Archives for November 2013

11 Tricks to Make a Ceiling Look Higher

November 14, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

A lot of people dream of having high ceilings in their home. But consider this: Rooms with high ceilings are a pain to heat and to circulate air through; they also create challenges for sound and light control and often double the expense of painting, covering windows and adding artwork. Low and moderately high ceilings can be warmer, more intimate and more in proportion with human scale. Not to mention that changing a lightbulb is as simple as pulling out a step stool. Try that with a vaulted ceiling.

Frank Lloyd Wright often incorporated low ceilings in his Prairie-style homes. To compensate, he often made the rooms extra wide and deeply connected to the outdoor spaces. Using these concepts, and with the right furnishings and decor, you can make any ceiling feel just a bit taller.

11 Tricks to Make a Ceiling Look Higher

Architecture, interior design, and more ∨Find top local interior designers, residential architects and home builders for your next home remodeling project.
Find inspiring decorating ideas, from tufted headboards to custom window treatments, to help you redesign your bedroom.

Filed Under: Blog, Furniture, Home Care, Home Remodel

Defer Capital Gains On Investment Properties: 1031 Exchanges By The Numbers

November 13, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

1031 Exchanges By The Numbers
1031 Exchanges by Cook & Cook

Filed Under: Blog, Real Estate Investment

Home Theater Systems Going Wireless

November 12, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Appliances, Blog, Home Care, Technology

Home Fire Prevention & Safety

November 11, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Every year, house fires claim the lives of over 2,500 people and cause around $7 billion in damage. While house fire deaths are dropping (largely due to fire safety awareness), it’s still a number that is far too high for something so often preventable.

When it comes to household fires, heroics don’t start with firefighters, they start at home with you. Keep in mind that when discussing this topic, awareness is not enough. To read the following tips and do nothing is a disservice to your family and home. By taking action with the tips below, you can increase the odds of making sure that a firefighter never has to risk his life running into your burning home, and that if he does, your family will be safe and sound outside.

Smoke Detectors

Fire alarms are far and away the number one lifesaver when it comes to fires in the home. In fact, two-thirds of all fire deaths occur in homes with either no working smoke alarm, or no alarm period. In many cases, deaths are the result of an alarm not working properly, most often due to issues with the battery (no battery, dead battery, not connected properly).

Read the entire article on TheArtOfManliness – This post is brought to you by Kidde Worry-Free Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms. Find out more about the Worry-Free’s 10-year battery life here.

Filed Under: Blog, Home Care

Change in Home Sales By Price Point [INFOGRAPHIC]

November 10, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

From our friends at KCM, data from the National Association of Realtors.

Filed Under: Blog, Economy, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Updates

Infographic: Which NHL teams fight the most?

November 9, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Clubs drop gloves with varying frequency.

Filed Under: Blog, Hockey

Easy DIY Home Improvement Projects for a Creative Space

November 9, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

There’s nothing like a good DIY project! This article from Decoist rounds up the best and the brightest. In fact, today we take things in a home improvement direction… You know when you want to spruce things up, but you can’t invest a week of your time in a long do-it-yourself endeavor? Today’s easy DIY projects get bonus points for do-ability and creativity.

We might also add that sometimes seeing a DIY project in action can spark an original idea, or a variation on the idea at hand. From furniture makeovers to paint-it-yourself projects, the pics below will inspire you with their innovation. Don’t forget to tell us about your favorites at the end of the post. Not to mention, let us know if you have a whirlwind idea of your own…

DIY Projects for the Walls and the Floor

Our first set of DIY projects involves some amazing paint-it-yourself endeavors that are easy and fun. All you need is a little patience… We begin by featuring these colorful painted patio tiles by Elsie from A Beautiful Mess. Boasting a ’60s look, these tiles were also inspired by Palm Springs style and Kate Spade. Pantone paint colors were used–how wonderfully vivid! Head over to A Beautiful Mess for all the details!

