No Comments

Bathrooms of Wonder: How to Transform Your Powder Room

Once, it was the room that no one would show in movies or even mention in polite company—but these days, a fabulous bathroom is a prime home feature, and for many proud owners, the subject of major bragging rights. They’re luxurious! They’re high-tech and functional! They’re beautiful! Plus—and here’s the real point—today’s HGTV-savvy homeowners know that upgrading their bathroom is likely to impress buyers and boost home valuations.

Bathroom remodels now rival kitchens in popularity. The bathroom is reinforcing its place as an important room in a home. But unlike the increasingly public kitchen, the bathroom has evolved into a private haven—a tranquil space for relaxation and self-indulgence.

A spa experience in your home

Bathrooms are getaways that have the power of revitalizing and soothing body and soul. To create the feel of a spa, keep the design and features minimal, use a neutral color palette, and make sure there’s lots of natural light, he advises. Also, avoid clutter. After all, “an elegant and relaxed bathroom needs a little space.”

Indoor-outdoor flow—and we don’t mean the water

You might think that the top things you’d want in a bathroom are a reasonable degree of privacy and some good ventilation. And you wouldn’t exactly be wrong. But let’s add another factor to the list: Bathrooms that embrace their natural surroundings offer exciting design possibilities. After all, what better way to enjoy nature than showering outdoors? That is, assuming the neighbors aren’t close by. These days privacy is “not so much a matter of hiding ourselves from others, but about shielding ourselves from the outside frenzy.” As a matter of practicality, of course, floor-to-ceiling windows allow the feeling of being outside without little inconveniences like dead leaves in your freshly washed hair. Even simpler, maximize a view of a natural landscape.

Decor that could fit in the living room

When it comes to planning, design, and decorating, bathrooms are just as important (if not more) as any other room in a home. Think beyond your towel colors. The Houzz survey found that 15% of respondents put a chandelier in their master bathroom for a luxe look. Vintage fittings are a popular trend; vintage features such as Venetian mirrors and Victorian bathtubs and washbasins. For those who prefer a more contemporary style, there are streamlined fittings made of stone, marble, or even high-quality recycled plastic or translucent resin.

Technology with a gentle touch

Technology is already making its way into the bathroom, but very subtly with features such as touch-sensitive taps and toilets that fully wash, dry, and deodorize you to become more common. Already, homeowners in the Houzz survey favor making their bathrooms cozy with radiant heat flooring (26%) and towel warmers (11%). Towel warmers are an affordable indulgence that come in various designs and configurations to accommodate any possible needs. No matter what, though, high-tech features should not interfere with a quiet soak in a hot tub. No beeps or blinking lights!

Fashion that doesn’t leave function behind

At the end of the day, whether your dream bathroom resembles a spa, a Moroccan bathhouse, or, oddly enough, Mamie Eisenhower’s powder room, it has to serve your needs. Organization and accessibility are key. Make best use of the available space. A functional bathroom that looks good will still be practical and look sharp a decade later. Sure, you’ll probably change some details over the years, but invest now in organization solutions and a layout that works. It’s also smart to think long term about accessibility—the Houzz survey found that baby boomers are big on features such as grab bars and curb less showers. Bathrooms are the second costliest room in the home for renovations, experts say. So, when you’re planning your remodel, make sure you’ll end up with a bathroom you’ll love for years to come.

No Comments

WHAT TO DO WITH AN UNFINISHED BASEMENT

Although currently dimly lit and a little rough on the eyes, your unfinished basement still has a lot of potentials. With just a little love and the help of the following ideas, you can spice it up in no time and get some great use out of the space.

