that are working on home renovations and decor on daily basis!

4 Tips You Need to Follow to Decorate – Kate On Thin Ice

Moving can be pretty exhausting and overwhelming. But that’s just the first step when it comes to starting your new life in your new house. Once that’s finished, you need to turn it into a home, a place you feel comfortable in and truly love. Creating your kitchen as an environment that always makes you feel wonderful, is one of the steps!

You’re probably fully aware that the whole decoration process can take a lot of time and energy. However, it’s not impossible, and if you follow some guidelines, you will enjoy the whole thing and get the results you’ve always dreamed of. We got you covered with these 4 tips that will surely help a great deal with the decoration.

Everything starts with moving. Make it easier.
Old and new furniture
Redecoration doesn’t always mean something totally new
Don’t wait with the decoration. Start right away!

Experience tells us that those who don’t begin redecorating their homes right after the move, will probably never start. If you really want to experience the feeling of a new home, don’t wait around. If it feels overwhelming, you can go with small, simple steps. You’ve got to strike while the iron is hot and before you feel like settling into a daily routine.If you have a lot of projects you want to finish as soon as possible, like painting a room or replacing the flooring in certain places, you can start them before you move in. It’s a lot easier to get the messier tasks like painting and flooring finished before you arrive. Just start doing the things you’ve envisioned and slowly everything will change around you.

Kitchen Renovation : 5 factors to consider – KIKI Interiors

A kitchen renovation will Increase the Appeal and Value of your Home
Upgrade your Appliances
Sinks, Faucets and Hardware
Wall Design
Revamp your Cabinets

Cabinets are one of the first features to be upgraded as they are an obvious requirement. They are also the first thing to get stained or damaged. If you want to modernize your cabinets, you can start with the hinges, and latches, as this improves the look significantly. Some homeowners even go so far as installing self-closing cabinet mechanisms which prevent slamming and allow you to take whatever item you want out of the cabinet and walk away without worrying if you have left it open or not.

Creative Kitchen lighting – Gully Creek Cottage

Several years ago I had purchased some under cabinet lighting that was inexpensive (Ikea), and had never used them. I installed those and now that allows for very nice lighting when needed for work but also allows a neat glow in the evening so you don’t have to have the entire kitchen lit up.
I wanted something totally cool and different with substantial lighting since the island workspace will be used for lots of food prep. So a little thinking outside the box came into play when I saw this beautiful table with great detailing.

Kitchen Updates for Rental Property – Wellington Home Team

Are the doors on your kitchen cabinets becoming an eyesore so you are thinking about replacing those cabinets? Try removing the cabinet doors on the upper cabinets and doing a little refurbishment on them as an alternative. Because people tend to pay less attention to the lower cabinets, you can make the uppers your visual priority. Just one cabinet with no door can be an attractive shelf and useful, though you must fill in the holes from the door hardware. However, if the kitchen has all upper doors that are unsightly, removing them all will lower the appeal and functionality. In this case, replace them all. By focusing on the upper cabinets as a set, you do not have to match the lower cabinets, as contrasting upper and lower cabinets is a popular design trend currently.

Small Decorations for Small Kitchen – A Focus on Kitchen Rugs – Rugman

1. Narrow and Long Rugs

A long narrow rectangular rug would work well as this is often the typical shape of the average small kitchen. Even where that is not the case and you only want it to cover a specific part of the floor, the narrow rug or hallway rug is convenient for this role. Imagine the front of the kitchen sink or lower kitchen cabinets, underneath the kitchen stools or along the length of the kitchen island. You could also use a narrow rug at the entrance of the kitchen.

2. Round Rugs

Round rugs may feel a little out of place in tight spaces such as the floor of a small kitchen. You can find ways to make it work though like going for smaller rugs. A round rug can be a great fit underneath pet bowls or in front of your kitchen sink. If you are fortunate to have a walk-in pantry despite the size of the kitchen, round rugs can give your pantry that added touch of flare. You could also place the rug beneath kitchen stools.

3. Breakfast Table Rugs

Small kitchens can have breakfast tables only that they’ll probably be smaller than what you’d have in a conventional kitchen. If you have a breakfast table, you can accentuate it with a rug. Kitchen tables may be round, square or rectangular so your choice of kitchen rug should take this into account for symmetry.