Colorful painted patio tiles

You’ve gotta love this next DIY painting project, especially because it involves freehanding the design at first. There’s nothing like getting to paint what your heart desires without worrying about measurements! The precision comes from the eventual addition of painter’s tape used to help define the lines, then a generous coating of the entire wall in white paint, only to peel off the tape for the big reveal. Confused? Don’t be. All the details for this Geometric Painted Wall can be found at Design Sponge…

DIY geometric wall

Speaking of freehanding it, that’s exactly what this next DIY project involves. It’s all about being brave and trusting that your artistic talent won’t lead you astray. Really! The key to this elegant look involves choosing a light color such as taupe to paint stalks, stems and flowers. Isn’t it lovely how this design combined with the wall sconce creates an Art Deco look? Read the details at Jan R. Miesse…

Subtle floral DIY painting technique

Let’s move into the kitchen… Emma from A Beautiful Mess created this DIY Kitchen Pegboard, which actually hangs in her dining room to free up space in her small kitchen. We think it’s DIY perfection! This project involves painting pegboard and wood for a frame (on which you’ll mount the board), as well as outlining items with a white paint pen, as shown below. Check out all the details at A Beautiful Mess…

DIY kitchen pegboard

Furniture DIY Projects

Next we move to DIY furniture projects that can make a big difference in your space. Let’s face it–outdoor furnishings are expensive. Especially if you’re looking for quality modern pieces. That’s why we love this concrete block bench from Better Homes and Gardens, which is super affordable and super easy (if you don’t mind hauling the blocks). Add pillows and a cushion, and your yard becomes an outdoor retreat! [via Curbly]

Concrete block bench

Wish you could design your own fabric? All you need is a Sharpie! Yes, this Awesome Patterned Chair Makeover from Little Green Notebook involves an IKEA chair and its white slipcover, plus a little creativity. The fluid look of the dots below gives the finished project character. If you’re wanting a different design, that’s between you and your Sharpie. Yes, the sky is the limit! [viaCurbly]

IKEA chair makeover

Yellow and white stripes will always say “chic” in our book. This Enamel Paint Project makes over a plant stand using oil-based enamel paint (love that shine). It’s quite simple, but it may require some patience due to overnight drying time in between coats. Apply his technique to any slotted furnishing you have using any kind of paint you wish! [from Fudgeyjoy]

Enamel paint DIY project

DIY Finishing Touches

We end with a trio of finishing touches that will add that extra special something to your interior. How fun is this Geometric Party Installation from Oh Happy Day?! It’s as easy as buying some wooden dowels and Styrofoam balls, then adding a dash of imagination. We think this installation can stay up well past the party…

Geometric installation

There’s nothing like a grouping of colorful artwork to make a big statement on your wall. This Illustrated Calendar Art project idea from AmeriFirst Home Mortgage can be done with the kids. All you need is a collection 8 x 10 photo frames, some colorful paper (make sure the calendar dates are printed on the page before you start), and some fun collage-style art ideas to give each month’s pic a different look.

Illustrated wall calendar pictures

Our final featured project involves jazzing up the ceiling with DIY pendant lights made from wooden bushel baskets. Note how the conduits are covered in rope for a nautical look. Featured on the DIY Network, this project was designed by Brian Patrick Flynn. It’s fun to see bushel baskets juxtaposed with crisp geometric wallpaper…earthy meets modern! Check out all the details here.

Wood basket pendant lights

Filed Under: Blog, Home Care, Home Remodel

Art Deco & Modern Style In Glamorous Master Bath

November 8, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

With a freestanding tub, meticulously cut tiles and a spacious walk-in shower, this St. Louis bathroom blends elegance and functionality.

After living in a Victorian-era home with tiny bathrooms and cramped shower-tubs, a St. Louis family was craving something more luxurious. For three years the owners dreamed and planned, finally building an addition that included a luxurious new art deco–inspired bathroom.

Art deco was an apt choice. Achieving popularity a few decades after the decline of the Victorian era, deco was glamorous and less fussy than its predecessor, but still richly detailed, lending itself to a cleaner, brighter look that jibes with the bathroom’s spaciousness and modern-day functionality. It also makes it seem as though the house and the new addition evolved slowly over the past hundred-plus years, as opposed to an obviously contemporary design that would have contrasted with the rest of the home.

“The style of the bathroom blends the elegant and romantic feeling of the Victorian-era home and their modern needs,” says Joni Spear, the interior designer on the project.

Art Deco Style Meets Modern Sensibility in a Glamorous Master Bath

Architects, interior designers, and more ∨Browse bedroom ideas, from loft beds to luxury duvet covers, and dream in style.
Browse top designers interior portfolios, from high-quality cookware and decorative dinnerware to ideas for remodeling bath and kitchen.

Filed Under: Architecture, Blog, Home Remodel

Is Your Kitchen Fire-Safe? Put Your Knowledge to the Test

November 7, 2013 By EmmanuelFonte Leave a Comment

Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association, which reports that they accounted for more than 150,000 home fires and $794 million in damages in 2012.

Do you know how to stay fire-safe when you’re cooking in the kitchen?

Put your knowledge to the test. See if you can spot the fire hazards in the infographic.

Then click here for the answers, and some more helpful kitchen fire safety tips.