  1. Add a pop of color. Give your basement a whole different look without a big renovation by adding some color to space. Consider painting and sealing the floors, opening up the room by painting the rafters white or a light color, or creating a bold accent wall.
  2. Divide the space. Want to make your basement a multi-use room? Partition out the area by installing an inexpensive curtain system. This can be done either with a curtain track or a simple wire, some hooks, and curtains will suffice.
  3. Add foam mats. Whether you’d like to use the basement as a home gym to get a quick workout in or a place for the kids to play and rough house, adding some foam mats into the mix is a great and easy solution. They come in various colors and can quickly be picked up and tucked away if need be.
  4. Use a large rug. As an alternative to adding mats, find a large, eye-catching rug to be used as a focal point, and furnish the area around it.
  5. Add lighting. Basements often offer very little built-in lighting and few outlets around the room. Consider stringing café lighting across space from the rafters to give a nice ambiance and glow without any difficult electrical work.
No Comments

What Is a Wet Bar vs. Dry Bar—and Does Either Belong in Your Home?

What is a wet bar and what is a dry bar? Both are designed to make entertaining at home easy by providing an area to prepare beverages for guests, but the big difference is a wet bar has a sink so glasses can be more easily rinsed. The difference between a wet bar and dry bar may seem like a simple concept, but there’s more to it than plain old plumbing. Here’s what homeowners will want to know when they consider having these features in their house.

What is a wet bar, and why would you want one?

Wet bars are convenient if you entertain on a different floor than your kitchen, or outdoors. In the 1970s and 1980s, home bars became popular as people outfitted their basements as rec rooms. Who wants to go all the way back upstairs to mix a batch of frozen margaritas? Or to rinse out the pitcher for another batch, for that matter? Now, as outdoor kitchens become more popular, wet bars are moving alfresco as well. With a little creativity, you can turn your backyard into a miniature resort.

Wet bar ideas: How to entertain in style

Having a sink in your bar means you’ll not only be able to rinse glasses between mixing drinks, you’ll also be better equipped to handle spills and cleanup. As long as you’re going through the trouble, you could optimize that plumbing with a few more add-ons. You could include a prep area for mixing cocktails that either also drains into the sink (to capture spills) or has its own drain. If you’re into beer in a big way, you could install taps with gutters below that capture and direct drips. That said, a wet bar doesn’t have to be large and elaborate. You can fit one into a tiny nook.

Are wet bars outdated?

Many think that wet bars are less popular today than they were in the past. If personal enjoyment is the goal, then it’s worth it, though. However, experts caution homeowners who want to add this amenity only as an investment, since it could make the home seem dated. Particularly in open kitchens and living spaces, it’s usually not worth it to install a second sink when the kitchen sink is within easy reach.

Dry bar ideas: Entertaining made easy

If you aren’t sold on installing a wet bar, a dry bar may be a better alternative. You’ll still have a dedicated spot for barware, spirits, and a beverage refrigerator, but without dealing with plumbing. All you need is a short counter and cabinet space. The trend is leaning toward a dry bar where favorite liquors and glassware are artfully and conveniently displayed. Most people now are just doing a liquor cabinet since space is often an issue, and bars take up a lot of it. Keep in mind that a dry bar can be multifunctional. For example, you could keep party supplies in a cabinet. Another alternative is simply modifying the back of your kitchen island or a counter with some shelves or rollout drawers for easy access.

No Comments

Home Energy Cost: The Real Deal on Big Bills That Come With a House

Home energy cost is not something people always think of when it comes to buying a house. But don’t get consumed by the details of finding and buying a house without considering the potential bills you’ll have to pay every month for heating, cooling and more.

Home energy cost considerations

Even an affordable mortgage payment could quickly tip into the pain point if your new home comes with a monthly utility outlay that you weren’t expecting. So what factors should you consider? Everything from your electric bill to your heating are part of your home energy cost.

How to do that math:

You might want to hire a professional to determine the home’s overall energy costs before committing to a down payment. Energy audits cost a few hundred dollars but could save you from countless headaches (and costs) down the line. Not only will they give you a good idea of what’s in store, they will also point you toward fixes you can install so you’re not facing the same bills as the previous owner. The federal government’s Energy.gov site has guidelines for home energy audits, and tips for a DIY version. If you don’t want to go that far, here are some specifics to consider:

Heating and cooling systems

Heating and cooling can consume 45% of a house’s energy costs. The layout of the house will be a factor in energy costs. Vents located under windows are inefficient, and some rooms may not even have vents. In colder climates, remember that heat rises. High ceilings can result in wasted energy and added heating costs every winter. In tri-level houses, the upper floors will be warmer while the ground floor will be colder.