4. Outdoor Rugs

The kitchen rug doesn’t always have to be something specifically designated as a kitchen rug. You can re purpose outdoor rugs for instance. They are great for the kitchen thanks to their durability and sturdiness. Think about the rigors of the kitchen environment such as spilled liquids, fallen food, broken dishes and the high foot traffic.

Outdoor rugs are meant to withstand dirt and harsh weather so will easily surmount whatever the kitchen throws at them. Better yet, they can be given a thorough clean regularly without any significant deterioration to their quality.

Organize Your Attic, Save Space!

Do you feel like you need a whole separate house just for storing your clothing, hobby items and seasonal decoration and tools? Well, unless you’re a huge movie star, you can’t simply buy a house next door for your storage needs, but what you can do is remodel your attic and free up a whole new world of storage space! If that sounds like something you can do, here are a few practical ideas that will help you organize your attic and save a ton of space around your home.

Boost insulation

First things first, you want your things to be safe while you store them in your attic. While they tend to be less moist than basements, you still need to do some work in order to keep your possessions dry and protected from the elements. Summers tend to be boiling and winters freezing in the attic without insulation, so if you want to store some more expensive things, you’ll need to keep this in mind. Luckily, you can always call a professional to insulate your attic and ensure the safety and coziness of your things. And if you decide to remodel the space in the future and turn it into a bedroom or home office, you’ll have much less work to do.

Install hooks and rods

Once you’ve protected your items, it’s time to start organizing your possessions. If you want to use your vertical space and those tricky nooks and crannies, you can choose to install various hangers and hooks. These are perfect for storing off-season clothing. If you grab some garment bags for protection, you can basically use your attic as an extension of your closet! Install these rods long the trusses or slant of your ceiling and you’re ready to store all your clothing. Most clothing rods come with brackets and screws, so all you need to do is mount it to the wall and make it level.

Add shelves

While you can just ditch various boxes inside and call it a day, it’s best to make the most out of your attic by installing something to keep your space well-organized. Install some practical storage solutions like shelves and fill them with various boxes and containers. These shelves keep your things visible and organized and you can use all your vertical space by allowing you to stack everything. This way you can grab something from the bottom without having to unstack boxes and boxes of stuff. These shelves are suitable for holding shelf bins for smaller items as well, so you can use them in your garage, art studio or home office.

Invest in plastic containers

Once you have your shelves, you’ll need some sturdy plastic containers with lids to keep your items safe and cozy. These containers are great investments because they have so many uses and they last practically forever. They can also protect your things from moisture, bugs, mice, dust and temperature differences. Just make sure to keep your containers well-labeled. You can either grab stickers and write what’s inside the container or color-code your boxes (red for holiday decoration, white for clothing, green for garden tools and so on). If you choose the color system, you’ll need to do some memorizing, but after a while, you’ll know where to look instantly and save a lot of time.

Make it accessible

The harder it is to access your attic, the fewer things you’ll store there—that’s a fact. If you have horrible stairs and dark passages to your attic, you’ll only want to store things you use twice a year. If you want to make the best use of your attic, you won’t do that if you create any barriers towards accessing your space. You’ll need the energy to pick up things and especially to return them in their place. In order to remove some of the barriers, make sure to install sturdy stairs and provide them with practical handrails. Plenty of lighting will also help, both for accessibility and locating your stuff. This way, you’ll be able to pick up and return things easily and avoid leaving clutter in your house. If this is something that requires a team effort, it’s best to hire professionals for removals to pickup storage belongings from your attic. This is to ensure not only your items’ safety but also yours. After all, you don’t want to be taken out by a broken back from too much heavy lifting, do you?

Once you fully secure, organize and equip your attic, you’ll free up so much space in your home that you won’t ever think about moving or renting expensive external spaces!

Make Your Own She Shed

We all know what man caves are—peaceful spots where guys can gather, relax, enjoy action movies, play video games and grab a few beers away from kids and wives. We will not tackle the problematic nature of man caves, but just ask this one question: “Who allowed men to monopolize that”? Most women would love some alone-time or girl time with friends to relax, recuperate and spend time on their hobbies. So, women, forget about man caves and get on board with she sheds! Want to know more about this new thing just for girls? Here’s how you can design your own she shed and make your man super jealous.

