Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

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  • Top 10 DIY Hacks and Projects for Home Improvement

    Owning a home requires a lot of work. Fixing up the house can also get expensive. Tackling a few DIY projects is a great way save a lot of money and add value to your property.


    Storage, storage, storage
    A common complaint among homeowners is that there is never enough storage. One easy solution to maximize the spaces in your home is to look up. For example, there’s usually a lot of empty space in the laundry room above the washer and dryer. Hang galvanized pipe fittings  from the ceiling so that you can hang clothing. After cleaning and spraying the fittings with metal primer, paint them to match the room and then attach them to the ceiling. Other ways to use high areas of your home include building shelves where there was previously unused wall space.

     

     

    Don’t forget your patio
    The summers are the perfect time to start an outdoor project. There are thousands of DIY patio projects online, including tips for how to build a trellis or a fire pit. Some projects are more labor intensive than others, so be realistic about how much time you have to devote to executing your idea.

    Plant some bushes or trees
    DIY projects can be extended to the garden. Plant a row of evergreen shrubs or trees along the side of your house for privacy or as a windscreen. Many shrubs or trees grow many feet per year, which means that within a couple years, you’ll have one of the most enviable homes on the block.

  • Five Outdoor Storage Options to Keep Your Yard Tidy

    There’s nothing better than a well-maintained yard or garden. It looks easy enough: a little pruning here, a little mowing there. The more beautiful the garden, the more work owners have put into it. The owner of a flawless outdoor space probably has a bevy of gardening and landscaping tools, including a lawnmower, rake, wheelbarrow and a selection of hand tools. Oftentimes, there’s also an assortment of pots, birdseed and various seasonal tools. To keep a yard tidy, all of these items need to be kept close at hand with outdoor storage options. Below are five outdoor storage ideas to consider.

     

    1. Don’t forget shelves

    You probably use indoor shelves to store things in the basement or in your kitchen, so why not also use them outdoors? The possibilities are endless. For a minimalist look, find industrial, corrosion-resistant metal shelves, or repurpose old wooden shelves by treating them with a weather-resistant stain. For do-it-yourselfers, a backyard is a dreamy place to build shelves as high or as low as you like.

    When considering shelving, it’s important to be strategic. What will you store on them? Will they be placed under a covered area or will they be exposed to the elements? You probably won’t want shelves laden with fragile terracotta pots in an area that will be exposed to rain, snow and wind. Take a little time to plan where your shelves will go, how they’ll be used and the materials they’re made of and you can use them for years to come.


    2. Keep everything close with a storage bench

    As far as outdoor storage containers go, a bench is a great option. Storage benches come in all shapes and sizes, and are often water- and weather-resistant. Some of them are also sturdy enough to keep out animals, such as squirrels and mice, ensuring that bird food can be kept safe.

    Just like shelves, it’s important to consider what you might use a storage bench for before putting one just anywhere in your yard. Some of them can bear just a couple hundred pounds of weight, while others can hold upwards of 1,000 pounds. Many benches have locks, ensuring your gardening tools and other yard items stay protected against possible thieves.

    Benches can be purely utilitarian, or you can find one that looks like a wooden chair, enabling it to blend into your garden. Of course, you can also make your own outdoor storage bench out of wood, although you’ll want to note that whatever you store inside it might not stay dry.

     

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Create the Perfect Exterior Design for Your Home

    When making a first impression, every second counts. Exterior hues are a big part of curb appeal. Learn if an exterior can be enhanced by trends with Dream Team member and outdoor pro, Carson Arthur.

    Question: What are the hot new exterior trends for newly built homes?

    – Nicole G.

    I’m always careful when following trends, especially when it comes to the curb appeal for a home. We know that you only get one chance to make a first impression in life, and the same is true for the exterior of your house. Research shows that buyers make a judgment about the quality of our homes within 11 seconds of seeing them for the first time. The key to having a great exterior is more than just what is on trend. First, you need to look like you belong in your neighborhood… buyers are looking for homes in your area for a reason. Standing out positively is extremely difficult and risky for homeowners looking to make a statement with their curb appeal and their exteriors. Play on the best elements of other houses on your street. According to Remodelling Magazines’s 2018 Cost vs Value report, stone veneers have an ROI of almost 100 percent.

    – Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Are You Considering Pave Stones for Your Backyard?

    Hardscapes entice the senses and offer concrete accents to the natural world. Pave stones integrate a backbone into the design landscape. Dream Team member and Outdoor pro Carson Arthur explains how to incorporate structure into your slice of paradise by laying pave stones.

    Question: How do you lay pave stones for a backyard garden?

    – James S.

    Laying stones is more than a weekend project. If you live in an area that has snow, then it is crucial that you install a proper base of crushed gravel to allow for proper drainage that prevents ice from forming under the stone and heaving it. No one wants an unlevelled patio. Whether you have snowy winters or not, you also have to plan for drainage during heavy rains. Whatever you do… do it well and make sure to use a level. NEVER try to build a base by eyeballing it!

    – Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Preserve or Renovate

    An open space increases the sense of expansiveness in a room. Dream Team member and interior designer Jennifer Adams explains the considerations for this renovation, such as building codes and historical preservation. Give your home an area to relax and entertain without putting a cramp in your style.

    Question: I’m in a small apartment (625 square feet) in New York City. Is it better to open a wall and expand the kitchen into the living/dining area or keep the original footprint?