Consider how much alterations might cost. In-floor heating can save you up to 40% of energy costs, depending on the system. To have a professional install a hot water radiant floor heating system would cost about $6 to $15 per square foot.

Get all the information available on the house’s furnace and air conditioner. Find out the seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) for the house’s air conditioning system. For gas furnaces, you need to know the Annual Fuel Utilization Ratio (AFUE). If the house’s heating and cooling systems are 10 to 15 years old, or have a SEER of less than eight, it may be necessary to replace them.

Appliances energy costs

Did the former owner of the house throw in some appliances as part of the package? Although this gesture may save you money in the short run, be aware that older appliances can be much less energy efficient than new ones. Inefficient appliances eat up energy and can cost you hundreds of dollars over time. Research the make and model of any used appliances and assess whether they will incur higher energy costs than if you bought new ones.

Tax credits

State and federal programs might offer tax credits or other deals, such as grants or discounts, if you replace older appliances or heating or cooling systems, like an aged boiler, with newer, more energy-efficient versions. Some localities offer free energy audits, too. It might be worth asking about such programs if you are looking at an older house. Maybe the efficiency ratings are low, but if you love the house, and there’s enough deals available that you could upgrade relatively painlessly, it might still be worth purchasing. The key here is knowing the facts so you can judge what your bank account can handle.

Infrastructure

Check features such as windows, doors, insulation and siding for efficient energy usage. You can hire a professional to use a thermal camera to see where heat escapes, or conduct a blower-door test to identify air leaks by using a large fan with an airtight skirt that blows air out the door, although those tests could prove expensive. Insulation in the attic should be thick enough to hide all of the studs. Weathering and material aging can cause problems with siding, such as cracking, rotting or cupping, so check its condition too. Leaky windows glazed with putty can be reglazed, or consider buying double-pane windows. These will run you about $600 for moderate quality or up to $800 for high quality.

Architectural features

Big homes mean bigger energy bills too, so consider size in relation to your ongoing energy bills when you look at homes. A big stairway in the entryway means a lot of wasted heat each time the front door opens. Beautiful cathedral ceilings can bump up energy bills too. Walls of windows can afford a lovely view, but the added sunlight can strain your air conditioning bills in the summer, while leaks will raise your heating costs in the winter.

Energy costs: an informed decision

Only you can decide whether a home’s energy costs are worth the selling price. Your dream home may not be so ideal if the energy bills deplete your savings. But it could be worth investing some money in upgrading the house’s systems and features.

No Comments

Need to Replace Pet-Damaged Carpet?

As a pet owner, you know that accidents happen. There are a variety of reasons why our four-legged friends do their business or act out inside the house and on the floor. Maybe they’re marking their territory, or their anxiety may be manifesting in their clawing at the carpet. However, your home is probably your biggest investment, so you want to maintain its resale value—and keep it from looking and smelling like a litter box. So, what are the best options for pet-resistant flooring that would also appeal to future buyers? Check out the expert’s top recommendations.

Hardwood

If you have your heart set on beautiful hardwood floors, you’ll be happy to know that there are a few types of hardwood that are durable enough for Fido. Real wood floors are extremely durable and designed to withstand the traffic of busy families, including man’s best friend. Your dog’s claws will be less likely to scratch harder wood varieties like oak, maple, walnut, or—one of the strongest options—bamboo. The hardness of bamboo makes it more resistant to scratches, liquids, and mess, which helps out with pet accidents. If you’re considering bamboo, be sure to get medium- to high-priced bamboo flooring since the cheaper options aren’t as sturdy or scratch-resistant.

Porcelain tile

Your delicate porcelain dinnerware may lead you to believe that this type of material is not the strongest flooring option, but the experts say otherwise. The simplest floor to maintain—not only for pets but also for spaces with heavy traffic—is porcelain tile. Porcelain tile that has a glaze on it will not absorb any hazardous bodily fluids from pets and is easy to clean. An additional note is that sweeping, vacuuming, and wiping with a damp mop is all that’s needed to keep it sparkling. And, there’s an additional benefit to porcelain: It will not absorb odors. It is also recommended to use a grout that is nonabsorbent which will prevent liquids from seeping between the tiles and provide excellent stain resistance. However, you might want to avoid porcelain tile if your pup is older and has a hard time getting around. Many dogs do not have good traction on slippery surfaces, and older dogs may get injured and not be able to walk on surfaces without some tactile grip.

