Tag Archives: home renovation

Understanding How to Take on a Renovation as a Young Homeowner

A young couple hanging up a light as they are renovating a room in their home.

If you have watched home improvement shows like “Fixer Upper” or “Property Brothers,” you are probably very excited to renovate your home. On TV, home renovations look fast, fun, and exciting. However, working through a renovation as a young homeowner comes with a unique set of challenges.

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Home Renovations to Avoid That Could Bring Down Your Home’s Value

A couple discussing potential home renovations.

It may surprise you, but some of the most spectacular home renovations are valueless in the eyes of buyers. What you might consider luxury, another might see as a waste of time, money, and space.

One of homeowners’ biggest home renovation mistakes is adding unnecessary features to their homes. Others make undesirable changes, turning off prospective buyers from putting in an offer. Whether you plan to live in your house a bit longer or plan to list it soon, you should protect your home’s value by avoiding these 10 renovations. 

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Minimize Environmental Impact & Reduce Waste with Sustainable Renovation

A woman planning to reduce her waste on the upcoming home renovation.

Looking to refresh your home? Consider a sustainable renovation from start to finish by reducing waste, recycling, upcycling, and using eco-friendly materials. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 13% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from the commercial and residential sector.  This includes the fossil fuels burned to power heating, lights, cooling, refrigeration, and the handling of waste. Electricity production accounts for an additional 25% of the GHGs.

If you are about to undertake a home renovation, making smart choices can make a difference in the amount of waste and GHG emissions associated with the work.

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Designing the Perfect Breakfast Nook

Are you in the process of designing your dream home or looking at renovating your current space? Chances are the biggest options or decisions you have to face during the design process are focused on your kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of your home and oftentimes is a big undertaking from cabinets, countertops, appliances and more. Something you might want to consider is a breakfast nook. These unique and cozy gathering spots are a great addition to your kitchen. Here are some tips to creating the perfect breakfast nook for your dream kitchen.

Seating

It may not seem like a big decision, but the type of seating you choose can make or break your breakfast nook. Of course, you want the area to be functional and cohesive with the rest of the home, but it also should be comfortable! This space is meant to be a gathering spot not only for breakfast time but for after school homework or a good coffee chat during a Sunday afternoon. Since a “nook” is meant to be made out of a corner or small space, it often includes benches. But you can always add a large dining chair on the end if you want seating other than benches. When it comes to bench or chair coverings, check out different materials and textures to see the right combination of color, comfort and utility.

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Five Home Remodeling Ideas for Increasing Curb Appeal

If you’re considering putting your house on the market, it’s never too early to start figuring out what it will take to make your home irresistible to prospective buyers. Amping up curb appeal isn’t all about the outside, as making your home more marketable is an inside job, too.

When you’ve got a longer list than budget, what are the must-do remodeling projects and what do you skip?

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How to Stay Safe During Home Renovations

Finding inspiration to update and renovate your home is easier than ever. From tutorials available online to shows centered around the process of home remodeling, more and more homeowners are taking on the task of completing projects themselves. Although conquering these projects on your own may help your renovation budget, it’s important to be conscious of the unexpected dangers that may arise throughout the process. . If you’re thinking about taking on a project like this, here are a few tips to help protect you as well as give your home the upgrade it needs.

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Five Tips for Decorating on a Budget

 

Making your perfect Pinterest board is easy… buying everything to transfer that board into your living room, not so easy. Doing a makeover of an old space or decorating a new home is fun and refreshing but can also be stressful trying to ensure your vision comes out the way you wanted without breaking the bank. Check out these tips on how you can decorate your home just the way you want on a budget you can afford.

1. Plan your budget

It’s hard to stay on budget if you don’t have one! Set a maximum amount you are comfortable paying and stick to it. Make a list of “must-have” items before you start shopping and plan the look you are going for. This will not only help you stay on track style wise but also within price range. You can also look online for budget items or to see what stores have the best deals and if they have any upcoming sales.

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Five Clever Features to Include in Your Next Home Renovation

Home renovations offer the perfect opportunity to upgrade the functionality of your home, in addition to modernizing the design and feel of your space.

Here are five clever features you should consider including in your next renovation to elevate your home’s functionality.

1. Smart Systems

Today’s homes are smart. They incorporate technology to make our lives safer, easier, more energy efficient, and more enjoyable.

If you’re renovating, you’d be wise to include a smart system that can handle these tasks for you:

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