Dedicate a spot to your shed

While man caves usually take over the basement or car garage, she sheds are all about the natural environment. If you have a large garden, you won’t have any trouble finding a nice secluded spot for your shed—just look for a spot that’s surrounded with trees, grassy plants and vines. The greenery will give you a gorgeous view and allow you to enjoy your space both when you’re inside and outside. You can also bring nature inside, with your decoration, but if you find a good spot surrounded by plants, you’ll achieve that coveted fairy tale vibe!

Make a list of priorities

Before you even start thinking about your shed and the décor, you need to make a list of priorities. If you’re planning to spend your time in the she shed reading, watching movies with your girlfriends of DIY, you’ll definitely need electricity. If you want to use it for morning yoga and evening meditation, you’ll need good noise insulation and plenty of natural light. Think about how you’re planning to use your space and make a good list of things your shed must contain. This way, you’ll get to choose the right size and shape for your shed.

Build your shed

You can renovate your unused garage or do some work on a utility shed. Remember that your space doesn’t have to be super huge, especially if you want to use it for relaxation and solo you-time. If you don’t have a space to claim, you can check the internet to find a perfect shed for you and your needs. Today you can find all sorts of sizes and styles of sheds, so find something that will give you enough space for your activities and provide you with comfort. Most new sheds are very easy to erect and customize, so you’ll not have any problems with this step.

Start decorating

Once you have the space ready, you can start the fun part, decorating! This step allows you to be as creative as you want and add touches of coziness, practicality and personality. Start with repainting the space and giving it that homey feel that will inspires you to work and motivates you to relax and unwind. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on new furniture and decoration, you can hit yard sales and thrift shops and find amazing items with plenty of character.

Boost comfort

She sheds are all about comfort, so consider this: get an L-shaped sofa and cover it with fluffy soft pillows and make space for a bean bag or two to accommodate your all friends. If your space is tiny, you can go very tropical and choose to install a hammock. Cozy blankets and warm rugs are a must, especially if you’re aiming for a very chic, Boho vibe. Put a small central table near, so you can always have your cocktails and remote at arm’s length. How does Netflix and nap sound to you?

Give it personality

Your she shed needs to reflect your personality, so give it some style. If you’re outdoorsy, build a little patio and some outdoor furniture for catching the sun. If you love gardening, fill the space with your fave plants and flora-inspired decoration. No matter what you choose, you’ll certainly find some accessories that will complement that space.

Don’t neglect safety

Finish off with a few safety features. Add a smoke detector, ensure your wiring is safe and your roof is in top shape. After all, your she shed should be a place of relaxation and comfort—you don’t want to find yourself worrying about the security of your things and your visitors.

Once you’re done with design and decoration, it’s time to enjoy your private piece of heaven. Who says men should have all the fun? You deserve to relax and unwind from time to time, no matter if you’re an aspiring businesswoman or a stay-at-home mom.

House and Garden Maintenance This Fall!

We all love spicing up our living space and introducing new design features into our kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms, but what about the exterior space? If you’re lucky enough to live in a house with a garden instead of an apartment with no outdoor area, you have to maintain it as well. This sounds like a lot of work, but it actually isn’t. It’s all about finding the right projects that will mean the most to your family in the future, and that’s it. So, if you too are looking for ways to show your exterior space some love this fall, here are a few ideas you should take into consideration.

Fix the curb appeal

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of exterior renovations and updates, you just have to show your curb appeal some love and care. After all, this is what people notice first when coming to your place, and that’s something that could help you make a better first impression. A well-maintained front yard goes a long way, and achieving this goal really isn’t as hard as you may think.

What’s even better is that you have so many options to choose from when spicing up your curb appeal. From planting new flowers and plants to designing a new driveway, you can do basically whatever you want, and it will probably work like a charm. Once you’re done with the front yard, you can focus on your home, and boost its appeal a bit too. Repaint the front doors, replace the windows, add a new mailbox, and install some new lights. These projects don’t require too much time or energy but are quite efficient and practical.

Declutter the backyard

After you’re done with the front of your home, you need to do the same with the backyard as well. Declutter and trash removal is the first thing you have to do. But, since this is the space where your entire family hangs out, including your kids, making them a part of this project isn’t such a bad idea.