Luxury vinyl tile

Vinyl, in general, has come a long way since the days of disco. Luxury vinyl tile is a great, pet-friendly option as it’s scratch- and stain-resistant. Some varieties are even waterproof. Many people choose luxury vinyl tile because it can replicate popular (but less resilient) flooring options like hardwood or marble, and it costs way less. The cleaning is quick and easy and luxury vinyl tile doesn’t stain like carpeting.

No Comments

Do I Need Neutral Painted Walls To Sell My Home?

“If you want to sell your home, paint your rooms beige.” That could be the rallying cry of real estate agents across the country, and for good reason. Presentation and first impressions mean everything when selling a home, and the men and women who make their living selling homes know that neutral colors will generally spark more interest from buyers than bold colors.

Human beings are sensitive to color on a deep, emotional level. This makes sense: Our earliest ancestors relied on colors to tell them if a plant was ripe or safe to eat, for example. Those deeply ingrained senses of what colors mean in nature stay with us in our cities and suburbs; we may not need to make life-and-death decisions based on the color of a strange fruit, but we still carry the emotional cues that kept our ancestors safe.

This trait can complicate things when painting a house, however. A certain hue that you think looks perfect in your living room might trigger a deep sense of discomfort in a visitor. The deeper the color you choose for your walls, the stronger effect it might have on others. Conversely, the closer your home’s colors are to pure, neutral white, the less they will emotionally affect visitors — or potential buyers.

But an all-white home can be dull, not to mention extremely hard to keep clean. With a little awareness of color theory and some creative restraint, you can have the best of both worlds: a home in which color brings out each room’s best features, and a house that’s likely to sell without requiring major repainting.

Color psychology is the study of the emotional cues prompted in humans by various colors. These can be quite strong: Bold yellow, for example, can upset small children, while light yellow is commonly used as a gender-neutral color for babies’ rooms. Blue is often associated with calmness, serenity and cold temperatures. Red, on the other hand, may symbolize excitement, love, anger, warfare or energy. These are useful traits to understand as you plan how to show off your home’s best features to potential buyers.

But how do you turn an understanding of color psychology into an attractive, sellable interior design? The process is easier than you might think.

The Power of Color

The first step in applying color theory to your home is to understand what you want each room to say. Is a bedroom used for rest and relaxation for the adults in the home, or is it a bright, happy playroom for the children? Is the kitchen a family gathering place, or is it an area where high-tech styling makes meal preparation fast and efficient? Asking questions like these will help you define moods for your rooms. Compare these moods to the emotions evoked by different colors, and you’ll quickly create a list of general hues that are most appropriate for each room of your house. Narrow your color search further by looking at the paint colors in the middle or lighter ends of these ranges, since this will help you avoid painting too much wall space with a too-bold color.

Now comes the fun part: designing your rooms with color and furnishings to capture the moods you’ve identified. There are countless factors that play into making each room right, including the furniture and decorative items, the flooring, the quality of light through the windows and your desire (and budget) to change these. In general, you can often create stunning effects by choosing one or two items to showcase with bold color, offset by neutral complementary colors in the rest of the walls and furnishings.

It helps to keep a sense of restraint when choosing color and design layouts; a bold color can quickly become overwhelming if used too much, and too many complementary colors in one room can make even sparse furnishings look busy and cluttered. Try to limit each room’s color palette to no more than three colors: a bold accent, a middle-tone that can be used to frame the accent and a more neutral color for the background, like the walls. This will ensure that, while you will be able to break free of the all-beige, neutral-color blahs, you will still have a home that has a good chance of selling without major changes.