    – Laura L.

    Call a licensed contractor and open up that wall with as large of an opening as possible! The only reasons not to might be if there are structural requirements of any type, if you’d be losing too much storage, or if there is some historical significance to your building. Even then, there are probably ways to work around the issues.

    Before swinging a hammer to DIY the project, talk with licensed contractors and your building management and/or HOA, as there is most likely more to this project than you might realize.

    In any size place, especially a small apartment, opening spaces to let them flow together will help make your life better. Seeing a continuous space makes a place feel bigger, airier and less cramped, so you’ll be happier and perhaps less tempted to move. Plus, the openness will make entertaining easier and more fun, even if it’s just you and a friend or two.

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Harness the Power of Outdoor Seating

    Create an extension of your home in fresh air areas with advice from Dream Team member and outdoor pro, Carson Arthur. While landscaping and hardscaping may offer a balance between man’s world and nature, a great outdoor space will increase the value of your home. Get inspired now!

    Question: What’s the best backyard design to sell your home?

    – Manuel M.

    Buyers today want useable space in their backyards. Patios, decks, and even gazebos all have great returns for one specific reason: they give buyers more square footage that has purpose! (And who doesn’t want more living space?) I always ask homeowners, “What don’t you have in your house? Is your kitchen big enough? Do you have a dining room? What about a fireplace?” If you can offset the shortcomings from the inside of your home with something that you KNOW you are going to use outdoors, then you have an instant selling feature and also a way to meet the needs of any buyer who has specific things they are hunting for. Skip the plants and gardens in the backyard and focus on seating areas with great furniture!

    – Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Staging Your Home for Potential Buyers

    Living in a home for any period of time will leave a wealth of clutter that can prove challenging when it comes time to stage it for potential buyers. See if this process is the right one to help you keep your treasures.

    Question: We have lived in our home for more than 30 years and have done quite a bit to it. We are planning to finish the remainder of our remodeling and sell. How do I “stage” and edit out 30 years of living?

    -Wanda G.

    Staging is all about creating a blank slate. Many potential buyers simply have a hard time seeing past your treasures, which they may see as clutter!

    Depending on the housing market in your area, it’s also smart to finish any partially completed remodeling projects that may be a distraction. Starting a new project, unless it is to fix a glaring problem, is probably not necessary. As you interview potential agents, see what they have to say.

    The most time-consuming part of staging is going to be the “editing out” or, essentially, massively de-cluttering. As you obviously know, any time we live in a house for a long time, we tend to hang onto things simply because we have the room. Since you’ll be moving anyway, pack up the valuables, art and especially all your personal items including family photos, trophies, unique treasures and mementos, large collections, etc. This may be a great time to encourage your family members to ask for what they want! Or, get a storage unit if you can’t move directly into your new place.

    Try very, very hard to store only items you will use in your new home, and donate the rest. You’ll thank yourself later – trust me on this! Otherwise, you’re paying good money to keep things you don’t really want. Allow plenty of time for this process if you are working or have a busy life – maybe even a couple of months! It’s more than a weekend project. And give yourself a realistic deadline to keep on track.

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Maximize a Living Room Layout: Entertain or relax in style with these arrangement options

    Deciding where to place chairs can be tough when setting up a space. Especially when you have a uniquely shaped living room. Interior design pro, Jennifer Adams, gives this reader a few options to make every guest feel welcomed in their home.

    Question: I have a long living room with a fireplace in the middle of one long wall, two windows on another wall opposite the windows a sliding door to a deck and fourth wall with two door openings on each side. I have the couch on the wall opposite the fireplace and I don’t know whether to buy chairs to go with the couch or get a sectional instead. How should I arrange the furniture?

    Adding two chairs to a sofa arrangement would be more flexible than a sectional, especially if your room is small. Place one chair on either side of the sofa, corner to corner to save space. You could angle the chairs slightly to the fireplace or move them at right angles to the sofa for better conversation. Finish this arrangement off with a coffee table and one or two end tables between the couch and the chairs. Use the tables to make sure everyone has a place to set a magazine or beverage within comfortable reach.

    Is there enough room to place the couch closer to the fireplace so you can walk easily behind it to allow for through traffic? That would make a cozy and inviting seating arrangement because someone wouldn’t need to walk through the middle of the room unless they were headed to a chair.

    – Jennifer Adams

  • Home Exterior Design Ideas for Transforming an Outdoor Space

    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.

     

     

     

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Choosing a Table Setting That Lasts Beyond The Holidays

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today we are talking to Dream Team member and interior design pro Jennifer Adams about creating a table setting that lasts beyond the holidays!

    Q: I have Noritake Platinum edged white dinnerware. What color placemats or tablecloth would be best to use with this china? I would like to be able to use the same setting for Christmas as well as afterward.

    -Sharon L.

    A: The beauty of classic dinnerware such as yours – and the challenge – is that it will go with really anything you want! For a stunning and timeless look perfect for any time of year, choose a charcoal gray tablecloth, in either a solid or subtle, low-contrast print. Other rich colors such as dark navy, deep burgundy or spicy pumpkin as well as neutral colors will mix things up a little for the seasons.

    For the holidays and dressy settings, think silver and sparkles! Silver mesh or fabrics woven with silver and white threads will play up the platinum edge and create a wintry feel. Accessorize with shiny or aged silver ornaments to finish the look!

    -Jennifer A.