What you need to do is give them specific tasks and show them how to do them. First, remove all the bigger things you don’t need here – old appliances, outdated furniture, trash cans, etc. – and then move onto the smaller stuff. Things like your gardening tools and sports equipment don’t belong in the backyard, so either throw it away or store it in your garage. Finally, ask your kids to take care of their toys and other possessions. This way, they’ll appreciate this space even more than before and really consider it their own.

Fix the façade

Now that your outdoor space is spotless, you should shift your attention to the exterior of your home. Fixing the façade is the first thing to do, especially if your home is old or a bit shabby. Fortunately, this isn’t a hard project, and you could probably do it on your own. Even if you have no contracting skills, all you need is some paint and a few friends who could help you out.

Repainting the façade is almost the same as painting the interior walls in your home, so even a layperson will be able to get that done. Still, you might want to look into some reliable scaffolding rental options and thus access all the corners of your façade more easily. These things are quite helpful and could make your job much simpler, so get prepared first and be sure to find amazing scaffolding.

6 Tips for Buying Your First Family Home

The American real estate market is bouncing back into shape. Homebuyers are eagerly snatching up new properties. If you’re not experienced with the process, it can be anxiety-inducing. The process is particularly fraught with emotion for new parents. They’re buying the house that they’ll raise their children in, the house where their family will shape itself. Fortunately, people have been working on perfecting real estate transactions for a long time. For example, if you are looking to move to Jacksonville, gaining help from a Jacksonville NC Real Estate company will be beneficial to you. You’re not exactly journeying into uncharted waters. There’s a lot of good advice around if you’re willing to look for it.

Are you a first-time homebuyer? Here are some tips to make the experience go smoother.

1. Get Pre-Approved

Don’t waste your time chasing after homes that your family can’t afford. Get pre-approved for your home loan and you’ll know exactly how much you have to work with. If you have a realtor, getting pre-approved shows that you’re serious. It could give you an advantage with sellers as well.

Another benefit of dealing with the bank early in the process is that it gives you time to look around for the best deal. Carefully read the loan terms and be on the lookout for any hidden fees.

2. Study the Neighborhood

Your quality of life is going to be affected by your neighbors, especially if you have a young family. Living next door to the party couple that blasts music all night long might be fun for some people but it can make it difficult to keep your little ones in the bed or to get a night of uninterrupted sleep.

Spend time in your new neighborhood before you buy your house. Drive around at night and see what the atmosphere is like, check if there are there any commercial real estate developments. Try speaking with your neighbors. The more you stalk the neighborhood, the less likely it is that you’ll be blindsided by unpleasant surprises upon moving in.

3. Hire an Inspector

It doesn’t matter if your house was constructed in 1910 or in 2018, you need to hire a home inspector. An out of the blue structural problem is the last thing that you want to deal with when you move in. If there are problems with the property, and there might be, it’s better if you learn about them early.

A professional home inspection isn’t free but it might be your only chance to spot problems with the construction before it’s too late. Negotiating with the builder is a lot harder once you’ve already moved into the property.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate

Sellers can price their home however they want. Don’t assume that the price is fair or that the seller won’t budge. People expect to negotiate costs in real estate.

Take a look at how much similar homes in the area have sold for to get an idea of a reasonable price. If the neighborhood is particularly desirable, you might end up having to pay more than the seller originally asked for.

5. Don’t Fall in Love

Obviously, you want to love your new home, but you don’t want to become blind. Purchasing real estate is a serious transaction, you need to act rationally or your finances will suffer. You might be charmed by the breakfast nook and the spacious backyard, but if the home is out of your price range, there’s nothing that you can do.

You should also save your raptures until after your home inspection. A professional might be able to spot problems that you were blind to.

6. Keep Your Money in Place

If you’re planning to take out a home loan, you should avoid making lavish purchases for at least a few months. Banks want to see that you’re a steady, reliable spender. Spending huge amounts before buying a house can look reckless. Opening credit cards or amassing more debt will make it harder to get approved.

Start Your Search

Your family is growing; purchasing a new home is the natural next step in life. Choosing where you live is an important decision. The neighborhood that you settle on will decide what type of school your children attend. Your neighbors will be the people who shape your day-to-day environment. You’ll see them at the grocery store, at the park. It’s critical that you pick a home that you and your family feel comfortable in.

The best advice for first-time homebuyers is to take your time. You want to be absolutely certain that you’re making the right choice before you agree to sign any contract. Your home is your castle, you want it to be as close to perfect as possible.