No Comments

25 Cheap Ways To Upgrade Your Home

1. Add some character and add texture to your walls with peel-and-stick wall panels.

2. Create a charming accent wall with peel-and-stick paper.

3. Upgrade your countertops to faux granite with a DIY paint kit instead of spending a fortune to replace it.

4. Reseal all those cracks in your tub and tile with caulking and make your bathroom look new again.

5. Update recess lighting without doing any electrical work with magnetic shades.

6. Install crown molding to help make your home look historic and charming.

7. Adding a fresh coat of paint to get that pop of color (or get rid of it) will give your home a touch-up without costing you a fortune.

8. Get the stainless-steel appliances you’ve always wanted at a fraction of the price with paint.

9. Add privacy and a touch of elegance, and make your windows look super expensive, with with “leaded-glass” film.

10. Paint your cabinets to give your kitchen that just-remodeled feeling for pennies versus what it would cost to replace them.

11. Add a new tile backsplash to give your kitchen (or bathroom) that gorgeous custom look.

12. Add a medallion to your light fixtures to instantly elevate your ceiling game.

13. Paint your ugly vinyl floors to get rid of the eyesore without ripping up the floor.

14. Bulk up your baseboards with paint and extra trim instead of replacing them.

15. Install shelving systems in every room to add storage.

16. Upgrade the fixtures in your bathroom to give yourself a mini spa experience.

17. Swap the handles on your cabinets and drawers to update your kitchen.

18. Add a doorbell to your home if you don’t already have one, or upgrade your current one.

19. Update light switches to give your home a fresh look and a tech upgrade.

20. Add some curb appeal and a pop of color by painting your front door.

21. Forget interior designers! Find matching fabrics, paints, and materials with a color match tool.

22. Get even more curb appeal by sanding down and painting rusted railings.

23. Consider these useful tips for upgrading your bathroom.

24. Cover door scuffs and prevent new damage with a metal kick plate.

25. Add adhesive mirrored tiles to the underside or top of your cabinets to subtly reflect light and make your space look brighter.

No Comments

Why Should You Stage Your Home To Sell?

As the real estate market turns sluggish, you may have to take steps to set your home apart from others. It won’t be enough to just put out a for-sale sign and wait for potential buyers. One way that homeowners can sell their homes more speedily is by home staging, which can have the added benefit of pushing up the selling price of your home. Basically, staging consists of arranging your home’s décor and furniture in such a way as to make the home have more of an appeal to prospective buyers.

In some cases, home staging can be a relatively simple and inexpensive undertaking. You may be comfortable with just cleaning up your home and removing all day-to-day items. On the other hand, you may want to consider investing a more substantial amount of time and money into your home staging project. The main benefit of investing in landscaping, painting and new furniture is that a potential buyer will come away from a visit to your home with a better idea of how his or her new home will look.

Home staging has been around since the 1970s. Although it began on the West Coast of the United States, the concept eventually spread to the rest of the country. There’s more to home staging than just decorating. The general idea behind home staging is to depersonalize your home so that a prospective buyer will be able to imagine him or herself living in it. By removing piles of newspapers and family photos, you’ll be able to increase your home’s appeal. Another tip is to choose neutral colors for your home’s carpet and paint. If it’s within your budget, you’ll also want to think about buying new appliances. Although many people do a good job of staging their own homes, you can also hire a professional to do the job for you.

No Comments

How Homeowners Are Ditching The Tub

Homeowners are looking for large, high-tech bathrooms with sleek color palettes and finishes, according to the Houzz 2017 Bathroom Trends Report.

On average, homeowners spent $21,000 to remodel bathrooms exceeding 100 square feet. That cost drops to about $12,300 for homeowners with smaller bathrooms that are less than 100 square feet. When it comes to age demographics, those aged 55+ spent the most on remodeling their bathroom since the majority of them reported that they don’t plan to sell their home anytime soon.

Meanwhile, millennials, who see their home as a short- to medium-term residence, are choosing to invest less in bathroom renovations. Out of the 4 percent of millennials who renovated their bathrooms this year, most spent $9,200 to 12,500.

Homeowners of all ages were willing to shell out the extra dough for showers (42 percent), cabinets and vanities (40 percent), faucets (35 percent) and countertops (35 percent). On the other hand, it seems that homeowners weren’t so willing to spend extra money on an upgraded toilet.

Beyond updating showers, toilets and faucets, 90 percent of homeowners decided to change the entire style and color scheme of their bathroom during renovations. Contemporary is the most popular style at 25%, followed by transitional and modern. Contemporary is most popular among baby boomers, while Gen-Xers and millennials favor modern styles with clean finishes.

When it comes to wall colors and cabinet, countertop and floor finishes, homeowners of all ages favor a white and gray palette over neutral or more colorful options. Although baby boomers and Gen-Xers are more partial to using wood grain and darker tones, Houzz says paying attention to millennial design preferences is important, especially since they’ll be leading the housing market for the foreseeable future.

Beyond design and decor, homeowners (27 percent) swapped out bathtubs for large showers, and 73 percent of homeowners chose to add high-end features such as rainfall shower heads (55 percent), dual showers (24 percent), curbless showers (21 percent) and body sprays (18 percent). Also, 29 percent of homeowners purchased a high-tech toilet — a 19 percent year-over-year increase.

The most coveted features among toilet techies were self-cleaning (12 percent), optional bidet (8 percent), overflow protection (8 percent) and motion activation (6 percent). The least important features were a self-deodorizer (4 percent) and hands-free flushing (3 percent). Baby boomers also looked for increased accessibility with comfort-height toilets (68 percent).

Previous studies have shown that bathroom renovations yield some of the highest ROIs. It showed that blue and periwinkle bathrooms sell for an average of $5,400 more and that buyers tend to favor homes with clean, neutral colors.

“Color can be a powerful tool for attracting buyers to a home, especially in listing photos and videos,” said Zillow chief economist Svenja Gudell. “Painting walls in fresh, natural-looking colors, particularly in shades of blue and pale gray not only make a home feel larger, but also are neutral enough to help future buyers envision themselves living in the space.”

 

No Comments

REPAIRS TO MAKE BEFORE SELLING YOUR HOME

So you’re ready to put your home on the market and to you, everything looks great. Unfortunately, much of the wear and tear on your home becomes unnoticeable when it is something you see everyday. While you may not think about the one light switch that doesn’t work or the chipping paint in the guest bedroom, now is the time to take a step back and look at your home with fresh eyes. When you decide to sell your home, the first thing you should do is make any repairs you can to save yourself money in the long run. Here are a few repairs to cross off so you can get the best deal for your home!

1. Paint Your Walls

Re-painting the rooms that need a fresh face is the cheapest way to update the appearance of your home. Consider using light, neutral colors to appeal to a broader group of buyers. If the room is too dark or has chipped or dirty paint, make it look brand new with a coat of paint.

2. Make Minor Kitchen Repairs

Even if your kitchen isn’t large and spacious, a full renovation might not make sense financially. If your agent doesn’t advise you towards a renovation, consider making minor repairs instead. Paint what needs painted and install new fixtures where necessary. If your appliances aren’t operating properly or are in awful shape, you will need to replace them.

3. Update Your Bathroom

The first priority is making sure your bathroom looks clean. If the toilet looks old, replace the seat to give it a fresh new appearance. Replace any tiles that may be missing, clean the grout, and remove old wallpaper that may still remain. This is a room you should consider painting if need be to make it appear bright and clean.

4. Fix The Exterior

The outside of your home is the first thing buyers will see, so it is important that it looks good. Touch up the yard with sod as needed, remove any junk that may be in the yard, and make sure your fencing doesn’t have any missing parts or boards. Mow your grass and consider renting a power washer to make your siding look brand new.

5. Maximize Lighting

The goal is to maximize light so you can maximize the appearance of space. Light does a great job of making rooms look larger than they are. Update your fixtures, ensure that your windows appear clean and new, and add mirrors across from light sources to reflect even more light.

6. Ensure Functionality

Potential buyers are going to want everything to work. Do a full walk through of your home, checking all light switches, doorknobs, and locks. Repair or replace anything that doesn’t work as it should. The less issues that arise during the buyer’s home inspection, the better chance of you maximizing your profit during the sale.